Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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McCORMICK MESSENGER, McCOBMlCK, S. (^THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1940.. HOUSEHOLD QUESTIONS Eg* stains on table linen should be soaked in cold water before laundering because hot water sets such stains. To reheat cereal, place in dou ble boiler and stir while cooking. This is better than adding water, which tends to make the cereal lumpy. * * * Lacquering brass articles will give them that well-kept look. To clean them either wipe off with soft cloth or gently wash them in warm water and soap suds and be careftil not to remove the lac quer. The articles can easily be relacquered, however. * * * Hie household washing machine js ideal for dyeing curtains, dra peries and other articles made of fabrics and can be colored with tints that do not require boiling. ITou can let the washer run until the articles are sufficiently and evenly colored. • • • If yon do much sewing at night, a bridge lamp with arm extended right over your sewing will give you the best light. A shade of off- white or pale amber gives the most restful light. wiir MIN WHERE IT HURTS COOD OLD p 0990 6 2‘ RESERIPTION b Z44U <1. He and I If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved my friend, I find it could not other wise be expressed than by the an swer, “Because he was he; be cause I was I.”—Montaigne. KENT BLADES I Helpful Antagonist He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharp- 4ms our skill. Our antagonist is eur helper.—Burke. NESCO/ Circulating Kerosene / Heaters FIRESIDE WARMTH With a NESCO Circulating NESCO’S new Portable Grcu- fating Heaters provide dean, moist heat WHEREVER AND WHENEVER DESIRED. These attractive Cabinet and Round Heaters use kerosene— the cheapest and most easily obtained fuel. They have no onsighdy flue connections and require no installation and serv icing costs. They deliver 100% heat from the fuel consumed. Attractive, scientifically designed louvres effi ciently distribute the heat. Models with the reflector arc project the cheery action of the flame into the room, similar to a fireplace. Thera are twelve (12) NESCO Kerosene Heaters ranging in price from $3.50 and np. See them at your dealer. NATIONAL ENAMELING and STAMPING COMPANY 313 N. 12th Street, Milwaukee, Wis. John James Audubon, Painter of Birds, Now Revealed as an Important Writer Who Was 'Witness to Our Heroic Age' THE VIRGINIAN OPOSSUM. By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) O MOST Americans the name “Audubon” is synonymous with just one word — “birds.” Three species bear his name, as does the society which is dedi cated to the study, protection and preservation of those feathered denizens of Amer ica which were his life-long passion. We remember him also as the author-artist of a set of books which a fellow- scientist oncq^ called “the most magnificent monument that art has yet raised to ornithology.” Yet there is an other—and possibly a better —reason why John James Au dubon should be remembered gratefully by his fellow- Americans. That is because he was “a wit ness to our heroic age” and, as an appreciative and understand ing witness, he was one of its best interpreters. Such is the theme of a new book, whose pub lication by the Houghton Mifflin company of Boston, was a major event of the 1940 publishing sea son. The book is “Audubon’s America — The Narratives and Experiences of John James Au dubon,” illustrated with nearly a score of facsimiles of his prints and paintings in full color. But more important than this inclusion of authentic reproduc tions of Audubon’s paintings in a popular-priced book is the fact that his “narratives and experi ences” in it are edited by Donald Culross Peattie. And Mr. Peat- tie, naturalist and author of such books as “Singing in the Wilder ness” and “A Prairie Grove,” is probably the one man in America today who is most competent to act as an appreciative and under standing interpreter of John James Audubon, a witness to and an interpreter of our heroic age. Some of the most charming prose that Mr. Peattie has ever written is included in “What Au dubon Knew,” which serves as an introduction to the book. It says in part: “The source of history is the narratives of those who lived it . . . Now of all those who ever lived here, traveled and greatly adventured, none could bear more fascinating testimony than John James Audubon. He had the advantage of being *a foreigner ... So that he took nothing for granted, and in the perspective of a more mature culture, &11 things American struck him as fresh. He had the further ad vantage that he was a genius, and a genius of art at that, so that to observe, to depict what he saw, was habitual and instinctive. “But Audubon had, too, a gen ius for the art of living. He lived with zest for the adventure and with personal ardors. He savored everything, even the un savory. He saw almost every thing, from 1803 to 1849, from Florida to Labrador, from New York city to Fort Union on the borders of Montana. He lived among Pennsylvania Quakers, in Kentucky among pioneers from Virginia, in New Orleans among Indians. He explored Maine and South Carolina, Texas and Flor ida. Wide Variety of Experience. “In the nearly 50 active Amer ican years of Audubon’s life, what Dther individual had such a va riety of experience? No one, cer tainly, was at once so sensitive and so lusty. No one with his pen and his brush. . . .” It is at this point in his essay that Mr. Peattie points out how Audubon's fame as an ornitholo gist, the renown which has made his name synonymous with the word “birds,” has obscured his value to his fellow-Americans as “a witness of our heroic age.” Moreover, his art as a painter has overshadowed his ability as a writer. For a professional writ er he was, a man who wrote to sell and who did sell. “I am not saying that he knew how to write history like the learned Parkman, or style like JOHN JAMES AUDUBON A self-portrait in oils, made at Beech Woods, Feliciana parish, La., in 1822 at the age of 37. the choice Thoreau, or that he thought as an equal with Emer son,” observes Mr. Peattie. “I am asserting only that while Cooper went to England while he wrote ‘The Prairie’ (an unread- ably dull book, to my ears), Au dubon was on the prairies. That where Emerson knew his Carlyle, Audubon knew his Mississippi squatters, that while Thoreau was traveling around Concord, Audu bon was traveling around North America. While Parkman was writing history, Audubon was making and witnessing it.” Considering these facts, it seems strange indeed that until now no attempt has been made to bring together into one volume a general selection of the first hand narratives of what Mr. Peattie calls “this shrewd and eager observer of all conditions and aspects of American men, manners and scenes.” This has been due partly to the fact that Audubon’s writings have been scattered through a wide assort ment of volumes, many of which are to be found only in the larger libraries and are therefore known to only a few scholars and spe cialists in American history. For these reasons Americans generally know little about Audu bon, the writer, even though they may be familiar enough with Au dubon, the artist, and what they do know about him as a chroni cler of the period in which he lived is when he is quoted “in evidence for the unbelievable numbers of the passenger pig eons, or the destruction of the buffalo, or on some other point in natural history.” Therefore the great value of this book is that it “makes up in some measure for neglect of Audubon’s precious testimony.” For, as Mr. Peattie says, “as edi tor, I have preferred to bring him forward less as the natural ist than as one who knew river captains and roustabouts, pio neers and men of letters, Indians and scientists. This without, of course, slighting his natural his tory writings but reducing them to some reasonable proportion to the whole. That whole is the America of his day, America as he, and perhaps only he, knew it —Audubon’s America.” How richly that promise is full filled is shown by a reading of the chapters which follow the in troductory “What Audubon Knew,” and Mr. Peattie’s evalua tion of “Audubon as a Witness.” The titles of those chapters are indicative of the diversity of Au dubon’s experience, the catholic ity of his interests and the scope of his “traveling around North America”—“Kentucky Days and Nights,” “Hunters’ Tales,” “Pio neer Types,” “Deep South,” “Four Proud Fowl,” “Down East for Birds and Subscribers” and “Out West With Buffalo and In dians.” To those who think of Audubon only in terms of birds, the amount of his writing about ani mals will be revealing. After com pleting his monumental work, “The Birds of America,” he be gan work on “The Quadrupeds of America” and “into the new project the old master entered ' with all the zest, so he wrote his young friend Spencer Baird, that he had once felt for birds.” So it is appropriate that this new book reproduces almost as many pictures of animals (seven in all) as it does pictures of birds (eight). Not the least interesting fea ture of the book is a “Biographi cal Note” (a long “note” albeit, since it covers 22 pages!) which tells in interesting fashion the sto ry of his life from the date of his birth, April 26, 1785, at the port of Les Cayes or Aux Cayes on the south coast of the republic of Haiti until his death in New York city on January 27, 1851. This biographical sketch dis cusses the much-disputed story of his paternity and cites the fact that available documents prove conclusively that he was the nat ural son of Lieut. Jean Audubon of the French navy and a Creole woman of good birth, whose fam ily name was either Rabin or Fougere. Says Mr. Peattie: “This should set at rest the preposter ous claim that has recently (and only recently) been set up for him, that he was none other than the lost Dauphin, Louis XVII, majesty disguised as a wander ing artist! This legend would be too far-fetched for notice if it were not, unfortunately, the one story about Audubon that sticks in many minds. Two women biog raphers of Audubon have recent ly taken it quite seriously, and thousands of words have been written in debate on this point. They can all be cut short by lay ing down a fact denied by no body. The unfortunate little Bour bon prince had a deformed ear, while Audubon’s ears were both quite normal. Who will seriously argue the point beyond this?” Reporter's Memo to His Editor: Washington, D. C.: The Greek vic tories are not being taken too seri ously by you know who. Says it is “all a trap” to get the British fleet away from the Suez and then et cetera. Don’t overplay streamers . . . The Molotov-Hitler minutes were in Washington three hours lat er. Russia will send about 15 di visions to Turk border to “keep the Turks from becomig too trouble some.” Those are exact quotes . . . Time mag killed most sensational quotes of campaign rather than in cense certain subscribers. Amazing ... No secret down here in every lobby . . . Steve Early’s resignation plans off indef. That cop inci dent in N. Y. . . . People might think he was fired . . . Has big salaried job waiting . . . Flynn’s call was for Sam Foley of Bronx— for Demo candidate mayoralty . . . Whiskers says positively no evidence of sabotage in any of those ex plosions. Whew! Perkins’ probable successor as sec’y labor may be George Harri son, pres. Brotherhood R. R. Clerks . . . Knudsen, Henderson and Gen eral Wesson of Ordnance Dep’t at private demonstration of “Secret Weapon” to “stop” Adolf. Creator is Carleton Brown. Worked on it 21 years. Revolutionize mobile transportation. Terrific form of tank . . . Check with Arthur Loew, heir to all those double-features. He and his wife going to school last few months—up at Columbia U. . . . Taking course in motion picture and play production! No kidding . . . Raft invested 80 Gs in Florida race track . . . Frau Thomsen, wife of Nazi man here, depressed over snub of local hunt club. Wasn’t invited to affair for first time. RAF damage to Berlin almost as great as in London, according to pouch-bearers. Goebbels, of course, will deny . . . Hamburg practical ly doesn’t exist . . . Thurman Ar nold was waving his resignation for weeks—but has made peace . . . Francis Biddle, U. S. solicitor-gen eral, may inherit Bob Jackson’s post as AG if Jackson beats an eastern senator to Supreme court as chief justice . . . Jackson won’t accept an associate justice job . . . Hotels jammed to capacity—many turned away during heavy rains. Clerks explain town crowded because of defense contractors. Most of the mob, the clowns say, are here try ing to square themselves with New Dealers . . . Newspaper men say ing Willkie sore at many of his orig inal boosters, partic R. Howard, of all people! More Tips for Ye Ed.: Talk here Nathan Straus seeking chance at NY governorship . . . Check with him regarding Bronx hand bill matter. All I ki|ow on it . . . Bases promoted for U. S. in Rio Platte practlfcally set, despite denials . . . Lawrence Langner, Broadway producer, excited about his defense job here—doesn’t miss white lights at all . . . Nelson Rocke feller very popular with mob, say he’s doing swell job putting in “the unofficial fix” . . . Talk persists Frank Murphy would be happier at Dep’t of Justice—not enough action on bench . . . Big new job being an gled by almost everybody for chief of propaganda post similar to one Creel had last war. Lowell Mellett leading field . . . Check if Capone still at Mayo Brothers. Went many week? ago—same trouble. CLASSIFIED DEPARTMENT BABY CHICKS Assorted heavies.blood- CO Qfi tested. No cripples — *j CHICKS' No culls. 100 postpaid Send Money Order for Prompt Shipment. Livt Delivery GuaranUed ATLAS CO., 2651 Chouteau, St. Louis, Mo. AGENTS In metropolitan and rural territories to sell fly & insect electrocutor screens & traps. Conqueror Mfg. Co., P. O. Box 4S03, Phila. REMEDIES WHY SUFFER WITH ASTHMA .hen MINTON'S REMEDY, since 189S has given relief to Asthma and Bronchial sufferers? Biff 18-ounce bottle tff.00 postpaid. Order Now 8ARCO REMEDY COMPANY, Shfnoy.O. Set of Shelves From Spools and Can Lids By RUTH WYETH SPEARS nPHE other' day I went to a Hobby Show and there, hang ing on the wall with a blue ribbon pinned on it, were the spool shelves from SEWING Book 3! Of course, I searched out the proud girl who had made them, and she told me that she had also made the end table of spools that is in 27 SPOOLS-y'OF WIRE-SCAN UPS 2 BEADS I ^START WITH A LOOP- .., BOTH ENOS conr?n E !r> X A^OWN THROUGH TOP RUN ENDS UP THROUGH SPOOLS- />.| THROUGH' \ OCAOi - D I Book 5. Her urgent need at the moment was, “something to mak€ for Mother for Christmas.” Here is my suggestion. An ador able set of three corner shelves made of a lid from a tin candy box, one from a cracker can and a coffee can put together with wire, spools and two beads. These shelves were painted cherry red and hung up with a brass hook to hold salt and pepper shakers, vinegar cruet, and other things for making salads. Any home maker will think of a dozen places where this handy set of shelves could be used. All the directions are here in this sketch. • * * There is time to make the hanging book shelves in Book 3, or the end table in Book 5, before Christmas, if you mail your order for these booklets today. Send or der to: MRS. RUTH WYETH SPEARS Drawer 10 Bedford Hills New York Enclose 20c for Books 3 and 5. Name Address Relief At Last ForYourCough Creomulsion relieves promptly be cause it goes right to the seat of the trouble to help loosen and expel germ laden phlegm, and aid nature to soothe and heal raw, tender, in flamed bronchial mucous mem branes. Tell your druggist to sell you a bottle of Creomulsion with the.un derstanding you must like the way it quickly allays the cough or you are to have your money back. CREOMULSION for Coughs, Chest Colds, Bronchitis Ambassador Kennedy interview (on persuading Lindbergh to tell Chamberlain what he knew- -which led to Munich pact) given me by Kennedy in Florida January, 1939. Every word okayed by him—we didn’t use any of “off-record” stuff . . . Dr. Frank Nolan in attendance Helen Morgan illness on Coast—“the heart” . . . Did Seymour Weiss sen tence (30 months) break? . . . Jesse Lasky depressed over critical re sponse to “Quiet Please,” says au dience howl at it. Wants me see it and tell whether it has chance. If not will close pronto. Why don’t you cover it—you might save him some dough—or all those jobs ... At least five men expected to be FDR’s running mate. Rob’t H. Jackson and Wm. O. Douglas were two. So when Inner Girders ask each other: “Why do you think the boss picked Henry Wallace?” reply is supposed to be: “You mean to say you never saw the pictures in the papers of him jug gling those boomerangs?” ... In short, Henry Wallace was the boom erang thrower who didn’t boomerang on the President! Inflation rumors laughed at . . . “Any one who performed miracles in 1933 (opening banks) can control money now,” according to financial experts at Shoreham hotel ringside . . . Henri Bernstein, Parisian play wright, now in New York, expects to lose French citizenship . . . Rene Kraus, author of “Churchill,” was offered British passport acct of good propaganda work. He is Austrian. Refused it. However, he’s flying to England next week. Has assign ment to do book on RAF. Leaves pretty English refugee in U. S. Work Is Noble All work, even cotton-spinning,' is noble; work is alone noble.— Carlyle. DON’T BE BOSSED BY YOUR LAXATIVE » RELIEVE CONSTIPATION THIS MODERN WAY • When you feel gassy, headachy, logy due to clogged-up bowels, do as millionm do—take Feen-A-Mint at bedtime. Next morning — thorough, comfortable relief, helping you start the day full of your normal energy and pep, feeling like m million! Feen-A-Mint doesn’t disturb your night’s rest or interfere with work the next day. TVy Feen-A-Mint, the chewing gum laxative, yourself. It tastes good, it’a handy and economical... a family supply FEEN-A-MINT 104 Fox and Geese When a fox preaches, beware of your geese. SCOLDS quickly LIQUID TABLETS SALVE NOSE DROPS COUGH DROPS WNU—7 48—40 The buyer’s assurance is the advents, ing he or she reads in the newspaper. That is the buyer’s guide. It rolls the prices one must expect to pay. Let the seller who tries to charge more beware!