Salem Witch Judge, by Eve LaPlante.

(NY: HarperCollins, 2007. 352 pp. $25.95, ISBN 978-0-06-078661-8)

Biography/American History

One of the fiercest criticisms leveled against politicians comes when they are perceived to “flip-flop.” It is a common strategy to display an incumbent candidate’s voting record on an issue “then” and “now,” implying that because they flip-flopped they cannot be trusted, but is that what flip-flops prove?

Eve LaPlante’s book “Salem Witch Judge: The Life and Repentance of Samuel Sewall” tells a different tale. Sewall is one of the many judges who participated in the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, and she quotes from this politician’s diary, “Men think ‘tis a disgrace to change their mind … But there is not a greater piece of folly than not to give place to right reason.”

Sewall knew what he was talking about; he was the only judge from the Salem Witch Trials to ever publicly repent of his part in the hysteria.

The opening chapters unfold slowly and may be tedious for those not passionate about American history, but they effectively lay the groundwork to understand the mind set of 17th century New Englanders in such a way that you can almost understand how things got so bad.

How bad was it in 1692 New England? “In total 185 people – 141 women and 44 men – were accused of witchcraft. Of the 59 people tried, 31 were convicted and 20 were executed,” LaPlante writes.

Somewhere around 50 people confessed, several (including children) under torture, to escape the death penalty. What may surprise the reader is how forward thinking the judges thought themselves to be!

Judge Hathorne (the great-great grandfather to Nathaniel Hawthorne, author of “The Scarlet Letter,” whose deep shame at his ancestor’s involvement caused him to change the spelling of his last name) was particularly proud of the proceedings because they weren’t using the European method of testing witches by “tying a suspect’s thumbs to her toes and throwing her into deep water.” In Europe, those who floated would be executed as witches, those who drowned were posthumously declared innocent.

As the book unfolds the reader is captivated by the struggle of Judge Sewall as he begins to doubt the righteousness of the trials and then to grieve with him as he comprehends the true evil he participated in.

Though his public confession in 1694 is a turning point, Judge Sewall realizes that true repentance is a process, not a one time action.

The process leads him to write on many topics considered to be “firsts” in defending the rites and privileges of others. He is the first to publish a booklet against slavery in America, which stops not at abolition but argues for racial equality (no he didn’t own any slaves)!

A popular question of the age was whether or not women would be in heaven after resurrection “since they were no longer needed.” He wrote in his diary how the very question “irritated him” and wrote a book, “Talitha Cumi,” that defended women’s place as partners in creation and equal before God.

His writings on the environment have been compared to Emerson and Thoreau and called a “harbinger of the environmental movement.”

Sewall’s “flip-flop” seems sensible to us but he was shunned by his fellow judges when he made his confession and he was not exonerated by historians in own time even though he had confessed.

When the madness stopped and the histories began to be recorded almost 30 years later Sewall was shocked to find entries about himself as a Salem Witch Judge in David Neal’s 1720 book, “History of New England to 1700.”

They may not be popular but perhaps what we need today are more politicians like Sewall, ready to flip-flop when reasons demands.

“Salem Witch Judge” should be required reading for every American public servant.

Geri Williams is a local book fancier.

KELSEYVILLE – A number of talented local musicians will hold a special Sunday performance to help raise funds for the Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.

The performance will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25, at the church, located at 5340 Third St., Kelseyville.

The lineup includes Carolyn Wing Greenlee, who will be singing original songs accompanied by Dale Enstrom; Rev. Steve Nesheim; Vern Bickel; Doug Dick; Middletown Adventist School Choir; Jeanine and Austin Ison; Blue Note Trio – Andi Skelton, Jeanine and Austin; Jenna Radtke and Cathy O'Connell; Sweet Adelines; and the Konocti Fiddle Club.

Refreshments will follow in the Friendship Hall.

Tickets cost $12 for adults and $5 for children under 12.

Proceeds will go toward repairs for the church, starting with the kitchen.

LAKE COUNTY – Six years ago the California State Assembly officially declared the third week in October as California Writers Week. This month throughout the state, the California Writers Club’s 18 branches are hosting programs and other activities during California Writers Week to celebrate their organization’s 100th anniversary while showing that their members know how to have fun with literature and writing.

Events range from municipal proclamations in several communities to special speakers in Bakersfield, Mt. Diablo, Orange, Pleasanton, Ridgecrest, and Sacramento, panel discussions in Apple Valley and Montclair, and readings in Fremont and Marin.

The San Fernando Valley branch featured past winners of the CWC’s prestigious Jack London Award. Two branches announced costume parties – Long Beach (“come as a favorite author or visual pun on a book title”) and South Bay (“an author, character from a story, book, movie, play, fairytale, mythology, political scandal, or even the member’s own lurid past”).

The East Sierra branch created a display for the city library with artifacts including a May 1917 issue of Harper’s Magazine highlighting Mark Twain, and a first edition of Jack London’s Call of the Wild.

The Central Coast branch concluded its “100 Words – 100 Years – $100” writing contest, and the Redwood branch caps the week on October 24 with the Redwood Writers Conference in Santa Rosa – a day-long workshop filled with speakers, panels, and one-on-one editorial consultations.

On the state level, the CWC presents this year’s Jack London Awards in Oakland on Nov. 8, and has also called for submissions for a time capsule about the future of print media.

The public is invited to send essays about what people will be reading in 2035, whether we still have conventional newspapers, magazines and books, and what impact state-of-the-art technology will have on news reporting, fiction, nonfiction, short stories, poems, reference works, and daily life in general.

The capsule will be opened in 2035, Mark Twain’s bicentennial. Anyone interested in participating should mail his or her essay to California Writers Club, P.O. Box 484, Ridgecrest, CA 93556, together with the author’s name, age, address, and permission to publish all or part of the essay.

California had only been a state for about 50 years when Jack London and some of his friends started their informal gatherings.

These meetings became the California Writers Club. The CWC encourages everyone to check www.calwriters.org periodically for membership information, updates on branch and centennial activities around California, and resources for educators such as quotations by California writers and, coming soon, a word search puzzle based on California authors.

 

 

 

 

UPPER LAKE – A new woodwind quintet composed of uniquely talented classical musicians made their performing debut on Sunday.

The performance of “Quintessential,” as the group is called, was greatly appreciated by the brunch patrons at the Blue Wing Saloon & Café in Upper Lake, which has become a showcase for top quality local musicians.

“It was an honor to host a debut performance by such a wonderful group,” said Blue Wing owner Bernie Butcher. “With their seamless renditions of classical chamber pieces from the Renaissance to modern composers, our guests certainly got more than they bargained for today.”

Quintessential is composed of Lake County residents Beth Aiken on oboe and Ann Hubbard on bassoon, together with Becky Ayres (flute), Paul Hadley (horn) and Eric Van Dyke (clarinet) from Mendocino and Sonoma counties.

These talented individuals have a long history of playing together in the larger Lake and Ukiah Symphony Orchestras as well as the Symphony of the Redwoods.

Catherine Hall, an orchestral colleague of these players, was thoroughly impressed with the debut performance.

“This is a classic woodwind ensemble composed of truly exceptional musicians,” she said. “They interrelate exceptionally well, blending nicely into the whole while allowing the individual brilliance of each musician to shine through.”

“We all enjoy the larger setting of a big orchestra,” says Beth Aiken, “but this format allows us to perform a wider repertoire of music that truly inspires all five of us.”

MIDDLETWON – The next open mike night at D's Coffee Shop will be held on Friday, Oct. 23.

The free gathering will take place from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

All talents are welcome. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.

For questions and sign ups call 707-987-3647.

The shop is located at 21187 Calistoga St., Middletown.

 

 

 

“Or Give Me Death” by Ann Rinaldi.

(NY: Gulliver Books, 2004. 226 pp. $6.95, ISBN 0-15-205076-0)

Historical fiction written primarily for young adults.

What is liberty? Is it a right or always a longing never completely fulfilled?

Patrick Henry, one of America’s favorite forefathers, longed for liberty and his longing became the mother’s milk of early America. His famous “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech, first delivered on March 23, 1775, is often credited with turning the passions of colonial Virginians towards American Revolution and the pursuit of Independence.

In the crowd the day he gave that famous speech were none less than Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. In the face of such illustrious personages it is hard to imagine these giants of history as people like you and I, who struggled with what liberty meant for them, their families and their country.

In “Or Give Me Death” Ann Rinaldi masterfully weaves a fascinating blend of fact and fiction to tell us the story of Patrick Henry the statesman, the defender against religious persecution, the fearful husband and the stern father.

She tells the story of mental illness, explores the lack of treatment options and the havoc it can reek in a family. It is a story of children trying to raise themselves when the adults are too busy or incapable. “Or Give Me Death” is a story of learning the difference between truth and lies, and the ultimate duty of loyalty while one is longing for liberty.

Against the longing for liberty is the reality of slavery, but the reader is made aware that there are many different ways to be enslaved. Personal stories of African slaves are brought to life, as are the fears of those who said slavery was evil but contrarily owned slaves.

One woman will die in pursuit of liberty and another will plead “Patrick, Patrick, please, I beg of you, give me my freedom, or let me go to my death.”

Did these struggles with slavery and liberty in his home life inspire Patrick Henry’s famous speech, which inspired the Virginians to arms, which led to a Revolution which gave us the freedom to pursue our own vision of liberty?

Read “Or Give Me Death” and decide for yourself. It is, after all, a free country.

Geri Williams is a local book fancier.