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The Okie Legacy

Vol. 1, No. 35 -- 4 December 1999, Saturday
(1 yr., 27 days to "The 2001 Millennium")

Past Is Prologue

The Past Is Prologue (Intro) To The Future! It is our responsibility to learn the lessons of our forefathers and choose wisely the steps into the Future.

".....We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again, and by that destiny to perform an act whereof what's past is prologue, what to come in yours and my discharge." - Antonio's speech stranded on island, "The Tempest", Act 2, Scene 1, Shakespeare

You can CHOOSE to meet great people & find great pieces of literature, research, etc... out on the Internet -- The words of interaction in this miraculous magic media of the marvelous WWWeb has endlessly learning possibilities for the young and old alike.

Once in awhile, some friends send you on a quest (challenge). Those challenges turn into events, actions, and interactions which can prod your memory while rewarding you with learning experiences and knowledge that leads you one-step closer to reaching the next level of your destiny. NEVER Stopping the learning process!

This is one of those friends whom, ".....Operates under the theory that we never forget anything we have learned. Its just that we have to wait until our subconscious brings it to the surface... Sometimes with much prodding."

This week has been one of those interesting weeks, because of a short quest a friend sent me on with others this week. Thanks, Ernest, for an energizing, interesting week and another intriguing short quest!

Besides all that, it makes Wednesday (the hump day) an interesting mountain to climb during the week as the dry, chilly, southerly, wind begins to blow thru Northwestern Oklahoma. I look with anticipation of what tomorrow will bring. I'm hoping for a chance of rain, but it has been reported as slight.

I found this statement somewhere out there on the web, and in the gathering stage I forgot to collect the URL of the website I got it from. "The issues that have had a significant impact on the 20th century society will lay the foundation for continued change in the 21st century."

Ms Belle feels, "...Though past is prologue, you are not doomed to follow one path if you have the sensibilities, the heart and soul, to see that there is a better way."

The issues, events, and actions that have impacted us all on this Island of the Universe should make us pause in our daily chores. Let us reflect on the past since the "Past is Prologue to the Future."

How is the past introductions stacking up in your life? As the past sets the preface or introduction and builds upon the foundation for continued change for the future, may we always remember and learn from the past. NOT to be condemned (bound) to repeat the mistakes of our forefathers as we move forward into the next "True Millennium, 2001." The Choice is yours!

A friend of mine, Ms Belle, has this to say about that, "We (All) were lost at sea, but saved from drowning by being thrown up on the beach of this island. It must be destiny, we were saved to do something more...... Being saved from the sea was being given a second chance to start over again."

Ms Belle goes on and mentions, "We have made decisions which created the past which is the foundation of our future, BUT we are NOT bound by the precedent of the past. We can change what we think of the past based on what we have experienced and learned in the present and, with the aid of that growth and insight, determine in what way we will go forward in the future."

The Past Is Prolog; the Present is learning, knowledge and choice within us all! You Never Stop Learning! The choice is to each his/her own to use wisely when building that multilevel foundation to the future!

OKLAHOMA TIDBITS

Last week I reflected upon the "History of Oklahoma & Indian Territory's symbolic marriage" into Statehood in 1907. Here is some more information that I gathered from an earlier article in "The Daily Oklahoma,"... "From the first Land Run of 1889, the people of Oklahoma Territory began seeking statehood. Though Oklahoma Territory had sufficient population for statehood (400,000 people in 1900), there were problems (finance & geography) which had to be resolved before the territory could enter the union. The principal basis for statehood was a tax on land. Much of Oklahoma Territory was nontaxable because a substantial amount of Oklahoma Territory was Indian allotments, which were exempt from taxation."

As to the Geography obstacle,... "Oklahoma Territory occupied about 40,000 square miles. Most of the Trans-Mississippi states were at least twice the size of Oklahoma Territory. So it wasn't surprising that whenever the question of statehood arose, Indian Territory was very much a part of the question - whether to join the two territories in a quest for statehood or allow them to come into the union separately.

The leaders of the Five Civilized Tribes, satisfied with their own governments, resisted the joining of the twin territories."

"Federal law passed between 1890 and 1895 divided Indian Territory into three judicial districts - The South McAlester with jurisdiction over the Choctaws; Ardmore with jurisdiction over the Chickasaw; and Seminole & Muskogee over Cherokee, Creek and the Quapaw agency."

The leaders of the Five Civilized Tribes were fired into action. It (statehood) was inevitability and the prospects of being attached to Oklahoma Territory and form the new state of Oklahoma were looked at as dreadful by the Five Civilized Tribes.

That same article mentioned, "Beginning in 1902, Indian delegates met regularly to develop plans to obstruct fusion with Oklahoma Territory. A story in The Oklahoman on Thursday, July 20, 1905, announced a statehood convention call. The purpose of the convention was to draw up a constitution for an Indian state to be named Sequoyah. The convention drew criticism by those wanting the twin territories joined in a one-state quest. The presentation of the Sequoyah Constitution to Congress forced that body to finally act on the Oklahoma statehood question. The Hamilton Statehood Bill, named for Congressman Edward Hamilton of Michigan, was signed into law on June 16, 1906. This bill became the Oklahoma Enabling Act.".

[1890 Map of Oklahoma & Indian Territory (I'm not quite sure where I found this great map, AND... I wish I could remember. I would like to give credit where credit is due.) ]

OAKIE'S LINKS & MAILBAG:

Bartleby Library - Great Books Online

Familiar Quotations: A Collection of Passages, Phrases and Proverbs

AROUND THE CORNER I HAVE A FRIEND

Around the corner I have a friend
In this great city that has no end,
Yet the days go by and weeks rush on,
And before I know it, a year is gone
And I never see my old friend's face,
For life is a swift and terrible race,
He knows I like him just as well,
As in the days when I rang his bell,
And he rang mine..
We were much younger then,
And now we are busy, tired men..
Tired of playing a foolish game,
Tired of trying to make a name..
"Tomorrow" I say "I will call on Jim"
"Just to show that I'm thinking of him."
But tomorrow comes and tomorrow goes,
And distance between us grows and grows..
Around the corner!- yet miles away,
Here's a telegram sir-"
"Jim died today."
And that's what we get and deserve in the end.
Around the corner, a vanished friend.
If you love someone, tell them.
Remember always to say what you mean.
Never be afraid to express yourself.
Take this opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you.
Seize the day and have no regrets.

Most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today and are what it's all about anyway. -- Author Unknown

"Oakie, Heartfelt thanks for an excellent article this week. Such a lot to learn and so little time left to do so. But, Lord! I do love to learn. Thanks again."

URGENT --- Has anyone out there seen this following phrase on a public building of some sorts? "...Past Is Prolog..." The person inquiring thought it might be displayed over the entrance to a public building." mailto:erndmart@brightok.net

"This is not an attempt to answer your question entirely concerning Bill Tilghman but only a bit of information concerning his career. Mr. Tilghman was a member of the Oklahoma State Senate in the year of 1911. He served briefly because he resigned shortly after taking office. His photograph can be viewed in the group picture of the members at that time. The Oklahoma State Senate displays the picture of all present & former members of that body since Statehood."

This little tidbit is thrown in for just what it is -- An Interesting Tidbit. Have you ever wondered where the honeymoon custom originate? "The original honeymoon, perfected in ancient Norway, was rough stuff. True, the couple found a hideaway for their first nights together, but only because the "groom" was on the lam. He hadn't asked for the bride's hand, but rather grabbed it and the rest of her along with it. Her family would be after him for abducting his sweetie from their village. The "honeymoon," a word that comes from the Norse hjunottsmanathr, would be over when things quieted down and his involuntary in-laws gave up their search."

"The Tempest", Act 2, Scene 1, Shakespeare --
"ANTONIO: She that is queen of Tunis; she that dwells Ten leagues beyond man's life; she that from Naples Can have no note, unless the sun were post-- The man i' the moon's too slow--till new-born chins Be rough and razorable; she that--from whom? We all were sea-swallow'd, though some cast again, And by that destiny to perform an act Whereof what's past is prologue, what to come In yours and my discharge."

For just merely reading, this site offers a Reading Guide for "The Tempest" (Shakespeare's last piece) check out this Link

"History provides some insight into our obsession with 2000" This article was written 12/31/98, By Michael E. Young, Staff Writer of The Dallas Morning News.

"While looking at Shakespeare sites, I found this and couldn't resist sending it on... 'Here's a fish hangs in the net like a poor man's right in the law. 'Twill hardly come out.' -- Shakespeare"

"I can't leave The Tempest alone, so I'll send on another line from it: Prospero realizes that 'The rarer action is in virtue than in vengeance.' " -- Ms Belle

"My Ancestry", compiled by Rodney C. Murrow. "...Genealogy -- family history -- getting back to my roots -- learning of my heritage -- to me is the on-going process of finding out something of what I am and of who I am....."

The 23rd Psalm for Genealogists

One friend sent me this little message & photo praising the efforts of his friend (Butch). Me---I am only a NW Okie in Oklahoma and don't wish to over-step the bounds of the honorable Mr. Bridges' Southern History Collection of the state of Oklahoma without his blessings and giving him the due credit he so honorably has earned!... BUT... As Oakie & another history enthusiast, I would like to share what the efforts and interests of a few (working together) can accomplish for a Community, a State and a Nation.

A mutual friend says this about the Cupola, Dome & His Friend,... "This is a photograph of the Carter County Courthouse since the Dome has had the white paint removed which covered the original copper Dome. The Cupola was destroyed by a tornado on Feb. 13, 1946. We must thank Butch Bridges for arranging the rebuilding by a local artisan. The fact is, had it not been for efforts & keen interest of Butch Bridges it would not have been done. This puts the building back to the way it appeared when it was built (1910)." - [This is a photo of the recently restored Carter County Courthouse Cupola and Dome as it stands at the present]. This is Another View of Carter County courthouse Dome & Cupola that was sent to me by another.

WORD OF THE WEEK --

Found this great word in the dictionary and wondered if anyone out there has experienced a "pettifogger" lately or in the past? This is NOT to say ALL Lawyers are pettifoggers, but some are more so than others! "Pettifogger (PET-ee-foguhr, -fo-guhr) noun. 1. A petty, quibbling, unscrupulous lawyer. 2. One who quibbles over trivia. [Probably petty + obsolete fogger, pettifogger.]"

QUOTES OF THE WEEK --

"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." - Abraham Lincoln

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves." -- Thomas A. Edison