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Getting
ready for a Civil War re-enactment
Dressing:
Sutlery provides
clothing and other articles
[MAY
25, 2001] Just
on the outskirts south of Lincoln sits a unique, small, yet
world-famous family-run business. R & K’s Sutlery has supplied
authentic reproduction Civil War-period clothing and associated
articles for people all over the world. "You name it, from
Australia to South Africa," Coons says. "I believe we are
the largest sutlery in the world." The sutlery carries a full
line of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and
accessories, as well as military uniforms, accoutrements and
weapons.
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The
business flowed out of Robert Coon’s 30-year hobby, performing in
Civil War re-enactments. When his 29-year job with the utility
company ended due to a back injury, it was a natural transition for
him to break into the sutlery supply business. His passion,
knowledge and expertise have made the business grow in leaps and
bounds. He’s been at it for 15 years now, and his business just
continues to grow. "I can keep barely keep up with it,"
Coons says. "Sales keep increasing."
Robert’s
wife, Kay, is an important part in running the business. She works
mostly in the office, handling orders, making travel arrangements
and taking care of many other details. The Coons have brought in two
of their grandchildren to help handle the expanding business.
Sixteen-year-old Mallory Coons will be in the office full time as
soon as school lets out. Brian Baker has been working full time in
the family business for some time now and is particularly valuable
to his grandfather on the road. They travel all summer long, setting
up the store at various re-enactment sites.
![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%203.jpg)
The
family is looking forward to a big business trip together this
summer. Oddly enough it is overseas to England. The English are
hosting a large American Civil War re-enactment and have a weekend
full of battles and other activities planned. There is a chartered
plane taking a large group of military re-enactors over as well.
With
their vast stock valued at about $70,000, R & K Sutlery has
supplied costuming for a number of movies, re-enactments, two
Broadway theater productions and even the opera. "We are
capable of coming in and outfitting an entire regiment," Coons
says with pride, "and that takes a lot of stock."
![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%201.jpg)
R
& K’s movie credits include:
•
"C.S.Hunley: A story about the 1st submarine." It was
owned by the Confederates and sunk by a Yankee ship. The movie was
made by Turner Network.
•
"The Day They Shot Lincoln"
[to top of second column in
this article]
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![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%204.jpg)
•
"The Patriot," starring Mel Gibson. This movie is from an
earlier time period than the Civil War, but R & K supplied the
ladies’ undergarments because they were the same kind.
•
"Last of the Mohicans"
•
"Gettysburg"
•
"The North and the South"
It
takes a lot of clothing and miscellaneous articles to fully equip a
full military regiment, and then there are two sides to that story.
Kay jokingly says they are a "nonpartisan sutlery." They
stock military uniforms for both the North and the South.
Northerners wore two tones of blue, and the South dressed in gray.
The military divisions include infantry (on foot), cavalry (on
horseback) and artillery (shooting cannons).
The
sutlery carries a vast variety of items. You name it and you will
find it. They have specialized buttons, footwear, swords and all
sorts of authentic reproduction weapons, ladies’ fans and sun
umbrellas, woolen stockings, hats, haversacks, camping gear, and
tents.
They
have clothing in stock or you can have clothing custom made to fit.
With 14 people sewing, they manufacture most of what they sell. You
don’t have to be going to a Civil War event to find articles of
interest from their products. Many items are quite suitable for
modern-day use. Thick, woolen socks are great for winter outdoor
activities, and there are decorative and functional accessories like
ladies’ fans and gloves.
![](../images/052501pics/civil%20war%202.jpg)
Most
of R & K’s sales are orders that are processed and shipped.
The Coonses do invite people to their stock house to shop, though
they prefer customers to call and make an appointment. Phone (217)
732-8844.
You
can see many of the items the sutlery offers online at their
website, http://www.sutlery.com.
Their e-mail address is sutlery@sutlery.com.
[Jan
Youngquist]
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‘Castaways
of the Flying Dutchman’
[JUNE 27, 2001] “Castaways
of the Flying Dutchman," Brian Jacques. Philomel Books, 2001,
327 pages. Grades 5-8.
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"Castaways"
is presented in three parts. The first part, entitled "The
Ship," describes the journeys of the Flying Dutchman and the
crew. This ship is piloted by a mad Dutch sea captain who is
determined to sail through storms to take possession of a fortune in
jewels. It all begins in Copenhagen in 1620 when a gem dealer shows
a large emerald to the captain and tells him where he can find more.
At the same time a young boy is being chased, staggering and
gasping, toward the harbor.
![](../images/062701pics/castaways%20book%20large.jpg)
"Never
would he go back, never again would the family of his stepfather
treat him like an animal, a drudge, a slave!"
After
being pushed into the icy water, the half-frozen boy climbed a rope
on the Flying Dutchman, was rescued by a crew member and began his
journey. Life for Neb, the boy, wasn’t much better on the ship.
The crew mistreated him, and they ran out of food and water when
storms forced them to remain at sea for long periods of time. During
one of those storms, a "being not of this earth" suddenly
appeared just above the deck and doomed the captain and ship to
"sail the waters of the world for eternity."
In
the second section of this book, entitled "The Shepherd,"
we learn that the boy and a dog (who came aboard in Denmark) have
been granted new lives full of "boundless youth, understanding,
and speech to succeed." They will roam the world for eternity
helping others change their fate. They also have the ability to read
each other’s thoughts, which provides humor throughout the third
part.
[to top of
second column in this review]
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"The
Village" which is the third part of this book, takes place in
England two centuries later, in 1869. We meet many interesting,
well-developed characters in the last and longest section. Obadiah
Smithers is scheming to take over the whole town unless individual
ownership can be proven and the missing land deeds to properties
found.
Those
who enjoy solving puzzles and deciphering codes will especially
enjoy "The
Village."
Suspense grows as a very determined Mrs. Winn, an absent-minded
librarian,
an
old carpenter, two children, a lawyer, a dog and a cat try to
uncover various treasures containing clues to locate the missing
deeds.
There
are also minor plots going on at the same time. One involves Wilf
Smithers and his bully gang. When Ben and Wilf have a couple of
showdowns after dark, all readers will be cheering for Ben. In the
end the ancient village is saved and the bullies are beaten, much to
the satisfaction of the reader.
This
story is based on the Flying Dutchman legend, that says if you look
into the eye of a storm while on the sea, you’ll be able to see
the ship and the captain.
Brian
Jacques is the creator of the best-selling Redwall series, which
features creatures from the Mossflower Wood. Fans of that series
will also enjoy this latest book.
For
more information, visit the library at 725 Pekin St. or call (217)
732-5732.
[Pat
Schlough, Lincoln Public Library]
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![](../reviews/halfstar.gif) ![](../reviews/star.gif) ![](../reviews/star.gif) ‘The
Contender’
Released on video Tuesday,
March 6, 2001
Rated
R Approx
127 Minutes DreamWorks
Home Entertainment -2000
Written
and directed by Rod Lurie
Starring:
Jeff
Bridges
Christian
Slater
Sam
Elliot
Joan
Allen
Gary
Oldman (also the executive producer)
Warnings:
This
movie uses graphic language to describe sexual scenes and presents
some nudity.
[MARCH
10, 2001]
The box said “two thumbs up” and
“Thriller!”
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In
recent years, the "two thumbs up" endorsement has meant
that I probably was going to find the movie to be a loser.
"Thriller" usually means I may endure it but I’m
probably not going to be thrilled with it.
However,
in the case of "The Contender," both my thumbs are up
too, and I am indeed thrilled.
"The
Contender" is a gritty movie, a political "action"
film of sorts. It is a thriller because you don’t have a clear
shot at the plot until it is finally revealed for you. At the end,
you look back on the film and say, "Yeah, I should’ve seen
that coming."
"The
Contender" is gritty because it focuses on a dirty fight
between political rivals to appoint a new vice president of the
United States. The president (played very aptly by Jeff Bridges)
selects a woman, Sen. Lane Hanson of Ohio (Joan Allen), for the
job, against the advice of party officials and his own advisers.
The previous vice president died somehow in office — but
"The Contender" never tries to explain his passing.
The
whole plot is wrapped up in the confirmation hearings and the
process of bringing an appointee to office or sending ’em off
packing.
Gary
Oldman plays Sheldon Runyon, the Republican chairman of the
selection committee. The highly respected, powerful senator seems
bent on not only denying the president his day in the sun but also
destroying the very career of Sen. Hanson.
[to
top of second column in this review]
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Two
things about this movie made a good impression on me.
First,
the acting was excellent. Oldman plays a perfect bad guy in this film
(he seems to have the bad-guy act down pat). Jeff Bridges, who I
thought incapable of playing a convincing president, stepped up to the
plate and delivered. Christian Slater played the part of a freshman
congressman who was seeking to do the right thing on principle, and
was perfectly cast for the part. Finally, Joan Allen was wonderful in
her portrayal of the contender under siege.
Second,
the plot was dynamite. This movie seems to make you move away from
certain characters and make certain assumptions, but you find yourself
making a couple of 90 degree turns before it’s done. In the spirit
of "The West Wing," it is full of political intrigue and the
power of the Washington scene. "The Contender" is a film
about respect and dignity and the rocky road to realizing those two
values.
The
first hour of the movie has a single weakness: The lack of actors on
the set portraying political operatives, appointees, devotees and
those holding office makes you believe the story less. They needed a
fuller cast to make it seem like Washington and government.
This
is not a partisan film about the usual struggle between Republicans
and Democrats. Instead it is a story about the dynamics of power,
accusation and truth.
So,
I recommend this film to you if you enjoy a good thriller, if you
enjoy stories about the political struggles of this nation and if you
like a good fiction about how truth prevails.
I
give it 3½ stars (out of five).
[midge]
midge@lincolndailynews.com
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Haiku
translators, including local expert, present readings this week
[JULY
2, 2001] Emiko
Miyashita and Lee Gurga’s translation of "Einstein’s
Century: Akito Arima’s Haiku," has just been released by the
publisher, Brooks Books. The translators, haiku poets Emiko
Miyashita of Kawasaki City, Japan, and Lee Gurga of Lincoln, will
present selections from Dr. Arima’s poetry at a reading tonight,
Monday, July 2, hosted in Decatur by the Highway 51 Poetry Project.
Akito Arima is one of Japan’s leading haiku masters.
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Reading,
poetry and haiku lovers can meet at 7 p.m. in the cafe at the new
Anthology Booksellers located at Franklin and East Main (above the
Decatur Public Library in the old Sears building). Parking is
available on East Main and in the library parking lot.
"A
lot of people write poetry without ever intending to share it, but
the act of writing, even though it is usually a solitary act,
inherently assumes an audience," said Scott Goebel, the emcee
and organizer of the Highway 51 Poetry Project. He encourages
writers and lovers of poetry and fiction as well as curious
onlookers to come out and see what the coffeehouse poetry phenomenon
is all about. The poetry project plans to continue readings on the
first Monday of every month
Comments
from the introduction to
Dr. Akito Arima’s "Einstein’s Century"
"One
is immediately struck by the openness of Dr. Arima’s face, his
almost childlike curiosity about everything around him." —
Gurga and Miyashita
![](../images/ads/prairie_years/Prairie_years_small_ad.gif)
"Many
of the haiku here contain religious imagery. Not the Buddha’s and
Patriarchs one might expect of a poetic form associated so strongly
with Zen Buddhism, but Christian imagery. Dr. Arima presents these
images to us with a freshness that might be impossible for those of
us who grew up surrounded by these images multiplied over two
thousand years. He demonstrates that religious topics can be a
viable element of contemporary poetry without having to assume the
extreme postures of excessive piety on one hand or irony on the
other. Come and see the face of the Virgin Mary or the long nose of
Jesus with a fresh eye and an open heart, presented by Dr. Arima
with haiku vision of the human world as it truly is: a world of
spirit that is nevertheless always at one with the world we see and
hear around us. Yes, the prophesies of doom in the Old Testament are
here, but in the haiku way mellowed and refreshed with snowmelt from
Mt. Sinai. We believe you will be amply rewarded for your leap of
faith." — Gurga and Miyashita
About
Akito Arima
"A
member of the House of Councilors, Japan equivalent to the U.S.
Senate, Dr. Arima continues to serve both science and Japan rising
international consciousness by bringing the knowledge gained in his
years of scientific and poetic work to bear on the problems of the
new century. He understands the necessity for international unity in
the face of dwindling natural resources and increased environmental
destruction, growing human population and energy demands, the need
for global sustainability, and the continuing threat of nuclear
weapons. He stands at the forefront of those attempting to build an
international consensus aimed at securing the future of humanity and
the very life of the planet...
"While
Dr. Arima was pursuing his dual career as a world-class nuclear
physicist and internationally recognized educational administrator,
he also became an outstanding leader among Japan haiku poets and a
great supporter of haiku worldwide. His haiku mentor was Seison
Yamaguchi (1892-1988), one of the important disciples of Kyoshi
Takahama who helped carry the tradition of haiku into the modern
world. Seison dual life as professor of engineering and haiku master
may have provided a role model for the younger poet-scientist."
— William J. Higginson (from the introduction to "Einstein's
Century")
[to top of second column in
this article]
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![](../images/070201pics/einstein%20century%20book.jpg)
About
the translators
Lee
Gurga was born and raised in Chicago. He is a past president of the
Haiku Society of America and is currently associate editor of the
journal Modern Haiku and the haiku selector for the Illinois Times
in Springfield and Solares Hill in Key West, Fla. His haiku have won
the top prize in haiku contests in the United States, Canada and
Japan. His books "In and Out of Fog" and "Fresh
Scent" were both awarded the first prize in the Haiku Society
of America Merit Book Awards. He was awarded an Illinois Arts
Council Poetry Fellowship in 1998 for his work in haiku. He lives
with his family in rural Lincoln.
Emiko
Miyashita was born in Fukushima (Happy Island) city in Japan on
Sept. 6, 1954. The city is surrounded by the mountains that change
their expressions delicately, according to seasons and the time of
the day. Emiko now owns a studio on this mountainside. It was her
father's oil painting studio. With her, he planted many young trees
in its garden. Currently she lives with her family in Kawasaki City.
She has also lived in Urbana (1959-61) and in Accra, Ghana
(1969-71), where she was exposed to English language and its
culture. She graduated from Doshisha University in Kyoto in 1978.
She joined the Ten'i (Providence) haiku group led by Dr. Akito Arima
in 1993 and became its dojin (leading member) in 1999. She is
writing a series featuring English haiku in HAIKUKAI (Haiku World)
magazine, published monthly in Japan. She is a member of
International Haiku Association (Japan) and Haiku Society of
America.
![](../images/ads/Key%20Printing/key.gif)
Lee
Gurga and she have been working together as a translating team since
1997. In 2000 they published "Love Haiku: Masajo Suzuki's
Lifetime of Love" through Brooks Books.
Haiku
reading on Thursday, July 5, at 7 p.m.
They
will be reading from "Love Haiku: Masajo Suzuki’s Lifetime of
Love" at Barnes and Noble, 3111 South Veterans Parkway in
Springfield at 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 5. Masajo Suzuki’s lyrical
evocation of her unconventional lifestyle in haiku poetry has caught
the imagination of the Japanese public. There will be a book signing
after the reading.
[News
release]
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New
arts group re-examines
bylaws, seeks logo entries
[JUNE
21, 2001] The
newly formed Logan County Arts Association, meeting on Monday at
Lincoln Public Library, set up a logo contest, continued to examine
its proposed constitution and named possible early projects.
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Local
artists are asked to submit logo designs that include the name of
the organization, Logan County Arts Association, and reflect its
mission: "To enhance the quality of life by actively promoting
arts dissemination, thereby making the arts an integral component of
life in our community and the surrounding area." Designs must
be submitted by July 16 to Logan County Arts Association in care of
Lincoln-Logan County Chamber of Commerce, 303 S. Kickapoo, Lincoln.
The winning logo will be used by the association.
One
constitutional issue the group discussed was a privacy statement
composed by Marshall Jacobs, acting president. The proposed addition
to the constitution and bylaws was modeled on the privacy statement
of the European Union and designed to set policy concerning personal
information of people who will eventually become part of the
organization’s database. The statement, which is more technical
than the rest of the constitution, says there will be no
unauthorized exchange of private information and, according to
Jacobs, covers the association in situations that may arise years
from now.
Jacobs
said one underutilized program of the Illinois Arts Council supports
arts education in schools, and he plans to contact county visual and
musical arts teachers early in August to learn about their programs
and needs. He hopes to locate possibilities for grants in time to
get into the 2002 funding cycle for organizations and schools.
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Larry
Steffens, a founding director of the association, recommended that
the group undertake a visible project this summer, even before the
constitution and other paperwork are finalized, to become an active
force in the community. He suggested redesigning and painting the
"O Lincoln" mural on the side of McEntire’s Home
Appliance and TV at 403 Broadway.
Despite
its name, the Logan County Arts Association does not limit its
mission to Logan County. Jacobs said that virtually all surrounding
counties have arts councils that help local arts organizations find
grants and sometimes conduct arts programs. He described Logan
County as "the hole in the donut" of surrounding
associations; another hole is DeWitt County, which Jacobs hopes may
join the Logan association. If that occurs, a name change is
possible.
The
Logan County Arts Association, officially incorporated on June 8, is
seeking not-for-profit status. Six people attended the June 18
meeting at 6:30 p.m. at Lincoln Public Library. The next meeting is
planned for July 16 at the same time and place.
The
association plans to contact potential members through Lincoln
Community Theatre and Art Fair promotions.
[Lynn
Spellman]
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39
get roles in LCT’s ‘Tom Sawyer’
[MAY
4, 2001] Sixty-seven
young people from second through 12th grades auditioned for Lincoln
Community Theatre's upcoming children’s play. Thirty-nine have
been cast in what promises to be a delightful rendition of "Tom
Sawyer." Performances will be at
7 p.m. June 28 and 29 and at 2 p.m. June 30 and July 1 at the
Johnston Center on the Lincoln College campus.
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Cast
/ Characters
Alison
Maske of Mount Pulaski — Susan Harper, school girl
Gracie
Wood of Lincoln — Gracie Miller, school girl
Brian
Welter of Lincoln — Muff Potter, town derelict
Joe
Allspach of Mount Pulaski — Sheriff
Anthony
Jones of Hartsburg — Injun Joe (dangerous)
Tom
Swanson of Lincoln — Doc Robinson, young surgeon
Kaitlyn
Przykopanski of Mount Pulaski — Mrs. Walters, Sunday School
superintendent
Holly
Phillips of Lincoln — Widow Douglas, Aunt Polly's friend
Julie
Wood of Lincoln — Mrs. Harper, Joe's mother
![](../images/050401pics/Tom%20Sawyer%20auditions%206.jpg)
![](../images/050401pics/Tom%20Sawyer%20auditions%207.jpg)
Brianna
Skaggs of Mason City — Amy Lawrence, school girl
Kelly
Dowling of Lincoln — Aunt Polly, Tom's aunt
Ben
Herrington-Gilmore of Lincoln — Tom Sawyer (always in trouble)
Spencer
Harris of Lincoln — Huck Finn, Tom's friend (a free spirit)
Alison
Kessinger of Lincoln — Cousin Mary, Tom's relative
Doug
Rohrer of Lincoln — Judge Thatcher (new in town)
Emili
Moneyhun of Lincoln — Mrs. Thatcher, the judge’s wife
[to top of second column in
this article]
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Molly
Mathewson of Athens — Becky Thatcher, daughter of Judge and Mrs.
Thatcher
Shelby
Voyles of Lincoln — Sally, school girl
Payton
McVey of Atlanta — Ben Rogers, town boy
Max
Pozsqai of Lincoln — Joe Harper, town boy
Corey
Moynahan of Sherman — Alfred Temple, town boy
Nathaniel
King of Lincoln — Mr. Dobbins, schoolmaster
Patrick
Perry of Lincoln — Reverend Sprague, minister
Townspeople
Emily
Berglin, Taylor Berglin, Tony Curcuru, Kelsey Dallas, Nettie Duncan,
Stephen Duncan, Greg Gandenberger, Luke Hanger, Katy Reynolds, Moses
Rogers and Todd Schumacher, all of Lincoln; Joel Rankin of Mount
Pulaski; Jillian Nichole Dowell of Kenney; Darci Dixon of Athens;
Tanner Milan of Sherman; and Emma Jo Schumacher of Springfield
Coleen
McLaughlin-Moore is the director, Miranda Stone is technical
director, and Rachel Washam is audiovisual technician.
The
local production of "Tom Sawyer," by Tim Kelly, is
presented by special arrangement with publisher IE Clark.
For
more information see the LCT website, www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre.
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Lincoln Community Theatre website
Lincoln
Community Theatre’s (LCT) website is up and available. The
site serves a number of functions, from providing information on
becoming a season ticket holder to showing what new productions are
being planned. Pictures from last season's productions are also
posted.
If
you are interested in joining a performance or just going to see
one, visit LCT’s website at www.geocities.com/lincolncommunitytheatre/index.html,
e-mail LCT at lincolncommunitytheatre@yahoo.com,
or write to Lincoln Community Theatre, P.O. Box 374, Lincoln,
IL 62656.
[LDN]
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