Re: [Mid] re: two fingers - the whole story

Interesting, isn't it, how some well known "traditions" come down to us from
Mediaeval times. Just today, in fact, I was reading, in "A History of
Illuminated Manuscripts" by Christopher deHamel, that the reason that to
this day that most books are taller than they are wider is due to the way
that vellum was sized when Manuscript books were made back then, and that
the sizing of books has come down to us from those times.

Just as the two fingered "V" salute came down to us from the Battle of
Agincourt. I often wonder how many other things that we take for granted
have been bequeathed to us through the ages from that time period.

Like, for example, did you know that the spacing between the rails of a
railroad come down to us from the spacing between Celtic chariot wheels?

Another one of those things that we don't tend to think about too often when
crossing a railroad track.

The connections between then and now are really fascinating. I think it's
part of the reason that I've been involved in this game for so long. You
cannot understand the present without an understanding of the past. History
is not dull, dead and boring. Rather, it is the great human drama, the sweep
of people and events, and if only it was taught that way in schools, perhaps
we wouldn't hear children whine about how boring history is. You sure cannot
look at the world the same way once you understand the connections between
then and now.

Just some musings and thoughts for a late Friday
afternoon..........................

Saradwen

From: "Sally Burnell" <sburnell@raex.com>
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Received on Fri Oct 27 17:55:37 2000