A Unique Portrait of the Mighty Mississippi

Map detail

 

Lower Mississippi River: Early stream channels at approximate half-century intervals: Cairo, Ill. to Baton Rouge, La, by The United States Army Corps of Engineers (1938)

This beautiful map charts the changing course of the Lower Mississippi River from the middle of the 18th century to the 1930s.  Each color represents the river at a different point in time (at approximately half-century intervals).

As you can see in the detail, the Mississippi has changed quite a bit over the years, which makes for a colorful and visually stunning composite.  A similar kind of map was recently featured on fastcompany.com, a website that features innovations in technology, “ethonomics”, leadership, and design. 

Also cool: The entire map consists of 12 panels, each of which measure about 52 x 19 inches.  This brings the total length of the map to over 50 feet!

To arrange to see the map in person, contact Brian Novak at www.slpl.org

793: Old School Gaming at the Library with H.G. Wells

The “Father of Science Fiction” playing with toy soldiers

Our post this week  is courtesy of Tom Pearson, Reference Librarian in our Special Collections Department.  About four years ago, Tom came upon this gem while doing research for a presentation on science fiction novels.  You can check out Tom’s History and Genealogy blog here.  Enjoy!

 

Little Wars: a Game for Boys from Twelve Years of Age to One Hundred and Fifty and for that More Intelligent Sort of Girls Who Like Boys’ Games and Books, with an Appendix on Kriegspiel, by H.G. Wells (1913)

 

I know you’ve heard of him – everybody has.  Herbert George Wells was a well-known and widely read journalist, novelist, sociologist, and historian in his time, and even today most people can name at least three of his novels: The Invisible Man, The Time Machine, and The War of the Worlds.  But he was a most prolific writer who produced more than 100 books, about half of them non-fiction.  One subject of interest to him was games, which is not really surprising given that his father was a champion cricket player until he was sidelined by a serious injury.  H.G. Wells wrote two books about games: Floor Games (1912) and Little Wars (1913).

 

Little Wars is a curious book – it is Well’s account of how he and a few club friends became addicted to the boys’ game of playing with toy soldiers.  In the hands of Wells and his friends, however, the fairly straightforward boys’ game mutated into something more complex and sophisticated.  Their interest had been sparked initially by the invention of a toy breech-loading cannon powered by a metal spring.  As Wells explained, such toy guns were “…capable of hitting a toy soldier nine times out of ten at a distance of nine yards.”  The type of toy gun used by Wells and his friends “…fired a wooden cylinder about an inch long, and has a screw adjustment for elevation and depression.”  Wells called his toy cannon “…an altogether elegant weapon.”

 

The first “little war” was played by Wells and a friend on the floor at their club, using encyclopedias as obstacles and makeshift forts.  Their miniature mayhem soon reached dizzying heights of complexity, with differing rules of movement for various types of toy soldiers and guns, with swamps, rivers, and other obstacles indicated with chalk lines on a game board, and with twigs, rocks, and other natural materials used to represent trees, hills, and so on.  They even made houses, castles, and other structures with paper and cardboard.  The game could be played both indoors and out.

 

We know that Wells and his friends were serious about their “little wars” because the book includes black and white photos of them playing their game.  And a large part of what makes this book about grown men intently playing a boy’s game so fascinationg is in fact its photos of H.G. Wells, noted author and intellectual, crawling around on the lawn in sport coat and straw hat, intently arranging his miniature countries and armies, and then setting up the toy guns he will use to rain down simulated death and destruction on  his opposite number.  Wells was known in his time as a bit of a ladies’ man, but here is all the proof one might need that he was truly a guy who knew how to par-tay.

 

Tom Pearson

Special Collections Department

St. Louis Public Library

What to do about “Cold Feet”

Illustration of a Penguin Foot from Birds of the Antarctic, by Edward Adrian Wison (1968)

 

Whether you’re feeling anxious, curious, or just plain cold, the St. Louis Public Library is a “shoe-in” for your information needs…

“Cold Feet” figuratively speaking:

The expression “to have cold feet” means to back away from a commitment due to anxiety or fear.  For example, one may “get cold feet” before going on a haunted hayride, getting married, or worst of all, getting married on a haunted hayride.  For more information about fears that may cause “cold feet”, check out these books about common (and surprising) fears and phobias:

The Pop-Up Book of Phobias, by Gary Greenberg (2005)
–it’s really a pop-up book!!

Cold Feet, by Elise Juska, Tara McCarthy, Pamela Ribon, Heather Swain, and Lisa Tucker (2005) 
–five fictional stories about women grappling with love and marriage

Phobias: or the way of the worrier, by Tim Weinberg (2009)
–an exploration of phobias from the common to the bizarre

“Cold Feet” etymologically speaking:

Etymology is the study of words and the origins of words.  In reference to “cold feet”, an etymologist might be interested in discovering the history of the phrase, especially considering the curious fact that experiencing fear does not equate to chilly toes.

As it turns out, “cold feet” is one phrase that has been difficult for etymologists to pin down.  If you are interested in doing your own research, a subject search for “English language etymology dictionaries” on our catalog will show you over 75 titles to work with.

“Cold Feet” literally speaking:

Sometimes cold feet are just cold feet.  In this case, you might consider knitting yourself a nice pair of socks.  These books will help:

Knit Socks!: 17 classic patterns for cozy feet, by Betsy McCarthy (2010)

Just Socks: Favorite patterns to knit and crochet, by Shannon O’Key (2007)

Socks a la Carte: Pick and choose patterns to knit socks your way, by Jonelle Raffino (2008).

 P.S.

We also have books with the cutest pictures of penguin feet!! See for yourself at the St. Louis Public Library!

 

Spirit of St. Louis

Signed by the author, illustrator, and Charles Lindbergh!

Ride on the Wind, by Alice Dalgliesh, 1956.

“There’s nothing I can’t do with the Spirit of St. Louis,” he thought.  “It’s truly a magic carpet…to take me anywhere at all.”

-From Ride on the Wind

Charles Lindbergh gained international fame when he made his historic voyage from New York to Paris on The Spirit of St. Louis in 1927.

Ride on the Wind is a 1956 version of the story as told by prolific and award-winning children’s book author,  Alice Dalgliesh.  The book also contains pieces from the The Spirit of St. Louis (1953), Lindbergh’s own Pulitzer Prize winning account of his journey.

Of course, my favorite part of the book is when young Lindy visits a public library to plot the distance on a globe from New York to Paris with a piece of string!

The St. Louis Public Library is lucky to have two copies of this book.  One copy is “circulating”–meaning you can check it out with your library card.  The other, which is signed by the author, illustrator, and the aviator himself (!!) is housed in our Special Collections Department.

"Alice Dalgliesh, Charles A. Lindbergh, and Georges Schreiber"

 

Further Browsing:

Other books by Charles Lindbergh:

“We” (1927)
-a fresh-from-the-flight account of his life experiences

Charles A. Lindbergh: Autobiography of Values (1977)
-a memoir from the adventurer in his golden years

Other books by Alice Dalgliesh:

The Bears of Hemlock Mountain (1952)
Newberry Honor Award winner

The Courage of Sarah Noble (1954)
Newberry Honor Award winner

Walk the Walk

Psycho-Physical Culture, by Julie and Annie Thomas, 1892. 

At the gym, you’ll notice that there is no lack of variety when it comes to exercise routines.  Likewise, exercise books and DVDs at the St. Louis Public Library feature step-by-step routines that incorporate everything from ab-balls to trampolines.   This means your library card is your most important piece of excerise equiptment–and your ticket to a workout program that is never dull–and its FREE!!    

 

For a truly unique (if odd) workout routine, take a look at Julia and Annie Thomas’ 1892 book, Psycho-Physical Culture.  This book promotes a playful approach to physical activity that “interests and excites the spirit, as well as occupies the body”. (p. 24)  The quirky illustrations for exercises including the “Windmill”, the “Sailor Leap”, and the “Cobweb” bring to mind bad (awesome?) nightclub dance moves–19th century style.

Still, your workout should be fun, right?  Well, this workout routine from page 58 is sure to bring a smile to your face:

“High Step.
Dragging Step.
Short Step.
Long Step.
Light Step.
Heavy Step.
The policeman’s walk.
The soldier’s walk.
The walk of the vain person.
The walk of the proud person.
The walk of the lazy person.
The walk of the energetic person.
The walk of the successful person.
The walk of the person whose brain is too large for his body.
The walk of the person whose brain is too smaill for his body.
The walk of the person who wears tights shoes and high heels.”

 

Fig. 13: Leaping

As precious as this little book is, it has to stay at library–away from sweaty brows and high-stepping feet.  However, you are welcome to come and take a look at it anytime.  Email Brian Novak bnovak@slpl.org to make an appointment.

No Words for Snow–but plenty of photographs!

close-up from Bentley’s “Snow Crystals”

Snow Crystals by Wilson Bentley (1931)

Snow, the beautiful snow, as the raptured poet sang…has ever challenged pen to describe, and brush to paint, its marvelous mass effects.

-from the first page

If snow is hard to describe then so is this beautiful book!  It contains over 2400 breathtaking photographs of unique snowflake speciments taken by the first known snowflake photographer, Wilson Bentley

Snow Crystals is non-circulating, but if you’d like to see it in person, email Brian Novak bnovak@slpl.org to make an appointment.

By the way, Bentley’s life and work is also featured in Snowflake Bentley, a 1998 Caldecott Medal-winning children’s book by Jacqueline Briggs Martin–We’ll even let you take that one with you–with your library card, of course 🙂

Bentley's Snowflakes

Sweet Machines

Candy and Chocolate Machinery, by The National Equipment Company (1912)

Got a sweet tooth? Unlike Charlie Buckett, Veruca Salt, and the other characters in Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, you don’t need a golden ticket to tour this sweet book–just come to the library!  You can even check it out for FREE with your St. Louis Public Library card!

This well-worn catalog of industrial candy and chocolate machinery from the National Equipment Company in Springfield, Mass. was published to be used as a reference for potential customers.  It includes machinery descriptions and specifications.

Additionally, the beautiful illustrations of these complex, ominous-looking machines are pure eye candy! And the names of the machines, including The Nougat Cutter, The Springfield Plaque Cleaner, and my personal favorite, The Enrober, are sure to inspire imaginations and taste buds alike.

For guides on making candy on a smaller scale–like, in your own kitchen–check out these (more recent) titles:

Candy Construction: how to build edible race cars, castles, and other cool stuff out of store-bought candy by Sharon Bowers (2010)

Clear Toy Candy by Nancy Fasolt (2010)

Making Artisan Chocolates by Andrew Garrison Shotts (2007)

Find these and many more more candy-making books (subject: candy or chocolate candy) at slpl.org.  Of course, you could also browse the 641.8s (and thereabouts) at any branch of the St. Louis Public Library

Fashion Backward–The Runway in 1908

Our most recent find is this handsome volume:

Dictionary of Men’s Wear, by William H. Baker (1908)

Wait…a 326-page dictionary dedicated to men’s clothing?  You mean there’s more than just t-shirts and jeans??

Of course there is!!  And isn’t about time we bring back alpargatas, gum shoes, and mufflets?  Maybe…but first, what are they excatly?

Some of my favorite entries:

Barvell–a course leather apron used by workmen and fishermen

Cinch–a belt

Ferrule–metal end-tip of an umbrella rod or cane

Lamps–Spectacles or eye-glasses

…also, be sure to look up the entry for “mullet”—a fashion staple with a proud (if perplexing) history…

Possible entries for an updated 2012 edition:

Mandals

Skinny Jeans

Man-bags

Other suggestions?