LookingLand

Let's see ~ a list of things that might make a book delightful: under 150 pages long (check), illustrations (check), George Washington (check), snow! (check), Christmas (check), Valley Forge (check!).

With a list like this, S. Weir Mitchell's A Venture in 1777 can't help but be satisfying!

Okay, so the story isn't all that much. Young Tom Markham and his twin brothers (but mostly Tom) conspire to steal an important military secret from Colonel Grimstone and relay it to Valley Forge just after Christmas. Their house is occupied by the British and they'd like very much to get rid of their unwanted guests ~ and get their father back (he is currently a prisoner of war).

Mitchell apparently enjoyed writing "historical" fiction and has a number of books set during the American Revolution and Washington's term as President. This particular little tome, he wrote for charity with the proceeds going to the Philadelphia Church Home for Children. The book isn't terribly fancy, but it does have some nice vignettes and illustrations (spot colored in cyan). The artist, unfortunately is uncredited, but you can see what nice work was done in the image below.

I have to say it was especially nice to read this simple, uplifting little story after what's been passing lately as bedtime fare. A little Mitchell is a good tonic for the ills of research. Though there is mention of the privations at Valley Forge in this book, the story is clearly written for a young audience and so the hardship and violence is kept to a minimum. That does not mean it isn't full of adventure, however, and the capture of Grimstone, especially, is a good time. I especially like Tom's sense of "fairness" in handling these matters (oh chivalry, thou art dead). Tom as a principal character is nicely restrained and his interview with Washington is the best part of the book (totally expected, of course, but also totally satisfying).

Near as I can tell, the story is entirely fictional outside of the circumstances of the war. General Washington would appear to be the only "real-life" character. I've haven't yet read any of Mitchell's Revolutionary War novels, so I don't know whether he's predisposed to adhere to much fact. His Civil War novels are certainly grounded in fact, but the historical people who appear in them generally pop in and out of scenes rather quick (much like Washington in this one).

By the way: Two amusing things about the illustration above: Tom is fifteen (nearly sixteen). In the picture he looks more like twelve! Also, do you really think Washington wore stockings at Valley Forge? Much as I like the picture, the shoes, I had to laugh at.

Tomorrow being the 200th anniversary of the man in the funny hat's birthday, I sat myself down and read something that wasn't about him getting shot (yes, it's possible to find such a book in my house, believe it or not!). This is a little book written by Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews after the turn of the century called The Perfect Tribute. I believe it was originally published in 1906, but my own personal edition, a well-tanned ugly duckling, is from 1908 (and has an owner's stamp of "J. Lewis Riggles" which amuses me).

The story is not badly written, but is bad in general. It's a fictional account of Lincoln's day at Gettysburg and how insecure he feels about his pithy little speech and how no one applauds and therefore it was a complete failure. Scholars have interesting things to say about why no one applauded, but I love to read the reactions from people who actually heard the speech (which is why I really love Gettysburg Remembers President Lincoln). But this isn't a review of that book, it's a review of Andrews' fictional account, so I will leave it at her interpretation for now.


The story goes from there back to Washington where Lincoln runs headlong into a young boy in a dither over his dying brother: a Confederate prisoner who needs a will so that he can leave his property to his sweetheart and she will therefore be forced to accept it (otherwise she's too prideful). Lincoln, being a lawyer, volunteers his services and they go to the prison where he draws up the business for the bravely suffering young man. In the course of their conversation, the soldier brings up the Gettysburg speech, which is in all the papers, and he talks about how astonishing it is, blah blah blah. And of course he says that not clapping was the perfect tribute because the words were so perfect and so solemn. He talks about how he'd like to shake the President's hand, he's so dern grateful. Then the fella kicks the bucket holding Lincoln's hand, never knowing it's him.

The story works, even if it is melodrama. Its apotheosic (is that a word? I doubt it) bent is only mildly disturbing and the depiction of the two southern boys as righteous, indignant, but well-meaning is a rather dull stereotype. But in 1906 I can certainly see the appeal and I enjoyed the story despite my own prejudices.

So happy birthday, Mr. Lincoln. Enjoy your celebration year!

from LookingLand.com

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got a last-minute ticket to the Vatican Splendors exhibit last night. considering that at this rate i will never get to the real Vatican, this was a nice chance to see some very cool pieces, including a few that have never been exhibited before. it was especially nice to see pieces from the collection that belonged to Pope John Paul II (his pastoral staff was especially wonderful).



votive plaque from the tomb of Saint Peter
i love museums and looking at old crap (right?). i was also excited to see numerous items from the pontificate of Blessed Pius IX, who was Pope during much of the Victorian era (1846-78) and the longest reigning pope (John Paul II comes in a close second). also, there were some delicious hand-written books and wonderful bits and pieces from all over the world. all in all a good deal of feasting for the eyeballs was had.

not feeling terribly creative otherwise. i have to work on my brother's gallery now. gotta get that done.

happy wednesday all!

: D

sorry about random goofiness ~ if anybody's been seeing posts come and go in a weird way from me. i've been tinkering.

please tell me i did not just spend the last couple of days rebuilding the Reconstruction website (which i destroyed by accident some months ago).

oh well, i guess i did. and now i am rebuilding the Here There Be Monsters Press site.

the good news is: it's looking pretty fab. i'll share later when there's something there to see and i've figured out what i want to put in the menu.

rainy rainy rainy here. but i have muchly enjoyed my first of all fridays off.

oh, and: it should be blackberry season all year 'round.

: D

picture of the day is a little bit of ars moriendi for you (i have death on my mind).

this is from a Book of Hours
belonging to King Rene of Anjou
circa 1475

i don't think i have plugged this webcomic, and since i follow it, i prolly ought to!


The Dreamer is a fun fantasy-time-travel thing in which a contemporary girl (Bea), sleepwalks into the past to the American Revolution. goofy as the concept is, it works. the artist lora innes draws professionally (in fact, this series is her full-time gig at the moment). it's fun stuff ~ the art has great energy, and the story is kinda a riot if you're into history, etc. it's the kind of work that makes me want to just chuck it all and wash windows for a living.

enjoy!

meanwhile, i'm off to work on something this morning. anything.

so much to do. so little time.

: D

i had the most amazing orange ginger pork chop for dinner. it was sooooo good. i'm not kidding. this was a pork chop broiled in the ovens of nirvana by the hands of seraphim. pigs are lining up to martyr themselves just to make this pork chop, it's so good. i feel like making a "pork chop" tag just to commemorate this day and for all time.

i've always loved pork chops. but i never knew it could be this good.

[does a snoopy "sup-sup-suppertime" dance all over the house in post-pork chop ecstasy].

anyone on my flist who has a Lunds in their neighborhood should go immediately and get a pork chop of their very own. and if you don't live near Lunds, you should get in your car and begin a pilgrimmage now. they won't last!!!

no seriously, it was a really good pork chop. like, it never made it home. i ate it in the car before i'd driven five blocks from the store. it was scandalously good. i almost ate the bones.

uh....

here's another picture of Fort Snelling! cool huh? yeah, that's really why i am posting.



this guys just wishes
he had a pork chop

ironichles asked me to take pictures of the sherlock holmes display on the fourth floor of the library where i work. this was a temporary display that used to be in a different library on campus, but i guess they liked it so well, they wanted to keep it around a while. it was much nicer in its original space because it was with its actual book and art collection (a lot of really cool stuff ~ and none of which came over).


it's a hard space to photograph, so these pictures aren't great, but it shows some of the fun little details including holmes' chemistry set, drug paraphernalia, the bearskin rug, the slipper on the mantel, etc. it may be too hard to see, but the stuff on the secretary is fun: telegrams about the baker street irregulars, a photo of a peg-legged man, etc. i couldn't get a good shot of the fainting couch on which the violin is resting. i suppose i could have stood on a chair and tried to do it, but i was shy.

anyway, enjoy!

( more when you click! )

one day i will have some money and i will buy fireman toys because, c'mon, these are the coolest things ever!


from code 3 westchester collectibles: get outta town!
uncle sam wouldn't object to me spending my tax refund on toys, would he?

i don't really need to eat or clothe myself!

i am making a fireman paper doll (circa 1880s or thereabouts). you can see the preliminary undressed character under the cut. i ain't painted him yet and i am still working out of the details on his clothes (they are just sketched in at the moment). by the way, bachsoprano, this is the character who owns the smelly horse named Dung.

( show me the pixture! )

spiritual matters: welcome to the year of the rat! the year of the pig (my year) is over (i wasn't especially lucky, but i guess i could have been otherwise hit by a bus). and it ended on ash wednesday, which is good for me: start fresh today. went to mass at the university, which was odd ~ first time at a "triage" mass not in an actual church. also, the fastest mass i've even witnessed (twenty minutes, tops). but father jim was a personable fellow and not the least bit slapdish and the crowd who showed up was respectful and serious. it was nice to see so many young people (moslty men!) coming to celebrate. i haven't been to confession, so i received ashes, but no Communion. i'm going to try to be prepared for confession this saturday. please pray for me, my flist friends who are thus inclined!

update on the mugshot from yesterday: my friend mooey did some research on Claude F. Hankins. she found out some further information about his case: namely, that Claude shot an older man who made nasty advances on him (yick), that he served 10 years in san quentin (not 4), and that after he got out of prison, he married, had a family, and lived to a ripe old age, dying in 1965. photographs are so evocative. the paths they take you down are filled with such pathos. i am sad for Claude because of his childhood lost, but hopeful for him that the remainder of his life was full.

fun projects for all: gwyn_hwyfar is doing this fun book meme. i hope other people on my flist will also do it! i'll try to take pictures as well.

progress of the day: i'm off to go draw right this minute. anxious to get posting, but i want to make sure i can get over the hump of the eight-page slump (i'm on page 6 currently). i recycled old art for the last three pages, so i'm not 100% sure i like it, but i don't want to get bogged in self-criticism.

meanwhile, go check out Loyalty & Liberty from the fabulous redcoatcat. if you dig historical dramas, this is an online wonderful graphic novel set in the late 18th century (American Revolution! lobsters! tea parties, boston-style! cats in gaiters!) with exceptional painterly artwork!


p.s. all you midwesterners suffering from too much snow: SEND IT TO MINNESOTA! : o p