We Hold These Truths to be Self Evident

‘The Goring Collection’
Prologue Part 5
On his return trip to San Francisco Jacob had time to think and reflect on his experiences of the past three days. What was truly amazing to him was how he had fit right in with the Bromfield family and their friends. Then as he looked out at the California countryside he was reminded of Tony Rockwell’s remark about his political leanings. ‘…Are you truly as far left as you profess to be?’ Jacob was aware that his zest for the Communist Party was not as strong as it once was. But he hadn’t really thought it was that obvious to others.
When Jacob got back to San Francisco, he taught his classes, attended cell meetings, and kept his lecture schedule, but nothing was the same. His feelings about democracy were growing while his passion for the Marxists ideology seemed to be slowly ebbing away. He considered his new attitude toward American Democracy and tried to put a timeline on just how and when he had started to change. As near as he could judge it followed his prescribed course for citizenship, which seemed to be only an appetizer. For when he finished those studies, he began reading biographies on the Founding Fathers, the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Federalist papers. Jacob believed that the most profound difference in his thinking was provided by a short phrase written by Thomas Jefferson into the Declaration of Independence. ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.’
And while those words from the Declaration of Independence rang loud and clear, the words of Karl Marx were now sounding hollow and thin. However, the question Jacob needed to answer was not so simple -- what did he intend to do regarding his new feelings about democracy? It was a slow and agonizing process, and while he had not completely renounced communism, he decided that it was time to formulate a plan in the event that he ever made the decision to turn. Then over the next few months Jacob explored a half dozen different scenarios including possible talks with his KGB and CIA contacts. In the end though, he took one central idea and worked a plan out in meticulous detail, which included a checklist of what he needed to take along and what could be left behind.
The irony of it all was that during that period, of evaluation and soul searching, the KGB assigned him a new contact code-name Isaac. Their first meeting was set for Fisherman’s Wharf. When Jacob got there, he broke into a wide smile as he hurried across the room. Then he stood for a moment before grabbing Alexei's hand and pulling him into a bear hug. "How did you arrange this?" Jacob asked. But even before Alexei spoke, he felt a chill in the air. Something was wrong.
"I had nothing to do with the arrangement." Then the heavyset Alexei said bluntly. "Someone higher up suggested that I have a talk with you, Jacob."
"About what?" Jacob asked incredulously.
Alexei sat for a long moment chewing on the stub of an unlit cigar. "Your dedication to the cause, Jacob."
"What? How can you say a thing like that?" Jacob said as his stomach churned and he thought they must have been reading my mind.
"Jacob, I'm only telling you what has been reported to the top. None of us live in a vacuum. We are always watched and monitored. And you, Jacob get extra scrutiny. You are supposed to be the leader in the distribution of socialist ideas."
"You are telling me something I don't already know," Jacob, said irately, "that is my mission."
“Yes, well there are reports that your lectures both in the classroom and on the circuit are becoming something less than effective.” Alexei chuckled, “Some believe that the ideology has become contaminated by your Western experience."
"That's an outrageous lie, Alexei," Jacob said without conviction.
"It's not for me to say, Jacob." Then Alexei moved closer. "Now this is not official, but I believe Moscow is very close to a decision."
"A decision? About what?" Jacob demanded.
"To have you recalled to Moscow, for reevaluation, and your pallid lectures are only one part of your problem."
"What do you mean?"
With riveting eyes and a harsh whisper Alexei explained. "There is a rumor floating about that suggests that you may have turned.”
"My God!"
"Well, I wouldn't know any thing about that," Alexei said with mock humor.
(To be continued)

‘Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone’
Researching a Legend Part 5
Following the trove of information I got from the Court Annex, my search for young Holliday began to take on a life of its own. I talked to and listened to interested people in Griffin about the Holliday’s and a number of people told me stories, handed down by family members, about life in the South during and after the Civil War.
I visited the county clerk’s office, dug into newspaper archives, made notes from special material at the library, looked at and got some historical perspective on old buildings and graveyards.
The county clerk’s office gave me another side of Henry B. Holliday – land speculator. The elder Holliday bought, sold and traded city lots, farms and buildings. In the clerk’s office I found deeds, notes, and various sales instruments involving the Holliday family. One sales transaction dated January 17, 1873 was of particular interest to me, and that was the sale of Doc’s property on Solomon Street, the building his mother had willed to him back in 1866. The date of the sale was of particular importance because it was just prior to the time Doc left for the west.
The newspaper archives and library gave me further insight into the Holliday family life during the years they lived in Griffin, including the war years, and the families move to South Georgia.
I was directed to two cemeteries, the main Griffin cemetery and a second one, about 20 miles southeast of Griffin. The second cemetery is next to the County Line Baptist Church, which is located near the small community of Jenkinsburg.
Doc’s sister, Martha Eleanora, died as an infant and is buried in the Griffin Cemetery.
Francisco E’Dalgo, Doc’s adopted brother, is buried at the cemetery near Jenkinsburg.
A visit to the latter cemetery and a talk with some of my relatives that live in the area gave me information that gave me an added interest in the Holliday story.
I grew up in Jenkinsburg, but knew no more about Doc Holliday than most people did at that time. However, the things I learned that day gave me pause to believe fate had drawn me to PBS and the Doc Holliday story.
1- My mother, Mary Lou Farrar’s infant sister Lilie Farrar is buried near Francisco’s grave.
2- Mom’s birthplace was about a quarter of a mile from The County Line Baptist Church.
3- My grandfather Farrar was in the cotton warehouse business with one of Francisco’s sons.
I suppose all that information could have become a distraction; instead it gave the resolve to be diligent in my research and find all the facts I could about ‘The Life and Times of John Henry Holliday’.
(To be continued)

Writers Notebook:
Excerpt, from ‘The Years with Ross’ by James Thurber.
The New Yorker, and a president setting case in copy-right law.
‘When Pearl White, the illustrious heroine, of the silent movie serial, ‘The Perils of Pauline,’ died in Paris in 1938, Wolcott Gibbs wrote a nostalgic comment about her and quoted the chorus of a song, ‘Poor Pauline,’ which came out about 1912. The New Yorker was promptly sued for having reprinted copy-righted material without permission. The case was decided in favor of the New Yorker, and it established the rule that copy-righted song lyrics could be lawfully used without permission in fiction and nonfiction for the purpose of establishing mood and background, provided the use was reasonable and not excessive.’
Tom Barnes -- Actor, Writer and Hurricane Hunter.
Check out my website for books, blogs, western legends, a literary icon, reviews and interviews. Also my novels The Goring Collection and Doc Holliday’s Road to Tombstone along with a non fiction remembrance of The Hurricane Hunters and Lost in the Bermuda Triangle.
www.tombarnes39.com
www.RocktheTower.com
www.TomsHurricanes.com