The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 57, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 January 1987 — Page 14
THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., January 28,1987
14
Review of Miracle at Philadelphia
The reissue of Miracle at Philadelphia, written more than 20 years ago by the late Catherine Drinker Bowen, is a service to the country. This service is enhanced by the fact that The Book-of-the-Month Club, which has never offered the same book twice as its main selection, has for the second time made Miracle at Philadelphia a main selection for November of 1986, thus ensuring a very wide readership. 'No single popular work will convey as much to the reader about our Constitution as this splendid book. Mrs. Bowen devoted her talent and, indeed, her life to probing the history of governments and their leaders. Her most popular books were: Yankee from Olympus: Justice Holmes and His Family, John Adams and the American Revolution, Francis Bacon: The Temper of a Man, and The Lion and the Throne: The Life and Times of Sir Edward Coke. On one occasion, more than 30 years ago, I had the privilege of sharing a dinner with her, and I was fascinated to learn how she did her'studies of 20th century figures, Oliver Wendell Holmes, for example, and then worked backed into the 18th and 17th centuries. The drafting of our Constitution — from May to September, 1787 — is one of the greatest stories in our history and Miracle at Philadelphia tells it in very readable way. Mrs. Bowen spent many months reading widely about the events that took place during that hot Philadelphia summer. Then she put her fine mind to work and created a narrative that a is not only sophisticated and historically accurate, but also intelligible to the general reader and as exciting as a detective story. One of her purposes, as she later explained in Biography: The Craft and the Calling, was to make the reader anxiously ask, “Are they going to sign this Constitution, will it go through? Or are these 55 delegates simply talking themselves into an impasse?” Mrs. Bowen had a rare talent for description, an ability that makes the reader feel a part of the story. She makes us see and appreciate Madison’s scholarship, Hamilton’s organizational genius, Franklin’s ability to use his seniority to score points in debate, and Washington’s gentle but firm leadership. Here is George Wythe of Virginia, and the great law teacher of Jefferson, Marshall,, and other leaders: “At 60, Wythe looked like a sinewy old eagle. A long sharp nose nearly met a jutting chin, the head went into a point at the top.” In the records of the Convention, when James Wilson of Pennsylvania “rises to speak it is as if an electric charge passes down the page.” And Gouverneur Morris, “once launched and on his
Blue River receives award
US Senator Richard Lugar, honorary member of the Grefen Thumb advisory committee, has announced that Blue River Developmental Services, Corydon, has received the Indiana Green Thumb Project of the Year Award. The project was selected from over 400 Green Thumb projects operating in 86 Indiana counties. Blue River Developmental Services is a rehabilitation center, servicing developmentally disabled individuals. These handicapped people are helped to increase their skill and learning aptitudes in the areas of education, socialization and production. In doing so, it is the intention that individuals be able to increase their vocational abilities and be placed competitively in the job force. It has been fortunate to have had the experienced Green Thumb workers augmenting the existing services in the area of vocational training since 1984. Indiana Green Thumb is celebrating its 21st year of operation in 1987. It is a community service employment program, funded by the Department of
Did You Know . . . As A Result Os Our Commitment To High Quality Health Care 36%' Os Our Residents Were Able To Return To Their Own Homes ‘Based On Indiana State Board Os Health Statistics, 1985 Merry Manor, Inc. P.O. Box 377 WARSAW, IN 46580 (219)267-8196 BRUCE MEHLHOP, M.A. Administrator 1 Providers Os 24 Hour Professional Nursing Care
By WARREN E. BURGER Chairman, Commission On The Bicentennial Os The Constitution Chief Justice Os The United States, 1969-1986
Labor, which provides part-time work for low income persons, 55 years of age and over. Green Thumb is funded under Title V of the Older Americans Act and is sponsored by National Farmers Union. Nationally, Green Thumb operates in 45 states, providing over 18,000 jobs. Green Thumb participates at the following worksites in Kosciusko County: Cardinal Center, Tri-County Fish and Wildlife Area, Kosciusko American Red Cross, and Police investigating hit-skip in Milford Members of the Milford Police department are investigating a hit-skip at 408 W. Catherine Street. On the evening of January 22 an unidentified vehicle struck the passenger door of a 1978 Pontiac Trans Am owned by Vicki Wilson. Damages were listed at S2OO by Milford Town Marshal David Hobbs. No report was made following the accident.
feet — wooden leg, stout cane, flashing eyes — seldom stopped short of his oratorical goal.” She shows us how the delegates dressed, where they stayed in the city, how they spent their off hours. She also describes how, offstage, John Adams in London and Thomas Jefferson in Paris reacted to events in the Convention. Mrs. Bowen does something urjusual in the ■middle of her narrative: She moves us from Philadelphia and, in a three-chapter digression, describes the country in 1787 as seen largely from the eyes of foreign observers. When we return to the convention, still in crisis, still unable to decide the most important issues, we understand better why the country needed a new government and why these men with their seemingly narrow sectional loyalties were somehow able to draft and complete a charter for the new nation. Mrs. Bowen goes on to describe the Convention’s dramatic conclusion — the “Great Compromise” that broke the deadlock between the large and small states over representation in Congress, the compromise over slavery, the rejection of a bill of rights, and the final drafting by the Committee on Style and Arrangement. Her description of the signing ceremony is particularly poignant: Benjamin Franklin makes an eloquent closing speech urging the delegates to put aside their disagreements over particular points and to subscribe “to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such.” But three delegates, including Edmund Randolph, then governor of Virginia and later the first Attorney General of the United States, have some reservations and apologetically decline to sign their names. Mrs. Bowen then describes, again in her inimitable, vivid style, the battle over ratification and the jubilant festivities when New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution. It is a remarkable story: Last year when the President appointed me Chairman of the Commission on the Bicentennial of the United States Constitution, I called Mr. Kevin Dolan at Little, Brown & Company, and urge him to consider republication of this excellent work. I am pleased that Little, Brown decided to do so. That decision, like the decision of the Book-of-the-Month Club to again make this work its main selection, is an important service to the Bicentennial of the Constitution and will contribute a great deal to its celebration. Mrs. Bowen’s book is important not only for its literary value, but also for its ability to foster widespread understanding of the origins of our freedoms.
Heartline Pregnancy Care and Counseling. Indiana Green Thumb employs 700 men and women who work with tax-supported and non-profit organizations, doing a wide variety of essentially worthwhile services that local host agencies otherwise could not afford. There were 12 percent of the Indiana Green Thumb participants placed in private employment off the program last year. Indiana Green Thumb is an equal opportunity employer. For further information, please contact Indiana Green Thumb, PO Box 687, Seymour, Ind. 47274 or phone 812-522-7930. Beauty shop fire extinguished Syracuse Fire Department was called to a fire at a beauty shop on CR 900 N, east of SR 13, at 3:13 p.m. Wednesday, Jan 21. Damage was estimated at $2,000. Patty Johnson, r 4 Syracuse, is the owner of the beauty shop. The cause of the fire has been listed as an electric heater.
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WINTER WONDERLAND — All this snow and sub-zero weather is more than days out of school for youngsters and slipping and sliding on the icicles. To three lads in Mijford, fascinated by the winter wonderland sights, they pulled down three enormous ice cycles from a Main Streethome. Shown from left are Cory Manning, Ryan Kyper and Daria Murphy.
From the Syracuse Police log —
Winter Carnival postponed
The following information was obtained from the log of the Syracuse Police and Fire Department: ] JANUARY 21 ( 6:43 a.m. — Domestic problem' at Wawasee Motel 7:51 a.m. — Property damage accident on Syracuse-Milford Road 10:45 a.m. — Car in the ditch on/ CR7OOE / 12:20 a.m. — Snowmobiles,going through aya rd; CR 530E \ 3:13 p.m. — North Webster Fire Department reported a fire; CR 900 and SR 13 6:40 p.m. — Car sitting in road; CR 900 and SR 13 , 10 p.m. — Officer wanted on North Indiana Avenue JANUARY 22 12:44 a m. — Woman reported her car was missing 1:21 a.m. — Report of water and sewage" backing up in the bathroom 8:34 a m. — East end of South County Line Road is drifted shut 11:12 a.m. — Report of a lockout, has electric locks 3:22 p.m. — Property damage accident by Dana 4:04 p.m. — Property damage accident; West parking lot 5:15 p.in — Check book reported lost JANUARY 23 6:55 a.m. — Garrett Police Department reported vehicle stalled on tracks; Leeland crossing 6:58 p.m. — Request to transport subject to Fort Wayne; for dialysis machine 7:05 a m. — Road condition request 7:06 a.m. — School closings request 7:28 a>m. — Request to transport father to Fort Wayne 1:16 p.m. — Winter Carnival postponed until next weekend 3:12 p.m. — County highway advised if snowplow needed contact sheriff’s department 3:50 p.m. — Property damage accident; US 6 and SR 15 11:25 p.m. — Abandoned car; CR33 JANUARY 24 6:47 a.m. — Gates down at SR 13 railroad crossing 8:16 a.m. — Report of smoke alarm trouble 8:39 a.m. — Call concerning winter carnival 10:22 a.m. — Water pressure on North Harrison low, acting up 11:27 a.m. — B & 0 request water be taken to train engine 1:37 p.m. — Snowmobile complaint 10:06 p.m. — Property damage accident at Crazy Corners
Christians are not called to merely endure change, nor to profit by it, but to cause it. You are welcome to join us for worship this week. 9:00 A.M. — Sunday Morning Bible School 10:00 A.M. — Sunday Morning Worship 7:00 P.M. — Sunday Evening Service 7:00 P.M. — Wednesday Evening Bible Study For All Ages Starting February 15, we will be showing the new James Dobson film series, "Turn Your Heart Toward Home". It will start each Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m. and run for 6 weeks. Everyone is welcome to attend.
CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF MILFORD fourth & Henry Streets 658-9151 MILFORD z
JANUARY 25 7:44 a.m. — No water on Maple Grove 9:44 a.m. — Request if Mount Wawasee was open 10:29 a.m. — Report of doors frozen shut on a vehicle 10:47 a.m. — Report three subjects in a yard with guns hunting “ 1:38 p.m. — Vehicle in the roadway ; east end of airport 4:40 p.m. — Report of smelling smoke on a back porch 11:20 p.m. — Hot wire down on Milford Road; Possible accident
It's our business —
Educational pitfalls
WEST LAFAYETTE — Indiana’s legislature has just begun its major biennial session. As is often the case, funding for our Schools and universities will occupy much of our lawmakers’ time. The governor has proposed to levy new taxes to finance new program initiatives for public schools costing an estimated $373 million for the next two years. The Indiana State Teachers Assdciation, as expected and as usual, is proposing that large amounts of new tax money be put into the school system and teacher salaries. All of this push for extra educational support is based upon the assumption that Indiana does not do as well by its schools as most other states. These funding shortcomings are supposed to result in poorer public schools, poorer universities and a lower rate of economic development than those of states which pour more money into their educational systems. In truth, no studies have established any meaningful relationships between the differences in spelling by various states and the educational achievements of their students. Public school systems nationwide are performing in a very mediocre way. Mary and Johnnie can graduate from our high schools and not be able to adequately read, write or do simple arithmetic. This is a national shortcoming of schools in all states. When the secretary of education identified what he considered outstanding schools throughout the nation, some of them were in tight-fisted Indiana! Additionally, it is not possible to correlate the levels of economic development of a particular state and the relative amount of money it spends on its schools and universities. The
JANUARY 26 12:04 a.m. — Accident on Pickwick Road 11:03 a.m. — Report gates not working at East Shore crossing 1:20 p.m. — Report of subjects putting trash in dumpster 2:03 p.m. — Vehicle through a fence; cattle loose 6:29 p.m. — Possible smoke at Kinro 10:40 p.m. — North Webster requested tanker for assistance on trailer fire
governor’s program makes a special push for keeping children in school longer. Nearly threefourths of the requested new #373 million is to fund a longer school year and extension of summer school. Again there is little evidence of a positive relationship between small differences in the days spent in the classroom and educational achievement. Two years ago, the Governor’s Special Advisory Commission on Public Education offered its recommendations on how to improve our schools. That remarkable document should receive more attention from our legislators and the public. The Commission focused on how to get an improved educational product from the dollars spent. It emphasized improving basic education, reducing non-teaching overhead, and returning discipline to the classroom. It emphasized that unless there was increased parental involvement and interest, there would be little improvement in our children’s education. It agreed that starting salaries for teachers are too low and that the young people attracted into the teaching profession are often not our best. However, its major point was that the salary system should recognize merit and performance — not just the amount of past education and tenure. Let us remind our legislators that the big problem is how to obtain improved results from our tax dollar. This problem cannot be solved by simply requiring longer attendance in a faulty operating system! Let us also not fall prey to the practice Americans too often unsuccessfully follow — if there is a public problem, throw more government money at it and it will go away!
Dale Kuhns Minister If You Need Transportation To Sunday Morning Worship Call 658-9151
It happened in . North Webster
10 YEARS AGO. JAN. 26,1977 The recent ratification of ERA by the Indiana Legislature was the topic of the citizenship discussion led by Edith Hoffert when the Backwater Friends Home Economics Club met in the home of Rosy Mort, r 1 North Webster. Mrs. Mort was assisted by Jean Coverstone. Ministers of the Lakeland community were guests of the Kiwanis Club of Lakeland, North Webster, on January 24. The public is invited to the Legion Post 253 open House in North Webster on Saturday, Feb. 5. There will be a chili-hot dog supper from 5-8 p.m. followed by a dance at 9 p.m. Ron Harris and Joe Ray will be playing for the dance starting at 9 p.m. and will play till everyone goes home. 20 YEARS AGO, JAN. 25,1967 Dean Tucker, well known North Webster resident, was the winner of the annual North Webster Jaycees Distinguished Service Award at a djnner > meeting last Thursday night. Mike Vanator, a Purdue university student, is spending a week with his parents between semesters. His mother, Mrs. Ray Vanator, and Mrs. Ermal Vanater, his grandmother, drove to Lafayette Friday to bring him home. Miss Sharon Kaye Bockman of North Webster, a junior at Miami university, Oxford, Ohio, is one of 34 coeds from the school competing for the title of “Miss Miami 1967” in a pageant January 24-28. The contest is an official qualifying event for the 1967 Miss Ohio Pageant. The annual report for the town of North Webster has been released for the year 1966. It shows balances on hand December 31 of $5,231.50 in the general fund, $3,696.16 in the motor vehicle highway fund, no balance in the fireman’s fund and $1,469.22 in the cumulative capital improvement fund. 30 YEARS AGO, JAN. 24,1957 Richard Bennett, son of Mrs. Robert Kenney, arrived home Wednesday evening from Indiana University in Bloomington. Richard, who is majoring in art at the University, will spend four weeks at home. .Mr. Charles Wagner, of Homewood, Illinois, visited Mr. and Mrs. Jack Wood and family Saturday. Wagner, who owns his own airplane flew from Illinois to the Warsaw Municipal Airport where he was met by Mr. Wood. Jack was formerly employed by Mr. Wagner. Mrs. Ada Klink is spending the week near Kimmell visiting the Keith Slabaugh home. LuAnn Mock spent the week end with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mock. Mr. and Mrs. Orva Miller and daughter visited Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Meredith and son of Elkhart Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. Thurlow Mock had a birthday dinner Sunday for their son, Stevie, who was six years old on Monday. Mr. and Mrs. Joe Barrett and sons, Rev. and Mrs. Chester Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Sam Rhodes, Mrs. Edith Shoemaker, and Mrs. Warren Mock attended a cookware demonstration dinner Saturday evening at the home of
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ARNOLD DEFINES KIWANIS THEME — Don Arnold, center, past president of the Lakeland and Milford Kiwanis Clubs and now serving as lieutenant governor of the Land of Lakes Division of Kiwanis Indiana District, explained the major emphasis theme of Kiwanis International for the North Webster Club on Monday morning, Jan. 19. With Arnold are past lieutenant governor Sherman Bryant, left, and Lakeland Kiwanis president-elect. and program -chairman Jack Maule, on right. The lieutenant governor pointed out the major emphasis theme of Kiwanis International for this year is “Take Time To Care.” He used a film to illustrate the goals and objectives for this major emphasis program. The chief objective of the program is to help in the rehabilitation of children. One of the ways that Kiwanis Clubs in Indiana are helping in this way is through financial assistance to the trauma center of Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis. Lakeland Kiwanis Club participated in this fund-raising effort in November and early December and presented its contribution at the district mid-winter conference. Joel Massey, president of Counting House Bank, was a guest at this meeting.
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Mr. and Mrs. Ormel Kline? \ Mr. and Mrs. Mervin Wagoner and family moved to Webster Wednesday into the home formerly occupied by the Charles Menzie family. Mrs. George Staples, past chief, assisted by grand senior, Mrs. Charles Menzie and grand Manager, Mrs. Robert Kenney, conducted the installation of newly elected Pythian Sisters officers for 1957. Mrs. Ermal Vanator was installed as most excellent chief. The Afternoon Circle of the Methodist Church met at the home of Mrs. John Shock. Mrs. Abby Abrams had the lesson and Mrs. Florence LeCount was in charge of devotions. A nominating committee for new officers was appointed. They are Mrs. Robert Roose, Mrs. John Shock, Mrs. Anna Bower, and Mrs. Howard Locke. $3,500 fire damages to mobile home - North Webster Fire Department was called to a mobile home fire at 10:34 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at the intersection of CR 800 N and CR 600E. Damage was estimated at $3,500. Fite Chief Gary Hill stated the fire was contained within the ceiling of the living room of the home. The mobile home is owned and occupied by Robert Jones, r 2 box 552 Syracuse. No one was injured. Syracuse Fire Department was called for assistance with the tanker. North Webster Firemen arrived at the scene at 10:42 p.m. Prompt response by Syracuse was noted by Chief Hill. The cause of the fire was a woodburning stove which apparently became to hot dfend the heat build up at the ceiling level caught the ceiling on fire?? Firemen were excused from the scene at 11:30’p.m. There were three trucks from North Webster responding to the call in addition to the tanker from Syracuse. Investigation completed in Wooten house fire Damage has been estimated at $30,000 to the home of Michael Wooten, 201 N. Lake Street, "Syracuse, which was destroyed by fire on Tuesday, Jan. 13. The cause of the early morning fire, which has been under extensive investigation, is believed to have been started by a possible electrical short in the basement. Syracuse Firemen/were called to the home at 4:210tn. Wooten and a friend escaped without injury. Firemen report Wooten was awoken by his own coughing from the smoke and after waking a friend in a different room, they jumped out of the upstairs bedroom window and went to a neighbor’s home to call the fire department. Extensive amount of smoke was found at the home when firemen arrived and fire could be seen in the basement window. The fire was extinguished by two firemen wearing air packs.