Monday, October 14, 1918: PETEY DINK — Petey Knew She Had A Sensitive Nose, But This One Floored Him, by C. A. Voight
“‘Yes, this is me! Is that you?’ ‘Well, listen Petey, I — er — er—’ ‘—Ker choo! — Oh dear, that awful cigar smoke.’ ‘—I threw it away — go on—'”
Tuesday, October 15, 1918: The Hartford Courant — HELP FIGHT THE GRIP
“Help Fight The Grip. — How Not To Get It: Get fresh air and sunshine. Avoid crowded places, especially cars. Keep away from sneezers and coughers. Don’t visit people!!! with colds. Keep your mouth and teeth clean. Protect the body by proper clothing. Avoid exposure by sudden changes. Avoid worry and and fatigue.
How Not to Give It: Stay at home on the first indication of a cold. Don’t receive visitors while sick or recovering. Don’t leave your home until all symptoms have gone. Don’t sneeze, spit or cough in public places. Don’t hesitate to complain against careless spitters and coughers. — The State Department of Health and the Connecticut State Council of Defense urge you to DO YOUR BIT TO STOP THE GRIP.“
Wednesday, October 16, 1918: PETEY DINK — Petey Figures the Prevention May Be Worse Than the Disease, by C. A. Voight
“‘Where are you going?’ ‘OUT!’ ‘I guess not — not with this Spanish influenza going around — you’d surely catch it in the crowded cars and offices.’ ‘But—’ ‘—That’s the way people get it — Stay at home and keep away from crowds!’ ‘—And then too, you’d learn something if you stay here — the Ladies’ Aid Society is meeting here this afternoon to discuss ways of preventing the spread of the influenza.'”
Thursday, October 17, 1918: PETEY DINK — Maybe Petey Figured the Caller Invented the Disease, by C. A. Voight
“‘Jingoes — that Spanish influenza is fierce — lookit all the people that have it.’ ‘Oh well — best thing to do is not to be afraid of it — I’m not afraid of anything like that.’ ‘—Oh Uncle Petey, a gentleman to see you — a Mr. Manana—’ ‘Manana? — Huh. That’s a funny name.’ ‘—Yes, it’s Spanish!’ ‘—Er — er — Tell him I’m out!!'”
Friday, October 18, 1918: PETEY DINK — It’s a Clever Idea If You Have the Nerve, by C. A. Voight
“‘Oh dear, I’m so worried about Petey — He’ll surely catch the Spanish influenza going to the office.’ ‘—Why, I wouldn’t worry about him Auntie, he told me he would avoid crowds.’ ‘—Goodness gracious!! How can he — in the cars and everything?’ ‘—I know he won’t try to avoid it one bit — I know him — he’ll surely get it — oh dear.’ ‘—Well I wouldn’t worry so anyway—'”
Saturday, October 19, 1918: PETEY DINK — Petey’ll Be Safe If He Can Beat the Sneeze, by C. A. Voight
“‘Hey Joe! Wait a minute.’ ”Lo Joe — Say I’ve chased you a block. — How’s the missus? Ain’t got the Spanish influenza has she — ‘s awfull stuff.’ ‘—Nope, she’s all right.’ ‘—Main thing is to keep away from people, like I do — you know, use the old bean — no use runnin’ risks!’ ‘That’s right.’ ‘—If I had only done that, I wouldn’t have it.'”
Sunday, October 20, 1918: The Hartford Courant — IS NOAH WEBSTER’S INFLUENZA THEORY TRUE AT LAST?
Monday, October 21, 1918: PETEY DINK — Petey’s Curiosity Will Get Him in Bad Some Day, by C. A. Voight
“”Lo Bill — How’s things?’ ‘Huh?’ ‘—Anybody up at your house got the influenza? — I’m scared to pieces of it.’ ‘What’s that?’ ‘—I say — anybody up atchure house got the influenza? — I’m afraid of it.’ ‘Huh?’ ‘—Since I got this Spanish influenza, I can’t hear a thing!!'”
Tuesday, October 22, 1918: PETEY DINK — And Petey’s Probably Singing “I Don’t Want to Get Well,” by C. A. Voight
“‘Well, well, Kitty — it’s a terribly long time since I saw you last.’ ‘—Yes Mabel — I’ve been so busy.’ ‘Um — a pip!’ ‘—Busy? You don’t mean it.’ ‘—Why yes, didn’t you know — I’ve taken up nursing and this influenza epidemic has keep me going.’ ‘—Is that so? — well thank goodness — we haven’t had it.’ ‘KER CHOO!! AH CHOO!! AH CHOO!!'”
Wednesday, October 23, 1918: PETEY DINK — It Looks Very Much as Though Petey’s Plan Fizzled, by C. A. Voight
“‘Oh dear — it must be the influenza — we must get a nurse for you — I wish I knew where to get one.’ ‘Er — um — wasn’t that friend of Mabel’s a nurse?’ ‘Yes, I’ll get her—’ ‘Sh— not a word — I ain’t sick a’tall — but wait’ll you see that nurse.’ ‘—You’d better stay out there, Mrs. Dink — it’s very contagious—’ ‘Here she is.’ ‘Oh boy!!’ ‘—And you mustn’t go near him unless you wear a mask!'”
Thursday, October 24, 1918: PETEY DINK — Petey Might Have Known His Wife Would See to That, by C. A. Voight
“‘How are you to-day?’ ‘—Er — a little better, nursie.’ ‘Gosh — I wish she’d take that mask off — that’s tough, here I am pretending I’ve got the influenza just to get that pretty nurse around and here she is wearing a mask.’ ‘—By Jingoes, I wish I hand’t picked out a contagious disease.’ ‘—Oh dear — I’m so sick of wearing that mask — I’m going to leave it off — anyway you’re not so bad now.’ ‘ME? — I’M CURED!!'”
Friday, October 25, 1918: PETEY DINK — Petey Loses the Flu, But Look What He Got, by C. A. Voight
“‘—Say, I’m cured — if I can’t have a pretty nurse I’ll never pretend I’m sick again.’ ‘PEETER!! Come back here and go to bed!!’ ‘Aw — I ain’t sick, there’s nothing the matter with me, I’ve been fooling all the time.’ ‘—stop him — he’s delirious! Stop him!!’ ‘—Stop him officer — he’s out of his head with the influenza!!’ ‘Come here you or I’ll —’ ‘—There’s nothing the matter with me!’ ‘Honest — there’s nothing the matter with me… !!'”
-Excerpt courtesy of The Library of Congress, Chronicling America, Hartford Daily Courant, October 14 – 25, 1918. (top) Image courtesy of Newspapers.com, Hartford Courant, Sunday, October 20, 1918
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