Oct 17, 2022“One Last Card” by John Tenniel appeared in the October 1862 issue of the British satire magazine…“One Last Card” by John Tenniel appeared in the October 1862 issue of the British satire magazine Punch (Tenniel later became famous as the first illustrator of Alice in Wonderland) Emancipation Proclamation Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation was not a straightforward freeing of all slaves. In fact, it pleased nobody except those held in…American Civil War4 min readAmerican Civil War4 min read
Sep 26, 2022Adam & Eve for Six Year-OldsI teach 1st grade Sunday School at an Episcopal church in Raleigh, NC. I drew the lot to teach the Adam and Eve story. I do not think the making Eve from Adam’s rib and go and have pain in childbirth and live by the sweat of your brow was…Bible7 min readBible7 min read
Aug 14, 2022When I Send My Words To YouWhenever I seek to send you messages of my affection, the words never grumble, stumble, complain of being turned out early or called up again. No, they run, leap, squeak with delight to be sent on such a mission. They know where they are going to wake, amuse, or seduce…Love2 min readLove2 min read
Feb 11, 2022Orangutan Breeding-Just Not With Gorilla Sex TapesAdult male (left) and female (right) orangutans By Joel Haas Feb. 11, 2022 This essay is based on the thinnest speculation and knowledge. I do not pretend to any sophisticated knowledge of the great apes such as gorillas, bonobos, or congressmen. Talking with a friend who had worked for several…Orangutans3 min readOrangutans3 min read
Nov 26, 2021Lizards in the Bowels and a Tame ZebraLizards in the Bowels and a Tame Zebra Between 1848 and 1868, as now, people are fascinated by the bizarre, scandals, new inventions, and habits of remote nations. The stories below taken from the Library of Congress massive collection of newspapers. A man in Maine passes a 7 inch lizard…History9 min readHistory9 min read
Oct 12, 2021Another Girl in PantsWhile the West was being won, slavery was an issue and Queen Victoria sat on her throne, there were a few ultra modern things going on, hilariously phrased by modern standards, but modern nonetheless. — Women4 min readWomen4 min read
Oct 11, 2021Before Rosa Parks There Was Elizabeth JenningsBefore Rosa Parks There Was Elizabeth Jennings Elizabeth Jennings and Sarah Adams just wanted to get to church on time, not start a civil rights case. Elizabeth was organist and head of the music program at First African Congregational Church in New York City. Record breaking heat blanketed the city…Race7 min readRace7 min read
Jul 22, 2021How to Sit in a Hoop SkirtHow to Sit in a Hoop Skirt Between hoop skirts and corsets, Victorian women showed off an exaggerated female shape in a way even a modern day bikini does not. “My Victorian black wool dress is historically accurate because it’s completely hand-sewn. Early Victorian dress were always sewn by hand…Fashion8 min readFashion8 min read
Jul 13, 2021Our War With Paraguay-1858 and How to Sit In a Hoopskirt — America from 1848–1868 as reported by…Our War With Paraguay-1858 and How to Sit In a Hoopskirt — America from 1848–1868 as reported by newspapers and magazines. This is the introductory article in a series of 52 planned weekly essays and clippings on America’s forgotten history, much of it astoundingly like today’s headlines. Journalism has been…History6 min readHistory6 min read
Sep 26, 2020MacBeth For BoysBy Joel Haas For actors, no play in the English language is more surrounded by superstition and tradition than “the Scottish play.” My brothers and I were blissfully unaware of this in 1962 as we mounted our production of Shakespeare’s “MacBeth” in our bedroom. We had seen a television version…Acting6 min readActing6 min read
