Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Thursday, December 24. 2020

NYC, The Night Before Christmas, and "the poison of rationalism"


Clement Moore was a real New Yorker. His lifetime of scholarship is long forgotten, but his doggerel is a gem. His family farm was named "Chelsea", and it is still Chelsea. Moore's family church still stands, St. Peter's. Been there, amazing old woodwork inside.


Moore is buried uptown. We almost got to that cemetary on our last urban hike.


Somewhat related, The story of the Christmas tree is one of resistance, breakthrough, and change. From the NY Times, 1883:



The German Christmas tree — a rootless and lifeless corpse — was never worthy of the day, and no one can say how far the spirit of rationalism which begins with the denial of Santa Claus, the supernatural filler of stockings, and ends with the denial of all things supernatural, has been fostered by the German Christmas trees, which have been adopted so widely in this country. … The Christmas tree, dropping melted wax upon the carpet, filling all nervous people with a dread of fire; banishing the juvenile delight of opening the well-filled stocking in the dim morning light, and diffusing the poison of rationalism thinly disguised as the perfume of hemlock, should have no place in our beloved land.


Posted by The News Junkie in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 15:57 | Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0)

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Can't follow that argument at all!
#1 Texan99 on 2015-12-15 20:02 (Reply)
Puritans never change, only their causes do. It’s all about moral superiority.
Merry Christmas to all at the Farm.
#2 RickinJax on 2019-12-24 15:33 (Reply)
I love history. If we survived that 1883 state of mind, it's hope for the future.
#3 Jeff Allen on 2020-12-24 16:25 (Reply)
Idiots could teach Progs a thing or two about sour outlooks.
#4 Not Just Yet on 2020-12-24 17:43 (Reply)
Merry Christmas to all at Maggie's Farm, hopefully the Farmall is in tiptop running order should Santa get stuck and need a tug tonight.

Peace on Earth, Goodwill to all humanity, and best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous 2021 to all - with hopes that this temporary suspension of disbelief towards the Opposition will not unduly cause us harm!

And thank you Maggie's Farm for all you do!
#5 Aggie on 2020-12-24 19:04 (Reply)
Amen Aggie. Merry Christmas to all.
#5.1 Capt. Koons on 2020-12-25 20:41 (Reply)
1883? Is the NYT ever right?
#6 Kevin in WI on 2020-12-24 19:57 (Reply)
... diffusing the poison of rationalism thinly disguised as the perfume of hemlock ...

I don't understand this part of the sentence. Hemlock grows wild along the highways at home. Did the writer ever actually smell hemlock? I guarantee it is anything but perfume.
#7 RebeccaH on 2020-12-25 11:49 (Reply)
I think it is a simile comparing poisonous hemlock to the point of the narrative.

Having said that I dislike unclear or deceptive statements especially when the intent to to do harm. I prefer that people say what they mean clearly and concisely and not hide behind wishy washy BS
#7.1 OneGuy on 2020-12-25 11:59 (Reply)

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