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A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....06-24-03....Happy First Anniversary To The Finest!
jwfiv; dansangel | jwfiv

Posted on 06/24/2003 1:40:40 AM PDT by dansangel



A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day
Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.
A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.
On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY
If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.
We're having fun and hope you are!

~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear












"A Few Of FR's Finest" was born one year ago today. Together with Mama_Bear and Daisyscarlett, Billie turned a dream into a reality. The three Finest "sistahs" worked hard to bring profiles of individual FReepers to the attention of those that came to visit the Finest on a regular basis. Following is a "History of the Finest" lovingly written by our own jwfiv. Kick off your shoes, sit back and relax, for you are in for a rich and detailed story, promised to entertain and to bring you closer in spirit to what makes the Finest well...."The Finest."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


"A History of the Finest ~ told by jwfiv


A light drizzle was softly tapping on my window, which was open just a bit to let the cool breeze in. I was hoping it might keep me from dozing off...to no avail, I confess. Between listening to the rhythm of the falling rain, and the hum of Maggie's beloved electric fan, I had become Little Nemo in Slumberland, and was working on the 21st of 40 winks when I was hit right between the eyes by the scoop on this caper , like a bird in the way of a Gary Johnson fastball.

Maggie was off on one of her solos, leaving me to mind the store. I don't know where she goes until she comes back, and sometimes not even then...it's on a need to know basis, and that's OK with me, cuz I'm just glad to be a cub reporter, and her sidekick. I caught reference to magic lariats, glass airplanes and someone named Condi as she spoke into her decoder ring before leaving that morning...she said something about "an errand for George", then whoosh, when I turned around, she was gone.



My little nap ended with a start when I heard the Mac chiming to announce that new mail was in the hopper. I was thrilled to find an anonymous source named Dick Morris, wogue and wapscallion, as the author of the message. I'd lately been watching him tattle-tale on the doings and motives of x42 and Senator x, and was skeptical that he seemed so eager to turn over what he considered might be clues to the origins of an unidentified conservative website called FreeRepublic, and specifically a part of it he referred to as "The Finest".

His message said that I would find a manila envelope containing photos and documents of interest, and possible scandal, waiting for me at the front desk of the Hotel Monaco.

I dashed out the door and into the rain, ran the four blocks to the bus stop and caught the 2:45 E Street run, which took me across Main to a part of town I'm not really comfortable in. What used to be a family neighborhood was now a place of shadows, known locally as the DeeYew. I never have figured that one out, so I just call it Creepsville.



Keeping my eyes straight ahead, ignoring the hawkers and liberal loonies, I walked the final two blocks to the Hotel, where the desk clerk handed me the envelope, just as I had been told would happen.

Not waiting for the bus, I blew my comic book money on a taxi and hurried back to the office to open the envelope and find within it several aged documents, receipts, old newspaper clippings, deeds and writs, as well as a couple of tintypes and time-worn photograph.



Going through the various scraps of info, I pieced together a story that began when America was still a young nation.

I don't know if the tale which follows accomplishes my source's purpose, however, I think it's one worth telling, and see no scandal or mischief, only charity and good deeds.

The documents tell of three enterprising young women who founded the San Antonio Rose, a saloon and café on the outskirts of San Antonio de Bexar, near the old Alamo Mission.




The only known photo of the San Antonio Rose, ca. 1855.


A deed with the names Wilhemina Himmelblau, Eleanor L'Orso Marrone, and Daisy "Red" O'Hara is proof of its founding, in June, 1840. There was also a photocopy of a census record for the Republic of Texas, from that same year, with their names listed as proprietors. Newspaper articles and a tattered one-sheet from 1848 attested to its reputation for "honest card play and whiskey that ain't been watered down".

Miss Willie, Miss Lori and Red, as the three were affectionately called, were known far and wide for their hospitality and good cheer, and hosted many a weary traveler and cowboy dusty from the trail

The three women were daughters of the South but loved the Union, too, and encouraged the discussion of politics and religion, which came natural to the pioneering spirit. In 1859, the Rose burned down when an argument between patrons became a brawl and a broken oil lamp lit the lace curtains on fire. No one was hurt, luckily, and in the aftermath, the penitent customers, and townsfolk, rallied together to build a new and more grand venue. To honor the community for standing with them, the ladies retired the name Rose and the first Finest Saloon was born.







Independence Day, 1876; a crowd of regular customers is pictured in front of the Finest Saloon, built on the spot where the San Antonio Rose stood before burning to the ground.

On the top steps to the right, standing from right to left, are Wilhemina Himmelblau, Eleanor L'Orso Marrone, and Daisy "Red" O'Hara.

On the far left, second row, is Ladimier Tekcz and his two sons, Shane and Clint; and standing to his left is Travis Meek, one of the first of the famed Texas Rangers.

The two women in top row center, wearing the similar hats, are Lady Margaret Exington and her sister, Lady Nanette, reunited after the former's brief time as captive of the Comancheros, and subsequent rescue by Marshal Meek.

In front center, hand on hip, is Arthur O'Naughtt (who earned a mention in the history books serving as a balloon observer for the North during the Civil War, and afterwards as a detective for Wells Fargo). To his left are, respectively, Louis deWolff, gambler and merchant; Don Carlos Ounaeoli (frontier chef and early Tex-Mex cuisine enthusiast); and Daniel McForty, the Fifth Earl of Kirkaldy (Scottish arms merchant, horse trader and, later, Colonel in the Confederate Army, First Georgia Volunteers).

This is believed to be the earliest extant photograph taken by Valerie Kloop, an immigrant from Holland who traveled the breadth of her adopted country, capturing images of Her pioneers and the cities that sprang up in their wake as they moved West.





The Finest thrived in the years that followed, not just as a saloon and café, but as a steakhouse famous for its barbecue, Cajun and Mexican cuisine (thanks to their brilliant chef and chief bottle washer), and as a community meeting hall, polling place and even a classroom, when the river was high.

In 1881, the three founders decided it was time to let go their hostess duties to devote more time to their loves and families. After turning over the building to a local church and temperance union, they each spent time travelling the world to visit the places from which so many of their guests had come, before settling down into their comfortable later years.




The three founders of the San Antonio Rose, sipping
hot chocolate in the Chicago Train Station,
Easter Sunday, 1899. The man in the middle,
seated at a table behind the ladies,
is identified as none other than Th. Inman,
the famous, some say notorious, chief copy
editor for the Chicago Daily Herald.


Friends to the end, they always kept in touch, by post, telegraph, and, much to their delight, "Mr. Bell's telephone"...and would yearly have a breakfast together, sitting by a window or at an outdoor cafe, sharing fond memories of days gone by...and wondering what joys the future would bring.

The story of the three founders would seem to end here, with the mention of their annual reunions...exept for a torn page from a 1936 issue of Look Magazine which was in the mysterious package. On that scrap of old paper was a brief article about a Fourth of July Picnic at the Tres Hermanas Rose Garden and Park in San Antonio, on the site where once stood the Finest Saloon.

The Garden was said to grow the most beautiful of yellow roses and, to that day, bluebirds nested year 'round in the tall cottonwoods that stood watch over the San Antonio Rose.






Well, that may not be exactly the way "A Few of FR's Finest" began, but a little poetic license never hurt.

Please feel free to add your own personal story of what the Finest has meant to you over the past year. Meanwhile, thank you all for being a part of the Finest Family. May God Bless you all.

~~~ Billie, daisyscarlett, Mama_Bear,
dansangel and dutchess ~~~





THIS WEEK'S THREADS

06-23-03 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping'
The guy's good, folks!
Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer




God Bless Our Military



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.
~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~


We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.
Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son
mystery-ak..........son, husband
Gogrammy................grandson
Inspectorette...................son
Blessed American..........nephew
Slip18..........................nephew
anniegetyourgun...........nephew
Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one
Doug from Upland......son-in-law
weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw
Future Snake Eater..........cousin
WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson
BeforeISleep...................son
The Mayor........................niece
LadyX.........................grandson
fawn796.....................nephew
ValerieUSA................2 sons
Warrior Nurse...........active duty
SK1 Thurman...........active duty
David Osborne.........active duty
fc2tomschermuly......active duty
bkwells..................activve duty
LongCut..................active duty
Trish.......................active duty


Maigrey................cousin
ladtx....................2 sons
Mama_Bear...........nephew
gator girl............husband
severa................husband
MozartLover......son, nephew
LBGA........................son
SpookBrat...........nephew
Himyar.....................son
boxerblues............2 sons
the piper...................son
sheeza...............husband
kemathen7...........husband
Diver Dave................niece
deadhead................cousin
JimRobinson.....2 nephews
Armymarinemom.....3 sons
Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law
Darheel..................niece
dixie sass.............nephew
BeAllYouCanBe.........son
AgThorn...............2 sons
homeschoolmama.......nephew
kneezles.................son




TOPICS: Culture/Society; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Political Humor/Cartoons
KEYWORDS: anniversary; freepers; friends; fun; military; surprises; veterans
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To: LadyX; MeeknMing; dutchess; dansangel; Aquamarine; ST.LOUIE1; jwfiv; g'nad; Flyer; dixie sass; ...
America old and new

OLD VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed.

The grasshopper has no food or shelter so he dies out in the cold.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!

MODERN VERSION:

The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks he's a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving.

CBS, NBC, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food.

America is stunned by the sharp contrast.

How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so?

Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper, and everybody cries when they sing "It's Not Easy Being Green."

Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing "We shall overcome". Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake.

Tom Daschle &Walter Mondale exclaim in an interview with Peter Jennings that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his "fair share".

Finally, the EEOC drafts the "Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act", retroactive to the beginning of the summer. The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government.

Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients.

The ant loses the case.

The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it.

The ant has disappeared in the snow.

The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.

MORAL OF THE STORY: Vote Republican
301 posted on 06/24/2003 3:50:42 PM PDT by JustAmy (God Bless Our Troops and God Bless America!)
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To: dutchess
What does this do with your side business????

This winter I will have plenty of time for that.
My business (siding and windows) is slow in the winter months. The company I work for keeps me on year round even when it's slow.

302 posted on 06/24/2003 3:51:17 PM PDT by The Mayor (I'm moving back to Buffalo.. I have a new job!)
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To: humblegunner
So great to see you humble. I haven't started my range lessons yet...have been so busy...but am doing my hand strengthening exercises....Hope to hit the range soon. Good to see you here.
303 posted on 06/24/2003 3:52:38 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: Libertina
((((((Libertina))))))

Have seen *you* in *two* months of Sundays!

I've missed you! :-(
304 posted on 06/24/2003 3:54:22 PM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it or LEAVE it!)
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To: Mama_Bear; Aquamarine
Top Ten Reasons Aquamarine is so fantastic

10. She is so cool.

9. She's really neat-o.

8. Aqua is spiffy.

7. Aqua is fab.

6. Aqua is terrif.

5. Aqua is peachy!

4. Aqua is wicked.

3. She is phat.

2. Aqua is the cat's meow.

and the number one reason she's be a great new hostess:

1. Aqua is like, so, well, you know, Aqua.
305 posted on 06/24/2003 3:54:35 PM PDT by FreeTheHostages
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To: JustAmy
And I am proud to call *you* my FRiend, as well!

(((((((Amy))))))
306 posted on 06/24/2003 3:55:51 PM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it or LEAVE it!)
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To: feinswinesuksass
I can'r believe it has already been one year....it seems like only 365 days ago!

Too cute. BTW...if the recall really happens could you end up with Feinstein as governor???...groan for you...but YES...she'll be your problem only :o) ......sorry....

Hey...we might end up with Jerry Springer as our US Senator...seriously...the dems are so desperate they are really courting him...geesh!
307 posted on 06/24/2003 3:56:59 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: BeforeISleep
Hi Before...Have missed your smiling face...Don't be a stranger...
308 posted on 06/24/2003 3:57:32 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: JustAmy
Amy...beautiful flowers you've posted today. Usually don't have time to post on your after action reports...but always enjoy them and appreciate the ping PLUS all you are doing!
309 posted on 06/24/2003 3:58:47 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: JustPiper
Hi JustPiper. Welcome. This is a wonderful site and hope you come back. Just a safe place to kick back and visit!
310 posted on 06/24/2003 4:00:06 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: GailA
Hi Gail...Hugs to Rocky! (and to you too!)
311 posted on 06/24/2003 4:01:28 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: Mama_Bear
((((((((Mama_Bear)))))))))

Thank you for all of your words of encouragement from my beginnings with the thread right up until now.

The *Lexus* may be in the shop, but this old VW Bus fits me like a glove here at the Finest!

:-)
312 posted on 06/24/2003 4:02:10 PM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it or LEAVE it!)
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To: larryjohnson
Truth is, larryjohnson, we really, really need you here on the Eastern Watch vantage point!

Without your bellwether guidance, alerting us to the first rays of the sun in the morning from Maine, we tend to get a little confused and kinda mill about...

Not that it requires much to get us steered off course, but - -

WE NEED YA, MAN !!!

313 posted on 06/24/2003 4:02:35 PM PDT by LadyX (( Praising Him every day - - ))
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To: The Thin Man; Aquamarine; Billie; dansangel; Mama_Bear; FreeTheHostages
Hey Thin Man...wow...another newbie hostess to "torment" ah I mean "greet". Actually we all love you lots but don't tell anyone I said that...I might get fired!
314 posted on 06/24/2003 4:04:11 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: feinswinesuksass
I know the pies would be delish!

LOL!

Our jwfiv did a fabulous job with the embellishments. He can paint a wonderful picture with his words. Enough to leave you hungry for more! LOL!

Glad you enjoyed - it's always a pleasure to *see* you!

:-)

315 posted on 06/24/2003 4:05:06 PM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it or LEAVE it!)
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To: g'nad
What precious babes you have....thanks for posting the picture. Hugs to you and your family.
316 posted on 06/24/2003 4:05:25 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: JulieRNR21
Oh wow...any "bubbly" left for the dinner hour???? Thanks for all you do here Julie. You're a great asset to the Finest!
317 posted on 06/24/2003 4:06:23 PM PDT by dutchess (Happy Anniversary to the Finest)
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To: Dubya
Thank you for the lovely anniversary graphic, (((((dubya))))). It's always a pleasure to see you here!

:-)
318 posted on 06/24/2003 4:06:47 PM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it or LEAVE it!)
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To: dutchess
Chante Mallard will get a taste of Texas Justice before it's over methinks!

...Thanks for all you do on the Finest!

I don't do much. Thanks go to YOU! :O)

Jerry Springer is what bill clintoon would have been doing had he not got into politics, LOL !



319 posted on 06/24/2003 4:06:49 PM PDT by MeekOneGOP (Bu-bye Dixie Chimps! / Check out my Freeper site !: http://home.attbi.com/~freeper/wsb/index.html)
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To: Dubya
So remember, each time you see someone who has served our country, just lean over and say Thank You.

Went to a concert Saturday (Ted Nugent and ZZ Top) and sat next to a man that had come alone. I started talking to him between sets and found out that one of his sons is in the Navy. I told him to please thank his son for his service to our country the next time they spoke. At first he looked surprised and then, with pride, told me he'd surely do that.

320 posted on 06/24/2003 4:10:19 PM PDT by dansangel (America - love it, support it or LEAVE it!)
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