December 13, 2016
The Neatest Little Paper Ever Read®
Issue 00300
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TIDBITS® CELEBRATES SOME
FAMOUS MARYS by Kathy Wolfe
“Mary’s a Grand Old Name” goes the old 1905 tune by George M. Cohan. This week, Tidbits conveys some bits and pieces about some famous ladies named Mary. • The name Mary has its origins in the Hebrew language, with the name Miryam translating “sea of bitterness or sorrow.” In ancient times, the name Mary was considered too sacred to be used, revered because it belonged to the mother of Jesus. Finally in the 12th century, it came into popular use, and until the mid-twentieth century, remained the Number One name for girls. Today, the name Mary is at about Number 125 in popularity. • Mary Tyler Moore got her start at age 17 as “Happy Hotpoint,” a tiny dancing elf on the Hotpoint appliance television commercials during the 1950s. She was paid $6,000 for the 39 commercials that were filmed in five days. In 1961, at 23, she landed the role of Laura Petrie on the popular “Dick Van Dyke Show,” a role she played for five years. It was on to her own sitcom, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” in 1970, a sitcom featuring an independent working woman on staff as a producer in a Minneapolis newsroom. In a more unknown role, she starred opposite Elvis Presley as a nun in 1969’s Change of Habit. Mary has battled diabetes since age 33, and overcame a benign brain tumor at age 75. …turn the page for more!
Mary Ann: If money really did grow on trees, what would everyone’s favorite season be? Mary Jo: Fall
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• We’ve been singing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” since the nineteenth century. The nursery rhyme was based on an actual incident that took place at a Sterling, Massachusetts school, attended by Sarah Josepha Hale. Sarah’s schoolmate Mary Sawyer brought her pet lamb to school in the late 1700s. In 1830, Hale’s poem was first published in Boston, and set to music by hymn composer Lowell Mason, who had written more than 1,600 hymn tunes, including “Nearer, My God, to Thee.” Sarah Hale went on to become the editor of Godey’s Lady’s Book, a popular magazine of the late 1800s, a position she held until she was nearly 90 years old. She also helped found Vassar College. In 1877, Thomas Edison recorded “Mary Had a Little Lamb” on his new phonograph device, the first time a human voice had been recorded on his invention. • At the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, a young high school sophomore named Mary Lou Retton became the first American woman ever to win a gold medal in gymnastics. She also captured two silver and two bronze, making her total of five medals the most won by any athlete at the 1984 Olympics. Later that year, she became the first female athlete to be pictured on the front of the Wheaties box. All her years of gymnastic competition took their toll, when Retton needed hip replacement surgery in her mid-30’s. • Mary Shelley is best known for her first novel, Frankenstein: The Modern Prometheus. Mary was just 20 years old when Frankenstein was published anonymously in 1818. It was assumed that her husband, author Percy Shelley, was the author, because he authored the preface and dedicated it to his political hero. The book was first adapted to the stage in 1823 and to film in 1910. Other films followed in 1931, 1974, and 1994. Shelley and her husband had four
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children, three of whom died before the age of three. • Mary Kathlyn Ash started selling books doorto-door during World War II, while her husband was away in the service, amassing sales of $25,000 in just six months. She later became the national training director for the World Gift Company, but when she was passed over for a promotion in favor of a man she herself had trained, she resigned. Her next step was to write a book that would help women succeed in business, a book that became the business plan for her own dream company, Mary Kay Cosmetics. She started out with $5,000 and a 500-square-foot storefront in Dallas, Texas. She bought skin care formulas from a tanner who had created them while working on hides, and packaged them in her favorite color, pastel pink. Having recently remarried, her new husband was helping her prepare for the grand opening, when he died of a heart attack a month before the scheduled opening. Mary Kay’s 20-year-old son stepped in to help launch the business. By the end of the second year, she had sold nearly $1 million worth of products. Today, worldwide sales in more than 35 markets are $3 billion annually. Mary Kay passed away in 2001. • Toronto-born Gladys Louise Smith changed her name to Mary Pickford and went on to become one of the most popular actresses of the 1910s and 1920s. Her career was prolific, with 1909
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1. Who uttered the famous line, “Spit spot, into bed”? 2. What pink prize did Mary Kay award to her top sales performers? 3. Who played the title role in the 1998 film “There’s Something about Mary”? 4. One of her most famous Broadway roles was Peter Pan. Who was she? 5. Name the second wife of actor Douglas Fairbanks.
her most productive, appearing in 51 films in that year alone, almost one every week! Her beautiful curls were her trademark, and she was known as “America’s Sweetheart” during her prime. Pickford went on to co-found the film studio United Artists and was one of the original 36 founders of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. • First published in 1934, Mary Poppins was British author Pamela Travers’ first literary success. She authored seven sequels in the series, with the last in 1988. Walt Disney approached Travers in 1938 to purchase the rights to make a film, but was firmly turned down. Disney hounded her for the next 23 years, until, in 1961, when she finally surrendered. Travers objected to Disney’s changing Mary Poppins’ character from the unfriendly, strict, intimidating character in her book to the gentler, cheerier character portrayed by Julie Andrews. Disney’s movie was 1965’s topgrossing film, and Disney’s top-grossing for the next 20 years. It nabbed five Oscars out of 13 nominations, (including Julie Andrews’ first Oscar), making it Disney’s most successful in terms of Academy Awards. In the scenes where Mary Poppins was flying, the crew darkened the wires holding up Andrews with shoe polish so that the studio lights would not reflect off them. • Some who were born Mary’s opted to switch to another name. Actress Debbie Reynolds was born Mary Frances Reynolds, the name under which she won the Miss Burbank beauty contest in 1948. When she was “discovered” by Warner Brothers Studios, Jack Warner changed her name to Debbie. Lily Tomlin’s name was originally Mary Jean Tomlin, but she took on a new stage name, altering the spelling of her mother’s name, Lillie. Meryl Streep’s name was Mary Louise, but her mother began calling her Meryl, based on Mary L., Meryl’s grandmother.
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CHRISTMAS BIRDS Tidbits is “in tune” with holiday songs this week, investigating the variety of birds sung about in “The 12 Days of Christmas.”
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• Sources differ as to the first publication of this familiar Christmas song, with some experts claiming it was 1868, while others say it was published in The Nursery Rhymes of England in 1842, and still others putting the date around 1780. • The partridge in the pear tree is most likely the red-legged partridge, a member of the pheasant family, which has been a traditional sporting bird in England for hundreds of years. • The European turtledove is native to England and would have been found in abundance there in the 1800s. The name given to this bird has nothing to do with turtles, but rather refers to its gentle purring song, a vibrating “turrr, turrr.” Over the course of the 12 days, the recipient would have received 22 of these dainty birds, a species that mates for life. • The Faverolles is a French breed of chicken developed in that country in the 1860s. They have feathered feet, with five toes per foot rather than a chicken’s usual four. They are a gentle breed, which makes them a popular pet for children. Faverolles owners can expect them to
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lay four eggs a week. What exactly are those four “calling birds”? We might interpret that as “song birds.” But it’s more likely that the original meaning was “colly birds.” The meaning of the word “colly” is “black as coal,” making it likely that this gift is the common European Blackbird, a member of the thrush family who has a yellow eye-ring and an orange-yellow bill. On the sixth day of Christmas, geese are added to the mix, probably the Greylag goose, considered the ancestor of most domesticated geese. In fact, they were one of the first animals to be domesticated, some 3,000 years ago in ancient Egypt. These particular geese are a large bird, up to 36 inches (91 cm) long with an average weight of 7.3 lbs. (3.3 kg). They mate for life. Swans are the largest members of the duck and goose family, weighing up to 33 lbs. (15 kg), and reaching a length of 5 feet (1.5 m). Their wingspan is an amazing 10 feet (3.1 m), which aids them in their flight speed of up to 60 mph (96.5 km/hr). They are also very strong birds, and have been known to break a human’s leg when provoked. A typical swan has over 25,000 feathers covering its body. Like the turtledove and Greylag goose, swans mate for life. Do you know your swan terminology? A baby swan is a cygnet, a male is a cob, and a female is called a pen. The name for a group is a bevy or lamentation. If you’re afraid of swans, you’re said to have kiknophobia or cygnophobia. It seems odd that the author of the lyrics spoke of so many birds, but inserted “five gold rings” in the midst of them. Actually, the gifts on the first seven days of Christmas were all birds, with the gold rings referring to the rings of the ringnecked pheasants. How many total birds did the true love give? Assuming that the gold rings represent pheasants, the total number of birds would be 224.
MORE MARYS • To some folks, Bloody Mary is a drink of vodka and spicy tomato juice. But to those who know British history, she was England’s first female ruler, Queen Mary I, who took the throne in
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1553 at age 37. She was the eldest daughter of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Her maternal grandparents were Ferdinand and Isabella of Spain, famous for financing Christopher Columbus’ journeys to the New World. At age 38, she married her cousin’s son, Philip of Spain, nine years her junior, just two days after their first meeting. Because Philip did not speak English, they communicated in a mixture of Spanish, French, and Latin. The Queen became known as Bloody Mary when she ordered the execution of hundreds of Protestants for their faith during her reign. Mary I died after five years as the queen at age 42, most likely from uterine cancer.
* Create your own “on this day in history” calendar, just for your family. Purchase a large wall calendar each year dedicated to memories. Start with just listing birthdays. Then you can document things that happen throughout the year. Maybe someone bought a new car, or lost a tooth. Write down visitors to your home and vacations. Then at the end of the year, transfer them to a new calendar, noting what year something happened. As the years progress, you’ll have a wonderful reminiscing calendar! * Use a pot rack, sold in the kitchen-supply section of department stores, to organize clutches and large wallets. -- J.D. in Nevada * When you’re shopping, remember to do the math. Bigger isn’t always a better deal in terms of cost per unit. Make sure by dividing the price by unit (ounces, pounds or pieces) to see how much you are paying. Sometimes, the bulk size represents a significant saving, but other times, it’s MORE expensive. * “I keep my decorations organized using recycled household materials. I save tissue boxes to hold garland, and I wrap stringed lights around the core of a paper towel roll. Clean styrofoam takeout containers can hold ornaments, and material items, like tree skirts, stay folded but unmusty when kept in a net bag.” -- H.R. in Washington * “If your suitcase is just plain black -- and it seems like they all are -- make it stand out at baggage claim. I put a bumper sticker from a band I like on mine. My cousins use yarn pompoms. My kids like the patterned duct tape you can buy. Personalize, and it’s easy to spot yours.” -- M.M. in Florida Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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Maryland, one of America’s original thirteen colonies, was named after Queen Henrietta Maria of France, wife of King Charles I of England and mother of Charles II and James II. The first permanent settlement, St. Mary’s City, was founded in 1634. It was Maryland’s first capital, remaining so for 60 years. • Bloody Mary’s cousin was Mary, Queen of Scots, who became a queen when she was only six days old. She was a widow by age 18, when her husband, King Francis II of France perished from an ear infection at 16. At 26, Mary was imprisoned for treason, having been involved in a plot to assassinate her cousin, Queen Elizabeth I, Bloody Mary’s successor. Elizabeth kept her cousin imprisoned for 18 years before signing her execution warrant. • Mary Higgins Clark has written more than 50 novels, and every one has been a best seller and remains in print. Her first novel, written in 1975 is in its 75th printing. She starting writing when she was widowed at a young age, left with five children to care for. On the day Mary’s husband passed away, she had just been offered a job writing script for a four-minute radio segment. When her mother-in-law discovered that her son had suffered a fatal heart attack, she herself was stricken and died on the spot. Mary Higgins Clark lost them both on the same day. Her most recent novel was released in December, 2014, when she was 87 years old. • Mary Todd married Abraham Lincoln in 1842 and became the First Lady of the United States in 1861. Mary was raised in a Southern slaveholding family, with all the comforts, including a finishing school education, where she learned to speak French fluently. Several of her brothers served in the Confederate Army, and one was a Confederate surgeon. Yet Mary supported her husband unwaveringly in his attempt to preserve the Union, even though some accused her of being a Confederate spy. She was plagued with migraines, depression, and other maladies throughout her life, and some historians believe she had bipolar disorder. She was holding her husband’s hand when he was assassinated in 1865, as well as enduring the death of three of her four sons. It’s no wonder Mrs. Lincoln declined steadily after becoming a widow. • Another woman named Mary was connected to Abraham Lincoln, boarding house owner Mary Surratt. Surratt was the first woman to be executed by the United States federal government, following her conviction for taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate the President. The plot was allegedly conceived in her Washington, D.C. home, where Confederate sympathizers regularly congregated. She also owned a tavern that was used as a safe house for Southern spies. Although Surratt repeatedly proclaimed her innocence, she was hanged less than three months after Lincoln’s death. Today, her boarding house is home to a Chinese restaurant.
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1. Who sang along with Peter and Paul in a famous trio? 2. Who is believed to be the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection?
“If you think you can, you can. And if you think you can’t, you’re right.” — Mary Kay Ash
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Mary, a real estate agent, wrote an ad for a house she was listing. The house had a second-floor suite that could be accessed using a lift chair that slid along the staircase. Quickly describing this feature, Mary inadvertently made it sound even more attractive: “Mother-in-law suite comes with an electric chair.”
Eggnog Smoothie Santa and his elves would enjoy this after a busy day making toys!
1 (4-serving) package Jell-O sugar-free instant vanilla pudding mix 2 cups fat-free milk 1 cup sugar- and fat-free vanilla ice cream 1 teaspoon rum extract 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg In a blender container, combine dry pudding mix and milk. Cover and process on BLEND for 20 seconds. Add ice cream, rum extract and nutmeg. Re-cover and process on BLEND for 15 seconds or until mixture is smooth. Pour into 4 glasses. Serve at once. * Each serving equals: 108 calories, 0g fat, 6g protein, 21g carb., 418mg sodium, 0g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 FatFree Milk, 1/2 Carb. (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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by Samantha Weaver * It was beloved American humorist and social commentator Will Rogers who made the following sage observation: “Too many people spend money they haven’t earned, to buy things they don’t want, to impress people they don’t like.” * Famed Thoroughbred racehorse Man o’ War was as successful off the track as he was on it. After his famed career, he retired to stud, producing more than 64 stakes winners. Man o’ War sired 1937 Triple Crown winner War Admiral, and he was grandsire of Seabiscuit, who was Horse of the Year in 1938. In 1966, 37 percent of all stakes winners were descended from Man o’ War, and he appears at least 17 times in the bloodline of American Pharoah, the 2015 Triple Crown winner. * Those who study such things say that hyenas are more closely related to cats than to dogs. * Those who study spycraft are aware of the many ingenious ways that have been used to pass secret messages. One of the earliest examples occurred in the late 6th century BCE, when Histiaeus, the tyrant of Miletus (in present-day Turkey), shaved the head of his most trusted slave, tattooed a message on the slave’s scalp, and waited for the hair to grow back before dispatching the slave to his son-in-law, Aristagoras, along with instructions to shave the slave’s head upon his arrival. * Police in Saudi Arabia have been instructed to arrest young men wearing tight jeans; the garments are considered to be immodest and un-Islamic. * The Gottfried Krueger Brewing Company, founded in 1858 and based in Newark, New Jersey, has the distinction of producing the first beer in cans, back in January 1935. Thought for the Day: “A man is known by the company he keeps. A company is known by the men it keeps.” -- Thomas J. Watson (c) 2016 King Features Synd., Inc.
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V.J.H. Auxiliary Gift Shop has lots of great Christmas gift ideas. All Christmas Decor and ornaments are 30% off. Also, lovely floral arrangements at very reasonable prices, made fresh weekly by auxiliary members. Donations of small and medium vases would be gratefully accepted. Just drop them off at the Gift Shop. All money made in the • Mobile Home in Gift Shop goes to the hospital for needed desireable park, 14x70 equipment and patient with a large addition, appliances included, comfort. The auxiliary really deck & double carport, appreciates your workshops & garden. • Also, Travelaire support. Campervan, 1 ton Dodge with AC, new toilet, very good condition, also utility trailer in good condition. For appointment to view call (250) 542-8476
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Mary Poppins Pink Cadillacs Cameron Diaz Mary Martin Mary Pickford
1. Mary Travers 2. Mary Magdalene
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