Miss Ruth Baker gave a thimble party at her home
Saturday afternoon last
Samuel L. Clemens Succumbs at His Country Home
Quite a few pollock have been seen here but as yet they are not biting.
Special Sale of Handkerchiefs. Not a flimsy, good for nothing affair,
but a good handkerchief, easily worth 10c a piece.
They knew what mattered back then
those ink-stained news men at the
East Hampton Star.
A thimble party ranked above
even the death of an American icon.
And the ad men told it like it was as well –
no flimsy stuff for them.
Imagine Miss Baker and her lady guests
wielding their thimbles as they monogrammed
good handkerchiefs they bought on sale.
Perhaps they shed a tear for Clemens
and wiped their eyes with their new hankies.
Meanwhile, off shore, the wily pollock
frolic in the waves
saying Catch me if you can!
~ Sally Banks Zakariya
P O S T S C R I P T I’m in awe of how some hard cold journalistic news items became the inspiration for this delicious piece of poetic prose. Thanks Sally!
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Way It Was, 1910
Friday, April 30, 2010
The East Hampton Star
I know, I know, what happened to the other blog? Well, I don't know. So I made a new one, and hopefully, I'll write in this more than once per year. Maybe.
So today, on this fine and sunny soft spring day with the shad bushes wafting and waves pounding in the distance, I am not going to even attempt to fill in the gap rather, to excerpt a fun item published this week in the East Hampton Star.
A little background. This paper has been in existence for 125 years and maintains something of historical and geographical importance that makes reading it a joy to be savored every Thursday, when the new paper comes out.
There is a standing column called "The Way it Was..." and herein are a few of this weeks best entries. These were items published in this very paper, 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago and 25 years ago (in 1985, which blows my mind because that doesn't seem so very long ago!)
1oo years ago in 1910
--Miss Ruth Baker gave a thimble party at her home Saturday afternoon last.
--Samuel L. Clemens Succumbs at His Country Home
--The Montauk Inn--All Modern Conveniences, including hot water, heat, gas light, baths etc.
--Quite a few pollock have been seen here but as yet they are not biting.
--Cod fishing off the coast of Wainscott is at an end for the season. Swedish fisherman who came here to join the crews have departed for their homes in other parts of the country.
--Eggs Thrown into the River. Three shipments aggregating 4,700 pounds fed to fish. --The authorities decided that the products were not fit for human food. More than 100,000 eggs made up the powdered and frozen masses.
--Special Sale of Handkerchiefs. Not a flimsy, good for nothing affair, but a GOOD handkerchief, easily worth 10c a piece.
75 years ago in 1935
--A recipe for a Whole Wheat Dream Cake by Mrs. Ruth Samuells Braem has been endorsed by the Better Homes & Gardens Tasting Test Kitchen.
--Library Board Holds Interesting Meeting
--East End D.A.R. Hold East Hampton Meeting
--Miss Audria and her assistant, Miss Margaret Shott, served tea on Thuesday afternoon at the Audria Beauty Shop, following a demonstration of the Zotos machineless permanent waving given by Mr. Barker and Miss Wyness.
--Weakfish Season Is Coming Soon
--Price of the Star Goes Back to 5c Single Copy (note, it now costs $1.00)
--Every day more and more women are being executed for killing their husbands. Husband slaying is not considered a family sport any more.
50 years ago in 1960
--Coast Guard Salvages Navy Torpedo
--Circle One of the Prebyterian Church will meet at the home of Mrs. Marshall Roarick, 84 Osborne Lane. Members have been asked to bring a large pair of scissors.
--The Hamptons ladies Bowling League has completed its winter season. Standings, in order, are: Four Leaf Clovers, Strikettes, Pink Ladies, Harborlites, Holy Bowlers, Anchor Angels, and Lucky Five.
--All New York State will "take cover" at 2:15 pm Tuesday, as Civil Defense tests public response to signals. The drill is mandatory, and when the "take cover" signal, a three minute fluctuating or warbling siren blast is sounded, the public must seek the nearest available shelter. Auto traffic will be halted.
25 years ago in 1985
--Feminists can use needles and thread too is the idea behind the next meeting of the NOW's East End Chapter. "Feminist Quiltmaking for Beginners: How to Piece Together the Patches of Your Life" will be the topic on Monday.
--Pot, pilfered flowers, and checks that didn't clear occupied East Hampton Village Police last week.
--BRAVO! to the proposed noise ordinance law--long overdue!
Not to belittle the nuisance of dogs barking, roosters crowing, Banchee boogie music, or birds in distress who undoubtedly fall silent--if not dead and over--at the sound of one, small private or commuter jet airplane taking off from the East Hampton Airport, I trust this source of the most frightening and highest possible decible measure is not overlooked in forging the new law.
~ ~ ~
I just loved that, even though it really has nothing to do with the name of my new blog, which is definitely a theme I am exploring these days. But let's extrapolate... isn't it amazing that people talked about such simple things long ago and that they were worthy of publishing in the village newspaper? The fish in season… Miss so and so's thimble party… fine quality handkerchiefs for sale and a bit of history… Mark Twain's death...
Today's headlines are much more of the times, though still quaint in keeping with all things East Hampton:
--Outrage Over Schedules and Proms
--First Quarter Was Rosy for Some
--Paintball Shoot is Off (Concerns expressed about nature preserve use)
--A Handgun, Needles and Pot (EH Village Police report--a bit more heavy duty than pot and pilfered flowers).
--A Night for Annie & Eli (An event to honor Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson who have been married for 62 years) at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor.
The featured highlight is a glorious photo on the front page by Durrell Godfrey, of a rainbow illuminating a meadow on Further Lane, an incredible piece of multi-skillionaire homes in Amaganset. (Home to Jerry Seinfeld, the Baldwins, the Spielbergs and more--Google it!)
I was lucky to see that very rainbow--it appeared like magic, as they often do, after a crazy out of the clear blue sky thunder and lightening tempest.
More to come. I promise.
love and miss you ALL!
So today, on this fine and sunny soft spring day with the shad bushes wafting and waves pounding in the distance, I am not going to even attempt to fill in the gap rather, to excerpt a fun item published this week in the East Hampton Star.
A little background. This paper has been in existence for 125 years and maintains something of historical and geographical importance that makes reading it a joy to be savored every Thursday, when the new paper comes out.
There is a standing column called "The Way it Was..." and herein are a few of this weeks best entries. These were items published in this very paper, 100 years ago, 75 years ago, 50 years ago and 25 years ago (in 1985, which blows my mind because that doesn't seem so very long ago!)
1oo years ago in 1910
--Miss Ruth Baker gave a thimble party at her home Saturday afternoon last.
--Samuel L. Clemens Succumbs at His Country Home
--The Montauk Inn--All Modern Conveniences, including hot water, heat, gas light, baths etc.
--Quite a few pollock have been seen here but as yet they are not biting.
--Cod fishing off the coast of Wainscott is at an end for the season. Swedish fisherman who came here to join the crews have departed for their homes in other parts of the country.
--Eggs Thrown into the River. Three shipments aggregating 4,700 pounds fed to fish. --The authorities decided that the products were not fit for human food. More than 100,000 eggs made up the powdered and frozen masses.
--Special Sale of Handkerchiefs. Not a flimsy, good for nothing affair, but a GOOD handkerchief, easily worth 10c a piece.
75 years ago in 1935
--A recipe for a Whole Wheat Dream Cake by Mrs. Ruth Samuells Braem has been endorsed by the Better Homes & Gardens Tasting Test Kitchen.
--Library Board Holds Interesting Meeting
--East End D.A.R. Hold East Hampton Meeting
--Miss Audria and her assistant, Miss Margaret Shott, served tea on Thuesday afternoon at the Audria Beauty Shop, following a demonstration of the Zotos machineless permanent waving given by Mr. Barker and Miss Wyness.
--Weakfish Season Is Coming Soon
--Price of the Star Goes Back to 5c Single Copy (note, it now costs $1.00)
--Every day more and more women are being executed for killing their husbands. Husband slaying is not considered a family sport any more.
50 years ago in 1960
--Coast Guard Salvages Navy Torpedo
--Circle One of the Prebyterian Church will meet at the home of Mrs. Marshall Roarick, 84 Osborne Lane. Members have been asked to bring a large pair of scissors.
--The Hamptons ladies Bowling League has completed its winter season. Standings, in order, are: Four Leaf Clovers, Strikettes, Pink Ladies, Harborlites, Holy Bowlers, Anchor Angels, and Lucky Five.
--All New York State will "take cover" at 2:15 pm Tuesday, as Civil Defense tests public response to signals. The drill is mandatory, and when the "take cover" signal, a three minute fluctuating or warbling siren blast is sounded, the public must seek the nearest available shelter. Auto traffic will be halted.
25 years ago in 1985
--Feminists can use needles and thread too is the idea behind the next meeting of the NOW's East End Chapter. "Feminist Quiltmaking for Beginners: How to Piece Together the Patches of Your Life" will be the topic on Monday.
--Pot, pilfered flowers, and checks that didn't clear occupied East Hampton Village Police last week.
--BRAVO! to the proposed noise ordinance law--long overdue!
Not to belittle the nuisance of dogs barking, roosters crowing, Banchee boogie music, or birds in distress who undoubtedly fall silent--if not dead and over--at the sound of one, small private or commuter jet airplane taking off from the East Hampton Airport, I trust this source of the most frightening and highest possible decible measure is not overlooked in forging the new law.
~ ~ ~
I just loved that, even though it really has nothing to do with the name of my new blog, which is definitely a theme I am exploring these days. But let's extrapolate... isn't it amazing that people talked about such simple things long ago and that they were worthy of publishing in the village newspaper? The fish in season… Miss so and so's thimble party… fine quality handkerchiefs for sale and a bit of history… Mark Twain's death...
Today's headlines are much more of the times, though still quaint in keeping with all things East Hampton:
--Outrage Over Schedules and Proms
--First Quarter Was Rosy for Some
--Paintball Shoot is Off (Concerns expressed about nature preserve use)
--A Handgun, Needles and Pot (EH Village Police report--a bit more heavy duty than pot and pilfered flowers).
--A Night for Annie & Eli (An event to honor Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson who have been married for 62 years) at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor.
The featured highlight is a glorious photo on the front page by Durrell Godfrey, of a rainbow illuminating a meadow on Further Lane, an incredible piece of multi-skillionaire homes in Amaganset. (Home to Jerry Seinfeld, the Baldwins, the Spielbergs and more--Google it!)
I was lucky to see that very rainbow--it appeared like magic, as they often do, after a crazy out of the clear blue sky thunder and lightening tempest.
More to come. I promise.
love and miss you ALL!
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