I also had a "Maiden" Aunt-questionable- who tore out a page with 60 years including both sides to hide 9 years.R ----- Original Message ----- From: Veerle Foreman <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 27, 1999 19 03 Subject: Cleaning Up the Family Tree > I read and enjoyed the satirical suggestion as to how we might alter > some facts > in our ancestral trees to remove what we perceive as an embarrassment. > However, > as a historian let me urge caution, for in our desire to remove our > embarrassment (the > deceased are no oonger embarrassed), we can change truth and that is > never good. > > We have a Bible whose birth page is useless because a maiden woman did > not want anyone to know her age and she spilled ink over the entire > page. Her embarrassment went with her to her grave but it has left > generations with gaps in their knowledge of > their ancestors. > > We are in no way responsible for the "sins" of our ancestors, anymore > than they can be held accountable for ours. They did the best they could > with what they had and they > made possible the greatest gift we all possess- life. I salute their > memories all, be they > saint or sinner and I will deny none. There, but for the grace of God, > go I. > > Mike Foreman > >