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2/27/2017

From our entertainment editor Qwerty Lee Dickinson:

The mix-up at the Oscars last night – when “La La Land” was mistakenly announced as “Best Picture” over “Moonlight” – was not the first time such a blunder has occurred.

In the mid- to late-1800s, the American Theatre Guild of American Theatres presented the annual Asker Awards to recognize excellence and achievement in live theatre. Named for American actress Julia Marlowe Asker, the Askers of 1858 suffered a similar blunder as the 2017 Academy Awards.

At the 1858 Asker Awards, actor J. Beatty Warren announced the winner of the “Best Play” of the year as “Our American Cousin.” However, as the cast and crew of “Our American Cousin” gathered on the stage, a producer came forward and announced that a mistake had been made – that the widely-played frontier play “Nick Whiffles” was the actual winner!

Pictured below left: American actress Julia Marlowe Asker in her role as Princess Snow Pea in George Bizet's musical "Oklahoma Territory." Pictured below center: Actor J. Beatty Warren presents the award for the best play at 1858's Askers Awards. Pictured below right: The audience reaction once "Nick Whiffles" was announced as the true winner.

After the flub, J. Beatty Warren announced that he felt terrible and that he had been handed the wrong envelope. He said that it was the worst possible thing the play "Our American Cousin" and its players could have endured.

Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed --at her request) immortalized the moment in his poem “We lost – because they won” (below on the left). After the flub, J. Beatty Warren announced that he felt terrible and that he had been handed the wrong envlope. Dickinson’s poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem “We lose – because we win” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

We lost – because they won –
Accountants – rechecking which
Envelope again!

By Emily Dickinson:

We lose – because we win –
Gamblers – recollecting which
Toss their dice again!

One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor

2/27/2017

From our food editor Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

Recently I wrote about National Margarita Day and National Tortilla Chip Day and their connections to Emily and Emmett Lee Dickinson. You can find that post HERE.

I thought I would follow up with some additional information about the various tequilas distilled at Dickinson’s Tequila Plant on Dickinson Lake in historic Washerst, PA (the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson).

Pictured below left: Dickinson's Tequila Plant on Dickinson Lake in historic Washerst, PA. Pictured below right: Blue Agave Plantation in Washerst, PA, the exclusive supplier for blue agave to Dickinson's Tequila Plant.

Dickinson’s Tequila Plant distills their tequilas from the blue agave plant harvested at Blue Agave Plantation in Washerst which grows some of the finest blue agave in the world. As a result, Dickinson’s Tequila Plant produces a wide variety of excellent tequilas, including those shown below.

There's only one word that truly describes Dickinson's tequilas: sublime!

Queso-rah, So-rah

2/25/2017

From our food editor Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

Last week was a big week in the world of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request): Wednesday was National Margarita Day and Friday was National Tortilla Corn Chip Day.

Emmett Lee Dickinson, a certified mixologist from Harvard Junior College, invented the margarita – originally called the Lime Plantation Punch and later changed to margarita – and he tried to get congress to set May as National Margarita Month. Ultimately congress voted February 22nd as “National Margarita Day” in honor of Margarita Seward, the sister of President Lincoln's Secretary of State William Seward.

It was Margarita Seward who first proposed the idea that the United States should purchase Alaska from Russia, and Margarita played a pivotal role in “wining and dining” Russian Ambassador Аркадий (Arkady) Popov and getting him to sign the papers sealing the deal. Of course, instead of “wining” him with wine, she served Dickinson’s latest sensation, the Lime Plantation Punch, later changed to margarita in honor of Ms. Seward.

Pictured below left to right: Margarita Seward, sister of Secretary of State William Seward; Russian Ambassador Аркадий (Arkady) Popov; Seward and Popov together on the very night Seward juiced Popov up with Emmett Lee Dickinson's latest drink sensation, the Lime Plantation Punch.

National Tortilla Chip Day, a day set aside for the crunchy snack loved by millions across the nation, is observed annually on February 24th, the very day that Emily Dickinson invented the recipe for Cajun Nachos. Emmett Lee Dickinson took her idea one step further: he invented the all-you-can-eat nacho bar (first introduced on a river boat on the Monongahela River). More information about the Dickinson-nacho connection can be found HERE (scroll down to the entry dated November 5).

Emily Dickinson was inspired to create her recipe for nachos because of Emmett Lee Dickinson’s now-classic poem, “They were given to us by the Gods” (below on the left). Dickinson’s poem also inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem, “It was given to me by the Gods” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

They were given to us by the Gods –
Tortilla chips made of Corn –
They give us Baskets most – you know –
When we sit down – to dine.
I hold one in my Hand –
Afraid to put it down –
For if I dare to dip – and eat –
I fear they will be gone –
I hear such words as “Yum” –
Hungering for our meal –
From lips of diners with the Chips –
All given with a smile.
Rich! ‘Tis Myself – is rich –
To eat the chips of Gold –
And Gold to own – Tortilla Chips –
With Queso – made so bold –

By Emily Dickinson:

It was given to me by the Gods –
When I was a little Girl –
They given us Presents most – you know –
When we are new – and small.
I kept it in my Hand –
I never put it down –
I did not dare to eat – or sleep –
For fear it would be gone –
I heard such words as "Rich" –
When hurrying to school –
From lips at Corners of the Streets –
And wrestled with a smile.
Rich! 'Twas Myself – was rich –
To take the name of Gold –
And Gold to own – in solid Bars –
The Difference – made me bold –

Awesome Sauce!

2/20/2017

From our food editor Verla Burrell-Bordelon:

We grilled some chicken tonight. In the middle of February. When temperatures are normally in the 30s, it was over 70-degrees today, so we grilled chicken out on our back deck. I s’pose with Global Warming, we’ll be grilling out more often.

We used a barbeque sauce from Dickinson’s BBQ Manufacturing Plant in Washerst, PA, the birthplace of Emmett Lee Dickinson. The recipe originated from the kitchen of Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed –at her request). A variety of Dickinson’s barbeque sauces are still manufactured at the plant in Washerst.

Pictured at the left: Dickinson's BBQ Sauce Manufacturing Plant in historic Washerst, PA.

Pictured below: Some of the sauces produced at Dickinson's BBQ Sauce Manufacturing Plant:

Emmett Lee’s original sauce, "White Heat," was a favorite of Emily’s. In a letter to Louise and Frances Norcross she wrote, “I resist temptation and run into the kitchen as fast as my feet will carry me. Vinnie has barbequed a full rack of ribs using dear Emmett Lee’s recipe as sauce. As usual, these ribs are my estate! Forgive me then the avarice to hoard them!”

Pictured at the left: A letter to Louise and Frances Norcross from Emily Dickinson raving about a full rack of ribs barbequed by Lavinia Dickinson. Click the image to enlarge.

Of course, all of this talk of barbeque and climate change made me think of Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "Remembering a Climate" (below on the left). His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "Conjecturing a Climate" (below on the right). Enjoy!

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Remembering a Climate
In never-ending Sun –
Adds poignancy to Winter –
When all the Seasons are gone

So our factitious Planet
Is left out in the Cold –
Now obviated of Degrees –
Soon erased – and Barbequed –

By Emily Dickinson:

Conjecturing a Climate
Of unsuspended Suns –
Adds poignancy to Winter –
The Shivering Fancy turns

To a fictitious Country
To palliate a Cold –
Not obviated of Degree –
Nor erased – of Latitude –

America's Most Wanted?

2/19/2017

From our political correspondent Dorothy "Lottie" Dawe:

Just yesterday, Donald Trump declared that our country's free press is "the enemy of the American people." As a result, the hashtag #NotTheEnemy trended on Twitter, and in response, the ELD Museum posted Emmett Lee Dickinson's now-classic poem "Where Reporters all dare to go" as one of its Featured Poems of the Week. Dickinson's poem about the press (below on the left) features the line, "They're #NotThe Enemy."

Later I saw a graphic that included photographs of many highly respected American journalists, and it included a quote that said something like, "If you think these people are the enemies of the American people, then you are an enemy of American democracy."

Fortunately, our country's founders had the foresight to guarantee a free press, and I was completely appalled by Trump's comment. I don't know if he said what he said because he is used to being in charge of his own business (where he can be authoritarian) and/or if he desires to run our country as a dictator -- but it will be journalists who serve as a check to Mr. Trump, and it will be journalists who call Trump and his team on their false facts and fake news.

So look at the pictures in our slides above on the left and right. They are just a handful of the journalists who have served or now serve as a check on our government -- and the slides do not include any of those who have died in the line of duty to keep our society free. If you think that any one of them is an enemy to the American people, then you are an enemy of American democracy.

Below on the left: Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "Where Reporters all date to go." Below on the right: Dickinson's poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem "Where Roses would not dare to go."

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Where Reporters all dare to go,
What Heart would risk the way –
And so their grit and Courage Shouts
They’re #NotTheEnemy

By Emily Dickinson:

Where Roses would not dare to go,
What Heart would risk the way –
And so I send my Crimson Scouts
To sound the Enemy –

Easy as One-Two-Three

2/19/2017

From Jim Asher, the world's leading authority on Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson's third cousin, twice removed -- at her request):

In the late 1800s, Emmett Lee Dickinson advocated a four-day work week. He testified before congress to recommend the idea stating that a shorter work-week would boost productivity, improve worker satisfaction, and reduce employee stress levels significantly. Members of congress criticized and condemned the idea, but Dickinson pressed on and ultimately got congress to legalize three-day weekends for major holidays. The first three-day observance was set in February for “Presidents Day” in honor of Dickinson’s best friend Abraham Lincoln.

Information about Dickinson's friendship with Lincoln is HERE.

Pictured at the right: Ernest Hemingway immortalized Dickinson's friendship with Abraham Lincoln in his classic The Old Man and D.C. The book includes an account of Dickinson's struggle with the curmudgeons in congress who ultimately allowed for an occasional three-day weekend.

Dickinson wrote about the benefits of a shorter work week -- or at least a three-day weekend -- in his now-classic poem "At leisure is the Soul" (below on the left). His poem inspired his third cousin Emily to pen her poem with the same opening line (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

At leisure is the Soul
That gets a Three Day Weekend –
The Width of Life – before it spreads
Without a thing to tend –

It begs you give it Play –
Or just some R & R –
And put off Housework – as We do –
To Search a Vacant Bar –

By Emily Dickinson:

At leisure is the Soul
That gets a Staggering Blow –
The Width of Life – before it spreads
Without a thing to do –

It begs you give it Work –
But just the placing Pins –
Or humblest Patchwork – Children do –
To Help its Vacant Hands –

The Liar Doth Protest Too Much, Methinks!

2/18/2017

From our 19th century historian Eudora Dickinson:

Donald Trump has done and said countless repugnant things, but a recent tweet of his is perhaps one of his most shocking and offensive statements yet:

His attack on a free press to report the truth – real truth, not his twisted and grotesque notions of a fabricated, alt- reality – is an assault on the very character and moral fiber of our country. Fortunately, our Founding Fathers – with the likes of Thomas Jefferson (“The only security of all is in a free press”) and Thomas Paine (“Common sense will tell us, that the power which hath endeavored to subdue us, is of all others, the most improper to defend us”) – had the foresight to establish and guarantee a free press. Just as they fought the tyranny of King George, we now find ourselves in a similar crusade against King Donald. The fight can be exhausting, but it is vital. Paine said, “Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigues of supporting it.”

I suspect that Trump’s attack on the press stems from a combination of his deformed and juvenile ego (he so wants to be loved) with his need to conceal something wholly shocking if not criminal. The liar doth protest too much, methinks.

Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) lived through a similar shocking time in the late 1800s when Drittereich Drümpf, a distant relative of Trump’s, ran for governor of the state of Ohio (information is HERE). Drümpf made revolting comments about the disabled, about the citizens of Cleveland (he wanted to build a wall around the city), and about the press. He blamed all the chaos and confusion of his appalling campaign on the press.

Dickinson wrote about Drümpf’s attacks on The New York Times in his now-classic poem “After the Times comes out” (below on the left). His poem inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem “After the Sun comes out” (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

After the Times comes out
How it alerts the World –
Reports and messages hurry about
For the Truth is told –

Then Trump tweets as if
He condemns the news –
Rants and deception constitute
His nature to confuse –

By Emily Dickinson:

After the Sun comes out
How it alters the World –
Waggons like messengers hurry about
Yesterday is old –

All men meet as if
Each foreclosed a news –
Fresh as a Cargo from Batize
Nature's qualities –

Press on, The New York Times. Press on, Washington Post. Press on, every legitimate newspaper and media outlet which strives to shine the spotlight on Trump's alt-reality and attempt to control the press. Uncover and report on every real-truth about this despicable administration. Make us think! Thomas Paine wrote, "When men yield up the privilege of thinking, the last shadow of liberty quits the horizon." We are not ready to give up our liberty and our democracy just yet.

NightMar-A-Lago

2/17/2017

From our political correspondent Dorothy "Lottie" Dawe:

I have been following and reporting on the first weeks of the Trump regime. My thoughts on Week 1 are HERE, Week 2 is HERE, and Week 3 is HERE. We’ve all just made it through Week 4, and Week 4 was nothing short of a clusterTrump consumed by a Trumpster fire within a horrific nightMar-a-Lago.

It started with Agent Smith from The Matrix commanding that the authority of the president would “not be questioned.” Then in full view of the public armed with cell phone cameras and Facebook pages, Trump and his company of clowns discussed sensitive information related to national security – and though they were incredibly loosey-goosey with classified intelligence, no emails were sent over a private server.

Pictured below: A tweet from Speaker Ryan about Hillary Clinton's use of a private server. Hmmm. I haven't seen his tweet in response to Trump's recklessness. I'm sure it's coming, no?

Of course, the whoppers during Week 4 kept growing and growing, spinning out of control to the point that Michael “Lock Her Up” Flynn had to enter the witness protection program since now it’s highly likely that he’ll be locked up (well, he should be locked up, but it’s highly unlikely that our new Confederate General, Jeff Sessions, will take action).

Then came “the presser.” O.M.G. Trump's press conference was a disaster. It only reinforced the reality that Trump is unfit, unstable, and unqualified to be the president.

The press conference continued with lie after lie after lie after lie, and it reminded me of Emmett Lee Dickinson's poem "Lying is like their need" (below on the left). Dickinson's poem was one of the inspirations for third cousin Emily to pen her poem "Longing is like the seed" (below on the right).

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Lying is like their Need
They wrestle it Around,
Believing if we intercede
That truth then can’t be found.

With Power, and their Claims –
They weave a trance that’s known
With Constancy to be achieved
So truth can’t see the Sun!

By Emily Dickinson:

Longing is like the Seed
That wrestles in the Ground,
Believing if it intercede
It shall at length be found.

The Hour, and the Clime --
Each Circumstance unknown,
What Constancy must be achieved
Before it see the Sun!

Pictured below left: The way we were. Pictured below right: The way we are.

Oh, by the way, while all of the chaos of Week 4 was going on, the GOP passed a bill that made it possible for the mentally ill to purchase guns and weapons of war -- all, I'm sure, as part of their campaign to make America great again.

Money Well Spent

2/13/2017

From our Executive Director for Development and Expansion, Emerson Nettles:

Surely you've heard the good news -- that we're attempting to rebuild the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (formerly above the coin-op laundromat on Dickinson Boulevard). We're currently in negotiations with the architectural firm of Bilk, Snow, and Kahn to renovate the abandoned Dickinson Lanes bowling alley. We posted information about the news HERE and HERE.

The estimated cost for the planned renovation to turn the abandoned Dickinson Lanes on Dickinson Boulevard into the new Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum is estimated at 15.6 billion dollars. Needless to say, we’re going to have to raise a lot of cold hard cash to complete this massive -- and vitally important -- project.

Therefore, we ask that you stay tuned for our future posts about our fund raising efforts -- to include seasonal donation drives and (more than likely) many, many bake sales.

Of course, anyone who contributes 1 billion dollars or more will receive a lifetime membership to the museum, a canvass ELD tote bag, and a complimentary plate of Cajun nachos in the museum’s snack bar once we re-open. Those who contribute in the million dollar range will receive free parking behind the museum (Tuesdays only) and a discounted margarita at the museum’s Margarita Bar. Individuals who contribute $100,000 or more will get to pick between a complimentary Yankee candle or six cans of condensed corn chowder (the soup invented by Emmett Lee Dickinson).

Pictured below left: The current condition of the abandoned Dickinson Lanes on Dickinson Boulevard.

Pictured below right: A rendering by architectural firm Bilk, Snow, and Kahn on how the new museum will look after it's spectacular 15.6 billion dollar face-lift.

Click the images to enlarge.

Again, be sure to stay tuned to our site for the latest developments and updates about the renovation project and our fund-raising efforts. To be honest, the way things are going, there's a excellent chance that the rebuilding of the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum (in the abandoned Dickinson Lanes on Dickinson Boulevard) will be THE feel-good story of 2017! : )

Pictured below: Make a donation in any amount* and get a free bumper sticker!

*Over $100.00.

Face Value

2/12/2017

From our 19th century historian Eudora Dickinson:

In the late 1800s, Emmett Lee Dickinson (Emily Dickinson’s third cousin, twice removed – at her request) wrote a cryptic poem about “him with an orange face,” and it defied analysis. For years, Dickinson scholars discussed and debated the meaning of the poem. Curiously, though, after the election and inauguration of Donald Trump, the poem takes on greater meaning -- and certainly even more significance after 500,000+ women, men and children gathered the day after Trump's inauguration for the Women’s March on Washington in Washington, D.C.

I attended the march with other staff members from the Emmett Lee Dickinson Museum, and in the sea of signs at the march, I saw a small, simple sign that said it all: “Silence = Guilt.” It reminded me of Dickinson's enigmatic poem, and as members of “Poets Against Trump" and "Writers Resist,” Dorothy Dawe, the museums political correspondent, and I have not been silent. When you have time, check out our Trump coverage: posts with poetry are HERE; other posts without poetry are HERE.

Dickinson’s poem (below on the left), of course, inspired us to support the women's march. It also inspired third cousin Emily to pen her poem “Silence is all we dread" (below on the right).

We hope that these two poems (and/or any other of Dickinson’s poems – either Emmett Lee’s or Emily’s) will inspire you to lift your voice! Silence is all we dread!

Pictured at the right: Emily Dickinson: "Truth is so rare that it is delightful to tell it." Truth is, indeed, very rare with our new administration.

By Emmett Lee Dickinson:

Silence is all we dread.
There’s Power in a Voice –
But Silence is infinity
To him with an orange face.

By Emily Dickinson:

Silence is all we dread.
There’s Ransom in a Voice –
But Silence is infinity.
Himself have not a face