Today is March 13. Could be an interesting day. First, across the pond in England today, is No Smoking Day. Let’s discuss a little with books. I have “MacFadden’s Encyclopedia of Physical Culture-Five volumes”, published 1920. Bernarr MacFadden was a health kook, (albeit an interesting kook) at the turn of the 19th century. I have a lot of his books. This set is interesting for several reasons. I bought it thinking it was four volumes-that is what the book dealer was selling. I will now never forget-‘caveat emptor’-let the buyer beware. It took the internet, a few years later to find that missing volume five.
The second reason for loving this set is the fold-out pages in volume one. This Manikin has several fold outs, beginning with the human body. Then there are muscles, circulatory system, internal organs, and finally the skeleton. Wonderful pages. As for No Smoking, MacFadden cautions us by reminding “The severe and agonizing illness following the smoking of “the first cigar” is an experience too common to require description.”
There are several other books I have discussing smoking. Both of these are school text books. There is Cleanliness and Health Protection’ by C.E. Turner, Juanita McD. Melchior, and Grace Voris Curl, published 1941. The book promotes being healthy and clean, along with eating good foods. The authors remind us to “avoid tobacco, things that have an injurious effect upon the body and mind.”
The other book is from a series of health books I have – first through fourth grade. “Health By Doing, Fourth Grade” is from the Health, Happiness, Success textbooks published 1931. They strive to teach good habits. I have several quotes: “Tobacco does no one any good.” “A growing boy may wreck his whole life by starting such a habit.” And one illustration:
March 13th is also National Jewel Day. I thought I would display several books I have on an explorer, who searched for treasures and jewels in South America in the early 1900’s. William LaFarre wrote these three books: “Up the Marzaruni for Diamonds” published 1919; “Southward Ho! A Treasure Hunter in South America” published 1940; and “Gold, Diamonds and Orchids” published 1935.
LaVarre was quite the explorer, and also a publisher. His books were riveting. In 1938, he met a prison escapee, Rene Belbenoit, and published his book “Dry Guillotine”. It is considered the true basis for the novel Papillon by Henri Carriere, published in 1969.
March 13th is also my birthday. And I think often of the present given six years ago, from my wife-a 1998 Jeep.
Today’s National Jewel is my wife. She has been both for almost 44 years. When I sit in that Jeep she gifted, I feel like an explorer. I can go anywhere, do anything. The world is still before me. Just after this picture was taken, I put a front license plate holder on it that states “Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads.”
Sometimes we don’t just read, we need to do. Get out in the clean, fresh air with the top off, and explore. Go have some fun today.
Librarytomes 