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Volume V, No. 2, Winter 1977 |
REFLECTIONS FROM THE EDITOR
It doesn't seem possible that we have completed half of Volume V, but we have. The time sure flies when you're having fun and almost as rapidly when you have a deadline looming ahead. Fortunately we have always managed to meet those deadlines.
We have seven new staff members this fall but can hardly call them new anymore. Everyone is busily working on stories and in the various departments quite well.
Mrs. Massey has been asked to serve on a panel of practitioners for the research on "The Impact of Experimental Education on Student Participants," being conducted by Diane Hedin and Dan Conrad at the University of Minnesota. The board is on behalf of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, The National Association of Independent Schools and the National Catholic Education Association. It is being funded by the Spencer Foundation and the Rockefeller Family Foundation.
The purpose of this research is to provide school administrators with concrete evidence of the benefits of experimental education, that is, programs that put the student in a real life working experience, such as Bittersweet. Twenty to twenty-five programs across the United States will be represented on this panel. We were very honored that our project was selected to represent the cultural journalism aspect.
We have been very busy this fall with speaking engagements. In the month of October we attended a district reading symposium, the Southwest District Teachers Meeting with librarians, the Officers Wives Club at Whiteman Air Force Base, the Springfield, Missouri, Writers Guild, and we held a workshop at Southwest High School in Kansas City where a sophomore class plans to have a publication.
Congratulations to Salt and Foxfire on the publications of their new books. Salt of Kennebunk, Maine, has offered a totally new dimension to student publications. Their book contains stories of New England--the customs, the people and the sea.
Foxfire 4 is every bit as good as the three previous ones. Included are stories on gardening, horse trading and others pertaining to plain living.
I would like to thank the Dr. Howard Carrington family for the gift of five new tape recorders in memory of his wife, Jane. This was a very timely gift as our old recorders were not too dependable anymore. After discovering the only thing we recorded on a couple of all day interviews was static, we especially appreciate the new equipment. Thanks from all the staff for the help and our deepest sympathy for your loss.
Two days after our last issue went to the printer we received word that Johnny Starnes had passed away. Mr. Starnes was featured in "I Dreamed I Was in Heaven," on page 53 of Volume IV, Number 2.
D.F.
REFLECTIONS FROM OUR READERS
Dear Bittersweet:
When we moved to the Ozarks in Dec. '44, I heard a lot about the folks who'd gone to the city to work in war plants and so many young fellows who were in service. Seemed like any time I rested a bit I couldn't help scribbling about the wonderful Ozarks. Naturally, a bit about "what folks talked about" got worked in. Then, while I was resting one afternoon, the growl of trucks hauling logs to the mill told me! That's what they're doing now!
Agnes Parsons,
Springfield, Missouri
Ozark PeopleUncle Sam cried out for help--
Sent word through hill and valley.
"Our country needs us, everyone!
To all our cities rally!"
They dropped the hoe,
Put up the gun--
The hounds were left to wander.
The message passed by word of mouth,
"They need us all up yonder."
They ate store boughten bacon;
They bought tinned turnip greens;
They worked hard--and long hours,
Far from their childhood scenes.
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The wives wore boughten undies,
And started wearing slacks.
It was so good to get away
From making clothes from sacks.
The men had store bought liquor,
With always cash to pay.
They'd come to help their country--
Easy living made them stay.
Then--the war was over.
The "boys" all coming back
Made living quarters crowded,
Brought remembrance of "the shack."
Deep in the lovely Ozarks
Are some swell folks of this nation.
They're busy cutting timber--
To help the "Housing Situation."
Miz Parsons
Ed. Note: I received this poem a few days ago. Since it did not fit in any story on file I wanted to share it with you here.
Dear Bittersweet:
I'm belatedly returning your Reader's Survey. Going over back issues to get ideas for filling in the
form made me realize (as if you didn't know it) how much the magazine has improved in
appearance over the years.
Several pages in the last issue that I especially liked are the opening pages for "A Spring for All
Seasons," "Chicken Linen," and the blackberry articles. Page 20,"...The Sweeter the Juice," is
stunning; you outdid yourselves on that one.
May I comment on "This Speech of Ours" in the last issue? A lot of those expressions are more
widely used than you probably realize. Frequently heard in this part of the country are moon-eyed,
all gussied up, blowing off, blossomed out, weather breaks, druthers, and a number that you've
listed in past issues. My doctor, who comes from somewhere south of here, the other day said "If
I had my druthers .... "
Pauline Batchelder
Princess Anne, Maryland
Ed. Note: Yes we realize that many of the expressions used in our magazine are used in other
places but they are very much a part of the Ozarks as well.
Dear Mrs. Massey:
On behalf of the Southwest District Librarians' Association, I want to thank you for the excellent program you and your students presented for our district meeting. The response to the program was highly favorable.
Joy Harrison,
Secretary, Buffalo, Missouri
Ed. Note: We have enjoyed talking to the various groups and are pleased to know that you
enjoyed them too. Thank you for having us.
Dear Editor:
We enjoy BITTERSWEET very much, keep up the good work.
My husband's cousin from Sweden visited us here last winter. He was so impressed with our
BITTERSWEETS that he took several copies back to Sweden for his wife to see. He was
especially interested in the issue with the recording in it.
Barbara Fredholm,
Camdenton, Missouri
Mrs. Massey:
We consider ourselves "Charter" BITTERSWEET subscribers so we stopped when we saw the school. We spent the night at Bennett Springs and just happened to pass by. We want to congratulate you and your staff on a fine job that just gets better every year! Keep it up!
Joe & Janet Jakupcak,
Oak Park, Illinois
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to thank the following friends of Bittersweet for their donations.
Mrs. Dorothea Morey, San Jose, California
Jim O'Quinn, Lebanon, Missouri
Susan Solomon, Torrance, California
Walter and Ethel Shields, Rochester, N. Y.
Mrs. Orland Graber, Lebanon, Missouri
Don Tobey, St. Ann, Missouri
Ray Cahill, Fowler, Colorado
Harvey Fisher, Sedalia, Missouri
Judith Dourney Herkimer, New York
Erma Pace, Hermitage, Missouri
John PhilIips, M. D., Salinas, California
Dr. H. W. Carrington, Lebanon, Missouri
Miss V. L. Watts, St. Louis, Missouri
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Copyright © 1981 BITTERSWEET, INC.
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