GREETINGS FROM THE PAST

A Christmas postcard from the collection,

bearing an early 1900 postmark.

A Merry Christmas To You and Yours

from

The Bullis Room Volunteers

GIFT BOOKS

Need some last-minute holiday gifts to put under your tree? Have you thought about completing your shopping list with books?

We've found several books in the Bullis Collection that were presented as holiday gifts. Here they are for your consideration. And we've included the inscriptions that were written inside, in graceful longhand.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen.

"Christmas 1904 from Louisa Fisher"

Old Kaskia Days by Elizabeth Holbrook.

"From Mrs. E. G. Matlock to Mr. Wm. Don Maus, Christmas, 1898"

Historic Towns of New England by Lyman Powell.

"To Helen from Mother Henry, Christmas 1901"

The Poems Sacred, Passionate and Humorous by N. P. Willis

"To my dear brother William from Emma, Christmas 1871"

Farm Legends by Will Carleton

"A Christmas present to Asher Freeman at the age of 61 years by his granddaughter,

Florance Freeman, dau. of Linus and Myra Freeman at the age of 2 1/2 years.

At Middleport, Niagara Co. NY, December 25, 1875

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

"A. R. Bullis

Mr. S. Ni from M. E. Cooley

Xmas 1898"

A Soldier's Memories in Peace and War by G. J. Younghusband

"Frederick T. Teet

Auburn NY

Xmas 1917"

The Wolf Boy of China by Wm. Dalton

"Francis Granger

No. 250 w. 57th St. N Y City

Xmas 1886"

May we also suggest that you jot a little note to the recipient inside the book? And be sure to date it, too, for the benefit of readers a hundred years from now.

THE GIFT OF DIVERSITY

This week, volunteers put together a new display in the case outside the Bullis Room., display celebrating diversity and suggesting that viewers resolve to read a variety of new topics and discover new authors in the coming new year. Some of our suggestions are:

Rupert, by the Grace of God

the Story of an Unrecorded plot set forth by Will Fortesque

Edited and revised by Dora Greenwell McChesney, published in 1899

Two Little Savages

Being the adventures of two boys who lived as Indians and what they learned

Written by Ernest Thompson Seton, published in 1917.

Thomas Hart Benton--American Statesman

Written by Theodore Roosevelt, published in 1886.

Hugh Wynne--Free Quaker

Sometime Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on the Staff of His Excellency General Washington

Written by S. Weir Mitchell, M.D.L.L.D.

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Written by Charles Dickens

Birds Every Child Should Know

Written by Hamilton Wright Mabie, published in 1917

Over the Teacups

Written by Oliver Wendell Holmes, published in 1891

Missionary Explorers Among the American Indians

Edited by M. G. Humphreys, published 1913

The Religions of the Ancient World

Written by George Rawlinson, M.A., published 1883

ANOTHER LITTLE BLUE BOOK

We found another little blue book this week here in the Bullis Room. This one caught our eye, not only because of the blue marble cover, but also because of its title: A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases: with a copious index of principal words. Between the covers are 127 pages of thought-provoking quotes and references.

The intro says that "the late Earl Russell very aptly describes a proverb as the wisdom of many and the wit of one." If you're a fan of wit and wisdom, you may want to add this book to your reading list.

There is no editor or year of publication listed, but a handwritten note on the flyleaf reads: "July 23, 1938 Powers Auction," which reminds us that Charlie Bullis's frugality included buying books at auctions and garage sales. This notation also brings to mind the Bullis family's adage: "Use it up; wear it out; make do; or do without." A good proverb for back then and certainly a good one for now.

DR. CHASE'S RECIPES

Photo caption: A volunteer reads Dr. Chase's recipe for bee-bread honey.

This little blue-covered book, which measures about 4 by 7 inches, is almost hidden by the thicker, taller medical tomes on the shelf. But it contains what must have been useful information in its day, proving that good things really do come in small packages.

Published in 1872 by R.A. Beal, Ann Arbor, Michigan, Dr. Chase's Recipes; or, Information for Everybody; An Invaluable Collection of About Eight Hundred Practical Recipes instructs merchants, grocers, saloon keepers, housekeepers, physicians, druggists, barbers, bakers, and farmers how to make apple pie, an ague cure, deer skin tanning solution, a chronic rheumatism cure, washing fluid (saving half the wash-board labor), a Good Samaritan liniment, and 794 more concoctions. (Whew!)

Our copy is the 73rd edition and states that 730,000 copies (at $1.25 each) had been sold at that time, leading the author to the conclude that a good many folk recognized the value of so much handy information packed into one volume. Today, we may find many of these recipes outdated, but they still make entertaining reading. We recommend you spend some time with Dr. Chase's little blue book.

THE WELCOME MAT IS STILL OUT...

...and this is a friendly reminder that you're invited to stop by and browse the shelves in the Bullis Room.

Just call the main desk (986-5932, Op. 3), leave your contact information, and we'll arrange a time to meet you. Or, if you see a volunteer in the Bullis Room on your next library visit, simply open the door and say hello.

Usually, someone is in the room at these times:

Mondays, 1 PM to 4 PM Tuesdays, 12:30 PM to 2 PM

1st Thursday of the month, 10 AM to Noon

Fridays, 2 PM to 4:30 PM

Hope to see you soon. We'll leave the light on.

HONORING VETERANS

Again, we remember Bullis family members who have served their country through military service.

Philip Bullis, born circa 1630 in England. Philip was a mariner who immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts. He served in Major Savage's Company under Lieut. Gillam from 1675 to 1676 on the Connecticut River during King Philip's War.

Son of John Bullis, born circa 1695 in Dutchess County, New York. John married and had eight sons who grew up on the Bullis Homestead in Dutchess County. One of these sons was a general in the French and Indian War.

Charles Bullis, born 1723 in Greenwich, Connecticut. He later moved to Manchester, Vermont. He served in the Revolutionary War in Captain Gideon Brownson's Company, Warner Regiment, Vermont Militia.

John Lapham Bullis, born 1841 in Macedon, New York. In 1862, he enlisted in the Volunteer Army and was commissioned in 1864, seeing extensive service during the Civil War. He continued his military service in Texas and Mexico with the Buffalo Soldiers, served in the Phillipines and Cuba during the Spanish-American War, and ended his career after President Theodore Roosevelt appointed him Brigadier General in 1904.

Charles R. Bullis, born 1891 in Macedon, New York. He enlisted in the Army on September 26, 1917 and was discharged on December 11, 1918. He served as a Private in the 20^th Company, 157 Depot Brigade during World War I. He was stationed at Camp McClellan, Alabama, for part of that time.

To these Bullis men and to all the men and women who have served and are serving in our Armed Forces, we say as sincere "Thank You."