Conveniences Commentary 2

Introduction

Every once in a while, throughout the history of The Conveniences, someone tries to write the definitive definition of them. These attempted definitions are often called Truths.Some of these efforts are partially successful, but most scholars agree that the changeable nature of the mystery, and the fluidity of the text itself, will forever prevent a final and definitive statement about them.Here's the text of this Truth:

The Truth About the Conveniences

Some exclamations are really only maiden fancy. Amen.

Trying to steer a middle course between the intelligent administration of such an endowment and everything beautiful,

We think more of putting our treasure in love.

Jump to the Commentary (below the original text).

Commentary

This Truth is interesting. It tells us that it's from 1897 (see the copyright at the bottom of the page), and the middle section of text has been removed. Many researchers have attempted to locate the middle section of text, but without luck.The word exclamations can be read to mean any statement about The Conveniences.This Truth uses the word maiden. The word maiden is understood to come from the Old English, and it typically means a young, inexperienced, unmarried woman. The word is a diminutive; a diminutive indicates a small size or it makes something smaller.A maiden is a woman made younger and made smaller.The word fancy comes from the 15th century and means a "product of the imagination."The Truth also uses the word Amen. It's also from the Old English in this usage and it means confirmation.So, an alternative reading of the first sentence might be "Some statements [about The Conveniences] are really only the imaginings of a young, inexperienced girl. This can be confirmed."The Truth continues on to say that the middle course is important, and that intelligent administration and beauty are essential.The Truth concludes that the real treasure is love.Here's a personal analysis:

The Truth was published in 1897. Historically, at that time, many women were not encouraged to speak publicly or to write authoritatively.

Some women did speak publicly and write authoritatively, but it might have been difficult for this particular writer to expect any respect or acceptance. Perhaps the woman was less educated or had less money or station than other, more accepted writers.

We can never know.

What we can know is that this writer was very, very clever.

I believe her first statement is a diversion. It is a statement designed to lull antagonistic readers into a sense of security. She's written the statement tongue-in-cheek.

She convinces her readers that she, too, believes that The Conveniences are only for the diminutive.

After her reader is lulled, she delivers the genuine and important message about endowment, beauty, treasure, and love.

We are forever indebted.

Conveniences Commentary 1

It may seem strange for The Conveniences to suddenly appear on the Internet, but most information does seem to eventually make its way into the digital universe.The Conveniences have never before been shared in this format.They've typically been passed down from great-grandmother to grandmother to auntie to mother to daughter in various configurations of those relationships.The primary threshold for receiving The Conveniences has been grannyhood, biological or metaphorical. This means that men have been included occasionally, depending upon their interests and the willingness of the women, and younger women are sometimes initiated.But The Conveniences have primarily been located within the historical realm of age-appropriate biological or metaphorical grannies.I'll be sharing some of The Conveniences here, over time.It's difficult to describe their purpose exactly, and I mean these posts to provoke interest and curiosity. In reality, that is what The Conveniences have always done.My own copy of The Conveniences is from the nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries.Actually, The Conveniences are less a copy of anything than a collection of many things, as you'll come to see.Today I share this 1911 journal entry written by my great-great-grandmother, Kate. She'd known about The Conveniences almost her entire life, as most of the grannies around her had been a part of the path.And yet she was confused.So please don't feel bad if your own confusion lingers.  

[Kate notes that she's home before the first big snow, which must have been early in autumn 1911, typical for Wyoming.]

September 18, 1911Just back from the Netherlands - my first travel for the WTA. It was marvelous. Will write more later.Anna has decided I must read and understand The Conveniences. As if anyone ever understood them. At best, they're hints. At worst, they're deliberately misleading.My college comparative religion class would call them koans: paradoxes or riddles designed to provoke enlightenment.I doubt it, but I'll try.