Thursday, May 22, 2014

GRADUATION TIME

Congratulations to all those who are currently graduating (or soon to be) from educational programs and institutions.

Nettie Bullis highly esteemed education, evidenced by both the scholarship program she put into place at Pal-Mac High School and this class song that was among her papers,  in her handwriting:

"Not Done, Just Begun: Class Song"

Oh! Dear Alma Mater, our child-hood fair home,
We leave thee tonight, through life's pathways to roam.
But to happy days past we will often look back
As we're toiling to clib up life's thorny hard track.
Kind teachers whose words of courage and of cheer
Have taught us what's right, what to life is most dear.
Now parting, we linger here at the open door
Of life's unknown duties, to thank you once more.

We've now reached the foot of the mount of success
Our goal through gray mist we will find at the crest.
The day may be cloudy, and starless the night
But we know that by striving, we'll find a bright light.
Let reason then prompt us to climb ever higher.
Till we reach the far heights to that which we aspire.
And those who will toil though the sky be overcast,
Will quietly be crowned with a glory that lasts.

Oh Goddess of Wisdom, Oh Angel of Light.
We'll need guide of thine, through our life's stormy night.
For we may falter, our life's duties done.
Then help us, Oh help us, with the task we've just begun.
Farewell then, dear teachers, so tried and so true,
Farewell then, dear classmates a loving adieu,
In the far away home, when our life's term is o'er
Our paths now diverging will meet as of yore.


Monday, May 12, 2014

LILAC TIME

This is the time of year (especially in this area) when many of us look for lilac blossoms. If you are a lilac fancier, we recommend you take a look at this Bullis book:

Lilac Culture
Author: John C. Wister
Publisher: Orange Judd Publishing Co., New York, 1930 

It's part of a Farm and Garden Library series, the only one in the Bullis collection.

The book has illustrations and plates that will be especially interesting to the lilac gardener who has several variety of lilacs.  (Wister was a well-respected horticulturist of his day, and he helped organize the American Iris Society in 1920.)

So perhaps on a rainy day when you can't get out and enjoy the real thing, we invite you to stop by the Bullis Room and look at the visuals in this book.

Friday, May 2, 2014

WHY?

Bullis Room volunteers have been having fun looking through more items in the collection,  at times "oohing" and "aching" over this and that.

We also sometimes stop and say, "Hmm...wonder why they kept this?"

Well, in skimming a document (untitled, author unnamed) about Captain John L. Bullis, we happened upon a possible answer to our question in the following excerpt, which refers to his military career in Texas beginning in the late 1860s:

"His fearless and commendable service...won recognition in the United States Congress, which twice breveted  him for his splendid work. The people of Texas who more fully appreciated what he had done for them, presented him with two beautiful swords, one of them ornamented with scenes and designs commemorative of his achievements. The designs are wrought in gold and the sword cost $1,000. The Captain prizes it still more highly because the poor people whom he had protected and whose homes he had made safe were the contributors to the gift fund, giving of their meagre possessions as evidence of the gratitude and love which they had for the Captain."

The portion of the above quote that is in bold print gives us one answer to our "why did they keep this" question.  Captain Bullis obviously greatly prized his sword from the people of Texas because of what it represented...their sacrifice which resulted from gratitude.

So as we continue to go through more of the Bullis memorabilia, we have one answer to our "why" question. And we'll be looking for more. We'll keep you posted on our progress.

By the way, thank you for reading this post. And remember--you're always welcome to spend some time with us in the Bullis Room. Just leave your contact information at the front desk and we'll make arrangements to meet with you.