Little Egypt Heritage Articles Stories of Southern Illinois (c) Bill Oliver 25 April 2004 Vol 3 Issue: #17 ISBN: pending Osiyo, Good Evening Ladies and Gentlemen of Little Egypt, One just never knows what will be learned while reading his mail! Spring -- the time to renew things -- spring cleaning, etc. We aren't the only species to involved. The blue satin bower bird of New Guinea mixes charcoal and berry juice, and with a piece of bark for a brush, paints the inside of its nest blue. Further reading this week has turned up so much information that I feel I'm in "overload" mode. On this date in 1874, radio pioneer Guglielmo Marconi was born in Bologna, Italy. On this date in 1965 Edward R Murrow, broadcaster died. Yesterday was the 70th birthday of a schoolmate of mine; a very funny lady from Ohio who graduated from Washington and Lee High School near our nation's capital and went on to become a great movie personality. And, no it wasn't Barb[a]ra Streisand, who is almost decade younger. It is my school mate, Shirley Beatty. Another birthday of note this week was that of Queen Elizabeth II on last Wednesday the 21st of April. Also on April 21st, but in 1838, John Muir was born. It is not difficult to romanticize this man's life. At age 73 he traveled 1,000 miles up the Amazon River in South America. Wow, what a naturalist ... what a curious mind. Three years later he died of pneumonia in the desert of San Bernardino County, California, while visiting his daughter. John Muir had a fantastic love for nature. His friend, Ralph Waldo Emerson, said that he was a naturalist "more wonderful than Thoreau". In addition he was a master of geology, he was an explorer, philosopher, artist, author, editor and friend to many prominent people from Presidents to colleagues, such as John Burroughs. Though born in Scotland, Muir spent his teens in Wisconsin, then a wilderness. Like others that I have known in my life time his mind was always active. For example while cutting trees and clearing land he worked out mathematical problems. He used wood chips for something to write on. While recuperating from an eye injury, Muir took off for a long "tramp" to observe nature. In 1868 he walked to from San Francisco to Yosemite. The Sierras were to be what he returned to after each of his trips to various places of this world. He discovered a glacier in Alaska which has been named Muir Glacier in his honor. It was in 1911 and 1912 that John Muir journeyed a thousand miles up the Amazon River in South America studying rare trees, plants and land formations. April 21st also stands out for the passing of Samuel Langhorne Clemens. His obituary stated that the "End Comes Peacefully at His New England Home After a Long Illness". It was said that his last words were "Give Me My Glasses". A reader to the very end. He had been ill for some time and on the morning he died he seemed to have increased in strength enough to enjoy the sunrise with his hands clasped behind his head. As his family gathered he greeted and spoke to each of them. After reading some from Carlyles"s "French Revolution" he slipped into sleep and lethargy. Then as the evening sunlight turned to red he drew his last breath. One further mention for tonight .... last night our daughter and son-in-law treated us to a concert in celebration of our 50th wedding year. It was Chip Davis and the Mannheim Steamroller. Chip Davis is a native of Sylvania, Ohio. So he was performing for the "hometown audience". Two great hours of musical sounds. Their new "Infinity" is really something to enjoy and to wonder. We were supplemented with video of some awesome outer space wonders. Another wonder was the second encore. The audience had given them a resounding "standing" ovation, but at the second encore the audience, as one, were on their feet, for the Mannheim Steamroller was playing the National Anethum. 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: Other sites worth visiting: 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