From the readers: Sennen Cove, witchcraft and inspiration for a song

Esther's Field in Sennen Cove, Cornwall

Melissa Buron, who helped get Ruth Manning-Sanders' A Book of Mermaids back into print, sent me a recent email with the following information:

I was researching Ruth Manning-Sanders and I thought you would be interested to know that you can actually stay in one of the homes that she and her family lived in during the 1930s. She was a neighbor of the writer Mary Butts and is mentioned often in Mary's diary at the time. The home is called "Esther's Field" and you can see it here: https://www.homeaway.co.uk/p413733.

Indeed, the copyright for Manning-Sanders' 1938 novel Children by the Sea indicates that her address is Esther's Field, Sennen, Cornwall, England. So, yes, it's pretty amazing that one could now stay there for about £136 ($180) per night.

Here are some highlights from HomeAway's description of the dwelling:

Thatched farmhouse with large garden a few minutes' walk from a stunning beach.

Esther's Field is a stunning 17th-century granite house with thatched roof set into the hillside above the beautiful white sands of Sennen Cove with fantastic views of the beach and sea from almost every window. ... The house feels spacious and relaxing — you will enjoy complete peace and seclusion, while still being within walking distance of everything. The house sits in an acre of private garden with a large central lawn, an upper garden, a hidden garden and many little paths and areas to explore. You will find many exotic plants and a summer house full of garden furniture: tables, chairs, benches and steamer chairs so you can relax in every part of the garden. You can walk down to the beautiful white sands of the cove (lovely little shops and restaurants) in a few minutes: fabulous for swimmers and surfers too. The house also sits a minute from the coastal path so you can walk straight out of the house onto the breathtaking coastal paths and enjoy the wonderful coastal walks around Land's End and its many coves and beaches and spot some amazing birds, plants and animals. Esther's Field is beautiful in the spring and summer, and a cosy getaway in the winter months too with wood-fires and books to enjoy.

Here's one more picture, from the 50 that are on the HomeAway site:

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Book cover: "From Witchcraft to World Health": Dad writes: "A pinch of clove, a toad’s ear, crushed worms, tomato seeds, vinegar. Bring to boil. Stir for 10 minutes. Put in a helium balloon and let it drift in the air until it breaks and drops like rain to cure the world. Witchcraft and save the world."

America, in a mystery snapshot: Wendyvee, who energizes the eclectic Roadside Wonders website, writes: "Most definitely a Buick Century AND you get bonus points for lodestar and sunkenariums. Winner, Winner, chicken dinner."

Notes, scribbles and doodles on the back of an old postcard: Alana Thevenet, who is mentioned in one of this post's footnotes, writes: "I am Alana Thevenet, the one you mention in your notes. William was Wilhelm F. Thevenet, who was born in 1870 in Wassergasse, Pforzheim, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany. He was married to Helga Klara Ellonora Paulsen, who was born in 1868 in Kristiania, Akershus, Norway. If you would like more information, please let me know."

Note: I'm definitely in the process of trying to learn more from Alana. Stay tuned!

Mix tape memories: Tom from Garage Sale Finds writes: "I was never hip to trends, so when my friend sent me a mix tape back in the 80's, I had no idea what it was all about. After listening to it, I still wasn't sure what I was supposed to get out of it. Was it a personal message to me? Was it his thoughts? At the risk of not sounding hip, I never did ask him."

From the readers: Treasured copy of "Andersen's Fairy Tales": Margaret writes: "I also have a copy of Andersen's Fairy Tales. #0546. The cover is different from yours. My book cover is mainly green with a centered oval picture of 2 children sleeping and a red outfitted 'elf' nearby. This book has 3 stories: 'The Little Mermaid', 'The Steadfast Tin Soldier', and 'The Snow Queen'. All translated from Danish by Carl Siewers. The publishers were Graham & Matlack. I totally agree with you on the dates of possible publishing. I think the fun of the research is as interesting if not more than some of these books. I did find an interesting tidbit online which made a lot of sense and added to my research about these publishers and many like them: 'This cheaply illustrated and printed book is a good example of how much borrowing went on among many of the publishers who brought out versions of many books in the decades after the copyright lapsed.' It explains why there are no dates in this book and the 'cheap' materials used. But, we have to remember, these books were also made for the folks who could not afford the pretty much more expense editions. So, yes they were treasures to the children who read these books and now the the many collectors."

Gravity gone wild, atomic nonsense at Mystery House in St. Augustine: Robert Robinson writes: "The was also a House of Mystery in Haines City, Florida, during that time frame."

Going back 45 years for a product that I'm not putting in the headline: Wendyvee writes: "When illustrators were taught to create fashion drawings, that used to be the prevalent 'hand style'. Feet are often just triangles with shoes. AND NOW YOU KNOW."

"Atomic Explosion and the End of All Things" By H.E.M. Snyder: Brenda writes: "Hi Chris, are you the author of the poem 'It Didn't Just Happen?' Someone submitted that poem for me to use in our church letter, and I want to get permission from the author to do so, but I’m not sure who wrote it? Was it you? If so, may I have permission to use it?"

I replied: "I am not the author. My best guess is that the author is the late H.E.M. Snyder, who was a pastor in York County, Pennsylvania, in the middle of the 20th century."

Advertising trade card for J.P. Julius piano store of York, Pa.: Joan writes: "Hey, we both get full custody of the ephemera. It's blogging open season. Seriously, this is very cool. I will make sure I add a reference in that Weaver post to this extra info. People are always asking me about them."

Postcard of "Wheatland" mailed 90 years ago: Wendyvee writes: "But I LOVE 'onery' people and cheap side show stuff!"

Creepy and dilapidated structures of the eastern United States, Part 1: Marc Lussier writes: "Hi Sir, I was looking for a photo of an old inn picture to use as an image to go along with a song I made and felt on your blog. Would you give me the permission to use it please. My name is Marc and I'm from Québec, Montréal. Your website is super interesting by the way. I saved it to my favorite."

Permission granted. Hope the song turns out well!