If I had my way
John E. Peterson, Special to The Gazette
Thursday, July 24, 2008
MY GOOD FRIEND George Milton wrote a “The People Speak” in The Gazette a short while ago. It was about The Gazette not providing sufficient publicity on the Symphony of the Flint Hills performance. George’s letter got my attention for two reasons. I would tell you what they were, if I had my way.
The first reason was that I tended to agree with him. There should have been more publicity about these events, both before and after the performances. I have read about them, but am not sure whether it was in The Gazette or in some other paper. It could have been in the Topeka Capital Journal.
The second reason George’s letter caught my attention was that he used my name in it. He said that I have referred to The Gazette as “world famous.” He was right about that. I have often referred to it in that fashion. My reason for doing so may be of some interest to some of you who read my trivial writings.
It happened somewhere out in the Dakotas or Montana. I cannot remember where, but we were at a motel for the night. I was unloading, as was a man near me. We got to talking. He was from somewhere in Oregon, as I recall. As soon as I told him I was from Emporia, he told me he had heard of The Emporia Gazette and how famous it was. I was impressed.
I was even more impressed a year or two later when a similar thing happened in Colorado. This time the gentleman was from somewhere in Washington state. As soon as I told him I was from Emporia, Kansas, he said something like, “That is where the world-famous Emporia Gazette is!”
Again, I was impressed. That happened some 30 years ago, in my early years in Emporia. I have tended to refer to The Gazette as “world famous” ever since. It may not be that today, but it was very widely-known many years ago. Whether world famous or not, it is a fine small town paper. Owned and operated by several generations of one family. But, of course, it does miss covering some things sometimes.
Just as I was finishing writing the above story, there was a knock on my office door — here on campus. DeWayne Backhus, physical scientist and chair of that department, was there. He handed me a copy he had made of an article from the Farm Collector magazine.
The article was by Delvert Trew, supervisor of a Texas museum for barbed wire, and was entitled “Twists, Turns and Barbs” — The history of the ‘Devil’s rope.’” (I should remind you that I wrote a column on the Barb City, DeKalb, Ill., my home town, just two columns back). This article from DeWayne was all about the history of barbed wire, its development and its uses.
DeWayne had written a note on it which said, “Pete — you are vindicated on the barb wire origin in Dekalb, Ill., if this source is authoritative.” He wrote that because the article said that barbed wire was invented by Joseph F. Glidden of DeKalb and patented in 1874.
So! Thank you much, DeWayne. The article was most interesting. More of you would find things to verify my wild stories, if I had my way.
Since the above story was about barbed wire, I should tell you this one right now. After that column about The Barb City appeared, I received a bit of criticism about my use of “barb” and “barbed.” I was told that I should never call it “barb wire.” It should always be “barbed wire.”
Well! I could not quite accept that, so I thought about it and looked it up in the dictionary. “Barb” was never mentioned as a wire-type in the dictionary, but “barbed wire” was. I must assume, then, that I was wrong to speak of it as “barb wire.” From now on, I would always call it “barbed wire,” if I had my way.
My stimulation for another story comes from Mildred Caldwell, former teacher here in Emporia. I found a letter she had written me way back in February shortly after I wrote a column about our problems in getting doctors here in Emporia. Mildred has often complimented me on my columns. She is very nice.
In this letter, she said hooray for me a couple of times and thanked me for being willing to stick my neck out. Of course, such remarks do much for my old ego. Thank you, Mildred!
Mildred also mentioned the evolution debate with which Kansas schools have been dealing. She thinks it is foolish. Why do people believe that God and evolution are not compatible? That is a sensible question, in my humble opinion. Again, Mildred, thank you for your letters and comments about my columns.
There, then, are a few of the stories I have been recently stimulated to share. There will be more in the future, no doubt. You lovely people who read my columns would keep stimulating me, if I had my way.