My Second Favorite Country, Part Two

It's back to the Black Forest in Germany we go!  Alicia O'Reardon Overbeck's article, Freiburg - Gateway to the Black Forest, National Geographic Magazine, August, 1933, has been so entertaining and informative!

It's said that Germans keep the most meticulous records.  That's what I'm counting on, as I continue my search for my German ancestors.  Here's an example of this fastidiousness.  "The Bear Inn appears on Freiburg's town records as early as 1390, and since that date the names of all its proprietors are all on file.  This is something of a miracle when you consider that the poor old Bear has kept his ground with his back against the city wall and his nose uncomfortably near the city's most vulnerable gate, and that he has survived not only the onslaughts of Austrian, French and Swedish armies, but undoubtedly hit-or-miss performances of Black Berthold's cannon," (p. 231)  The cannon is another story!

At that time of this article, Freiburg had a population of 100,000.  Today it has grown to 229,144 (2012).  The Black Forest area is very mountainous, not suitable for much agriculture.  The people have been loggers in the forest for thousands of years. At one time there was a large glass-making industry.  "During the Age of Discovery (when Columbus 'discovered' America) the manufacture of glass beads for barter with the Indians fanned this industry to fever heat," (p. 233).

Germans also have a reputation for extreme cleanliness.  I can attest to this as my Grandmother always asked me to help her clean her house.  Never once did I find a particle of dust until she was over 80 years old!  Her house in Germantown, Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A., was heated by coal for many years.  Yet most of the neighborhood painted their sidewalks, porches, and steps white!  In the mornings, there was a fine black dust outside.  Someone would have to hose off the white sidewalk, porches, and steps daily.

Freiburg in 1933 was one of the cleanest towns in Germany, even in Medieval times due to a singular achievement: the city planners directed the nearby river streams in brick-lined trenches through many city streets.  In former times, when it was customary to throw one's garbage and sewage out the upper-story windows, the fresh-water stream would carry away the refuse.  It was said that the city had no foul smells as did the other places in Europe.  FYI:  There are still many places in the world that are extremely smelly!

With all the nearby forests, wood-carving was a natural industry in Freiburg.  When my family lived in Germany (late 1940's), our coffee table was dark walnut, carved in the Black Forest.  It had a glass top.  I thought it was so beautiful.  One time, my younger brother was swinging his metal pail around and dad told him to stop.  He did not stop!  The pail crashed down on the glass table top and shattered.  Dad was not happy!  I wish I knew what happened to that table!

I also wish I knew where are the two German Cuckoo Clocks my mom brought back from Germany, one for Grandma and Grandpa, the other for our family.  I loved them so much and was fascinated by the pull-chains automatically going up and down.  I have a small version of a Cuckoo Clock, bought at the Disney German Pavilion.  It is very cool to hear the cuckoo announce the time every half hour, and also a conversation piece for the grandkids.

The Beloved Cuckoo Clock

This carved box is the only other wooden object I remember from Germany.  It was residing in the recesses of my closet, but now I think I'll leave it out and enjoy it!

Another Freiburg industry was wine-making.  "As far back as the eighth century there are vague accounts of grape-growing and wine-making. . . but the earliest official record of such activities comes from the Holy Ghost Hospital in the middle of the 13th century," (p. 237).

Included in O' Reardon's article is a photo of a tall chimney stack with a large stork's nest on the top.  "The Stork is the Forest Family Emblem.  As in parts of northern Europe, the birds are considered a token of good fortune, and if they leave it is regarded as a premonition of evil," (photo caption, p. 237).  I have some wonderful photos of stork nests on top of chimneys in Lithuania, but they are in an old, non-functioning computer and I haven't yet figured out how to extract them.

Also, in 1933, Germans loved bicycles.  Dad taught me how to ride a two-wheeler in Germany.  "Bicycle trips are in high favor, and neither age nor position deters a German from mounting his trusty "bike" and taking to the road.  It is a rare sight on market days to watch the peasant women, enormous skirts bellying in the wind, hat streamers whizzing out behind, not infrequently a cotton umbrella deftly balanced over a head, cutting into the air at 12 miles an hour as they pedal into town," (p. 238).

Mrs. O' Reardon explores German education.  "German children attack education earnestly," (p. 239.)  I started kindergarten in Germany.  I remember standing, playing in a big sandbox that was off the floor at child height.  I also remember swinging on the swings in the playground.  After a couple of weeks, my family had to return home to the states.

The first document I printed out from www.ancestry.com was a ship's log from the U.S.S. Henry Gibson, a troop carrier.  Our names were listed.  For a child, it was totally neat.  For every meal, there were overhead announcements, "First call to dinner. . .second call. . . third call."  There were drills on deck every day where we had to appear with our lifejackets.  It was winter and there was no sunshine on the Atlantic ocean.  If only I had known how very long it would be until I returned, (I haven't returned yet!), perhaps I could have convinced my parents to stay (there was no way they would have stayed in the war-devastated country!). I spoke German then, they say, but I never learned how to write it.

Oh, I must return to the Black Forest! - next year!! (God willing.)

My Second Favorite Country

I LOVE the United States of America, my Home!  Next, I LOVE Germany, the home of all my mothers' people.  What a treat today to get to start an article about a place - any place - in Germany.  Alicia O'Reardon Overbeck has started the next National Geographic Magazine, article, August, 1933, Freiburg - Gateway to the Black Forest, in a most beguiling way.  She writes, "You'll like Freiburg."  The learned professor beamed at me through thick glasses.  "You Americans are young, but we Freiburgers are brittle with age, so old that we're proud of it.  Frieburg is romance, a living story plucked from the past," (p. 212).

All these years, since I was a young girl, my Grandmother would tell me, "We came from the Black Forest of Germany."  Since she displayed a piece of sheet music titled "The Black Forest" on her upright piano, I wondered, during my teenage years, if it was really true that we came from the Black Forest.  Granny and all the other adults spoke German, so that gave some credence to her story.

Several months ago I found, on www.ancestry.com, a treasured document, the Naturalization Certificate of my Grandfather's Grandfather, Michael.  He was born in Bavaria, Germany, in the early 1800s!!

Freiburg is indeed in the Black Forest area of Germany.  The southern border of the area is shared with Switzerland; the western border is shared with France.

"The heart of Freiburg is its market and cathedral.  Since the 12th century farmers have brought their produce to Munsterplatz, to the left of the Cathedral.  There miracle and morality plays were given on a stage close to the Cathedral porch, and there murder trials made holidays for the citizens," (photo caption, p. 214).  I was concerned that perhaps the Cathedral was presently in ruins, due to the extensive bombing of World War II.  A quick Wikipedia check reveals that it is still intact, although I don't know if parts had to be rebuilt.  It appears immense and beautiful!  Both the cathedral church and the city were began in the 1100s.  The cathedral building was finished in 1513.

Isn't it interesting that church bells are sometimes given names?  The cathedral's oldest bell was cast in 1258.  When enemies were near, the bell, named "Hosanna," was rung.

My question was answered: Freiburg "was never entirely razed by enemy fire, although in turn it has belonged to the Zahringens, to Austria, Sweden, France, Italy, and Germany," (p. 220). Imagine, all the battles over the centuries!

Someday, I hope to visit the Old City of Freiburg.  "Freiburg streets have lost little of their medieval savor.  Within the limits of the original wall, the streets and alleys, some so narrow that only a German rarity, two thin people, can pass in them, twist and bulge and bend with startling abandon and a rakish disregard for right angles," (p. 217).

Were you taught that an Italian mapmaker named Americus Vespucci was the first to put the name "America" on the map?  This article claims that it was a German, Martin Waldseemuller, a Freiburger.  "His ancestral dwelling not only still stands, but flourishes," (p. 231).

The eight-page section of color photographs was especially beautiful in the countryside scenery, architecture of the typical German buildings, and in the native costumes.  I doubt if I would see any of the costumes today except in plays and museums!  This article is to be savored, not plodded through, hurriedly.  So I shall continue it tomorrow. Good-night!

Saturday at Home, A Potpourri of Activity

What a marvelous day today, 100% at home! I had saved up several major projects to do, and actually completed them.  First, I got out the crock pot and made Salmon Chowder, knowing I wouldn't feel like cooking if I worked all day. Then I spent an hour and a half in the front yard yanking out bothersome weeds and trimming shaggy trees.

Sorry, Another Spider Article

The next article in the August, 1933, issue of National Geographic Magazine, California Trapdoor Spider Performs Engineering Marvels, Lee Passmore, sounds promising, so let's check it out.  The author was walking one day in the southern California foothills when he encountered a young man digging in the adobe dirt.  The young man pulled out a strange cylindrical-shaped object and said it was "exceedingly fragile."  He explained that it was a Trapdoor Spider's nest.  

A flap like a door covered one end.  The author worked very hard, trying to open the door.  "I had difficulty in raising the door; the owner of the nest strenuously objected! . . Even after my superior strength had overcome hers, she allowed herself to be lifted partly out of her nest before she let go and dropped back into the dark interior." (p. 194).  My, oh, my!  Can you see yourself trying this?

This chance meeting resulted in the author's friendship with a man who had been studying these Trapdoor Spiders for 13 years.  What Mr. Passmore found in Francis' Beck's yard was a very large 'collection:' "Here, in boxes of adobe soil, I saw big spiders, little spiders, young and old, in dozens of transplanted nests.  There were several hundred young ones, which had been hatched during their parents' captivity from eggs contained in the nests at the time of their removal. . .

A trapdoor spider is careful not to let the door close behind her when she is making a capture (of insects), for the cover is difficult to reopen, once it is shut. . . to forestall being locked out of her own home, the spider always leaves her hind legs and a part of her abdomen under the open door," (p. 195).

The author was hooked and patiently waited many nights with the collector, trying to photograph the spiders in action capturing their prey.  The pair succeeded and captured the split-second capture of a large bug and the spider bringing it into its nest.  

FYI: the Trapdoor Spider is one of the species that can grow a new leg if one is lost.  In a photograph with the author's thumbnail, the adult spider appear to have a body at least two inches long.  The door to the nest is so tightly fitted it makes the nest waterproof.

Mr. Passmore and Mr. Beck had maintained their friendship and study of the trapdoor spiders for 10 years at the time of the article.  In that time, they had seen only one male spider.  It was much smaller than the female and built a less elaborate underground nest with no trapdoor.

The author gives us good reasons not to fear spiders.  "With few exceptions, however, spiders are harmless and will not bite if undisturbed. . . Since they are all carnivorous creatures and maintain themselves by preying upon insects which are real pests, the spider is far more beneficial than harmful to man, " (p. 210).  I found this article interesting although a bit 'creepy!'  Mr. Passmore concludes, "Our study of these solitary creatures continues, and we hope to solve in time many of the problems which as yet remain mysteries to us," (p. 211).

A New, Refreshed Garage Door

After living in my house for seven years, the metal garage door was obviously faded and I decided to tackle the project.  Yesterday I washed the large door and found it to be BIG!  I've never painted a garage door.  It moves! The problem: how to not paint it shut.  I thought I'd try to paint a vertical section, raise the door, paint the lower part, then lower the door.  I did this across the whole door so nothing in the cracks might dry and glue the door shut.  It appears to have worked.  And I won't have to repaint it for a very long time, I hope!

Garage door, 9/27/14.  I'm quite pleased with the results of this project!




An Unexpected Treat

I happened to be looking out my kitchen window and noticed a small bird in the birdbath.  This was the first time I've seen a bird flapping in the water.  It jumped in, splashed around for a half-minute, jumped out and sat on the side, then repeated this several times.  Oh, my gosh!  Can I run, get the camera, and snap a photo?  I had to try!  It was still there when I returned.

Contemplation. . .

Ah, adventure!

This is the life!

And then, just as quickly as it had come, it perched on the birdbath rim, then flitted off into the bushes.

Salmon Chowder Recipe

This makes a big crockpot full!  If you were here, I'd invite you for dinner.  If you like salmon, you'll love this!

Place in a crockpot: two 14-ounce cans of chicken broth, 1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels, three medium carrots, thinly sliced, 1 1/2 cups water, 1 medium chopped onion, one 4.9 ounce package Dry Scalloped Potatoes with the dried sauce packet contents.  Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 8 hours or on high high for 3 to 4 hours.

Then turn the heat to high.  Whisk together 1/2 cup flour with two cups half & half or light cream; add to chowder.  Gently stir in 12 to 15 ounces boneless, skinless salmon.  I like the 'pouch' salmon - just tear it open & dump it into the pot!  Cover and cook for 20 to 30 minutes until thickened.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Serve with your choice of crackers. Yummmmmmm!

By the way, I encountered plenty of small and medium-sized spiders today during my weeding and painting.  I left them alone and they didn't bother me! I think I have a new respect (I didn't say 'like') for them!

Oooooo, Yuck!

Just as one of my young daughters wanted to have a pet snake, I suppose there are those who appreciate SPIDERS.  Not me, but I'll read this next National Geographic Magazine article, Afield with the Spiders: Web Hunting in the Marshlands and Woodlands and Along the Lanes, Henry E. Ewing, August, 1933.  I'll try to at least fake a small appreciation for one of God's creatures.

"Webs, webs everywhere - hundreds of them, thousands of them - billow a gossamer sea in the morning light!  There are funnel webs, sheet webs, hammock webs, webs of indescribable shapes, and, finest of all, near the edge of the woods, the beautiful orb webs, bejeweled in their radiant symmetry," (p. 162).

How do the spiders fashion these webs?  "From the many microscopic spigots at the tips of their heavy abdomens they conjure several kinds of silk with which to construct webs of exquisite design and beauty.  They make snares for their prey, sacs for their eggs, shelters for protection from enemies, draglines for security in movement, balloons for navigating the skies, and many other things for service," (p. 162).  Each species of spiders has its own web design which does not change with the seasons. You have passed SPIDERS 101!

FYI: "Even when isolated from its own kind from the moment of its birth, a spiderling will produce exactly the same web design as its mother, " (p. 166).  There are 25,000 species of spiders.  They are found everywhere on Earth where there is life, even in Arctic regions.

The largest spiders are the South American tarantulas which can have a body 3 1/2 inches long! The smallest spider is also found in South America, 25ths of an inch long. Males of many species are smaller than the females and are poor spinners.  They may use webs of the females to ensnare their food (insects) or get leftovers from the females.

FYI: Western United States' tarantulas feed on grasshoppers and roaches.  Their bite is painful but not poisonous to humans. They have been known to live 14 to 16 years and longer.  The South American species feeds on the birds it catches.

The Black Widow spider is common in the southern United States.  It is one-half inch long; the mature female is black with an 'hour glass' red shape on its back. The Black Widow spider's venom is more powerful than the venom of a rattlesnake!  Many years ago, my uncle, a farmer, was bit by such a spider.  He almost died and took six weeks to fully recover.

For growth, spiders grow, split their 'skin' and shed it, crawling out of it.  Although they have no wings, spiders can spin a thread which catches the wind and travel aloft to distant places in the air.

There are some interesting color photographs of paintings of spiders.  I just can't call them beautiful.  Mr. Ewing devotes the rest of this article to describing unique features of various spiders around the world.  The fact I like most is that most of the eat bugs (insects)!

The Biggest Air Flight Challenge, Part Two

This continues the report of Lieut. Col. L. V. S. Blacker's exciting National Geographic Magazine article (August, 1933), The Aerial Conquest of Everest: Flying Over the World's Highest Mountain Realizes the Objective of Many Heroic Explorers.  So far we have seen the magnitude of his and his team's obstacles, how they surpassed every one, and the thrill of flying over Mount Everest.

The rest of his article deals with the culture of those lands over which he flew and the city in which the historic flight originated, Purnea, India. "The thrill of the flight to Mount Everest brought Purnea into the limelight of the world's news. Excitement was intense, for few, even of the European inhabitants, had ever seen an airplane," (p. 140).

Mount Everest lies in the country of Nepal.  I find it interesting that the country of Nepal still retains the same name, although now it is officially, "The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal."  In 1933, the Colonel wrote, "The government of the mountain kingdom of nearly six million people is military.  The hereditary Maharaja reigns, but the Prime Minister, who is also entitled Maharaja, rules and controls the army," (photo caption, p. 140). Nepal now contains 27 million citizens.

Everywhere the expedition went in India and Nepal to procure supplies or arrange for permits, they were treated like royalty.  "Native Indian potentates came in state, mounted on lumbering, slate-grey elephants, panoplied with silks, silver, gold, and gems, to inspect the two trim planes.  Rajahs, planters, and peasants extended every hospitality to the expedition," (photo caption, p. 144).

One unanticipated difficulty was the wind speed at high altitudes.  Extensive weather testing at heights of 30,000 feet and above had been done in England but not in India. Until actually tested, it was assumed that wind and also air temperature at that height would be nearly identical.  In reality, the winds were much faster in the Himalayan mountain chain, and the temperature actually was 20 degrees warmer.  The group was concerned that having extra wind to fight would consume additional fuel and they might not make it back to their home base in Purnea.  To take an extra precaution, another landing field was built closer to Mount Everest in Nepal.

Two planes actually made the historic journey to the top of the world. Lieut. Col. Blacker was the observer and photographer, along with his pilot, in the aforementioned Houston-Westland.  Another crew of two flew in the Westland-Wallace, for safety and support.  For one photo in which one plane has photographed the other, the author recounts, "Both the expedition planes, flying at about 32,000 feet, are approaching Mount Everest. . . Near this point the planes experienced the tremendous down draft, which caused a loss in altitude of about 2,000 feet in a few seconds," (photo caption, p. 149).

Even after the Colonel had flown over Mount Everest and turned south to return to Purnea, he was thoroughly elated, "Our minds were still amazed by the vision we had looked on - that stark, savage beauty on which no man had ever set eyes on before.  If life held no other achievement than this, still it were enough," (p. 156).

The scientific goal of the expedition (and that for which they secured funding and permissions) was to explore and map areas never before mapped.  The first trip did not accomplish this as many of the photographs were not suitable.  The group wanted to make a second flight, but were greatly discouraged by those in England.  To abandon this second flight and not achieve their objective "would have been shameful beyond words, because there was no reason against a second flight except the personal risk," (p. 156).

For the second flight, the winds were faster, much more dangerous.  When they again passed by Mount Everest, at times they had a clearance of only 100 feet!  "Flying over territory which is unmapped,  and never before observed from the air, the high-altitude photographs at varying angles raised problems which experts will require months to solve," (photo caption, p. 159).

Another heart-stopping fact: the floor of the airplane had a 'window,' totally open, so the Colonel could have an unobstructed view of the area.  At one point during the second flight, he reports, "As I looked vertically down through the open floor, I perceived that the wind force was now so great that our headway was practically nothing," (p. 160). The the pilot changed course and that solved the problem.

As the second flight was almost over and the two planes almost back to the landing field at Purnea, "Now came our greatest anxiety.  We had risked all to make the survey photographs a success, and any one of a hundred mischances might have sent them awry.  No cameras had ever before been asked to operate in those torrid heats and depths of cold, running unlubricated and never free from the impalpable, all-pervading dust of the plains.

I tore off my mask in the air, then my gloves and helmet, and unfastened the innumerable wires of my electric harness (which heated his flight suit, helmet and goggles) before the wheels touched the familiar green turf of Lalbalu. . . We snatched at the great 40-foot film.  All was well.  Our task was done.  The Eagle cameras were victorious.  Mount Everest had fallen to the assaults of science," (p. 162).  And now we also can let out the breath we were holding in!

The Biggest Air Flight Challenge

It has been so rewarding to follow the development of aviation through the pages of these old National Geographic Magazines.  The first flight over the Atlantic Ocean. . . the first flight to the North Pole. . . the first flight to the South Pole. . . the creation of mail air routes country by country, over the whole world. . . the RISK. . . the failures: all very exciting! In 1933, many major challenges had been overcome, except one, flying over the largest mountain on earth, Mount Everest.

In the August, 1933 issue, Lieut. Col. L. V. S. Blacker, O.B.E., recounts for us his journey in The Aerial Conquest of Everest: Flying Over the World's Highest Mountain Realizes the Objective of Many Heroic Explorers. Thus he begins, "Ever since it was discovered, in 1852, to be the highest mountain in the world, Mount Everest has exercised a hypnotic fascination for explorers," (p. 127).

Even though the Colonel had given up flying for years, he watched the development of airplanes and their engines until in April, 1932, he noticed a new engine that promised to be capable of rising to the more than 30,000 feet required to ascend over the mountain.  He contacted someone that was more than capable of piloting this challenge, Col. P. T. Etherton, an old friend.

They faced three obstacles: technical, political, and financial.  "The super-charged Pegasus engine in a suitable airplane promised to take us over the technical fence, in spite of the fact that it had at that time hardly emerged from the trial stage. . . months of hard work, punctuated with periods of intense anxiety took us over the technical obstacles at long last." (p. 128).

The political difficulties were immense.  ". . . many British officials assured us gloomily that we could not hope to surmount them," (p. 128).  The problem was that Mount Everest is in a mountain range that is located in several remote Asian countries.  Flying over the country of Tibet was immediately ruled out.  Eventually, the ruler of Nepal gave permission for the flight.

Now for the financial problem.  "But while we had been feverishly at work making secure these two essentials, the third, most essential of all, threatened to slip from our grasp.  The world depression had set in, in full force," (p. 128).  Finally, they remembered that a British benefactoress, Lady Houston, may be interested in the project.  A letter was written, a prompt reply received: Lady Houston would give unconditional support to the project!

We must remember that aircraft of this era were open to the air!  There were no pressurized cabins. The Colonel and his team had to plan for heating their clothing, and bringing an adequate supply of oxygen needed for high-altitude flights, in addition to the photographic equipment they wanted for recording their achievement.  I am most impressed by the accomplishment of gathering the necessary equipment, primitive by our standards.

The lack of appropriate testing for their 'warming' apparatus takes my breath away!  They had to wrap an electrical battery with felt.  Even the cameras and their goggles had to be warmed, to withstand temperatures of minus 76 degrees below zero, Fahrenheit.  The Colonel comments, "At length we made everything work, but only just in time. . . it will be realized that each camera needed a flexible cable to be led to it, and the multiplicity of these in the cockpit formed a veritable spider's web," (p. 135).  The plane was named the Houston-Westland  in honor of Lady Houston.

The flight plan originated in Purnea, India, went 154 miles due north to Mount Everest, circled the mountain, then returned back to Purnea, a British possession.  Trials were done and the equipment functioned beyond expectations.

What an exciting photograph it was, from the cockpit of the plane, "Man's First Near View of Mount Everest from the Air. Over the engines of the Houston-Westland on the first flight loomed this memorable spectacle.  At this point first became evident the astounding rugged formation of the rock masses and the horizontal trail of the long snow plume, indication of a wind blizzard force tearing across the summit and lifting the clouds of powdered snow and ice particles," (photo caption, p. 136). The snow plume made Mount Everest look like an active volcano!

Tomorrow this blog will continue the epic journey.

A Most Timely Old Article

What is the country most in the world news these days?  SYRIA! The National Geographic Magazine of July, 1933, in its article, Secrets From Syrian Hills: Explorations Reveal World's Earliest Known Alphabet, Deciphered From Schoolboy Slates and Dictionaries of 3,000 Years Ago, Claude F.A. Schaeffer, may help us understand some of Syria's ancient culture and glories.

Surely we will agree with the author, Mr. Schaeffer, "Of all man's inventions, none has served him better than his alphabet."  Before there was an alphabet, there were hieroglyphics, or picture-writing.  Only a few writers, "scribes," could communicate in this way, usually in the service of kings. After the alphabet came into use, "writing and reading became so easy and simple. . . that the public no longer had to depend upon priests and other professional scribes," (p. 97).

Prior to Mr. Schaeffer's explorations in Syria, it was assumed that the Phoenicians, on the easternmost Mediterranean shores, first used an alphabet. "Such was the situation when, in May of 1929, excavating at the ruined city of Ras Shamra, in northern Syria, I dug up some written slates of clay on which was used a new form of cuneiform alphabet never before encountered. . . a simple way to write with only 28 letters. . . from the 14th or 15th century B.C.," (p. 97).

Mr. Schaeffer and the expedition unearthed a temple and burial tombs that were rich with ancient artifacts and skeletons.  When assembled and studied, the vessels and objects of bronze, marble, stone, and gems gave a picture of the ancient civilization.  There were many ties with the country of Egypt, "Ras Shamra, one of the most important kingdoms under the Egyptian protectorate,"

"The royal sanctuaries were built like palaces for the living, with large rooms, halls, wells for water, and altars for honoring the memory of the royal dead," (photo caption, p. 111).  Photos of the excavation resembled those in the popular "Indiana Jones" movies, with randomly scattered holes over a large field and dozens of Arab workers wielding pickaxes.  "Painstaking care was necessary, as any careless blow of a pick might otherwise injure a priceless object.  Excavating the royal tombs, which were arranged in three stories, revealed many altars, idols, and ornaments of gold," (photo caption, p. 115).

Mr. Schaeffer, the expedition leader, decided to return to the site where the clay slates were found.  They dug and found an entire building which was a school for scribes.  Everyone was elated and dug even more feverishly, under the scorching Middle Eastern sun, finding a library, over 3,300 years old!  In the school, "One of the teachers was named Rabana. . . He had carefully compiled a slate dictionary, in the margin of which he wrote his name as author.  We also found practice lessons of the students," (p. 117).

Due to finding the school and library, Mr. Schaeffer realized they had found the fabled city of Ugarit.  "There can scarcely be any doubt that the city which we have uncovered on the hill of Ras Shamra is the famous Ugarit, the bulwark of Egyptian power and influence in northern Syria. . . Within the walls of Ugarit no less than eight languages were spoken or understood. . . in the temple library and in the school for scribes we have found actual documents in the eight different languages which the priests taught their pupils," (p. 121).

"Ugarit's polyglot speech was a result of its geographic location, at the crossing of the trade routes from Phoenicia, Mesopotamia, and Asia Minor," (p. 123).

No fewer than 50 gods and 25 goddesses were worshiped there.  Of particular interest to me was the young god, Baal, mentioned as one of the false gods worshiped by the Israelites in the Christian Bible's Old Testament. What exciting work this archeology proves to be!

The Eagle, Our Beloved National Bird, Part Three

Alexander Wetmore, in his July, 1933, National Geographic Magazine article, Eagle, King of Birds, and His Kin, has included a section of color paintings of the different species of eagles, hawks, kites, condors, and vultures.  The next very interesting group is the Marsh Hawks.

These predators mostly fly close to the ground and eat small mammals.  One unusual feature is that they have heads like owls.  "The face in this species is surrounded by short, stiffened feathers forming a ruff like that found in owls, a feature that is present in no other group of hawks. . . as is often the case with ground-nesting birds, the young wander about on foot near the nest before they are able to fly," (p. 70).

Ah!  There is actually a real "Chicken Hawk!"  "The Cooper's Hawk is the ogre in our world of birds.  Fierce and ruthless, it attacks grouse or other species as large as itself, and destroys smaller birds without the slightest difficulty. . . The bird is bold and fearless in pursuit of its quarry, and has been known to return several times to attack a chicken, even when people were present and threatening it.  It is one of the hawks that merits the name of "chicken hawk" and must be considered entirely destructive," (p. 72).

At last, the author has saved the eagles until nearly the last one!  The golden eagle looks like the bald eagle, our national bird, except where the bald eagle has a white-feathered head, the golden eagle's head feathers are a golden brown.  "The Golden Eagle, one of the most powerful of American birds of prey and a keen and courageous huntsman, is principally an inhabitant of wild and unfrequented areas.  .  . Where prairie dogs are present in large numbers, these are favored food; a pair of eagles will destroy several hundred in the course of a season," (p. 84).

These birds of prey most often build their nests in trees; some will build directly on the ground, but the golden eagle may place its nest on the edge of a cliff.  "Often it is a large structure, as the birds may use the same site year after year and add to the next each season," (p. 84).

The bald eagle, with its magnificent plumage, is  "A bird of great strength and of swift and powerful flight, it is master in its haunts, and has no potent enemies except man.  Its life is led in the vicinity of water and only casually is it found far from that element. . . the food of the bald eagle is mainly fish."  It dives into the water for its food and "Rarely it grapples prey so large that it cannot rise with it and is under necessity of towing it to shore," (p. 87).  What a sight that would be!

The Old Country

My young nephew, Matt, and his wife, Mindy, have great fun traveling in Europe as often as they can.  Mindy's family comes from Czechoslovakia, and they're been there several times. The last time, Mindy's parents went, too; they can speak Czech.  What is the value of visiting 'the old country,' where your relatives once lived?

As far as Mindy's family is concerned, they have relatives living in Czechoslovakia now, so they can reconnect.  Their folks in Europe are very, very poor; whenever they visit, Mindy, Matt, and her parents bring extra suitcases stuffed with clothes for their relatives who are extremely grateful.

Aren't we Americans, except for our Native Americans, ALL immigrants?  What we get out of visiting our family's country of origin is a sense of permanence. Family history is very important.  Traditions passed to younger generations are very meaningful.  Staying connected to all family members is critical. At times, reconciliations have to be attempted.

Today I've watched hours of coverage on EWTN-TV of Pope Francis' visit to Albania, a European country north of Greece.  I like to listen to the Pope speak, as his Italian is translated into English.  I also enjoy the brief tour and history of the countryside wherever the Pope visits.

Albania is the birthplace of the Saint Mother Teresa, the famous nun who took care of the poorest of the poor in India.  Together with what Pope Francis said, and several of the other speakers, I found out some new things about Mother Teresa and the former Communist country of Albania.  Mother Teresa started an order of Catholic nuns, the Missionaries of the Poor, in 1950, in India.  In 2012, there were 4,500 sisters in 133 countries, including the United States, doing missionary work.  Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace prize in 1979 for her work.  She wanted to visit her birthplace in Albania but was denied by the Communist government.

Albania was taken over by Communists in 1967.  They permitted no religious practices - NONE!  This government collapsed in 1992.  The people living there today report extreme poverty due to the communists.  This was also the case when I visited Lithuania, a country in northern Europe; they despised everything associated with the Communists government, especially all the people the Communist government murdered. 

One of the priests reported that the faith of the Albanians has remained strong. Some of the people have to WALK up to three hours to get to church on Sunday. Sometimes the snow is up to their waist in the winter!  Many of the children have no shoes - even in winter.  This is true poverty, such is unknown in our country.

Next summer, I hope to visit Bavaria in Germany, where all of my mother's family originated.  On ancestry.com, I found the Naturalization Certificate (proving that a person has become an American citizen) of my grandfather's grandfather, Michael, born in Bavaria in 1813.  He was 47 years at that time, in 1860.  It is said that the Germans have kept extremely accurate records.  I hope to find more relatives and even where he is buried.

My treasured German Cuckoo Clock, actually bought in the German Pavilion at Disney World in 2011.

Dear Lord, when I sometimes would like to attend church during the week and am stopped by the thought of the heavy traffic between my home and church, please remind me of the great privilege I enjoy, of having religious freedom, and that I need to get a grip and GO!

The Eagle, Our Beloved National Bird, Part Two

This continues a report of the July, 1933, National Geographic Magazine article, Eagle, King of Birds, and His Kin, Alexander Wetmore.  This species of birds includes eagles, hawks, falcons, vultures, and condors, large birds of prey.  The condors of America are the largest, with a length of between 40 and 50 inches.  They are even larger than turkeys!

"Raptors," as creatures of prey are called, are very useful to humanity.  Many birds eat small rodents.  Natives use the feathers of eagles in their colorful headresses.  Some of these large birds are eaten, but not many.  Falcons can be trained to hunt for their keepers.  They are fed until they are tame. "Among peoples of Central Asia, the golden eagle is trained to hunt small antelopes, foxes, and even wolves. . . Scenes depicting hunting with hawks are found among the ancient paintings in the tombs in Egypt, and this sport was well known in India, Asia, and Europe at a very early date," (p. 62).

Eagles' nests are called eyries; they are usually built tall in sturdy trees.  Once on a bus tour of the Space Center in Florida, large eagle nests were pointed out to us.  They were at least 6 feet long.

In this 1933 article, it was reported that California condors were "Formerly quite abundant. . . possibly ten individuals exist in the wild," (p. 64).  A quick Wikipedia check reveals that the California condor went extinct in 1987.  What a tragedy!  Apparently, a few remaining birds were captured, bred in captivity, and are being introduced into American southwestern states.  The birds can have a wingspan of 9 1/2 feet!  The color painting in this article reveals a bird with a head like a turkey with the rest consisting of black feathers.  Condors and vultures are birds that eat only carrion (dead animals).

The kites are another related species of these predator birds.  They are colored white, black, and gray, quite beautiful.  "This species feeds extensively on snakes and also eats lizards and large insects. All food is seized expertly in the feet, and the birds customarily eat while flying," (p. 68).

We will continue in this long article, exploring more species of these interesting birds in the next blog.

Quick Day Trip to Louisville

Family ties are wonderful!  Today daughter #7, Marie, and I, drove 80 miles west on Interstate-64 from Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.A., to Louisville, Kentucky.  The trip through the still-lush green countryside was most pleasant. We visited Marie's Aunt Janie and Uncle John, just for fun.  Janie and John created a wonderful salad for us for lunch.

Marie, left, with Aunt Janie, 9-18-14.

Nicoise salad (named after the olives) with champagne vinegar dressing on the side.  We ate and ate!

Of course, we chatted and chatted, and petted the family beagle, Haley, until she almost fell asleep.

Marie and I wanted to avoid rush-hour traffic in Louisville, so we left late in the afternoon and went shopping!  We like Oxmoor Mall in Louisville and checked out the new outlet mall on I-64 on the way home.  Nothing beats fun family days, nothing!

The Eagle, Our Beloved National Bird, Part One

The Eagle symbolizes strength, courage, and daring in many nations throughout history.  In the National Geographic Magazine article, Eagle, King of Birds, and His Kin, July, 1933, Mr. Alexander Wetmore  begins his account by telling of the world-wide range of the bird.  "Eagles and their many relatives among the hawks and vultures are distributed throughout the world, except over the open seas, the barren Antarctic continent, and the smallest and most isolated of oceanic islands," (p. 43).

Countries all over the world use and have used the eagle on their crests and military emblems for the past 3,000 years.  The Aztecs called the eagle, "the winged wolf." There are more than 700 bird families in the eagle and kin group. "They are mainly birds of medium to large size, with broad wings, strong legs, feet armed with sharp claws, and strongly hooked bills," (p. 43).

Falcons are generally smaller than eagles and other hawks but have long pointed wings which give them greater speed.  "The food of birds of the hawk group is highly varied although it is taken entirely from the animal kingdom," (p. 50).

My son-in-law, Dave, who has maintained a back yard chicken coop in Massachusetts, U.S.A.,  for several years, expects his two dogs to drive away any chicken hawks.  News flash, Dave: These birds "may on occasion eat birds or even visit hen-yards for prey, but confine their attention principally to mice and rats.  Therefore, they are in the main beneficial, as they destroy large numbers of rodents that are injurious to crops and orchards," (p. 50-51), and also eat chicken feed!

There are bat-eating hawks and snake-eating hawks, frog-eating hawks and monkey-eating (!) hawks.  The fish-eating hawks dive for their food in a manner similar to the pelicans.  Some hawks catch and eat smaller birds in flight.  "The honey buzzards of the Old World (Pernis) are fond of honey and the immature stages of bees," (p. 51).  Vultures eat dead animals and are immune to the decaying flesh.  I will not relate the digestive processes of these birds!

Mr. Wetmore writes that hawks were almost universally thought of as destructive yet they were mostly beneficial as mentioned above in reference to the chicken hawks.  In the writer's time, hawks were usually shot and killed everywhere, on sight.  Some states even paid a bounty for their heads.  As a result, "in the eastern half of the United States, these birds have decreased to less than a tenth of their former abundance," (p. 57).  This resulted in an overabundance of the rodents which do destroy crops.  The bald eagle, our national bird, also had a bad reputation among farmers and was hunted extensively, in the 1930's.  It is good to know that the bald eagle is now vigorously protected in the United States!

"The carrying or lifting power of hawks and eagles has been frequently exaggerated," (p. 58).  They may carry 10 to 12 pounds, but not for a long distance.  Wouldn't it be amazing to watch one grab a rabbit, a doe, or a lamb?  Have you ever seen an American bald eagle or a South American condor in a zoo?  What immensely large birds they are!  They can weigh from 20 to 25 pounds.

Next blog: how humans have used these large birds.

Against all Advice

A young couple yearns for adventure. They love to paddle their faithful canoe.  Why not travel up the west coast from Washington State, U.S.A., to Alaska!  It's only 1,100 miles!  Mr. and Mrs. Jack Calvin accomplished this feat in the 1930's, taking 53 days for the trip.  "Nakwasina" Goes North: A Man, A Woman, and a Pup Cruise from Tacoma to Juneau in a 17-Foot Canoe, National Geographic Magazine, July, 1932, is his account of their adventures.

Their friends were aghast and warned of the danger. "Are you doing on a bet? . . do you belong to a suicide club?", they asked.  Calvin dismisses the danger: "It was always the apparent danger of the cruise that first impressed the many friends we made along the way.  Actually, there was no danger," (p. 1).

"Once a heavy fog compelled us to turn back at the start of a day's paddle (average distance: 20 miles per day). . . and Nakwasina took the weather as it came - rough water or smooth, windy or calm - with an ease and nonchalance that were a never-ending joy to watch . . . a good canoe, properly handled, is as seaworthy as the average gas-boat of, say, ten tons burden," (p. 3).

While apparently there were no dangers, there were plenty of vexations, chief among them being rain.  "At Swanson Bay, we were told that 346 inches of rain had fallen there in 1925, and that sometimes the 5-inch rain gauge had to be emptied twice a day," (p. 37).  The charts and maps they brought with them or bought were mostly incomplete.  They ran out of food once, ate clams for 3 days, then wired for money to be sent.

The couple took many photos.  The pristine scenery of Alaska is unequaled, I would guess.  They also included photos of other American western parks, Sequoia National Park, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon and others.  They reported that the Alaskan coast has "thousands of waterfalls."

After their journey they were tired from paddling (!), rested two weeks, then returned to the States via a steamer.  Yet they yearned to return.  "There are dozens of inlets that we have not explored, scores of passages that we have not tried, many miles of coast that are but dotted lines on the charts, many Indian graves and villages to be hunted. . . Yes, we shall go back," (p. 42).

Of all the cruises my late dear parents, Adeline and Reuben, took, they declared that the trip to Alaska was their favorite.  Several friends agree.  But if I go, it will be in a big boat, a very big boat!

Jeannie, daughter #8, with an Indian Totem Pole in Port Orchard, Washington, August, 2012.

Ancient Beijing, Part 2

Back in the National Geographic Magazine article, The Glory that was Imperial Peking, June, 1933, Mr. W. Robert Moore describes a city that bore little resemblance to modern Beijing, I feel certain. Clogging the city were many donkeys, caravans of camels, and a few automobiles.  Today there are so many cars that China produces much of the world's air pollution!

Peking was a city of many walls with many gates.  "The Chien Men, the central one of the south wall and largest of them all, was officially the Cheng Yan Men, "Straight to the Sun," and was once the emperor's because he alone was allowed to pass through the central archway.  But China has become a people's country and the gate is often referred to as "The Nation's Gate," (p. 766).

"Back from it stretches the royal avenue which leads to the Imperial palaces - the Purple Forbidden City."  Every Chinese citizen could buy a ticket to get into the palace museum.  "This paper allows them to walk where the god-emperors once abode!" (p. 767).

I was surprised to read that even after the Communists gained control of China, many nations maintained their embassies and kept troops there.  "Since the boxer uprising of 1900, garrisons have been maintained in Peiping by the American, British, French, Italian, and Japanese legations," (photo caption, p. 769).

FYI:  China has long enjoyed a reputation of producers of fine porcelain and pottery.  When our United States colonies of Jamestown and Plymouth were being settled in the 1600s, the Chinese city of Ching-teh-chen, "about 200 miles from Shanghai, surrounded by deposits of kaolin and fine clays, had some 3,000 kilns and a population of nearly a million supported by the industry," (photo caption, p. 773).

Mr. Moore felt that the new government neglected the old shrines and they were decaying.  "Peiping is no longer an Imperial City, and there is little authority for the preservation of its precious monuments," (p. 779).  What a pity of have lost so much of the ancient Chinese history and artifacts!

Ancient Beijing, Part 1

The Chinese city of Beijing has existed since 1045 B.C.  Can you imagine your city having three thousand years of history!  For most of that time, it served as the capital city until the Communist Revolution in the early twentieth century.  In the article, The Glory That was Imperial Peking, National Geographic Magazine, June, 1933, author W. Robert Moore explores the ancient city.

The city itself has had many names, and is referred to in articles of the 1930's as Peiping, Peking, etc.  Now it is know as Beijing.  The many palaces and places of worship are detailed as being virtually abandoned after the overthrow of the government of the god-king emperor and replaced by the Peoples Republic of China.

"Through the mosaic of roofs, and palace enclosures run "long wide roads through which horsemen can gallop nine abreast!"  What a contrast Peiping, with its liberal use of space presents to most cities in China!. . . Roads run straight and true. . .nothing is pinched or tortured together, except in the Chinese and residential districts. . . until you look down from the air and see the masses of trees within the walled-in gardens, you do not suspect that the city has such an abundance of greenery," (p. 765).

There is a photo of the Great Wall of China, at Nankow Pass.  We recently viewed part of the Great Wall in Mongolia in a National Geographic Magazine article.  Construction of this project began 23 centuries ago!  Can you imagine the massive undertaking which would stretch from present-day Philadelphia clear past Kansas City, U.S.A.?

Mr. Moore reported a population of over "1 million" for the Beijing of 1933.  Today, there are more than 11.5 million inhabitants.  A personal story: My late mother, Adeline, had wanted to visit China.  Dad had been stationed there in the U.S. Army during the Second World War.  They planned a cruise to China around the year, 2000.  Their friends gave them a going-away party the night before departure. On the way to the car, mom tripped on the driveway and broke her nose!  They had to cancel going on the cruise.  Mom said that after that accident, "I never had the desire to go to China again."

I will re-visit the ancient city in the next blog.

The Kingdom of Steam

The Hamburg, Germany, of 1933 must have been impressive in its skyscrapers, steamships, railroad system, and multitude of factories.  Author Frederick Simpich details its wonders in the June, 1933, National Geographic Magazine article, Hamburg Speaks With Steam Sirens.  Hamburg is Germany's port to the North Sea and to the world.  It is inland, on the Elbe River.  "The Elbe, navigable for 456 miles, with its canals and tributaries, gives Hamburg easy, cheap water communications with regions as distant as Czechoslovakia, eastern Poland, and the Baltic countries," (p. 739).

Impressive, unusual buildings in Hamburg include St. Nicholas Church (Nikolai-Kirche), built in the 12th century, with its tower of 482 feet, the tallest edifice in the world at the time.  "The use of the open square before the church as a market place is an ancient practice, commonly followed also in the Philippines and Latin America," (photo caption, p. 732).  I was sad to check that it is in ruins now, having been bombed in World War II.

Hamburg's subway system of that era was 77 feet below the surface.  People and vehicles had to be lowered in elevators.  Hamburg citizens are called "Hamburgers."  "Hamburgers, like the English, walk for pleasure. . . Germans take their pleasures seriously.  Sport is highly organized so that fun-making may function smoothly, like electric cargo cranes in the harbor!" (p. 741).

This was a pleasant article of many black-and-white photos.  The author concluded, "As in olden days her sailing ships pioneered the Seven Seas, so now her liners, freighters, and tankers follow every ocean lane and her voice is the sound of steamers whistling," (p. 744).

Kentucky Day Trip

Today was a most pleasant day, driving 82 miles west to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, U.S.A., for an all-day Nephrology Conference with my former nursing colleague, Gail.  We took the Bluegrass Parkway, a fine, old, 4-lane divided highway with much less traffic than the Interstates.  The trip is rural all the way from Lexington, miles and miles of open green fields dotted with horses or cattle, with a few large crops of corn and tobacco ready for harvest.  It is mid-September and our world is a lush, beautiful green.  Soon fall will come with its cooler weather and golden leaves showing off their blaze of color before the bleak winter landscape.  But our land has never been - at least in my memory - as green as it is now.

Gail and I caught up with non-stop conversation about the hospital, our families, and our church family.  It was fun to see some of the doctors, nurses, social workers, and dieticians who were former colleagues, and also great to meet some new folks from all over Kentucky and one from Indianapolis, Indiana.  I brought my camera to snap a few photos and forgot all about it.  The presentations were extremely well done.  For more about the conference, please see my relationship blog, www.stoptwistedlove.blogspot.com. Some days, it's good just to sit and learn!

Gobi Desert, Part 3

This continues and concludes my report of the ( 63-page long)  National Geographic Magazine article, Explorations in the Gobi Desert,  Roy Chapman Andrews, June, 1933.  The Gobi Desert is in the country of Mongolia, surrounded by China except for the north where it borders on Russia.  Let's see what else Dr. Andrews found about the life of the native Mongols at that time.

We in the western nations of 2014 generally take good care of our sick and infirm persons.  In a time of "survival of the fittest," which probably encompasses most of humanity for nearly all of our existence, such scientific care was unknown.  "One seldom sees sick natives.  Probably one of the reasons is that if a person is very ill the relatives simply decamp and leave the invalid to die.  Believing that evil spirits take possession of a body as soon as life is extinct, they are extremely loathe to have anyone die in their yurt," (p. 701).

On the other hand, "assistance to a traveler is taken as a matter of course," (p. 701).

Ponies are the Mongols' prize possession.  "To be left without a pony is a serious matter, for the distance between wells in the desert is often great.  Horse stealing is a capital crime," (p. 701).

"This wild, free life of the plains has made the Mongol exceedingly independent. He relies entirely upon himself, for he has learned that in the struggle for existence it is he, himself, that counts," (p. 702).  This is opposite to the Chinese who depend greatly on family and village.

Herding their animals is the chief occupation of the Mongolians,  "A wicker framework is hastily thrown up by the desert tribesmen to corral their sheep and goats by night," (photo caption, p. 707).

"Even under Genghis and Kublai Khan Mongols had conquered half the then-known world, they left nothing constructive behind them. . . They were only destructive.  They had nothing to give, " p. 708).

The concept of monasticism, Lamaism, was introduced by the Chinese and became the official religion of the Mongols in 1294.  More than two thirds of the male population were lamas, or monks, when Dr. Andrews and the expeditions visited Mongolia.

"The discovery of fossils which show that the Central Asian plateau was one of the great centers of the origin and distribution of world life is perhaps the most important achievement of the Expedition.  After the dinosaur eggs the giant Baluchitherium must certainly take next rank among our discoveries.  It is the largest mammal that ever lived upon the earth. . ."  Can you imagine a rhinoceros 17 feet high at the shoulders, 24 feet long and  weighing many tons?  (p. 710).

Dr. Andrews was understandably proud of the many critically important 'finds' of his expeditions.  "Is it surprising that a wave of sadness swept over me as I looked for the last time at the Flaming Cliffs, gorgeous in the morning sunshine of that August day?  I knew that I would never see them again. . . new fields are calling," (p. 716).  How amazing that the millions of dinosaur bones lay in the desert for untold millions of years until discovered by this expedition in 1930!

Gobi Desert, Part 2

My concept of a desert is that they are either like photos of the Sahara, with an unlimited horizon of sand dunes and scarce oases scattered here and there or like the American western deserts, full of cacti, other plant life, lizards and snakes.  Do I have a lot to learn!

Dr. Andrews described the Gobi Desert in Mongolia as full of raptors, the birds of prey, "a half dozen species of hawks and owls, several species of eagles and two great vultures," one black vulture having a wingspan of ten feet.  One of the other scientists "took a young black vulture from the nest . . . and brought it back to camp.  It flourished and became as tame as a chicken. . . it was always allowed the freedom of the camp and never attempted to leave," (p. 676).

Another task of the scientific party was to study mammals of the region.  During their five separate expeditions from 1922 to 1930, they trapped and preserved 10,000 small mammals (kangaroo rats, hamsters, voles, sand rats, hedgehogs, and other species peculiar to the area) to ship back to the museum in America for study. The troupe came upon herds of wild asses, antelopes and gazelles, and also upon solitary wolves.

There was a photo of a wild dog which looked fierce! "Mongolian dogs are of the Tibetan mastiff breed. . . they will attack a stranger on sight," (photo caption, p. 687).

I found an answer to my question about reptiles in the desert.  "The Gobi is so dry and cold that there are very few reptiles.  Pit vipers, the only poisonous snakes of the Gobi, caused us some annoyance at times," (p. 689).  (I hate snakes!!)  "We named the place "Viper Camp" because 47 snakes were killed in the tents. . . Fortunately, the cold had made them sluggish, and they did not strike quickly," (p. 692).

The people of the region, the Mongols, were also studied.  They were a pastoral and nomadic people, following their herds of goats and sheep for pasture.  "Mongols are fond of children, but the youngsters do not have an easy time in life.  They are examples of "the survival of the fittest."  They grow up as best they can, with no attention to the most ordinary rules of health, cleanliness or diet," (p. 692).  Dr. Andrews said that their only medical care was the prayers of the lamas (Buddhist monks).  The Mongol men who helped the expedition as guides, interpreters and hunters were fascinated by the telescope. "They would gaze through it by the hour.  They would give any of their possessions, not excluding a wife, to obtain field glasses," (photo caption, p. 693).

In the second eight-page section of color photographs, the Great Wall of China at Nankow Pass, Mongolia is shown remarkably intact.  FYI:  there were actually three spans of Great Walls of China. "The Wall at Kalgan was the outer line of fortifications; the Wall at Nankow, the second line of defense; and the Wall at Peiping (Peking) the third and last line," (photo caption, p. 694).  FYI: Astronauts report that there are only two man-made objects on earth visible from space: the California Aqueduct and the Great Wall of China.

The next blog will reveal more of the Mongol ordinary life, as it was in the 1930's.

Gobi Desert, Part 1

Let's have a show of hands: who knows where the Gobi Desert is?  Don't know about you, but my hand didn't go up!  I didn't have a clue before reading Explorations in the Gobi Desert, Roy Chapman Andrews, National Geographic Magazine, June 1933.  The Gobi Desert is in the heart of Mongolia, a land-locked country bordering Russia on the north, and China on the east, west, and south.

Dr. Andrews, a geologist, reports that although the Russians had previously explored Mongolia for geologic history, "the country had not been studied by the exact methods of modern science."  One reason for this lack of studying the country was its distant location, its size, and its primitive conditions.  "Distances are tremendous and transportation slow.  Mongolia is, roughly, 2,000 miles from east to west and 1,200 miles from north to south.  In all this vast area, there is not a single mile of railroad.  Transport is by camels, ponies, and oxcarts," (p. 653).  In addition, climate temperatures may reach from 40 to 50 degrees below zero in the winter

It was decided that travel would be best accomplished in automobiles, which could travel perhaps 100 miles per day, to compare with 10 miles per day on camels.  However, caravans of camels would carry the equipment.  We can't forget: the camels even had to carry tanks of gasoline; there were NO service stations in the desert!

Bandits were an ever-present danger: "They swarm like devouring locusts, even up to the walls of cities.  Usually they are soldier-deserters from unpaid or defeated armies. . . At the time of our fourth expedition, in 1928, bandits occupied this entire region.  There were about 10,000 of them, and every camel, cart, or car. . . was certain to be robbed before it had gone 50 miles," (p. 655).

Here's a surprise from the author: "I had one advantage, for the chief bandit proved to be an old friend,"  Even so, the bandit demanded an exhorbitant $100 fee for each car.  Dr. Andrews hinted at men with rifles and a machine gun.  "We didn't have a machine gun, but the word went out, and we were not attacked that year," (p. 656).

The author and his team made a very important discovery.  "Before the first season in Mongolia was ended, it was evident that we had discovered one of the richest and most important fossil fields in all the world.  The dinosaur eggs alone made it famous. . . The discovery was important because no one knew that dinosaurs laid eggs,"  (p. 663).

They were asked how they knew the eggs were dinosaur eggs.  ". . . two of the eggs contain parts of the embryo skeletons of unhatched baby dinosaurs!" (p. 664).  Mr. Andrews wondered why dinosaur eggs held such fascination for the layman.  "I supposed it is because of their great age.  Ninety-five million years is the estimated age of the strata in which the eggs were embedded," (p. 664).

The troupe found evidence of an ancient culture, thousands of implements.  Mr. Andrews estimated that there were many millions of inhabitants of Mongolia 20,000 years ago, compared to the less than one million in the 1930s.  "Where did they come from and where did they go?  Doubtless they were driven out by increasing aridity," (p. 668).

The first photograph in the eight-page colored section shows a lama (Buddhist monk) with a giant prayer wheel.  "The zealot believes that every time the wheel is turned a prayer automatically goes up to Buddha in his behalf," (photo caption, p. 669).  The native Mongol tribes wore quite colorful clothing with very elaborate jewel-studded headdresses.  The familiar "felt-covered yurt, a portable dwelling adaptable to the Mongols' needs, since it can be easily taken down, transported, and erected again," (photo caption, p. 673) was evident.

The geologists of the expedition, "have read a fascinating story of earth history in the rocks of the Central Asian plateau.  They have learned that this is the oldest continually dry land known to science."  That part of the world was never covered with glacial ice as had America and Europe, thus preserving the human and animals remains.  Continuing, "strangely enough, deserts often have more animal and bird life than do heavy forests. . . That is true of the Gobi," (p. 676).

In the next blog entry, I'll continue with more on the bird life of the Gobi desert in the 1930s.

How America Came to Be

I unabashedly love American History and Geography!  I must be ignorant, though, because I always learn so much in these National Geographic Magazine articles!  How the United States Grew, authored by McFall Kerbey, May, 1933, details the development of the states' boundaries and acquisition of various large territories.  This accompanies a separate large map of the United States included with the magazine. Of course, we were only 48 states at that time, Hawaii and Alaska having been added in 1959.

After mentioning the first permanent settlement at Jamestown, Virginia, Mr. Kerbey details the growth of the villages on the east coast: New York, Plymouth, Boston, Charleston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Savannah.  Next came the original 13 states on the east coast, followed by new states of Vermont and Ohio, with Kentucky (formerly a part of Virginia) extending the country to the Mississippi River.

Here is a very interesting intrigue: The U.S. Minister to France, Robert Livingston, was sent to France in 1801 to buy "The Island of New Orleans" to gain control of the mouth of the Mississippi River.  "Negotiations dragged on for two years, when suddenly war was declared on France by Great Britain.  More to embarrass Great Britain than to accommodate the United States, Napoleon decided to sell the entire Louisiana Territory," (p. 631).

Livingston and special commissioner James Monroe, who had joined him, were authorized to offer between $2,000,000 and $10,000,000 for New Orleans.  The French wanted $15,000,000 for the immense Louisiana Purchase.  What to do?

"The two Americans were aghast.  Cables and steamships did not exist.  To get word to America and an answer back would require many weeks.  Napoleon was in a hurry.  So the two envoys figuratively threw their instructions out the window and signed the agreement.  President Jefferson and Congress approved the contract and on December 20, 1803, the Stars and Stripes were run up over New Orleans," (p. 632).  Final price of the real estate: $23,213,567.73.

The addition of the western states involved dealing with Great Britain and Mexico - except for Texas.  "The Texas addition was unique.  Texas had existed for nearly ten years as an independent republic, with diplomatic representatives in Washington and at European courts and with foreign ministers in its own capital.  A separate nation entered the union, the only case of its sort in United States history," (p. 633).

FYI: "In contrast to the map of Europe, where almost every country is surrounded by the crooked lines of natural boundaries, the map of the United States shows numerous straight lines as the boundaries of States. . . Not a single state is outlined wholly by natural boundaries.  New Jersey comes nearest, with the bulk of its bounds formed by rivers and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean," (p. 645).

We moderns of 2014 take accuracy in our maps (and GPS systems!) totally for granted.  It was not always as easy as satellite surveillance!  "Absolute accuracy is so difficult to attain that probably a single marked surveyed line used as a State boundary is marked out on the ground exactly where statesmen and surveyors intended it to be.  Some of the errors are easily discernible on a map," (p. 647).

There's one fact I actually remember that was not in this article: our first United States President, George Washington, started out his illustrious career as a surveyor!  I love our United States map, from sea to shining sea!

Early Flying Days

In his May, 1933, National Geographic Magazine article, Flying, Gilbert Grosvenor writes, "Less than twenty years ago, air-passenger service was unknown.  A pioneer flying boat carried sight-seers on scheduled trips over the 17 miles between Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, for a few weeks early in 1914.  So far as Federal records show, that was America's first regular air-travel line," (p. 585).  That's interesting to know!

I had no idea how very long the plane flights were back in 1933.  "Between New York and Los Angeles the air passenger schedule is less than 25 hours eastbound and 29 hours westbound, as compared with 3 days and 11 hours by rail, (p. 587).  I'll remember that the next time I make a long journey to the west coast!

Odd fact:  in the early days of flying, "Airplane Crossing" signs could be seen across roads in airports.

There even was a Navy aircraft carrier, "The Lexington," in that era.

The author gives many statistics of every aspect of air travel.  There's only one area I noticed in which we have not made progress since then: food service.  "Cooking is done in the air on the larger seaplanes.  On the land-liners, food, already prepared, is taken aboard and kept hot until mealtime.  On some lines planes halt for meals," (p. 617).  These days, you nearly have to be flying across a major ocean to get a free meal!  Two weeks ago, when I returned from Boston, I noticed that the price one had to pay for snacks had increased even more!  At least passengers could still get a free (non-alcoholic) drink!

FYI: "What a miraculous change since 200 boy riders - using 500 horses - carried mail before 1840 from New York to New Orleans at the dizzying rate of 14 miles per hour!" (p. 618).

Progress certainly was made rapidly in aviation!  Only several years ago in these pages of the National Geographic, I was reading that there was no air travel at night.  In 1933, it was commonplace.

Are you old enough to know what a "Pullman" was?  Are you old enough to have traveled in a Pullman?  That was a passenger railroad car, slow but very comfortable.  "Of the 530,000 who bought air tickets in 1932, as against some 30,000,000 who rode the Pullmans, by far the great majority flew to save time," (p. 625).  In the last year, there have been 649 million air passengers in the United States alone.  In 2013, Amtrak (the only rail service for people!) carried over 31 million passengers!  What a turn-around!

There was a photograph of a new plane being tested. "Shaped like some queer insect, with retractable landing gear, this new all-metal plane is designed to cruise at 200 miles, with a top speed of 235 miles, an hour.  It has capacity for eight passengers, mail, and baggage," (photo caption, p. 626). What was new to me on the trip to Boston was that there were several vacant seats in the front of the large plane and the flight attendant asked if two passengers from the back of the plane would move to the front "to balance the load."  I had never before seen that.

Mr. and Mrs. Grosvenor traveled many miles and "Although we were in the air only 100 hours, we derived a more realistic picture of the geography of the country, of the relationship of great rivers, mountain ranges, plains, cities, and islands than years of travel otherwise afforded," (p. 628).  I couldn't agree more!

In the photos of passengers in this article, I noticed the absence of seat belts!  I will look forward to reading about those and other safety features of planes in the articles to come!

The author concluded this lengthy (45-page) article, "From the days of Lindbergh's stupendous venture, and Byrd's thrilling flights, we have seen air traffic become strong, dependable factor in American business," (p. 630).  Amen to that!

Old New Jersey, Part 2

In 1933, Camden, New Jersey, was the center and headquarters of the world-famous Campbell's Soup company.  It still is today.  Camden also was an important manufacturer of the now-extinct phonograph records. Perhaps its largest industry was shipbuilding.  In Mr. E. John Long's May, 1933, article in the National Geographic Magazine,  New Jersey Now!, he writes, "Down the greased ways of Camden's shipyards have glided three of the four biggest ships launched in this country and nearly twenty percent of the vessel tonnage now comprising the United States Navy.  During the past 28 years Camden's shipways have built some 400 vessels, including warships for foreign navies," (p. 557).

Although there were dozens of shipbuilders in Camden in that era, the largest, New York Ship Corporation, went bankrupt in 1968 due to lack of orders from the U.S. Navy.  It was founded in 1899.

This one city in New Jersey, Camden, "has dozens of other industries.  Cork products, cigars, machinery, licorice products, printing, shoes, books, and linoleum stand out in a list of more than 300 diversified manufactures," (p. 557).  Most impressive!

Camp Dix, New Jersey, was a U.S. Army training installation since its inception in 1917. My Dad, Reuben, a career Army man, was stationed there once.  It is now called Fort Dix, and has been combined with other U.S. military services.  In reading about these 'happenings' of the 1930's and earlier, I enjoy checking what is still active and what is not, and which products which were popular then are being used now.

Trivia: "Bordertown, another historic Delaware River port, has the first public school in New Jersey, where Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, taught; the beautiful estate of Joseph Bonaparte, exiled king of Spain," (p. 559).  Trenton, New Jersey, was the temporary capital of these United States while the Continental Congress met there in 1784.  The Continental Congress actually met in a very large building on the Princeton University campus.  Princeton, the home of the 'Tigers,' was founded in 1746, before we were even a nation!

There are two 8-page sections of color photographs.  Particularly interesting were those of 'dyeing' industries: dyeing leather and silk fabric.  Despite being a heavy manufacturing state, New Jersey has beautiful areas of mountains and coast.

New Jersey once had the distinction of having the world's busiest airport.  "Six transport companies and two local air lines scheduled a total of 89 air planes daily in and out of Newark in 1932, and in addition a constant stream of unscheduled private and military planes used this municipal field," (p. 574).  In 2014, the Atlanta, Georgia, airport is the world's busiest airport but it may be surpassed by either the ones in Beijing or Dubai.

Imagine a transportation service on this scale: "Only London has a larger coordinated bus and trolley system than one Newark company, which serves 421 New Jersey municipalities, reaching all but one county in the state.  In 1931 it transported a total of nearly 400,000,000 passengers," (p. 575).

More trivia: In Morristown, "S. F. B. Morse secretly perfected the telegraph.  Morristown has, too, a school where German Shepherd dogs are trained to lead the blind," (p. 585).  New Jersey is, indeed, an impressive state, thoroughly flourishing in 1933!