SAND PUMPINGS: A reader recently suggested we look back at some of the old “Sand Pumpings” columns that ran in The Era before “Round the Square” was established.
We’re giving readers a taste of what the older column looked like with this “Sand Pumpings” from Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1947:
“Periodically the human race gets to thinking it’s pretty smart — that technological progress, scientific research and mechanical inventions have conquered the elements. Then along comes a flood, a hurricane or a forest fire and we realize again that Mother Nature is still a tough old girl. Bradford, which has been ravaged twice by floods, is hard at work to prevent a recurrence. We have been fortunate in escaping forest fires during this drought, but our community is vulnerable to this type of catastrophe. It would be a good idea to give some thought now to protecting this area from possible conflagrations.”
The writer talks a little more about preventing forest fires before moving back to a related thought:
****
“Before leaving the subject of floods, we might mention letter received from Secretary KEN MEYER of the District Flood Commission, in which he suggests that the ERA use a picture of last spring’s flood on its 1948 calendars and label it “Lest We Forget.” He says that the only way to get adequate flood protection for an area is for the people themselves to keep continually clamoring for it.”
****
“‘Chatter,’ the official publication of the Engineers Society of Western Pennsylvania gives Bradford some real bouquets in their October issue. Here are some excerpts from the article — ‘Probably the most beautiful site in the Appalachian Range is Bradford … The Society made no mistake in the choice of the Emery Hotel in Bradford for the convention in September … We have heard of southern hospitality but doubt if it really compares with the Bradford type.’”
****
If you want inspiration for a first class nightmare, get WANDA LESH to tell you some of her 23 years’ experience in Burma. The part that chilled us the most was her account of the many cobras which frequent the country. It seems that the natives worship these venomous serpents, believing that the souls of their dead ancestors inhabit the bodies of the reptiles. She came into her living room one day and found a monster cobra curled up on the davenport. She screamed for the houseboy, but he refused to harness the snake, saying it was his grandmother. Mrs. Lesh (at a safe distance) shooed the cobra off the furniture — she says that the cobra looked at her, spread his hood, and then calmly glided away.”
