Life on land may not have been all that much more magical for the common
person. Life tended to be brutal and short for most - city or countryside.
You were either steering or being ground up by the wheels - and most people
were simply fodder for the few.

Speaking of movies, I was dragged out to see the "Last Samurai". Can't
really recommend it except as escapist, fantasy violence. But I can
recommend a related book, James Bradley's "Flyboys" "A true story of
courage". Related? The book starts with a sweeping historical look at
Samurai culture and fuedal Japan which it then brings into the 20th Century
and WWII. Bush senior is one of the flyboys that is shot down. A very
detailed and seemingly well researched account of what happened to Dive
bomber pilots shot down at an island next to Iwo Jima. Great battlefield
account with a lot of stuff you've never read before and a surprising
ending.

Great book. Made the "Last Samurai" viewing worth it.... almost.

"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
news:O%jCb.513413$Tr4.1431059@attbi_s03...
After you've been shanghaied, lashed by the cat o' nine tails, fed on
weevils and biscuits, sent aloft in a gale, sodomized by the bosun,
and had your teeth fall out from scurvy, precious little of that magic
remains.

My thoughts, exactly.

There was very little "magic" in any human endeavor, prior to the 20th
century, unless you were wealthy.

And there was certainly not any to be found as a ship's mate, from
everything I've read.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"