Sunday, March 31, 2013

4moms Breeze versus. Pack n Play





Jen from the Next Kid Factor tries to defend myself against putting together those n Play, while transporting a crying baby, soothing an anxious large kid along with a crazy cat. *Trying* is ...

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Friday, March 29, 2013

Lincoln's Cabinet - Did They Make the Civil War and when So, Why and how?

Shady Deeds on a Dark street

It was just after dark in Washington D.C. and the streets were mostly deserted. The three men moved with stealth. They must not be recognized. When they reached the house with two lamps in the window, one of them rapped out the signal. Soon the door opened and a wizened face with a mustache, a pointed beard and reading glasses down on the nose, peeked out at him. The crack widened and the man reached out and took his arm, bringing them swiftly in. He led the three men through the dim-lit house and to a study with the blinds drawn. A large lamp gave ample light for them to see. One of them took the little man's hand and gripped it warmly.

"It was good of you to see us, Secretary Seward. We are much obliged." Secretary Seward smiled faintly and motioned the three men into chairs. Secretary Seward tried to sound firm and professional but the emotion and fear in his voice could not be disguised. "I understand that you are commissioners, sent by President Davis with a proposition for the President," he said, his voice cracking a bit. "May I please know what that message is?"

The spokesman for the group shifted uncomfortably. "Our instructions are to only deliver it to the President." Seward sighed and turned up his palms.

"The President will not see you, gentlemen. That is final." There was anger, disappointment and resentment in the voice of the second of the three men who replied. "So, Lincoln does not intend to act in good faith or to do anything to try to resolve this crisis. He thinks to goad President Davis into war by insulting us." Seward, who was a perceptive man, saw the weakness in the position of his visitors and he acted quickly to seize control of the situation.

"No, no, gentlemen," he scolded mildly, "there is no call for that. President Lincoln is an honorable man and I can assure you he does not want war." The visitors were only slightly mollified.

"Why will he not see us, then," the leader asked coldly. Seward leaned his elbows on his desk as he said firmly, "Because he is fearful of giving the stamp of official recognition to every rebelling factor in the South. If that were to happen, there would be no one to speak for the South as a whole and the situation would deteriorate rapidly with no structure in which to channel possible solutions." The spokesman looked surprised. "Then why are we here if it is not to set up a clandestine meeting with the President." Seward smiled an oily smile.

"You are to give the message to me, gentlemen, and I will convey it to the President." The man shook his head doubtfully.

"We understand from Judge Campbell that you have been forbidden to see us officially, and that you have no authority in this matter." Seward had no compunction against twisting the truth so long as he thought he was in control of where things went and that it was in the best interest of all. "That is simply not true, gentlemen. I have the President's complete confidence. And of course I would not be here if he President objected." The men became interested in Seward again.

"Are we to understand, then, that you speak for the President?" Seward tried for a look of false humility.

"You are to understand gentlemen, that I am the professional politician in this Cabinet and I can completely control President Lincoln on these matters. What I tell you has the weight of officialdom at the highest level."

The commissioners look at each other for confirmation. Could this man possibly be lying about anything so important? Surely, no secretary of state would have the face to presume in such matters. Finally the spokesman turned to Seward.

"And what is it that you can assure us of, Mr. Secretary?" Seward grinned broadly. He now had them where he wanted them.

"I can assure you that there will be no further provocation directed toward the south by this Administration or this President." The men conferred briefly in hushed tones.

"Very well Mr. Secretary, our message to the President is this. The South will open the Mississippi to Northern travel and guarantee the safety of its ships if the President will abandon Fort Sumter." Seward expressed both surprise and pleasure.

"I am sure, Gentlemen, that this will only make what I have just told you even more certain."

The men got up and bowed slightly to Seward, them the left with the same silence and stealth by which they had come. Seward watched them go. Then he wagged his head and sighed again. "How simple this would all be," he murmured to himself, "if only Lincoln would stay out of it and let me handle it."

A Bridge to Nowhere

Secretary Seward returned to his office in late after noon from a meeting with the President and his advisors to find Supreme Court Chief Justice John A. Campbell waiting for him. Seward shook his hand warmly. "Good to see you, John," he said.

"It is good of you to see me, Seward," the judge said wearily, "I know how things work in this town and I know you are risking your political neck." Seward enjoyed acting as if he thought major things were but mere trifles. He had the mistaken notion that it added to his mystique as a big man of the world. The truth was, everyone knew it was a pose and most of them thought less of him for it.

"Affairs of state, Judge Campbell," he said casually, "Only my duty as I see it. It is unfortunate we must meet like conspirators." He showed Supreme Court Judge John A. Campbell to an easy chair and took his coat and hat. The judge settled into the chair, leaned back a little and relaxed some of the tension in his back and legs.

"Lincoln would take it hard of you, Seward, if he knew about this." Seward looked at the ceiling as sighed. "Lincoln! Ah yes, poor, bumbling, ignorant, overmatched President Lincoln. But you know, John I think he is a good man who means well." Judge Campbell shook his head negatively in a pensive manner.

"Do you, Seward? Well, Davis doesn't and, I am afraid, neither do I. What is he going to do about Sumter, Secretary Seward? There will be war if an effort is made to re-supply." Seward had been looking at the ceiling. Now he put his elbows on his knees and began nervously smacking one of his fists in the other hand. It was the evening of March 15, 1961.

"The President called a meeting today about you and the Sumter situation, you know." Judge Campbell straightened up and leaned toward Seward.

"Yes, I do know," he said bitterly. "What was decided? Am I to be removed?" Seward became evasive, which was one of the things he was very good at.

"If Jefferson Davis had known the state of things here, he would never have sent those commissioners." Judge Campbell was encouraged.

"You have positive developments to report, then." Seward sighed in a frustrated manner as if the admission were embarrassing to him.

"Nothing official John." Judge Campbell's disappointment turned to anxiety.

"I came here believing you had news for me and now I learn that there is nothing encouraging to know." Seward saw the crisis coming and moved to head it off.

"No, no, no, John. I did not say that. I said nothing 'official.' I cannot put words in Lincoln's mouth, John. That simply will not work. But in fact I believe I have some positive news for you to take to President Davis. You must understand, John, that Davis is not going to get all he wants from Lincoln, or from me and the others. The evacuation of Sumter is about as much as this administration can or will bear at this time."

Judge Campbell nearly jumped out of his chair. This was the main concession Davis wanted and the commissioners had come seeking. Now here was secretary of State Seward guaranteeing that it would be done. He tried to conceal the excitement in his voice. "And what may I tell President Davis specifically about Sumter? Seward looked pleased. He answered very articulately.

"You may say that before the letter reaches him-how far is Montgomery from here."

"Three days."

"You may say that before the letter reaches him, the telegraph will have informed him that Sumter will have been evacuated."

Judge Campbell left with a light heart. On the street, he tapped with his cane and began to whistle. Seward watched him from the office window. "Yes, indeed," he said aloud. "It would all be so simple if I were president."

A High Risk Game

John Lamon, a law partner from Lincoln's old firm, was shown into the White House and led to the President's office. Lincoln looked up smiling and extended his hand.

"Ah Lamon! Good of you to come." Lamon was relieved. Lincoln was not a devious man and his good humor was evident.

"The honor is mine, Mr. President. How can I be of service to you and my country?" Lincoln chuckled. "You are ahead of me, as usual, Lamon; that is what I want to talk to you about. Your sentiments are with the South, you are southern born and you are known to believe that I have made all the wrong moves and that reconciliation is possible. Lamon, I want you to go down to Charleston and explore matters as thoroughly as you can. If you think the situation warrants, you may say you are on an official mission for me. Bring me back a useful report at you earliest convenience." Lamon was embarrassed and began to grope.

"Mr. President, I... I hope you don't think..." Lincoln held up his hand while looking down at papers on his desk and not looking Lamon in the face.

"It's all right, John; it's all right. This is America. Criticism of the President is allowed here. I have called you here because of those disagreements and my confidence in your integrity and our friendship. I need the information you can get me, Lamon. Now quit worrying and get going."

Lincoln walked to the door with his arm around Lamon. He watched Lamon out of sight. Was this a mistake? Would Lamon convey weakness and indecisiveness? He would soon know. He went in, sat down at his desk and mused a bit.

The Gathering Storm

Lincoln had scarcely taken office when the swirling vapors began to subside and the roiling waters warned that a boiling pot was only moments away. The situation was utterly unsettled. On the Southern side, Davis was issuing esoteric statements. "Our people are united by one purpose of high resolve." But Davis, as indeed the mind and soul of the South, was impatient at a time when patience was needed the most. He sighed and told of his "weary heart," and spoke in poetic but minor tones of "troubles and thorns innumerable." In the North, there was confusion on every hand. New Jersey was considering secession.

California and Oregon were talking about pulling out of the Union and forming a new pacific nation. New York, which was Southern in sentiment, saw much to gain by forming its own nation. Moderates were giving Lincoln volumes of unwanted advice. "Let the erring sisters depart in peace." Extremists were pushing for a division: "No Union with slaveholders! Away with this foul thing!... The Union was not formed by force, nor can it be maintained by force." The business community was not in favor of a North-South split. Without strong, protective tariffs the manufacturers would lose southern markets to England. Those in the North and west of the Mississippi were strongly pro-Union, not wanting to lose access to the Mississippi and the foreign ships at the Gulf.

In general, after Lincoln's inaugural address, there was a conviction that separation would not bring a solution of the underlying problems and would invite unwanted and dangerous foreign intervention. Walking away from the problem by peaceful division was a mirage that would soon evaporate once such a separation became a reality. In April of 1861 the New York Times ran an article stating the situation as most people saw it: "If the two sections can no longer live together, they can no longer live apart in quiet till it is determined which is master. No two civilizations ever did, or can, come into contact as the North and the South threaten to do, without a trial of strength, in which the weaker goes to the wall... We must remain master of the occasion and the dominant power of this continent."

But Lincoln had made up his mind. "The Union is unbroken," he said. He knew that the best way to put an end to the confusion in the North and unite all parties was to simply wait for the South to act. He knew Davis from his years in the congress and he knew that they would do so and soon. He had good reason to believe that he would not have long to wait. The reason was sitting out in Charleston bay and it was called Fort Sumter. Most of his advisers were against rearming and re-supplying Fort Sumter, choosing rather to abandon it. They voted five to two to abandon. "Assuming it to be possible to now provision Fort Sumter, under all the circumstances is it wise to attempt it?" The army too, had advised that Sumter be abandoned. They estimated that it would take 20,000 troops to make it secure and that was far beyond the ability of the Army at present. The Navy alone seemed to favor keeping the Fort and supplying it. Although Lincoln had said in his inaugural speech that he would "hold, occupy and possess the property and places belonging to the government," he was having a hard time making up his mind about Sumter.

Three southerners were in Washington to discuss the matter. Though the President had refused to see them, he knew what their message was. Seward had found out somehow. He denied having met with them but Lincoln was not sure he believed him. He had heard that Seward had met with them and told them he could control the President and get a concession of Sumter. Lincoln thought about confronting Seward, but decided on a different plan. He would not abandon Sumter if here were any hope of saving the fort and re-supplying it. This would take care of Secretary Seward.

The message was that the Confederate congress had voted to open the Mississippi to Northern shipping. By this concession and act of friendship, they hoped to encourage the government to abandon Fort Sumter which they viewed as a real threat but more of a symbolic issue. It was a Union bastion in the midst of southern territory. It was a big card in Lincoln's hand. With it, he could prevent war, or assure that the South would start it. Many people felt that war should be averted at all cost, but Lincoln was not so sure. War might be the only resolution to the problem.

Betrayal at the Highest Level

John Lamon got off the train in Charleston and went directly to the office of Governor Pickens. The Governor got up and hurried to John as he entered the massive door.

"John Lamon--attorney John Lamon now, id'n it? My, am I glad to see you home, son. Are you here to stay, I presume?" John was flattered.

"No, Governor Pickens, to tell the truth I am here on a mission for the President. The Governor's delightful laugh almost masked his alarm.

"And what would Mr. Lincoln be wantin' you to find out from me, son?" John decided to play it straight. "He wants to know how serious the situation is and what the chances are of avoiding war." The Governor looked, listened, and pondered for the set up but did to discern one.

"Well, John, my boy, the answer is very simple. Tell the President to forget about re-supplyin' Sumter and abandon it. That will take the tension off and give us a bit of time to work some of the things out." John acted out of desire, instinct, and the cheek that makes one a good lawyer.

"Governor Pickens, let me assure you, that the President has no intention of re-supplying Sumter." The Governor did not laugh, as was his custom, or react in any way. He just sat there staring at John Lamon. Finally he spoke.

"Mr. Lamon, is this some sort of a joke? Surely you do not have the authority to speak for President Lincoln." John suddenly realized what he had done and he caught his breath. He could not back out now if he wanted to.

"Governor Pickens, the President sent me down here to bring him back a report. I have his confidence and his support. I am telling you that the President has no intentions of re-supplying Sumter. No, that is not official. But you have my word, the word of a southern gentleman, that what I tell you is true."

The Governor sat long in quiet meditation. Finally he got up and beckoned for John to rise. He put his arm around him and gave him a big hug.

"John, my boy, the Governor is going to take you over to the Palace and buy you the best steak and anything you want to drink. You have turned a wretched time in my life into happiness. I want to introduce you around." John Lamon's mind was racing. Surely he was safe until leaving town. Lincoln would not have time to know what he had done and get out a denial for at least several days.

John was wined, dined, toasted, and praised as never before in his life. The Governor left him off in the wee hours saying that he would send for him in the early afternoon and would have an itinerary for him that he would be pleased with. Reluctantly John had adamantly refused the overnight company of one of the Governor's beautiful chaperons for celebrated guests. As soon as the Governor's carriage was out of sight, John Lamon went out the back door of his hotel room and got on the first train to Washington. As he rode along in the rocking car he mused about his journey. It had sounded and felt much different it in his mind than it did once he said it and repeated it as practically and oath. But surely, Lincoln would not re-supply Sumter. Still, Lamon was aware that he did not know that for certain and he had heard the rumors that this was what Lincoln would do. How could someone of his position and training be such a fool? He tried not to think about it, but it was hard.

A Small Boat over Troubled Waters

The lantern light from the fort flickered across the choppy waters of the bay and made a wrinkled path for the dory to follow. The night air was cold and had that wonderful smell of salt and sea weed. Two non-commissioned naval volunteers pulled at the oars as the Commander sat on a 2"x12" wooden bench in the back of the boat. Robert Collier of Vermont, the coxswain, shivered from cold wind blowing softly across from the ocean. As they drew toward the pier at the fort, a sentry called out.

"Who goes there?" The Commander reached forward and clamped a hand on Collier's shoulder.

"Let me take it from here, sailor," he said quietly. Then he called out to the fort. "I am Commander Robinson on a mission from President Lincoln. I come to consult with Major Anderson." Silence followed; then after while a command.

"Bring her on in.

Major Anderson was the officer in charge at the Fort. He and the Commander shook hands. The Commander explained.

"Lincoln wants an evaluation of the feasibility of re-supplying and maintaining the fort. Off the record, the President does not feel he can trust either Lamon or Seward. I was chosen to do the report and I think coming here, conversing face to face with you and seeing the situation first hand is the most singularly important aspect of making it." Major Anderson and Commander Robinson conversed for several hours that night and most of the following morning. The two officers walked out to the pier. A mist still hung to the water and hid Charleston from the fort. Anderson broke the silence.

"Commander Robinson, there is no doubt in my mind, as I have said, that we can re-supply this fort and hold out for a long time unless war breaks out and we are attacked by heavy guns. But why does Lincoln want to re-supply? This fort is the source of the trouble. There is a possibility that war could be avoided." The Commander looked off across the water and did not answer for some minutes. Finally he turned to the Major and spoke.

"Major Anderson, as officers in service of our country we do as we are told and we do not make policy. But we are still entitled to our opinion. For what it is worth, I think the President wants to use this fort to goad Davis into starting war. His attorney friend Lamon is probably over here right now in Charleston telling the Governor what he wants to hear--what Lamon doesn't think Lincoln wants him to tell the governor and what Lincoln, who is smarter than the whole pack of them, knows very well that he will tell him. The President does not have the support to take the initiative and Davis and the South will back a lot of water before firing the first shot. But this fort is a different matter. It is in their back yard and it is a threat to them, politically if not militarily. They cannot leave it here." Major Anderson nodded.

"I wish I hadn't asked," he said sadly. "It's tough enough for an old southern boy like me as it is."

Commander Robinson seemed concerned and a bit guilty.

"Now Anderson, that is just my idea. I could well be wrong you know." Anderson sighed.

"Yea, Commander, only you are not the first person to develop that line of reasoning. Others have thought along those lines, including me." Robinson thought long while again, staring at the gray waters of the harbor.

Then he turned to Anderson with a weak smile.

"Well, time for me to be heading back, Major. Thank you for everything." Major Anderson took his hand warmly.

A Fateful Decision

It was now the 6th of April and Lincoln had made up his mind. He had waited some days after his last meeting with Commander Robinson to contact the Military Department. He now signed orders to proceed with the re-supply and defense of Fort Sumter.

On the 8th, an envoy of the government appeared before Governor Pickens and read him this message: "I am directed by the President of the United States to notify you to expect an attempt will be made to supply Fort Sumter with provisions only, and that if such an attempt be not resisted, no effort to throw in men, arms, or ammunition will be made without further notice, or in case of an attack upon the Fort." Pickens forwarded the message on to Montgomery. Davis immediately went into session with his cabinet. As in the North, the reaction to Lincoln's message to Governor Pickens was varied. Robert Toombs was his candid and loud self: "The firing on that fort will inaugurate a civil war greater than any the world has yet seen and I do not feel competent to advise you." He then began to pace the floor. "Mr. President, at this time it is suicide, murder, and you will lose us every friend in the North. You will wantonly strike a hornet's nest that extends from the mountains to the ocean. Legions now quiet will swarm our state and sting us to death. It is unnecessary. It puts us in the wrong. It is fatal." But Davis did not agree.

"Nonsense, Mr. Toomes. It is not I who launch this war. Lincoln has pressed the situation all along. It is Lincoln, not me, who has forced the issue and the world will see it that way. They will also take note of the deception the President has used in manipulating me into this corner." Davis stopped to let his invective against Lincoln sink in before continuing. "I have reached my decision, gentlemen. Today I am ordering the Secretary of War to send the following message to General Beauregard who is in command of the defenses at Charleston harbor:

If you have no doubt as to the authorized character of the agent who communicated to you the intention of the Washington government to supply Fort Sumter by force, you will at once demand its evacuation, and, if this is refused, proceed in such a manner as you may determine to reduce it.

Beauregard immediately contacted Montgomery and Davis.

"Maybe we should wait those few days, Mr. President." Davis shook his head emphatically.

"No, General. In those 'few days' a naval expedition will arrive with its ship mounted guns. Beside that General, the men in South Carolina are at fevered pitch and ready to take it upon themselves to start firing at any time." He sighed deeply and sadly. "But we will wait, Sir, until you can get from your old friend Anderson a definite time for surrender. Otherwise, General Beauregard, you are to reduce the Fort." Beauregard passed the message to Anderson who replied that he would evacuate the Fort by noon on the 15th unless he received "controlling instructions from my government, or additional supplies."

The Cavalry man dismounted, climbed the hill to the west of the Fort and looked out into the blue waters of the Atlantic. What he saw made him catch his breath. A fleet of a dozen ships were riding at anchor out of the sight of Charleston and just outside Charleston harbor. The Cavalryman ran to his horse and was in a race to town when he saw a gathering at the boat landing. He jerked his horse to a stop and ran to General Beauregard. The General was dictating a message:

"Major Anderson, we are disposed to wait until noon, the fifteenth of this month, upon your word that you will leave if you are not re-supplied. We..." The cavalry man tried to break in.

"General, Sir, I think..." The General snapped at him.

"Just you wait, soldier. I am engaged in the gravest of business here."

"But Sir, I must speak with you." Beauregard was becoming agitated with the cavalry man.

"Soldier, if you have any word for me, give it to your commander. We go through command in this army." The cavalry man started to turn away, and then seemed to reach a desperate decision.

"I am sorry, Sir, and if you bring me up for courts martial, I can't help it, but you have to listen to me." The urgency of the moment got through to the General.

"All right, soldier, but this had better be important, or..."

"Sir, there is a fleet of twelve Union Ships anchored just west of the harbor." General Beauregard's eyes began to dilate as the words of the cavalry man began to take effect.

"Where? How many? You say you saw them? When?"

"Just now Sir. I have just come from there, only moments ago." Beauregard eyed the Cavalry man narrowly as if this had to be some sort of rouse.

"Can you take me there, soldier? How long will it take."

"Yes, Sir, it will not take long."

"Can I get there in my rig?" The soldier first said yes but then changed his mind.

"No, Sir. I don't believe so after all, Sir. You will have to be mounted." Beauregard commandeered a horse and a detail and they went to the top of the hill to view the fleet. When they returned, the General was much changed.

"You will be recommended for this, soldier; excellent work; yes indeed."

The men returned to Cummings point and Beauregard gave the order to fire. One of the four was a man named Roger Prior from Virginia. Only two days before he had made a fiery speech in which he urged his fellow southerners to "Strike a blow!" The man in charge spoke up.

"Here, Roger, you get the honor of firing the first shot." Prior, though a feisty man and very angry and excited about the conflict, was stunned. In a voice choked with emotion he declared, "I could not fire the first gun of the war." But old, white-haired Edmund Ruffin, a news paper editor and hard line secessionist, also from Virginia, had no such sentimental hang-ups. He had been writing editorials about Lincoln, the Union and the diminished of states and individual rights for years. All he had gotten for it was condemnation and the reputation for being an agitator. For him, this was exoneration. Other than Revolutionary War, he considered this one of the most important turn of events in the history of the young nation.

"By God, I can," he said with anger and emotion. "Give me that strap!" With great determination, grim conviction, and a certain amount of vengeful satisfaction, he pulled the lanyard that launched the Civil War.

Thursday, March 28, 2013

The Hands Colored Photography of William James Harris

Interest in early 20th c. hand-colored photographs by "Harris" has been increasing in recent years, especially in Harris's Florida scenes. Yet I'll wager that most collectors don't even know Harris's first name, let alone anything about his background.

We had no information on Harris ourselves until several years ago when we mentioned Harris in a previous article and asked readers to supply us with any known information. As a result we received an article on Harris postcards, and an article that had been published on Harris by the St. Augustine Historical Society in 1991, both of which shed considerable light on the hand-colored photography career of William James Harris.

William James Harris (1868-1940) was born on October 12, 1868 in Herefordshire, England. His family emigrated to America in 1870, settling in the Wilkes Barre, PA area. Known in his youth as both "Will" and "Willie", by age 20 he apprenticed under a local photographer. Within one year he was able to start his first photography business while living with his parents and operating his first studio within their house.

In 1890, the 22 year old Harris moved with his family to W. Pittston, PA where, although he continued operating a studio in his parents home, he also began his career as a traveling photographer. During the early 1890's, he spent considerable time photographing coal miners and mining operations in eastern Pennsylvania's coal regions. Soon thereafter he began utilizing the railroads to transport him, and his photography equipment, to the mountains, lakes, cities, and wherever else he decided to take his camera. Cabinet photographs sold by Harris around this time listed his address as West Pittston, PA; Tunkhannock, PA; Pittston, PA; Penn Yan, NY; Binghamton, NY; and Keuka, NY

In 1893 Harris traveled to the World's Columbia Exposition in Chicago. While there his began the first of many subsequent promotional feats. One of the focal points of the 1893 Columbia Exposition was the first-ever introduction of George Ferris's great "Ferris Wheel". And it was Harris who was the first to photograph it. He envisioned that by climbing upon a roof approximately the same height as the Ferris Wheel's center shaft, he would be able to produce a view whereby the curves of the wheel were not distorted vertically by perspective. This photograph was so impressive that Harris donated 2000 of them to the Ferris Wheel Company, each of which included his name and address, which helped to make an early name for the young photographer.

In 1895 he married Maude Dunn, a marriage that was short-lived because she died suddenly and unexpectedly in 1897.

Shortly after Maude's death, Harris and some friends opened a tourist business in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains, selling pictures of Buck Hill Falls, the Delaware Water Gap, and other local attractions to tourists and local residents. While operating from the "Harris Gallery" his services also included cabinet cards and tin-type photographs,. This portable studio once again served as an excellent promotional feat because it enabled him to both advertise his business, and process his photographic work, wherever he went.

Around 1901, Harris married a second time, making Marion E. Briant the second Mrs. Harris. Together they had two children, a daughter (Ruth) and a son (Carver). This marriage lasted until about 1920. After the divorce, Marion Harris returned to her Dover, NJ home with Ruth, leaving Carver with his father.

Soon thereafter, Harris married Ella Anderson, his third and final marriage.

Lake Hopatcong: It was in 1898 that Harris moved to a location that would play a vital role in his life...Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Located in northern New Jersey, it's 9 miles of coastline and coves make it New Jersey's largest lake and at the turn of the century, Lake Hopatcong had become a summer mecca for the rich and famous. Conveniently located to nearby New York city, Lake Hopatcong offered an easy summer getaway from the city heat and many summer "cottages", which in many instances were more like mansions, began springing up around the lake. Harris quickly recognized the need for his photographic services here during the summer months.

Beautiful sunsets became the Harris trademark while working on Lake Hopatcong and he was farsighted enough to set himself up on a part of the lake that was recognized as having the best sunsets. And being the great promoter that he was, Harris began advertising his studio as offering the finest sunset photographs on the lake. Soon tourists began flocking to his studio for their personal and family photographs on Lake Hopatcong.

In another move of public relations genius, Harris created his own personal "Floating Studio" in the summer of 1899. Replacing his land-based portable studio, this floating studio was actually a houseboat specially outfitted as a photographic studio. Called the "Harris Photo Float", this 16'x50' floating studio was capable of traveling around the lake, and even had a special porch for his famous sunset photos. Although other photographers were also working around the lake, Harris' floating studio and his gift for promotional effect gave him a competitive edge over the other photographers and he controlled a sizeable portion of the lake's photography business. Unfortunately, in 1903 Harris' floating studio sprang a knothole leak and sank, taking with it much of Harris' photographic equipment.

But he quickly recovered from this disaster and went on to continue a nearly 40-year relationship with Lake Hopatcong. Harris continued his summer visits to the lake until as late as 1939, when he was in his 60's and his photographic career began winding down.

St. Augustine, Florida: In 1898 Harris moved to St. Augustine, Florida where he opened the "Acme View Company". Harris's Florida photographic services included the sale of cameras and equipment, free photographic instructions to amateur photographers, the use of his darkroom, as well as professional photographic services to local residents or visiting tourists. He also lost no time in photographing the beautiful sights in St. Augustine and the surrounding Florida countryside.

Harris quickly fell in love with St. Augustine and to a larger extent, nearly all of Florida. Between 1898 and 1940 Harris began a photographic career that most of us would aspire to achieve today...summers along the shorelines of beautiful Lake Hopatcong, NJ... and winters in warm and sunny St. Augustine, FL.

St. Augustine offered a variety of photographic subjects that appealed to Florida's growing tourist trade including the Fountain of Youth, the Oldest House in America, Ft. Marion, City Gates, and The Old Slave Market, among others.

In 1912 Harris began a long, and sometimes controversial, relationship with the St. Augustine Historical Society. Serving as its business manager and head curator, Harris was instrumental both in recruiting new members to the Historical Society as well as promoting both the history and heritage of St. Augustine. While on his watch, certain members began to dispute some of the Historical Society's unsubstantiated claims...was the "Oldest House in America" actually as old as claimed?. Was the "Old Slave Market" truly a "Slave Market" or was it simply a "Public Produce Market".. The "...well, they could have been..." responses by certain area business people met resistance from other historical purists, and some changes in St. Augustine's historical claims resulted.

Regardless of the controversy, Harris's association with the St. Augustine Historical Society lasted until his death in 1940 and all the while, Harris continued to promote his St. Augustine postcard and photography business.

Harris Postcards: It was in 1893 while visiting the Columbia Exposition that Harris saw a glimpse of the next coming trend...postcards. By 1898 Congress passed a law authorizing the manufacture and use of "Private Mailing Cards" and what started as a trickle soon exploded into a huge business. And Harris was in a perfect position to earn his share of the business. The telephone was not yet commonplace and postcards soon became a primary means of casual communication. In 1901 Harris was selling a grouping of 30 Lake Hopatcong views that were capable of being inserted into a letter, so converting them into postcards was a relatively simple task. Quickly converting much of his existing stock into postcards and adding new views each year, Harris soon had literally hundreds of Lake Hopatcong postcard views and became known around Lake Hopatcong as "Harris, the Postcard Man". Anyone wishing to send a personal message about their special trip or vacation on Lake Hopatcong usually did it using a Harris postcard. In 1909 alone Harris claims to have sold over 200,000 Lake Hopatcong postcards and projected even more for 1910.

As his postcard business grew, he expanded into the souvenir and novelty field, selling paperweights, cups, fancy holders, and other assorted wooden and birch bark novelties, all with the name "Lake Hopatcong" on them. Although such a souvenir business was common in St. Augustine and other places, Harris was one of the first to start such a business at Lake Hopatcong.

As the postcard craze began to wind down around 1915, Harris had been watching from a distance the success of Wallace Nutting in Massachusetts and soon decided to enter the field of hand-colored photography himself. With his background, it was a natural.

Hand-Colored Photographs: Harris's earliest attempt with hand-colored photographs came when he first hand-tinted his Lake Hopatcong postcards. After working in black & white for many years, starting around 1905 Harris assumed that the added color could lead to increased sales. But he also soon learned that the added expense of hand-coloring his postcards led to a higher unit price, and eventually to lower sales. Ultimately Harris went the route of so many other postcard photographers of having his postcards produced in color on large-run color printing presses.

As part of his New Jersey summer-Florida winter cycles, Harris began taken new photographs with the intention of hand-coloring them for re-sale. His best selling pictures soon came to be from the New York Adirondack Region (especially Ausable Chasm) and Florida (especially The Singing Tower), although his northeastern pictures came from throughout a four-state region and his Florida pictures came from throughout the entire Miami-St. Augustine stretch.

Before long, "Harris Pictures" began to replace "Harris the Postcard Man" as his primary source of income. According to his son Carver..."what money he had, he made from colored pictures". And apparently he made enough money to buy houses in Florida and New Jersey, an imposing automobile, a house-car, and several launches and speedboats (which enabled him to get around Lake Hopatcong faster than ever).

Like Wallace Nutting pictures, Harris pictures were usually hand-colored photographs, tipped onto a linen-type matboard, and signed with the "Harris" name lower right, and title lower left, usually signed in pencil. Most Harris pictures were matted, although a fair number were "close-framed" and signed directly on the picture without any matting. And quite often you will still find an original "Harris" label either on the matboard back or on the backing paper.

Yet Harris pictures carry several subtle differences between Nutting and some of the major Nutting-Like photographers:
• Most Harris pictures were oblong views, with the length usually being more than twice the width (or vice versa).
• Harris only sold Exterior (outdoor) views. He never sold Colonial Interior scenes.
• You will only see the name "Harris" signed on the picture, never "W.J.' or any other variation of his first or middle names. There is also never any mention of Harris's first or middle name on any of his picture labels.
• Although the "Harris" name is usually written parallel under the picture, occasionally you will see the "Harris" name written at a 45 degree angle.
• While more unusual, it is not uncommon for the Harris name to be lower left and the title to be lower right.
• Most Harris signatures are signed in pencil

And perhaps most different from Nutting, many Harris pictures are hand-colored "photogravures" rather than hand-colored photographs. Although his earliest scenes were produced on photographic paper, some of his later and best-selling views were reproduced in larger black & white quantities using the photogravure printing method, and then individually hand-colored. Whereas Nutting had nearly 100 colorists at his peak, Harris never had more than 5 people coloring his pictures at any given time.

One interesting story about Harris pictures relates to several of his pictures that feature a egret standing in the Florida water. Apparently for the sake of simplicity, Harris carried a "stuffed" egret as part of his photographic equipment, presumably because it was easier to shoot a still bird for effect rather than a live, uncontrollable bird. He was also known to carry a stuffed alligator for effect as well.

Not surprisingly, Harris was usually his own best salesman and his photographic expeditions also became sales trips as well. Whenever he went into the countryside to shoot new pictures, he usually stopped at various art and gift shops along the way to obtain new wholesale and retail orders for his picture business. It was estimated that more than 70 shops on both coasts of Florida alone carried Harris's hand-colored pictures. Many hotels used Harris pictures on their walls to promote the beauties of early 20th c. Florida, and it is estimated that Harris would typically need more than 25,000 pictures per season just to satisfy the demand of his Florida sales outlets.

And as the Florida season would end Harris would pack car, head back north, and start the cycle all over again at New Jersey's Lake Hopatcong.

The Final Years: William James Harris died on August 2, 1940 after suffering through a long illness and was buried in his adopted city of St. Augustine. Although not as well known as Wallace Nutting or some of Nutting's other contemporaries, Harris did achieve a considerable level of fame. He enjoyed a reasonable financial success in his chosen photographic field, he enjoyed the travel and work between the northeast in the summer months and Florida in the winter months, he had a diverse family life, he developed a strong bond with his adopted city of St. Augustine, FL, and his photographic works certainly helped to popularize Florida more than any other photographer of his time.

And now more than ever, collectors of hand-colored photography are actively seeking the beautiful hand-colored pictures of William James Harris.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Do you know the Top-Ten Worst Human Fears?

So what? Searching Minds have to know.

#10. may be the mind-dazzling anxiety about Speaking In Public and being not really prepared.
# 9. may be the stomach-churning anxiety about Levels and perhaps falling the rooftop.
# 8. may be the anxiety attack by the idea of Claustrophobia (locked in a tiny space).
# 7. is creepy bugs like cockroaches, bots and bed bugs.
# 6. is Dr. Frankenstein placing a couple-feet Needle (hypodermic) within our....
Five. may be the touch of Rats eating in your body.
Number 4. isn't flying, but crashes while a passenger within an Plane.
Three. has been eaten alive with a pack of vicious Dogs.
Two. may be the anxiety about being struck by Lightning - and sliced lower the center.
Number One. may be the heart-throbbing sensation your Physician will say - the Large-C.

Strange Understanding

Wish to 2x (double) your lengthy-term memory? It just takes finding out how to use
this baby-easy Peg-System. It's solely for Searching Minds.

#1. is Running. Create a mental-movie individuals running the New york city Marathon.
#2. is Tossing. Create a mental-visualization individuals tossing-the runner.
#3. is Urinating. See an elephant delivering his urine and flooding the forest.
#4. is Scoring. Begin to see the sports you - crossing the aim line transporting the winning football.
#5. is Fighting. Imagine what Mohammed Ali might have completed to your renal system.
#6. is Striking. Picture Striking your worst enemy having a karate kick. He stays lower.
#7. is Sleeping. Notice a mental-movie of 8-hrs of dramatic sleep.
#8. is Mating. Are you able to picture two porcupines cautiously Mating?
#9. is really a Swine: Visit a 600 pound prize-winning Porker driving a Spaceship.
10. is really a Hen. Recall the rhyme - ten is really a hen. Now remove two-eggs.

. is really a Hero. Zero is our Hero. Came from by Arabic specialised mathematicians.

How You Can Substitute

Based on Mark Twain, "your brain hates recalling amounts." 90% of
grown ups ruin amounts, but could scribe verb substitutes and double their lengthy-term memory.

Exxon-Mobil closed today at .19. If you're not Jim Cramer of CNBC, the cost has disintegrated out of your 3-pound coconut. Picture the local Exxon station using the following numbers attached.

Begin to see the mechanics striking (Striking is #6) and fighting (Fighting is #5) with scabs (Strike-Breakers), and also the police. (). That's baby-easy, right?

Add some change: See Donald Duck running (Running is #1) following a 600-pound swine (Swine is #9) screaming "Sausage - Sausage." This is the 19 cents. Remember, the mind thinks in Pictures, not amounts.

An excessive amount of trouble? Practice turning numbers in to the Peg-words for just ten-minutes, also it becomes a game title, Fun, and Play, not work. Your mind loves memory methods. Remember you just discover the Peg Words once, plus they work with 10,000 different reminiscences.

Your Single Finest Daily Decision

New information in the Colleges of Miami and Florida contain Killer! understanding for Searching Minds: whether the thing is activities as either a duty to operate or
being an chance to possess fun (play-games) decides failure or success.

One-more-once: your attitude, mood, and belief whether what you're trying
is definitely an obligation-to-work or perhaps an chance to see 'fun-play-games'.

Example: losing ten-pounds of ugly body fat through self-control.

In case your nonconscious mind sees going on a diet as Work, employment, or perhaps a Demand, your energy at
self-control is 90/10 certain to fail. Hold it - most of us have experienced failure in
lengthy-term going on a diet and it is maintenance - how can you transform it into Games-Fun-Play?

Help make your significant-other join you within the contest to win a genuine prize. Smile and laugh together concerning the issues of going on a diet. Celebrate diet-free weekends together.

Career Final results

Should you run a workplace team to create methods to company challenges, you'll need a committed team devoted 24/7 to creativeness, right? Bing is presently selling at 1.45. Experts expect Google to achieve 0 per be part of early 2011.

Google management 'walks-the-walk' of Games-Fun-Play.

What's their cost got related to Games-Fun-Play? They treat their professionals
like precocious ten-year olds. How? The organization provides Free lunch and healthy snacks 24/7, extra slow days, and ping-pong tables within the Entertainment center.

What else? Contests and Awards to the most efficient professionals. Wait - is that this work or play?

Imagine get one-day weekly to analyze your personal factor at the office, not the business's projects?
Google implemented a totally free (Do Your Personal Factor) Day since their beginning. The Boss and Board of Company directors accept is as true drove their stock to in excess of 0.

Self-Control

Dr. J. Laran, College of Miami and the team had their latest research released within the scientific Journal of Consumer Research - 9.21.2010.

Main Point Here:

Professionals with low self-control (immediate or postponed gratification) see days at work being an Obligation to operate. Effective professionals anticipate the daily office experience being an chance to satisfy their pals, and also have Games-Fun-Play.

Emotional Vocabulary

What - Games-Fun-Play are psychologically billed. Like creating a grin on
the face (genuine or fake), these words along with a smile excite your the body's hormones, enzymes and neuropeptides for health insurance and durability. They enhance your mood, attention and arousal for achievement.

Once the word Fun is incorporated within the initial project instructions, even professionals with low self-control enhance their finish product and drive final results up 30%. These energy words contain an electric signal towards the brain to experience not Work.

Good examples of incentives that motivate professionals to greater creativeness and success are:

a) two-hour lunch hrs.

b) three-day weekends
c) free company weekend cruise to Nowhere.
d) compensated up trip to the health spa or gym for the mate.

e) ,000 donation to executive's favorite charitable organisation.

Endwords

There's a conflict within our lives between what we should really control, and our illusion
of control. The truth is family, society and buddies program (condition) us.
How about the press (5-hrs of daily TV), schoolteachers, and management?

We all do actually control our ideas and whether we act in it.

It's of prime importance to understand that our ideas produce our feelings,
and feelings result in our final results and results. Your conscious mind can VETO
objectional ideas and be employed in harmony and cooperation with this effective
nonconsciousness. It's yourconscious choice and decision.
Your values, principals, and thinking designs, along with your choice,
convictions and deeply held opinions - make your emotions, attitudes and feelings.

See ya,

copyright © 2020 H. Bernard Wechsler

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N.B. We've about ten Speed Reading through reviews left. E mail us for any free, no
strings attached system to 3x your speed reading through and 2x your memory.
http://world wide web.speedlearning.org, hbw@speedlearning.org
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Sunday, March 24, 2013

Graco Pack 'N Play Element with Stages, Oasis by Graco

Graco Pack 'N Play Element with Stages, Oasis
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Graco Pack 'N Play Element with Stages, Oasis

Our Pack 'N Play Element playard puts all the essentials into a go-anywhere, do-anything package, which makes traveling with your little one easier than ever. This sleekly-designed playard has airy mesh sides for maximum ventilation, and a removable, full-size bassinet.

Feature

  • Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging
  • Sleek frame design with airy mesh on all sides to provide maximum ventilation, Removable, full-size bassinet provides the perfect spot for baby to catch a nap, at home and away, Quilted mattress pad provides a comfortable nap space for your little one’s sweet dreams, Signature Graco push-button fold makes closing your playard quick and hassle-free, Convenient carrying bag for no-fuss travel and storage

Saturday, March 23, 2013

How you can Assemble Graco's New Pack 'N Play Playard with Reversible Napper & Changer





Step-by-step instructions from the Graco Engineer regarding how to assemble a Graco Pack 'N Play Playard with Reversible Napper & Changer. Moms have spoken and also have m...