Lewis J. Cist quotations from Ohio and Her Western Reserve, by Alfred Mathews

I am  using the Troy, Ohio library system and I have found  a book titled, Ohio and Her Western Reserve, by Alfred Mathews. It is still a custom for an individual to produce a poem to commemorate an event or a battle of some type and present it to the crowd.  Lewis J. Cist was a poet, insurance agent, bank teller, and autograph collector.

On page 51 and 127, are listed two poems that he produced.
Page 51 reads:
Through a long warfare rude,
With patient hardihood,
By toil, and strife, and blood,
The soil was won.
Lewis J. Cist

On page 127:
New England well may boast
The band that on her coast,
Long years ago,
Their Pilgrim anchor cast--
Their Pilgrim bark made fast--
Mid winter's howling blast
And driven snow.
Long since hath passed away,
Each Pilgrim hoar and gray,
Of that lone band;
Yet where their ashes lie
Sprang seeds that shall not die,
While ever yon blue sky
Shall arch our land!
Sons of that Pilgrim race
Were they from whom we trace
Our Buckeye blood.
Lewis J. Cist

Interdiscinplinary learning nuggests along the way in New York City

Planning my trip to New York City took some time and I am still learning more about improving my efficiency while traveling. Learning who takes credit cards, who accepts cash, etc. can be a problem, so I travel with credit cards, small amounts of cash. Four helpful suggestions while traveling. Travel with an open mind, bring a good book with you, be mindful of others, and spend money wisely and not much of it.

My limo driver picked me up from my apartment in Ohio at four in the morning. I was expecting a van or an SUV, but when they said limo service that is exactly what arrived, a huge white limo arrived right on time and the driver was awake and very friendly. At 4:00 in the morning no one was awake to see me get into the limo, but I was there. It happened. I sat near the front and talked with the driver.

While I waited for my plane to go to New York City I read the first few chapters of Donn Piatt Gadfly of the Gilded Age.  I am not aware if Charles Cist was related to the Piatt family, but I am having success in my research paroling old pioneer families who traveled from Europe in the late 1600's to the East Coast of the British Colonies in the 1700's and then moved through Pennsylvania and into Ohio as migration history progressed with the purchase of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. From the late 1600's to the 1800's I am learning more about early pioneer daily life, cultural happenings, political entities formations, rebellions, conflicts, beneficial amendments, and other governmental formations. Donn Piatt  Gadfly of the Gilded Age by Peter Bridges, is helping me connect different historical events and people connections while researching Cist. Theory( Donn Piatt was many things, statesmen, journalist, farmer, poet, ambassador to France). Charles Cist was a printer in Philadelphia and was Treasure for the Continental Congress, and helped establish the first government printing offices under President John Adams. The Piatts stayed in Washington D.C. for awhile before Donn Piatt became ambassador to France. Charles Cist was a generation before Donn Piatt, but with the migration to the Ohio Valley after the war of 1812, there might be a Piatt connection with later Cists, Charles Edward Cist (noted librarian from Cincinnati) moved to Cincinnati after the war of 1812. Charles Edward Cist was a son of the Philadelphia Charles Cist.

My trip to the World Stamp Expo at the Javits Convention Center allowed me to meet several historical figures: Benjamin Franklin, and Paul Revere. These men were in colonial costumes and talked in historical fashion about the stamp world in the early colonies. Mr. Franklin portrayed by Mr. Tim O'Conner, shared with the educational seminar group that not everyone wrote letters. He shared with the group about how Franklin preserved his writings that were later donated to Philadelphia. I have his email address if I need future information. (Mr. Tim O'Conner's email).

Additionally, Paul Revere asked me what he said after is famous ride. I said "One if by land two if by sea? He replied No. Then I guessed "Don't shoot me I am just the messenger? Paul Revere said No. Then I guessed my last turn and replied "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes? Paul Revere said No. I said "What did Paul Revere say after his famous ride? He smiled and said " I need a new saddle! I said to myself "Ok, I just got a taste of my own medicine. Sometimes you learn something historical. Sometimes you just go with the flow. I am glad I tried.

The Vanderbilt YMCA hotel at 224 East 47th Street is modest, clean, friendly and very affordable for a stay in New York City. Some amenities are 24/7 security desk, fast check-in, vending machines on certain floors, quick elevators, and a fitness center plus Wi-Fi to post blogs. I walked across the street to a 24/7 grocery store and brought along my lunch pale and purchased soups, drinks, and a banana to place in the mini refrigerator that was in the room. This food will last me a couple of meals. I am saving money.

Communications mishaps in the City. I approached a stamp auction house to try and auction off stamps. I heard the gentleman speak. I recognized an European accent. and a sign behind him implied German, so  I said Gutan Tag, which is German for good morning. The European gentleman replied "I am Dutch. Oh well. Then my taxi ride back to the hotel was eventful. I shared a taxi ride with a delightful couple from the United Kingdom.  I asked "What is the proper way to split a cab fare? The couple paid the fair to their hotel along the way to my hotel. I quickly said "I will pay your tip to the driver" It worked out nicely and we both waived as they both left the cab. As the taxi driver dropped me off at the YMCA, I shared with him that my friends have taught me to place my hands together and say Hare Krishna. The driver said " I am from Pakistan. Oh well. I fall down. I get back up again.
Sometimes you have to realize who you are in life. I humbled myself and said "I am just a farm boy from Ohio who needs adjustments to the big city. The New York City Public Library is closed for Memorial Day weekend, so  my Amtrak train ride is tomorrow evening to Philadelphia. My trip continues.
Andrew C. Allen
pewabic34@gmail.com
May 29, 2016

City and Suburban News-New York Times (1857-1922); Jan 29, 1890

City and Suburban News-New York Times (1857-1922) Jan 29, 1890; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The New York Times, p. 6
New York
The members of the Union Prisoners of War National Memorial Association that was incorporated on Monday evening met in Parlor F at the Fifth Avenue Hotel last evening and elected these officers and Trustees for the coming year: President - Alonzo J. Decker; Vice President - Judge George M. Van Hoesen; Secretary - Major J. L. Kilgore, Treasurer- Gen. Ira M. Hedges; Trustees- Gen. Alexander S. Webb, Gen. Horatio C. King, Gen. Clinton B. Fisk, Gen. Ezra H. Ripple, Gen. Henry M. Cist-Cincinnati, Augustus C. Tate, Charles E. Hyatt, Major Floyd Clarkson, Gen. Alexander Slater, Gen. James Grant Wilson, Hibbard B. Masters, Major C. E. Barney, Gen. Wager Swayne, James D. Bell, and Frederick A. Rowe. The Advisory Board if fifty members will be appointed by the Trustees at their first meeting.

Andrew C. Allen
pewabic34@gmail.com

Benjamin Franklin and German printing in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Mid 1700's

The German printing connection with Charles Cist is that there were already German language printing papers from previous individuals in the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia areas during the 1700's. This post is to be an addition to the future finding in this historical area.

Benjamin Franklin attempted numerous times to establish several German language newspapers through partnerships. A goal of Franklin's was to educate the German speaking individuals that were a population descendants of the William Penn colony in the Pennsylvania area from the late 1600's.
In the 1740's printers were gaining in popularity. They went from a social status of viewed as  manual labor to information brokers.
Franklin knew that in Pennsylvania the German population was large enough to influence certain political outcomes in the Assembly of Pennsylvania. Germans from Europe were coming to the British Colonies in large numbers. Eighteen ships transported Germans to Philadelphia in 1732 and 1733, and from 1737 to 1754 ship arrivals from Germany averaged eleven annually.

Benjamin Franklin's pamphlet, Plain Truth,  in 1747 wrote about how the way towards peace is to prepare for war. At this time King George was at war with France and Spain. He had some success with uniting disparate ethnic, political, and religious groups.

Christopher Sauer was the first successful German language printer in the Colonies during this time. Mr. Sauer opposed Franklin's ideas because he thought that alliance to Franklin's militia could be transformed from a voluntary to a mandatory militia. This printing rivalry between Sauer and Franklin went on until Sauer's death in 1758.

This information was obtained from Mr. Trombley from the internet with a footnote: "To Rescue the Germans Out of Sauer's Hands": Benjamin Franklin's German Language Printing Partnerships
The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, Vol. CXXI, No.4 (October 1997).

I chose to include this in my blog because the time frame when Charles Cist escaped from Siberia, Russian and made his way through Europe might lead me to find the transportation from which Cist arrived in Philadelphia. Did he set sail from Germany? Did he set sail from England? Did he have a sponsor? Was in Benjamin Franklin?

I am using my Interdisciplinary Studies skills to connect people, dates, and events to find conclusive historical material on the life movements of Charles Cist.
Andrew C. Allen
pewabic34@gmail.com

St. Louis Cist Social Media Experiement

 I have learned that Lewis J. Cist lived in St. Louis during the middle 1800's. I am doing research to find out if this love interest with a lady produced any children from this brief marriage.

I am placing informational ads on Craig's List and other social media outlets to learn if there are any offspring from the marriage of Lewis J. Cist.

If my readers know of any descendent of Cist living in St. Louis and is related to the Cist family, please extend an invitation to contact me.

Andrew C. Allen
pewabic34@gmail.com

Making a Quill Pen During Colonial Times.

Writing, reading, speaking out loud, and printing is all part of being a literary citizen. Charles Cist was a literary citizen. In the printing shop of Cist and Styner were numerous quill pens that their customers could use to have words and letters printed.




In February 2016 edition of Early American Life on pages 12-13 there is a very informative article, Skills- To Make a Pen, about the different skills it took to make quill pens. These different skills included knowing which side of the bird the feathers came from, which type of bird, and what part of the bird. These quill writing pens came from feathers from a bird not from a porcupine quill.




The word pen derives from Latin penne, which means feather. The flight feathers from a goose where the top choice in Colonial Times. Birds from colder climate were more desired. The quills were stronger and lasted longer from these types of birds.
When taking your pen knife you can increase or decrease the thickness of the ink line by shaping the quill. Additionally, you can prolong the life of the quill by the shaping of the quill with the pen knife. Modern methods include soaking the quill overnight in cold water to soften it. Next, strip the barbs from the shaft against the grain with a pen knife.


Quill feathers from the right shoulder of the bird were used for left handed writers. Quills from the left shoulder of the bird were used for right handed writers. Once a writer became comfortable with the pen, then it took about one year for the pen to season!  Ms. Ramona Vogel-Hill said. "The quicker option for hardening a quill is a process called dutching, where you temper it in hot river sand or wood ash that's been sifted." (Ms. Ramona Vogel-Hill is a quill maker at Colonial Williamsburg).


It is interesting to note that quill pens were used to write both the Magna Carta and the Declaration of Independence. The Industrial Revolution soon made steel pens affordable on a mass scale in Europe and America.




There is a great painting by Dutch master artist, Gerrit Dou, c. 1630-35, called Scholar Sharpening a Quill Pen. This is a realistic depiction of the use of a quill pen. Hollywood stylizes the quill pen with flamboyant feathers, but Gerrit Dou captures a clearer depiction of a writer with a quill pen.


Andrew C. Allen
pewabic34@gmail.com
February 9, 2016

Charles Cist as linguist translator from Europe to America

Charles Cist had a very good education from Halle University in Germany during the mid 1700's. He spoke Russian, German, and English, possibly French. When he made his escape through Europe and sailed to America he knowingly or unknowingly brought with him his own individual ideas and cultural influences that needed to be translated towards the ideals of a transformation from the British Colonies to The United States of America. He was just one individual. Multiply this by the many more influences of people coming to the New World at this time just before the American Revolutionary War. Think about Macro/ Micro economics and those two levels within a single concept. How do you translate culture from Old World to New World into a common language, English?

Charles Cist was in the cultural center of Philadelphia when town hall meetings were taking place. Town hall meetings were taking place in the thirteen colonies, too. It took time for the farmers and the educated clergy, statesmen, and others to translate literal words and phrases to understand shared ideas, listen to ideas and to understand ideas. After these meetings a unified presentation was presented to the Continental Congress for these ideas to be ratified. There were still verbal upheavals at these ratifying meetings, too.

The Use and Misuse of Language, edited by S. I. Hayakawa illustrates how different cultures from Old Europe were brought over to the New World. Mr. Hayakawa states that he is only qualified to discuss European influences. I will illustrate a section from pages 52-55.

Mr. Hayakawa gives credit on page 52 to Professor Karl Pribram who has pointed out the importance of language concepts in Pribram's book, Conflicting Patterns of Thought. Professor Pribram gives four patterns of reasoning, (1) Universalistic reasoning (2) Nominalistic, or hypothetical reasoning (3) Intuitional ,or organismic reasoning (4) Dialectic reasoning.

Universalistic reasoning is about the premise that the human mind can grasp the order of the universe. Reason is credited with the power to know the truth  with aid of given general concepts and to establish absolutes in human relationships.

Nominalistic reasoning is illustrated on page 53 about how French tourists view the New York subway system. The New York subway system is designed to be efficient for moving large populations of workers in and out the the city to different suburbs when their work shift is over. The Paris Metro system is designed to move populations to and from different monuments within the city limits. These are two totally different uses of transportation systems and it can affect how a French tourist views his/ her visit as pleasant or frustrating when using the New York subway.

Intuitional, or organismic reasoning stresses intuition rather than systematic cogitation. Professor Pribram goes on to explain about biological organisms and its component cells move around by intuition.

Dialectic reasoning. I am being honest. I am going to have to re-read this part of the book to fully understand it first myself before I can write about it so it is clear to me and to readers. More to follow.

Can you put yourself in Cist's shoes when attempting to translate these four different thought patterns and then translate words and phrases so everyone understands and agrees. Cist was not the sole person doing the work, but because of his multiply language skills he was in demand in Philadelphia meetings during this process.

I can imagine Cist first, listening to foreign accents, agree or disagree without praise or censorship, until we understand what those views are stating, then reviewing what was said and reviewing what was said in multiply languages. I have not even touched on the implications of the non- verbal and what was not said connotations of such meetings in the 1770's. The  process took time.

I am observing society today with the current immigration conflicts, and world events.
Andrew C . Allen
1841 West Main Street, #212
Troy, OH  45373
513.638.7140