thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

[Currently on hiatus]

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 7:

Dear Diary,

When I woke up today, I found that the wreaths and holly that were adorning the shops and pubs were gone. I was confused, because I thought that this was just how the city looked, but apparently the decorations were part of a traditional practice. I am well aware of Christmas, but apparently, in cities where Candlemas is celebrated, the Christmas decorations are kept up until Candlemas, which is today.

After Benjamin explained that to me, he said that he'd be closing the Printing Press early, since everyone closes up early on Candlemas to have more time to prepare their Candlemas feast. I inquired as to where I should get lunch, if everywhere would be closed. Benjamin said that there should be at least a few pubs open. He explained that when people don't have a family to celebrate with, they can always find a pub to celebrate with the other patrons.

I ended up having lunch at a pub called Fraunces Tavern. I had a roast beef sandwich and fried potatoes. A few of the other patrons sang a drinking song while I ate. I feel bad for them, for they have no family to celebrate Candlemas with, but at the same time, I feel happy for them, since they have each other.

Tomorrow, I'll write to my family. Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 6:

Dear Diary,

At the Printing Press, Benjamin told me that William wanted to invite me to lunch, but he didn't have any address to send a note to. I suppose I never did tell either of them where I was staying. Speaking of, I should really find someplace else to stay.

I met William at a restaurant called The Old Town, where he offered to pay for my meal. I said, "Thank you kindly. I must repay you some time." He insisted that such a repayment was not necessary.

Once we sat down, we began to talk, and I eventually brought up yesterday's visit to The Society Library and my conversation with Mr. Ward. William said, "My grandfather was in a secret society." I said, "Yes?" He said, "Yes, although not a very interesting one. Grandfather Benjamin was in the Freemasons. Barely a secret society, that one." I said, "I suppose so."

After that, I mentioned that I was wanting to leave my hotel and find some better place to stay. My hotel room was good enough, but not great. William replied, "I know of a flat complex in Kip's Bay called Kip's Bay Court that has some nice flats, but they can be a bit expensive." I said, "I suppose I'll check there. Thank you." William then said to me, "If you are ever in need of a place to stay, I'm sure I could convince Benjamin to let you stay with us for a time." I thanked him. William is, perhaps, the first friend I've made in New Amsterdam since I've arrived.

Nothing else of interest happened today. These seven days until Mr. Ward tells me if he will hire me are passing far too slowly. Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 5:

Dear Diary,

Benjamin closes his printing press on Sundays, so I went to The Society Library in the morning to get a library card and to satisfy my curiosity as to what city those pilgrims came from. Mister Ward was there, and he looked at me with those shifty eyes, but he did not stop me from getting a library card.

After figuring out that, based on their clothes, those pilgrims definitely came from Constantinople, I decided to confront Mister Ward. I really had no idea why he was so distrustful of me, and I wanted to know. I approached him and said to him, "Excuse me, Mr. Ward, but I want to know why you look at me like that. What is it about me that causes you to be suspicious?"

Mr. Ward was surprised to be confronted directly. He said, "It's because you studied at The University of Vienna." I replied, "What? Why is that?" He said, "You really don't know?" I said, "Of course. What's wrong with my place of study?"

Mr. Ward seemed to be a bit more at ease after that. He said, "Well, if you must know, a few... secret societies have been founded over the years by graduates from that university. I'm surprised you don't know." I was surprised to learn this. After a moment of stunned silence, I said, "Well, I'm not in a secret society. Who do you mean, exactly?"

Mr. Ward explained that a number of rather famous graduates from The University of Vienna are thought to be the founders of various secret societies. He told me of Mesmer and Paracelsus — great men that I was aware of before — and how they are thought to have founded the Magnetic Society and Hermetic Order, respectively. I had not heard of either of these before, but he told me everything he knew about them.

According to Mr. Ward, Franz Mesmer founded the Magnetic Society based on his idea of a universal energy that flowed between all animals and objects. Members of this secret society seek to learn how to control this energy.

According to Mr. Ward, Paracelsus founded the Hermetic Order to further his knowledge of alchemy and to share his knowledge with others who would respect it. Supposedly, the order has changed over time, and now members of this secret society not only seek to learn how to trasmute matter, but also how to perform other works of magic.

I'm not sure I believe anything Mr. Ward said, but I did thank him for telling me of these things. I asked him, "Does this mean you'll reconsider hiring me?" Mr. Ward thought about it for a moment and said, "Perhaps. I need some more time to think. Come back to me in a week." I thanked him.

If the things Mr. Ward said are true, then I suppose it was reasonable for him to be distrustful of me at first, especially since I traveled so far to learn there. Anyway, I'll be returning there in a week to see if he will hire me. I'll be quite happy if he does.

Good nigh

I wonder why father studied in Vienna. And his father before him. Is this something I should look in to? I shall have to think about this.

Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 4:

Dear Diary,

As planned, I visited the Hall of Saints today. This is usually one of the main places that tourists visit when they come here; I'm surprised I didn't think to visit it on my first day.

The monument is designed after the Greek temples of old, with grand marble columns and brilliant white all over. All along the inside are huge statues of important saints. The grandest statue of all is the one of Saint Nicholas, since he is the patron saint of New Amsterdam, of course.

The statues were all sculpted very impressively. You could see all of the little details on the faces of each of the saints. I'm not particularly religious, but it is hard to not feel a sense of reverence in a place like this.

While I was in there, I saw a group of pilgrims come in. They were all dressed in clothing from some West Asian place, although I could not quite remember from which city those clothes originate; perhaps Constantinople? I'll have to check at the library. I observed from afar as the pilgrims prayed before the statue of Saint Abd al-Qādir al-Jīlānī, Muḥi al-Dīn, born in Gilan, buried in Baghdad. Perhaps the pilgrims were from Baghdad.

It was a rather interesting experience overall. I talked with William about it at The Fleur-de-lis, and he told me about his first visit to the Hall of Saints. He said his poetry skills were not as refined back then, but he wrote a haiku after he visited. If I remember correctly, it went, "Great Saint Nicholas / the saint of New Amsterdam / the City of Saints". I can tell that it's one of his early works.

Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 3:

Dear Diary,

After the morning's work, I went to eat at a lunch room near to Benjamin's by the name of Hicks & Hopley's. I was looking through the window, and I saw a man wearing attire from a far off land: a cowboy! I had never seen one in person before, so I was unable to take my eyes off of him. I wondered what a cowboy was doing so far from home.

After that, I decided I'd go investigate what "interesting items" John said were now for sale. John was at the counter, so I inquired as to which items he was refering to during our conversation last evening. He pointed me to three items sitting on one of the shelves.

The first item was a sort of occult instrument. It consisted of a chalkboard and chalk inside of a lidded box that would be used during a séance for the purpose of having a ghost write on the chalkboard while the lid was closed.

The second item was a cane of great quality, featuring a brass knob-style handle in the shape of a skull. Upon closer inspection, it was revealed to be a cane-sword, with a rotating handle that unlocks the hidden lock securing the sword within the body of the cane.

The third item was a Japanese meat cleaver. There was no information about where it was forged, but it looked very similar to a sort of Japanese culinary tool I saw an illustration of in a textbook once.

In the end, the latter two items were rather expensive, so I decided to purchase the séance chalkboard. I didn't have to purchase anything, but John was correct in identifying the items as interesting, so I felt like I had to buy at least one of them.

I wonder if I will be invited to a séance in the near future. It would certainly be a good opportunity to look clever. "Oh, I bought this quite recently; I had a feeling I would be in need of it," I would say.

Anyhow, I'm planning on visiting the Hall of Saints tomorrow, so I should probably get to sleep. Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 2:

Dear Diary,

Today, I began my work at Benjamin's Printing Press. I met Mr. Folger at his workshop in the morning, and he hired me rather quickly; although I had no experience operating a printing press, he was impressed by my education and decided that I would be a fast learner. He taught me how to do the job, and I believe that after the day's training, I should be able to perform adequately.

I had my lunch with Benjamin and we had some stimulating conversation. He told me a bit about his family, and I told him about mine. It turns out that William is something of a poet. However, it is Benjamin's lineage that is particularly impressive. He is the eldest son of Francis Folger Franklin, the second son of Benjamin Franklin, the first president of the University of Philadelphia and the sixth mayor of Philadelphia! I never would have guessed that this humble printer was related to such a magnificent figure.

Of course, he could've simply been lying, but I don't think he was. Benjamin seems a very trustworthy man. I did inquire as to why he was living here in New Amsterdam instead of in Philadelphia, and he said that it was because his cousins, the sons and daughter of Mayor Franklin's first son, live in Philadelphia and there is a bit of a rivalry between them. I suppose that is as good a reason as any.

I decided to end my day at the Fleur-de-lis once again. I do hope that wherever my apartment ends up being, it is not too far from my new favorite coffee house. John the Pawnbroker was there and I decided to converse with him. Nothing of great import or interest came up, other than him mentioning that a few interesting items were now up for sale in his shop. Perhaps I'll investigate tomorrow, if I believe I can afford it.

Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 1:

Dear Diary,

I woke up this morning to the sounds of a scuffle happening in the lobby below; apparently, someone had been hiding from the constables in this hotel and got discovered. No matter, it served as the perfect alarm.

I set out into the city to find a place of work. I quickly located the nearest library — The Society Library — and inquired as to if they might hire me. The head librarian, a thin older man by the name of Filberte Ward, said they might, if I was qualified. So, of course, I showed him my letters of recommendation. He raised an eyebrow at me and asked, "You studied at The University of Vienna?"

I replied, "Yes." Then, he said, "You don't look Viennese." I, of course, replied, "Indeed. I am Providencian by birth." And then he asked, "If you're Providencian, then why did you study at The University of Vienna?" So then I said, "Because my father studied there." Of course, then he asked why my father studied there, and I started to grow tired of this impromptu interrogation. I'm not sure why, but the librarian seemed particularly distrustful of me, or perhaps he was just paranoid in general.

Anyhow, I didn't find work there, so I searched around for positions at other libraries, but none of them were hiring. I spent the whole day searching, so I ended up simply returning to The Fleur-de-lis for a drink and some conversation. I ended up speaking with another patron by the name of William Francis Folger, who informed me that his older brother, Benjamin Francis Folger, owned a printing shop and could use a new press operator. I suppose it's better than a factory; I'll have to visit him tomorrow.

Well, here's to one more night in this hotel, and one step closer to an apartment. Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander

[thediaryofmarcusreubenalexander]

Day 0:

Dear Diary,

I finally made it to the City of Saints! I can't belive I actually made it, especially given how rickety that boat was. Speaking of, the sight when I first stepped onto the quay was remarkable: immigrants and travelers from all around, gathered in this one spot. It really puts things into perspective.

Anyhow, I made sure to quickly find a place to stay. It's just a hotel for now, but I'll start searching for something more permanent tomorrow. I've heard that many a great mind has gotten their start in an apartment here in New Amsterdam. Perhaps I'll be among them someday!

After setting down my luggage in my room, I went out to explore the surrounding streets. I managed to find a lovely coffee house by the name of The Fleur-de-lis; I'm sure I'll be going there often. Right next door to The Fleur-de-lis is a pawnbroker, run by a man named John. I bought a well-worn silk hat from him; it's not really my style, but I thought it'd be nice to have a souvenir of the day I first arrived here.

I hope to get an early start tomorrow, so I better get to sleep. Good night.

Signed, Marcus Reuben Alexander