Page 16 - Boca Club News - May '21

Page 16, Boca Club News

The Arts

Book Review...“Souvenir Nation:

Relics, Keepsakes, and Curios from the

Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History”

By Nils A. Shapiro Smithsonian Institution.
After a fascinating,
My tip to book lovers: comprehensive opening
Never stop looking! section about the history
and background leading
Regular readers of this monthly to the establishment in
column know by now, this being my 1850 of the extraordinary
186th such review, that I have a great or ganization we
love for books on a wide range of know today as “the
subjects, and that I take advantage of every opportunity to Smithsonian”—which
add to the rather large collection in my home office library. incredibly began in the
It is possible that I may never get to read all of the volumes home of one man who
already on those shelves, but that doesn’t stop me from fitting decided to collect what he
in more when I find new ones that tempt me. felt were important souvenirs of American life—the author With nothing else available, half of a common dish towel was
Sometimes I come across such books in the most presents more than 50 of the most astonishing historical relics, carried by a Confederate horseman as a flag of truce from
unexpected places. Several have earned past reviews in curios and keepsakes from the museum’s vast collection in General Robert E. Lee to Union General Philip H. Sheridan,
this column, among them two stunningly beautiful, lavish, photos and full explanatory texts in a double spread for each. so that Lee could surrender to end the Civil War.
oversized, photo-and-text volumes that are referred to in the The fact that these examples range so widely, from the
trade as coffee table books because they are often displayed interesting to the bizarre, is what makes this book so much fill a glass and brought it to him, holding his head in her lap
in homes to impress guests as examples of one’s “aesthetic” fun—and the discussions it inspires so stimulating! Here are and getting her dress bloodied in the process. Her cuff is in
taste. just a few examples of the too many to list here, all of which the collection.
One of these was “Wise Trees,” a world tour of more are on display in the Smithsonian’s collection: - Cake Pieces from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Birthday
than 50 trees that have historic importance, including the - The Table-top Desk on which Thomas Jefferson wrote Ball. On January 30th, 1934, six thousand birthday balls
Magna Carta Yew near Windsor, England (between 2,000 the Declaration of Independence; were held in thirty-six hundred communities throughout
and 2,500 years old) under whose branches in 1215 King - Towel used as a Flag of Truce. Half of the dish towel the U.S. to celebrate the president’s birthday as part of a
John signed the Magna Carta; and the Flower of Kent Apple that a Confederate horseman carried from General Robert E. fund-raising campaign for charities. In Washington, D.C.,
in Lincolnshire, England, which still grows in the orchard of Lee to Union General Philip H. Sheridan asking him to halt Will Rogers hosted the main event. Eleanor Roosevelt cut
the descendants of Sir Isaac Newton, and from which fell the his advance so that Lee could surrender his troops to end the the large, multicolored birthday cake. Two boxes of the cake
apple that inspired in him the theory of universal gravity. Civil War. He had no other flag available to use. were taken home by the parents of Tillie N. Oberheim, who
The other book was “Letters of Note: An Eclectic - Napoleon’s Napkin, embroidered with his initials, donated them to the museum, where they are today on display
Collection of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider which he gave to wealthy American William Bayard, who in their original boxes.
Audience.” Arranged in what its compiler describes as “a was visiting him on the day Napoleon left exile on the island - Photograph, Dewey-Truman Necktie Poll, Harvey’s
museum of letters,” this collection includes 125 private and of Elba on February 26th, 1815. Department Store. We are all familiar with the photo of Harry
often intimate writings: Queen Elizabeth II’s handwritten - Hair of Persons of Distinction and Hair of the S. Truman grinning broadly as he held up the newspaper with
note to President Eisenhower containing her recipe for drop Presidents. Several dozen locks of hair clipped from the headline prematurely—and inaccurately—announcing
scones; thoughts about love from John Steinbeck to his son; presidents George Washington to Franklin Pierce, and from Dewey’s victory over him in the presidential election. The
a job application from Leonardo da Vinci; a design brief such distinguished Americans as Professor Samuel F.B. Smithsonian collection includes another photograph, this one
from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol for an album cover; a Morse, sculptor Clark Mills, Generals Winfield Scott and of a Nashville, Tennessee clothing store window that showed
12-year-old Fidel Castro’s note to U.S. President Franklin Sam Houston, Senators Henry Clay and Jefferson Davis, and the results of its own kind of election poll: Dewey neckties
D. Roosevelt...and so many more, almost every one of others. had sold out, while Truman ties were still available for half-
these reproduced visually in the original handwriting—a - Laura Keene’s Bloodstained Cuff, Worn at Ford’s price! It seems that Thomas E. Dewey won everyplace but
truly handsome, sumptuously designed volume with ribbon Theater. Laura Keene was an actress waiting in the wings, where it counted!
place marker. I discovered both this and “Wise Trees” ready to come onstage when John Wilkes Booth brushed past Whether for knowledge, reference, excitement or fun,
while shopping at different times with my wife, Linda, in her after shooting President Lincoln and jumping from the look for books everywhere you go.
furniture stores (!), both books literally placed on coffee balcony. Hearing that the President needed water, she ran to
tables for purposes of adding elegance to the display settings.
Intrigued by the subject matter, I convinced the owners to let
me purchase them at the cover prices, which in the case of Everyone deserves a doctor who they
“Letters of Note” was $40.
At the other extreme was another book, “Spoiled trust and like. One who listens and
Brats,” a collection of short stories which I purchased at
a neighborhood Dollar Tree, and which turned out to be takes their time to answer questions
one of the most hilarious reads ever—for just one dollar!
I confess I had never until then heard of its author, Simon and address concerns. A doctor who is
Rich—widely considered to be one of America’s greatest
humorists—but recommended it highly in this column and available when you need them most.
have since purchased a more recent of his books, “Hits and
Misses,” at full price, loved it just as much, and recently
reviewed it here.
Which brings me to this month’s title, and the point I want I provide proactive, preventive, wellness & sick care to
to make about why it pays to look for interesting books at adult patients at my concierge medical practice.
every opportunity.
Once again, “Souvenir Nation” was one of those
remarkable “finds” just staring me in the face as I walked To discuss your health needs, and my care model, you
the aisles of a neighborhood Dollar Tree store browsing for
toothpaste, shampoo, light bulbs and other odds and ends. are invited to a complimentary meet and greet with
A visually interesting design and the name Smithsonian me - by video, phone or, when the pandemic permits,
National Museum of American History on the cover was
sufficient to attract my attention, and when I flipped through in-person at my practice.
the pages and realized the nature of the contents I was hooked.
This much fun for $1? Please call 561.368.0191 to schedule your meet and
But it wasn’t until several weeks later, when I took the
time to actually look through the book and appreciate its greet with me. I look forward to meeting you.
uniqueness (and its good value even at this hard-cover’s
original price of $24.95), that I decided to bring it to the Steven E. Reznick, MD, FACP
attention of this column’s readers. For this is a certain Recognized as a “Best Doc”. Practicing in our community since 1979.
“conversation starter,” a book you will want to share with
friends at every get-together—one that offers the same kind
of Ripley’s Believe-it-or-Not appeal which for decades has 7280 W. Palmetto Park Road | Suite 205N | Boca Raton | 33433
fascinated millions. ww.BocaConciergeDoc.com
The author, William L. Bird, Jr. is a historian and
curator at the National Museum of American History,