Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

From the Wall Street Journal, lead editorial, published the day before Thanksgiving for 50+ years.  I believe these were written by the late, great writer, Vermont Royster.


The Desolate Wilderness

Here beginneth the chronicle of those memorable circumstances of the year 1620, as recorded by Nathaniel Morton, keeper of the records of Plymouth Colony, based on the account of William Bradford, sometime governor thereof:

So they left that goodly and pleasant city of Leyden, which had been their resting-place for above eleven years, but they knew that they were pilgrims and strangers here below, and looked not much on these things, but lifted up their eyes to Heaven, their dearest country, where God hath prepared for them a city (Heb. XI, 16), and therein quieted their spirits.

When they came to Delfs-Haven they found the ship and all things ready, and such of their friends as could not come with them followed after them, and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipt, and to take their leaves of them. One night was spent with little sleep with the most, but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse, and other real expressions of true Christian love.

The next day they went on board, and their friends with them, where truly doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting, to hear what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them; what tears did gush from every eye, and pithy speeches pierced each other's heart, that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the Key as spectators could not refrain from tears. But the tide (which stays for no man) calling them away, that were thus loath to depart, their Reverend Pastor, falling down on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks commended them with the most fervent prayers unto the Lord and His blessing; and then with mutual embraces and many tears they took their leaves one of another, which proved to be the last leave to many of them.

Being now passed the vast ocean, and a sea of troubles before them in expectations, they had now no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain or refresh them, no houses, or much less towns, to repair unto to seek for succour; and for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of the country know them to be sharp and violent, subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search unknown coasts.

Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wilde beasts and wilde men? and what multitudes of them there were, they then knew not: for which way soever they turned their eyes (save upward to Heaven) they could have but little solace or content in respect of any outward object; for summer being ended, all things stand in appearance with a weatherbeaten face, and the whole country, full of woods and thickets, represented a wild and savage hew.

If they looked behind them, there was a mighty ocean which they had passed, and was now as a main bar or gulph to separate them from all the civil parts of the world.

This editorial has appeared annually since 1961.

And the Fair Land

Any one whose labors take him into the far reaches of the country, as ours lately have done, is bound to mark how the years have made the land grow fruitful.

This is indeed a big country, a rich country, in a way no array of figures can measure and so in a way past belief of those who have not seen it. Even those who journey through its Northeastern complex, into the Southern lands, across the central plains and to its Western slopes can only glimpse a measure of the bounty of America.

And a traveler cannot but be struck on his journey by the thought that this country, one day, can be even greater. America, though many know it not, is one of the great underdeveloped countries of the world; what it reaches for exceeds by far what it has grasped.



So the visitor returns thankful for much of what he has seen, and, in spite of everything, an optimist about what his country might be. Yet the visitor, if he is to make an honest report, must also note the air of unease that hangs everywhere.

For the traveler, as travelers have been always, is as much questioned as questioning. And for all the abundance he sees, he finds the questions put to him ask where men may repair for succor from the troubles that beset them.

His countrymen cannot forget the savage face of war. Too often they have been asked to fight in strange and distant places, for no clear purpose they could see and for no accomplishment they can measure. Their spirits are not quieted by the thought that the good and pleasant bounty that surrounds them can be destroyed in an instant by a single bomb. Yet they find no escape, for their survival and comfort now depend on unpredictable strangers in far-off corners of the globe.

How can they turn from melancholy when at home they see young arrayed against old, black against white, neighbor against neighbor, so that they stand in peril of social discord. Or not despair when they see that the cities and countryside are in need of repair, yet find themselves threatened by scarcities of the resources that sustain their way of life. Or when, in the face of these challenges, they turn for leadership to men in high places -- only to find those men as frail as any others.

So sometimes the traveler is asked whence will come their succor. What is to preserve their abundance, or even their civility? How can they pass on to their children a nation as strong and free as the one they inherited from their forefathers? How is their country to endure these cruel storms that beset it from without and from within?

Of course the stranger cannot quiet their spirits. For it is true that everywhere men turn their eyes today much of the world has a truly wild and savage hue. No man, if he be truthful, can say that the specter of war is banished. Nor can he say that when men or communities are put upon their own resources they are sure of solace; nor be sure that men of diverse kinds and diverse views can live peaceably together in a time of troubles.

But we can all remind ourselves that the richness of this country was not born in the resources of the earth, though they be plentiful, but in the men that took its measure. For that reminder is everywhere -- in the cities, towns, farms, roads, factories, homes, hospitals, schools that spread everywhere over that wilderness.

We can remind ourselves that for all our social discord we yet remain the longest enduring society of free men governing themselves without benefit of kings or dictators. Being so, we are the marvel and the mystery of the world, for that enduring liberty is no less a blessing than the abundance of the earth.

And we might remind ourselves also, that if those men setting out from Delftshaven had been daunted by the troubles they saw around them, then we could not this autumn be thankful for a fair land.

This editorial has appeared annually since 1961.


Word of the Day
 
"Concision" - noun [$10]
Concision means the state or quality of being concise; conciseness.
Sentence: The bunker booklet contained a five part solution to America' big problems, described with much concision on 15 half size pages.  The booklet was mailed to every member of Congress, the Senate and the President, as well as a number of well-known personages in the media and investment community.  All they have to do is read it and do it.  Will they fail?  Do they care about any ideas from outside the Dark City and their media co-conspirators?  Time will tell.

27 comments:

Bunkerman said...

No actions today - Europe is close to buy signal, but close is not enough.

Spin-em said...

you want dark gravy??....before you add your water from potatoes...burn your drippings...burn em...black...you cant ruin it...just do it....Bob knows.....lol

Bunkerman said...

the turkey I roast is so moist & tasty that no gravy is needed :)

Spin-em said...

wellll of course it is.....lol(Big Al shakin his head)

Bunkerman said...

lol.

Big Al will be weeping after the pancake challenge this coming Christmas holiday

:)

Spin-em said...

Big Al was beggin for a lil gravy after the great hardtack n pemmican disaster of 2011..lol

Spin-em said...

t2108 29.50.... .125% deployed

Bud said...

how do you buy Europe Bman ?? what instruments u use.........leverage derivatives ?????

Bud said...

Bman what is your thansgiving menu ??

Spin-em said...

sweet potatoes...boil em....peel em...slice em...glass pan...slices in pan...pour orange juice over em..glaze em with Karo syrup...bake em...lol

Bud said...

Bman do you eat Pomegranates ?? they are very delicous this season

Spin-em said...

Pallman's fresh turkey 1 mile away...buy local...$60?....fine...mfs..lol

Spin-em said...

Kielbasa...my boy Jody from golf league makes it...great guy..give him the bniz...$30 for 3 rings...you're rakin me over the coals Jody..lool

Spin-em said...

hot peppers and Horse radish for the Kielbasa..buddy owns Country Day brand..here local...ya go there...huge vats... when they do pickles....one guys job...a lil wooden hammer to tap the dill pickle in the top of jar so the lid can go on.....be a great job for Bud... lemme know Bud... I can hook you up...get you in golf league stone legs...fit right in...lol

Bunkerman said...

I simply buy the Vanguard Europe ETF -> VGK; or use the corresponding Eurepean Index mutual fund

Bunkerman said...

Roast organic, free range locally raised Turkey (ugh $4/lb), wife's family recipe for stuffing, my family recipe for an oyster casserole, baked buttercup squash, cranberries, salad, pumkin pie, fine wines.

Bunkerman said...

I think we are havign some pomegranate seeds in something. I've never eaten one directly.

Bunkerman said...

after all, I am a common man :)

Bunkerman said...

Kielbasy ... mmmmm.

by the way, "kielbasy" is the Polish word for ... sausage.

:)

Bunkerman said...

having fresh polish sausage with homemade pasta sauce & pasta tonight; roasted peppers, too

mmmmm.

Spin-em said...

think I remember in past bunk hating the term..."turkey day"


it's not turkey daaay....

llooooool

Spin-em said...

hey Bunk..give me a "fine wine" name to try...Ill roll down the hill and pick up a bottle

Bunkerman said...

lol here are two (red)

Lucky Star Pinot Noir :))
yes, there's a wine of that name (California; 2009 is mine; not expensive - about $9).

Pillastro Primitivo Negroamaro 2007 is very good (maybe about $18; Italian, Puglia).

For a white, just buy any Mosel-Sarr-Ruhr reisling - QmP grade (QmP = Qualitatswein mit Pradikat)

Bunkerman said...

Bordeaux wines of 2005 vintage are mostly quite good: St. Emilion, Pomeral, etc.)

Bunkerman said...

I get most of mine now from Wall Street Hournal wines by the case delivered to home.

The red premium grade are very good for my taste.

Very low risk, too - never had a poor bottle, even in the regular grade.

Spin-em said...

lool

Lucky Star Pinot Noir :))
yes, there's a wine of that name (California; 2009 is mine; not expensive - about $9).


"is mine"

is a favorite ...or your wine.. as in your brand..lool

god I hope you own a wine..lmaooo

Spin-em said...

A HAPPY HEALTHY THANKSGIVING TO ALL....including Bud,merny(rip),Lee,Mike(NJ),Mike(Houston) Bunks,Big Al and the Ohioweenians,Patrick(lol)even my ex pal Bobby...I wish you all the best