Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 25 July 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #28 ISBN: pending Osiyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, As I sat in the waiting room of the car dealership waiting for my car to receive its three thousand mile lube-oil-filter treatment, I wrote many of the words below. However, I had to more than revise most of it and eliminate more than third of it due to the fear of plagiarizing. My birthday just whizzed by last week, also the birthday of one my daughters was Monday last. One of my daughters-in-law always finds cards that send me into peals of laughter. For this birthday she sent me reading material in the form of two books. One a most interesting book of Irish stories. The other is one of those that you keep in the "library" for quick reading ... quotes, sayings, short quizzes. The introduction had me falling off my "stool" which hurt more than my sides. I'm referring to Bob Phillips' book "Over the Hill & On a Roll". I was writing about the very things covered in his introduction. I will repeat an idea or two though, and tell you to go read the book for yourself, that is, if you can laugh out loud when you read. The first clue I agreed with, as I did with the second and third ones. You are past the midway of life and rolling down hill if you believe (1) that printers are using smaller type these days; (2) that people are talking softer than they used to, and, (3) that shoelaces are harder to reach. Things that I would not know if I didn't open my mail include what readers think about when they read. A couple of weeks ago I talked about some words which have gone "out of style". "Foot feed" sure "sparked" some memories. One of my granddaughters thinks that I am a "silly ole Poppy" for calling a refrigerator an "ice box". However, I love to tell her about that insulated tin lined piece of furniture in the corner of the kitchen which held ice in one compartment and dripped melted water into a pan underneath. And, about the two compartments where one contained things that you didn't have to open the door to retrieve anything very often and another where you kept things that you needed more often. That the ice man looked at the window to see if a sign with a number was posted there. The sign had several numbers affixed to it, such as 25, 50, 75 or 100. What ever number was upright indicated how many pounds of ice we wanted that day. We kids would "hitch" rides on the back of the ice- man's horse drawn wagon and eat the chips on warm days. We would also hitch rides on the milk-man's wagon and enjoy the "coolness" radiating from it. Both of these delivery folks had horses that knew the "route" so well that they would stop automatically in front of the houses of customers. Other delivery folk used the alley to deliver products and/or merchandise. Newer homes do not have alleys. Today alleys exist only in the older neighborhoods of cities. They were unpaved roadways between streets. Come to think about it -- city streets were not paved either. One of my chores was to empty the pot-belly stove and dump the "clinkers" in the "potholes" in the street and alley. The coal was delivered from the alleys. The coal wagon "dumped" coal in our "two-car" garage. The coal bin took the space where today a "second car" would. I'm appalled by the amount of garbage in front of homes today. In my neighborhood we are allowed three "containers". I notice that, not only are here three containers in front of most homes, but they seem to get larger every year. In some communities weight of a container is of small importance. The newer trucks are equipped with "lifts" to dump these containers into the truck. I remember that everyone had a compost pile and once a week the "Junk" man would drive his wagon through the neighborhood for "recyclables"; for which he might give us a few coins. In this day of low-carb diets, my grandson will condescend to eat a hot dog if it is plain, and the bun has to be eaten separately. He will sometimes eat some french fries that come with the "Happy Meals". However, it is the "toy" which is of interest. Fast Food didn't exist when we were children. Grandma cooked every day and "slow". If we were on the farm, she cooked before breakfast. Lunch and "supper" were "left-overs". If we were living in the "city", cooking was all afternoon and served for "dinner" when Grandpa returned home from work. Left-overs were used the next day, usually for lunch. If we had a formal dining room we all sat down together at the "dining room table". If we didn't like what was put on our plate, we were allowed to sit there until we did like what was put on our plate. Due to this discipline, my partner in life eats just one thing at a time, leaving the least liked for last. My grandparents never owned their own house, played golf, traveled far from "home". Credit cards were called "on the cuff". Levis were overalls; most of them were "bib-overalls". Though I had played that strange game, soccer, when I was nine years old, my parents never drove me to practice. [We didn't own a car until I was old enough to be licenced to drive.] We used bicycles; one speed [slow] ones that were very heavy. Even thin tired "English Racers" were one speed. Remember the pant leg clips to prevent your cuffs getting caught in the chain sprocket? My very first job was delivering magazines to barber shops. Then I was promoted to delivering newspapers. I have read that newspapers were delivered by boys and all boys delivered newspapers. I imagine by noting the membership in the "Old Newsboys" organizations that this is close to a true statement. I loved delivering newspapers. I made a bit more than 28 percent profit. Papers cost seven cents to buy and I got to keep two cents. I got up early and had them delivered before the sun rose. I had the rest of the day for me ... except on Saturdays. Saturday was "collection" day. How I moaned and whined about people who never seemed to be home on that day. Do you remember "soda pop"?? The dispensers were "coolers" and the bottles were accessed by lifting the lid and sliding a glass bottle along a track to the lever, which when certain coins were registered allowed one to "lift" the bottle out of the cooler. You are not so old if you remember "butch wax", but I'd venture you to be a bit older if you remember mustache wax. As a boy I didn't know what socket wrenches were. My family's tool chest consisted of a saw, a hammer, a screw driver [no Phillips head], a pair of pliers, and a crescent wrench. We built or repaired everything with these. Speaking of making things; when our roller skates wore out, we recycled them by making two by four scooters. Growing up just isn't the same! e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: = = = = http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html

Looking for Richard Woolsey who died there in 1832 charles woolsey

Georgia, The best bet would be through the Illinois State Historical Library, which has a huge newspaper collection. However, they are in the process of moving all of their materials into the new Abraham Lincoln Library. From their web site is the following notice: "The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library (formerly the IL State Historical Library, OCLC symbol JFK) will SUSPEND its interlibrary loan services effective July 6, 2004 to prepare the collection for moving to the Presidential Library. To that end, the Library will not accept interlibrary loan requests (OCLC and ALA forms or other ILL requests forms) postmarked, faxed or entered into OCLC after Friday, July 2, 2004. Requests received after that date will be returned UNPROCESSED and UNFILLED. Interlibrary loan services will resume in September after the Library re-opens in the Presidential Library. "The Library, underneath the Old State Capitol, will remain open to the public for onsite visitors through Friday, July 23rd, 2004; effective Monday, July 26, 2004, the Library will close to the public for onsite visits. Services will resume in September at the new Presidential Library. "Requests for photographs, including Lincoln photographs, and reference services (email, fax, or telephone or written) will be accepted and held during this transition period, but no orders will be processed from July 16 until late September. "Please call Kathryn M. Harris or Thomas F. Schwartz, PhD, Division Managers, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library at 217-524-7219 or 217-782-2118 respectively, if you have any questions. Thank you." ************************************* The procedures for requesting research is as follows: Newspaper Search Policy Since our newspapers are not indexed, all search requests must include specific information for a search to be performed. Those specifics include the full name(s), exact date (day, month, and year), and exact location (city and county) of the occurrence. If such information is unavailable and you live in the continental United States, you may borrow newspaper microfilm on interlibrary loan through your local library to do your own research. Each search consists of looking for articles on one occurrence (obituary notice, birth announcement, marriage announcement, etc.) for one person. Each letter must be accompanied by a self addressed, stamped, business sized envelope. Checks and money orders should be made payable to the Illinois State Historical Library. A response will be sent for successful and unsuccessful searches. Do not send a second letter until you have received a response to your first. The newspaper collections may be searched online at the Rolling Prairie Online site. Find more information on the Illinois Newspaper Project. Illinois Residents: A non refundable copy fee of $1.00 must accompany each letter. Each letter must be limited to no more than two (2) search requests. Non Illinois Residents: A non refundable fee of $10.00 per search must accompany each search request. Each letter is limited to no more than four (4) search requests. Web site is located at: http://state.il.us/hpa/lib/default.htm ----- Original Message ----- From: "georgia" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Friday, July 23, 2004 6:00 PM Subject: [ILJACKSON] obits > Could anyone tell me the present procedure and address for getting an obituary from the state. Thanks, > Georgia Draves > <[email protected]> > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 7/22/2004

Could anyone tell me the present procedure and address for getting an obituary from the state. Thanks, Georgia Draves <[email protected]>

My Surname I am looking for is "DARWIN" sometime's spelled DORWIN, DARVIN. Thank you in advance. Darlene Darwin Bell [email protected]

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Cemetery Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/357.2 Message Board Post: Just to clairfy, I only have Vol. 2 of the Jackson Co. Cemeteries, which includes the ones in the Carbondale Township. Also, I don't subscribe to this list, so if you want a lookup, please email me directly. I don't happen to do any research in Illinois but have the book left over from my days at SIU and a college project I did there. Most of my genealogical research is in KY, PA, VA, OH, and MD. -Mary

Mary, Please check for any Sullens/Sullins listed as buried in Jackson Co., IL. I'm particularly interested in Zachariah Sullens. Thank you. Nancy Owens ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 21, 2004 2:53 PM Subject: [ILJACKSON] Carbondale cemeteries > This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. > > Classification: Cemetery > > Message Board URL: > > http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/357 > > Message Board Post: > > I have a book titled "Cemeteries of Jackson County, Illinois". It is Vol. 2 and has the Carbondale Township, published in 1979. > I'd be happy to do lookups for anyone. > -M. Davy > > > ==== ILJACKSO Mailing List ==== > List Administrator mailto:[email protected] > List Guidelines: http://www.rootsweb.com/~illinois/JacksonCoWelcome.html > > ============================== > Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration > Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237 > >

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/357.1.1 Message Board Post: Sorry the John McMinn you are looking for is not in this book. -Mary

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: McMinn Classification: Cemetery Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/357.1 Message Board Post: A man named John McMinn is said to have died in Jackson Co. on May 10, 1859. Perhaps he is in your book? I've no idea where he is buried. Thanks so much for the look-see. Cathy

In a message dated 7/21/2004 3:09:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I have a book titled "Cemeteries of Jackson County, Illinois". It is Vol. 2 and has the Carbondale Township, published in 1979. I'd be happy to do lookups for anyone. Does it list any SNIDER / SNYDER names in it? Bob in Ohio

Bob; I have a connection to some of the Snider/Snyders of Jackson Co., IL. Mine are buried (for the most part) near Sand Ridge. Please e-mail me privately so we can see if there is a family connection. Carol

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Cemetery Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/Gg.2ADI/357 Message Board Post: I have a book titled "Cemeteries of Jackson County, Illinois". It is Vol. 2 and has the Carbondale Township, published in 1979. I'd be happy to do lookups for anyone. -M. Davy

Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 18 July 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #27 ISBN: pending Osiyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, To borrow an opening from the Hallmark show, Dreamkeeper, "I want to tell you a story as it was told to me." ... In the beginning there was nothing but water and darkness, and all the animals were above the stone vault that makes up the sky. Eventually it became so crowded that the animals needed more room, and they wanted to move down to earth. Not knowing what was below the water, they sent down the Water-beetle to explore. Water-beetle dove below the water and eventually came back with some mud from below. That mud grew and grew, and finally it became the island that we call earth. This island of earth was suspended at its four corners from ropes that hang down from the sky. The island began to split into pieces and separate to form the continents. The legend has it that some day when the ropes break from being stretched so much, the earth will sink back into the water. Stories and story telling brings people together, particularly generations. They are a gift from one heart to others. They stimulate our minds to function in remembrance. They honor those who have passed before us and bridge those who are following us. There is an amazement to reading reactions to the way words in these articles are put together. Some make similar comparisons of their experiences, others see comparisons to larger or broader life issues. Some seriousness is evoked and some pure entertainment is enjoyed. The most fascinating thing is to observe the thinking that is fostered. That was always the thrill of teaching ... to enjoy the development of minds. There is adrenalin there. It is the duty of the storyteller to share the legends of people lest they lose their effect on those present and future generations. Everyone has heard the saying, "to forget the past, is to repeat it." That is not to say that some things are not worth repeating; however, we live in an ever changing universe. Everything in our lives is in constant change. Natural disasters and selfishness, vanity, piety, and other adverbs, attributed to humans, have caused much history to become lost to us. Stories may emphasize lessons in patience and humility, courage and bravery, coming to terms with life's problems, of infinite love between people, or, facing the future. Hidden amongst the words and sentences of stories and legends is the wisdom of peoples. The greatest examples are contained in the Tora, the Bible, the Koran, and the sayings of the Budda, to name some. Yet, the most fascinating stories were those told to me by my Grandmothers and my Father. My Grandma Lester and my Father were naturals, putting lots of inflections in their telling. Grandma Lester would often sing a song and then tell a story or part of a story, then return to singing. What a pleasure it was to sit in the kitchen and listen, while being offered bits of the days' baking. It was not hard to be still and listen. Dad didn't need a drum to summon the nephews, nieces and grandchildren. The end of a meal and moving back from the table or to a comfortable chair or stool, was a signal to gather 'round for a story. Dad would become quite animated in his stories. A favorite was about a friend who stuttered. Dad would leave no detail out, emphasizing with his own stuttering, that by the time his friend could speak a sentence, catastrophic events took place. Like ending up in a corn field because the road ended. One would laugh and giggle at all the gyrations. Nephews and nieces would always ask for repeats. My Grandma Oliver was very historical. Her mind related names, dates, places, and incidents of family quite accurately. Few mistakes of facts have been discovered from her telling the stories. Grandchildren and great-grandchildren learned much from her. Quite recently, one of my cousins, the daughter of a "first" cousin, took some of the stories that Grandma Oliver told us Grand and Great Grandchildren and wrote a paper that would qualify as a Master's Thesis, for her Dad's 75th Birthday present. Being well researched and documented makes it very worthwhile. Two of our distant Great Grandfathers died as a result of military service during the War Between the States. There weren't many known facts and the mysteries remained unsolved for many years of my research. Both had been ill for different reasons and were released to return home or admitted to hospitals for treatment. Neither of them made it home alive. One died in Tennessee and the other died in hospital at Annapolis, Maryland. Putting together our limited knowledge and modern access to records, my cousin established the "truth" to Grandma's tales. One did indeed serve time in Andersonville prison even though there is no record at that prison. What a thrill for all of us to establish our legends and traditions as fact. As this article began it was mentioned that stories are told. Some are told generation after generation. What a thrill it would be to say, "I want to tell you a story as it was told to me" by my father's father and his father's father. A story so old it was never written down, but passed from generation to generation until I tell it now to you." Some of the stories are written down and are passed on from generation to generation. However, this method, though great, relies upon the imagination of the reader. I prefer the three methods described above ... the ones which allow the storyteller's eyes to sparkle with the reflection of the ones who are listening. e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: = = = = http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html

Hello everyone, As you can probably tell I'm going through my old photographs and trying to get them organized. Below is a list of people who appear in photos that I have and I'm not sure if they are related or are just friends of the family. If you see any names that interest you just let me know and I'll get you a copy of the photo. Retha Jeremiah Ruth Smith-Devardo Ethal and Ella Mae Killion Edna Romsdale E. Leslie Carlson Regards, Joel

Hello again everyone, I've added a third page of unknowns to my site at http://www.rafert.org/unknowns/unknowns3.htm . Joel

Hello everyone, As some of you may recall I periodically remind the list that I have a page of photos that are unidentified. The photos came to me from my grandparents who's farm was in the corner of Perry county near the Jackson and Randolph County lines. I've also added a new page of unknowns who are probably from the same area or are related to families in the same area. Please check the pages at: http://www.rafert.org/unknowns/unknowns.htm and http://www.rafert.org/unknowns/unknowns2.htm I have more pictures to scan so may be adding a 3rd page. If you recognize anyone please let me know. Joel

Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 11 July 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #26 ISBN: pending Osiyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, It is the post-Fourth of July season. Last week I made mentioned of the Spirit Riders. Leading up to the celebration of this Nation's birthday, more than a thousand bikers escorted the traveling Viet Nam Memorial to a local shopping center. Some veterans finally got their "parade". The speeches and promises were grand and glorious, as usual, and they will be filed until next year. The fireworks were magnanimous. Along with the traditional displays, there were more colors and new formations -- five pointed stars, gyroscope shapes, and "smilely" faces. Another example of promises being "filed": In our country if you have been convicted of a felony, you lose your right to vote. However, when clemency has been granted your voting rights are returned to you. I read this week that about 2100 ex-cons who have been given clemency are on a list of ineligible to vote in Florida. [Note: since writing this, Florida has corrected the situation.] This is a wide beautiful country. Like everything, it changes, but it is still beautiful. At Mount Rushmore, one now walks up, then between columns until you reach an amphitheater before you can see the faces. You can still follow a path to view just the faces within natural "surroundings". Remember when the left lane of a super highway was for "passing" a slower vehical? Or, folk always pushed their grocery carts on the right side of the aisle? Do you remember "fender skirts" on cars? I chanced to read some of Tom Dodge's material from his essay "Tom Dodge Talks About Texas". Tom Dodge is "the sage of Midlothian". In this one he talked about "steering knobs", "curb feelers" and "Continental kits". He talked about the change in terms, such as "parking brake" from "emergency brake". And, I was agreeing ... there was a bit more excitement in the term "emergency brake". Do you remember what the "foot feed" is? [Well, not me ... I'm much too young!] If you are familiar with these terms you are probably more than looking forward to MediCare. In fact you probably were born before or at least during the "Great Depression". Those were the days when things, such as men's suits could be "store bought" but there were still tailors employed to make any alterations so that you got a "good" fit. Today it's all "off the rack". Plus, I remember "clerks" ... today, if I do find one outside the "customer service" desk which guards the entrance s/he's on a phone discussing something. Speaking of clerks, has anyone "counted" your change to you lately? The first phone I remember was in my Grandmother's home. We were late comers because the phone number had four digits [3686]. By the time WWII was in progress the number had increased by two [Adams 3686], but they were letters which stood in place of numbers. By the time I entered college they had added another digit. And, of course, today there are ten numbers for local calls. As I was growing up my horizons had to expand. I thought "coast to coast" was more than a "body" could comprehend. Today "worldwide" is minute when placed beside the new pictures of Saturn and those gorgeous rings. When I was quite young, many men would get up early every day and gathered at factories and business' hoping to be picked for a job that day. [In Detroit, there is a story that said that "ditch diggers" got a day's job if they caught one of the shovels that were thrown out into the crowd.] Those were the days that I learned that it was not what one knew but whom one knew that paid off. My Father always seemed to know someone who gave him work. During those years, a new President of the USA took office and this country entered into an era of "alphabet soup" ... errr ... New Deal[s]. It was called alphabet soup because everything was characterized by beginning letters. Most everyone is familiar with "WPA" [Works Progress Administration]. Many of the buildings at my hometown zoo were built as WPA projects. When he took office in 1933, President F.D.R. hastily initiated program after program to create jobs, thus giving relief to our citizens and stimulating economic recovery in this country. There was the FDIC, the FERA, the NIRA, etc. The FERA, Federal Emergency Relief Administration, was led by Harry Hopkins, a former social worker. his agency sent funds to depleting local relief agencies. Within two hours, $5 million were given out. Mr. Hopkins believed that men should be put to work and not be given charity. However, the ones I want to describe tonight are the WPA, the CCC, the CWA, the PWA, the TVA and the FSA. The Tennessee Valley Administration, or TVA, helped farmers and created jobs in one of America's least modernized areas. By reactivating a hydroelectric power plant it provided cheap electric power, flood control, and recreational opportunities to the entire Tennessee River valley. The FSA, Farm Security Administration, loaned more than $1 billion to farmers and set up camps for migrant workers. This was a figure larger than any individual was worth ... a number almost larger than comprehension. The most familiar program was the WPA, the Works Progress Administration. This agency provided work for 8 million Americans. The WPA constructed or repaired schools, hospitals, airfields, zoos and more. The CCC, the Civilian Conservation Corps was an environmental program which put 2.5 million unmarried men to work maintaining and restoring forests, beaches, and parks. Workers earned only $1 a day but received free board and job training. From 1934 to 1937, this program funded similar programs for 8,500 women. The CWA, the Civilian Works Administration, was the public work program that gave the unemployed jobs building or repairing roads, parks, airports, and such. The PWA, the Public Works Administration was the agency which did gigantic projects such as the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River. Nothing, but nothing, stays the same and like the old News Reels "Time Marches On". But ... I just love to take trips down "memory lane". They remind me of all the good times that I have had stomping on grass rather than pushing it up. I suggest that you pass some of your memories along to your young generations. e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: = = = = http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html

There is an article on the 1856 Illinois probate guide posted on this site http://www.rootdig.com/adn/1856probatemanual.html Velda Moore 3 Forest Court Chester, IL 62233 phone: 618-826-4169 [email protected] [email protected] http://www.larrett.com/velda/ http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilrcgs/

I have received a couple of requests for information over the last few weeks. Just to let everyone know that I am in and out of town quite a bit helping my brother and sister-in-law take care of my ailing mother. I am not going to unsubscribe while I am gone as I will try to keep up with mail from a remote hook-up. I just wanted everyone to know that if you send me a request for something or need a response from me, it might take a while for me to get back with you. Thanks. Mary Riseling -- ------------------------------------------------- This mail sent by Family Online Webmail http://www.familyonline.com

Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 4 July 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #25 ISBN: pending Osiyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, [Continued from Vol 3 #24, 27 June 2004] Happy Birthday America! Out in northwest Wyoming there rises some 1267 feet above the Belle Fourche River Valley the core remains of an extinct volcano. Devil's Tower is steeped in North American cultural tradition. One legend portrays a giant bear clawing the grooves into the mountainside while chasing some young maidens who were playing some distance from their camp. The girls ran back toward their village, however, the bear cut them off. Jumping upon a rock, they began to pray for the Spirit of the Rock to protect them. The Spirit, hearing their plea and feeling sympathetic, caused the rock to rise, lifting them into the air. As the bear scratched and clawed at the sides of the rock, the rock rose ever higher to keep them out of reach of the bear. The bear jumped at the sides of the rock and clawed the rock, breaking its claws. The bear continued to claw and jump and the rock continued to rise until the girls were pushed upinto the sky, where to this very day, the girls are in a group of seven small stars called the Pleiades. The claw marks of the bear ae also visible to this day. The bear is quite symbolic in the Black Hills, and around a camp fire listening to these stories it might not be so hard to "believe". Speaking of imagining, it is quite easy to watch heavy black clouds swirling in the sky and thinking that it is a herd of stampeding "buffalo". The Spirit Riders emerge from the Thunder Bird [Golden Eagle] chasing them. While we were at Crazy Horse Memorial, our granddaughter looked at a bear talisman and remarked that it looked to her like the world. This rather surprised "Grandmother", who was the person tending the booth. And, she asked our granddaughter what she envisioned in a blue amulet. Her reply, after a thoughtful moment, was "water". The instant recognition of spirit flashed in "Grandmother's" eyes and the slightest hint of a smile appeared. I thought, how tremendous ... the affinity ... for I saw the charm as a tear. A third symbol was tried, however, the magic of the moment had passed and the five year old thought it was a game in which she was being tested. At another booth a lady was threading very delicate beads in the construction of necklaces. In the conversation exchanged between the two, the artisan counted aloud the beads, softly so as to maintain her concentration. When she had finished the necklace, she remarked that she had "just enough", as there were no more beads left on her board. Our granddaughter, in a five year olds' understanding of facts, said that there were still three beads left on the board. She was so kindly thanked for her "eagle" eyes. There are few much advertised roadside stops that gain either my interest or respect. However, the Repitle Gardens outside Rapid City certainly gained both, my interest and respect. First, within their displays of ancient bones I recognized the work of the Black Hills Institute of Geological Research, Inc. of Hill City. Second, though there were other reasons also, our grandson was enthralled and a boy, who doesn't admit to liking reading, was reading all the display information. On the upper level of the dome there were lizards and snakes, especially a most wonderful collection of venomous ones and large pythons. One of the most fascinating things about each enclosure/display was uniquely contained beautiful rocks and minerals. They also uniquely displayed sculptures in the enclosures. In a tropical dome were gorgeous orchids and other tropical flowers, as well as cacti. Birds [finches] were allowed free flight, lizards scurried here and there, very colorful parrots were perched on tree branches, and a couple of boas hung over your head in a tree. In addition to what has been mentioned above, our grandson enjoyed the displays of alligators, crocodiles and other amphibians. The grandchildren enjoyed handling some turtles and pythons. Speaking of bones and things ... there is yet another place in the Black Hills area which offers excitement for young "diggers". That is the Hot Springs area which is not noted for just its warm water. In an area that was fed by springs and had steep banks, called a spring fed sink- hole, animals from the Ice Ages were attracted by thirst and trapped by the steep banks. Nearly forty species of Ice Age animals, including Mammoths, apparently perished in the sinkhole. One hundred and six tusks have been found; making it fifty three young bulls who were caught in this sinkhole. Paleontology = the study of the life of past geological periods as known from fossil remains; the study of "bones" Geology = the study of the history of the earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks archeology = the study of material remains of past human life and activities; the remains of the culture of a people anthropology = the study of human being in relation to distribution, origin, classification, and relationship of races, physical character, environmental and social relations, and culture; in theology it is the dealing with the origin, nature, and destiny of human beings. Our trip to South Dakota was successful for an eight year old paleontologist wannabe; a six year old geologist wannabe; a thirty some with archeological experience; and a seventy something anthropological student. We were also accompanied by my wife and son-in-law, the tourists. e-la-di-e-das-di ha-wi nv-wa-do-hi-ya nv-wa-to-hi-ya-da. (May you walk in peace and harmony) Wado, Bill -=- PostScript: = = = = http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/SOIL http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/ILMASSAC http://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/state/BillsArticles/LittleEgypt/intro.html