A Book a Day, week 3

BOOK FIFTEEN
A "Practice Book" by Leland Powers, this is an educational book from The Leland Powers School of the Spoken Word in Boston, later renamed The Leland Powers School of Radio Theatre & Television. The book was originally published in 1916, this publishing is from 1936

"The purpose of the Practice Book course is to awaken the consciousness of the student to whatever vitality his thought already may possess and to enlarge this possession to the utmost extent possible."

The phrase "vitality of thought" is mentioned 7 times in the introduction, and the word "vitality" alone appears 16 times in those same three pages. There is much warning to the teacher to be able to differentiate false vitality from true thought-vitality.

My grandmother wrote her name inside the front cover with what seems to be her address. Also, many small notes are handwritten inside the covers as well.

"Rythm [sic] in Acting - Tempo and rythm [sic] - discuss - a paper"

"art is puling [sic] passed through thought and [_____] in emotion - form." Oh, I really wish I could read that one word!

There is a battered leather bookmark with worn fringe/tassels that has made a dark stain on the pages it is between.

Online, I found an ad for the Leland Powers School from The American Magazine, September, 1921, boasting that it is "Distinguished for the success of its graduates".


BOOK SIXTEEN

Taken from wikipedia: "James Whitcomb Riley was an American writer and poet...titled the Hoosier Poet, National Poet, and Children's Poet. He began his career in 1875 writing verses in nineteenth century Hoosier dialect.

Riley's chief legacy was his influence in fostering the creation of a midwestern cultural identity. Along with other writers of his era, he helped create a caricature of midwesterners and formed a literary community that rivaled the established eastern literati in popular works."

This is "Riley Fairy Tales", first published in 1887 - this publishing here is from 1923.

Inside the front cover: "Juliette Saylor, from Cousin Ella Pitcairn - Christmas 1924"

But Pitcairn is a new name that I haven't heard in my family yet...

BOOK SEVENTEEN
"Stories for Young Housekeepers" by T. S. Arthur, 1854.

This is definitely the oldest book I have found yet. And it is in fairly good condition...considering that it's 156 years old. On this first page is a tiny inscription that I'm not 100% certain I can decipher.

"Juliette Preston, from Brother Lyman" (as best as I can make out)

Although I don't know if this Juliette Preston is any relation, Juliette is certainly a common name in my family and I'm fascinated to see my brother's name as well. As far as I know, my parents didn't name him after anyone in our family, so it's just a bizarre coincidence.

T.S. Arthur "was a popular nineteenth-century American author. He is most famous for his temperance novel 'Ten Nights in a Bar-Room and What I Saw There' (1854), which helped demonize alcohol in the eyes of the American public." (taken from wikipedia)

UPDATE 9-18-10: Juliette Preston was my great-great-great-grandmother.

BOOK EIGHTEEN
"Hope Loring" by Lilian Bell, 1902.

The book is falling apart and the cover is completely detached from the pages. The only addition to the book is an old label inside the front cover claiming the book to be a part of one Charles Hewitt's library.

A review from November 1st, 1902, in the New York Journal describes the book: "The story is an interesting one, full of thrilling and dramatic situations, and in its description of college life is so full of color, of spirit, of fun and gayety that it is safe to predict that it will become a Princeton classic..."


BOOK NINETEEN
"The World's Sixteen Crucified Saviors; or, Christianity before Christ" by Kersey Graves, 1875.

Inside the front cover, in pencil: "Geo Garver" along with my grandparent's address sticker. That's right, I finally found a George Garver book! Hah!

Between pages 88 and 89 is a newspaper clipping and between 156 and 157 is a typed up summary of the sermon on the mount. I very much recall my grandparents' typewriter and them letting me play with it as a kid when I visited them. My initial thought is that one of them typed this up, but there is no proof behind it - merely a hunch.

The very last page is an ad for another work by the author, "The Biography of Satan." I'd love to hunt that book down.

"Graves' writings today are read mainly by people involved in the Jesus myth hypothesis, although many scholars in that field have denounced Graves as unfactual and unreliable. He is a major source for Acharya S, author of The Christ Conspiracy. His writings even make a brief showing in The Da Vinci Code." (taken from wikipedia)

UPDATE 10-5-10: A 1999 5th edition of "The Biography of Satan" arrived in the mail. Interestingly enough, the book notes that this edition is republished from the 4th edition, which was from 1924. So, for 75 years, there was not enough interest in this book to warrant a new publishing? Then, right before the millennium change, there was? Sadly, it's not a 1st edition like today's book, but it'll be easier to actually read through this copy without fear of destroying the condition of the book.

BOOK TWENTY
Another book by Riley from the pile, this one has some of the same stories/poems as the other, and a lot of others, but with a slightly different name: "Riley Child-Rhymes with Hoosier Pictures" by James Whitcomb Riley, 1898

Inside the front cover: "Miss Jean J Garver, #757-17th St. Des Moines, Iowa, Christmas 1902, from her Grandma Garver"

So, this is my great-grandmother's grandmother's handwriting? My great-great-great grandmother?!? I have no idea what her name is yet. Still researching...

UPDATE 9-18-10: It turns out Jean J. Garver's grandmother was Barbara Roxanne Fusselman, who married George Garver, thus becoming B.R. Garver. Barbara's father was Henry Fusselman, whose name is in book #25.

BOOK TWENTYONE
"Routledge's Etiquette for Ladies" by George Routledge, c. 1865-1912

There is no publishing date in this tiny book, but it was published by the Routledge company when it was known as "Routledge & Sons", which was between the years of 1856 and 1912.

96 pages long, the book is slightly larger than a standard business card.

My grandmother's name is inside the front cover.