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Re: Slogans ...[and inspiring words]



Rand and Colleagues,

What a great quote from Sparks.  Think Sparks was just waxing eloquent 
about the obvious?  Well, consider the "history" Sparks had before him, 
and his remarks seem pretty specific indeed:  

?When George,? said she, ?was about six years old, he was made the 
wealthy master of a hatchet! of which, like most little boys, he was 
immoderately fond, and was constantly going about chopping everything 
that came in his way. One day, in the garden, where he often amused 
himself hacking his mother's pea-sticks, he unluckily tried the edge of 
his hatchet on the body of a beautiful young English cherry-tree, which 
he barked so terribly, that I don't believe the tree ever got the better 
of it. The next morning the old gentleman, finding out what had befallen 
his tree, which, by the by, was a great favourite, came into the house; 
and with much warmth asked for the mischievous author, declaring at the 
same time, that he would not have taken five guineas for his tree. Nobody 
could tell him anything about it. Presently George and his hatchet made 
their appearance. ?George,? said his father, ?do you know who killed that 
beautiful little cherry tree yonder in the garden??  This was a tough 
question; and George staggered under it for a moment; but quickly 
recovered himself: and looking at his father, with the sweet face of 
youth brightened with the inexpressible charm of all-conquering truth, he 
bravely cried out, ?I can't tell a lie, Pa; you know I can't tell a lie. 
I did cut it with my hatchet.???Run to my arms, you dearest boy," cried 
his father in transports,  ?run to my arms; glad am I, George, that you 
killed my tree; for you have paid me for it a thousand fold. Such an act 
of heroism in my son is more worth than a thousand trees, though 
blossomed with silver, and their fruits of purest gold.? 

--Mason Locke Weems, A History of the Life and Death, Virtues and 
Exploits of General George Washington (1809)


***************************************************
Martin L. Levitt, Ph.D.
Associate Librarian, The American Philosophical Society 
Professor of History, Temple University

105 S. 5th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106-3386
(215) 440-3403 (Office)

APS Home: www.amphilsoc.org
Temple Home: www.temple.edu/history/archives.html
***************************************************


-----Original Message-----
From: Randall Jimerson <Rand.Jimerson@WWU.EDU>
To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
Date: Wed, 7 Aug 2002 11:25:47 -0700
Subject: Re: [ARCHIVES] Slogans ...[and inspiring words]

> Friends,
> 
> This thread reminds me of comments made by Jared Sparks, one of the
> early
> collectors and publishers of American historical documents, including
> George
> Washington's papers. I found this in doing research on archival history
> and
> public memory. It's part of a paper I will present at the Archival
> History
> Roundtable at SAA in 2 weeks.
> 
> Rand Jimerson
> Western Washington University
> 
> 
> 
> Jared Sparks to General Lafayette, March 1, 1828
> 
>         "The publication of Gen'l Washington's Works I have not yet
> commenced, nor shall I do it till I return from Europe. In all parts of
> the
> United States I have been collecting materials to illustrate these
> works &
> to aid me in a general history of the American Revolution. I have
> succeeded,
> both in public & private sources, far beyond my expectation. The
> manuscript
> letters & other papers, which have never been consulted by any
> historian,
> are numerous & valuable. They will contribute to fill out many
> defective
> parts of American history, to solve doubts and correct errors. . . .
> Next in
> importance to the performing of great acts for a nation's liberties, is
> a
> faithful record of these acts, as an example for posterity to admire
> and
> imitate. Human events are transient, but history is immortal."
> 
> [Jared Sparks Papers, series 132, Vol. X, No. A.107, Houghton Library,
> Harvard University]
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Valerie A. Metzler [mailto:vmah@KEYCONN.NET]
> Sent: Wednesday, August 07, 2002 9:21 AM
> To: ARCHIVES@LISTSERV.MUOHIO.EDU
> Subject: Re: Slogans, Humour and Cartoons on archives and RIM
> 
> Several years ago I picked up a supply of badges at the ABC-Clio booth
> at an
> AHA conference.  They state, "History is Everything."
> 
> 
> Amen.
> --
> Valerie A. Metzler
> Valerie Metzler Archivist/Historian
> 114 Ruskin Drive
> Altoona, PA  16602-2916
> 814 940 0493
> fax 940 0449
> vmah@keyconn.net
> 
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
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> 
> A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!
> 
> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send e-mail to
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>       In body of message:  SUB ARCHIVES firstname lastname
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> Or to do *anything* (and enjoy doing it!), use the web interface at
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> Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>

A posting from the Archives & Archivists LISTSERV List!

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Problems?  Send e-mail to Robert F Schmidt <rschmidt@lib.muohio.edu>