RHODE ISLAND

This week we focused on two books in the collection about Rhode Island, the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence from British rule. Rhode Island made this declaration on May 4, 1776, two months before any other colony did so.

If you'd like to learn more about Rhode Island and its people, we recommend these two Bullis books:

History of Providence County, Rhode Island

by Richard M. Bayless

published in 1891 by W. Preston, New York

and

Re-union of the Sons and Daughters of Newport R.I.

by George C. Mason

published in 1859 by F.A. Pratt, City printers

Though both of these books were written many years following the colony's 1776 declaration, they include information about Rhode Island's early days. These books are a good lead-in to another celebration of our country's independence that is just two months away. Please give us a call if you'd like to look at either of them.

BROOK TROUT

Yesterday a local TV station reported that 200,000 trout were being released in Lake Erie and Lake Ontario over the next six weeks. And, of course, that reminded us of this Bullis book:

The Brook Trout and the Determined Angler

by Charles Bradford

published in New York by E. P, Grow, c1900

The rest of the book's title describes it as: "...a little pocket volume containing several descriptions of a fly fisher's paradise and a few practical suggestions for the young angler."

In his day the author was a well-known fisherman and a prolific sporting writer who contributed articles to the American field sports press of that era. This book is a collection of some of these articles. Chapters include:

"Fly Fishing for Trout"

"Trout Truths"

"Trout and Trouting"

"Trouting in Canadensis Valley"

"In the Pocono Mountains"

"The Trouter's Outfit"

"Little Casts (trouting tips))"

"Tackle Talks"

"Borrowed Thoughts"

All of these are illustrated by full page black and white illustrations, photos and a number of small pen and ink sketches. It also has several descriptions of a fly fisher's paradise and a few practical suggestions for the young angler.

So ... the book is here in the Bullis Room and we urge you fishing enthusiasts to stop and take a look at it (and any other books in the collection that "catch" your fancy.)

HOW TO PLAY GOLF

Yesterday in the Bullis Room we happened upon the book  How to Play Golf  written by Henry James Whigham, which was published in Chicago by H. S. Stone & Company in 1897. Our first reaction was, "Did any of the Bullis family play the game? And our second thought was, "Hmmm."

Anyway, this is a cool little self-help book that we recommend to golfers (both avid and casual) as well as those of us who enjoy the game from the gallery.

Topics covered are:

Training and tournament lay

Iron game

Putting

Rules and etiquette

Proper grip

And, there are lots of illustrations, including:

Top of swing

Coming Through and Finish of swing

Refinement of driving

Perhaps you golfers are familiar with the author, but we weren't so we went to Wikipedia to find out what qualified him to write a book on this subject.  We learned that Henry James Wigham (1869-1954) was a Scottish writer and amateur golfer who won the U.S. Amateur in 1896 and 1897. He wrote this book following his first U.S. tournament win. 

Before winning tournaments and writing this book, however, he came to this country in 1893 to demonstrate golf at Chicago's World Fair.  He remained here and became a college lecturer, then drama critic for the Chicago Tribune until he left to work as a war correspondent. He later served as editor-in-chief of Town and Country magazine.

We end this post with a special invitation to all you golfers and golf fans out there to stop by the Bullis Room, look through this book, and tell us how it compares to today's golf instruction. And while you're there, we'll be glad to show you any other books or memorabilia that catch your fancy. Hope to see you soon.

THE PONY EXPRESS

Buffalo Bill and the Overland Mail, or, where crooked trails meet, by Howard W. Erwin  is one of  a series of books by Howard W. Erwin--and the only one of Erwin's books in the Bullis Collection. This Bullis book was published in 1916 by Street & Smith (New York), and some of the other titles in this series include (all titles beginning with "Buffalo Bill's") ... Dance with Death, ... Diamond Mine,   ...Hidden Gold. So if you're a Buffalo Bill fan and you're looking for a different kind of read, we recommend ...the Overland Mail.

That term "overland mail" reminded us that the Pony Express began it's 18 months of service between St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California on April 3, 1860. And until the telegraph was established, it was the main source of communication between the east and west. Average time for a message going between the east and west coasts was about 10 days.

So if you're feeling a bit nostalgic and sorta weary of the pace of modern life, the Bullis Room is a great place to "get away" for a while, to sit and enjoy a good book while letting the rest of the world speed by. We hope you'll stop by sometime.