BULLIS CATS

Recently, we pulled from the shelf Walter Chandoha's Book of Kittens and Cats (New York: Bramhill, 1963). As we admired this visual account of feline friends, we remembered Charlie Bullis's written account of the cats in his family's life.

Mr. Bullis's essay is titled "A Biography of Snipy." Although it is undated, we conclude that he wrote it as a student since the first six pages each bear a list of words in the margins that appear to be spelling words. Here is the beginning of that essay:

"About as far back as I can remember we had no cat untill Papa brought a kitten from Uncle Steves. Nettie and I called her Papa Cat.

"After a while Papa Cat had three kittens. Nettie called one of them hers and I called one mine and mama claimed the other and named her Babins. Mama also called Nettie's cat Tomy. Tomy disappeared in about a year and my cat was kill by Cristy our cow. Papa Nettie and I went walking over the cow pasture to get strawberries and my pussy went with us. When we came to the well Papa watered the cows and my kittie rooled up against Cristys hind leg and Cristy stomped on my cat and hurt her so she died and that gave her the name of Cowkill but Babins lived a long, hard, useful life and did not die till about Sept. first 1903. Cowkill was the first cat I can remember."

Later on, Mr. Bullis wrote:

"...(Snipy) was Netties cat. One morning Snipy came in lame in the left hip we thought that Reeds dog had hurt him and that evening mama sat by the stand sewing and holding lame Snipy in her lap and Netty made a little paper book and made a picture of mama holding Snipy and sewing by the stand. Nettie keeps that little book choice now."

Cats have been a part of the human experience for ages. Mr. Chandoha's photos and text emphasize the importance of that relationship. Charlie Bullis's visual description of his mother holding an ailing Snipy while his sister sketched a picture of the two illustrates the degree to which that relationship can develop.

Please plan to stop by the Bullis Room and let us show you Kittens and Cats and "A Biography of Snipy." We're confident that you'll enjoy both.

...AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL

This popular catchphrase of the last century sums up the Bullis Room Open House on Sunday afternoon. Close to 50 people came to look through the rare books, taste the simple refreshments, and talk with our special guest.

One of our volunteers convincingly played the role of Nettie Bullis. In her flat straw hat, low-heeled shoes, open-weave gloves, and simple dress, she primly greeted guests, talked about the Bullis collection, and shared stories of her past. Her portrayal prompted guests to share their own memories of the Bullis family and the 1900s.

The refreshments also triggered thoughts of bygone days: bologna salad sandwiches (Miss Bullis sometimes ate bologna sandwiches her for supper), plain cookies, apple juice, water, and those dainty pastel-colored after-dinner mints that regularly showed up on reception tables in the last century.

Guests had two learning opportunities during the evening: first, a demonstration of how we repair some of the books in the collection; second, an exhibit presented by a representation of the Buffalo Soldiers of Rochester, showing photos and video of General John Lapham Bullis's experiences with the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts.

Volunteers spent four months planning and preparing for this event. We put a great deal of effort into keeping it simple, leaving us to conclude that simplicity is not always easy. We selected stationary with a small-lined black and maroon border for the invitations, used regular stamps for the mailing, and hand-delivered as many as possible. We chose a milk glass vase reminiscent of Miss Bullis's own collection to hold a small bouquet of flowers as a centerpiece on the reception table. And in the spirit of simplicity as well as the "waste not, want not" philosophy of the Bullis family, we did not cut the crusts off the bologna salad sandwiches. In fact, we even used the two heels of the loaf.

We like to think that Nettie Bullis would have approved of all this. And that she, too, would have had a good time.

BULLIS ROOM OPEN HOUSE

Nettie Bullis, 1917

Today is the 30th anniversary of Nettie Bullis's death in 1979. She was born on March 23, 1893, and lived a full life for 86 years.

This coming Sunday, October 4, we will commemorate her life with an Open House in the Bullis Room, from 4 to 6 PM. We hope you will come to:

Meet our very special "surprise" hostess

View some of the wonderful illustrated treasures in the Bullis Collection

See a demonstration of Bullis book repair

Learn more about General John Lapham Bullis and the

amazing Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts he commanded

Sample refreshments which Miss Bullis might have served at home

Take home a special bookmark

Share your own memories of the Bullis Family or the Bullis House

THE APPLES OF NEW YORK

What's your favorite apple? McIntosh? Empire? Gala? Delicious? Paula Red? Cortland? Or perhaps you're a Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp or Jonagold person. Whatever your choice, now's the time to satisfy your apple appetite with choices freshly picked and sold at your favorite roadside stand or cider mill.

If your appetite is for reading and viewing illustrations of apples, however, just stop by the Bullis Room and ask one of our volunteers to show you this collection's two-volume The Apples of New York, by S. A. Beach, N. O. Booth, and O. M. Taylor. Both volumes were published in Albany in 1905 as part of a series of reports by the New York Agriculture Experiment Station. Between the covers are many pages of information about and illustrations of apples.

Who said you couldn't have your apples and eat them too?

(This collection also has volumes in this series on grapes, peaches, pears, and plums and volunteers would be happy to assist you with these, as well.)

MAY WE PRESENT...

...the Bullis Room's volunteer of the week. Please take note of his proper attire (white glove) for handling a rare book. Also please note his steady focus on the reading material.

When he comes to the end of that book, he can study Increase Lapham's family tree, which is under the table's glass covering, or chose another book from the shelves (with the help of another volunteer, of course).

We are enjoying this unusual volunteer's company as we go about our various duties. Sometimes, we find ourselves occasionally making a remark or directing a question to him.

We would also enjoy setting up a time for you to stop by and take a look at the collection. You may contact us through this blog or by calling 315-986-5932, Option 3.

NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE

Tomorrow we will pause to remember those who lost their lives in the attacks on September 11, 2001, and to give thanks for people like Nettie Bullis who reach out to their communities and individuals in need.

Miss Bullis quietly helped many people during her lifetime, and through her legacy she is continuing that service to others through various programs. Her response to such needs is an inspiration to the rest of us.

BACK TO SCHOOL

A list of 2009 school supplies may be longer than a list from the early 20th century, but it still includes some standard #2 pencils, which is what 15-year-old Charles R. Bullis probably used when he wrote this essay in 1906. And it also contains an element of that familiar assignment, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” We hope you enjoy it.

How I tried to make a Steam Engine

Last summer I was much interested in trying to make a little steam engine. I used a baking powder can cover fitted into a shoe blacking box which I intended to solder together for the boiler and a thirty two caliber cartridge in which I filed a hole near each end for the piston cylinder For the steam valve I found some solder which I melted and with much difficulty molde into the proper shape and filed smooth. I used a piece of a bicycle spoke with screwerheads on the end so that two pieces of metal could be screwed up together and hold packind to prevent steam leakage. The plug is the open end of the cartridge through which the piston rod passes I made of two pieces of lead one to screw into the other so as to hold packing. I molded the ballance wheel of lead and filed an exceentric on it but when I melted my remaining solder which I intended should hold the parts in place I fit it into the fire. I then tried babbit metal but it bubbled and was no good for so slender a casting and as I did not have any more time before school commenced I did not finish it. Sometime when I have time I will finish it and see if it will run. It is to have a safety valve but no governor.

Charles R. Bullis, A thursday lesson from page 14 in the rhetoric

Good