Thursday, January 23, 2014

New Times. . . New Things. . . What Next?

Excerpts taken from "Just Thoughts of a Plain County Woman", January 20, 1946

Now I can believe that anything is possible!
 
Since the giant atom-smashing machines have shown us the way to release untold powers, we wait
for super-planes and cars that streak their way through the stratosphere and along the highways.
Pilotless, radio-controlled planes and tanks have paved the way for the farm boy merely to step from these wonders to a farm tractor tower where he will regulate his radio-controlled tractors and other machines by merely pushing buttons. Thus farming promises to become as different in the coming age as it now differs from methods (used)  a hundred years ago.
 
The walkie-talkie will permit him to talk from the home to the field or from field to field, and a farm wife will not have to fly a dish cloth from the upstairs window to announce dinner to a farmer plowing in the North 40; a helicopter will rise from his very doorstep to carry him to town or to a neighbor's. This will be a horse of a different color, and one from which most of us will shy away.

As for crops, they, too, will be different;  many will be the weeds about us which we are fast learning
are valuable for unheard of uses.  Already soy beans are being used for paints and varnishes, clothes and plastics.   Cottage cheese is being turned into "woolen" clothes; even the leaves from the orchard and yard in the fall can be so treated that they will take your car to town at 200 miles an hour; peaches without fuzz, onions that do not make you cry; homes with "electric eyes" and electric servants will give us more time to enjoy the good things ahead.

Maybe I would have time to assemble my scrapbooks!"

So, where IS the pencil?

Excerpts from "Just Thoughts of a Plain Country Woman"  March 17, 1949

Kids have their own type of "logic" and . . . sometimes, you just have to laugh!

"All of the pupils were ready to begin with a written test. "Where's
your pencil, Jack?" asked the teacher.

"I ain't got one," replied Jack.

"How many times have I told you not to say 'ain't'? Listen: I haven't

one, you haven't one, we haven't one, they haven't one."

"Well," said Jack, "where are all the pencils?" -Ronald McCaskell.

Monday, January 6, 2014

Curiosity Leads to "adverturings"

Excerpts taken from "Just Thoughts of a Plain Country Woman"  January 1, 1948
 
 
"The Spirit of Adventure is born into every healthy human being.  The curiosity of a child leads it into adventures all  day long; the timid efforts of the adolescent lead it into adventureings that will color its life for many years to come. The pioneers who struck out into the unknown did so from the urge to adventure. If we discourage the adventures we kill the incentive to go forward in spite of all obstacles.
I wonder where the writing world would get its new ideas, new answers to old problems, new blood if those who seek an outlet in writing were not adventurers. . . .
So, at the beginning of this new year, let's make it an adventure!"