Learning to speak English with Rich (aka Trickster)

[tasha36]

....Yep - to play the gambling machines, you have to be aged over 16!!!!!!

Yeah, that may be true but they are mostly played by 13 - 14 year olds who should be in school!!!

[Rocketeer]

^^ Well, that makes me feel better

[iwannabeminnie]

....Yep - to play the gambling machines, you have to be aged over 16!!!!!!

So, can I play?

[trickster]

... But of course you can!!

[Rocketeer]

Not really a language question - but have you been to Selby? About 20km S of York. It's my family's (at least family name) origin about 150 years ago.

Selby Trivia question - What does "Argent, two bars and in chief three mullets pierced, gules" refer to, and of what significane is it to American history???

[trickster]

Hey there, Craig!
Selby is around 100 miles East of us. It is a place I haven't been, but sticks in my mind as there was a very bad train accident there a few years back. (A man in a 4x4 was on his cell phone, left the road and down the banking on to the tracks. His car was then hit by a freight train and a goods train. It was really bad).

Anyway, I am not quite sur what it means. The only thing I can come up with is: Is it some form of 'Coat of Arms'?......

[Rocketeer]

Anyway, I am not quite sur what it means. The only thing I can come up with is: Is it some form of 'Coat of Arms'?......

Three red stars above two red bands on a white shield are the charges on the (George) Washington family coat of arms and the model for the American Flag: The Washington Window (in the Selby Abbey), containing the Heraldic arms of the Washington family, is to be found in the south clerestory window of the choir and is the original fourteenth century glass. When Glover the Herald visited Selby in 1584~5 he described the escutcheon as 'Argent, two bars and in chief three mullets pierced, gules'. The shield is white with two red bars across and three red mullets (spur-rowels) in chief each with a hole in the centre. This piercing is necessary to the true representation of the Washington mullets. At Great Brington in Northamptonshire, where the first President's ancestors formerly dwelt the Arms are also represented with pierced mullets, the colours being identical with Selby though the shield is much smaller.

In 1891 Harpers magazine showed two seals and a book-plate used by Washington which are virtually exact replicas of the Wessington family coat of arms.
The Washington shield at Selby probably represents some kind of benefaction made to the Abbey to commemorate John Wessington, Prior of Durham (1416~1446) the most distinguished collateral ancestor of George Washington. John Wessington made important additions to Hemmingborough church which was a collegiate under Durham. Beneath the battlement of the tower at Hemmingborough is a succession of washing tubs or tuns ...... a rebus of the priors name. <<< INTERESTING

The Reverend Dr JS Littell in his book 'George Washington: Christian' says; 'The decorated choir of seven bays,--the knave has eight --is unsurpassed for loveliness, and Americans should be proud to know that the finest example of the Washington Arms has such a beautiful and appropriate setting'. The Washington Shield is thought to form the basis of the modern day American flag.

Now you know .

P.S. There's also an American flag in the main Sanctuary of the Abbey!

[trickster]

Cheers, Graig - Great Hstory Lesson.

[disney fanatic]

I rabbit on too much hehe

[trickster]

You know, my English must be getting better and you all must be understanding me more as this thread doesn't pop up as often now!!!

[trickster]

Do you know - I never realised this thread had a '5 star' rating!!

[Walts_Girl]

Maybe I am just dumb or something but, Who is Sam Walter Foss? Just a random Question

[trickster]

Here:

Sam Walter Foss, June 19, 1858 - February 1926, 1911, was a full time librarian and poet whose most famous works included "The House by the Side of the Road" and "The Coming American."
He was born in rural Candia, New Hampshire. Foss lost his mother at age four, worked on his father's farm and went to school in the winter. He graduated from Brown University in 1882, and would be considered illustrious enough to warrant having his name inscribed on the mace. Beginning in 1898, he served as librarian at the Somerville Public Library in Massachusetts. He married a minister's daughter, with whom he had a daughter and son. Foss used to write a poem a day for the newspapers, and his five volumes of collected poetry are of the frank and homely “common man” variety.

[Walts_Girl]

Thank You So Much! I was wondering because My sister took a picture of me in the Hall Of Presidents, ((at least i think that is where it was)) and on the wall was a quote,
"Bring Me Men
To Match My Mountains.
Bring Me Men
To Match My Plains.
Men With Empires
In Their Purpose.
And New Eras
In Their Brains."

[trickster]

... You're Welcome!!