quiltersmuse.com Blog

What do you think of when you think of the “West?” Or, do you think of it, at all? We have just been watching the PBS series, “The West,” produced by Ken Burns. I must say that it has been an eye-opening experience. I have lost count of the number of social injustices, not to even mention the senseless slaying of the American Indians, their placement on reservations, and the outrageous slaughter of Buffalo, for monetary gain, for sport, and to deprive Native Americans of their main source of food, tepee material, and warm covers.

This summer, I saw a few Buffalo in a zoo. They are large, rather sedentary creatures. The show states that if one of them is hurt, the whole herd gathers around, making each of them easy for the hunter’s gun to “pick off.”

I become enraged at injustice, and that is pretty visible at every turn, when we look at the history of western expansion.

I lived in California in Joshua Tree country, up with the Roadrunners and rattlesnakes. We could see the snow-capped mts. from our desert home, and we could hear the winds that would blow piles of sand right through the closed windows.

I lived in Arizona, and saw the beauty of Snapdragons growing in the Japanese Gardens, and climbed to the top of South Mountain that overlooks the Valley of the Sun (or was it Sun Valley)- it’s a lifetime ago!

When I think of the “west,” I like to recall going over the border into Mexico, and horsebackriding along the sands of a beach at Ensenada, while watching the sparkling waters, glowing in the sun.

I don’t like to think about American troops hunting Pancho Villa. I don’t like to consider the diseases along the wagon trail, every malady from measles to cholera. I don’t like to think about how much the Chinese were hated, merely for working harder than any of the other gold diggers during the Gold Rush Days of ‘49.

I think we have come along way. I also believe that we can never fully appreciate the present, until we at least look at the past, although much of what happened we can never fully grasp. We would have had to have lived then. That’s not to say that we cannot turn a critical eye to historical topics, as we try to make sense of events.

In my dreams of the “west,” I’ll be remembering the Mourning Dove and her nest in the Saguaro cactus at the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix. I will recall taking my young son (who now has a young son of his own) to the Phoenix Zoo, in a stroller. I’ll ponder the wonderment of walking along my own street and seeing large Prickly Pear cacti and their fruits.

And, because God gives us thorns, as well as roses, I will never forget a neighbor who desperately wanted us to convert to his religion. He would customarily “gift” us with his homemade Grapefruit jelly. He would watch out the window and the minute he’d see us, he’d run right out with yet another jar of the delicious jelly. By the time we moved away, we must have had several gallons of the stuff. More than anything, it became a contest as to whether we could get in the car, in the carport, and drive away before he would nail us for an hour, with his preaching.

Mostly, I’ll try to keep in mind the “west” as I knew it for about five years. Series such as the one we are watching (and which I bought) provides an historical perspective. Thinking about our roots, as a country, is never a bad thing. This is another wonderful series that is associated with Ken Burns, a New Hampshire film producer whose name is linked to quality documentaries. I highly recommend “The West.”

Patricia Cummings

In an antiques store this past week, I picked up a little booklet that contains a play that was published in 1924. I haven’t gotten beyond the lengthy copyright page. Since this was published before 1929, I can share it with you.

“The Patchwork Quilt”

Reprinted by permission of the author and the publisher, Charles Scribner’s Sons, from the volume, Six Plays.

COPYRIGHT, 1924, BY CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Especial notice should be taken that the possession of this book without a valid contract for production first having been obtained from the publisher, confers no right or license to professionals or amateurs to produce the play publicly or in private for gain or charity.

In its present form this play is dedicated to the reading public only, and no performance, representation, production, recitation, or public reading, or radio broadcasting may be given except by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, 25 West 45th Street, New York, one week before the date when the play is given.

Whenever the play is produced the following notice must appear on all programs, printing and advertising for the play: “Produced by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH of New York.”

Attention is called to the penalty provided by law for any infringement of the author’s rights, as follows :

“SECTION 4966: – Any person publicly performing or representing any dramatic or musical composition for which copyright has been obtained, without the consent of the proprietor of said dramatic or musical composition, or his heirs and assigns, shall be liable for damages thereof, such damages, in all cases to be assessed at such sum, not less than one hundred dollars for the first and fifty dollars for every subsequent performance, as to the court shall appear to be just. If the unlawful performance and representation be wilful for profit, such person or persons shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding one year.” – U.S. Revised Statutes : Title 60, Chap. 3.

Ed. Note: I was waiting to hear that said offenders would have one ear cut off and be put in the stocks for two weeks, followed by a jail term. I guess the people who decide such legalities were feeling particularly benevolent that day.

To tell you the truth, after reading the whole disclaimer, I have not had the time or energy to go back to this small pamphlet, to read the play. I’m sure many people today would be pleased, if only a fifty dollar penalty were required for violating copyright.

Patricia Cummings

Most people don’t want to think about their last minutes on this earth. Some people have to think about the last moments of another person’s existence. This week, I received an e-mail from a missionary friend in South America. He told me that a friend of his had been very ill and she was in the hospital. He went to see her and he wanted to comfort her and pray with her. However, there was so much commotion in the room, he told her he would come back. He felt like hollering – “Don’t you understand that she is dying?” There was no peace to be found, and when he went back, he found that she had already wandered off “to the other side.”

In the old days, people were not shoved into an institution because they were sick or they were dying. The family cared for its own. Today, if anything “happens,” a person is shuffled off by ambulance, only to be treated with invasive and non-invasive tests and treatments. But, where are those of spiritual strength who could help to ease the mental suffering of medical ordeals? They are not to be found. We are left to be “numbers” while the family stays at a distance, or purposely keeps away.

Today, we are afraid of seeing someone die. Everything is so sanitized and neat and tidy when death occurs other than “home.” The undertaker whisks the body away, never to be seen again. Cremation is a cheap alternative, not that the results of passing on are inexpensive, these days.

What we have lost is the spiritual meaning when Death comes knocking. I have never, personally, been witness to another person’s demise. However, I envision that it could be a lot more meaningful without hospital personnel running around, trying to “save” a life. In some instances, a person has lived a long and full life and is tired and really, quite ready to “go.” Prolonging a life, in that instance, may seem like a moral imperative, yet, for the patient, it is not in their best interest.

Since none of us wants to leave life prematurely, it’s a tough question to ask, or to answer, but here goes? How would you prefer to live your last moments? Would you like loved ones present? Or, would you like to be alone? Would you like to hear silence or music? Would you like to be attended to by family, or the medical staff of a home or hospital? None of us can predict the future, and people sometimes die in very strange ways, like choking on a cornflake or piece of steak, having a fatal reaction to latex, or peanut butter, or being bitten by a bear or poisonous snake. There are so many agents that could possibly do us in, it’s a wonder we live as long as we do!

I guess the key to happiness is not to worry about such topics. However, from time to time, I ponder the spiritual sanctity of the final moments that all humans must face. I can only hope that I will have a caring friend, at that time, who will help me to consider eternity, and what my life may have meant. Now, back to more sunny matters.

Patricia Cummings

The bed cover you see above was languishing in the corner of an antique store and begging me to purchase it. Actually, my first impression was that I did not want it. As any two color quilt would, it photographs well. The tufts of yarn that hold it together create a secondary interest. The main motif, for some reason, reminds me of a Ship’s Wheel. However, I have not had time to research any published names for this pattern.

We purchased this on the same day that we bought the spanking clean, never used, nineteenth century, sixteen-patch, hand-quilted quilt from a Connecticut estate. The two textiles are decidedly different in workmanship, but one quality that they share in common is that are both finished. That’s a good word – “finished.”

Nineteenth century browns, double pinks, and chrome yellow prints were used to create this 19th century gem.
Hope you enjoy seeing this kinds of pieces of the past.

Patricia Cummings

People who know that I am a writer often express a wish that they, too, could do what I do. I am going to give some unsolicited advice that will help you a great deal.

1) Write about a subject you know well. Your editor and the general public can spot a phoney, who is just trying to “wing it,” a mile away.

2) Pay attention to the basics. If you are writing about people or places, for heaven’s sake, report their names correctly, also spelling them correctly. There is nothing that makes living people more sad or upset than to read their name, misspelled in a print venue, and there is nothing that makes the family of a deceased person more upset to read a misprinted name, either.

3) Give strict attention to details. They matter more than you know. Life is made up of details. If you think they don’t matter, don’t become a writer.

4) If you are giving your opinion, state that it IS your own opinion. Avoid the use of “We” or “our,” as in “We think,” or it is “our opinion,” when you are providing ONLY your opinion. At the same time, do not say, “It is said,” unless you qualify who “says” this. Whenever one writes, “They say,” it appears that the use of “they” is just another disguise for a personal opinion. My father used to exclaim, “Who is “they?” Name names.”

5) If you are presenting data that you did not generate, cite the specific source where you found the information. If not, you will be plagiarizing which is just another word for stealing someone’s “intellectual property.”

6) Know copyright law. Protect your own work, but also respect the copyright rights of others.

If you ask to “borrow” a photo, and the answer is “no,” for whatever reason, accept the situation and move on, without harassing the party you’ve asked for a favor.

7) Spell correctly, and use correct grammar. You know, someone once told me that anyone can write. All that is needed is a “good editor.”

I am here to tell you that your work will be preferred by that good editor, if he/she does not have to spend hours re-writing it, or researching your statements to determine if the information is true and correct. Always cite books, journals, or another other source, as I said before! Document everything!

Content that is compelling is imperative in order to draw readers. Gather photos or illustrations or even graphs that will make your points clear.

9) Meet editorial deadlines, ahead of time, if possible.

10) Write in a manner that flows, has connective words, and does not change topics too abruptly.  Consider your audience when you write, but mostly, just write as well as you can, using words most appropriate to the situation.

To BE a writer, is to choose a solitary path. It is impossible to write well while surrounded by crowds of people. You must have enough time alone to think, and to rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite, for as many times as it takes to create a high-quality manuscript.

Check your facts, use your computer’s spell-check function, and if possible, have a friend read any manuscript you generate. Sometimes inadvertent small errors can creep in, and those the computer can not pick up.

Good luck!

Patricia Cummings, columnist for The Quilter magazine since 1999, and well-published in many venues