Page 14 - Boca Expsore - May '21

Page 14, Boca Exposure
Book Review

Souvenir Nation: Relics,
Keepsakes, And Curios From

The Smithsonian’s National

Museum Of American History

By Nils A. Shapiro

My tip to book lovers:
Never stop looking!

Regular readers of this
monthly column know by
now, this being my 186th
such review, that I have a
great love for books on a With nothing else available, half of a common dish towel was carried by a
wide range of subjects, and Confederate horseman as a flag of truce from General Robert E. Lee to Union
that I take advantage of every But it wasn’t until several weeks later, General Philip H. Sheridan, so that Lee could surrender to end the Civil War.
opportunity to add to the rather large collection in my home when I took the time to actually look through
office library. It is possible that I may never get to read all of the book and appreciate its uniqueness (and its value at this - Hair of persons of distinction and hair of the presidents.
the volumes already on those shelves, but that doesn’t stop 176-page hardcover’s original price of $24.95), that I decided Several dozen locks of hair clipped from presidents George
me from fitting in more when I find new ones that tempt me. to bring it to the attention of this column’s readers. For this is Washington to Franklin Pierce, and from such distinguished
Sometimes I come across such books in the most a certain “conversation starter,” a book you will want to share Americans as Professor Samuel F.B. Morse, Sculptor Clark
unexpected places. Several have earned past reviews in with friends at every get-together – one that offers the same Mills, Generals Winfield Scott and Sam Houston, Senators Henry
this column, among them two stunningly beautiful, lavish, kind of Ripley’s Believe-it-or-Not appeal which for decades Clay and Jefferson Davis, and others.
oversized, photo-and-text volumes that are referred to has fascinated millions. - Laura Keene’s bloodstained cuff, worn at Ford’s
in the trade as coffee table books because they are often The author, William L. Bird, Jr. is a historian and curator Theater. Laura Keene was an actress waiting in the wings,
displayed in homes to impress guests as examples of one’s at the National Museum of American History, Smithsonian ready to come onstage when John Wilkes Booth brushed past her
“aesthetic” taste. Institution. After a fascinating, comprehensive opening section after shooting President Lincoln and jumping from the balcony.
One of these was Wise Trees, a world tour of more than about the history and background leading to the establishment Hearing that the president needed water, she ran to fill a glass
50 trees that have historic importance, including the Magna in 1850 of the extraordinary organization we know today as and brought it to him, holding his head in her lap and getting her
Carta Yew near Windsor, England (between 2,000 and 2,500 “the Smithsonian” – which incredibly began in the home of dress bloodied in the process. Her cuff is in the collection.
years old) under whose branches in 1215 King John signed the one man who decided to collect what he felt were important - Cake pieces from Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Birthday
Magna Carta; and the Flower of Kent Apple in Lincolnshire, souvenirs of American life – the author presents more than 50 of Ball. On Jan. 30, 1934, 6,000 birthday balls were held in 3,600
England, which still grows in the orchard of the descendants of the most astonishing historical relics, curios and keepsakes from communities throughout the U.S. to celebrate the president’s
Sir Isaac Newton, and from which fell the apple that inspired the museum’s vast collection in photos and full explanatory birthday as part of a fundraising campaign for charities. In
in him the theory of universal gravity. texts in a double spread for each. Washington, D.C., Will Rogers hosted the main event. Eleanor
The other book was Letters of Note: An Eclectic Collection The fact that these examples range so widely, from the Roosevelt cut the large, multicolored birthday cake. Two boxes of
of Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience. Arranged interesting to the bizarre, is what makes this book so much the cake were taken home by the parents of Tillie N. Oberheim,
as what its compiler describes as “a museum of letters,” this fun – and the discussions it inspires so stimulating! Here are who donated them to the museum, where they are today on
collection includes 125 private and often intimate writings: just a few examples of the too-many-to-list-here, all of which display in their original boxes.
Queen Elizabeth II’s handwritten note to President Eisenhower are on display in the Smithsonian’s collection: - Photograph, Dewey-Truman necktie poll, Harvey’s
containing her recipe for drop scones; thoughts about love from - The table-top desk on which Thomas Jefferson wrote the department store. We are all familiar with the photo of Harry
John Steinbeck to his son; a job application from Leonardo Declaration of Independence; S. Truman grinning broadly as he held up the newspaper with the
da Vinci; a design brief from Mick Jagger to Andy Warhol - Towel used as a flag of truce. Half of the dish towel that headline prematurely – and inaccurately – announcing Dewey’s
for an album cover; a 12-year-old Fidel Castro’s note to a Confederate horseman carried from General Robert E. Lee victory over him in the presidential election. The Smithsonian
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ... and so many more, to Union General Philip H. Sheridan asking him to halt his collection includes another photograph, this one of a Nashville,
almost every one of these reproduced visually in the original advance so that Lee could surrender his troops to end the Civil Tennessee clothing store window that showed the results of its
handwriting – a truly handsome, sumptuously designed War. He had no other flag. own kind of election poll: Dewey neckties had sold out, while
volume with a ribbon place marker. I discovered both this and - Napoleon’s napkin, embroidered with his initials, which Truman ties were still available for half-price! It seems that
Wise Trees while shopping at different times with my wife, he gave to wealthy American William Bayard, who was visiting Thomas E. Dewey won everyplace but where it counted!
Linda, in furniture stores (!), both books literally placed on him on the day Napoleon left exile on the island of Elba on Whether for knowledge, reference, excitement or fun, look
coffee tables for purposes of adding elegance to the display Feb. 26, 1815. for books everywhere you go.
settings. Intrigued by the subject matter, I convinced the
owners to let me purchase them at the cover prices, which in
the case of Letters of Note was $40.
At the other extreme was another book, Spoiled Brats, a
collection of short stories which I purchased at a neighborhood
Dollar Tree, and which turned out to be one of the most
hilarious reads ever – for just one dollar! I confess I had never
until then heard of its author, Simon Rich – widely considered
to be one of America’s greatest humorists – but recommended
it highly in this column and have since purchased one of his Stylish Modern Atmosphere Make Reservations happy hour
more recent books, Hits and Misses, at full price, loved it just every Day 3 - 6 pm
as much, and recently reviewed it here.
Which brings me to this month’s title, and the point I want and Mon. - Thurs.
to make about why it pays to look for interesting books at all Day at Bar Only
every opportunity.
Once again, Souvenir Nation was one of those Lunch SpeciaLS
remarkable “finds” just staring me in the face as I walked
the aisles of a neighborhood Dollar Tree store browsing for every Day
toothpaste, shampoo, light bulbs and other odds and ends. $
A visually interesting design and the name – Smithsonian starting at 9
National Museum of American History – on the cover
was sufficient to attract my attention, and when I flipped
through the pages and realized the nature of the contents
I was hooked. This much fun for $1?

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