What about those sanctions for Iran?

What to do about Iran….

  

            For decades, Americans have seen Iran as a mob of shouting men yelling “Death to America.”   In our mind’s eye we see them as angry people, and we probably tend to see little difference between them and angry Arabs in Libya, or Syria, or Iraq or Yemen.

            My family and I lived in Iran many years ago, in the time when Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlevi was the king, and Iran and America were close friends.  There were many American and other western contractors and military and civilian advisors working in Iran.  Oil and gas flowed freely from the ground in Iran, up to the USSR to the north, and all over the world, and money flowed into Iran’s treasury. 

            The Shah was trying to lead his country into the modern world, with improved standard of living for people, a growing industrial capability, and, like Kemal Attaturk’s Turkey, distancing from Islam.

            During the mid 1970s, the money was coming into Iran in torrents, and corruption was growing.  More and more of those oil dollars were getting siphoned off for a few insiders. 

            A group of men, including some religious figures, had been watching this “modernization”, and the accompanying corruption, along with the growing movement toward a secular nation, and this drove them crazy.  They were fed up with British imperialism, and now, from the start of World War II, the American brand.

            Some consider that the Cold War began when the Soviet Union sent 15 armored brigades into Iran’s northern provinces on March 4, 1946. The Shah took pride in finally driving the Soviets out of Iran in 1947, with support from the United States.

            When America saw the Soviets edging into control of Iran through Mohammad Mossadegh and the Tudeh party, the CIA engineered Mossadegh's overthrow, and gave power back to the Shah. That was in 1953.

            For the next 25 years, the Shah matured, and with his leadership, Iran grew into a respected member of the world community.  As partners with the United States, they prevented the Soviet Union from expanding into the Persian Gulf.  Gradually, the Iranian Navy was becoming the “policeman” of the waters off Iran’s shores, a role that Britain’s Royal Navy had previously held. 

            Then, in the latter part of the 1970s, the Shah grew increasingly erratic.  He listened only to those who told him what he wanted to hear.  Where he had kept graft and corruption under control before, now he couldn’t. 

            With the huge increase in oil revenues after the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the flood of money was too much for the Shah to control.

            The Shah, and those around him, lost sight of the lofty aim of moving Iran forward, as more and more riches got siphoned off.  He got sick from cancer.  By November, 1978, it was clear that he was no longer in control.

Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989)

            Finally, in January 1979, the Shah left on “vacation”, but he was never to return.

            Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, an old enemy, whom the Shah had sent into exile in 1965, was brought back to Tehran, greeted by six million screaming, cheering Iranians, and the Islamic Republic of Iran began to take shape quickly.

                        This all happened in 1979, over 30 years ago. 

            The religious leaders swiftly threw out the Shah’s “westernization” of Iranian society, and they have worked to convert the country to their ideal of an Islamic state.

They appear to be intent upon separating Iran from what they see as the corrupting influence of America and the West.  In their desire to reach this Islamic ideal, not only have they sworn “death to America” but they have declared that Israel should be wiped off the earth.  They have begun a program of developing their own nuclear capability, and, we think, a nuclear weapons capability, along with the attitude that such weapons might be used to actually attack Israel, and threaten any other adversaries.

            American foreign policy has consisted mainly of applying sanctions to Iran, and urging other nations to apply them as well, with the objective of making it so difficult for Iran to do business that it would eventually change its ways.

            Do sanctions work? 

            Are we pursuing the course of sanctions because it is the only thing we can think of?

            We have tried to choke off Communist Cuba financially since its inception in 1959, twenty years before Iran became the Islamic Republic.  And it hasn’t worked there. 

            When my family and I lived in Iran (1970-72) Iran had a real problem with smuggling.  The whole Persian Gulf shoreline was an extremely porous barrier to illicit foreign trade.  Smugglers brought in all kinds of consumer goods, as well as liquor, tobacco, drugs, industrial machinery--- just about anything to avoid paying taxes or to bypass laws against importing certain items.  Everyone knew this smuggling was going on.  The Shah knew it.  It was a fact of life. One need only visit with someone inside the Tehran Bazaar to get an idea of how widespread smuggling has always been in this land of the Silk Road.

            Today, in spite of the prohibitions against shipping Iranian crude oil, the oil gets out.  Huge quantities flow into Iraq next door, and then onward to customers all over Europe and beyond. 

            It appears that the only thing that sanctions accomplish is to give us the feeling that we are doing something about an irritating country. 

            Actually, sanctions often do have effects:  they may antagonize the common man so that, instead of having bad feelings about their government, they simply hate us.  Where the seeds of revolution may be planted, sanctions may work in the opposite way that we intend. 

            Sanctions may also make it harder for the substantial opposition within Iran.  Not everyone in Iran is happy with living in a state that seems to be heading backward in time.  Not everyone is convinced that America and the rest are on the side of Satan.

            So, do we just stand by, and watch Iran move toward developing nuclear weapons?  While we are watching, we are probably carrying out covert operations, to collect intelligence, perhaps sabotage the nuclear capability, or foment revolt.

            Or, should we actually come to overlook the threat of nuclear weapons, and use diplomacy to take away our sanctions, one by one?  

I wonder how that would turn out?

Sources: 

Michael Sugrue, “Do Sanctions Work? Iran, Proliferation and U.S. Policy”, Huffington Post, Feb. 22, 2012.  

Abbas Milani, The Shah, 2011 New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

Now, the Personal Navigator offers these books and papers….

Little Princesses, The, First Edition; Book Club Edition by Crawford, Marion 1950 New York, NY: Harcourt, Brace and Company.  Marion Crawford was Governess to Britain's Royal Family for 17 years.  She describes the private lives of young Princess Elizabeth, Britain's future Queen, and her younger sister, Princess Margaret Rose. Includes many photos (16 pp.) of early lives of Princesses and their family up to one of the young Queen with nearly one-year-old  Prince Charles. Montage of photos of royal scenes, wartime London on endpapers. 314 pp.+ 16 photo pages. 14 x 21 cm. Red cloth on board, very good. On first half-title page is affixed Canadian three-cent stamp showing King George VI. Dustjacket illustration shows framed pictures of princesses, photo of author on back; has minor chips and edgewear, interior corners clipped, fair.  (4946) $30.00. Biography

 George Fox

George Fox: Selections from the Epistles of George Fox, Abridged by Tuke, Samuel 1858 Philadelphia, PA: Association of Friends for the Diffusion of Religious and Useful Knowledge.              This is the first edition in abridged form of Samuel Tuke's earlier Selections of the Epistles of George Fox. Fox (b.1624, d.1691) is considered to be the founder of the Society of Friends (Quakers). The introduction in this small book is the same Tuke used in his earlier Selections. Fox's mission was to speak truth to all, and that truth often got him thrown into jail. When he visited America he became an early champion of the Indians and Black slaves (p.38-39, 67-70). He warns against vain fashions, not to be over thoughtful of the things of this world, and urged followers to believe in the Light as Christ commanded.  114 pp. 10 x 15.5 cm. Blindstamped design on brown cloth on board, top of spine worn, dampstain to first and last pages, good. (1734) $39.00. Religious/Quaker

 Mary Lamb

Lamb: Mary and Charles Lamb: Poems, Letters and Remains: Now first collected, with reminiscences and notes, First Edition, published simultaneous with London edition. By W. Carew Hazlitt,  1874 New York, NY: Scribner, Welford and Armstrong.  Life of Charles Lamb, English Essayist, (1775-1834) and his sister, Mary (1764-1847). In 1796 Mary Lamb, in a fit of insanity, attacked her mother and father, killing her mother.  Illustrated with frontispiece portrait of Charles Lamb, and numerous facsimiles and illustrations of favorite haunts of Lambs in London and suburbs. Good friend of Mary was Lady Stoddart, later Mrs. Hazlitt. Author of this book is grandson of Hazlitts. Includes 31 pp. Notes of Charles Lamb to Thomas Allsop by George William Curtis. Lamb raves to Allsop about gift of Stilton cheese, notes Mary has "sense enough to value the present." 307 + 31 pp. 12 x 19 cm. Attractive dark blue cloth on board with gilt decoration, shows nude women in orbit around woman with crown and male figure with donkey's head. Slight rubbing top and bottom of spine, one illustrated page loose, some foxing, some pages unopened, altogether very good. (2257) $56.00. Biography/English Letters

Guide Through Europe Presented by the Hamburg-American Line; [Remains Property of the Traveler] 1902 Berlin, Germany: Hamburg-American Line. Marvelous guide to Europe at turn of the Twentieth Century with history of Hamburg-American Line, maps of Berlin, Dresden, Cologne, Munich, Hamburg, Vienna, Zurich, London, Paris, Rome, Amsterdam, Brussels, fold-out full-color topographic map of St. Gothard Railway, through the Alps to Milan; full-color advertisement for Kölnische Düsseldorfer Gesellschaft Rhein-Dampschiffahrt, full-color fold-out description and timetable for Rhätische Bahn Landquart-Davos and Landquart-Chur-Thusis for Winter 1902. Detailed descriptions of sights and cities in Europe, advertisements. 936 pp. 12 x 18 cm. Decorated red cloth on board with HAPAG flag on cover, slight tear in lower heel of spine, moderate wear. Inside front and back hinges cracked, pp 1-2,2a-4, 223-224  loose, pp. 935-936 wrinkled. Overall very good. (2411) $60.00. Travel

 Krupskaya

Social-Democratic Movement in Russia, Materials [Sotsial-Demokraticheskoye Dvizhenniye v Rossii] In Russian; Volume One;  A.N. Potresov and B.I. Nikolaevsky, Editors, Russian Reprint Series. 1967. The Hague, NL: Russian Reprint Series.  1967 Reprint of Original 1928 Volume One of Collection of letters of the early Communist movement in Russia. Foreword by P. Lepeshinsky. Many letters to Potresov from all the old Communist intellectuals, (1896-1904): Vera Zasulich, Rosa Luxemburg, Y.O. Martov, V.I. Ulianov-Lenin, P.P. Maslov, V.A. Ionov, V.L. Shantser, G.V. Plekhanov, A.A. Sanin, M.I.Tugan-Baranovsky, N.I. Tugan-Baranovsky, V.V. Vorovsky, P.B. Akselrod; Letters from Akselrod to the Munich Section of the "Iskra" Staff; Nazezhda Krupskaya to Akselrod  and to Vera Zasulich; Akselrod to Martov; Zasulich to Martov. Also text of many early documents: "Materiali o Raskolye 'Soyuza Russkikh S-D.' Zagranitsei v 1900 g."  Question about the International Conference in the Soviet Party (1904). Also about 70 pages of Primechanii (Notes). 410 pp. 15 x 22 cm. Green cloth on board with gilt lettering, very clean and fresh.  (2990) $66.00. History/Russia

Christian Revelation: A Summary of the Principal Evidences for the Truth and Divine Origin of the Christian Revelation to which is added the celebrated Poem on Death by Bielby Porteus, D.D., Bishop of London. 1814 Boston, MA: Isaiah Thomas Jun., No. 6 Marlborough-Street. This small book was prepared by Bishop Porteus primarily for young people at this time (ca. 1800) "when new compendiums of infidelity and new libels on Christianity are dispersed continually…through every part of the kingdom.." Porteus offers 12 propositions. Proposition VIII compares the Mahometan faith with the Christian and concludes that "In Mahomet we see every distinctive mark of fraud; in Jesus, not one of these is to be found; but, on the contrary, every possible indication and character of truth." Little book ends with a mournful "Death, a Poetical Essay". . 143 pp. 9 x 14.4 cm.Calf on board, well worn on all edges. On front free endpaper is inscribed: "Helen M. Marshall's Book, Colebrook, April 13th, 1816." Handwritten notes on front pastedown, and small, faint pencil marks in text as owner sought to memorize passages. Good. (6990) $49.00. Religious

Thomas' Town Officer, A Digest of the Laws of Massachusetts in relation to the powers, duties and liabilities of towns; New Edition, revised, corrected by Dwight Foster and James E. Estabrook, Counsellors at Law 1856 Worcester, MA: Enos Dorr & Co. The previous edition of this guide for Massachusetts town officials was published in 1849. This 1856 edition has removed inconsistencies and brought things up to date. Town Meetings. Collection of taxes. Settlement of Paupers. Surveyors of shingles and clapboards. Viewers and cullers of hoops and staves. Measurers of upper leather, made of the hides of neat cattle, buffalo or other animal.  Overseers of the Poor. "The overseers of the poor may bind, as apprentices or servants, the minor children of any poor person, who has become actually chargeable to their town, as having a lawful settlement therein, or who is supported there.. at the charge of the Commonwealth...Such children.. may be bound, females to the age of 18 or to the time of their marriage within that age, and males to the age of 21 years..." Lunatic Paupers: " Judges may commit any lunatic.. who .. is so furiously mad.. that it is dangerous to the peace and safety of the community...to the (lunatic) hospital.  Judges shall have the authority to commit lunatic Indians.. to the State Lunatic  Hospital..." Surveyors of Highways: "Any person who travels on the Lord's day neither from necessity or charity, cannot maintain an action for an injury received by him while so traveling..." 486 pp. 12 x 19 cm. Calf on board, outer front hinge cracked,  2x 3 cm piece of leather on spine chipped off, scuffed, front board slightly warped.  Inscr. On front endpaper: "Horace Wallis Jr., Town Officer, Holland, Mass." and above that, "Presented to the Historical Association July 1922 by .. daughter of (Hollis)." Good condition. (5916) $75.00. Reference

You can reach me via email at scoulbourn1@verizon.net

Our Presidents' Day Weekend in Hyannis

 Carefree Life at the Antique Show…

Our booth at the Hyannis Show Feb. 18-19

            I think for my next career, I will become an antiques expert. 

            For the past 20 years, I have been the chief schlepper for my wife, who already is an authority on a lot of antiques, like silver, china, and a few other things.  As schlepper, I get to load the antiques onto a rented van, drive them to the site of the antique show, and unload them.  

            After that, Marty arranges the items, and then, at the appointed hour, in come the customers.  

            We just did an antiques show in Hyannis, on Cape Cod.  Hyannis used to be known as the stomping ground for the Kennedy clan, but from the clientele we saw at Barnstable High School Field House last week, they must be down in the Caribbean, or in Palm Beach. 

            When an antique show opens, there are a few little beady-eyed men who dart into the show, stopping at each booth long enough to sense whether there is anything there that meets their discriminating taste.  These are the pickers, who hope to pick up something worth $500 for $50.  After a few moments, all these eager little people are gone, off to greener pastures. 

Some pieces of antique silver

            At the same time, moving a bit slower, are the silver and gold hawks. These are the men who sweep each booth with hawk-like precision.  They are on the lookout for precious metals.  They can locate a beautifully tooled, elegant piece of early 19^th century silver, and see only how much it will bring, melted down.  For anyone who appreciates the work of fine old silversmiths or goldsmiths---- delicate carving, stamping, engraving and chasing...  that probably took many days to do --- the idea of melting it down seems sinful. 

            These men usually carry a small scale to weigh any treasure they can get their hands on. 

            Soon, these hawks have flown on to their next feeding area, and that leaves the regular shoppers.

            First, there are the breezy, well-dressed women in their 40s and 50s, often accompanied by similarly well-groomed gentlemen in nicely pressed corduroy trousers and Nantucket sweater.   The women are looking at everything, but himself is clearly just along for the outing.  These ladies are looking for a little something for their Cape Cod summer home.  They are the best customers.

            Then there are the little old ladies, some in wheel chairs, some with canes or walkers.  They are interested in everything, but buy nothing.  They can often show you an item in your booth that they have, or had, but only paid one-tenth of what you are asking.

            Then, there are the rest of the shoppers—jolly people of all sorts of dress and age, tall and short, fat and skinny, some decently dressed and some looking like they just cleaned out their garage.  Some are interested in your things, but others are there because they’re not someplace else. 

            There were few of the breezy, affluent set at this show. 

One dealer had a marvelous collection of the works of Theodore Roosevelt, including signed letters, Roosevelt’s 16-volume set, “How the West Was Won”, other books and magazine articles that Teddy wrote, post cards, broadsheets, books about T.R. and more.  This being President’s Day Weekend, and here at the stomping grounds of one popular 20^th century president, you might have thought this would be a good place to sell some of his expensive books.  But apparently few had ever heard of the remarkable Colonel Roosevelt, hero of San Juan Hill. 

All during the show Marty would talk with a customer about a fine piece of early Sheffield, or describe the firing and decorating process for an Imari bowl, discuss a fine Chinese ginger jar, or tell about the work of a Rockport artist whose work we had on display.

Then, after two days of this, bang!!  Four o’clock on Sunday, and out would come the packing boxes and the moving carts, and the scramble would start to get everything packed up and moved out.  In less than two hours, there would be just a few dealers still carefully wrapping their wares, while the janitors picked up tables and chairs and swept down the gym.

            After two hours it was now dark, and all our goods were piled in an Enterprise van, and off we went, to return to Rockport.  Or so we thought.

            As we were driving through Hyannis, though, another driver pulls alongside and yells to Marty, “No back lights, no brake lights!”

            I pulled over, and sure enough, from behind we looked like a stealth van, a dark eminence moving along the road.  We could both imagine the prospect of a large 18-wheeler behind us on the road to Boston, and us with no brake lights! 

            So, we found a nearby Holiday Inn, and checked in for the night. 

            The next morning, I called Enterprise and they located a new van for us at the Hyannis office. 

            We drove over, and in 30 minutes I had moved all our antiques from the old van to the new one, and we were on our way to Rockport, again. 

            At the age of 78, I am getting good at moving the stuff in and out of the van, faster and faster.   But I think I will ask my boss, Marty, to consider me for the job as assistant “expert” at some sort of antiques, and maybe we can hire some other poor soul to schlep our goods.

The Personal Navigator offers these books and papers:

Cuban Scouts Going on Outpost Duty

Rough Riders at Camp Wikoff

Cannons and Camera: Sea and Land Battles of the Spanish-American War in Cuba, Camp Life, and the Return of the Soldiers; First Edition Photographs and Narrative by Hemment, John C.1898. New York, NY: D. Appleton & Co. This book has been widely reproduced. In this book War Artist John C. Hemment has captured the War in Cuba in excellent, sharp photographs and accompanying text.   Introduction by W.I. Lincoln Adams. Hemment had earlier photographed the Battleship Maine extensively, and when he arrived in Cuba he found she had just been blown up. His description of the Spaniards and the Cubans is colorful and portrays the sharp enmity between Americans and Spaniards. Interesting and detailed photos of recovery of parts of Maine, life in American soldiers' camp,  off to the seat of war in Santiago by seagoing transport...  Life with General Shafter and his staff.  Description of photography and developing of film, etc. under combat conditions.  Firing on Morro Castle. Among the Cuban pickets.  About mules in the campaign. Siege of Santiago. The Charge at El Caney.  Our Bold Rough Riders.and Colonel Roosevelt. Return of the Rough Riders. With appendix and index.  . 282 pp. 13.5 x 20 cm. Red cloth on board with decoration on cover showing a sailor cleaning a naval gun; gilt lettering. Edges worn, binding weak, spine faded. Inscription dated 1898 on ffep. Fair. (5261) $42.00. History/Spanish-American War

Our Katie; or, The Grateful Orphan, A Story for Children , with three illustrations by Myers, Sarah A.  1859             New York, NY: Carlton & Porter, Sunday-School Union. Author writes of her childhood and poor Katie, whose mother died, then her father. Author's family took in Katie…Katie in Disgrace….Katie's Reward.  Morality tale. 90 pp. 10 x 15.2 cm.        Dark cloth on board with blindstamped design and gilt lettering on spine. On front free endpaper is "No. 41 Chesterfield Facty S.S. Jan. 1868" 2 cm piece missing from rear spine. Good. (8196) $40.00. Children's

Navy vs. William & Mary Football Game Program, September 24, 1955 1955 Annapolis, MD: United States Naval Academy. Program for football game at Thompson Field, Annapolis between Navy and William & Mary. Program cover shows Navy Midshipman smoking an Indian Peace Pipe (in the days before marijuana) and an Indian looking quizzically at a Boatswain's pipe.Many ads by Defense contractors. Photos of Navy and W&M players. Captain of Navy team was John L. Hopkins; W&M Co-Captains were Al Grieco and Bill Marfizo. RADM Walter F. Boone was USNA superintendent. VADM (Ret.) Alvin Duke Chandler was president of William & Mary.  Edward J. Erdelatz was head coach of Navy, John J. Freeman was head coach of W&M. Centerfold featured index of players by their jersey numbers, with large ad for Lucky Strike cigarettes. 76 pp. 21 x 28.3 cm. Football program, color cover, very good. (8215) $29.00. Education

India: Map of the Western Railway Showing Mileage of Stations from Bombay Central  ca. 1960 Bombay, India: Survey of India Offices. Map of Western Railway scale 1 inch = 40 miles, shows broad and narrow gauge lines, foreign railways from Mathura in NE to Okha Port and Runn of Kutch in W to Churchgate and Bombay Central in S.  On reverse is map of India showing Western Railway with other foreign lines, and annotation in ink of 25 locations, from Colombo and Kandy to Bombay.          map 44 x 62 cm. Paper map, annotations on India map side list 25 cities with numbers at their location on map.  Good. (8212) $16.00. Maps     

Sweden: Vägvisare Sundsvall och dess Omnejd-- Almänna Norrländska Industri-och Landtbruks-Utställningen I Sundsvall, 1882 [General  Northern Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition,  Sundsvall, Sweden, 1882]  1882 Stockholm, Sweden: P.A. Norstedt & Söner. Folded map and program for  Almänna Norrländska Industri-och Landtbruks-Utställningen I Sundsvall, 1882 [General  Northern Industrial and Agricultural Exhibition,  Sundsvall, Sweden, 1882]. Includes price for tickets to events, local points of interest, map of Exhibition grounds, City and area in Sweden including northern part of Gulf of Bothnia, also ads for hotels and other tourist services. In Swedish. 18 panels    9 c 17.2 cm.            Paper on cloth, lightly soiled, very good. (8211) $38.00. Maps/Travel       

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Entertaining Father Quentin in Naples

Marvelous Father Quentin

               

            We were living in Naples, Italy when a good friend suggested we should meet Father Quentin. It was 1976.

            Father Quentin was a Dominican priest living in Rome.  He was from New England, and was fluent in Russian, so Al Koster, our friend, thought we’d like to meet him, so Marty could offer him New England hospitality and I could practice talking Russian with him.  We invited him to come down for a weekend.

            Father Quentin took the train from Rome to Naples, and we met him at the big Stazione Centrale in Piazza Garibaldi.  Quentin was a roly-poly little fellow, about as wide as he was tall, and wore a brown monk’s robe with a big, wide belt with a large cross on the buckle.  And sandals.

A porter was holding a large suitcase and another couple of bags for him.

            We had heard that Quentin was quite the linguist, so we were surprised when he seemed to be having a lot of trouble with the porter.  It came time for him to hand the man a tip, and Quentin seemed not to have any money for a tip, so I gave the porter a tip.

            At that moment, I began to see a pattern developing. 

Naples Harbor with Vesuvio in distance

  

            We bundled the good Father into our Fiat station wagon and were off to Posillippo, our home. 

            Father Quentin told us that he lived in a cubicle in a very monastic existence in Rome.  Rome, by the way, is fairly crawling with priests.

            We had plans to take Father Q. out to dinner that night, with our friends, Aggie and Al Koster.  When we had arrived in Italy a year prior, we had gone through a laborious search for living quarters with the Kosters, sharing many meals at low-cost restaurants during several weeks.  Al, a fellow submariner, was the intelligence officer for the Navy staff that handled all the U.S. Navy’s submarines in the Mediterranean, and I was the operations officer in charge of tasking all the patrol and electronic surveillance aircraft that searched for Soviet submarines in the Mediterranean.

            After Quentin was shown to the guest bedroom, he revealed that he had brought a large bag of laundry from the nuns that occupy his religious dwelling in Rome.  He asked if he could use our washing machine to launder them.  That was when he told us about how much he loved large, “thirsty” towels after his bath, because at the monastery, he used only a very flimsy cloth to towel off with. And his bath was in cold water.

            Before we left for the restaurant, we thought we’d have a cocktail, and that was when Father Quentin ordered a Beefeater’s Martini.  

            If you are in a bar it is OK to order a particular brand of liquor, but I think it is a bit presumptuous to call for “Beefeater’s” when your host might be so humble as to have only Gordon’s on hand.  He had to settle for what we had.

            We met the Kosters at the restaurant, and ordered vino di tavola, or table wine, and the waiter gave us our menus. 

A little light meal, Italian style

            Italian dining can be a marvelous experience, with a meal that begins with aperitivi, then antipasti consisting of olives, other pickled vegetables, bruschette (toast with oil and tomatoes). and sausages and cold meats.  Then there’s the pasta course, and next the secondo, or second course, which is a meat or fish.   After that you have a dolce (pastry) plus fruit.  Then comes the coffee, and cheese, and perhaps a glass of cognac or grappa, a powerful, clear liquid.  Finally, for Italians there is the digestivo, like Fernet Branca or Jägermeister.  This is a peculiar drink which seems to act like a giant plunger to take all that food you have consumed and push it down into your belly with force.

            Americans at dinner would tend to order only two or three courses, but if Italians were having a real dinner, it might consist of several pasta courses, and then perhaps a vitello (veal) parmigiana or saltimbocca, followed by a nice pesce, or fish.  And the waiter, in true Neapolitan style, would query you on your health and perceived illnesses, and then prescribe the vegetables you might like to eat.

            Father Quentin didn’t speak much Italian, except when it came to the menu, and then this round little holy man showed his prowess.  He ordered every course, in beautiful Italian.

            “Vorrei un poco di spaghettini, è un pezzo di lasagne, e --- ooo, un piccolo pezzo di carne di vitello, per piacére,”

            He ordered the spaghetti, and then a little lasagna, and rice and veal and on and on.  Al and I were sharing the cost of the meal, and we could see this was going to be a zinger. 

            The next day, Al and I were at work, so Marty and Aggie drove Quentin down to the Amalfi coast, and of course at lunch time they stopped for what they thought would be a light lunch. 

            Quentin, however, had other ideas, and began to order the menu again.  In those days, you paid for meals with lire, not credit cards, and Al and I had left a few thousand lire with the girls to entertain Quentin.  Marty announced to Quentin that he would have to restrict his luncheon a bit. 

            Quentin pouted, but complied, and everyone had a nice, light luncheon.

            Marty washed and dried all the robes and clothing for the nuns, and then gave it to Father Quentin and showed him the iron and ironing board. Then she went out to shop for a cocktail buffet we were having for my boss, Captain Al Higginbotham, who was leaving Italy.  Quentin addressed the ironing board.

            Marty returned two hours later, and Quentin, in his brown robe, was spread across the floor in our dining room, next to the ironing board.  She thought he had collapsed.

            No, the good Father said that the ironing had completely worn him out, and he was collecting enough energy to continue.

            Marty roasted a turkey for the buffet.  Quentin volunteered to carve the turkey for the buffet, and he did, with spectacular artfulness, garnishing the bird elegantly. 

            That night the Commander of the Sixth Fleet, Vice Admiral Harry Train, came to our buffet along with the other guests, and was pleased to meet Father Quentin. We all bid farewell to my boss, and the guests left.

            As soon as the guests were gone, Father Quentin descended upon the turkey and finished it single-handedly.

            Soon it was time for us to say goodbye to Quentin, but he was enjoying the food and relaxation so much he wanted to stay.  We gathered him and all his possessions up, along with all the ironing for the nuns, and drove him forthwith to the train station, and put him on the train for Rome with a hearty farewell.

            The next time he came to Naples we let him stay with our friends, the Kosters.

  

           

Here are some books and papers that The Personal Navigator would like to offer you:

Osage Indians

from painting by Charles Banks Wilson

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

Henry Clay, 1818

By Mathew Harris Jouett

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 "respectabilty 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 Colege:  "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          

Biographical History of Massachusetts; Biographies and Autobiographies of the Leading Men of the State, Volume X  Eliot, Samuel Atkins, A.M., D.D., editor-in-chief 1918 Boston, MA: Massachusetts Biographical Society. Frontispiece steel engraving of William E. Huntington; Article on Co-Education in Massachusetts, by Huntington. This is a collection of about 132 steel engravings of notable Massachusetts men, with 2-4 page biographies.  Includes: William Hadwen Ames (1861-1918) developer of Forest Hills crematory, president of several pneumatic tube companies; Milton Bradley (1836-1911) founder of the Milton Bradley company, developer of games, kindergarten equipment and school supplies; Sidney Wilmot Winslow (1854-1917) founder of the United Shoe Machinery Company; Bishop Joseph Gaudentius Anderson (1865- ); Francis William Bird (1809-1894), "Sage of Walpole" and founder of the Neponset Paper Co., heavily involved in the Free Soil party, then the Democratic party after the Civil War. Also Francis William Bird, 2nd (1881-1918) intimate and trusted friend of Colonel Roosevelt. Also, John Quincy Adams Brackett (1842-1918) governor of Massachusetts. Also Henry Hilary Chmielinski, Andrea Forest Christian, Charles Franklin David, William Orin Tasker (1843- ) owner of a music store in Haverhill. [This was his book.] 16 x 24 cm. Leather on board, rubbing on spine edges and 2 cm tear in top edge of spine; Decorated with gilt seal of Massachusetts; owner's name, "W. Orin Tasker, Haverhill, Mass." on front free endpaper. Very good. (2163) $66.00.  Biography

Butler: Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's True Record,  Published by Order of Committee, October, 1879, John I. Baker, Secretary [Rare Massachusetts Campaign Pamphlet.] 1879 Boston, MA: Committee to Elect B.F. Butler. Very favorable examination of the life and performance of Benjamin F. Butler, born in Deerfield, NH in 1818, attended Waterville (later Colby) College, became a lawyer, State Senator in  Massachusetts, appointed a Brigadier General in the Mass. Militia.  During Civil War, his activities in Baltimore drew wide criticism.  He became most notorious for his activities as Commander of Occupation Forces in New Orleans, where he took over the posh St. Charles Hotel for his headquarters, hung a man for  taking down a Union flag from a flagpole, and ordered women in New Orleans who insulted Union officers to be treated as prostitutes. He became known in the South as "Beast Butler" and won him notoriety also in the North.   He was widely criticized for mismanagement, dishonesty, fraud, favoritism, criminal negligence.   This 32-page booklet presents a very favorable side of Butler's life and Civil War Service, as well as his service in the U.S. Congress, and his efforts to secure pensions and benefits for Civil War veterans.  This pamphlet was published as he ran his third unsuccessful race for Governor of Massachusetts.  "It is evident that the State government needs, if it is to be purged, such a democratic spirit, clear  intellect, accurate knowledge, firm hand, and fearless independence, as have been displayed in all his public career, by the honest and patriotic Benjamin F. Butler." 32 pp. 13.7 x 21.8 cm. Paper booklet, cover wrap lightly stained with 4 cm closed tear.  Fair. (7413) $43.00. Biography/History

La Guerre D'Amérique: Récit d'un Soldat du Sud [in French] (The American {Civil} War: Narrative of a Southern Soldier); Tome Premier [Volume One ONLY] par Fontane, Marius   ca. 1866 Paris, France: Adrien Le Clere ET Ce, Éditeurs, Rue Cassette, 29. Volume One of a two volume set. Small foldout map ( "Carte du Théâtre de la Guerre d'Amérique") at rear of first volume. Narrative by Marius Fontane (1838-1914).  Entrée de Charleston. L'exploitation des forêts de la Caroline du Sud.  Toinot le planteur. Les case des nègres. Premier coup de fusil (6 avril 1861). Jefferson Davis, président des États confédérés. L'arsenal de Norfolk (6 mars 1862).  Marche des Nordistes vers Richmond.   304 pp. + map. 11.5 x 17 cm. Quarter leather with marbled paper boards; covered with plastic film.  Fold-out map has small tears in folds. Good. (1735) $75.00. Civil War/History

Life of Horace Greeley, The; Editor of The New York Tribune, first edition by Parton, J. 1855 New York, NY: Mason Brothers. Traces life of Greeley from his Scotch-Irish parentage to early days in Amherst, NH. Book is dedicated "To the young men of the free states." 442 pp. 12 x 19 cm. Brown cloth on board, embossed, and printed with gilt. Minor wear on edges.  Text foxed. Includes contemporary newspaper clippings about Greeley, Civil War, and Greeley's death, in 1872.  Very good. (2135) $45.00. Biography/History

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Educating America, one issue at a time

 

Aware of the World

The Wars of the French Revolution : Combat de Varoux, 27 novembre 1792 ; commandé par Louis-Philippe pour le musée historique de Versailles en 1836 ; Salon des artistes français, Paris, 1838. Painting by Victor Adam (1801-1886).

            The French Revolution that began in 1789 raged on for years, with the death of King Louis  XVI in 1793.  The Reign of Terror ended in 1794, but for the next several years, France was a tinderbox, ready to explode.  Then, in 1799 along came Napoleon.  The New Hampshire newspaper article (below) reports one episode in that turbulent period.

            In that same Concord, New Hampshire paper, readers read the annual speech given to Parliament  by King George III (reigned 1760-1820) in which he reported on a treaty concluded with “The United States of America.”  The King also reported on French military actions in Italy, in which the French were driven back—the kind of report any English king would be happy to make to his people. 

            American newspapers, in spite of the time it took a report to sail across the ocean, or to arrive by pony express from a distant town in the United States, were rich in information about the rest of the world.  In comparison to most newspapers today, these papers informed and educated their readers much more, and readers were eager to take on all this information. 

Courier of New Hampshire, Jan. 2, 1796 featured speech of King George III

King George III of the United Kingdom
Painting by Allan Ramsay, 1762

Courier of New Hampshire, Concord, Saturday, January 2, 1796; Devoted to News and National Politicks, No. 48--Vol. VI  Hough, George, Publisher 1796 Concord, NH: George Hough. This little 18th century paper is almost all dedicated to foreign news. British King's Speech: Text of King's speech in the House of Lords, Thursday, Oct. 29 (1795) expressed great satisfaction conditions have improved this (1795) year.  "In Italy the threatened invasion of the French has been driven back.... also reason to hope that the recent operations of the Austrian Army have checked the progress which they have made on the side of Germany....I have concluded engagements of Defensive Alliance with the two Imperial Courts; and the ratifications of the Treaty of Commerce with the United States of America..."   Report on Affairs of France, Oct. 6 [1795] from Convention: "CIVIL WAR!"  "The cry of 'To Arms!' was heard around the National Palace, and instantly all the military and citizens who surrounded it ranged themselves in order of battle....." "Great agitation prevailed in the Assembly." Two hours later, firing abated, help was given to the wounded, and the General in Chief announced that the rebels are everywhere repulsed, and the Republic is triumphant.  Federalism of Pennsylvania: Extracts from Governor Mifflin's Speech to the Pennsylvania Legislature, Seven Eighths Federal. Report of Mr. Randolph's Vindication and exchange of correspondence with General Washington.  Advertisements for Journeyman Cabinet Makers for Choate & Martin  at their shop in Concord; Moses Swett informs the public that he has opened a House of Entertainment on Bosawen Plain, nine miles from Concord, where utmost attention will be paid to travellers. 2 pp. 28 x 46 cm.  Newspaper, single sheet printed on both sides. Small tears in folds, poor. (8224) $58.00.  Newspapers/History     

President Polk

Artist Unknown

President James K. Polk was enormously popular with Americans, because he took charge of a massive campaign to grow our country, acquiring Texas , New Mexico, Nevada, Wyoming, Utah, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Arizona.

New York Weekly Sun, New York, Saturday, December 11, 1847; President Polk's Speech about War with Mexico 1847 New York, NY: New York Weekly Sun. Speech of President James Knox Polk to Congress, his third annual message, fills one whole page of this paper. Most of the message relates the aggressive behavior of the Mexicans, mistreatment of American citizens, and initiation of hostilities by the Mexicans.  Although our forces have been victorious in nearly every encounter, the war goes on.  Speech also discusses treaties with the Sublime Porte, Tripoli, Tunis, Morocco, and Muscat, and plans for sending charges d'affaires to Bolivia, Guatemala and Ecuador, and notes many examples of the prosperity of the Union.  Knox discusses the salutary effects of the Act of the Sixth August, 1846, "to provide for the better organization of the treasury."  Report by Overland Pony Express and Telegraph for the New York Sun relates attack by American Dragoons on Guerillas; Guerillas' losses very severe.  Forces dispatched after Indians, but found they had fled, taking 2500 cattle, mules and horses, driven from different ranchos. News from New Orleans, Vera Cruz: Gen. Butler arrived at Vera Cruz on the 17th with 3000 troops; he was to march to the capital in a fortnight, with 6000 troops.  Much more news from Mexico. . 4 pp. 44 x 58 cm. Newspaper, lightly soiled, small tears in folds, edges worn, good. (7436) $36.00. History/Mexico

Daniel Webster

Photographer unknown

             Essex Register, Salem, (Mass.) Thursday Morning, September 15, 1836 Salem, MA: Palfray & Chapman. Notice of Whig Nominations in Massachusetts:  For President, Daniel Webster of Massachusetts; for Vice President, Francis Granger, of New York; For Governor, Edward Everett; for Lt. Governor, George Hull.  Commentary from the Amherst Cabinet about recent decision of Chief Justice Hornblower of New Jersey that a person should not be considered presumptive evidence of slavery simply by color. Anecdote about how Henry Clay took a bottle of Ohio wine to President Madison, which turned out to be blended with Kentucky whisky. Snide remarks about Candidate Van Buren from the Washington Sun. "Character of Kosciusko" Text of speech delivered in the Senate by Gen. Wm. H. Harrison, on hearing of the death of Kosciusko, the martyr of Liberty, in Soleure, France in October, 1817. George Bancroft, "the white kid glove and silk stocking democrat" has been nominated as a candidate for Congress by the Van Burenites of Hampden district, MA. When the railroad from New Brunswick harbor, in Georgia is completed, New Orleans and Boston will be brought within seven days of each other. Lines of steamboats will be established to Havana, Vera Cruz and the Isthmus of Darien, 15 days from Boston, and 27 from Europe will place the traveler on the shores of the Pacific! 4 pp. 41 x 58 cm. Newspaper, lightly soiled, some fraying at edges of pages,  good. (7486) $30.00. Newspapers

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