A Lot of Snow in Leningrad!

God, but there’s a lot of snow in Leningrad!

(now called St. Petersburg)

Marty the Driver

            Our wives were full partners in the business of collecting intelligence in the Soviet         Union. 

            It so happens that women, perhaps because in their younger years there may be many male eyes tracking them, get to be incredibly expert at detecting those eyes.  In the Soviet Union, when we were always liable to being followed by the KGB, our wives could detect surveillance much better than men could. 

We took the Midnight Red Arrow train from Moscow to Leningrad, arriving on schedule at 8:25 a.m. A driver met us at the train station and drove us to the American Consulate, where we stowed our bags and jumped into our car, all set for a day of work.

            We did a lot of driving around places where the Soviets were building new ships and patrol craft in Leningrad.  Usually two attachés traveled together, but sometimes it was just an attaché and wife, and on this occasion, it was Marty and me. 

            I had to observe the construction of a new missile boat the Soviets were building on the banks of the Neva River.  The U.S. Navy wanted to know more about this project.  In order for me to observe fully, I asked Marty to drive our four-wheel drive Niva (a Soviet Jeep-style vehicle). 

1980 Lada Niva 4x4 built by AvtoVAZ [АВТОВАЗ]

http://www.lada-auto.ru/

            The cars we used in the USSR were usually bugged by the KGB, so we knew that anything we said in them would be picked up, so we used hand signals and wrote little notes, or got out and took a walk, away from the vehicle. 

            On this day, there was a huge amount of snow everywhere in Leningrad, and I asked Marty to drive down this plowed path to the river, with snow on each side much taller than our car, like the illustration above.

            She drove us, but as we got near the target, out stepped a KGB “goon”.  He was in a position to stop us and submit us to some nasty interrogation.  So, I told Marty, “Quick, back up, as fast as you can!” 

            If you have not practiced high speed backing, traveling down a snowy track with snow piled high on each side, it’s not easy. 

            But, Marty kicked the Niva into reverse and away we went, backing down maybe 100 or so yards, and then cleared the area.

            Marty was not happy with me for getting her into that situation!

Attachés and wives

L to R: Deborah and Bill Henry, Marty and Sam, Janice and Pierce Crabtree

Women’s Day in Leningrad—Fats took the day off!

                

            One of our favorite walks was along the Neva River at Schmidt’s Bank, in Leningrad.  Here hundreds of boats and often warships and submarines tied up.  Many of the smaller, lighter draft boats were awaiting a schedule to move up the canals that cut across Russia. Here we could see these boats and ships, and Red Fleet ships, and also ships under construction in the many shipyards of Leningrad. 

            Whenever we would take these walks, we tried to take along our cameras and collect photos of interesting things.  Photography in this area was forbidden, however.

            The KGB assigned an elderly “goon” that attachés named “Fats.”  He and some of his associates generally were around to follow us wherever we walked, or drove, and to make our job harder, or impossible.  They wore the red armbands of “Druzhniki,” or “concerned citizens.”  Sort of like elderly volunteers who operate as school crossing guards, except these were assigned to look after the foreign “spies.”  The Soviets considered all foreign diplomats spies—they hadn’t changed their attitude toward foreigners in centuries.

 Peter and Paul Fortress, from across the Neva

            One day, March the 8^th, 1983 to be exact, it was International Women’s Day. Now, in fact, the Soviets didn’t care much about women’s rights, except the right of old women to stand in the street all day long in the winter, smashing ice with a heavy iron rod.

            But this day, as we arrived to do our job of collecting intelligence in Leningrad, there was NO KGB.  They had the day off!

            I was traveling with my assistant, Pierce Crabtree, a big, burly former Navy football player. With no KGB to bother us, we went wild photographing shipyards and ships and everything we could see.  We were driving a Soviet “Niva.”  4 x 4 vehicle. We thought this would be a great day to check out some radar installations near the Czars’ summer palace at Petrodvorets.  However, somewhere between Kipen’ and Ropsha, we got stuck in the snow. 

            If the KGB had been around, we would not have been able to get that far.  Now, free to travel, we had gone and gotten ourselves in trouble.  The snow was pretty deep.

Fortunately, along came a bus full of Russians.  The driver and some of the passengers got out and helped push us out of the snowbank. 

The KGB would NOT have helped us out of the snowbank, but these Russians were like good neighbors anywhere in the world.

Now the Personal Navigator offers these books and papers:

President Buchanan (1857-1861) 

Portrait by George Peter Alexander Healy

New Hampshire Statesman, Concord, Saturday, March 14, 1857 Concord, NH: McFarland & Jenks. 4 pp.  49 x 64 cm. Report of the inaugural parade and inauguration speech of President James Buchanan. Text of speech includes mild swipe at his predecessor, Franklin Pierce. Comments on right of territories to decide upon slavery. U.S. present financial situation: Too much money on hand. He has ideas for that, including depleting the national debt and building up the Navy. He argues for the Pacific Railroad. More comments on slavery, and the agitators. He hopes this agitation is nearing its end. Discusses "peaceful" acquisitions from Mexico. "We have never acquired any territory except by fair purchase..."   Report from Havana of final illness and death of Dr. Elisha Kent Kane.  Plans for national monument to Henry Clay, to contain the remains of the matchless orator and unsullied patriot.  Commentary of the Election-- sober second thoughts of the people of New Hampshire. Newspaper, small holes and tears in folds, poor. (8229) $24.00. Newspapers/History            

               

New-Hampshire Patriot & State Gazette, Concord, NH Tuesday morning, June 13, 1820  Concord, NH: Hill & Moore, Publishers          4 pp. 36 x 55 cm. An Act of Congress to impose new tonnage duty on French ships, signed by President Monroe, is published, along with several other laws.  The Legislature of the State of Maine assembled for the first time at Portland on May 31st. Gen. King is elected Governor. Letter from New Orleans reports that 18 men convicted as pirates are to be hanged, and their accomplices have been setting buildings on fire in order to draw citizens away from the prison. Discussion on Religious Freedom.  Now that Maine has been separated from Massachusetts, that state may produce a new constitution which will remove all religious tests.  American ships engaged in the African slave trade now number over 200; by a new law of Congress, all who engage in this trade will be adjudged pirates, and on conviction are to suffer death. Excellent Tavern Stand near the lower meeting house in Salisbury, N.H. is for sale. It is situated in a very pleasant and flourishing village and on a great public road (the fourth NH turnpike).  New line of stages has commenced running from Concord to Haverhill, NH three times a week. Leaves Concord at 4 a.m. and arrives Haverhill at 5 p.m. Price of stage-fare $3.50. Newspaper, good.  Rag content makes this very durable paper. (8230) $33.00. Newspapers/History       

Boston Courier, Boston, Mass. Thursday, August 27, 1829 Boston, MA: Adams & Holden, Printers. 4 pp.   39 x 54 cm. Harvard College ceremonies will commence at 11 o'clock today for inauguration of Hon. Joseph Story LL.D. and of John Hooker Ashmun, A.M. Order of procession is detailed. Tomorrow is the annual commencement. Editor laments fact that some speeches were in Latin.  Poetical Statement of Ladies' and Gentlemen's Fashions: "Gowns are made full like a bag… they may gather up plenty of dirt...the hats are so large, and so monstrously wide, that a coach can now take but one of a side..."  "To shave off the beard is accounted a sin..."  Letter from a Boston Merchant reports on Japan--how they sleep, with head on a wooden cushion; Japanese are fond of show and what furniture they have is for sight rather than service.  Basil Hal's Travels: The English nation sent this "titled fool" to write his travels in this country. He observes that the "women of the United States do not enjoy that station in society which has been allotted to them elsewhere."  Listing of fine coppered brig Ivanhoe will sail for Malta and Trieste; a good vessel has half her freight, sailing for Havana; Packet brig James will sail for Halifax, NS on Saturday. Fast-sailing copper-fastened and coppered packet brig Sardius is sailing for New-Orleans. Newspaper, good.  Rag content makes this very durable paper.          (8231)  $26.00. Newspapers/History                                                                 

                                                                                                                                                               

Memoirs of the Harvard Dead in the War Against Germany, Vol. I, The Vanguard by Howe, M.A. DeWolfe1920 Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.  Volume I the Vanguard includes the memoirs of thirty Harvard men whose deaths occurred before the United States entered the European War. Over 360 Harvard men died in World War I, and these are included in Vols. II through V. This volume contains the memoirs of George Williamson '05, Edward  Stone '08, André Chéronnet-Champollion '02, Harold Marion-Crawford 11, Calvin  Day 12-14, Carlton  Brodrick ’08, Harry Byng ’13, Henry Farnsworth ’12, Charles Cross Jr. 03, Archibald Ramsay 07, George Taylor 08, Allen Cleghorn (Instr), Crosby Whitman '86, Merrill Gaunt, Victor Chapman ’13, Clyde Maxwell '14, Alan Seeger '10, Henry Coit '10, Robert Pellissier '04, John Stairs (Law '14), Dillwyn Starr '08, William Lacey DMD '13, Norman Prince '08, Edward Sortwell '11, Edgar Shortt '17, Henry Simpson '18, Howard Lines (LLB '15), Lord Gorell (Henry Barnes) (Law '04), Addison Bliss '14 and Henry Suckley '10. Many colorful stories of the heroism of fine young Americans, Britons and Frenchmen. 200 pp. 15.6 x 23.7 cm. Red cloth on board with gilt page tops, title in gilt, cover bright and clean, spine sunfaded, several pages unopened, very good. (1742) $49.00. WWI/Biography

Rommel Drives On Deep Into Egypt, First U.S. Printing, April 1970           by Brautigan, Richard 1970 New York, NY: Dell Publishing Co. Brautigan (1935-84) dedicated this book of poetry to Roxy and Judy Gordon in Austin, TX. Cover photo of Beverly Allen sprawled in a sandbox in Golden Gate Park, California; photo by Edmund Shea.  Includes poems "Have You Ever Had a Witch Bloom Like a Highway", "Mrs. Myrtle Tate, Movie Projectionist", "the Net Wt. of Winter is 6.75 ozs." "Donner Party", "Affectionate Light Bulb" and more.   85 pp. 13.5 x 20.3 cm. Paperback book, owner name on front free endpaper, very good. (2953) $22.00. Poetry

Shore Road to Ogunquit, Poems by Harold Plotkin, Photographs by Ernst Halberstadt 1969 Boston, MA: Copley Press.  Book dedicated to Poet's father, Ely Plotkin. Marblehead, The Tides of January, Envelopment, Suicide Sea, End of Summer, Haiku, Contrails, Peregrino, Fugitive, Laissez-Faire, Cold Grey Stones, Winter Solstice, Assassin, Winter in Mattapan, Colby Rommate (in memory of Dr. Nathan Alpers, Class of 1934), Shore Road to Ogunquit [The winding road begins and turns at Perkins Cove---] 69 pp. 16 x 23 cm. Blue cloth on board with charts of southern Maine coast for endpapers, fine. Dustjacket price clipped with crease on side flap, good. In slipcase,  good. (2392) $20.00. Poetry

Song of Hiawatha, The by Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth 1856 Boston, MA: Ticknor and Fields Poem by Longfellow is founded on a tradition prevalent among North American Indians, author says in copious notes at end of book. 316 pp. 11 x 17 cm. Marbled paper on board with calf spine and corners. Leather from spine missing. Inside front hinge cracked. Poor. (2864) $23.00. Poetry/Literature.

True Friendship Like The Ivy Clings--Book of Poetry 1912 New York, NY: Dodge Publishing Co. Little booklet of poetry."Not on the store of sprightly wine, Nor plenty of delicious meats, Though generous Nature did design To court us with perpetual treats,-- 'Tis not on those we for content depend, So much as on the shadow of a Friend.” From the Greek of Menander. Also poems by Robert Louis Stevenson, Robert Burton, Lady Mary Wortley Montagu, J.G. Fichte, Lord Bacon, William Law, Elizabeth Charles, Thoreau, Emerson, Max Ehrmann, many more. 44 pp.                9.5 x 19.6 cm. Paper booklet fastened with decorative ribbon, title embossed and gilded. Spine frayed bottom 4 cm. Back cover stained. Fair. (7507) $20.00. Poetry

Voices of Life by Lesdernier, Emily Pierpont 1853 New York, NY: Cornish, Lamport & Co. Editor's note  calls poems spirited and touching, and notes that author has "adopted this mode of sustaining herself and her three children, left dependent on her exertions."  Poems include "Voices of the Sea", "A Vision of Life", "The Vigil of the Homeless", "A Romance", "My Island Home". In her poem "To--" one gets an inkling of Ms. Lesdernier's sad story: "Thou has thrown aside thy duty; but a mother's heart is strong..."  38 pp. 11 x 18 cm. Decorated cream paper on board, spine paper badly torn, edges worn. One page has 3 cm closed tear, some browning of pages, poor. (1733) $20.00. Poetry

Contact me at scoulbourn1@verizon.net

RINO?

RINO — Republican in Name Only

 An Independent?

       Olympia Snow is leaving the playing field.  Senator Snow (R-ME) had a long-standing reputation as a moderate Republican, and rabid, snarling “REAL” Republicans ridiculed her.

            Mitt Romney, when he was governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, came across as a moderate Republican.  Being a Republican of any stripe or degree in the Democrat-filled state of Massachusetts is a sticky wicket, but this is a tough place to make a big stand for right wing values, like:

            Anti- Gay Marriage

            Anti-Abortion or Pro-Life

            Anti-Global Warming

            Anti-Gun Control

            Anti-Evolution theory

            Anti-immigrant

            That list of “antis” may suggest a negative cant to one’s political stance, and I’m sure others can put the position of a right-wing Republican in a far more positive way.

            However, as we roll toward November and the General Election, we have all been exposed to months of back-and-forth chatter amongst the Republican candidates about the above issues and several more.  And perhaps most of us, regardless of whether we are Democrat, Republican or something else, are fairly fed up with it all.  I know I am. 

            First, I reject someone else deciding I am not Republican enough, or not Catholic enough; not man enough, American enough…..  We each have our likes and dislikes, and our values. 

            For my part, I think President Obama is doing a pretty good job, and I think he is a good man, who has his heart in his job.  There are things about Democrats, or Progressives, as they like to call themselves, which bother me, a lot.  However, many Republicans seem to be hung up on things with which I don’t identify.

            I could never identify with Rick Santorum.  To me, he seems like the most grotesque caricature of the Republican who embodies all those “antis” I listed above.  He has plumbed the depths of our differences with his words.  While it may get headlines, and make grown men and women want to claw each others’ eyes out, our election should not turn on the question of who is getting contraceptives for free.

            Likewise, I cannot take Newt Gingrich seriously.  He is bright, and in another day, could have been a convincing candidate.  But when I think of him standing there in the House of Representatives, castigating President Clinton for his sexual athletics… while Newt himself was apparently having an illicit affair with a young assistant—that is hard to take.  And then, as if to stick it in the eye of every American, to traipse across the country with that same woman, Calista--- that’s a show stopper.  For me. 

            So then we come to Mitt Romney, and it bothers me that the man has to do all manner of contortions, stretching to be this, to be against that, to try to act like one of the plain working stiffs, to protest that he is really the sternest kind of arch Conservative…. when we believe that he is really a moderate.  And, from his performance as Governor of Massachusetts, I believe he is a sober, sensible, intelligent man, who can actually work with Democrats as well as Republicans.

            However, the Republican Party these days seems to be ruled by a noisy minority of loud-mouthed people who are heavy on the “anti”. I fail to see in them the suggestion that the most important attribute is simply being an American. 

            So, I guess that when I vote, I want to pick the candidate who is most likely to lead a country of Americans, to help us all to be the best sort of Americans we can be. 

            What does that mean?

            It means protecting American values, and they are nicely catalogued in our Constitution.

            It means having laws that are fair, a tax policy that is fair, encouraging development, economic prosperity not just for the top tier, but for all those who want to work, and prosper.

            It means getting our economic house in order, which will call for sacrifice, but not one scintilla of suggestion that we are going to coddle the very rich at the expense of the rest of us.

            It means a foreign policy based upon knowing the world, being aware of the world, and wanting to work with the rest of the world.  It means NOT adopting a foreign policy based upon xenophobia, or ignorance of other nations and their history, or eagerness to procure and use up expensive weapons.

            We should maintain a strong military force, but be sensible about using our smartest diplomatic skills before sending men and women to fight. 

It means adopting a policy toward illegal immigrants that accepts the fact that our processes and policies have encouraged and protected illegal immigration.  We must find a way to ensure that people come to America only by legal means, and all others are turned back.  But we cannot blame the illegals already here for the shortcomings of our enforcement in the past. 

But most of all it means encouraging each American to work toward making our country the brilliant, shining jewel that has so often stood as an example to the world.

           

World War II poster

The Personal Navigator offers these books and papers:

Guinea Gold, American Edition, Monday, January 1, 1945 Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea: U.S. Army/Royal Australian Army. This unique World War II newspaper, published in New Guinea and flown daily to U.S. and Australian troops all over South West Pacific command, often scooped the world, since General MacArthur released his communiqués to them 20 hours before they were released to the world press.  This issue's lead story, on first day of 1945:  "German Salient Shrinking: Berlin Says Patton's Attack Now ’A Major Offensive’". Report from Moscow that two Russian envoys, carrying white flags were shot yesterday while carrying out negotiations for the surrender of the Germans and Hungarians in besieged Budapest.  "Must Occupy Japan to Win Peace, Says Nimitz." C-in-C Pacific Fleet Admiral Nimitz stated from Saipan Sunday that Japan will have to be occupied to win the peace. "Archbishop of Greece is Regent; Prime Minister Papandreou May Resign." Report from London: Nazi Seapower has been virtually destroyed by the Royal Navy in 1944.            4 pp.     26.2 x 39 cm. Newspaper,  small tears in folds, fair. (8208)          $39.00. World War II   

Guinea Gold, American Edition, Saturday, December 30, 1944       Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea: U.S. Army/Royal Australian Army. This unique World War II newspaper, published in New Guinea and flown daily to U.S. and Australian troops all over South West Pacific command, often scooped the world, since General MacArthur released his communiques to them 20 hours before they were released to the world press.  This issue's lead story:  "New Hungarian Government Declares War on Reich, Says Moscow." New provisional Hungarian government is set up in Debreczen in east Hungary. German troops in Budapest have been ordered to hold out to the last man. "Churchill, Eden Leave Athens: Will Recommend Regency to Greek King" Sides (left wing ELAS and right wing EDES) agree on formation of a Regency. Report from SEAC HQ in Kandy, Ceylon: British forces striking through Arakan, southwest Burma, towards main Japanese port of Akyab have reached the tip of Mayu peninsula and are now bombarding island positions.  Report from GHQ SWPA in Brisbane: The heavy toll of Japanese annihilated on Leyte was increased further yesterday when 912 of the enemy were killed by U.S. forces mopping up in the west part of the island. Noted Berlin Bookseller hunted by Gestapo for using bookstore to distribute millions of anti-Nazi leaflets. 4 pp.        26.2 x 39 cm. Newspaper, small tears in folds, fair. (8207)         $39.00. World War II  

Guinea Gold, American Edition, Sunday, December 31, 1944          Port Moresby, Papua-New Guinea        U.S. Army/Royal Australian Army. This unique World War II newspaper, published in New Guinea and flown daily to U.S. and Australian troops all over South West Pacific command, often scooped the world, since General MacArthur released his communiqués to them 20 hours before they were released to the world press.  This issue's lead story on last day in 1944:  "Von Rundstedt Falling Back: Patton 20 Miles From U.S. 1st Army; Huge Nazi Losses." Report is from SHAEF. "Chinese Cross Burma Border into SW China: Link Up Likely"-- report from SEAC HQ in Kandy, Ceylon. "Scobie Begins New Attack on Greek Left Wing Guerrillas in Athens" is report after Greek political factions failed to reach a solution to the Greek trouble. "Wave of Isolationism Again Sweeps Nation: Leaders Worry"--report from Washington. Basis is distrust of power politics in Europe.  Report from New York: "Wives Celebrate Christmas by Murdering Three Husbands". Woman in Tacoma, WA killed her husband with an axe after he got drunk and knocked their children about.  Woman in Los Angeles shot her husband with a rifle, then said, "I know I am a dead pigeon but I did get the duck ready for Christmas dinner."  The third woman, in Detroit, found her husband was having affairs with other women. She got him drunk, strangled him, and dismembered his body. 4 pp.      26.2 x 39 cm.    Newspaper,  small tears in folds, fair.     (8206) $40.00. World War II     

Der Grosse Deutsche Feldzug Gegen Polen, [The Great German Campaign in Poland] Eine Chronik Des Krieges in Wort und Bild; Herausgegeben im Einvernehmen mit dem Reichsbildberichterstatter der NSDDAP, Prof. Heinrich Hoffman, Geleitwort Generaloberst Von Reichenau [Text in German] ca. 1940 Vienna, Austria:  Verlag Für Militär Und Fächliteratur A. Franz Göth & Sohn.  Triumphant book of pictures and German text extolling German march into Poland in 1939, with many references to the Versailles Peace Treaty of 1919. Geleitwort [Preface by] Generaloberst Von Reichenau. [Many photos of Adolf Hitler and his generals, happy “liberated” Germans in Danzig and other cities in Poland greeting Hitler and his troops with enthusiastic "heils".  Many spirited exhortations from A. Hitler, General von Brauchitich, Field Marshal Hermann Göring, Admiral Raeder. Pictures of children presenting flowers to troops. Picture of truckload of Jews, text notes that a million Jews live in Poland. This is one of many propaganda pieces created by the Nazis to "explain" their attack against the “aggressive” Poles to "rescue" the beleagured Germans in the City of Danzig. Der Feldzug in Polen; Zusammenfassende Darstellung, Die polnische Wehrmacht; Der polnische Angriffsplan; Ziel und Anlage der deutschen Operationen.  Maps show how German troops stormed across Polish border, with attacks from Czechoslovakia, Germany and East Prussia; Drives on Lodz, Warsaw and Krakow. Maps show attacks as of 2, 6, 11, 14, 18 and 19 September. Last two maps show attacks from East by Soviet troops. Full-page portrait photos of Göring, Von Brauchitsch, Halder, von Rundstedt, von Bock, List, von Reichenau, von Kluge, von Küchler, Keitel, Guderian, Hoepner, Strauss, Hoth, Schmidt, von Briefen, Reinhardt, Kübler, Olbricht, Admirals Albrecht, and Schniewind. 344 pp. 22 x 32 cm.Green cloth on board, front and back hinges cracked, inside front hinge mended with black plastic tape, but front board loose; frontispiece of Hitler loose, top 6 cm of each page warped from moisture.  On front free endpaper is inscription: "Sgt. H. White, Salzburg '45". All pictures and text completely readable, clear. Poor. (7697) $95.00. World War II/Propaganda

Heckling Hitler: Caricatures of the Third Reich by Zeman, Zbynek 1987 Hanover, NH: University Press of New England. Marvelous, tremendously perceptive collection of cartoons which ridicule Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, from Hitler’s early years until his death.  128 pp. 21 x 28 cm. Paper booklet, light wear, very good. (5916) $23.00. World War II/History

History WWII: Photos of Japanese children, U.S. airmen, and minor official documents, and Army Air Corps Records Jacket, with copy of Stars and Stripes, Aug. 10, 1946 1945-47 Tokyo, Japan. Collection of a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps officer--8 photos, Air Base appointment to base duties, special orders, list of leave grantees, and records folder.  Stars & Stripes newspaper yellowed and brittle. Photos good. Official letters yellowed, good. (3882) $35.00. History/World War II/Ephemera

Houses of Parliament package:  A short guide to the Palace of Westminster, a pass to the Dominions' Gallery (front row), and 12 pages of oral questions for the House of Commons, January 23, 1945 by Fell, Sir Bryan H., K.C.M.G., C.B. 1945 London, England: The Lord Great Chamberlain and the Speaker of the House of Commons. Booklet is guide to the Houses of Parliament, with excellent photos, including several showing bomb damage from Nazi attack on London.  Pass issued to Sgt. Woolf for 1-23-45. Twelve pages of questions for Commons for 1-23-45, give good idea of a typical day in the Commons in World War II. 78 pp. 12 x 18 cm. Booklet with name "Henry Bosley Woolf, London, 23 Jan 1945" written on cover, very good. Card and questions also very good. (5704) $39.00. History/England

Ich Kämpfe (I Fight); Die Pflichten des Partei-Genossen. Original 1943 Edition of famed Nazi Propaganda Booklet, In German by Hitler, Adolf; Rosenberg, Alfred; Goebbels, Dr. 1943 München, Deutschland: Zentralverlag der NSDAP Franz Eher Nachf.  Treuegelöbnis; Ich Gelobe meinem Führer Adolf Hitler Treue. Ich Verspreche, Ihm und Den Führern, Die er Mir Bestimmt, Jederzeit Achtung Und Gehorsam Entgegenzubringen. Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbeiterpartei. This booklet was issued to new members of the Nazi Party in 1943; Subjects covered include the SS, the SA, NSFK, NSF, NSKK, Promise of Loyalty to the Führer, Program of the NSDAP, the German Concept of Freedom, the National Socialist Revolution, Honor List of the Martyrs of the Movement, Our Will, the Responsibilities of Political Leaders, the National Socialist Way of Life, the Responsibility of Party Members, Dates in the History of the NSDAP, etc., etc. Sections written by various Nazi leaders, including Rosenberg and Goebbels.  Excellent photos of Nazi Youth, children, soldiers; Color Portrait of Hitler, other color photos. 97 pp. 21 x 24 cm Paper booklet, cover in tan color with embossed Nazi eagle and swastika and leaf border design. Lightly soiled. Last page has several chips in page edge. Very good. (7387) $90.00. World War II/Germany.

Le Livre des Otages, la politique des otages menée par les Autorités allemandes d'Occupation en France de 1941 à 1943; Préface de Marie-Claude Vaillant-Couturier  [Story of French Hostages during Occupation of France by Germans in World War II.] [In French.] by Klarsfeld, Serge   1979 Paris, France: Les Éditeurs Français Réunis.  Preface by Auschwitz survivor. Author has collected files which detail arrests of French citizens by Nazis during World War II, for various crimes, including "communists", "Recrutement de membres our le PCF clandestin", "Activité terroriste", more. Photos include those of key S.S. officers Lischka, Hagen, Heinrichsohn.  Files reproduced in book include reports from Romainville camp, detailing Raisons de la désignation comme otage, passé et activités politiques. Un des ouvrages les plus émouvants et les plus révélateurs de l'histoire de l'occupation et de la résistance. 295 pp. 13 x 21.5 cm. Trade paperback, text block loose from cover, good. (1682) $42.00. World War II

Mementos of a World War II Army Air Corps officer in Post-war Japan by Kraut, Robert C., FltOfficer, U.S. Army Air Corps   1945-47 Tokyo, Japan: ephemera. Mementos of a young U.S. Army Air Corps Flight Officer. Photos of him and Japanese children and adults in Japan just after the war ended, at or near Showa Air Base, Japan. Photos of Kraut and friend viewing overturned Japanese (?) tank; Scene of Japanese in a riverbed with traditional Japanese homes lining bank. Collection of a World War II U.S. Army Air Corps officer--8 photos, Air Base appointment to base duties, special orders, list of leave grantees, and records folder. Photos of  U.S. airmen, and minor official documents, and Army Air Corps Records Jacket, with copy of Stars and Stripes, Aug. 10, 1946. 21 pcs.  28 x 22 cm. Stars & Stripes newspaper yellowed and brittle. Photos good. Official letters yellowed, fair. (7895) $20.00 World War II/Ephemera

Contact me at scoulbourn1@verizon.net

Adventures of Aïda, the Cat

Aïda, the Cat

Daughter Susan with Aïda, 1986

[Note: This blog has been amended since it was originally published in May, 2011.]

            Some little boys were throwing stones at this tiny black kitten, on a street in Naples, Italy.

Our daughter, Susan, age 11 at the time, rescued her, and brought her to our apartment, and insisted that we give her a home. 

We had just seen Verdi’s Opera, Aïda, about a beautiful Ethiopian princess, so that became “our” cat’s name.

Naples Harbor with Mount Vesuvius in the haze

            Maria, our Italian maid, was a tiny little Neapolitan woman.  She was delighted to see us taking an interest in a Neapolitan cat.  Then, one day I mentioned that we were going to have the cat “fixed”, and Maria looked horrified.  She crossed her arms in front of her own body and swore that if we touched that cat she would leave our employment. 

            After three years in Naples, it was time to go back to the U.S. We intended to give Aïda to a deserving family before we left, but then our daughter, age 14, announced that if we didn’t take Aïda, she would stay in Naples with the cat. We had a mutiny on our hands.

            So, we went to a veterinarian, had the cat spayed and vaccinated, and started the paperwork process for taking her back to the United States. We didn’t bother Maria with these details.

            I searched out an obscure office down on the waterfront in Naples, and there was the Official Inspector of Animals for Export. 

            Italian government officials, even animal inspectors, take their jobs very seriously, at least until it is time for the afternoon maccheroni.

            Signor A. opened up a formidable ledger, pulled down pads of paper and various forms from his desk, and arranged a set of rubber stamps and a stamp pad where he could reach them easily.

            He put a form in an ancient typewriter, and began typing in the particulars of this “American cat”.  Then he went into a frenzy of stamping each rubber stamp where it belonged on the forms.  He never even looked at Aïda, sitting calmly in her cage.

            Then we flew home to Boston, and accompanied the cat to my next duty station, which was Newport, RI.

            After two years of teaching at the Naval War College, I was assigned to a year of schooling in preparation for an assignment as Naval Attaché in Russia. We bought a house in New Hampshire and the family, including Aïda, lived there while I was attending various schools in Washington.

            Aïda made it to Moscow, and took up ownership of our apartment, and learned that she and our daughter were both welcome to visit the barracks of the U.S. Marine Corps detachment in the Embassy.  The cat would sometimes escape our apartment and take a stroll down there. The Marines were always glad to see her. 

            We had to send Aïda home to America by herself, and so I had to take her to the Swissair cargo area at Sheremetevo Airport.  It was very interesting to see the “back side” of this massive Communist airport, because there were huge containers destined for places on the “dark side,” away from our Amerikansky world—Haiphong and Hanoi, Viet Nam; Pyongyang, North Korea; Havana, Cuba; and such.  Our cat looked so forlorn in her cage amongst all those very foreign containers.

After leaving Moscow, I was headed for my next assignment as Commander of an Americasn naval base on the southwestern corner of Japan, on the island of Kyushu, in Nagasaki prefecture.

On the way to my new assignment I stopped in Yokosuka to visit my new local area boss, a Navy Rear Admiral, to meet him and his staff, and learn about official relations with Japan and the Japanese Defense Forces. Then I would fly another 800 km. to Sasebo to take command there.

I was accompanying Aïda.
            When you carry a cat like Aïda, you are accompanying her, not the other way around.
            On my last night in Yokosuka, I attended a dinner hosted by the admiral.  When I returned to the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters I found that Aïda had escaped. She had found a way to push out the screen in the bathroom and was now loose on the base.
            I took a box of dry cat food and went out walking around the building,
shaking the cat food, and calling for Aïda. That was our usual technique.

            That cat never was enthusiastic about coming when I called her. The cat did not come, I couldn’t find her, so I went to bed.
            I had an early flight to Sasebo the next day, so at about 4 a.m. I was up, dressed in Service Dress Blues, walking around in the dark outside the BOQ, rattling the cat food box again, calling "Aïda!!" desperately.  You can imagine the pitiful sight of a U.S. Navy captain, parading around in the dark with a box of cat food, yelling the name of a Nubian princess!
            No cat. I finally had to leave to fly to Sasebo.  The admiral's aide offered to put out the word all over the base for our cat.
            Several weeks later, I was entertaining a visiting group of doctors at our base in Sasebo, led by the Commander of the Navy Hospital in Yokosuka. I told him and his wife about losing the cat on the base at Yokosuka.  The wife said that she thought she had seen such a cat.
             In the meantime the aide, true to his word, had advertised in the base newspaper for the black cat that did NOT answer to its name.
            A week later, Captain Miner, the Hospital Commander, called and said he thought he had my cat.  He had caught the cat walking on his roof and when he grabbed it, it bit him. According to the Hospital Commander's description, it was Aïda, so I asked my son, Mark, who was living with us, and working on getting into a college in Tokyo, to make a detour by Yokosuka to pick up the cat.
            Mark caught a slow train, which took 18 hours each way, and went to Sasebo.   He collected the cat, and brought her back to us in Sasebo.

When Aïda arrived, she walked calmly out of her cage onto the floor in our kitchen and looked at us as if to say, "What in hell has kept you people?"

Aïda was finally reunited with Susan, and when Susan married, Aïda accepted her husband Ted. She is now in that elaborate part of heaven reserved for cats.

And now, the Personal Navigator offers these books and papers:

Martha Summerhayes

Vanished Arizona: Recollections of My Army Life, with twenty-two illustrations.  First Edition. By Summerhayes, Martha 1908 Philadelphia, PA: J.B. Lippincott & Co. 270 pp. 13.5 x 19.8 cm. Young Martha spent time in the home of a Prussian officer in Germany, then returned to America and married a young officer in the U.S. Army and moved with him to Wyoming Territory in 1874. She quickly learned that the Army is not all glittering uniforms and elegant parties.  Her husband would be on detachments amongst the Indians for months, and she learned Army life.  Soon it was time to transfer to Arizona, and she relates learning how to pack, and traveling by rail from Cheyenne to San Francisco, then by sea to Baja California, then by river steamer up the Colorado to Fort Yuma. The heat is unbelievable! Then, by mule wagon to Fort Mojave, across the Mojave Desert to Fort Whipple, near the capital city of Arizona territory, Prescott. Then they traveled across the Mogollon range and finally arrived at Camp Apache. In January 1875 she has a baby boy, Harry; then there's a long trip up to Ehrenburg, Arizona. She learns how to stay positive amid the hardships of frontier life; she writes about the Apaches, including the horribly disfigured faces of women who have been unfaithful to their husbands. In 1879 she goes home to Nantucket, MA for a year, and their daughter is born; her husband takes a year's leave and joins her.  Martha learns a lot, and her story of a woman's view of Army life on the American frontier is colorful and interesting.  Decorated blue cloth on board. Cover illustration shows crossed rifles of the Eighth Foot above title. Name "Horatio Hathaway, Jr., Sept. 12 1909" inscribed on ffep.  Minor wear, very good. (3628) $220.00. History/American West/Army/ Memoir          

           

Farmers' Cabinet, Amherst, (N.H.) Saturday, August 3, 1822 No. 46 Vol. 20. 1822 Amherst, NH: Richard Boylston, Publisher.  4 pp.      31 x 51 cm. This paper is still published in 2012 as the Milford Cabinet, Milford being adjacent to Amherst. Report on Missionary Work with the Osage Indians who have exceedingly unpleasant habits. Their mode of cooking is polluted, neatness, cleanliness and chastity are unknown among them, and they like to fight.  "Mr. Adams and Mr. Russell" is an abbreviated account from The National Intelligencer about a conflict going back to the negotiations for the Treaty of Ghent, ending the War of 1812.  Jonathan Russell and John Quincy Adams were ministers sent by President Monroe and this kerfluffle involved Russell and a letter he wrote, then lost, then he provided a different version, which he called a "copy" or a "duplicate"... all of this arose in 1822 in advance of the forthcoming campaign of Mr. Adams for president. Latest from Europe:  It is now certain that there will be no war between Turkey and Russia. The Turks have complied with the demand of Emperor Alexander for the evacuation f Moldavia and Wallachia. Greeks in two villages sacked by Turks have immolated Greek wives and children to prevent them from being violated. Greeks have burnt two Turkish ships of the line, two frigates, a corvette.  Spanish Aggression:  U.S. Schooner Porpoise, commanded by Lieutenant James Ramage arrived at St. Thomas after having been fired upon by two Spanish privateers, who shot away one of her shrouds, and passed several balls through her. [Ramage had already made a name for himself by destroying a pirate base with six vessels near Bahia Honda, Cuba.] [Is James Ramage an ancestor of WWII Submariner Lawson Ramage??]  Ads for Stray Mare belonging to Ephraim French of Amherst; Samuel Gill, indentured boy--Notice to all persons  harboring him or trusting him on account of Caleb Turner of Milford. David Russell has a fine assortment of Kid & Morocco Shoes at his shop near the Meeting House in Amherst. Newspaper, edges frayed, vertical fold nearly separated, poor. (8225) $40.00. Newspapers/History

 New-Hampshire Patriot, Concord, (New-Hampshire), Tuesday, April 9, 1816; Printed by Isaac Hill, Publisher of the Laws of the United States     1816        Concord, NH: Isaac Hill.  4 pp. 35 x 53 cm. Speech of the Hon. Mr. (Henry) Clay in the House of Representatives on the Subject of the Direct Tax. Clay notes debt accumulated by the recent war (War of 1812) as well as the Revolutionary War and the wars with Tripoli and Algiers. He mentions that he was "in the vicinity" of the Battle of Waterloo. [He was in London, and saw the illuminations and celebration after Wellington defeated Napoleon.] Clay ranges wide, discussing the Treaty of Ghent, fishing rights off Newfoundland. One of the great causes of the war, he says, was impressment of American sailors, and now that is stopped. "What have we gained by the war?" he asked, then answered, "..before the war... we were the scorn of the universe... contempt of ourselves......" We have gained "respectability and character abroad---security and confidence at home....our character and constitution are placed on a solid basis never to be shaken."  Article fills whole front page and one column of page 2, and is continued. Dartmouth College:  "The insidious hand of one of the intolerant Trustees is discovered.."  Discussion of scandal and abuse towards Dartmouth President Wheelock....Accusations of hypocrisy and malignity..... Thompson and others have been effectively "put down" by their own "wicked attempt 'to put down' a certain man!"  Remarkable letter to the Printer by Mary Pitcher, dated April 1, 1816 takes up about one column to reel out literary allusions and flowing discourse, alluding to witchery--- appears to be April Fool's tomfoolery. Notice of those people in New Hampshire who have not paid their Direct Tax in conformity with the Act of Congress, 1813.             Newspaper, edges worn and frayed, rag content of paper has preserved it well.  Fair. (8226) $44.00. Newspapers/History               

Canning:  Sketch of the Character of Mr. Canning. From the National Intelligencer of Sept. 15, 1827 By  Rush, Richard  1828 Washington, DC: Gales & Seaton. Blistering picture of Great Britain's Foreign Minister, George Canning (1770-1827) published shortly after his death, apparently written by Richard Rush, but also attributed to John Quincy Adams.  Sketch accuses Canning of "British selfishness", toryism, undeviating support for monarchy, ridiculing popular movements. Canning was never the political friend of the U.S., writer states. "From Mr. Canning, literally nothing has been obtained -- no, never; though we have held frequent and protracted negotiations with the British Government, during his administration of the Foreign Office." 22 pp. 13 x 21 cm. Paper booklet, pencil notes on cover wrap: "Richard Rush, author". Minor foxing.  Good. (7929) $42.00. History/Great Britain

 Chelsea Fire: Souvenir Book of The Great Chelsea Fire April 12, 1908; containing 34 views of the burned district and prominent buildings also a descriptive sketch 1908 Boston, MA: N.E. Paper and Stationery Co.  Fire that started at about 11 a.m. in the Boston Blacking Company on West 3rd St. near the Everett line. So intense was fire that buildings made of solid granite crumbled and were entirely destroyed. Number of buildings destroyed was about 1500, and between 10,000 and 12,000 people were rendered homeless. Photos show various scenes of damage, including Stebbins Block, looking up Broadway from Third St., Everett Avenue, corner post of Granite Block, Cherry Street, Odd Fellows Building, Bellingham Hill, Chelsea Savings Bank Building, Williams School ruins on Walnut street, Shurtleff School ruins on Essex St. Also Ruins of City Hall and City Hall School on Central Avenue, more. 32 pp. 15 x 10.5 cm. Paper booklet, good. (7958) $48.00. History/Boston

 Plain Language from Truthful James by Bret Harte

Drawings by Joseph Hull

Plain Language from Truthful James, by Francis Bret Harte (1839-1902); Table Mountain, 1870; Collection of Nine Drawings by Joseph Hull. 1870 Chicago, IL: Western News Co. 9 prints, matted 20 x 25 cm. Plain Language from Truthful James by Francis Bret Harte (1839-1902); Table Mountain, 1870.  Collection of nine drawings by Joseph Hull, published by the Western News Company, 1870.  This collection dramatizes the racial prejudice against Chinese brought to America to work on the railroad in the 19th century.  Note the eighth drawing in the series, showing an all-out melee against the “Chinee”. Set of nine prints, matted in blue cardboard matting. Title card is not present. Lightly soiled. Print No. 6 has 1 x 1 cm chip in lower left hand corner. Good. (7093) $85.00 Humor/Poetry

Discourse Delivered by Rev. G.W. Samson, Pastor of the Baptist Church, Jamaica Plain, Mass. on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1852.1853 Boston, MA: Ticknor and Fields. Sermon praises fine American leaders, but cleverly swipes at them. Praises Daniel Webster and slams defenders of slaveholding. "Be assured of this... among a virtuous and pious people, immoral and irreligious rulers cannot exist. Among the majority of our men in station, there is a control over their appetites and passions such as men of less impulsiveness and less temptation have no conception of." If only Rev. Samson could get up and give us another sermon today...16 pp. 14 x 23 cm. Paper pamphlet, front cover nearly detached, owner name on front. Good. (3156) $24.00. History/Religious.

Discourse Delivered in the morning at Quincy and in the afternoon to the third Religious Society in Hingham on the Day of the State Fast, July 23, 1812 by Whitney, Peter, A.M. 1812 Boston, MA: John Eliot, Jun. Speaker addresses audiences on a day of fasting and prayer in opposition to "Mr. Monroe's War", the War with Britain in 1812. Notes two-thirds of Northern Senators opposed war. 16 pp. 14 x 23 cm. Paper booklet with coarse blue paper wrap. Pencil markings on title page. Good. (2658) $35.00. History

Contact me at scoulbourn1@verizon.net