Hodges and Futch

c1933 article from one of W.C. Hodges' scrapbooks

Truman Gaskins Futch (1891-1958) of Leesburg, District 23, was Florida Senate President 1933-1934. He served as state senator from 1929-1935 and was chairman of the senate educational committee.

T. G. Futch

Cora Dean

From the sheet music collection of Susan Hopkins:  "Cora Dean" by Stephen Foster.  The song was published in 1860.

To listen to Cora Dean...

Cora Dean

Near the broad Atlantic waters

Roaming the woodlands green

'Mid Long Island's lovely daughters

Fairest of all was Cora Dean

Soft her voice as liquid measure

Heard when the streamlets move

While her eyes of tender azure

Glowed with the winning beams of love.

CHORUS

Cora Dean has left the summer roses

Blooming o'er the lea

While her fair and gentle form reposes

Down by the calm blue sea.

Cora Dean was formed for loving

Cheering the hearts of all

None could sigh where she was moving

Birds tuned their carols to her call

Fields grew fairer at her coming

Flowers a more joyful throng

Skies were bright where she was roaming

Streams danced the lighter to her song.

Eyes bedimmed with tears are streaming

Round her deserted home

Silent stars are nightly beaming

Lending a sadness to the gloom

While the winds of summer dying

Borne from the deep dark wave

O'er the land in dirges sighing

Murmur with sorrow round her grave.

Plain Jane Food

The mailing address for Home Gardening Magazine reads:

MRS. W C HODGES

GOODWARD BOX 899

TALLAHASSEE FLA

And yet it reached Margaret every time!

From the January, 1951, issue:

In A... Southern Kitchen

by Erna Harris

PLAIN JANE FOOD

Plain Jane Food is just what the "budget doctor" ordered... after the too-rich feasting of the holidays!  Have you ever noticed how good plain food tastes in January?  Why, it's just like a breath of fresh air after a stuffy room!  So let's serve something simple... something tasty... something like corned beef and cabbage... a real "Plain Jane" food in culinary circles.

MENU

CORNED BEEF AND CABBAGE BALLS

BOILED POTATOES IN JACKETS

SALAD GREENS WITH FRENCH DRESSING

CHEESEY-CORN MUFFINS

7-MINUTE PLAIN JANE PRUNE WHIP

SAUCEY-CUSTARD TOPPING

DEMI-TASSE

Quite a change from stuffed turkey... but what a welcome change!

Corned Beef and Cabbage Balls

1 medium sized head of cabbage

3 medium sized onions, minced

3 tablespoons margarine

1 (1 lb.) can corned beef minced

3 tablespoons prepared mustard

   dash of pepper

Steam whole head of cabbage in a small amount of water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain, reserving pot liquor, reserve core and remove 12 of the larger leaves intact. Saute onions in margarine until golden, combine with corned beef and mix well. Now divide mixture evenly among the 12 cabbage leaves, which have been spread with mustard. Roll and fasten securely with toothpicks. Arrange in greased casserole, sprinkle with pepper and add 1/2 cup of cabbage "pot liquor." Cover and bake in a moderate oven about 1 hour. Makes 6 servings.

Cheesey-Corn Muffins are just what the name implies.  Deliciously toothsome, and chock full of snappy cheese!

Cheesey-Corn Muffins

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 cup sugar

1 cup yellow cornmeal

2/3 cup grated snappy cheese

1 cup milk

1 well beaten egg

2 tablespoons melted shortening

Sift flour with salt, baking powder, and sugar; add cornmeal and grated cheese; mix.  Combine remaining ingredients; add all at once; stir until dry ingredients are moistened but not smooth.  The batter will be lumpy.  Fill greased muffin pans two-thirds full.  Bake in hot oven for 25 minutes.  Recipe will make 1 dozen muffins... the "plain Jane" kind that go well with corned beef and cabbage!

You make this Plain Jane dessert just like a 7-minute frosting.  Simple, and very good!

7-Minute "Plain Jane" Prune Whip

3 egg whites

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

3 tablespoons prune juice

1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

   few grains salt

1/2 cup chopped, cooked prunes

Combine all ingredients except prunes in top of double boiler.  Cook, beating constantly with rotary or electric beater, until mixture forms peaks, about 7 minutes.  Fold in the chopped prunes.  Chill.  Serve with this saucey topping:

Saucey Custard Topping

Combine 3 slightly beaten egg yolks, 3 tablespoons sugar, few grains salt.  Gradually stir in 1 1/2 cups milk, scalded.  Cook in double boiler over hot, not boiling, water until mixture coats spoon, stirring constantly.  Add 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.  Chill rapidly.  6 servings.

Au Revoir

'Til February

When "A Hearts and Flower Dinner" is our Valentine to the new bride!  Until then, remember, "Plain Jane" is quite a dish!

I See Her Still in My Dreams

From the sheet music collection of Susan Hopkins:  "I See Her Still in My Dreams" by Stephen Foster.  The song was published in 1857.  To listen to the tune, click here.  The American composer Stephen Foster (1826-1864) was well known for his minstrel songs and sentimental ballads.  PBS's American Experience featured Foster in one of their programs.  Their website has some very good information about his life and work.

Stephen Foster

I See Her Still in My Dreams

While the flowr's bloom in gladness and spring birds rejoice

There's void in our household of one gentle voice.

The form of a loved one hath passed from the light,

But the sound of her footfall returns with the night;

For I see her still in my dreams,

I see her still in my dreams,

Though her smiles have departed from the meadows and streams.

I see her still in my dreams,

I see her still in my dreams.

Though her voice once familiar hath gone from the day

And her smiles from the sunlight hath gone from the day

Though I wake to a scene now deserted and bleak,

In my visions I find the lost form that I seek;

In my visions I find the lost form that I seek;

For I see her still in my dreams,

Though her smiles have departed from the meadows and streams.

I see her still in my dreams.

I see her still in my dreams.

Winsome Winnie of the Mill

From the collection of Susan Hopkins: "Winsome Winnie of the Mill", words by C.O. Clayton, music by John Rogers Thomas. This song was published in 1858, which seems to have been a prolific year for John Rogers Thomas. To listen to this song, and just about every other song by Thomas, check out www.pdmusic.org. While this may not be one of his most popular works, the chorus is fun to sing and may be stuck in my head all day.

John Rogers Thomas

Winsome Winnie of the Mill

Where the sun, when daylight's closing,

Throws a mellow golden light,

O'er you snowy cottage, peeping

Thro' the vine and blossoms bright;

There, amid its quiet beauty,

By the ever flowing rill:

Dwells our gentle village darling,

CHORUS:

Winsome Winnie, Winsome Winnie of the mill.

Winsome Winnie,

Winsome Winnie,

Winsome Winnie, Winsome Winnie of the mill.

Joyous as the Queen of Music,

Warbling some enchanting lay;

Fairer than the rosy dawning,

Of a glorious summer day;

Graceful as the welcome Flora,

Decking forest, vale and hill,

Is our gentle village darling,

...

Always making others happy

By some kindly word or deed:

Cheering those that bow in sorrow,

Helping those that strive in need;

And the pray'rs her deeds awaken,

May the e'er with hope's fond thrill,

Guide aright from ill and sorrow,

...

Beautiful Venice

From the music collection of Susan Hopkins: "Beautiful Venice, An Admired Ballad", poetry by Joseph Edwards Carpenter and music by Joseph Philip Knight and published in 1841.  To listen to the melody... 

Joseph Edwards Carpenter (1813-1885) was an English composer and playwright. He wrote the lyrics to over 2500 tunes. Joseph Philip Knight (1812-1887) was an English organist and composer. He is mentioned in Sabine Baring-Gould's eight volume 1895 work, English Minstrelsie:  A National Monument of English Song:

Joseph Philip Knight, youngest son of the Rev. Francis Knight, D.D., was born at Bradford-on-Avon in 1812.  From an early age he manifested a great love of music, and a remarkable melodious faculty. When aged about twenty, he composed his first set of songs. After this, in company with Haynes Bayly, he produced a number of highly popular songs, of which that now gives ("Go, Forget Me", 1845) was the most famous and lasting in favour.  We have already given his grand song of "Rocked in the Cradle of the Deep," which was sung with immense success by Braham. Mr. Knight was ordained by the Bishop of Exeter to the charge of St. Agnes, in the Scilly Isles, where he resided two years, and then went abroad.  

This is a different arrangement from Susan's
sheet music, but simpler to post!

From The Songs and Ballads of J.E. Carpenter, published 1854

The Little White Cottage or Gentle Nettie Moore

From the music collection of Susan Hopkins:  "The Little White Cottage or Gentle Nettie Moore", poetry by Marshall S. Pike Esq, melody by G.S.P., chorus & piano accompaniment by James Pierpont (the guy who wrote Jingle Bells).  It was published in 1857.

Bob Dylan based his song "Nettie Moore" on this.  Here he is live in Berlin in 2011:

THE LITTLE WHITE COTTAGE OR GENTLE NETTIE MOORE

In a little white cottage where the trees are ever green, 

And the climbing roses blossom by the door, 

I've often sat and listened to the music of the birds, 

And the gentle voice of pretty Nettie Moore.

CHORUS.

Oh, I miss you, Nettie Moore, and my happiness is o'er 

While a spirit sad around my heart has come, 

And the busy days are long, and the nights are lonely now, 

For you're gone from our little cottage home.

Below us in the valley, on the Santee's dancing tide, 

Of a Summer eve, I'd launch my open boat; 

And when the moon was rising, and the stars began to shine, 

Down the river we so merrily would float! 

One sunny morn in Autumn, ere the dew had left the lawn, 

Came a trader up from Louisiana bay, 

Who gave to master money, and then shackl'd her with chains! 

And then he took her off to work her life away 

Since that time the world is dreary, and I long from earth to rise, 

And join the happy angels gone before; 

I never can be merry, for my heart is full of woe, 

And I'm pining for my pretty Nettie Moore. 

You are gone, lovely Nettie, and my heart must surely break, 

When the tears come no more into my eyes; 

But when weary life is past, I shall meet you once again 

In Heaven, darling, up above the skies!