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A Fly on the Wall … With the Founding Fathers
February 26, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Today, once again, my mind wandered to the concept of being a “fly on the wall” and so I thought I would add another post to my ongoing series. Truth be told, the event that most stirs this desire in me is when I think of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien sitting and having a pint together in some slightly smoky pub but, such a moment is not to be found in a newspaper. However, as I thought of these 2 great thinkers and fast friends, I was reminded of another exceptional mind who also expressed a great appreciation for beer and so, it was I am sure, no coincidence that I noticed the following in a copy of THE AMERICAN JOURNAL & GENERAL ADVERTISER from Sept. 9, 1779…
“Address To the Inhabitants of Ireland”, signed in type at its conclusion: B. Franklin. Versailles, October 4, 1778.
It begins: “The misery & distress which your ill-fated country has been so frequently exposed to & has so often experienced…has most sincerely affected your friends in America and has engaged the most serious attention of Congress…”
While I am sure Ben Franklin & C.S. Lewis did not hold all things in common, they both certainly pressed boundaries and inspired those they brushed elbows with and those who could only admire them from afar. Perhaps we can all raise a glass to these gems of the past.
The reason I collected it: The State, 1892…
February 23, 2024 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The odd, dramatic, and unusual have always been a draw for me, and when I encountered The State (dated Nov. 9, 1892) from Richmond, Virginia, I knew it had to be part of the private collection.
The entire front page is a celebration of the election of Grover Cleveland as President in 1892. It is done in a very dramatic fashion, featuring a huge engraving of a rooster (once the symbol of the Democratic party) that stretches from just below the dateline to the bottom of the front page. There are also insets of both Cleveland and Adlai Stevenson. Of curious interest is the lack of a headline or any text.
The condition is worn as was typical with newsprint of the era, and with various archival repairs, but wow, what a wonderful issue for display!
“The Idea of a President” – Food for thought on Presidents’ Day…
February 19, 2024 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
When you hear the phrase, “The Idea of a President”, does anything come to mind?
It is no secret my wife loves Disney World. I love(ish) it to, because “a happy wife makes a happy life”, and there are few things more enjoyable than watching her delight in the escapism that is Disney World. If you’ve never been there, the combination of the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, enhanced by Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs makes for a splendid vacation. Of course, at this point some might be wondering where I stand in regard to Disney’s recent political engagement, but that very question is the reason for this post:
THE HALL OF PRESIDENTS
Nestled in the middle of The Magic Kingdom is a colonial-style building which houses The Hall of Presidents. Walt Disney was a huge fan of Abraham Lincoln in particular, and of the American concept of a “President” in general. Without going into detail about the presentation itself, simply said, I can’t recommend it enough. Thanks to my wife I have had the opportunity to view the program during multiple administrations over the past (many) decades, and I have never failed to walk away with a greater appreciation for the one in office – not due to my alignment with their politics or their wisdom-buoyed leadership, but because of the office itself and the weight of responsibility which those who hold the office inherit. It truly is a fantastic presentation!
I was recently reminded of this point when I came across an issue of The New York Times dated March 16, 1976 which included an inside article headed: “Disney’s Hall of Presidents Not ’76 Politics”. As I read through the article and viewed the corresponding photos my appreciation for “the presidency” itself was lifted, and I was encouraged, at least for a day, to set aside my political arrows and thank God for all those who have, are, and will serve, 1st-hand, “The Idea of a President”.
May HE give them the wisdom to honor the position, as I honor them. Happy Presidents’ Day!
They Put It In Print – The 12th President of The United States…
February 16, 2024 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Who was the 12th president of The United States of America? Okay, perhaps your high school civics teacher didn’t require you to memorize their names in chronological order, but in case they did I’ll give you a little more time so you can run through them starting with Washington (hint, you’ll need more than both hands to count them out).
At this point I’m sure many have opted to simply do a quick internet search to “remember”. Cheating??? No judgement here. Do you have your answer?
Here goes…
So, did you come up with rolyat yrahcaz (the name is spelled backwards so your eyes wouldn’t easily notice it while reading the 1st two paragraphs)? However, NO! Sorry.
The one who was elected to be the 12th president refused to be inaugurated on the given day (March 4, 1849) since it was scheduled to be held on a Sunday. Being a “religious man”, he felt it improper to take the oath of office on the Christian Sabbath. Left with the unacceptable dilemma of having the top seat in the land left vacant, albeit for a short time, David Rice Atchison was sworn in to serve as “president for a day”. How do we know? The National Intelligencer for March 10, 1849 put it in print:
While the state of Missouri (Atchison’s home state) affirms this, the official website of the Senate of the United States says otherwise – and provides their reasoning.
Yet, who is right? I’m not a political scholar, but if accuracy of information provides a clue this same “official” article also says this rumor 1st appeared in the March 12th issue of the Alexandria Gazette… and we know for a fact this to be false. Again, how do we know? Our newly discovered issue is dated two days prior.
I love this collectible!
Valentine’s Day – So Many Entertainment Choices…
February 12, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Starting the end of the 1st week in January stores everywhere begin to take on a pink hue, and raspberry chocolates become the norm in every candy aisle. These changes are a reminder to start planning for mid-February. Attitudes towards Valentine’s Day vary widely, and both sides of the spectrum have legitimate arguments. After 30+ years, Guy and I have decided that going out on Valentine’s Day isn’t a great option for us as we always experience subpar food at a highly elevated price. So, we have begun to choose to have a “date night” at home. With this in mind I was thinking through some older rom-coms to set the mood. Obvious choices came to mind such as “While You Were Sleeping” – along with a few more obscure picks like “Dan in Real Life”, which, if you have not seen this movie, is the perfect combo of family, love and humor. Don’t miss it. And then there are movies which are perfect for both romance and whole family viewing such as “Beauty and the Beast”, the animated version. As you ponder your plans for Valentine’s Day, just remember, you can’t go wrong with a great movie, popcorn and a good bottle of wine (or sparkling cider), so, start planning now and have a delightful Valentine’s Day.
Capturing the Vibe… Science, Invention, Exploration & Industry from the 1920’s…
February 9, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Nerdy things this month in our continuing series, “Capturing the Vibe” where we try to imagine what the world felt like to a newspaper reader from the past by immersing ourselves in their “vibe of the day”. This month we explore an issue of Scientific American from the 1920’s which documents the latest and greatest inventions of the day.
In this regard…
Some Scientific American issues have front color covers which always grab my attention.
These ladies are ladies are repurposing airplane struts as toys for tots …
Artists visit the zoo to sketch real live animals …
The Panama Canal has new terminals added…
Perhaps the beginning of Geothermal? …
And finally, on the back page a beautiful color ad for Federal Motor Trucks.
The World Takes Note… Has Amelia Earhart’s Plane Been Located?
February 5, 2024 by Laura Heilenman · Leave a Comment
Many historical events spark one’s imagination… the Wright Brothers’ 1st flight from the windy dunes of Kitty Hawk, NC… Charles Lindbergh’s courage crossing the Atlantic and all the drama that ensued… followed by Amelia Earhart’s “last” flight and mysterious disappearance. As of this month, we have a new intriguing event to add to this list of aviation stories. According to TIME Magazine: “A 16-person team led by Deep Sea Vision, a company in South Carolina, used an unmanned, underwater drone to scan more than 5,200 square miles of ocean floor between September and December of 2023. Sonar data reviewed in December revealed an image that the company’s founder, Tony Romeo, believes is Earhart’s plane, Lockheed 10-E Electra, that she was flying when she went missing in 1937. ”
Like previous news items, we will just have to wait to know the final outcome, however, some of us who love the feeling of adventure and daring wrapped up in the stories of early flight may want to revisit those heroes of the past as we wait with baited breath for news of that famous Lockheed Electra.