Skeletons continue as one of the main symbols of the "Trick or Treat" phenomena still occurring the end of October each year. Since my own childhood days of after dark door knocking, the skeleton remains alive and well. Guess it is not supposed to be alive or well but, here is a picture of one of my many first cousins (1950's) all dressed up and, you might have to guess the status.
At sunset, my adventure would begin on the citadel of chocolate, French Avenue, Winchester, KY. No such thing as a flashlight, winter coat, or floppy dress allowed and, the night would not end until that old candy bag was full!
West end to east end on the south side of French Avenue is where all the elderly, widowed folks resided within their century old houses that stood proudly facing the street. Every widowed lady that came to the door would laugh and clap and, invite you into brighter light so the costume inspection could continue joyfully. Finally, you were offered a bowl of goodies which you could take out at full grasp. What a treat it was. No trick here. Then, on my way to the porch of the next large house expecting to grab away. What a deal!
Anyway, it recently came to my attention that a statement made by an English Egyptologist around 1903 was recorded this way, "Chronology is, indeed as Professor Petrie has phrased it, 'the backbone of history'." Say what? In my opinion it should be more like the whole skeleton. But hey, . . . just let me offer, in genealogy, "chronology", is the whole skeleton, not only the skeletons in the closest!
Here is a real skeleton drawn to exact structure from one of my anatomy drawings books!
Have got old Petrie's back ...!
Trick or Treat ?
My belief that the Professor Petrie listed above is William Matthew Flinders Petrie, born 1853 and, was still alive when the comments were written around 1704. His name can be found on page 635 in the Index to my series of favorite history books "The Historians' History Of The World". In twenty-five volumes no less it is! [The Encyclopedia Britannica Company, N.Y., 1904 - 1907].
ReplyDeleteAnother comment of interest ... "If history without chronology is dark and confused; chronology without history is dry and insipid". Given as written by A. Holmes in my 1828 Webster's. Believe this to be Abiel Holmes (1763 - 1837) listed as an American historian on page 605 in the Index commented above. My much older Webster's defines "insipid" as lacking in qualities that interest, stimulate, or challenge. Hum ... what 'a think?
ReplyDeleteThe anatomically correct skeleton scanned in the post above is from the inside front cover of my pocket carrying anatomy book titled "Human Anatomy A Visual Synopsis" by F. Donald Napolitani, 1970.Lots of "Layouts and Illustrations"! My kind of book.
ReplyDeleteMy 1828 Webster's state "Chronology" is "the science of time". An interesting concept from 1928!
ReplyDeleteGloves!!! Yes indeed ... gloves on each hand. Can not believe it has taken all these views to recognize, besides the winter coat, flashlight in hand and, oversized mask, the gloves! How can one be expected to fiddle their trick or, get their treat, with gloves on the pick' in fingers? Got me?
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