The February 2007 Hatchet is Online!

[Stefani]

The first issue of year FOUR of The Hatchet: Journal of Lizzie Borden Studies, is now online for your reading pleasure.

We have some excellent pieces in this issue: a wonderful work of research by William Schley-Ulrich, another great journey by Neilson Caplain, an informative and enjoyable piece about postcard collecting by Michael Brimbau, a fascinating look at the "Witch of Wall Street" Hetty Green by Richard Behrens, an essay about another famous hatchet wielding woman by Mary Elizabeth Naugle, and two pieces of original poetry--one by Meilissa Allen and the other by Sherry Chapman.

Plus, our 2nd Street regulars make appearances: Eugene Hosey, Douglas Walters, Denise Noe and Sherry Chapman.

I am sure all our authors and artists would appreciate any feedback you can offer them for their work.

Subscribers can access the online version and order the print edition (with a choice of B&W or color!) here:
http://www.hatchetonline.com/HatchetOnline/index.htm

Non subscribers can join for a mere $20 per year for all four issues at the same address above.

If you are a non-subscriber, and would like to buy either a hard copy or buy a download of the current issue, please visit my store at LuLu.com at this address:

http://www.lulu.com/PearTreePress

Enjoy!

[Kat]

YAY! Thanks Everybody, and especially Stefani!

[Bob Gutowski]

When did Lizzie marry this "Redux" guy?

[doug65oh]

I dunno, but offhand I'd suspect that Beryl Stapleton was somehow involved!

[Kat]

Doug-Oh! Your piece was wonderful!!

[Allen]

Just curious as to whether anyone has had a chance to read my poem?

[doug65oh]

I was just reading your poem again actually Melissa. I rather enjoyed it. Sometimes we run upon verses that are best read aloud - I think your piece falls into that category for sure. Fine job!

[doug65oh]

Doug-Oh! Your piece was wonderful!!

Well, I'm glad you enjoyed that, Kat. I thought it turned out passably decent - as far as utter nonsense goes.

I found several things that piqued my interest this time - first among 'em Mary Naugle's piece on the Hannah Dustin dust-up, and Pippa Naugle's cartoon -absolutely hilarious!

Particularly interesting I think (at this point - I've not finished the entire mag yet) is William Ulrich's article on the books that Lizzie owned, may have owned, is thought to have owned - or at the very least possessed according to the most reliable filthy rumor.

Sometimes the most profound statements are the simplest, and friend Ulrich imparts a gem right out of the proverbial gate: The threads of our daily existence eventually form the fabric of our lives. Words have been responsible for the elevation and the downfall of mankind. How true!

I was especially astonished to realize that I actually own a title, which copy thereof apparently resided on Miss Borden's bookshelf: The Murat Halstead volume memorializing President McKinley. Whether that says something of her or merely of her time is hard to tell.

[Allen]

Thanks dougoh. I'm happy that you liked it. I'm a fan of reading all poetry aloud. But you're right some poetry does just seem to flow better that way. Thank you.

[augusta]

You can find a few of the texts to books Lizzie read online. I know "The Rosary" is on there. (The Gutenburg Project.) I purchased "House of 1,000 Candles" for a couple of bucks from Abe Books - great condition - original 1905 copy (not Lizzie's personal copy).

I haven't read anybody's stuff yet. I always wait till I get the hard copy. I always like Lizzie poetry. Bill Ulrich wrote such a funny one an issue or two back. (Boy, he gets around, doesn't he?)

[Bob Gutowski]

I love the series of articles portraying Lizzie strolling along the streets of her city. I haven't gotten to read as much as I'd like due to my classwork for BMI, but I'm looking forward to it!

[augusta]

I finally got my hard copy of 'The Hatchet' - my fault for delayed ordering, not theirs. I am enjoying it immensely.

It is a beautiful issue! It seems that every issue is even better looks-wise than the last.

I enjoyed all the things before the articles began. I always read them.

I am reading in order because I know if I skip ahead I may not get back to reading the ones I missed.

Bill Ulrich's article on Lizzie's books is fabulous. Doug O - I caught the same phrase you did and was a bit dazzled by its brilliance. Bill had written an article on Lizzie's books for the LBQ that I still remember most of. It was a classic piece. The piece in the current "Hatchet" is just as good. It was great reading a synopsis about the book with each title. And the quotes from Dennis Binette were most interesting. I love that Maplecroft seal. Those that own books with that included have my congratulations in securing one. They went for a pretty penny. The photography of the old books was incredible. Thanks, Bill, for the excellent and most interesting article. And thanks, Stefani, for the gorgeous layout of the entire magazine.

Neilson Caplain's "Lizzie Borden's French Street in 1896" was fun! I liked taking a walk with Lizzie, tho in real life I probably would have run. Next time I'm out there I'll have to look for the Almy house. It reminded me a little of the "Psycho" house. The topiary trees in the Isaac Borden yard are gorgeous. I don't think I would have ever known all the tidbits he shared with us if it had not been for his article. I hope he remains part of every issue. I learn so much from his writing. I always read his "Lizbits" in the LBQ and enjoyed them. He seems to have a never-ending supply of Fall River knowledge.

Mary Elizabeth Naugle's piece on Hannah Dustin was gooood! I am a big fan of her "92 Seconds" and probably anything of the period that she would write. I had known of the statue, but only that it existed. I loved the story. She put it together skillfully, and I suspect it may not have been easy since there were different versions. I found it very well researched, very well written (no surprise there with Ms. Naugle), and the photos captivating, including the last one that Stefani had a hand in.
It was good to see Pippa Naugle contributing another cartoon for this issue. Next, on to Collecting Postcards, which I've been looking forward to reading.

[william]

Augusta . . . .such a sweet girl . . . .how could anyone not like her?

[nishmat]

Hello,

I've also noticed the Hatched...is it the same as the Lizzie Borden Quarterly??

[augusta]

Nishmat - No, they are not the same magazine. The "LBQ" - or "The Lizzie Borden Quarterly" was a thin more of a newsletter type of publication. It had ten or fifteen pages to it. But it was good! They were in print for ten years, and they were full of valuable information most of us could not get anywhere else. A lot of the well-known scholars back then wrote for it, but new writers were welcome as well. You can find a back issue here and there for sale on eBay at times. Most people kept theirs as reference material.

There was a small Lizzie publication - newsletter-like but with even less pages, put out by TILBA - The International Lizzie Borden Association in the 1990's I think. I think they only put out a few issues (less than five maybe). TILBA had a website started, but it seems nothing ever came of it.

When the LBQ announced it had to stop publication, Stefani Koorey started doing "The Hatchet". You can subscribe for just $20 a year (it is quarterly). This will give you access to an online copy that you can put on your own disk, print out, and even read online. There is an option to order a hard copy - color copies are $20 each. I always order a copy like that. They are glossy and gorgeous - and again, good to keep for reference.

I know the LBQ did what it could, and I loved the issues. Maynard Bertolet was both kind and a good editor. It was excellent.

'The Hatchet' for whatever reason is able to print much longer issues. And all articles are continued in page order. There are no articles that have to be split into two issues because of lack of space. Their hard cover printer, Lulu.com, gets your hard cover issue to you in 4 or 5 days, and it's packed well so it's not bent when it arrives. I think you can order it in black and white for a lesser charge.

I think the sooner a person subscribes, the better off they'll be, because these issues are going to be true classics. The reading material does not disappoint, nor does the beauty of the publication. It was awful to see the LBQ go. But since it had to, thanks be to Stefani Koorey for creating this near-masterpiece, "The Hatchet".

She offers a free issue to see online. For any information on 'The Hatchet' go to the main website: http://www.lizzieandrewborden.com and click on the Lizzie graphic that says 'The Hatchet' underneath it.

Bill U - what a sweet thing to say! I am just telling the truth on what I've read. I hope you contribute more to 'The Hatchet'. You are always a wonderful read, and you have so much Lizzie knowledge.

[augusta]

I've done more reading in 'The Hatchet' and have finished a few more articles.

Michael Brimbau's "Postcard Collecting: The Golden Hobby" was good stuff. I think quite a few of us collect at least Fall River postcards, and the information he gave in his article is valuable and oh-so-interesting. I've collected general postcards for many years and read some on the collecting aspect, but his article included things I never heard of before and all was told in an easy-to-follow narrative, with convenient lists of types of cards and grading the conditions. His photos were great, too. This is definitely an article I'll be referring to many times in the future. Thank you, Michael, for this important article.

Melissa Allen's poem, "Forever More", (okay, I did skip Hetty Green for a minute - I couldn't stand not reading that poem any longer) was highly enjoyable. It's what I personally think happened anyway. But even if it disagreed with my personal theory, I'd still like it. It would go well in an anthology of Lizzie poems. Or as a submission to a magazine that features crime, if they take poetry. I would think she could get a lot of mileage out of this poem by re-selling it to different markets. (That's exactly what professional writers do. It's called "smart".)

Richard Behren's "Hetty Green: Wall Street Woman" was a total education experience for me. I heard of her but knew basically nothing of her before. Her "rotting clothes" and her cooking on the office radiator were incredible with the wealth she had. And we thought Andrew Borden was frugal? The article was a delight from start to end. I enjoy Behren's writing style. Top notch.

And now, there's Doug O's Compositor's Bench to read. I have been looking forward to this all issue long. Excellent writer. I think he would do well writing a book on a subject he holds dear. And Eugene Hosey's take on Evan Hunter's "Lizzie". I've read the book and loved it. Will we butt heads on his article? Not many who've read it have liked it. Hang on for these upcoming reviews.

[Richard]

Thanks for the compliment Augusta. I think everyone who writes for the Hatchet is a wonderful writer. The editors have done a good job seeking us out and recruiting us for this unique publication. I'm happy to be a part of it.

Future articles in the weird Victorian women series may include Typhoid Mary and Sarah Winchester. I'll be submitting those to Stefani for future issues.

[Allen]

Thanks so much for your kind words about my poem augusta. I am very glad you liked it. One never knows if something they write is going to go over well. It's very good to know you enjoyed it.

[augusta]

Richard - I'm glad to hear you are planning a weird Victorian women series! Mrs. Winchester! Good subject. Typhoid Mary will be a learning experience for me. I know I've read about her before, but I can't remember all I read.

This morning I was looking thru a book catalog and there was that Hetty Green book you have a picture of in your article! Now if it weren't for your article, I wouldn't have known what a pip she was with her "rotting clothes". (I am repeating myself with that phrase, but when I read that sentence it tickled me.) Anyway, I'm gonna buy the book.

Which reminds me, the book catalog I was looking thru is an excellent one. They are also online and it's very easy to search the site. It's called "Edward R. Hamilton, Bookseller". I've been buying from them for years. Not only are their books discounted, but no matter how much you order shipping & handling is only $3.50.

Allen - What Richard said about 'The Hatchet' having a talented staff of writers is very true. I am not a poet (well, that 'Green Acres' thing in the issue - I wouldn't really call that poetry...), but I know what I like. And I admire people who can write poetry well. I've liked your submissions in the past too. It is very true that most writers need feedback. (I say 'most' because sometimes you know if a piece is good without it - you know if you like it. And if you really like it, chances are others will too.)

This issue is so gooood, as are all the issues, and there was no feedback on most of it - and here there are these stellar pieces in it - such as yours.
I enjoy posting about the articles, but it's seldom that I read the entire magazine. (I usually misplace it and find it a couple months later.) Posting about it spurred me on to read the entire issue, and I am so enriched by doing so. I've learned a tremendous lot.

I hope you can submit a poem for every issue, Allen. I guess poems don't come easy (?). Your "Forever More" will be remembered by me - forever more!

[augusta]

I finished this issue of 'The Hatchet'. Wow - what I would have missed out on if I had not read everything. Okay - here we go with the last batch I read.

Doug Walters' "Notes from the Compositor's Bench" was brilliant. The job at the chicken ranch was funny. The visit from Miss Emma was surprising. Her reason for coming was interesting. I thought it was a very creative piece and, as always with Doug Walters, so well written.
Thanks for a delightful read, Doug!

Ah, Sherry Chapman's submissions. The woman is a nut case. I think she sends her stuff in from a mental hospital every issue. I know her somewhat, and a lot of what she writes is personal experience. I am surprised her 'profile' sounded so intelligent. (She musta had a nurse write it for her.) That girl loves to mess around and laugh all the time, and she tries to get others laughing with her. I think she succeeded in this issue.

Eugene Hosey's 'Critical Notes' on Evan Hunter's Lizzie: He is one of the few persons I've read who has treated this novel fairly. I read the book in 1986. At the time the only other Lizzie book I'd read was Spiering's. Back then I had not the luxury of all of the resources I have at my fingertips today. I shared the book with my sister back then, and we discussed it afterwards. I remember we both thought Mr. Hunter handled the lesbian scenes with remarkable understanding and sensitivity. Reading it, I could understand how a woman could choose a relationship of that type.

Eugene startled me with "...one senses Hunter's interest in lesbian erotica," and "...One cannot help but wonder if this subject interested him as a writer more than anything else." I think he hit the nail right on the head. I hadn't thought of that before. And the dress thing - the author did make that confusing. I had forgotten why Andrew went upstairs, and Eugene is right - it was flimsy, as was the supposed reason for the murders in the first place.

I thought Eugene's piece was insightful and, as always, well written. May he never run out of Lizzie books to dissect.

And lastly there is Denise Noe's "Whittlings". Poor Denise. Every issue she asks for feedback on the Forum and doesn't get many responses. Well, here is mine.

The subject she chose (The Central Congregational Church) was a good one. When I saw the title of that, I wanted to flip to it and read it out of order, but restrained myself fearing I would not read every article in the issue. It was great! It answered every question I had about the church, primarily what a Congregationalist is. I always meant to look that up. Denise gave a thorough and rich history of the religion, which I enjoyed. She gives us a newspaper reference for the write-up that was done when Lizzie and Carrie and Anna Borden returned from the Grand Tour. I look forward to finding that. Explained as well as could be was Andrew's leaving First Congregational and going to Central. I had always heard Andrew and someone else had a business disagreement. But Denise writes that many families at Central left over a business disagreement, not necessarily involving Andrew Borden.

She gives an indepth bio of Reverend Buck, which is illuminating. And a briefer, but interesting, one of Reverend Jubb. She covered everything pertaining to Lizzie and the church that is out there to be found. Excellent, excellent research. The postcard illustrations were gorgeous.
Thank you, Denise, for this fantastic article that many of us will be referring to in the future for our own research.

I'm not trying to be Paula Abdul (giving all positives even if a person outright stinks). The articles were that good, and they wouldn't be there without The Hatchet's wonderful staff of writers. And, of course, Stefani Koorey and her dream of making a good Lizzie magazine. And Kat Koorey. And Harry Widdows. Thank you.