The Feather Quill Pen Evolved from Reed Pen
By Paula Mitchell
Sometime around the Middle Ages, the quill pen was innovated. Prior to this, writing on papyrus was primarily a tool made from reed, bamboo, or cane pens. Since the pen did not maintain a sharp point, the scribe created the quill pen, which could retain its shape longer, and the point would remain sharp longer, requiring less frequent sharpening. Quill pens were used to write important documents including the Declaration of Independence. Just to supply Thomas Jefferson with writing quills, a flock of geese were kept at Monticello, Virginia.
Sources say that the strongest quill is obtained from the outer feathers of living birds during their new growth after molting in the spring. Feathers were obtained from crows, hawks, turkeys and owls, but traditionally the quill pen was made from goose or sway feathers. The end of the feather is cut to shape a traditional nib, with a small slit that controls the flow of the ink coming from the hollow found in the center of the feather. The liquid operates along a very thin tube, similar to the way water rises inside a plant. Holding a quill pen upside down doesn’t allow the ink to pour straight out. The feed from the reservoir to the nib is narrow and won’t allow the ink to escape.
Quill pens are found in museums as they are no longer needed since the pencil and ink pen arrived on the scene. Perhaps there are a few residents who used the quill pen in the one-room school. The writer has used the quill pen in her earlier school days.
Life’s little instructions include the following:
- If a person breaks it, admit it.
- If one makes a mess, clean it up.
- Find the good in everybody.
- Good manners don’t cost anything
- Confession is good for the soul.
Old Man Winter has certainly been busy. The river almost has a covering of ice; were there be more water in the river, it would no doubt be covered. Daylight is certainly in the favor of the residents in this neck of the woods, and the sun is getting some strength in heating up the land. Snow still lays on the ground, and temperatures are getting somewhat warmer. Folklore states that when snow lays on the ground more than three days, more snow will be in the forecast. Also, measure the icicles on the last day of January to tell how much snow will follow. Groundhog Day will soon be here and that will be the telling forecast!
This week’s quotes are as follows:
“I have decided to stick to love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
“Never stop doing little things. Sometimes those little things occupy the biggest part of their lives.” — Winnie the Pooh.
“When you arise in the morning, think of what a privilege it is to be alive — to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.” — Marcus Aurelius
“The purpose of human life is to serve, to show compassion and the will to help others.” — Albert Schweitzer
“It gets late early out here.” — Yogi Bera
Sitting by the fireplace to hear the “Talk of the Grove” is a warm place to be.
Shaun, Leslie, and Ava Bowers, along with Laura George and Brian, Reshella, and Hudson Leary, spent the weekend in Thomas. They went sledding at Blackwater Falls, walked to the falls, and had a great time together playing games and celebrating Hudson’s birthday.
Erma Moats is facing surgery, Monday. It is hoped that all goes well.
“Pidge” and Charles Anderson did the neighborly thing and visited Sunday afternoon with Willard and Judy Rader.
Joyce and Richard Marshall of McGaheysville, Virginia, visited Sunday with Evelyn Varner.
Clickety-clacks for the chin wagers are as follows:
- The first West Virginia hospital was established in 1905. It was Mercy Hospital in Logan County.
- In the Sandhills of North Carolina, bees produce purple honey.
- The average housefly only lives for 2-3 weeks.
- One of the world’s first coins featured the symbol of a bee.
- Birds do not urinate.
February birthdays include Dave Gillispie, firth; Tom Mitchell, Steven Grogg, Ed Smith, and Vanessa Moats, fourth; Patsy Bennett and Rhonda Stump, fifth; Liz Armstrong, Carolyn Smith, and Charles Cook. sixth; Hannah Koontz, seventh; Mary Eye and Lannie Mitchell, eighth; Danny Gillispie, ninth; Patsy Hoover (90), Violet Aumann, and Dennis Hull, 11th; Virginia Propst (102), 12th; Peggy Bodkin, 13th; Jennifer Simmons, Dick Rexrode, and Donna Ruddle, 14th; and Lisa Jamison, Joyce Moates, Judy Vance, Yolanda O’baugh, and Buddy Ruddle, 15th.
Concerns are for Bob Adamson, Dyer Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Allen Beachler, “Bo” Boggs, Roy Spencer Bowers, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillespie, Lola Graham, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, the Elwood Harman family, Marvin Hartman, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Donald Hedrick, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, George Hevener, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Virgil Homan, Jr., Keith Hoover, Myrtle Hoover, Debbie and Enos Horst, Holly Hubbs, Alice Johnson, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, O’Dell Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marie, Yvonne Marsh, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Erma Moats, Gloria Moats, John Morford, Bill Mullenax, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Angie Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryl Paine, Terri Parker, Diane Pennybaker, Andy Pond, Janice Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Tom Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Dennis Riggleman, Donna Ruddle, Jenny Ruddle, Mary Sawyers, Shirley Shank, Brittany Shriver, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Tonya Simon, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams, Ann and Ed Wimer, New Orleans victims, and individuals and families who continue to be affected and displaced by the fires in California, and the flood victims in the South America.