Posted in Art, Literature, War on November 29, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Sometimes when I am reading, a passage of prose is so beautiful I have to stop, let the story wait, and read the passage again, perhaps even aloud, just for the pure pleasure of it. So it was the other evening when I was reading Blackbeard: Buccaneer by Ralph D. Paine.
I’ll freely admit it; I [...]
Posted in Literature on November 27, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“There are few things better for our mental health than laughter. A balanced dose of steam-letting irrreverence and taboo-busting satire keeps a society sane. Nor is it the transcendent power of big bands, high kicks and dazzling scenery to be sneered at. In the pursuit of changing the world, there is still room for sheer [...]
Posted in Sailing, Tea, War on November 20, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“On the 12th of February our most valuable capture was made–perhaps the most valuable taken by a Confederate cruiser during the war. We sighted this vessel about eight in the evening, but not until ten o’clock did we get near enough to give her a shot from our bow pivot, and even this fell considerably [...]
Posted in Art, Dogs on November 18, 2009 | 3 Comments »
Mr. Clete, my first and best dog, once spent the night in the studio of Adelaide Alsop Robineau, the legendary ceramic artist. He slept not far from where her handmade tiles surrounded the fireplace.
I was reminded of this when I took in the “Turner to Cézanne” exhibit at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse. [...]
Posted in Hunting, Literature on November 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“Benelli Super Black Eagle with Wad Wizard choke and Kent Fasteel #1 shot”
– The preferred goose gun and load of waterfowler Glen Gillespie, as noted in Outdoor Canada’s 2007 Hunting issue
Posted in Art, Dogs, Literature on November 17, 2009 | 1 Comment »
While on another errand, I came across a 1907 letter by Henry Adams to a friend, Mabel La Farge, that mentioned British author Elinor Glyn’s latest novel:
“ ‘Three Weeks’ is the title of Mrs. Glyn’s new purple volume, and the ladies are screaming with laughter at it. I have it, but I guard myself from [...]
Posted in Art, Chess on November 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“The Chess Game” by Charles Bargue (1825-1883)
I really cannot get enough of these. Again, my thanks to Tableaux ayant pour sujet les échecs which cries out for your visit.
“Les Joueurs d’echecs” (1876) by Thomas Eakins (1844-1916)
Posted in Art, Chess on November 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“A Game of Chess” by Henry Siddons Mowbray (1858-1928)
While chasing down the artist for a postcard I saw on eBay, I found the most extraordinary web gallery of paintings with chess as the subject. Just one beauty after another. Hasten to Tableaux ayant pour sujet les échecs for an overwhelming experience.
“Ma femme et ses soeurs” [...]
Posted in Literature on November 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
“The great English sports are pursued almost as fiercely by sedentary men who cannot sit a donkey, and by quiet women who cannot drown a mouse, as by the booted and spurred. They hunt in imagination. They follow the fortunes of the Berkeley, the Cattistock, the Quorn, and the Belvoir upon phantom hunters. They roll [...]
