I
I Front Lines
NOTEBOOK
Where Are They Now?
I
n Hamlet, Shakespeare has a
prince exhort a group of
actors to "speak the speech
... trippingly on the tongue ..."
And yet, today, we have all but
ignored those words that can go
trippingly, that sound so lovely or
that describe an aspect of our
living that has ceased to be.
When it comes to furniture, I
know what I like and what I do
not. I am no expert on styles. (I
often fear that I am close to the
person who placed the ad in the
paper that read, `For sale. Dining
room table by lady with
Hepplewhite legs.")
I do, however, have recollec-
tions of a sofa in my grandpar-
ents' home. No, it was not a couch
— that's the point I am making.
It was a sofa; not a divan, for this
one had arms and a high back
(but divan is also a "trippingly"
word).
This sofa, a Chesterfield (score
two for the home team), was red
and made of horsehair. I have
vivid and painful memories of
having to sit on it while wearing
shorts — ouch! The back and
arms were protected, as were all
the chairs, by antimacassars
(point three!) to prevent soiling.
(The latter got the name from
the macassar oil that was used as
a hair dressing, so that when
someone leaned back, there
needed to be something under
the head to keep the oil off the
furniture.)
Also in the furniture line, what-
ever hap-
pened to the
chiffonier?
This is so
much nicer
than a
bureau or
chest of
drawers. Of
Sy Manello
course, there
Editorial
was also the
Assistant
close relative,
the highboy
(a chest of drawers on legs).
Clothing has also given us
some interesting words. I've
always been enamored of the
doublet; it sounds so elegant. Of
course, the vest is nice (even
though I'm having a terrible time
trying to find a nice one for
.
Governor Backs Meisner
technology. The bills
Jewish law-
mirror those proposed
maker's pack-
in
the U.S. Senate by
age of bills
Orrin
Hatch, R-Utah.
that would permit stem
State
Rep. Andy
cell research and ban
Meisner,
D-Ferndale,
human cloning was
proposed
the bills in
mentioned in Gov.
hopes
of
seeking
cures
Jennifer Granholm's
for
Alzheimer's,
State of the State
Rep. Mei sner
Parkinson's and spinal
address on Jan. 25.
cord
injuries.
Granholm urged the
"Michigan's
ban on stem cell
Legislature to approve House Bills
research
is
not
only a barrier to
4900, 4901 and 4902 and thus lift
potentially
lifesaving
break-
street cell research restrictions.
throughs
in
treatment:'
Meisner
These barriers, she said, are hurt-
said.
"It's
a
huge
barrier
to creat-
ing Michigan's ability to create new
ing
high-paying
jobs
in
the
life
jobs in health care and life sciences
10 February 2 • 2006
sold the painting voluntarily at
fair-market value, and never
sought restitution for the sale
after the war.
"We asked them to withdraw
their claim, and they said they
were not going to:' said
Graham Beal, DIA director.
"Once they had reiterated three
times that they would not
withdraw their claim, we filed
for a judgment."
The heirs have 60 days to
respond.
The heirs are also disputing a
similar action against the Toledo
(Ohio) Museum of Art over a
well, that's it — penultimate.
That is s0000 much more aurally
pleasing than "next to last."
My last entry will be dudgeon,
which I came across in the New
York Times the other day, proving
that it is far from "dead?' It means
"very angry," and comes from an
association with a hand on a dag-
ger hilt, which is what may have
been done if someone were truly
angered. "She left the council
meeting in high dudgeon?'
Maybe, if we were to treat lan-
guage with a bit more respect,
some of our "lovelies" would not
disappear; maybe they would be
used more often to treat our ears
as well as enliven our communi-
cation. Even words can be delec-
table. ❑
Youth Mission Essay Contest
sciences field."
Current state law bans any
research on embroyos needed for
the creation of stem cells.
Meisner cited New Jersey, with
a $50 million, state-sponsored
stem cell institute, and
California, with a $3 billion ballot
initiative approved by voters last
year, as examples of states
aggressively lobbying the stem
cell research industry.
His bills would allow Michigan
to compete for these jobs,
Meisner said
— Robert A. Sklar, editor
Van Gogh Dispute
V intent van Gogh's
painting "The Diggers"
may be headed to
court, as the Detroit Institute of
Arts filed a claim in federal
court on Jan 24.
The filing pits the DIA against
the heirs of Martha Nathan, a
Jewish art collector who sold the
painting in 1938.
Nathan's heirs claim she sold
the painting under duress from
Nazi-persecution, and well
under fair-market value.
DIA officials said they have
proven through an extensive
provenance search that Nathan
everyday wear), but the doublet
seems so much more dapper.
One of my favorite words is
aglet because it is almost non-
existent. People would rather say,
"That little plastic thingy on the
end of the shoelace?"
Cameo is a delightful word and
a lovely piece of jewelry and the
word is so elegant. Reticule is
another pleasant-sounding term
that is all but gone, perhaps
because the item is no longer
seen. It was a net bag with a
drawstring, sometimes used by
ladies as a purse or knitting bag.
Helix is delightful and it makes
a great picture, too, if you think
of the ones we have seen lately of
DNA.
For my penultimate choice --
till talking about Federation's Family Miracle Mission to
Israel over Chanukah? Here's a chance to express your
thoughts, feelings and reactions to the trip.
Enter an essay contest sponsored by the Detroit Jewish News, the
Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit's Alliance for Jewish
Education and the Jewish Community Council. The contest is open
to entrants age 8-18 who participated in the recent Family
Mission. Middle and high school entries will be judged separately
from younger students.
Contestants should write a 250-400 word essay based on the
. theme "Israel Is Real To Me Now." The essays will be judged on cre-
ativity; knowledge, theme development and clarity. Winners will be
announced in the Jewish News, which will publish excerpts, and
each will receive a prize related to or made in Israel.
Submit a typed, double-spaced essay and include your name,
address, grade, school, e-mail address and phone number. Send it
to the Alliance for Jewish Education, 6735 Telegraph Road,
Bloomfield Township, MI 48301 by Wednesday, Feb. 15. Winners
will be announced in early April.
For information, call Allan Gale at the JCCouncil, (248) 642-5393.
S
— Keri Guten Cohen, story development editor
%EMT 'cha Don't Know
Besides Ladino, how many Jewish languages
are nearing extinction or are already extinct?
Goldfein
"The Diggers," van Gogh, 1889.
Paul Gauguin painting.
— Harry Kirsbaum, staff writer
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