Three unusual days today, and four books to showcase them. Today is Good Memory Day, National Popcorn Day, and Gun Appreciation Day. It is also Edgar Allen Poe’s birthday, and I have a nice book from him. First, Happy Birthday to Edgar Allen Poe. He was born January 19, 1809. The book shown is “The Gold Bug” by Edgar Allen Poe, c1920, by Little Leather Library. It is 3 inches by 3 3/4 inches. It is a nice little detective story, and has a cryptogram to decipher.
Next is Good Memory Day today. I have two books. First is “The Cultivation of the Memory” 1879. It is a manual for teachers to help children to remember. They go into great detail into ‘an association of likeness or unlikeness’ to help using other things to remember. Association is the main idea in the book “How to Remember Names and Faces” by Edward Stoddard, 1958. He shows you ways to “‘tag’ a name or face, or other things you are trying to remember, to something else you know already. There are also flashcards with peoples face on one side, and their personal information on the other, to practice with.
Then there is National Popcorn Day. I love popcorn, and also this book that has not only the history of popcorn, but great recipes to cook, with popcorn. ”Popped Culture, a Social History of Popcorn in America” 1999, by Andrew F. Smith.
Lastly is Gun Appreciation Day, today. I have the book “The Book of Rifles, An Encyclopedic Reference Book” by W.H. B. Smith and Joseph E. Smith, 1965. My dad had this book, and I used it for a report in school. My dad made me let him read the report and check accuracy, along with if I properly gave credit. He was a harder grader than my teacher was.
I still like to fire off a few rounds, plunking a cans and such. My wife asks me why I keep my guns in the library? I tell her it’s for Shelf Defense. Have a good read today.
Librarytomes 