The Slice: Another informal time capsule

Regular readers may well be asking themselves a question by now.

Is he going to keep running lists of things people found behind the walls of their houses forever?

Yes. Yes, I am.

Here’s one from Ed and Jan Reynolds.

“The June, 1909 issue of Green’s Fruit Grower magazine.”

Could be readable.

“A three-inch cow horn.”

Yes, some have horns.

“An ear of corn with the husk pulled back but still attached.”

Probably a bit dry by now.

“An undated invoice for maintenance on a Remington Model 78 electric shaver. $3.61 for a condenser, points, two resistors, a roller and a terminal plus cleaning, oiling and adjusting.”

Seems a might spendy.

“A postcard invitation to the August 25, 1946, Iowans’ picnic in Manito Park.”

Maybe we should still have these state picnics.

“A tiny bottle which, the label says, held an eighth of an ounce of strychnine sulph crystals.”

Let’s assume it wasn’t used for nefarious purposes.

“Part Two of the Sunday, November 16, 1913, The Spokesman-Review.”

That included a story “Country Club Will Close Its Season Next Saturday.”

The article was accompanied by a poem. It’s a takeoff on “Break, Break, Break” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson. I didn’t know that, but Ed did.

Broke, broke, broke,

No funds for taxi or bus.

The way is far and we have no car:

What use is the club to us?

Ah, well, for the millionaire’s son

As he speeds with his fair one to play:

Ah, well, for the young doctor, too,

As he sings in his Ford on the way.

And the stately motors roll on

To that heaven under the hill.

But O, for a seat in a vanishing car,

And the sound of a voice that is still.

Break, break, break,

’Gainst my sad, gray ribs, O heart:

For the tender now of a lift to the club

Is no longer considered smart.

Slice answer: “ ‘Let me think about it’ gave us hope as kids,” wrote Craig Heimbigner. “It was when we requested something and Dad responded, ‘Yeah, well, people in hell want ice water,’ we knew we weren’t getting it.”

Today’s Slice question: Do you have a spring break secret you will take to your grave?

Write The Slice at P. O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210; call (509) 459-5470; email pault@spokesman.com. Do you get along with the neighbor chickens?