Neanderpundit

I read an article by Mark Twain about a tent of ideology- and how, based on the ideology, it became so flimsy that all sorts of poles had to be erected to hold it up.

I need that article now, think I could find it? Sheesh.

A long time ago, if you wanted to buy hunting supplies or fishing supplies or lord knows what else, you got the Herter’s catalog from the top of the toilet tank, and you ordered them.

I had stacks of them, and I loved to go through them. You could buy a complete hot bluink kit for $4. You could get a large ring mauser for $90 in a number of calibers- this was the precursor of my own Zastava made Mark X. Duck calls before the Dynasty was born. And all other manner of stuff. I loved them, and my ex tossed out the pile of them.

I bought one on Ebay, and it arrived last night. I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of barreled actions in wildcat calibers Buying a whole fly tying kit for $11. Getting a genuine Herter’s fly reel for $3, or a Hudson’s bay point blanket for $14.

If chocolate is comfort food to me, the Herter’s catalog is comfort reading. No, the world wasn’t necessarily any better then, but it was simpler.