Thought for Today:

"Have you ever rightly considered what the mere ability to read means? That it is the key which admits us to the whole world of thought and fancy and imagination? to the company of saint and sage, of the wisest and the wittiest at their wisest and wittiest moment? That it enables us to see with the keenest eyes, hear with the finest ears, and listen to the sweetest voices of all time?"

~ James Russell Lowell, American poet and critic (1819 - 1891) Democracy and Other Addresses, 'Books and Libraries'
The Writer and The Reader, Blandford Press, 1884

Afternoon with an Author ~ It was a predictable sharing of stories with friends catching-up on the latest news. Brad has a following of fans eager to grab his new book, Red Means Run, released this month. Simon & Schuster.

l-r : Jim White, Nicole LeVatte, Pam Thomas and local author, Brad Smith.
Dragonfly Books & Gifts, Caledonia, hosted a book signing.
Visit Brad's website http://www.bradsmithbooks.com/
Photo:  L. B. Walker

Smile for Today:

An old literary and military tale has it that Edgar Allan Poe was expelled from West Point in 1831 for "gross neglect of duty" because he appeared naked at a public parade. Parade dress instructions called for "white belts and gloves, under arms." Poe took this literally and appeared with rifle over his bare shoulder, wearing belt and gloves ~ and nothing else.

As a reader pointed out, we missed recognizing Poe's birthday on January 19. We offer the above anecdote in his honour.

Source: THE LITTLE, BROWN BOOK OF Anecdotes, General Editor, Clifton Fadiman, 1985.

Untitled ~ Emily Dickinson

Unto my books so good to turn
Far ends of tired days;
It half endears the abstinence,
And pain is missed in praise.

As flavors cheer retarded guests
With banquetings to be,
So spices stimulate the time
Till my small library.

It may be wilderness without,
Far feet of failing men,
But holiday excludes the night,
And it is bells within.

I thank these kinsmen of the shelf;
Their countenances bland
Enamour in prospective,
And satisfy, obtained.

~ Collected Poems of Emily Dickinson, Chatham River Press, 1983.
Edited by M. L. Todd & T.W. Higginson

Our thanks to Neil Paul and John Passfield for today's fascinating presentation ~ the first of a series ~ on Dutch artist Rembrandt.

Neil agrees with the modern opinion that our decorative plate, "The Man In The Golden Helmet" may not be a Rembrandt; however, we have a second plate; the image on our second plate appeared to us to be a merry tavern scene of some sort. Neil's reference book clearly shows a BED in the background of the painting, depicting Rembrandt and his first wife, Saskia. We have a Rembrandt after all!

A special thank you to Grand Treats & Treasures for refreshments for today's event. Drop into the Cayuga Street business. Pick up some hot English Wassail Cider Mix. Tell Colliene that we sent you.

Reminder: Today Fascinating Personalities 1:00 p.m. ~ John Passfield and Neil Paul. Readings and revisiting Dutch Artist Rembrandt.

Round table discussion. Everyone welcome. (Thank you Wikipedia ~ Images of Rembrandt)

Smith's Best Book ? Witty, humourous and constructed to hold the reader's attention, Red Means Run is Brad Smith's new novel. Picked up by Scribner, a division of Simon & Shuster, this may be Brad's best book yet.
Visit www.bradsmithbooks.com for a run-down on local author, Brad Smith. He is the author of All Hat, Big Man Coming Down the Road, Busted Flush, One-Eyed Jacks and Rises a Moral Man. A video of the author takes us on a tour of his old stomping grounds, including the Cayuga Courthouse and jail.

Brad will be signing Red Means Run this Saturday at Dragonfly Books and Gifts in Caledonia, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Photo: Book-signing at Flyers Cafe in Dunnville, Ontario ~ LWalker.