FLOODING

There's talk of flooding tonight here in the area, as the higher daytime temperatures melt snow and the runoff swells creeks and rivers. However, it is not expected to be the major flooding that occurred in Johnstown, Pennsylvania way back in 1889. The latter is well documented in this Bullis book:

History of the Johnstown Flood

by Willis Fletcher Johnson, 

published in Philadelphia by Edgewood Publishing Co., 1889

The author skillfully describes the May 31, 1889 event that killed 2,209 people and caused monetary damage equivalent to $425 million in today's dollars.  Flooding followed several days of heavy rain which caused the breaking of the South Fork Dam, situated on the Little Conemaugh River. 

The destruction was unbelievable to those who lived through it as well as relief workers from the American Red Cross. In fact, this was the first major disaster relief effort handled by the new organization. Support for victims also came from all over the United States and 18 foreign counties.

We don't expect to see this magnitude of flooding in this area. However, this account can make us aware of the causes of the Johnstown Flood and perhaps an ounce of prevention will serve us well. We recommend you stop by the Bullis Room and spend some time with Mr. Johnson's book.

THINK WARM

Three of our recent posts were "thinking" - THINK SUMMER, THINK WINTER, THINK LIGHT. Last week we took  time-off from thinking, but now we've determined that we need one more "think" post--in yet another effort to get out of this deep-freeze we're in.

(An aside: We are tempted to chant, "Snow! Cold! Go away! Come again another day!" But then we wonder, "What would Nettie Bullis think of us softies?" So instead, we again look to the Bullis books for one that will remind us of warmer climes. This week we found:

Arizona, the wonderland; 

the history of its ancient cliff and cave dwellings, ruined pueblos, conquest by the Spaniards, Jesuit and Franciscan missions, trail makers and Indians; a survey of its climate, scenic marvels, topography, deserts, mountains, rivers and valleys; a review of its industries; an account of its influence on art, literature and science; and some reference to what it offers of delight to the automobilist, sportsman, pleasure and health seeker.

Yes, that's the whole title! And perhaps a longer title is needed to equal Arizona's size, since it is the 6th  largest state in the Union.

This book was written by George Wharton James and published in Boston by the Page Co. in 1917,  just five years after Arizona became a state on February 14, 1912. (What a great Valentine's Day present for the nation.) Actually, Arizona was the last of the 48 contiguous states to be admitted to the union. Fans of the state might say that we saved the best for the last!

So this is our offering to you this week if you want to get away from the cold weather outside--stop by the Bullis Room and spend some time with Arizona, the Wonderland. And perhaps next winter we might even plan a trip out there, and stay until the Bullis poppies bloom in May. Let's THINK about it!

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF LIFE

Getting the Most Out of Life is the title of a 1946 Reader's Digest issue that's a part of the Bullis Collection.  Next time you're in the Bullis Room, you'll want to look through this issue and pick out one or two of the essays to read. In spite of being almost 70 hears old, much of the wisdom holds true today.  Here're some of the individual titles:

"The Turning Point Of My Career,"  A. J. Cronin

"How to Win Friends and Influence People," Dale Carnegie

"Three Days To See," Helen Keller

"Education Begins At Home," Charles F. Kettering

"How I Found Freedom From Fear," Margaret Lee Runbeck

"Making Habits Work For You," William James

It's More Fun To Be Fit," Gene Tunney

"The Quest of Our Lives," I. A.  R. Wylie

"Peace of Mind," Joshua Loth Liebman

"Turn Your Sickness Into An Asset," Louis E. Bisch

We can imagine Nettie Bullis, on a cold winter's night, carefully reading through these articles, nodding in agreement much of the time but perhaps also responding with an occasional "hmm" or "?hmm?."  And then, when she was finished, she may have just sat down at her typewriter and written her own essay on a chosen topic. We like to think that, anyway, because Nettie Bullis was certainly one for "getting the most out of life," right up to the end of her days.