From the Editor's Desk...

Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", October 1990, page 3

There are many ways to analyze the 1990 Directory issue, but let's start with the statistics. As of August, the subscribership to this magazine hit an all time high when 1480 copies were mailed. Included in this directory are the names of 75 NIA members who are not subscribers to the magazine and omitted (at the request of the subscriber) are nearly 80 names. The records of John deSousa, the NIA Membership chairman, were used to add your NIA membership number next to your name if you are currently a paid in full member. We hope there were no errors made.

On the long flight to the National Show in Portland, John and I amused ourselves by studying the alphabetical listings of the last names of many of our subscribers. So, WHAT'S IN A NAME? Here's what we found:

The U.S. Presidents are represented by Adams, Carter, Cleveland, Ford, Harding, Harrison, Hayes, Wilson, Jackson, Johnson, Pierce, Roosevelt, Taft and Bush.

We have a King, Knight, Marques, and Duke which are all of a Sovereign, Trueblood line. 

Our colorful friends are Brown, Greene, Kelley, White and Black and Blue. 

Insulators were manufactured by Wade, Brookfield, McLaughlin and Hawley. 

Some of the readers are Moody, some Lovely, some Gay and Bliss-ful. A few display a Sharp Witt and others are Wise enough to solve a Riddle. 

One May March with a Horn or a Reed in John Phillip deSousa's Band. 

The Lawless have to Foote the Bond in order to prove a Case. 

Occupations include a Barker, Baker, Bowman, Dorman, Hunter, Dean, Skinner, Shumaker, Wacker, Sheppard, Miller, Miner, Walker, Turner and a Fisher. We also have a Baker who works with Yeasted and bakes Whitbread. And there's a Gardner who gathers his tools from the Barnes and trims the Hedges, checks a Bloom and digs a Hole to plant an Ash. Or he can grow a Bean, a Berry or even a Cobb of corn.

If one ventures to the Parks, Marsh or Woods he can scrape Moss from Underwood, could end up with his pants full of Nettles, or Trapp a Hare, Lyon or Wolfe. 

Our fine Moulton feathered friends are a Crane, Crowe, Finch, Griffin, Martin, Nutting, Robbins -- all of which can catch the early Worms. 

Human nature makes us all look for the best Price -- whether a Nickeloff or a Halfpenny. 

Bridges can be Overstreet, or across Broadwater, Brooks or even the Hudson. 

Subscriber Tom Sawyer could have starred in this Strange Story about a Boatman and his Crews, who sailed Southward with the Winn. A strong storm approached from the Helm. Rainwater hit the Roof of the Seaman's House. Maybe they could Rideout the storm? Before Long, the storm subsided. The captain rang the Bell, a Stahr twinkled in the night sky to the Lee of the boat. The Schippers would reach land by daybreak. Nearing the Sewall, a Secord was thrown form the boat's Sternke.

Before I Tucker out or make you Syc with this editorial, I ask WHAT'S IN A NAME? A lot of great collectors, I'd say. That's it, I'm Fiene!!