slammed.

[Bonnie Surfus (ENG)]

Hi.  I just got back from vacation and was excited to check mail. but 
also to post some info on the "Ruggles" thing, if anyone's still 
interested.  Now, I see, I am a nazi, or is it "anti-femi-nazi?"  I am 
also accused of many other things.  And it seems the author (who does 
write well, I think) is working on a piece for VV.  I wonder how this 
stuff happens?  Again, I point to all the liberatory talk about academic 
lists and e-mail comm.  And I ask "what?"  

I thought the stuff we say here is pretty much in the nature of academic 
inquiry, which includes the option to revise or completely reverse ideas, 
perhaps once they make their way around--gettin enough 
comments/suggestions, etc.

Anyway, I was excited to see King's Chapel in Boston last week.  But 
mainly for the gravestones with the intense engravings.  I spent a lot of 
time looking and Helmut took a lot of photographs of the stones.  Mike 
got the guide from inside and later that night, I read of a "Ruggles" 
buried there (of course, he/she may not actually be there now, with the 
relocations and all.)  The next day, Mike and I drove into Litchfield 
from WAterbury, Conn, where we were staying.  IN the museum there, we saw 
some silouhette portraits of the Ruggles and the Canfield families (in 
one frame.) There was a "Joseph," an "Ezra," and two others I've 
forgotten. the names are written and in my bags.  Litchfield was a 
city concerned with haute couture--many fine silks and other fineries 
were worked there (the museum has a wonderful collection of beaded bags, 
bonnets, clothes, reams of material,e tc.)  Maybe there's something of 
interest here for you.  Wasn't the Pynchon family (in New England, spec. 
Conn.) in textiles?  Either way, it was interesting to see the name and 
the possiblity.

But please don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying anything other than what 
you see here--saw some names, got a kick.  by the way, it was beatiful 
there.  It was the best vacation ever.  Definitely worth thiking about now.

BS