Saturday, March 29, 2003
BOTTLES:MILK
I'm old enough to remember when butter was really butter and our milk supplies arrived early each morning, delivered to our front porch in two quart-sized clear-glass bottles.
Light sleepers heard the milk man when he made his deliveries around dawn and he was an important member of the community. The earlier ones represented a family, very often, who happened to own and few cows and operated a milk delivery route in the community. Later, large dairy plants were established and the milk man lost some of the finer things we associate with his place in our lives.
Prior to the l920's milk bottle were plain and bottle purchased by one dairy ended up being and re-used by others. To counteract that sometimes rather costly situation, many of even the smaller dairies had their own bottles made.. Some were very plain with just the simple name of the dairy either made into or printed upon he glass so they could not be confused with others. Others were elaborately marked. The idea was for them to be returned which we did simply by placing them on the front porch as “empties” to be picked up by the route man . They were used repeatedly until too badly chipped. Many disappeared because they were found to be convenient for storing may household and hobby liquids. It is thought that many of the bottles found by todays; collectors are from this general household use which set them apart in isolated areas and kept them intact.
Milk bottles were made of a thick, clear glass as a rule although some went for shades of blue and green and most were topped with a heavy, beveled ring at the top of the narrowed neck. Most dairies made regular deliveries in either pint or quart- sized bottles. Commercial dairy firms offered cottage cheese in large-mouthed bottles, as well and those ,too, have become collector's items.
In those days when you allowed a bottle of milk to set still a while a layer of thick cream formed on the upper surface. Some dairy firms offered what they called “cream bottle” which sported what looked like a small glass cup pinched into the upper two inches of the bottle neck. That made it easier for the homemaker to “skim off” the cream with a spoon or small ladle..
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We liked to shake the bottles to re-mix the contents..
That was before homogenization was discovered and the quality of the product was, most often measured by the amount of cream which came to the top. One learned, I recall, to hold a hand over the upper opening because the cardboard cap inserted in the beveled edge was not always that secure when a bottle was shaken. It was best to take that precaution
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In winter months a different approach was needed.. Milk, placed on the porch in the early dawn hours of a really cold night, presented a weird sight in the morning. The cardboard caps were raised out of the neck of the bottles on a inch or two plug of frozen milk, at least, the watery portion thereof. The bottles had to be decapitated with a knife and stirred a bit before they were ready to flow well – even then, with small flakes of ice in the contents.
Next came square bottles for better packaging and handling Then we went to non-returnable plastic and cardboard containers such as we now use.
If you have a few “worthless” milk bottles among your belongings, give them a second look. If you happen to have bottles a collector wants, he will pay real money for them.
A.L.M. March 27, 2003 [c615wds]
Friday, March 28, 2003
TIME LINE: JOHN CRAIG
1709 - Born - August 17th, in the parish of Donagor, County Antrim, Ireland - John Craig - destined to be the first to Presbyterian minister to the people of the area which has come to be known as the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia.
1732 - John Craig graduated with and M.A .in the College of Edinburgh, Scotland. Later, speaking of that time: "America was then much in my mind, accompanied with the argument that service would be most pleasing and acceptable where most needful and wanting, which raised in me a strong desire to see that part of the world."
1734 - John Craig embarked from Larne Harbor, Ireland June 10th,1733 and after 67 days at sea, landed at New Castle, Delaware August17th - which was also his 25th Birthday.
1737 - In September John Craig was ordained as a Minister of the Presbyterian Church. He had "entered on trials" and was licensed by the Presbytery of Donegal, having read under the Rev. John Thompson during several years of teaching school.
1738 - During 1727-38 James Anderson formed a Christian Society among settlers in "the Triple Forks of the Shenando" in the Virginia wilderness. Members of this society sent petitions to the Synod of Philadelphia asking for a minister in 1738 and l739.
1740 - Rev. John Thompson followed James Anderson briefly as a supply minister. In reply to the petition of l739, Rev. John Craig was sent to the congregation of the valley. Ordained in 1740.
He, and his congregation, built the sanctuary in which worship services are held today - Augusta Stone Presbyterian Church, Fort Defiance, Virginia.
A.L.M. March 28, 2003 [c282wds]
Thursday, March 27, 2003
DREAM: FRAME
On the night of September 22, 1870, a farmer known as Samuel Frame went to bed and during that Fall night experienced a dream which he later said was "sharp", by which we can conclude he meant it was seen in clear detail as to what action should be taken at once.
In the dream Frame told his family that and angel had appeared before him.. In the background, he said, there was a constant flow of rushing waters. The angel instructed Samuel Frame as to actions which must be taken promptly.""Take your wheat from the mill!”
Samuel frame took the dream very seriously. He was a religious man, an saw it as his duty to share his he heaven-sent warning he had received with his neighbors. He had to warn them of an impending flood. Such a thing could ruin all of them, because they, like Frame, had their wheat crop in storage a Palmer's Mill, on Middle River. They all stored grains at Palmer's Mill where it would be ground into flour later as needed. Apparently it was the policy of the mill to store farmer's grain, possibly for a small fee and payment for the stored grain was made when it was ground into a salable product.
It is not recorded that any neighbor actually laughed at Samuel Fame's prediction of a flood, but they told him he could take his grain out if he wished but that they would rather not undertake all that unnecessary labor.. It was a large task, too, but Sam Frame got it done that very day.. He redeemed all of his wheat crop and stored it on his own farm near what is now called Spring Hill in Augusta County away from the quiet waters of Middle River.
The next day torrential rains changed that stream into a raging torrent! No doubt there must have been some heavy rainfall up river and when, combined with what fell that day, turned a Middle River to a force that tore away portions of Palmer's Mill and sent them tumbling downstream toward Shenandoah River waters. All; stocks of wheat were lost. Only that of Samuel Frame was saved, stored elsewhere on the urging of an angel appearing in a dream.
A granddaughter of Samuel Frame, Elizabeth Carson, who had heard the story of the angel's warning many times when she was a girl., had marker placed on the Frame farm. Present-day residents of the area seem to think the maker remembering Samuel Frame's dream is not on the site it was intended to be placed – in front of the old Frame house .They say the real site was half a mile down the road nearer to the statement called Spring Hill.
` The story is still being told by Frame family descendants still in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia section; some in the McLean area of northern Virginia, and by others in Richmond, who recall an actual case in their their own family history wherein a man was ”warned by an angel to go another way”. He obeyed and not only witnessed , but became part of, a miracle.
A.L.M March 25, 2003 [c534wds]
Wednesday, March 26, 2003
ABSENT MEMBERS
Is attendance at your local civic club meetings lagging a bit? Would you like a way to assure regular attendance perhaps, even bring in new members?
A workable form is available in “Code of Virginia”, published by William F. Richie, Richmond. Va. by reason of the act of the General Assembly passed on the 15th Day of August 1849. Turn to page 287 in the 800-page tome.
Every town of any consequence throughout the Commonwealth, shall, in time, deem a fire company to be essential, the Code tells us. In order to form such a group “not less than twenty or more than sixty-four persons” residing in that town could form themselves into a company ”for extinguishing fire in buildings”. Note the word reads “:person”,too. Women were not excluded, but there is nothing to suggest that subject even came up. The number suggested assured one that the group would be large enough to share the work load.
The founding group then was to write a document stating their desire to join together.. This formality accomplished, they elected officers and drew up ground rules in keeping with state ordinances.
Within one month he selection of that person to be designated “Commanding Officer”of each regiment who must sent to the Court with a list of all members, plus a written statement the condition of its engine, hose, and other implements. Should the C. O. fail to make this report within thirty days he was subject to a fine of not less than three nor more than ten dollars.
The local fire company became a sort of club.. While still enrolled in the malitia , they were exempt from the performance of military duties, and not subject to fine for missing musters. This applied only so long as they remained members and kept their gear in good condition. If not, they were recalled to military service.
Members were expected to “attend upon any alarm of fire” in the town and to:endeavor to extinguish such fire.” He also had to attend all regular meetings, plus special gatherings held in April and October to :examine the state of the engine.,hose and other equipment. It was a good time for fund raising, I dare say,. And , also a time for practice and demonstration of abilities. The Commanding Officer was to report any absences and members were fined “not less than fifty cents nor more than ten dollars” for their transgressions.
A definite pecking order was prescribed.. The town council named a “Principle Engineer” who, together with the appointed “Fire Wardens”, and the “Commanders” of all fire companies “deemed necessary locally as long as they were not repugnant to the laws of the state”.
Specifics were plainly stated in the Code. ” When a fire shall break out in the town, the Principal Engineer,and his Fire Wardens shall go immediately to the place such fire and carry with them suitable badges of their office. The Principal Engineer was the man in charge. Fire Wardens ,in assigned numerical order, would assume his powers if, for some reason, he could not function.
He had complete authority over all persons present. He appointed the stations at which each member was to work. It was he who decided the details of the operation necessary to extinguish the fire, to remove things from the buildings and to be guardian of the same. And he was there to suppress any disorder if a person at a fire shall refuse or neglect to obey his orders.. The fine for such an offense was set at five dollars.
The Principal Engineer “may direct the pulling down of any fence, house or other things which he judges necessary to stop the spread of the flames, and for this purpose may require such assistance as needed from all persons present as he thinks necessary. ”If it was your house they pulled down, you had a right to enter suit so the town might pay the owner damages. text of he code was. at that point, loaded and pointed out that said suits could not be brought for property “which would have been destroyed by fire if it had not been pulled down”
If any member wished to withdrawn from the club, he faced several problems. He was fined for missed meetings, for not not keeping his equipment in good condition, and he, or they, because entire companies could be so charged, were subject to all military duties.
Mess up on the fire line, Buster, and you're busted back to the barracks, boy!
A.L.M. March 25, 2003 [c764wds]
Tuesday, March 25, 2003
EASY DOES IT
Events are moving too fast in the Mid-East for some of us to keep in touch.
Certainly, by now, there are other members of the U.N. who realize how meaningless the organization has become and who might wish to be associated in some way with the efforts bring made to give the organization new life..
Let's assume that the war continues to move with, at least, part of the alacrity with which it has thus far., Will more nations feel the might want to be a part of ridding the world of Saddam Hussein's crowd? If the war does not bog down at Baghdad which is entirely possible when urban fighting techniques become involved, some nations may be moved to some second thinking. They may see advantages in supporting the coalition. I find it interesting that Poland has taken a bit of affront as to the fact that some of her two hundred soldiers actively engaged in fighting in Iraq, have been identified by the media - both British and American - as being part of the U.S. Forces and actually pictured under an American flag rather than the Polish banner. If all goes well in the next few days, I think we will begin to see more such waffling, for “me too” positions.
Chiraq and Putin are both hesitating for economic reasons, I think. They have large financial holdings in Iraq and cannot be expected to drain it all away by erasing the Hussein people who are supposed to repay the money owed them for services rendered in the past few years. If they can avoid being seen to be openly if they can avoid doing so. If Saddam Hussein does well the first few weeks it will encourage our Clinton-era decision to “bring our boys home” as we did from Somalia and other touchy areas as soon as we had casualties.
Saddam seems to be counting on us doing the same thing again, give up and go home. Clinton followed whatever the popular polls reported and the noisy group wanted to bring the boys home. He did. I don't think Bush has that in mind at all..
Chiraq and Putin are paying attention to their investments in Iraq , and understandably so, to a degree. In time, I think, they will each find way to seek to reverse portions of their views, especially if there is any arrangement whereby their costs may be deflected a bit with revenue from captured oil fields , such as those at Basra, which will back in full production a month from now. Politicians are, however, thin-skinned in so many petty things, and either and both Putin or Chiraq , unknown entities as they both really are, may not react in what we call a “sensible” fashion.
Can such “deals” be set up? Would they be legal?
There is a new face on the Palestinian front, too. It appears that the Clown Prince of Palestine, one Yasher Arafat has, at long last, been downsized and some of his powers given to others. That change, alone, should spark some new interest in establishing peace and homeland security in the Holy Land area for both the Palestinians and the Jews.
Changes are taking effect quickly in so many areas in these post-Ides days of March, that the new month of April is almost sure to be a real quandary for decision makers. Unusual amounts of patience and understanding are going to be called for in the near future both from leadership of entire nations as well as from the average citizen thereof. Easy will do it best.
A.L.M. March 24, 2003 [c611wds]
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Monday, March 24, 2003
YOUR FUTURE
Tell me. Do you know of a fortune telling scheme which depends on reading wood grain? Is there such a specialized school of skulduggery?
There must be. Certainly, after all these years of looking at the unending variety of grains in wooden surfaces, mankind must have found that he could see pictures, figures, demons, signs and omens of all sorts therein - in every convoluted whorl, every tangled twist and turn, jiggle or flaw - something to be used to reveal what is about to happen for someone who wants to believe it can do so and who has a few loose dollars handy.
Right now in relatively down times, when employed and income are critical and old jobs are being modified, mutated or shipped overseas, might be as good as any time too open up a shop, which will, in this case, of course, be called a “studio” where one can give authentic wood grain readings concerning the future - for a fee. A few discarded boards from the local lumber yard and you are in business! Every squiggle, properly interpreted by skillful spokesmen, can help keep the shekels pouring to the family coffers, and I don' t think you will have much trouble building a vocabulary and script which clients will accept and believe. After all, they still fall for the tea leaf, glass ball and cards routines, and this one is so closely identified with everyone. From that moment on, they can even read their own futures in any piece of polished wood every time they see a piece of wood - a table, chair, bench,. bar, bar stool, bedstead or old, wooden nickels
Arthur Brisbane, who used to write a page of market prognostications quite successfully for the old Hearst newspapers has been quoted as having said, when asked how he predicted the markets so accurately, that he had only one rule. When the market was up he warned people they were going down, when the prices were down, he rejoiced with them on the theme of prices going upward! People felt he was never wrong. That' s a firm foundation and the sort of thing you can build with a good wood-grain counseling service. You too, can be a sharp market voice in wood futures.
Start right away. Open your modest “studio” in a rapid-traffic area. Offer readings in pine, oak, cherry, walnut , mahogany and oriental teak specialties, if you wish, but get started soon. Make this the wave of your future! Then, when business is booming... and then, a short time later, when doing such readings demands too much your valuable time, franchise the whole thing worldwide and exile yourself to luxuries on the tropical island of your fortune teller's choice!
The desktop before me, as I type, has an interesting grain – a large, lake-like pattern of wavy ovals, washing outward in concentric circles, as if I had taken your suggestion that I was to go jump in the very center of the lake!
A. L.M. March 22, 2003 [c513wds]
Sunday, March 23, 2003
ART LESSON
Art happens rather than exists
It is taking place even as you view it. It is not a simple, one-time thing and different people will see the same item in different ways. Some will deny that what they see is, indeed, “art”. Andy Worhol's painting of a Campbell's Tomato Soup can might be such a case for some. An army friend of mine painted water colors of various pieces of GI gear, and I remember one in particular - of a pair of beat-up army shoes. Anyone with army experiences looking at that picture with their sagging tongues and frayed laces re-lives hiking agonies other people do not know. To him, they were interactive. The appearance of those shoes affected him inside. They constitute a form of ”art”in so doing.
Something which does nothing to our inside-self cannot be “art”. When you look at a thing - a real setting, a person or painted drawn or photographed portrait of some type, and you feel an inner compulsion to remember someone, an event long departed, you are in the presence of art.
Art appreciation is not something you learn. We might well intensify it to an extend by study and participation in a hobby or related occupation. The truth is that everyone has a degree of built-in art appreciation.
Just as seeing a picture of those GI shoes reminded me of countless agonies in forced marchin, so the food container makes people remember good and bad things they have eaten or times when they had o face genuine hunger.– all of these things have a direct bearing on us as we view them. We see them individually, too so no one else will see them in the same guise in which they may appear to us.
We all share a common “memory”.
We , as infants and young toddlers developed an awareness of the world which was an ever-widening world within real bounds.. We lived in what might be called a utopia, in a sense. We lived perfection and learned daily how,in life a bit of that was taken away way each day and we found that perfection had virtually disappeared. Yet we remember that time and we long to have perfection rekindled, revived, restored and held close.
Our yearning for art - a standard inclined toward perfection - reaches back in the lives of each of us seeking to find the perfect existence we once knew - however briefly. In art we are striving to bring back the essence of things we knew in perfection before we obtained intelligence and knowledge with set limit to things. We have retained the basics - breathing and other such processes to keep the physical mechanism functioning adequately, but something rather intangible was lost along the way.
That's why I am led to think of art as an active mode adding freshness and diversity to our lives. It enable us to glance back into the perfection of early times before we became totally aware of the real world with all its troubles. Art is with us, and in many forms .
To deny it a proper place is to forsake much of our total heritage. ..
A.L.M. March 22, 2003 [c540wds]
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