FREE TO VOTE

Thanks, Susan B Anthony and others for pushing for the 19Th Amendment which gave women the right to vote upon its enactment on August 18, 1920.

That means my grandmother was 35 the first time she voted. That year, Warren B Harding's campaign slogan was "Return to Normalcy" It was just after WWI. As you can see on the chart, Harding, (in blue) carried MN. He was a republican. My grand father openly supported the democrats, grand mother never said. I do not know if she got Harding into office.

1924

Coolidge R

1928

Hoover R

1932

FDR D

First year Daddy voted

1936

FDR D with twice as many votes as Landon AND 98+ percent of electoral

1940

FDR D

1944

First year Mother voted

1948

Harry Truman D

(finished FDR term and ran for election)

1952

Dwight D Eisenhower R

1956

Dwight D Eisenhower R

1960

John F Kennedy D

1964

Lyndon B Johnson D

First year Old Trunks voted

(Finished Kennedy's term and ran for election)

Old Trunks does remember the little trailer house parked between the Pennington Hotel and the J&B Drug store. It was the local headquarters for Eisenhower. There were I LIKE IKE stickers all over the out side. I was certain Eisenhower was in that little trailer. I do know we had an election in class in third grade and Eisenhower won. I do not know just how it was done or if we had any facts regarding the process. I LIKE IKE was a great campaign slogan and Old Trunks doesn't remember much about Adlai Stevenson of Illinois who ran as a democrat. History tells us that Nixon, Eisenhower's running mate did most of the 'dirty work'. Ike stayed pure.

You are free to vote let's hope you did.

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MINNEAPOLIS YMCA CLASSES 1901

In 1901, The Minneapolis YMCA offered classes that were billed as "Education for Busy Men".

OUR EVENING CLASSES ARE FOR YOU who at an early age have been compelled to leave the school room to earn your own living. Until now you have had little or no chance to fit yourself mentally for the place in advance of the one you occupy at present.

ARE FOR YOU who have had a good chance for such training but have neglected it. The fault was your own. You regret the mistake now, and are glad of the opportunity to improve yourself.

ARE FOR YOU who want special work. You are interested in business, mechanical or electrical engineering, drafting, and economics. We can help you.

ARE FOR YOU who have been pursuing a certain line of work and wish something more advanced. Our advance courses are a features this year.

ARE FOR ANYONE with ambition and who is willing to sacrifice some of his leisure time out of working hours for advancement. Positions of responsibility and trust are hard to fill. A few young men can qualify. A prominent bank cashier of Minneapolis says, Many times we are asked to recommend a young man to fill some responsible place in business and are unable to find one." No young man can afford to put off longer the important question of better preparation for life work.

What about the women?

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HOUSEHOLD HINTS

Have you heard about:

TOAST WATER FOR INVALIDS
Slices of toast nicely browned without a symptom of burning; enough boiling water to cover. Cover closely and let steep until cold, strain and sweeten to taste and put a piece of ice in each glass. If the physician thinks it safe, add lemon juice. Makes the idea of becoming an invalid far into the future, don't you think?

Now, before we can have that toast water, we have to make the bread. In 1900 bread was considered a daily necessity. It was on the table three times a day, seven days a week. Women should so thoroughly understand the preparation so there is no luck involved.

I think the CALF'S HEAD STEW is what made the person the invalid in the first place. We are to remove the brains and boil the head until the bones drop out. (I think they mean until the meat falls off). Add six chopped hard boiled eggs to the meat and broth. Now when that is cooking in one pot, one is to make the brains in another pot. How? one and a half cups of butter, salt and pepper, and one clove. Once the brains are cooked, put the two pots together and simmer for ten minutes. Serve with walnut catsup.

WHAT IS WALNUT CATSUP?
Take six half-sieves of GREEN WALNUT shells, put them into a tub, mix them up well with common salt, from two to three pounds, let them stand for six days, frequently beating and mashing them; by this time the shells become soft and pulpy, then by banking it up on one side of the tub, and at the same time by raising the tub on that side, the liquor will drain clear off to the other; then take that liquor out: the mashing and banking up may be repeated as often as liquor is found. The quantity will be about six quarts. When done, let it be simmered in an iron boiler as long as any scum arises; then bruise a quarter of a pound of ginger, a quarter of a pound of allspice, and two ounces of long pepper, two ounces of cloves, with the above ingredients, let it slowly boil for half an hour; when bottled let an equal quantity of the spice go into each bottle; when corked, let the bottles be filled quite up: cork them tight, seal them over, and put them into a cool and dry place for one year before they are used.


WHAT IS A SIEVE?
I think it was a container, perhaps even cloth-like used to hold the walnuts. They are still available and come in different sizes.

Do you write it catsup or Ketchup? What is the difference?

Looking.....looking....

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POINTS OF ETIQUETTE IN 1900

Has the idea of never bringing one's food to one's mouth with a knife a necessary point of etiquette?

In 1900, it is suggested the waiter will know you are finished eating when your knife and fork are laying diagonally across the plate with both handles toward the right hand. Do waiter's still look for this signal? When did they stop giving us spoons at the table? Why?

Take small bits, chew thoroughly with your mouth closed. Do not smack your lips.

Do not rattle your silverware on your plate.

When you are served, begin eating. It is considered good breeding to begin even if the rest of the table has not been provided. Honest! I didn't know that! I thought you were supposed to wait until everyone was served.

Do not suck your soup. Take it quietly from the side of the spoon. Well, there goes that stupid ad for Campbell Soup and the guy gets a Yum Yummy name plate. Have you noticed that sets of flat ware do not come with soup spoons? Why?

In the daytime, do not give your arm to a lady that is not your mother, wife, or sister or an elderly or invalid lady. Well, who is left?

Never salute a lady with a gesture of the hand; tip your hat. Will a ball cap work? Tom wears a hat at the lake, you could be Queen Elizabeth and he would not take it off--messy hair, you know.

Never apologize when you shake hands with a gloved hand.

Do not take two ladies upon your arms except for their protection. From what?

Do not stare around the room, nor ask questions about the price of the furniture. Let's hope he isn't in a furniture store!!!

Addressing people is no reason or excuse for touching them. If you are wearing gloves, does that mean you aren't touching them?

It is not nice to whisper in public. Have you seen this? It is rude.

Your napkin is for your lips and beard, do not wipe your face with it. Well, I am glad they made that rule! So I guess dipping your napkin in your water goblet is out too!

Do not clean your nails, nose or your ears in public. Can I pick my nose at home?

Isn't this fun! We live in a world of paper wrappers and bags. It is hard to find a restaurant with table clothes, cloth napkins, and flatware which includes spoons. Most of the food we order is at least pre-made. The salad comes in a huge bag and someone takes a handful out of the bag. The salad lady puts on the dressing and may had a tomato or cucumber. No one is peeling tons of potatoes in the back room. Hey, they probably aren't even baking them, rather microwaving or cooking then in a convention oven.

For those of us who lived in Thief River Falls, MN and went to Inga's for lunch. We knew those potatoes were real. We knew the roast beef came from Joppru's and was cooked there; it did not come in already cooked and warmed in a steamer. We knew times had changed when all the French Fries at the Fountain were all the same size.

If I could take back all the time I lingered at the Rex waiting for a chicken to be cooked.....well, you get the idea.

Taste that roast beef sandwich from Inga's in your mind that you ate with a knife and fork. Let your kids and your grand children think roast beef is something from Arby's with horse radish. It is no wonder when a family visited the children could not recognize what the food was.

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HALLOWEEN PART FIVE

If Old Trunks would have kept better notes and taken more pictures, perhaps she would know/remember every costume my children donned in their treks on Halloween. But, she doesn't know. She can only hope that her children will.

I DO remember that for the most part, their costumes fit over their clothes and if the costumes weren't home designed, the children always had their say in what they wanted to be. They generally put in their order early.

Rachel was cute as a witch, a zebra, a pumpkin fairy, and a ghost. She was most patient when we did her hair in eight 'legs' with a spider web and foil to help the hair have joints, as if legs.

I do remember her being the Bride of Frank twice. The first year we bought a dress at the thrift store and we tore the bottom to make it look like she had been running through a Brier patch. Her dress and legs were dirty. She carried 'sticks'. By the time she would play the part again, she had discovered oatmeal make up which when plastered on one's face, made it look like dead skin, she carried 13 roses, well past their prime. The year was 1987 and Ryen, as Dracula had an oatmeal face too. Rachel painted windows at Gibson's two years in a row; she didn't win but had fun. The second year, we mixed the paint, it was not so watered down. Our own picture window as also a canvas.

Bud started out as Superman in 1971. The next year, he wanted to be a battery. A few years of "doesn't matter" where followed by several years of Luke Skywalker. One photo shows him standing with Chewy and Rachel as a skeleton. He did paint on our windows as well as downtown with the bats and rats theme. The paint was watered down and he was NOT happy.

Perhaps Bud's best costumes were in high school. Mike and Bud were going to homecoming. They were to dress as cave men. I don't know why. I painted him him up to look like an African caveman. He was called to the office and told to wash the black off. It was not intended as malice; just in costume. Another costume, perhaps again for homecoming was when he went as a California raisin. I found a vinyl bedspread at the thrift store and colored it purple. It was a truly neat costume, it must have been really hot to wear. Another year, he donned a long white wig and played the part of Noah and the boat he pulled behind him was the arc. You would have to get the full details on that one from him.

Both Bud and Rachel worked at the Schwegler Carnival. Rachel dressed as a clown and Bud had his face painted half white and half black. Bud may have worn the clown costume too, it seemed to disappear. Someone else lost it to us, we lost it to someone else.

One of the years , Bud stated he wanted to be a dinosaur. He changed his mind and never wore the outfit. It had been kept, hoping someday, he would wear it. He went as a gas mask repairman that year. What is that you ask? Something made out of duct tape and card board which fit over his head leaving him able to see. He really wanted a $50 monster mask like Matt.

Ryen was an infant at Halloween of 1979. Bud wanted money to go to LaMans to play games. He had spent his allowance already. I offered him $1 if he would run around the block in the dinosaur costume. I am laughing because by now it was thigh high. Yes, he got the dollar.

The dinosaur costume was inherited by Ryen. The first year he wore it, the tail dragged on the ground. He wore a monster mask. Later, the same costume would become a lizard with his own idea of how his face should be painted. He was a bat and Dracula and a really cute pirate complete with a parrot on his shoulder. Ryen practiced his face painting several times before the celebration. As mentioned before, he got into the oatmeal make up early. One year, his teacher rushed to the door and exclaimed, "He wouldn't let me put his make up on for him." Well, of course not, he already had a plan.

I loved helping them get ready for the big day. I wondered if I would ever dress up again. How fun to be part of the activity staff at the nursing home and dress up. I liked the wigs the best whether it be a short pink bob or a long red tossed style. Didn't seem to matter what I wore, the old men thought I looked like a whore all dressed up. So much for planning to look like an angel with purple curly hair!

In a few hours, Halloween will be over. Old Trunks is hopeful you have spent a few moments digging in your own mental trunk looking at Halloween's past.

Boo.

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HALLOWEEN PART FOUR

Rachel had her first pumpkin the October she was born. She did not trick or treat nor was she dressed up. We saved that for the next year when I made a costume out of orange crepe paper. Although she was young when she started going door to door, she was with a responsible parent until her elementary school years were passed. Time had changed; parents examined treats.

Instead of running through neighborhoods until you felt like your lungs were going to bust, you walked with adults carrying flash lights just to the houses that had lights on and your parents deemed the home safe. Some Halloween's in Kansas where mild evenings others were cold and wet, you went anyway.

The schools had parties. Everyone got to dress up for the party. The costume went to school in a bag and the children changed just before the party. The principal wouldn't let them come to school in costume because 'first graders needed to learn to read'. I adored the principal but did not agree. You can't tell me those kids weren't hyped knowing there was going to be a major sugar rush coming.

Room mothers would plan the food and games. Later, all the children would parade around the black top, (yes, a black top or drive way like surface).

If Halloween fell on the same day as a scout meeting, the kids would wear their costumes to the meeting and have another party--and THEN go trick or treating after supper. Why bother to make supper?

Favorite treats were chocolate; hard candy the least. Although popcorn balls were handed out, parents wouldn't let you eat them unless you knew where you got it. Parents got their payment for walking their children with a treat as they sorted and looked at every piece for tampering. You would ask for the best, that is chocolate, but you many just get the hard candy.

There was a rule at our house. Make up your mind about what you are going to be early enough to be sure it got made/bought. I am honored to see that Rachel and Jaeme are experimenting with their make up early. They will be ready!

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HALLOWEEN PART THREE

Although I never tipped a out house, (out door toilet), my dad said it was great fun. Oliver, my children's uncle, stated he moved the privy, and when someone came to tip it, they fell into the old hole. OH MY!

There were no safety issues with food when I was growing up. No one sorted our candy or had it x-rayed. We just ran from door to door for what seemed like hours gathering candy. Half way, we would go home, get another bag and hit the street again. And yes, mother got the fruit and cupcakes. Those oranges were heavy!!! They must have balanced out the popcorn balls!

About in third grade, Susan Krankala had a neighborhood party. I was invited because I played in that neighborhood where my grandmother lived.

A little history: When ever there was a parade in town, Daddy and his crew would have a float. The guys would dress up like big breasted women wearing wigs and dresses. The float had an out house and they would do skits. That is where the black wig came from.

I suppose I was embarrassed to be wearing the wig, which on a young girl was perfectly innocent but I was remembering the float and the foolishness. It took prodding to get me to the basement where the party was.

Another party, oh, about four grade or so was in another neighborhood. There was a club, called the Good Cheer Club. It was a Christian sort of after school or early evening with Bible reading and games led by a very nice lady. Well, I did not appreciate a boy pushing my whole head under water in the apple bobbing contest although I know that if you want to get the apple you have to push it to the bottom to get a bite on it. I was probably scared and I remember not having a good cheer attitude toward him or the club. I left and I wasn't quoting scripture.

Someone told the police it was me that turned the chickens loose in the auditorium. It was not. We no longer lived in the country and if we did, we didn't have THAT kind of chickens.

But I was in a car that was stealing chicken eggs and throwing them. I don't know who I was with or if I threw eggs. It certainly was a worse caper than someone named Carol soaping my car. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not soap cars.

My grand parents lived on a limited income. There neighborhood was over run with ghosts and goblins. When the candy was gone, they left the house. Now, if you are out of candy one can just turn the porch light off.

Mother always planned for at least 100 kids. She upped it to 125 one year. My grand parents had come over and mother was out of candy. Mother gathered up dimes as treats to finish out. About 9:30, when I went to bed and my grand parents went home, the door bell was still ringing. They were teenagers kneeling on the step to look short. Mother dropped the last dime and turned off the lights; the bell continued to ring but was not answered. She figured she had treated 250 kids. Amazingly there were no eggs on the windows in the morning. It was 1953.

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