Mon, 14 Sep 1998 10:17:40 -0500
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2 replies to 2 different threads:
1. About Imperialism (I realize this is not so much contemporary to Twain
as it sort of underlies the rest of the 19th century American Thought;
nevertheless:)
A two-part series began airing on PBS Sunday and continues tonight (Monday)
titled *The US-Mexican War*. This was a significant bit of history for a
number of reasons, including the fact it was the first to be photographed
(daguerreotyped, actually) and had a significant peace
movement opposing it (an obscure freshman Congressman from Illinois offered
his first speech to the House in opposition to the war: Lincoln ...)
2. Regardin Jack Buck's comment comparing McGwire to Huck Finn:
First, for you folks not residing here in St. Louis: I can only begin to
suggest the huge swell of nativistic glee surrounding this momentous event
in these here parts: WOW! What a totem festival to Big Mac! Among other
things, some local rock and roll stations keep playing this somewhat
irritating hymn to HIM over and over and over . . . He is, in short, the
incarnate American Adam . . . and I suppose, for the general pop culture,
Huck sort of stands for similar things . . .Why that is so is grist for the
Twain mills, although I think Shelley Fisher Fishkin's reading of the Tom
Sawyer Days in Hannibal in her book _Lighting Out for the Territory_ is
suggestive of a rather huge and embarrassing tendency toward illiteracy
regarding our hero Sam.
PS -- for the team, I think Joe Harper deserves at least some playing time.
Probably an infielder. For a grizzled, mean-looking reliever a la Lee
Smith or Goose Gossage -- how about Slade? For team owner: Brigham Young.
Hal Bush
Saint Louis University
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