The
Importance of Hand Work
I
was re-reading some of Eric Hoffer's essays the other day and came
across an item that other jugglers might enjoy. It is from his 1976
book, In Our Time, published in 1982 as part of a collection entitled
Between the Devil and the Dragon. Here it is:
"I
am also convinced that the mastery of skills can be therapeutic.
Skill-healing should be particularly effective in the reconstruction
and human renewal of the chronically poor, the unemployable, and
people who cannot cope with life. The acquisition of a
skill generates confidence, and, since people enjoy doing what they
are good at, it may have an energizing effect.
"Were
I the mayor of
San Francisco
, I would have a square or a street lined with small shops where
subsidized experts would practice and display every imaginable
skill. I would comb the globe for little-known or half-forgotten
skills in order to revive them. And I would have children
apprenticed to the experts. It is most fitting that in an automated
world the human hand, a most unique organ, should come back into its
own and again perform wonders. It may well be the hand that will
save us."
...Juggling
as the solution to
America
's homelessness?
Duane Starcher
St. John's
,
Newfoundland
Shakespeare's
Juggling References
A
friend of mine recently came across a computer database containing the
complete works of William Shakespeare, and it occurred to me to ask him
to run a word search pattern on the letters "juggl" (thus
encompassing juggle, juggler, juggling, etc.). I thought you might be
interested in the results.
Although
the art of juggling may have an ancient and illustrious past, it has not
always been among the most respected of professions. William Shakespeare
refers to juggling eight times in his plays, and not exactly in what one
might call a complimentary light (granted, word usages change, and not
all of these references may refer to throwing balls in the air per se):
A
Comedy of Errors. Act 1,
Scene 2: "...They say this town is full of cozenage, As,
nimble jugglers that deceive the eye, Dark-working sorcerers that
change the mind, Soul-killing witches that deform the body, Disguised
cheaters, prating mountebanks, And many such-like liberties of
sin..."
A
Comedy of Errors, Act 5,
Scene 1:
"...
Along with them
They
brought one Pinch, a hungry, lean-faced villain,
A
mere anatomy, a mountebank,
A
threadbare juggler and a fortune-teller,
A
needy, hollow-eyed, sharp-looking wretch,
A
living dead man: this pernicious slave..."
A
Midsummer-Night's Dream, Act 3, Scene 2:
"...O
me! you juggler! you canker-blossom!
You
thief of love! what, have you come by night
And
stolen my love's heart from him?"
King
John, Act 3, Scene 1:
"...Though
you and all the rest so grossly led
This
juggling witchcraft.."
Troilus
and Cressida. Act 2, Scene 3: "...Here is such
patchery, such juggling
and
such knavery! all the argument is a cuckold and a whore; a good
quarrel to draw emulous factions and bleed to death upon..."
Troilus
and Cressida. Act 5, Scene 2:
"A
juggling trick, - to be secretly open."
Macbeth,
Act 5, Scene 8:
"...And
be these juggling fiends no more believed,
That
palter with us in a double sense; That keep the word of promise to our
ear, And break it to our hope..."
Hamlet,
Act 4, Scene 5:
"...I'll
not be juggled with;
To
hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil! Conscience and grace,
to the profoundest pit! I dare damnation..."
One
gets the impression that our esteemed Mr. Shakespeare doesn't like
jugglers. Oh well, I suppose there's no accounting for taste.
Bryan K. Beatty
Knoxville
,
Tennessee
Convention
Thanks
Surely
I am one of the most fortunate of dreamers. Several times this
past
week in
Los Angeles
I was almost overwhelmed by the realization that one of my most
outlandish dreams had not only been realized, but fulfilled far beyond
my wildest imagination.
In
St. Louis
in 1946 at the I.B.M. convention, Lou Meyers and I tried to found a
jugglers brotherhood, but it seemed that the jugglers were not willing
to share their knowledge of the art. But love of the art would not let
that dream die. The rest is now IJA
history. I met Roger Montandon in St. Louis
and he had a mailing list of people who were interested in juggling so
we tried again.
I
thank not only the few in Pittsburgh in 1947, but each and every one of
the many people who have given so much to make that dream the wonderful
organization that is now is.
Each
step forward becomes more complex and difficult, but there are always
those who share my love of juggling and are willing to make the
necessary sacrifices and take the abuse to "...
preserve and promote the art of juggling." The pledge of
all members to "...render
help to other jugglers" is never more evident than in the
convention workshops.
Thanks
to every one of you. Your efforts are appreciated more than words can
say. Again, it was a marvelous event! You are loved!
Art
Jennings San Antonio, Texas
Honorary
Life Member Says Thanks
Thanks
to the IJA for the opportunity to become the first female Honorary Life
Member. I'm accepting this award while thinking of the many women
volunteers like Tricia Allen, Sandy Brown, Ginny Rose, Judy Finelli,
Holly Greeley, Laura Green and others who have also spent countless
hours helping the IJA. They are more deserving than I. Others of the 15%
female membership are helping to make the IJA work more smoothly. By
juggling their time during the year and at the convention, they do their
fair share. Their contributions are also appreciated.
Past
recipients of awards in the IJA have been competent jugglers. I'm sure
that I'm the first "wait, wait, wait" school of juggling
alumna to receive the award. Like 60% of the members, I am an amateur
hobby juggler. I'm also in that group of 63% that juggle only three or
four balls.
Jugglers
are among the friendliest people in the world. That's why I come back to
conventions every year. Thanks for your friendship.
Mary
E. Wilkins Chino, California
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