"When people stop believing in God---
they don't believe in Nothing...
they believe in Anything."
--------------
"The true meaning of life is to plant
trees under whose shade
you do not expect to sit."
Scone 'n Fruit
(( Bubba: "You love your boots...and Mil
loves his books..." ))
You may not know this but there is a
most interesting and excellent company
in Olde England which publishes the
finest books the world has ever seen--
classics of literature and poetry from
history.
It is called the Folio Society. The books
it publishes are magnificent. The pages
(very white and substantial) may last a
thousand years ("if it matters").
The covers would endure for years even
handled over time by grade school kids.
Known and recognized artists have
random paintings on the books' pages.
Every book lover should own a FEW just
for handling...and reading over and over.
And you know, "wake up and smell the
books---" Tho' being so new they have
yet to achieve that "die for" wonderful
smell of old tomes that have been aging
like fine wine in the stacks.
Cost-wise they may run you $37.95 to
seventy or eighty dollars, depending on
their size and thickness. My treasured new
poetry book which just came over on a boat from
Blighty must weigh up towards three
pounds.
Yes, I got several volumes recently...as
being an older fellow I don't need much
new stuff and don't spend money on
stinky motel rooms---well I just up and
splurged and bought these!
After ordering my books on my cell
phone (a miracle---that little Apple
battery reached all across the Atlantic)
and I talked to a clerk just finishing up
his fish-and-chips...I forgot all about
my books. He had said, "it'll be several
weeks until they arrive."
Then one day this week, the doorbell
rang and BE peeked out and there was
a small package from Amazon, and A
BIG WHITE STRANGE LOOKING SACK!
She came in and indicated there was a
big funny-looking sack on the front porch.
Did you order a sack? No, I didn't order
no "big white sack."
"Bring it in."
“Well, it’s a bit suspicious looking”, but she
brought it in.
I checked for wires. The thing was tied
at the top by some heavy plastic binding,
as if from outer space. She handed me
our heavy-duty sturdy dependable Fiskars
that will cut chicken bones and said:
"Cut that sack right under the
binding and I will stand right here and if
it blows, we will both go out together!"
So I ruined that good fiber-canvas sack
by cutting a third off the top. Regretted
it later.
And OH! There was a big padded-up box
saying "THE FOLIO SOCIETY." "Oh, it's
my books! I had forgotten about them."
A good handy interesting sack bit the
dust...but we were safe.
You are wondering: "Mil, how many of
those grand and enduring books do
you own?" Well, only a few. Years ago
when reading Patrick O'Brian's twenty
Royal Navy sea novels and checking
them from the library, I ordered one or
two of those. Beautiful.
Mostly my book collecting has preferred
the leather-bound sets which also have
un-acidic long-lasting paper...and covers.
This time I did a strange thing: being a
dedicated Rudyard Kipling reader, I
ordered two volumes of his, see photo,
which will be handed down to some
great grandkids one day.
Kipling:
"By the old Moulmein Pagoda
lookin' eastward to the sea--
There's Burma girl a settin’
and I know she thinks of me...
For the wind is in the palm trees
and the temple bells they say:
"Come you back you British soldier
come you back to Mandalay..."
Space has run out today, and no time
left for wise and pithy sayings from these
books...but please wait until my next
piece.
But remember what they say: "We are
not only what we eat but the things we
take in...like books, movies, TV, News,
lectures, and all thoughts...they become
US.
Happy reading to you.
-------------
MIL
29 NOVEMBER 2018
