ABCDeology

Want to solve a puzzle? Unfortunately it is pretty much impossible for me since most of the symbols are archaic/indecipherable. (For instance, the first tree symbol is a Yew tree, and that black thing before the next tree is an Awl.) If you can’t get it that’s okay. The answer is at the bottom.

The Sweep *click for larger*

“The Sweep – Printed and Sold by Bellamy – SIX PENCE – 49 Mincing Lane, London”

Translation:

“If you ask me which of all human beings is happiest in proportion to his means, I would answer, the sweep. He is not proud in his dress, small are his wants, and great his independence. Wealthy men make way to let him pass, and truly he is a man of high calling. He fears little for his capital in trade, for his brush and shovel are nearly the whole. Humble as he is, he can set his foot under the grate; Insult him and you become a marked person.he seldom accumulates riches, though to he often rises in the world.In the delicate feelings of his heart, he spurns not the negro, because his face his black ; no, he hates such pride, lives independent and comfortable, and above all he is content with his business, because he knows it suits him.”

-English Rebus, middle nineteenth century, via pilllpat (agence eureka)’s flickr and Le Ramoneur de Bourg (The Sweep of Town)

BibliOdyssey has a few illustrious Dutch picture book cover illustrations up from The Memory of the Netherlands’ ‘Picture Books from 1810 to 1950‘ website – which features 650 antique children’s books free to view in full and download. Going to waste a lot of time if I start trawling through those archives with illustrations as gorgeous as the ones PK linked; favorites so far:

'Feest in het Bosch', story by Jac. van der Klei, illustrated by D. Viel, 1927 *click thru to big*

Alle eendjes by Uitgever 1930 *click thru to big*

'Uit Huis en Hof' by Konrad Mullerfurer, 1921 *click thru to big*

'Van twee visschertjes een vertelling voor klein en groot met rijmpjes en knipsels door J.E.' by Enderlein, J. 1913 *click thru to big*

'De Gouden Haan' by Marietje Witteveen, 1940 *click thru to big*

'A dat is Aafje - door Bas van der Veer' by Bas van der Veer and Freddie Langeler *click thru to big*

'De Reis Naar de Maan' by PJ Andriessen, 1876 *click thru to big*

'De Wilgen by Adama van Scheltema', illustrated by Rie Cramer, 1918 *click thru to big*

'Waarom de slak zijn huisje altijd met zich meedraagt een verhaal van Vadertje Brombeer' by Brombeer, Vadertje 1946 *click thru to big*

'Het Theesalet van Pieteloet' by Agatha, 1860 *click thru to big*

'Landelijke Tafereelen' published by J Scholz, 1860s *click thru to big*

'Het ABC voor Holland's Kleintjes met 156 Plaatjes' by Daan Hoeksema, 1923 *click thru to big*

'Het Prentenboek der Sporten' by Yvonne, 1912 *click thru to big*

'Pierrot', text by J. Schenkman, illustrated by Louis Raemaekers, 1907 *click thru to big*

“Old children’s books are moving, intriguing, amusing and inspiring. They have value not only for the individual reader, but also for our society as a whole. Each successive Dutch generation grew up with its own specific children’s books, and each generation unconsciously adopted such moral standards and values as they contained. Children’s books serve as indispensable witnesses of an ever changing society

Within the framework of youth literature, picture books occupy a special place. In picture books, the images are just as important as the texts. They are by no means intended exclusively for young children. Old picture books reflect the views people held about good and evil, poor and rich; about education, with examples of dutiful and bad behaviour; about love for one’s own country and about people from foreign countries. They illustrate a changing world of new inventions and modes of transport, of living and fashion, of daily life in towns and villages. There is both humour and moralism to be found in children’s books; they play with the relationship between reality and fantasy.

A total of six hundred and fifty Dutch picture books, dating to the period 1810–1950, are brought together in this collection, which runs the gamut from Robinson Crusoe to Tielse Flipje (a cartoon mascot on ‘De Betuwe’ jam pot labels) and from old nursery rhymes to fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm: there is something for everyone in the collection.“

Dr. John – I Walk On Gilded Splinters (click through to the song)

Musical Genres: New Orleans R&B, swamp blues, free jazz, psychedelic, voodoo funk, 60s, theatrical, party music, blues rock

Dr. John the Night Tripper - Gris-Gris

J’suis the Grand Zombie
My yellow belt of choison
Ain’t afraid of no tom cat
Fill my brains with poison

Walk thru the fire
Fly thru the smoke
See my enemy
At the end of dey rope

Walk on pins and needles
See what they can do
Walk on gilded splinters
With the king of the Zulu

Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters
Kon kon, the kiddy kon kon
Walk on gilded splinters

‘Ti Alberta (’ti Alberta)
‘Ti Alberta (’ti Alberta)
‘Ti Alberta (’ti Alberta)
‘Ti Alberta (’ti Alberta)

Roll out my coffin
Drink poison in my chalice
Pride begins to fade
Soon y’all will feel my malice.

Dr. John – I Walk On Guilded Splinters

The perfect southern-soul-tinged blues rock song for a summer cookout, a New Orleans celebration or a hippie’s LSD trip,  ‘I Walk On Gilded Splinters’ is “a one-of-a-kind fusion of New Orleans Mardi Gras R&B and voodoo mysticism”. The track in the last on Dr. John’s debut album, Gris-Gris, which is #143 on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. A Gris-Gris is a voodoo talisman that protects the wearer from evil or brings luck.  The still-performing Dr.John is better known for Right Place, Wrong Time because of its use in many movie soundtracks.

New Orleans Voodoo Shop by Flickr user garzavf

It became a heavily sampled song and was also often covered by other musicians. The cover by left-handed guitarist Johnny Jenkins in 1970 also being sampled quite a bit. (Was sampled for Oasis’ “Go Let it Out”, Soul II Soul’s “Get a Life”, Blackalicious’ “A to G”,  and Beck’s “Loser” among others.)

I saw DJ Shadow showing off a copy of the album Jenkins’ cover is off of (”Ton Ton Macoute!“) in the DJing documentary Scratch, as an example of a great “rare groove” find.

The song was also covered by Marsha Hunt in 1969 then Humble Pie in 1971 and Paul Weller in 1998.

A US musical cultural classic that everyone should hear and appreciate.