Comments on: Still’s “River of Earth” http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/ Place. Limits. Liberty. Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:29:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Janet http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-13671 Janet Mon, 14 Sep 2009 19:15:57 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-13671 Hi Jerry, thank you for these insightful comments. Hi Jerry, thank you for these insightful comments.

]]> By: steve http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-10365 steve Mon, 17 Aug 2009 21:22:47 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-10365 Thank you for sharing your memories, Mr. Bevard. Do you recall any of the assigned readings in your course with James Still? I'm sure anything else you could remember would be appreciated by the readers of Front Porch Republic. Thank you for sharing your memories, Mr. Bevard. Do you recall any of the assigned readings in your course with James Still? I’m sure anything else you could remember would be appreciated by the readers of Front Porch Republic.

]]> By: Sam Bevard http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-10363 Sam Bevard Mon, 17 Aug 2009 20:46:41 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-10363 This is a wonderful essay that brings memories of a wonderful human being who was also a wonderful writer. James Still was my teacher long ago at Morehead State. His "Advanced Writing" was required (and somewhat dreaded) for all English Majors. He taught by requiring a wide variety of reading so that students would see how successful authors peform wordcraft. We had to make a journal of original writings, some topics he assigneed and for some we were on our own. I was abudding poet and when he arranged for Robert Francis to come to MSU, he saw to it that I had a personal with Francis. We got to be friends and I would visit with him during our non-class days. He showed me his novel, which was in the drawer of a filing cabinent; it's yet to be published, but I understand it will happen. We re-connected when he came here to Maysville in '96 to be Writer-in-Residence for a week at Maysville Community College. He didn't like my hunting and killing game--he was a gentle soul--and I found out that he had made me a character in his "Hunter" poem. This essay also tells it straight by chiding those who look down upon things rural. And I loved the references to basketball. Give me a sharp country boy or girl with the glow of green on his or her person over the counterpart tht knows only the sterile, manufactured world of man's contrivances anyday. I've read "River of Earth" twice. James Still is probably Kentucky's greatest writer. This is a wonderful essay that brings memories of a wonderful human being who was also a wonderful writer. James Still was my teacher long ago at Morehead State. His “Advanced Writing” was required (and somewhat dreaded) for all English Majors. He taught by requiring a wide variety of reading so that students would see how successful authors peform wordcraft. We had to make a journal of original writings, some topics he assigneed and for some we were on our own. I was abudding poet and when he arranged for Robert Francis to come to MSU, he saw to it that I had a personal with Francis. We got to be friends and I would visit with him during our non-class days. He showed me his novel, which was in the drawer of a filing cabinent; it’s yet to be published, but I understand it will happen. We re-connected when he came here to Maysville in ‘96 to be Writer-in-Residence for a week at Maysville Community College.

He didn’t like my hunting and killing game–he was a gentle soul–and I found out that he had made me a character in his “Hunter” poem.

This essay also tells it straight by chiding those who look down upon things rural. And I loved the references to basketball. Give me a sharp country boy or girl with the glow of green on his or her person over the counterpart tht knows only the sterile, manufactured world of man’s contrivances anyday. I’ve read “River of Earth” twice. James Still is probably Kentucky’s greatest writer.

]]> By: JD Salyer http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9801 JD Salyer Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:08:02 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9801 There is some very fascinating research out there on the Appalachian dialect -- debates about the origins of different grammatical features, and so on. I suspect the study of dialects, history & evolution of the language, etc., might be one of the few serious endeavors still going on at university English departments. For those interested in Still's connection to the Nashville Agrarians, I recommend H.R. Stoneback's scholarly essay "The Agrarianism of James Still", which is available in a PDF file online. In the event this link http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/excerpts/0-7864-3076-1.Chapter1.pdf doesn't work, you can easily find it via Googling his name and the title. It's definitely worthwhile reading for anybody interested in agrarianism. There is some very fascinating research out there on the Appalachian dialect — debates about the origins of different grammatical features, and so on. I suspect the study of dialects, history & evolution of the language, etc., might be one of the few serious endeavors still going on at university English departments.

For those interested in Still’s connection to the Nashville Agrarians, I recommend H.R. Stoneback’s scholarly essay “The Agrarianism of James Still”, which is available in a PDF file online. In the event this link

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/excerpts/0-7864-3076-1.Chapter1.pdf

doesn’t work, you can easily find it via Googling his name and the title. It’s definitely worthwhile reading for anybody interested in agrarianism.

]]> By: steve http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9663 steve Sat, 08 Aug 2009 20:52:18 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9663 River of Earth is a fantastic novel! It's actually one of my favorites. Where did you find the quotes about Still and the Nashville Agrarians? River of Earth is a fantastic novel! It’s actually one of my favorites. Where did you find the quotes about Still and the Nashville Agrarians?

]]> By: D.W. Sabin http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9564 D.W. Sabin Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:09:49 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9564 There is a flip side of this rustic lingo issue and it still exists. The Nightly News locution-dominated lawyers will preside over the various meetings of our lives and then, once in a while, one of the local rustics...say an attorney in bow tie and dungarees with calloused hands or maybe even a well-read farmer who likes to play in both the mud and the written page will stand up and drawl no more than three terse sentences and promptly sit down before the assembled speechless crowd comes rapidly to the conclusion that the rustic has furnished up the summary statement and anything else said will be farce. I knew an old Yankee Lawyer who I loved working with on land-use applications because he was a man of few words, sturdy cane and devastating simplicity. He'd let everyone wallow around in their foolishness and then stand up and automatically bring the meeting to both a head and a close on a wonderful economy of words spoken with a rural tang. I used to see him on the weekend buzzing around his fields on an old Farmall. He did this well into his 80's. He has been gone for a while and he is missed. There is a flip side of this rustic lingo issue and it still exists. The Nightly News locution-dominated lawyers will preside over the various meetings of our lives and then, once in a while, one of the local rustics…say an attorney in bow tie and dungarees with calloused hands or maybe even a well-read farmer who likes to play in both the mud and the written page will stand up and drawl no more than three terse sentences and promptly sit down before the assembled speechless crowd comes rapidly to the conclusion that the rustic has furnished up the summary statement and anything else said will be farce.

I knew an old Yankee Lawyer who I loved working with on land-use applications because he was a man of few words, sturdy cane and devastating simplicity. He’d let everyone wallow around in their foolishness and then stand up and automatically bring the meeting to both a head and a close on a wonderful economy of words spoken with a rural tang. I used to see him on the weekend buzzing around his fields on an old Farmall. He did this well into his 80’s. He has been gone for a while and he is missed.

]]> By: Salamander http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9548 Salamander Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:05 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9548 I will have to find a copy of this book! My father grew up in eastern Kentucky -- our family has lived in the mountains there for two hundred years. In fact, Mr. Salyer -- you might well be kin to me, there are more Salyers in my family tree than I can count... Regarding the "native tongue" of Kentuckians, my dad kept his accent til the day he died despite thirty years in New England. As a small child, I apparently had picked up enough of his mountain accent to baffle my first grade teachers; they called in a speech therapist to find out why I kept saying things like "Hand me that thar pin so I can rat." Once they met my dad, it all became clear. I will have to find a copy of this book! My father grew up in eastern Kentucky — our family has lived in the mountains there for two hundred years. In fact, Mr. Salyer — you might well be kin to me, there are more Salyers in my family tree than I can count…

Regarding the “native tongue” of Kentuckians, my dad kept his accent til the day he died despite thirty years in New England. As a small child, I apparently had picked up enough of his mountain accent to baffle my first grade teachers; they called in a speech therapist to find out why I kept saying things like “Hand me that thar pin so I can rat.” Once they met my dad, it all became clear.

]]> By: Mike at The Big Stick http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9545 Mike at The Big Stick Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:30:25 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9545 Jerry, as I'm sure you are aware, us Louisvillians are always caught between two worlds. The rest of the state thinks we're Yankee-wannabee snobs and the rest of the country still thinks were hillbillies. The Appalachin dialect though, or the true Kentucky drawl, is in our genes. I think it bubbles up through the limestone and we drink it daily, whether we realize it or not. For my job I'm often on conference calls with folks in other parts of the country. I catch myself adopting a generic midwestern dialect when I speak to them. Occasionally someone will ask me if I'm from KY originally and when I tell them yes, they remark on my lack of accent. I joke that it's a product of private schools and I assure them that it's there, just lurking below the surface. Give me a couple of beers or let me spend a weekend at the farm, and I can pass for a resident of more rural locales. I mourn the loss of our 'native tongue' in kids. With each generation it gets more dilluted. My parents sounded more 'country' than I do and my kids have it less than me. While I don't always share the sentiments of the Front Porchers on the reasons why we need to return to the farm (or find it for the first time) there is a real temptation in my heart to get my kids out there before they get mistaken for someone from Ohio or (shudder) Indiana. Alas though, my one true love is Louisville. My wife accepts that she will always be second to the city and the thing that makes it more palatable is that it's her true love as well. So if we can't leave the city, I'm going to start looking for more ways to bring the country to us. Jerry, as I’m sure you are aware, us Louisvillians are always caught between two worlds. The rest of the state thinks we’re Yankee-wannabee snobs and the rest of the country still thinks were hillbillies. The Appalachin dialect though, or the true Kentucky drawl, is in our genes. I think it bubbles up through the limestone and we drink it daily, whether we realize it or not. For my job I’m often on conference calls with folks in other parts of the country. I catch myself adopting a generic midwestern dialect when I speak to them. Occasionally someone will ask me if I’m from KY originally and when I tell them yes, they remark on my lack of accent. I joke that it’s a product of private schools and I assure them that it’s there, just lurking below the surface. Give me a couple of beers or let me spend a weekend at the farm, and I can pass for a resident of more rural locales.

I mourn the loss of our ‘native tongue’ in kids. With each generation it gets more dilluted. My parents sounded more ‘country’ than I do and my kids have it less than me. While I don’t always share the sentiments of the Front Porchers on the reasons why we need to return to the farm (or find it for the first time) there is a real temptation in my heart to get my kids out there before they get mistaken for someone from Ohio or (shudder) Indiana.

Alas though, my one true love is Louisville. My wife accepts that she will always be second to the city and the thing that makes it more palatable is that it’s her true love as well. So if we can’t leave the city, I’m going to start looking for more ways to bring the country to us.

]]> By: Katherine Dalton http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9544 Katherine Dalton Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:30:02 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9544 I love River of Earth, which is a wonderful book, and though not forgotten in Kentucky I don't think it's read much outside the state. So I thank you, Mr. Salyer, for mentioning it here. Still was a fine poet but I have always thought his finest poetry was in his prose, and your quotations here show that. I wonder if anthropological societies will ever start giving awards to writers like Still who have made an artistically distilled but (I feel certain) accurate record of a manner of speech which is not completely lost, perhaps, but largely diluted now. Books like his, aside from their merits as literature, are also sociological and linguistic records, and as valuable as history for that. I love River of Earth, which is a wonderful book, and though not forgotten in Kentucky I don’t think it’s read much outside the state. So I thank you, Mr. Salyer, for mentioning it here. Still was a fine poet but I have always thought his finest poetry was in his prose, and your quotations here show that.

I wonder if anthropological societies will ever start giving awards to writers like Still who have made an artistically distilled but (I feel certain) accurate record of a manner of speech which is not completely lost, perhaps, but largely diluted now. Books like his, aside from their merits as literature, are also sociological and linguistic records, and as valuable as history for that.

]]> By: Bob Cheeks http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/2009/08/still%e2%80%99s-river-of-earth/#comment-9542 Bob Cheeks Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:49:13 +0000 http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/?p=5179#comment-9542 Salyer, thanks for the book recommendation, it sounds like a 'must have.' And, thanks for this essay. For me, it's one of the best written here at FPR, where essays are noted for their excellence. Very well done, much appreciated! "...the coal company came with the world's largest shovel, they tortured the timber and stripped all the land" The Irishtown Jacobin and fellow 'hick' Salyer, thanks for the book recommendation, it sounds like a ‘must have.’ And, thanks for this essay. For me, it’s one of the best written here at FPR, where essays are noted for their excellence. Very well done, much appreciated!

“…the coal company came with the world’s largest shovel,
they tortured the timber and stripped all the land”
The Irishtown Jacobin and fellow ‘hick’

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