Wednesday, 17 December

Manitou,

"Railroad Plate Monthly" a fraud? While the possibility is indeed intriguing -- it is rare indeed to discover an unplowed field ripe for confidence agentry -- I must say thee nay. The article you so deftly paraphrase is but an indication of the decline into decadence of this nation's once-mighty iron horses. As profits slowly but surely declined, the various railway lines turned to the only option open to them, the collector's souvenir market, producing sundry rail-oriented novelties by the ironic truckload. Sadly, as few by this time were aware of the various lines' very existences, as evidenced by your noting that many of these items promoted freight-only lines which had no customers for tchotchkes and geegaws and other such technical items, huge warehouses of railroad china now dot the landscape, bereft of purpose.  My own point being, issues of "Railroad Plate Monthly" over six months old command ridiculously high prices, being far more rare than the plates themselves.

Old Man Prenderghast's restless spirit seems to have found a playmate in the shade of Slam-Bam McGland, the professional wrestler who lived in the four-story next door until his untimely demise in the ring (he choked to death on his oppenent's ankle, as I recall, in a freak mistimed attempt at his "signature move"). Every night they arrange themselves around my Chinese Checkerboard, and sit motionless until dawn, as neither seems willing or able to make the first move. Their ghostly breath or whatever it is is an inconvenience, but easily remedied by the use of a vintage can of New Car Smell. Through my gaming arena currently wafts the ambience of a 1932 Packard Sport Phaeton. Heaven on earth, my boy, heaven on earth.

And re your own checkers experience: of course that can proudly bear the name of the game! My own father played by similar rules. Taking the pieces from several game sets, we would each construct a tower of as great a breadth and height as such unsupported and lightweight construction materials could withstand. Then, seconds before its iminent collapse, he would tip his tower over so as to cause it to utterly destroy mine in its fall. In this wise he taught my young innocent self that damage to one's work is acceptable, so long as it demolish another man's efforts at the same time. Then he would find similar innovative uses for the playing boards, and I recall no more.

Now I take my leave -- a new shipment of airplane glue has arrived, and I must needs let it breathe.

 Sincerely,

 O. McGod

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