Have you heard the latest political joke? Don't worry, we're not going to tell it in this week's 'cuff. But what to write about, since politics has taken over all the news programs? How many more mouths are we going to have to endure?
So ... what will the 'cuff be about this week? That's easy. "Green Stamps," of course.
You think I'm kidding? That this is a late April Fool joke? Or, maybe that I've lost it? How in heck did we jump from politics to Green Stamps? Let me explain. It's perfectly logical. I was in the garage, getting an item off an old, flimsy metal shelf. That reminded me of Green Stamps.
It was many years ago, more than 50, when the four shelf so-called little "bookcase" became a part of the Evans family. It became ours when we traded a couple of books of Green Stamps for the thing that became our library for awhile.
Green Stamps? The younger generation is probably asking, "What are Green Stamps?" I'll try to explain. And, at the same time, it may kindle memories in the Green Stamp generation since saving Green Stamps was a habit in many households.
Briefly, when you bought items at some stores, along with your change you were handed some Green Stamps. You or we took them home, licked them and stuck them in a little booklet which, when it was filled, could be redeemed for various items such as small appliances, household items and, yes, even little bookshelves. When filled, you or we sent the filled books to the S&H Green Stamp company which sent us the item we wanted. I can't remember what S&H stood for, just as I can't remember any other S&H items that found their way into the Evans home. That's the Green Stamp story, which naturally leads us to the Jewel Tea man who visited homes with all kinds of offerings.
I was a kid at the time he made his rounds and, honestly, I didn't pay much attention to those transactions. My mother would sometimes purchase spices or other little kitchen items from the peddler as he made his monthly rounds. In the process, there were bonuses, rewards, such as the several-piece set of baking dishes which are the only items I can remember. Maybe it was the oven-proof, cream color dishes that were decorated with little red flowers. Or was it berries, or zig-zags? Honestly, I'm not sure. But I do remember some of the tasty desserts that were served to a hungry kid with a sweet tooth. I also remember splitting slab wood to feed the old wood cook stove that was a faithful addition in many kitchens during those "good old days."
This naturally brings us to a project that many people, including children, were involved with during World War II, War Savings Stamps. I was one of those kids "doing his part" who bought red 10-cent savings stamps which were pasted in a little folder. That was during a very serious time when our nation was at war in Europe and in the Pacific. World War II is just a bit of history to today's generation, relegated to a few pages in history books and some old war movie film footage.
The stamps came in various denominations ranging from a dime to $5 each. Of course, since dimes were few and far between for kids my age, it took 187 of them (stamps, not kids) to fill the little booklet with the stamps purchased at the post office. When filled, I took the $18.75 book of stamps to the P.O. and added an extra nickel, the total cost for which I received a War Savings Bond. If I kept it 10 years, it could be redeemed for $25. I can't remember the interest rate, but I'll bet it was higher than the sub-one-percent rate savings have been paying the past six or seven years.
The War Savings Stamps, which pictured the statue of a "Minute Man," provided a good lesson and habit, not only to aid the war effort but to teach kids the importance of saving money. I wonder how many kids, and even adults, today manage to save for the future.
Remember the old saying that possibly came from Benjamin Franklin, "A penny saved is a penny earned." It's almost a worthless habit, a way of losing money, since the old copper penny is worth more for the copper it contained. The old real copper penny is no more, like the zinc, so-called lead pennies which were issued one year (1943) during World War II. This naturally brings up another "that era" topic, rationing stamps. That's a story for some other day.
Reminiscing can be thought provoking, inspiring, sobering and sometimes even saddening. Until a rainbow in the wind returns one to the realities of today. Sobering?
Dodie Evans is the former owner and long-time editor of the Gravette News Herald. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 04/06/2016