Date: Fri 10-Jul-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-quotations

Full Text:

TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN

Well, the smartypants who writes the editorials here at The Bee ventured off

into the realm of anecdotal anarchy last week when he misattributed the famous

words of Barbara Frietchie from the poem of John Greenleaf Whittier -- "Shoot,

if you must, this old gray head, But spare your country's flag" -- to Betsy

Ross. Mrs Ross was far more adept with needle and thread than with memorable

quotations. I know for a fact that The Bee's editorial writer can't sew, and

it's now clear that he's no good with quotations either, so we're all sitting

around this week trying to figure out what he's good for.

In an effort to bring him up to speed on quotations by great Americans, I have

prepared a little test for him, which I will share with you. Name if you can,

the Americans responsible for the following ten quotations:

"When you come to a fork in the road, take it."

"Be true to your teeth and they won't be false to you."

"The world is getting to be such a dangerous place, a man is lucky to get out

of it alive."

"When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I've never

tried before."

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."

"All men should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from,

and to, and why."

"I don't even know what street Canada is on."

"Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving

taxi cabs and cutting hair."

"I find television very educating. Every time someone turns on the set, I go

into the other room and read a book."

"We shall reach greater and greater platitudes of achievement."

The authors of these quotations appear at the end of the column, so read on.

Bridge End Farm lane near Lake Zoar has become a favorite hangout for Newtown

residents the past few Fourths of July. George Haury had been putting on a

brilliant fireworks display near the Silver Bridge each year, and as word got

out, those looking for a good show have been pulling over to see what he had

in store. After all, Newtown hasn't put on its own fireworks in more than a

decade.

However, warnings from police stopped the show a year ago, so this year, Mr

Haury held a carnival instead. The bright lights lit up the neighborhood,

attracting dozens of people to the area Saturday night.

When the St Rose Carnival closed for the last time this summer Saturday night,

the evening was just beginning for the Stewart Amusement Company. Once the

carnival-goers had left, it was time to begin breaking down the rides, which,

on average, takes a lot of both time and muscle. Newtown resident Dave

Samoskevich helps out Stewart Amusement on the weekends and was on hand for

Saturday's "break-down." He figured he would be there 'til 4 am.

The refrigerator in The Bee lunchroom was filled this week with leftovers from

the surprise 70th birthday party that Don Miner threw for his mother on the

Fourth of July. Was she surprised? Yes, she was, Don said. Her birthday is in

February.

Newtown Police Chief Jim Lysaght injured his Achilles tendon last week while

playing ping pong at his home. Public Works Director Fred Hurley got the news

and wondered if Chief Lysaght went down trying to jump the net.

Former Newtown residents Jim and Pam Bowers moved to Utah a couple of years

ago, but they still subscribe to The Bee . Each edition arrives about a week

after it hits the newsstands, but Pam says she still waits eagerly for her

latest copy. After all, she said, The Bee gives her that regular slice of

Newtown that she still craves.

Local artist David Merrill was seen this week working his paintbrush along the

Edmond Town Hall mural. He just finished his list of the town's former finance

directors, which includes an extremely accurate drawing of current finance

director, Ben Spragg.

Mr Merrill has also begun a list of Newtown's own "celebrities," which

includes everyone from 1976 decathlon champion Bruce Jenner and NBA star Cliff

Robinson to 13th Valley author John DelVecchio, "Blossom" star Jenna Von Oy

and Philadelphia weather forecaster Cecily Tynan.

So did any of the quotations above sound familiar to you? In the order they

appear above, they were spoken by: Yogi Berra, Soupy Sales, W.C. Fields, Mae

West, Jonathan Winters, James Thurber, Al Capone, George Burns, Groucho Marx,

and Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley.

Here's one last challenge for you. Who said...

"Read me again."