Category Archives: Things

A Ring

Memories, Things,

I don’t know when I bought myself this double-gem ring, but I’m pretty sure I was around 17 and working at Ben Franklin, saving for a trip to England. It is also possible I got it from a vending machine. I’d forgotten about it until I went through a bag of costume jewelry I’d given my daughter who gave it back to me. I’m pretty sure it had both stones in it when I gave it to her.

Of course it is not real. The ring part is sterling silver. So maybe it didn’t come from a vending machine. The ‘gemstones’ are made out of glass or possibly plastic and painted with stripes of blue, pink, and green. Perhaps the glass is colored that way — who knows. I do know, though, that I liked wearing it. I especially remember finding my hand attractive when I was wearing a dress shirt with button sleeves and when I lifted my hand to button my sleeve and my fist was slightly closed. I didn’t find any part of me attractive, so that was an unusual feeling.

I’ve been going through photos but cannot find any in which I am wearing the ring. Oh well. I have the image in my head.

I think I will save it just for the glass stone. It does not take up much space.

Pegasus Book Plates

Things, , ,

I’d known little about book plates until I visited England where they were popular. When I told my mom about them she procured a small black box of book plates depicting Pegasus in the night sky. I didn’t ask where they came from — it was just something she had. Okay — maybe that’s not entirely true. It is possible I bought them at a yard sale. I don’t remember. I do remember using them though in only very special books.

The time has come to get rid of these — the glue on the back has gotten wet and now all the book plates are stuck to the next. I don’t know if I ever thought about the artist who designed them, even though his name is on the front of the box. I may or may not have known about the descriptive booklet that came with the box of book plates.

Rockwell Kent (June 21, 1882 – March 13, 1971), the artist behind the Pegasus book plates, was an American painter, printmaker, illustrator, writer, sailor, adventurer and voyager. [Wikipedia contributors. “Rockwell Kent.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 7 Apr. 2024. Web. 25 May. 2024.] He’s got a page at the National Gallery of Art website, but none of his works are on display.

The Antioch Bookplate Company still exists, but is now called Bookplate Ink, and I could even order a set of Pegasus book plates if I wanted to. The company has a blog which might provide interesting reading.

Advertisement Receipt from the 1890s

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I am not sure where this receipt came from. I’m thinking it was from my Mom’s side of the family. I also do not know why it was saved all these years. It sure sent me down a rabbit hole. I now know more than I ever wanted to about Allen Ripley Foote.

Professor Google tells me that the receipt was for A Sound Currency and Banking System — How it May be Secured” written in 19 by Allen Ripley Foote. According to the Amazon blurb the book was still relevant in 2008 when it was republished by Kessinger’s Rare Reprints, although it was panned by H. Parker Willis in the Journal of Political Economy.

Foote was born in Olcott, New York in 1845, although he was raised in Michigan. He volunteered for the Army at age 19 in 1861, was disabled by a gunshot wound in his right lung. He reenlisted in 1864 as a Full Sargent, then promoted to 2nd Lieutenant.

Foote married Emily Louisa Hayt in 1868. They had one daughter, Isabella. On the 1880 census Foote’s occupation was listed as “selling pianos”, however he was also interested in labor organization in New York, where he lived. During the 1800s he wrote several books about economic topics of living in Takoma Park, Maryland, one of which was about electricity. Later he wrote about the economics of telephone companies.

He listed himself as a widow in the 1900 census living in his own home along with female boarder. However his wife was alive and living with their daughter.

He moved a few times and eventually founded and became the first president of the National Tax Association. He also became known as being part of the progressive movement in America.