Sept 19th It is a busy day in Boston the
Malitia of the country comes out. I walked
out & see G. A. Smith & Br Phelps returned
home & wrote in my Journal. In the afternoon
I went onto the parade ground & saw the militia
display, & sham fight &c it was quite a splended
appearance, returned home quite weary
~ Wednesday
20th I spent most of the day in writing[.] in
the evening I went to visit the selebrated
Ph[r]enologist O. S. Fowler of Boston He exami[ne]d
the heads of the Twelve the following is the
written character he gave me
W. Woodruff
Is a man of great action both phisical & Mental
does up things in a hurry, lets nothing sleeps
in his hands, great resolution, steem Boat
speeb, loves his liberty is not bisposed [disposed] to be
subject to the ^will or^ dictations of others, has great
independance, difficulties ownly stimulate
to increas action goes in for the largest
liberty of the mass, is a democratt of the
old school, prefers utility to Beauty and
substence to shadow show. Highly social
fond of family & friends, has few secrets
of his own, tells the plain unvarnished
facts. fears but little danger, Is not
Irresolut, desides & procedes at once to
action, his first thoughts are always best
does up his own religious thinking, does
not hang his hopes upon the faith of others
believes but little, without proof, is a two
edged sword if he does not cut one way does
another He makes positive friends or positive
enemies, has much severity, is sarcastic
bitter in his reproaches means to do right
~ Tuesday
Sept 19th It is a busy day in Boston the
Malitia of the country comes out. I walked
out & see G. A. Smith & Br Phelps returned
home & wrote in my Journal. In the afternoon
I went on to the parade ground & saw the militia
display, & sham fight &c it was quite a splended
appearance, returned home quite weary
~ Wednesday
20th I spent most of the day in writing. in
the evening I went to visit the selebrated
Phenologist O. S. Fowler of Boston He examined
the heads of the Twelve. the following is the
written character he gave me
W. Woodruff
Is a man of great action both phisical & Mental
does up things in a hurry, lets nothing sleeps
in his hands, great resolution, Steem Boat
speed, loves his liberty is not disposed to be
subject to the will or dictations of others, has great
independance, difficulties ownly stimulate
to increas action goes in for the largest
liberty of the mass, is a democratt of the
old school, prefers utility to Beauty and
substence to show. Highly social
fond of family & friends, has few secrets
of his own, tells the plain unvarnished
facts. fears but little danger, Is not
Irresolut, desides & procedes at once to
action, his first thoughts are always best
does up his own religious thinking, does
not hang his hopes upon the faith of others
believes but little, without proof, is a two
edged sword if he does not cut one way does
another, he makes positive friends or positive
enemies, has much severity, is sarcastic
bitter in his reproaches means to do right
"Journal (January 1, 1843 – December 31, 1844)," September 19, 1843 - September 20, 1843, The Wilford Woodruff Papers, accessed April 25, 2024, https://wilfordwoodruffpapers.org/p/l46