Report: The Pilgrims
Subject: History
By: Nicholas
Grade: 97%
First of all, to know the pilgrims; you need to know who they were. When you here the word pilgrim, what do you think of? Would you think of people wearing black with golden buckle shoes, or perhaps people sharing thanksgiving with the Indians? Well, as popular as these are, they are all incorrect.
A Pilgrim is, by definition “Someone who travels a great distance for religious reasons.” As of now you are probably just dying inside waiting to ask me, “Why did they come here?” Well the answer you probably know all to well “Religious freedom.” Answer correct, but it is not sufficient
A good way to answer this would be, they were in England; prosecuted for a mere prayer. They’re way to stop this senseless prosecution? Escape England; but, who would organize all of this?
William Bradford, Was born in 1590 in a small Yorkshire farming community in Austerfield, England. Sadly for Bradford, both of his parents would die during his younger years. Now, I would rather not bore you, nor depress you anymore than I have so lets move on shall we?
The Mayflower is a simple answer that every body is told. They left on a ship called the Mayflower. Setting out for all of there freedoms in a distant land. It has taken them months to plan this. This plan would take months; months of preparation, collecting food, and every drop of clean water they could carry.
In America the pilgrims faced every terrible thing possible. Icy cold winters, starvation, and on top of all, disease. Really the fact that half of the pilgrims went out searching for any riches they could, instead of searching for basic supplies didn’t help at all. The time they wasted on looking for gold instead of food, water, and wood are the reason most of them died. The supplies I listed could have been used for nice warm meals, and more importantly, a nice home. It was the greed of these men that killed the pilgrims. Luckily though, the Indians would come before the next winter.
The Indians played a large role in the survival of the pilgrims. They taught vital skills to help them. Skills like hunting and planting there own food, later the pilgrims and the Indians would share the first thanksgiving together. There thanksgiving was much simpler than the thanksgiving we know today. They’re thanksgiving was peaceful and simple.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Who were the Pilgrims?
Report: Who were the Pilgrims?
Subject: History
By: Alyssa
The Pilgrims were men and women from Europe seeking religious freedom in America.
Although they did in fact make a hard voyage to the New World, they were not Pilgrims. The
word ‘pilgrim’ means someone who travels a great distance to a sacred or holy place for
religious practices. Technically America, the New World, was not a sacred place.
In 1620 the Pilgrims came to America on board the Mayflower. They came to the New World for religious freedom, but they were supposed to be a fishing colony. It was getting hard for the
Pilgrims to send fish back and forth between here and Europe. In time, the Pilgrims found the Indians and began to trade for beaver and otter furs. It was a lot easier to just send the furs to Europe instead of fish.
There were three leaders of the Pilgrims; William Bradford, William Brewster, and John Carver. They left Europe because of religious persecution. They didn’t want to practice their beliefs in secrecy. The Mayflower was the ship in which the Pilgrims came to America on. There is no real record of the build of the Mayflower because there were no paintings or records of it, but it was a three mast ship.
Things were hard in the New World. Disease was abundant, the people were too weak to fight it off. The food and water was lacking because of the people using it up and because Europe was no longer getting what they sent food and water for. They couldn’t really grow food either, because the soils weren’t fertile enough, or nobody was capable of doing it.
For the sick, it was getting worse and worse. The seasons were harsh and the shelters they stayed in were quite drafty. Nobody could make adequate shelters for the sick people. The food was also rapidly diminishing.
Subject: History
By: Alyssa
The Pilgrims were men and women from Europe seeking religious freedom in America.
Although they did in fact make a hard voyage to the New World, they were not Pilgrims. The
word ‘pilgrim’ means someone who travels a great distance to a sacred or holy place for
religious practices. Technically America, the New World, was not a sacred place.
In 1620 the Pilgrims came to America on board the Mayflower. They came to the New World for religious freedom, but they were supposed to be a fishing colony. It was getting hard for the
Pilgrims to send fish back and forth between here and Europe. In time, the Pilgrims found the Indians and began to trade for beaver and otter furs. It was a lot easier to just send the furs to Europe instead of fish.
There were three leaders of the Pilgrims; William Bradford, William Brewster, and John Carver. They left Europe because of religious persecution. They didn’t want to practice their beliefs in secrecy. The Mayflower was the ship in which the Pilgrims came to America on. There is no real record of the build of the Mayflower because there were no paintings or records of it, but it was a three mast ship.
Things were hard in the New World. Disease was abundant, the people were too weak to fight it off. The food and water was lacking because of the people using it up and because Europe was no longer getting what they sent food and water for. They couldn’t really grow food either, because the soils weren’t fertile enough, or nobody was capable of doing it.
For the sick, it was getting worse and worse. The seasons were harsh and the shelters they stayed in were quite drafty. Nobody could make adequate shelters for the sick people. The food was also rapidly diminishing.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Pilgrims, rough draft, Nick
First of all, to know the pilgrims; you need to know who they were. When you here the word pilgrim, what do you think of? Would you think of people wearing black with golden buckle shoes, or perhaps people sharing thanksgiving with the Indians? Well, as popular as these are. (Why did you stop the sentence here? It's an incomplete sentence.)
(You started a new paragraph with the rest of the last paragraph.)
They are all incorrect, a pilgrim is, by definition “Someone who travels a great distance for religious reasons.” (Why so many comas?) (Why are you starting a sentence with and?) And now you are probably just dying inside waiting to ask me(comma should be used before a sentence in parenthesis.) “Why did they come here?” Well the answer you probably know all to well “Religious freedom.” Answer correct, sufficient no not at all sufficient. (This isn't a complete sentence. It makes no sense at all.)
A good way to answer this would be. (Why is there a period when it isn't even a complete sentence?) They were in England; prosecuted for a mere prayer. There (<-- spelled wrong) way to stop this senseless prosecution? Escape England; but, who would organize all of this?
William Bradford. William Bradford (Why is this name here twice? A name is not a sentence. After proper names I believe you are supposed to have a comma, right?) was born in 1590 in a small Yorkshire farming community in Austerfield, England. Sadly for Bradford, both of his parents would die during his younger years. Now, I would rather not bore you, nor depress you anymore than I have so lets move on shall we?
You had to ask eh? Fine ill (ill or I'll?) tell you how they got here. Simple answer “the mayflower.” (Proper nouns should always be capitalized.) Good answer, (Good answer is not really needed but if you should keep it, it would be a sentence all on it's own. "They" would begin a new sentence.) they left on a ship called the mayflower. (Again, proper noun is used but not capitalized.) Setting out for all of there freedoms in a distant land. It has taken them months to plan this.
Months to get this to work, Months of collecting every morsel of food and clean water. It has all boiled down to this. One well organized, well thought out plan to leave England. When it worked and they were finally out England, they had more to face in America. (Whole paragraph needs to be restructured.)
In America the pilgrims faced every terrible thing possible. Icy cold winters, starvation, and on top of all, disease. Really the fact that half of the pilgrims went out searching for any riches they could, instead of searching for basic supplies didn’t help at all. The time they wasted on looking for gold instead of food, water, and wood are the reason most of them died.
The supplies I listed could have been used for nice warm meals, and more importantly, a nice home. It was the greed of these men that killed the pilgrims. Luckily though, the Indians would come before the next winter.
The Indians played a large role in the survival of the pilgrims. They taught vital skills to help them. Skills like hunting and planting there own food, later the pilgrims and the Indians would share the first thanksgiving together. There thanksgiving was much simpler than the thanksgiving we know today.
There (<-- spelled incorrectly.) thanksgiving was peaceful and simple. Something I wish would return to thanksgiving.
(If I were to grade this project now you wouldn't pass. Thankfully it is only a rough draft and I know you will perfect it with no problem.)
(You started a new paragraph with the rest of the last paragraph.)
They are all incorrect, a pilgrim is, by definition “Someone who travels a great distance for religious reasons.” (Why so many comas?) (Why are you starting a sentence with and?) And now you are probably just dying inside waiting to ask me(comma should be used before a sentence in parenthesis.) “Why did they come here?” Well the answer you probably know all to well “Religious freedom.” Answer correct, sufficient no not at all sufficient. (This isn't a complete sentence. It makes no sense at all.)
A good way to answer this would be. (Why is there a period when it isn't even a complete sentence?) They were in England; prosecuted for a mere prayer. There (<-- spelled wrong) way to stop this senseless prosecution? Escape England; but, who would organize all of this?
William Bradford. William Bradford (Why is this name here twice? A name is not a sentence. After proper names I believe you are supposed to have a comma, right?) was born in 1590 in a small Yorkshire farming community in Austerfield, England. Sadly for Bradford, both of his parents would die during his younger years. Now, I would rather not bore you, nor depress you anymore than I have so lets move on shall we?
You had to ask eh? Fine ill (ill or I'll?) tell you how they got here. Simple answer “the mayflower.” (Proper nouns should always be capitalized.) Good answer, (Good answer is not really needed but if you should keep it, it would be a sentence all on it's own. "They" would begin a new sentence.) they left on a ship called the mayflower. (Again, proper noun is used but not capitalized.) Setting out for all of there freedoms in a distant land. It has taken them months to plan this.
Months to get this to work, Months of collecting every morsel of food and clean water. It has all boiled down to this. One well organized, well thought out plan to leave England. When it worked and they were finally out England, they had more to face in America. (Whole paragraph needs to be restructured.)
In America the pilgrims faced every terrible thing possible. Icy cold winters, starvation, and on top of all, disease. Really the fact that half of the pilgrims went out searching for any riches they could, instead of searching for basic supplies didn’t help at all. The time they wasted on looking for gold instead of food, water, and wood are the reason most of them died.
The supplies I listed could have been used for nice warm meals, and more importantly, a nice home. It was the greed of these men that killed the pilgrims. Luckily though, the Indians would come before the next winter.
The Indians played a large role in the survival of the pilgrims. They taught vital skills to help them. Skills like hunting and planting there own food, later the pilgrims and the Indians would share the first thanksgiving together. There thanksgiving was much simpler than the thanksgiving we know today.
There (<-- spelled incorrectly.) thanksgiving was peaceful and simple. Something I wish would return to thanksgiving.
(If I were to grade this project now you wouldn't pass. Thankfully it is only a rough draft and I know you will perfect it with no problem.)
Monday, November 16, 2009
In History ... Nov. 18
Mark Twain,The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County (1865/1875)
In compliance with the request of a friend of mine, who wrote me from the East, I called on good-natured, garrulous old Simon Wheeler, and inquired after my friend's friend, Leonidas W. Smiley, as requested to do, and I hereunto append the result. I have a lurking suspicion that Leonidas W. Smiley is a myth; that my friend never knew such a personage; and that he only conjectured that if I asked old Wheeler about him, it would remind him of his infamous Jim Smiley, and he would go to work and bore me to death with some exasperating reminiscence of him as long and as tedious as it should be useless to me. If that was the design, it succeeded.
I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably by the bar-room stove of the dilapidated tavern in the decayed mining camp of Angel's, and I noticed that he was fat and bald-headed, and had an expression of winning gentleness and simplicity upon his tranquil countenance. He roused up, and gave me good-day. I told him a friend of mine had commissioned me to make some inquiries about a cherished companion of his boyhood named Leonidas W. Smiley--Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, a young minister of the Gospel, who he had heard was at one time a resident of Angel's Camp. I added that if Mr. Wheeler could tell me anything about this Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, I would feel under many obligations to him.
Simon Wheeler backed me into a corner and blockaded me there with his chair, and then sat down and reeled off the monotonous narrative which follows this paragraph. He never smiled, he never frowned, he never changed his voice from the gentle-flowing key to which he tuned his initial sentence, he never betrayed the slightest suspicion of enthusiasm; but all through the interminable narrative there ran a vein of impressive earnestness and sincerity, which showed me plainly that, so far from his imagining that there was anything ridiculous or funny about his story, he regarded it as a really important matter, and admired its two heroes as men of transcendent genius in finesse. I let him go on in his own way, and never interrrupted him once.
"Rev. Leonidas W. H'm, Reverend Le--well, there was a feller here once by the name of Jim Smiley, in the winter of '49--or may be it was the spring of '50--I don't recollect exactly, somehow, though what makes me think it was one or the other is because I remember the big flume warn't finished when he first come to the camp; but any way, he was the curiosest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever see, if he could get anybody to bet on the other side; and if he couldn't he'd change sides. Any way that suited the other man would suit him--any way just so's he got a bet, he was satisfied. But still he was lucky, uncommon lucky; he most always come out winner. He was always ready and laying for a chance; there couldn't be no solit'ry thing mentioned but that feller'd offer to bet on it, and take ary side you please, as I was just telling you. If there was a horse-race, you'd find him flush or you'd find him busted at the end of it; if there was a dog-fight, he'd bet on it; if there was a cat-fight, he'd bet on it; if there was a chicken-fight, he'd bet on it; why, if there was two birds setting on a fence, he would bet you which one would fly first; or if there was a camp-meeting, he would be there reg'lar to bet on Parson Walker, which he judged to be the best exhorter about here, and so he was too, and a good man. If he even see a straddle-bug start to go anywheres, he would bet you how long it would take him to get to--to wherever he was going to, and if you took him up, he would foller that straddle-bug to Mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road. Lots of the boys here has seen that Smiley, and can tell you about him. Why, it never made no difference to him--he'd bet on any thing--the dangdest feller. Parson Walker's wife laid very sick once, for a good while, and it seemed as if they warn't going to save her; but one morning he come in, and Smiley up and asked him how she was, and he said she was considable better--thank the Lord for his inf'nit mercy--and coming on so smart that with the blessing of Prov'dence she'd get well yet; and Smiley, before he thought says, 'Well, I'll resk two-and-a-half she don't anyway.'
"Thish-yer Smiley had a mare--the boys called her the fifteen-minute nag, but that was only in fun, you know, because of course she was faster than that--and he used to win money on that horse, for all she was so slow and always had the asthma, or the distemper, or the consumption, or something of that kind. They used to give her two or three hundred yards' start, and then pass her under way; but always at the fag-end of the race she'd get excited and desperate-like, and come cavorting and straddling up, and scattering her legs around limber, sometimes in the air, and sometimes out to one side amongst the fences, and kicking up m-o-r-e dust and raising m-o-r-e racket with her coughing and sneezing and blowing her nose--and always fetch up at the stand just about a neck ahead, as near as you could cipher it down.
"And he had a little small bull-pup, that to look at him you'd think he warn't worth a cent but to set around and look ornery and lay for a chance to steal something. But as soon as money was up on him he was a different dog; his under-jaw'd begin to stick out like the fo'castle of a steamboat, and his teeth would uncover and shine like the furnaces. And a dog might tackle him and bully-rag him, and bite him, and throw him over his shoulder two or three times, and Andrew Jackson--which was the name of the pup--Andrew Jackson would never let on but what he was satisfied, and hadn't expected nothing else--and the bets being doubled and doubled on the other side all the time, till the money was all up; and then all of a sudden he would grab that other dog just by the j'int of his hind leg and freeze to it--not chaw, you understand, but only just grip and hang on till they throwed up the sponge, if it was a year. Smiley always come out winner on that pup, till he harnessed a dog once that didn't have no hind legs, because they'd been sawed off in a circular saw, and when the thing had gone along far enough, and the money was all up, and he come to make a snatch for his pet holt, he see in a minute how he's been imposed on, and how the other dog had him in the door, so to speak, and he 'peared surprised, and then he looked sorter discouraged-like, and didn't try no more to win the fight, and so he got shucked out bad. He give Smiley a look, as much as to say his heart was broke, and it was his fault, for putting up a dog that hadn't no hind legs for him to take holt of, which was his main dependence in a fight, and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died. It was a good pup, was that Andrew Jackson, and would have made a name for hisself if he'd lived, for the stuff was in him and he had genius--I know it, because he hadn't no opportunities to speak of, and it don't stand to reason that a dog could make such a fight as he could under them circumstances if he hadn't no talent. It always makes me feel sorry when I think of that last fight of his'n, and the way it turned out.
"Well, thish-yer Smiley had rat-tarriers, and chicken cocks, and tomcats and all them kind of things, till you couldn't rest, and you couldn't fetch nothing for him to bet on but he'd match you. He ketched a frog one day, and took him home, and said he cal'lated to educate him; and so he never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn that frog to jump. And you bet you he did learn him, too. He'd give him a little punch behind, and the next minute you'd see that frog whirling in the air like a doughnut--see him turn one summerset, or may be a couple, if he got a good start, and come down flat-footed and all right, like a cat. He got him up so in the matter of ketching flies, and kep' him in practice so constant, that he'd nail a fly every time as fur as he could see him. Smiley said all a frog wanted was education, and he could do 'most anything--and I believe him. Why, I've seen him set Dan'l Webster down here on this floor--Dan'l Webster was the name of the frog--and sing out, ``Flies, Dan'l, flies!'' and quicker'n you could wink he'd spring straight up and snake a fly off'n the counter there, and flop down on the floor ag'in as solid as a gob of mud, and fall to scratching the side of his head with his hind foot as indifferent as if he hadn't no idea he'd been doin' any more'n any frog might do. You never see a frog so modest and straightfor'ard as he was, for all he was so gifted. And when it come to fair and square jumping on a dead level, he could get over more ground at one straddle than any animal of his breed you ever see. Jumping on a dead level was his strong suit, you understand; and when it come to that, Smiley would ante up money on him as long as he had a red. Smiley was monstrous proud of his frog, and well he might be, for fellers that had traveled and been everywheres, all said he laid over any frog that ever they see.
"Well, Smiley kep't the beast in a little lattice box, and he used to fetch him down town sometimes and lay for a bet. One day a feller--a stranger in the camp, he was--come acrost him with his box, and says:
"'What might it be that you've got in the box?'
"And Smiley says, sorter indifferent-like, 'It might be a parrot, or it might be a canary, maybe, but it ain't--it's only just a frog.'
"And the feller took it, and looked at it careful, and turned it round this way and that, and says, 'H'm--so 'tis. Well, what's he good for?'
"'Well,' Smiley says, easy and careless, 'he's good enough for one thing, I should judge--he can outjump any frog in Calaveras county.'
"The feller took the box again, and took another long, particular look, and give it back to Smiley, and says, very deliberate, 'Well,' he says, 'I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog.'
"'Maybe you don't,' Smiley says. 'Maybe you understand frogs and maybe you don't understand 'em; maybe you've had experience, and maybe you ain't only a amature, as it were. Anyways, I've got my opinion and I'll resk forty dollars that he can outjump any frog in Calaveras county.'
"And the feller studied a minute, and then says, kinder sad like, 'Well, I'm only a stranger here, and I ain't got no frog; but if I had a frog, I'd bet you.'
"And then Smiley says, 'That's all right--that's all right--if you'll hold my box a minute, I'll go and get you a frog.' And so the feller took the box, and put up his forty dollars along with Smiley's, and set down to wait.
"So he set there a good while thinking and thinking to hisself, and then he got the frog out and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon and filled him full of quail shot--filled him pretty near up to his chin--and set him on the floor. Smiley he went to the swamp and slopped around in the mud for a long time, and finally he ketched a frog, and fetched him in, and give him to this feller, and says:
"'Now, if you're ready, set him alongside of Dan'l, with his forepaws just even with Dan'l's, and I'll give the word.' Then he says, `One--two--three-git!' and him and the feller touched up the frogs from behind, and the new frog hopped off lively, but Dan'l give a heave, and hysted up his shoulders--so--like a Frenchman, but it warn't no use--he couldn't budge; he was planted as solid as a church, and he couldn't no more stir than if he was anchored out. Smiley was a good deal surprised, and he was disgusted too, but he didn't have no idea what the matter was, of course.
"The feller took the money and started away; and when he was going out at the door, he sorter jerked his thumb over his shoulder--so--at Dan'l, and says again, very deliberate, 'Well,' he says, 'I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog.'
"Smiley he stood scratching his head and looking down at Dan'l a long time, and at last he says, 'I do wonder what in the nation that frog throw'd off for--I wonder if there ain't something the matter with him--he 'pears to look mighty baggy, somehow.' And he ketched Dan'l by the nap of the neck, and hefted him, and says, 'Why blame my cats if he don't weigh five pound!' and turned him upside down and he belched out a double handful of shot. And then he see how it was, and he was the maddest man--he set the frog down and took out after that feller, but he never ketched him. And----"
[Here Simon Wheeler heard his name called from the front yard, and got up to see what was wanted.] And turning to me as he moved away, he said: "Just set where you are, stranger, and rest easy--I ain't going to be gone a second."
But, by your leave, I did not think that a continuation of the history of the enterprising vagabond Jim Smiley would be likely to afford me much information concerning the Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, and so I started away.
At the door I met the sociable Wheeler returning, and he button-holed me and recommenced:
"Well, thish-yer Smiley had a yaller one-eyed cow that didn't have no tail, only jest a short stump like a bannanner, and----"
However, lacking both time and inclination, I did not wait to hear about the afflicted cow, but took my leave.
Prepared by Professor Catherine Lavender for AMS 241 (Popular Culture--Frontiers and Borderlands), The Program in American Studies, The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York. Send email to lavender@postbox.csi.cuny.eduLast modified: Friday, 3 March 2000.
In compliance with the request of a friend of mine, who wrote me from the East, I called on good-natured, garrulous old Simon Wheeler, and inquired after my friend's friend, Leonidas W. Smiley, as requested to do, and I hereunto append the result. I have a lurking suspicion that Leonidas W. Smiley is a myth; that my friend never knew such a personage; and that he only conjectured that if I asked old Wheeler about him, it would remind him of his infamous Jim Smiley, and he would go to work and bore me to death with some exasperating reminiscence of him as long and as tedious as it should be useless to me. If that was the design, it succeeded.
I found Simon Wheeler dozing comfortably by the bar-room stove of the dilapidated tavern in the decayed mining camp of Angel's, and I noticed that he was fat and bald-headed, and had an expression of winning gentleness and simplicity upon his tranquil countenance. He roused up, and gave me good-day. I told him a friend of mine had commissioned me to make some inquiries about a cherished companion of his boyhood named Leonidas W. Smiley--Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, a young minister of the Gospel, who he had heard was at one time a resident of Angel's Camp. I added that if Mr. Wheeler could tell me anything about this Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, I would feel under many obligations to him.
Simon Wheeler backed me into a corner and blockaded me there with his chair, and then sat down and reeled off the monotonous narrative which follows this paragraph. He never smiled, he never frowned, he never changed his voice from the gentle-flowing key to which he tuned his initial sentence, he never betrayed the slightest suspicion of enthusiasm; but all through the interminable narrative there ran a vein of impressive earnestness and sincerity, which showed me plainly that, so far from his imagining that there was anything ridiculous or funny about his story, he regarded it as a really important matter, and admired its two heroes as men of transcendent genius in finesse. I let him go on in his own way, and never interrrupted him once.
"Rev. Leonidas W. H'm, Reverend Le--well, there was a feller here once by the name of Jim Smiley, in the winter of '49--or may be it was the spring of '50--I don't recollect exactly, somehow, though what makes me think it was one or the other is because I remember the big flume warn't finished when he first come to the camp; but any way, he was the curiosest man about always betting on anything that turned up you ever see, if he could get anybody to bet on the other side; and if he couldn't he'd change sides. Any way that suited the other man would suit him--any way just so's he got a bet, he was satisfied. But still he was lucky, uncommon lucky; he most always come out winner. He was always ready and laying for a chance; there couldn't be no solit'ry thing mentioned but that feller'd offer to bet on it, and take ary side you please, as I was just telling you. If there was a horse-race, you'd find him flush or you'd find him busted at the end of it; if there was a dog-fight, he'd bet on it; if there was a cat-fight, he'd bet on it; if there was a chicken-fight, he'd bet on it; why, if there was two birds setting on a fence, he would bet you which one would fly first; or if there was a camp-meeting, he would be there reg'lar to bet on Parson Walker, which he judged to be the best exhorter about here, and so he was too, and a good man. If he even see a straddle-bug start to go anywheres, he would bet you how long it would take him to get to--to wherever he was going to, and if you took him up, he would foller that straddle-bug to Mexico but what he would find out where he was bound for and how long he was on the road. Lots of the boys here has seen that Smiley, and can tell you about him. Why, it never made no difference to him--he'd bet on any thing--the dangdest feller. Parson Walker's wife laid very sick once, for a good while, and it seemed as if they warn't going to save her; but one morning he come in, and Smiley up and asked him how she was, and he said she was considable better--thank the Lord for his inf'nit mercy--and coming on so smart that with the blessing of Prov'dence she'd get well yet; and Smiley, before he thought says, 'Well, I'll resk two-and-a-half she don't anyway.'
"Thish-yer Smiley had a mare--the boys called her the fifteen-minute nag, but that was only in fun, you know, because of course she was faster than that--and he used to win money on that horse, for all she was so slow and always had the asthma, or the distemper, or the consumption, or something of that kind. They used to give her two or three hundred yards' start, and then pass her under way; but always at the fag-end of the race she'd get excited and desperate-like, and come cavorting and straddling up, and scattering her legs around limber, sometimes in the air, and sometimes out to one side amongst the fences, and kicking up m-o-r-e dust and raising m-o-r-e racket with her coughing and sneezing and blowing her nose--and always fetch up at the stand just about a neck ahead, as near as you could cipher it down.
"And he had a little small bull-pup, that to look at him you'd think he warn't worth a cent but to set around and look ornery and lay for a chance to steal something. But as soon as money was up on him he was a different dog; his under-jaw'd begin to stick out like the fo'castle of a steamboat, and his teeth would uncover and shine like the furnaces. And a dog might tackle him and bully-rag him, and bite him, and throw him over his shoulder two or three times, and Andrew Jackson--which was the name of the pup--Andrew Jackson would never let on but what he was satisfied, and hadn't expected nothing else--and the bets being doubled and doubled on the other side all the time, till the money was all up; and then all of a sudden he would grab that other dog just by the j'int of his hind leg and freeze to it--not chaw, you understand, but only just grip and hang on till they throwed up the sponge, if it was a year. Smiley always come out winner on that pup, till he harnessed a dog once that didn't have no hind legs, because they'd been sawed off in a circular saw, and when the thing had gone along far enough, and the money was all up, and he come to make a snatch for his pet holt, he see in a minute how he's been imposed on, and how the other dog had him in the door, so to speak, and he 'peared surprised, and then he looked sorter discouraged-like, and didn't try no more to win the fight, and so he got shucked out bad. He give Smiley a look, as much as to say his heart was broke, and it was his fault, for putting up a dog that hadn't no hind legs for him to take holt of, which was his main dependence in a fight, and then he limped off a piece and laid down and died. It was a good pup, was that Andrew Jackson, and would have made a name for hisself if he'd lived, for the stuff was in him and he had genius--I know it, because he hadn't no opportunities to speak of, and it don't stand to reason that a dog could make such a fight as he could under them circumstances if he hadn't no talent. It always makes me feel sorry when I think of that last fight of his'n, and the way it turned out.
"Well, thish-yer Smiley had rat-tarriers, and chicken cocks, and tomcats and all them kind of things, till you couldn't rest, and you couldn't fetch nothing for him to bet on but he'd match you. He ketched a frog one day, and took him home, and said he cal'lated to educate him; and so he never done nothing for three months but set in his back yard and learn that frog to jump. And you bet you he did learn him, too. He'd give him a little punch behind, and the next minute you'd see that frog whirling in the air like a doughnut--see him turn one summerset, or may be a couple, if he got a good start, and come down flat-footed and all right, like a cat. He got him up so in the matter of ketching flies, and kep' him in practice so constant, that he'd nail a fly every time as fur as he could see him. Smiley said all a frog wanted was education, and he could do 'most anything--and I believe him. Why, I've seen him set Dan'l Webster down here on this floor--Dan'l Webster was the name of the frog--and sing out, ``Flies, Dan'l, flies!'' and quicker'n you could wink he'd spring straight up and snake a fly off'n the counter there, and flop down on the floor ag'in as solid as a gob of mud, and fall to scratching the side of his head with his hind foot as indifferent as if he hadn't no idea he'd been doin' any more'n any frog might do. You never see a frog so modest and straightfor'ard as he was, for all he was so gifted. And when it come to fair and square jumping on a dead level, he could get over more ground at one straddle than any animal of his breed you ever see. Jumping on a dead level was his strong suit, you understand; and when it come to that, Smiley would ante up money on him as long as he had a red. Smiley was monstrous proud of his frog, and well he might be, for fellers that had traveled and been everywheres, all said he laid over any frog that ever they see.
"Well, Smiley kep't the beast in a little lattice box, and he used to fetch him down town sometimes and lay for a bet. One day a feller--a stranger in the camp, he was--come acrost him with his box, and says:
"'What might it be that you've got in the box?'
"And Smiley says, sorter indifferent-like, 'It might be a parrot, or it might be a canary, maybe, but it ain't--it's only just a frog.'
"And the feller took it, and looked at it careful, and turned it round this way and that, and says, 'H'm--so 'tis. Well, what's he good for?'
"'Well,' Smiley says, easy and careless, 'he's good enough for one thing, I should judge--he can outjump any frog in Calaveras county.'
"The feller took the box again, and took another long, particular look, and give it back to Smiley, and says, very deliberate, 'Well,' he says, 'I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog.'
"'Maybe you don't,' Smiley says. 'Maybe you understand frogs and maybe you don't understand 'em; maybe you've had experience, and maybe you ain't only a amature, as it were. Anyways, I've got my opinion and I'll resk forty dollars that he can outjump any frog in Calaveras county.'
"And the feller studied a minute, and then says, kinder sad like, 'Well, I'm only a stranger here, and I ain't got no frog; but if I had a frog, I'd bet you.'
"And then Smiley says, 'That's all right--that's all right--if you'll hold my box a minute, I'll go and get you a frog.' And so the feller took the box, and put up his forty dollars along with Smiley's, and set down to wait.
"So he set there a good while thinking and thinking to hisself, and then he got the frog out and prized his mouth open and took a teaspoon and filled him full of quail shot--filled him pretty near up to his chin--and set him on the floor. Smiley he went to the swamp and slopped around in the mud for a long time, and finally he ketched a frog, and fetched him in, and give him to this feller, and says:
"'Now, if you're ready, set him alongside of Dan'l, with his forepaws just even with Dan'l's, and I'll give the word.' Then he says, `One--two--three-git!' and him and the feller touched up the frogs from behind, and the new frog hopped off lively, but Dan'l give a heave, and hysted up his shoulders--so--like a Frenchman, but it warn't no use--he couldn't budge; he was planted as solid as a church, and he couldn't no more stir than if he was anchored out. Smiley was a good deal surprised, and he was disgusted too, but he didn't have no idea what the matter was, of course.
"The feller took the money and started away; and when he was going out at the door, he sorter jerked his thumb over his shoulder--so--at Dan'l, and says again, very deliberate, 'Well,' he says, 'I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog.'
"Smiley he stood scratching his head and looking down at Dan'l a long time, and at last he says, 'I do wonder what in the nation that frog throw'd off for--I wonder if there ain't something the matter with him--he 'pears to look mighty baggy, somehow.' And he ketched Dan'l by the nap of the neck, and hefted him, and says, 'Why blame my cats if he don't weigh five pound!' and turned him upside down and he belched out a double handful of shot. And then he see how it was, and he was the maddest man--he set the frog down and took out after that feller, but he never ketched him. And----"
[Here Simon Wheeler heard his name called from the front yard, and got up to see what was wanted.] And turning to me as he moved away, he said: "Just set where you are, stranger, and rest easy--I ain't going to be gone a second."
But, by your leave, I did not think that a continuation of the history of the enterprising vagabond Jim Smiley would be likely to afford me much information concerning the Rev. Leonidas W. Smiley, and so I started away.
At the door I met the sociable Wheeler returning, and he button-holed me and recommenced:
"Well, thish-yer Smiley had a yaller one-eyed cow that didn't have no tail, only jest a short stump like a bannanner, and----"
However, lacking both time and inclination, I did not wait to hear about the afflicted cow, but took my leave.
Prepared by Professor Catherine Lavender for AMS 241 (Popular Culture--Frontiers and Borderlands), The Program in American Studies, The College of Staten Island of The City University of New York. Send email to lavender@postbox.csi.cuny.eduLast modified: Friday, 3 March 2000.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Thanksgiving Story
Most stories of Thanksgiving history start with the harvest celebration of the pilgrims and the Indians that took place in the autumn of 1621. Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and the local Indians did participate, this "first Thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a gathering. There is little evidence that this feast of thanks led directly to our modern Thanksgiving Day holiday. Thanksgiving can, however, be traced back to 1863 when Pres. Lincoln became the first president to proclaim Thanksgiving Day. The holiday has been a fixture of late November ever since.
However, since most school children are taught that the first Thanksgiving was held in 1621 with the pilgrims and Indians, let us take a closer look at just what took place leading up to that event, and then what happened in the centuries afterward that finally gave us our modern Thanksgiving.
The Pilgrims who sailed to this country aboard the Mayflower were originally members of the English Separatist Church (a Puritan sect). They had earlier fled their home in England and sailed to Holland (The Netherlands) to escape religious persecution. There, they enjoyed more religious tolerance, but they eventually became disenchanted with the Dutch way of life, thinking it ungodly. Seeking a better life, the Separatists negotiated with a London stock company to finance a pilgrimage to America. Most of those making the trip aboard the Mayflower were non-Separatists, but were hired to protect the company's interests. Only about one-third of the original colonists were Separatists.
History of Veterans Day
Soldiers of the 353rd Infantry near a church at Stenay, Meuse in France, wait for the end of hostilities. This photo was taken at 10:58 a.m., on November 11, 1918, two minutes before the armistice ending World War I went into effect.Veterans' Day, holiday formerly observed in the United States as Armistice Day in commemoration of the signing of the Armistice ending World War I. Nov. 11 officially became Veterans' Day on May 24, 1954, by act of Congress. The day is set aside in honor of all those who have fought in defense of the United States.
History of Veterans Day
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”
In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…"
The original concept for the celebration was for a day observed with parades and public meetings and a brief suspension of business beginning at 11:00 a.m.
The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926, with these words:
Whereas the 11th of November 1918, marked the cessation of the most destructive, sanguinary, and far reaching war in human annals and the resumption by the people of the United States of peaceful relations with other nations, which we hope may never again be severed, and
Whereas it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations; and
Whereas the legislatures of twenty-seven of our States have already declared November 11 to be a legal holiday: Therefore be it Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives concurring), that the President of the United States is requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the officials to display the flag of the United States on all Government buildings on November 11 and inviting the people of the United States to observe the day in schools and churches, or other suitable places, with appropriate ceremonies of friendly relations with all other peoples.
An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday—a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day." Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting in its place the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation (Public Law 380) on June 1, 1954, November 11th became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
Later that same year, on October 8th, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued the first "Veterans Day Proclamation" which stated: "In order to insure proper and widespread observance of this anniversary, all veterans, all veterans' organizations, and the entire citizenry will wish to join hands in the common purpose. Toward this end, I am designating the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs as Chairman of a Veterans Day National Committee, which shall include such other persons as the Chairman may select, and which will coordinate at the national level necessary planning for the observance. I am also requesting the heads of all departments and agencies of the Executive branch of the Government to assist the National Committee in every way possible."
On that same day, President Eisenhower sent a letter to the Honorable Harvey V. Higley, Administrator of Veterans' Affairs (VA), designating him as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee.
In 1958, the White House advised VA's General Counsel that the 1954 designation of the VA Administrator as Chairman of the Veterans Day National Committee applied to all subsequent VA Administrators. Since March 1989 when VA was elevated to a cabinet level department, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs has served as the committee's chairman.
The Uniform Holiday Bill (Public Law 90-363 (82 Stat. 250)) was signed on June 28, 1968, and was intended to ensure three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. It was thought that these extended weekends would encourage travel, recreational and cultural activities and stimulate greater industrial and commercial production. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holidays on their original dates.
The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971. It was quite apparent that the commemoration of this day was a matter of historic and patriotic significance to a great number of our citizens, and so on September 20th, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed Public Law 94-97 (89 Stat. 479), which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. This action supported the desires of the overwhelming majority of state legislatures, all major veterans service organizations and the American people.
Veterans Day continues to be observed on November 11, regardless of what day of the week on which it falls. The restoration of the observance of Veterans Day to November 11 not only preserves the historical significance of the date, but helps focus attention on the important purpose of Veterans Day: A celebration to honor America's veterans for their patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good.
Friday, November 13, 2009
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Honestly when I first began to read this document, there nothing wrong for a little bit, until the VI article. This article states that no one state shall send or receive embassy, or be allowed to make treaties with a king or prince, without the consent of the United States in congress assembled. Basically what this means, if the congress doesn’t give consent, no treatise for you, short and sweet eh? Anyway I would continue in my reading of this document. Then I would stumble upon the XI article. This article basically states that Canada can join the United States and receive all of its benefits whenever it wants, so long as at least nine states agree. At this point I was worried if I had overlooked an error in this document, I had. In article VIII, all war charges are paid off by, you guessed it! The state, that’s right the states would have to pay for these expenses (sound familiar?) anyway; these are all problems that I have seen in this document. If you disagree or have found a problem, feel free to post a comment.
Honestly when I first began to read this document, there nothing wrong for a little bit, until the VI article. This article states that no one state shall send or receive embassy, or be allowed to make treaties with a king or prince, without the consent of the United States in congress assembled. Basically what this means, if the congress doesn’t give consent, no treatise for you, short and sweet eh? Anyway I would continue in my reading of this document. Then I would stumble upon the XI article. This article basically states that Canada can join the United States and receive all of its benefits whenever it wants, so long as at least nine states agree. At this point I was worried if I had overlooked an error in this document, I had. In article VIII, all war charges are paid off by, you guessed it! The state, that’s right the states would have to pay for these expenses (sound familiar?) anyway; these are all problems that I have seen in this document. If you disagree or have found a problem, feel free to post a comment.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Americans Working For Rights Today
Americans Working For Rights Today
HRWG, or human rights working group is a member driven grass rooted driven student of McGill law students. This summer, the members of this community are moved by their professional, advocacy and academic backgrounds in different areas of human rights. They came forward with the idea of broadening the HRWG to include four new portfolios. As a result, the working group would enter a new academic year with far more opportunities for students to engage. The problems they address are as follows - Careers, Darfur and Genocide Awareness, Equity-Access, Court Accompaniment Program, HIV-AIDS and Public Health, Immigration and Refugee, and Bursary - the Working Group will now tackle complex issues of gender, judicial institution building, police accountability and access to water.
HRWG, or human rights working group is a member driven grass rooted driven student of McGill law students. This summer, the members of this community are moved by their professional, advocacy and academic backgrounds in different areas of human rights. They came forward with the idea of broadening the HRWG to include four new portfolios. As a result, the working group would enter a new academic year with far more opportunities for students to engage. The problems they address are as follows - Careers, Darfur and Genocide Awareness, Equity-Access, Court Accompaniment Program, HIV-AIDS and Public Health, Immigration and Refugee, and Bursary - the Working Group will now tackle complex issues of gender, judicial institution building, police accountability and access to water.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Sovereign Citizens As our Founding Father's intended!
Today my daughter (after spending time with her friend) informs me that she wants to go back to the public school. When I said no, she said she has the right to the pursuit of happiness. True, but first she must be considered a sovereign citizen for the constitution to work for her... ya know ... concept of the Founding Father's known as Sovereign Citizens. Based on the feedback I have gotten, especially from younger persons, it appears our government has instructed to Public Schools to further "dumb-down" and "Cuckold" the Citizens of American by leaving out the Founding Father's concept of "Sovereign Citizens"
Briefly, before the drafting of the American Constitution previous governments had vested Sovereignty in the hands of one or a few people. With the American Constitution, American Citizens became the Sovereigns by their ability to vote for politicians and with the provision that certain human rights were inalienable. [For the Record, the United States is not a Democracy, it is a Representative Republic. (The American Republic form of government acknowledges that the sovereign power is founded in the people, individually, not in the collective or whole body of free citizens, as in a democratic form. Thus no majority can deprive a minority of their sovereign rights and powers.)]
I was moved to write this article after viewing this YouTube Video "Ronald Reagan - A Time For Choosing (October 27, 1964)" Please pay close attention at 2:59m-6:25m. This is a speech by former President Ronald Reagan long before he was president. If time permits, please also listen to the entire tape and see if you hear any similarity to current situation and the situation the USA was in then. Though I heard this speech for the first time today, I think you will find it compatible with thoughts I have been promoting.
I hope this reference to Sovereign Citizenship by a former US President will convince your that the concept of Sovereign Citizenship is real and proposed by the Founding Fathers of our Country. I hope this speech serves to edify those of you that the Public Schools deprived of learning and knowing the POWER the Founding Father's intended you to have! It should also help you to understand this is not a concept that I made up out of thin air. Finally, you should know that your teachers and the public schools intended to deprive you of power and knowledge when they failed to educate you upon this subject.Your can learn more about Sovereign Citizenship, as intended by the Founding Fathers here.
All that having been said, I say to you: My loyalty to my principles and my Country transcend party loyalty; where do your loyalties lie?
As a Sovereign Citizen it is your duty to put loyalty to Country and your personal principles over loyalty to party.
These thoughts were on my mind.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
PROJECT: THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
PROJECT: THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION
Subject: Story of the Constitution
By: Nick
As most of you may know James Madison was one of the more prominent delegates at the constitutional convention. Although he was thinking about the convention before ha had even arrived, it was clear at the end of the convention that the current way of government under the articles of confederation just isn’t cutting it. He felt that there had to be something done to remedy this situation, so later on he would draft a plan that he would present at the convention. He called this plan “The Virginia Plan.” This plan basically made a stronger government that could make as well as enforce laws. The people would be governed by two separate governments, State and National. This type of government is known as “Federal Government.” With this government both houses of legislature would provide proportional representation. What this means is that the more people a state has, the representation a state would have in legislature. Just at this you would find it easy to believe that the larger states favored this plan, for they obviously have a larger population. The smaller states though, were terrified at the plan. If it were to pass they would have virtually no say in government. The debate over the plan would become very heated in very little time. Eventually the smaller states asked for some time to draw up their own plan for government. This plan would be known as “the New Jersey plan.” This plan would only have one house that featured equal representation. Each state gets an equal number of representatives. With this being done, every state would have equal representation in the legislature. Ultimately the New Jersey plan would be rejected for a new constitution altogether. This ‘New’ Constitution was basically the re-incarnation of the old style of government, using a few ideas from the Articles of Confederation.
Subject: Story of the Constitution
By: Nick
As most of you may know James Madison was one of the more prominent delegates at the constitutional convention. Although he was thinking about the convention before ha had even arrived, it was clear at the end of the convention that the current way of government under the articles of confederation just isn’t cutting it. He felt that there had to be something done to remedy this situation, so later on he would draft a plan that he would present at the convention. He called this plan “The Virginia Plan.” This plan basically made a stronger government that could make as well as enforce laws. The people would be governed by two separate governments, State and National. This type of government is known as “Federal Government.” With this government both houses of legislature would provide proportional representation. What this means is that the more people a state has, the representation a state would have in legislature. Just at this you would find it easy to believe that the larger states favored this plan, for they obviously have a larger population. The smaller states though, were terrified at the plan. If it were to pass they would have virtually no say in government. The debate over the plan would become very heated in very little time. Eventually the smaller states asked for some time to draw up their own plan for government. This plan would be known as “the New Jersey plan.” This plan would only have one house that featured equal representation. Each state gets an equal number of representatives. With this being done, every state would have equal representation in the legislature. Ultimately the New Jersey plan would be rejected for a new constitution altogether. This ‘New’ Constitution was basically the re-incarnation of the old style of government, using a few ideas from the Articles of Confederation.
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