I picked up an interesting book at the library the other day called Little Heathens; Hard Times and High Spirits On An Iowa Farm During The Great Depression written by Mildred Kalish. I enjoyed my first read through it and will probably go back to glean again from its pages. Full of wonderful memories and insights what impressed me most was her on going acknowledgment of how her character was formed through her interactions with those around her. "For us children, building character, developing a sense of responsibility, and above all, improving one's mind constituted the essential focus of our lives."
She understood that everything that they were given to read was for the purpose of supplying examples of how they were to behave. It was interesting to me that this is something that our culture no longer acknowledges. If only I had a dollar for every time I have heard some expert say that what we watch on TV has no effect on us or our behavior! Although no one ever said to her that education was important or lectured her on getting good grades, she never the less grew up knowing it all the same. Her home had its own library and being able to read was set up as a special treat, something to be desired and looked forward to. The children were given permission to read as an award for getting their chores and housework done.
I particularly enjoyed the chapter on oral influence where she explored all of the witticisms that made up her farm life. Many of them I have myself heard, but there was a delightful number that were new to me. These colloquialisms knit their community together and were a vehicle for transmitting the beliefs and values of the culture. Their speech was filled with motto's and maxims that "bombarded" them daily. It was acceptable for the men to use swear words such as hell and d....m but woman were not so freely spoken. "Females were the keepers of cleanliness, sobriety, manners, morals, and decorum." I loved the response of her grandmother when she used the S word to shock her. Her grandmother said, "You now have in your mouth, something that I would not hold in my hand." That's one adage I am going to remember!
