Tidy Tidbits: Culture Notes

RECENT READING:  Of Early Medicine and Botanical Gardens

American Eden:  David Hosack, Botany, and Medicine in the Garden of the Early Republic by Victoria Johnson.

David Hosack was a citizen of the world, a man with wide ranging interests and connections who deserves to be better known.  A physician by training, he was also a botanist who linked his interest in plants with their potential uses in medicine.  He corresponded widely with the great naturalists abroad, Alexander von Humboldt and Sir Joseph Banks among them, and shared and traded plants and seeds.  He knew both Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr well, was the doctor at the famous duel, and treated and saved Burr’s young son.  Hosack was also friendly with Thomas Jefferson, DeWitt Clinton, the Bartram brothers of Philadelphia, and also fellow doctor, Benjamin Rush, who was a mentor and surrogate father to him. 

   Hosack studied medicine in Philadelphia and abroad, had a private practice as well as tending patients at several hospitals and teaching at Columbia and the College of Physicians and Surgeons.   At the same time, he created his own teaching garden, Elgin, which he labored long and hard over physically and financially.  Over the years, he made numerous attempts to get it support or adoption by the State of New York or Columbia University.   Alas, it was never granted enough funds or the means to flourish and was neglected and stripped of its plants by later “stewards.”

Johnson’s book is a lively paean to the accomplishments and talents of this energetic man.  Hosack undoubtedly had faults, but Johnson chooses to focus on the civic role he played in creating awareness of the importance of plants to healing and on the notable societies and institutions he helped found and support. Highly recommended. (~JWFarrington)

SARASOTA CULTURAL SCENE

Lecture by James Comey

Sarasota’s Town Hall Lecture Series is the brainchild of the Ringling College Library Association, and a notable series it is. Each year, the association lands six well known individuals who command top fees for giving two presentations and meeting with students over lunch.  Last year we had the pleasure of hearing John Brennan, former director of the CIA.  This time it was James Comey, former director of the FBI, and probably better known than Brennan due to his very public firing in May 2017.  

I’ve read Comey’s book about loyalty and leadership and was keen to hear him.  And he delivered—an engaging and articulate talk about his definition of the traits of an effective leader peppered with humorous anecdotes about his height (six foot eight) and his life as an unemployed celebrity.  He did occasionally veer toward sanctimoniousness, but not too badly.  One noteworthy takeaway was his comparison based on the several presidents he’s worked for (of both parties) of who was the absolute best listener and who the worst. No surprise, not only was Obama the best, but he worked to make the setting as comfortable as possible for the other person given the gap between their positions.  Worst was the current president who interrupted repeatedly and always sat behind his big wooden desk.  

There are several more Town Hall speakers yet to come, but I’m especially looking forward to former ambassador Caroline Kennedy.

Asolo Theater 

In these blogs, I have often touted the high caliber of theater we enjoy in this region.  After seeing the Asolo company’s production facilities, I’m even more impressed.  Earlier this week, we were treated to a tour of the Koski Production Center including the huge warehouse where all the stage sets are fabricated.  Asolo makes all its own sets and there is a lot of craft work by carpenters, electricians, scene painters and the like.  Nothing is purchased or imported.  

We saw the revolving set for the upcoming play, Noises Off, and got a look at the shelves and stacks of stage props (chairs, sofas, chandeliers and more) as well as racks and racks of costumes.  Asolo has even been commissioned to design sets for one or more cruise lines.  An added treat of the morning was hearing from actress Peggy Roeder whom we’ve seen and enjoyed in a number of its productions.

Note: Photos by JWFarrington (some rights reserved).