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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Much Sorry with Delays
Birth, Death and All That Stuff in Between
How to Honor Labor Day, Every Day
My Yom Kippur Miracle (Repost from 2010)
Good intro to fly casting
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Easy for you to say: To the elites on mass immigration
For NYC on 9/11, Sailors' Snug Harbor
Pickled Peaches
Water Shoes
Labor Costs in U.S.
Your "identity"
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Uses of Hot Pepper Jelly/Sauce, Chutneys, and Jams
A Saturday Drive to Litchfield County, CT
How to Pick a Kayak
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Friday, August 31. 2007

Margaret Wise Brown

"Born at sea in the teeth of a gale,
The sailor was a dog, and Scuppers was his name."

I had a dog named Scuppers ("Scuppie" to close friends), who died young. He was a good boy, and a far better (ie, half-competent - liked to chew birds) retriever than my current goofy but love-intoxicated pup. I am remembering him now because he died at this time of year a few years ago. (His replacement is a nephew.)

Margaret Wise Brown wrote Scuppers the Sailor Dog, along with a bunch of family favorites like Good Night, Moon: "A comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush" is how one of the splendid pups described our minivan in its usual get-to-school slovenly condition.

Brown had a hard time getting published. Glad she finally got her stuff out, and with the wonderful illos. I don't know how you could raise a kid in this world without her books: the kids just won't "get it" without her.

Posted by Bird Dog in Our Essays, The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 12:15 | Comments (24) | Trackbacks (0)

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That dog in the illo is INTREPID.
#1 buddy larsen on 2007-08-31 12:36 (Reply)
Lewis and Clarks dog, who made the entire trip was named........

Free Barrister T -shirt to the winner.
#2 Reginald Smythe-Beckett on 2007-08-31 12:47 (Reply)
The dog's name was Seaman. Quite a legendary Chessie.
#2.1 Brian on 2007-09-08 23:17 (Reply)
Never had Scuppers, but a favorite aunt sent my kid Goodnight Moon and it was read many nights with great affection. There’s something very primary, reassuring and poetical about a green room, red balloon, cow jumping over moon, three little bears, two little kittens and a pair of mittens and then saying ‘night to them in an uncomplicated, calming cadence. Although, Hurd's artwork is more than charming and integral to the book's appeal, i think

This article by Karen Karbo is fun:

"Goodnight Moon," the children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown, has gone smoke free. In a newly revised edition of the book, which has lulled children to sleep for nearly 60 years, the publisher, HarperCollins, has digitally altered the photograph of Clement Hurd, the illustrator, to remove a cigarette from his hand. HarperCollins said it made the change to avoid the appearance of encouraging smoking.
- The New York Times, Nov. 17

EXCELLENT start, HarperCollins, but why stop there? The text of "Goodnight Moon" itself is laden with messages that are potentially harmful to our youngest readers. At a minimum, these changes should be made:

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/opinion/04karbo.html?ex=1291352400&en=7a28d82e45f39af8&ei=5088
#3 Anonymous on 2007-08-31 12:57 (Reply)
Seaman, of course. Meriweather's dog.
#4 buddy larsen on 2007-08-31 12:58 (Reply)
ok, conscience hurts, I googled it. I didn't know it 'til I googled it. OKAY?
#5 buddy larsen on 2007-08-31 13:14 (Reply)
No.
#5.1 Anonymous on 2007-08-31 13:16 (Reply)
Cripes --now i'll have to transubstantiate and remanifest an hour ago..
#5.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-08-31 13:21 (Reply)
Please don't. You're more than fine the way you are.
#5.1.1.1 Anonymous on 2007-08-31 14:22 (Reply)
oh, okay.
#5.1.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-08-31 15:34 (Reply)
It's oK Buddy...it was damned arcane
#5.1.1.1.1.1 Habu on 2007-08-31 16:25 (Reply)
I knew the dog's name for a multiple choice - but I couldn't Retrieve it.
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1 BD on 2007-08-31 20:14 (Reply)
right when you think you've got it, it fleas
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-08-31 21:55 (Reply)
well, I didn't even get close- was barking up the wrong tree
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 wilma on 2007-08-31 22:09 (Reply)
wrung my withers over the answer, to no avail
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2 wilma on 2007-08-31 22:30 (Reply)
The first known use of the great word "watchdog" was by Shakespeare, in "The Tempest".
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1 buddy larsen on 2007-09-01 03:00 (Reply)
Yes, well, the play's the thing
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1 longshot silver shell on 2007-09-01 04:34 (Reply)
Usually it’s a mistake to paws and think about an answer, (1st haunch is best), but bet the story behind the dog’s name is a good tail.
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1 liver dalmatian on 2007-09-01 22:12 (Reply)
Some of Shakespear's situations had Biblical themes--the watchdog came from the story of Canine and Able.
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-09-01 23:19 (Reply)
Funny!

The Bard unmuzzled, pet quote from The Tempest:

(Ariel)
Hark! Hark! Bow-wow!
The watchdogs bark.
Bow-wow-wow-wow!
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1 Liver the spotted dal on 2007-09-02 00:13 (Reply)
To bark, or not to bark, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous cars and mailmen, Or to take paws against a sea of fire hydrants, and by opposing, wet them.
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-09-02 00:51 (Reply)
Oh, that’s good. Shakesperro’s great Dane, right?
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Shell on 2007-09-02 03:23 (Reply)
LOL --I believe "Shakesperro" takes the moonpie & RC cola!
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 buddy larsen on 2007-09-02 11:59 (Reply)
Yum!
#5.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1.1 Shell on 2007-09-02 12:44 (Reply)

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