To the Editor:
Re “Five Women, Heirloom China and the Reverence It May Lose” (entrance web page, Jan. 5):
Rukmini Callimachi’s unhappy however pretty story of doomed heirloom dishes evokes a sophisticated response. In fact it’s impractical to dine commonly utilizing such objects, or in lots of circumstances even to seek out house to maintain all of them. However to what extent do the problems transcend the specifics of consuming habits to embody a present lack of curiosity in our personal histories?
Do youthful individuals who don’t care about these previous objects additionally really feel no connection to another household heirlooms — to the concrete artifacts of their very own household tales?
I’m reminded of my shock when my aunt knowledgeable me that the photograph albums my grandfather had taken onboard a ship from Tokyo to Seattle in 1919 had been tossed in a dumpster, as a result of “we by no means met these folks and we will’t learn Japanese.” (Fortunately a cousin rescued them and later gave them to me for safekeeping.)
How many individuals know the biographical particulars of their lengthy gone ancestors? The place can we draw the road between lack of house and failure of creativeness? May not there be room for just a few saucers, if solely to place cash and keys in, together with a little bit of the historical past they signify?
Andrew S. Mine
Chicago
To the Editor:
I drank in each phrase of your article about heirloom china. On Saturday excursions throughout the heyday of the division retailer, my mom, aunt and I visited china departments in a lot the best way others may try a brand new exhibit at a gallery.
We eagerly parsed the variations between manufacturers, debating the relative deserves of plates with vibrant patterns versus these adorned solely with elegant bands of silver or gold.
Was the sample employed in such a method that the presentation of the meals might additionally shine? How concerning the form of the gravy boat and the creamer? Had been these vessels each stunning and sensible?
Now my beloved mom and aunt are gone. I’m positive that lots of the high quality china departments are gone, too. However all stay on in my residence: I’ve three units of Mother’s tableware — the Russel Wright set she used daily when first married, the china manufactured in Japan proper after the battle that she and one other aunt collected with grocery store stamps, and the black and white Victorian-inspired sample she chosen to match the sterling silver flatware she was so delighted to have the monetary flexibility to buy.
Each time I decide up one among these dishes, reminiscences of relations, household meals and household celebrations come flooding again. Maybe these stunning issues are headed for the landfill. Till then, I’ll treasure them.
Amy Cohn
Marblehead, Mass.
To the Editor:
“5 Ladies, Heirloom China and the Reverence It Could Lose” actually struck a chord with me. For years, I’ve been bemoaning the truth that I can’t discover a residence for my mom’s 1940 Renaissance sample Lenox gold-rimmed china set for 12, or her classic minimize glass Seneca water goblets.
And I’m not alone. My feminine buddies of a sure age have the identical criticism.
It’s so unhappy that our lifestyle is altering, and never all the time for the higher. We are able to solely hope that sometime elegant entertaining at residence will make a comeback with the youthful era.
They’re lacking one thing particular. You may really hear the desk dialog, not like at most of right now’s eating places.
Lynn Hearth
Los Angeles
To the Editor:
As your article factors out, entire companies of classic dinnerware are simply obtained in thrift outlets for a fraction of the price of newly imported plates and mugs. To all younger folks establishing a family, I strongly advocate the acquisition of heirloom dinnerware.
Combined place settings will be modern and fascinating. If one thing breaks, eliminate it gently and head again to your native resale store or storage sale. You may be doing each the planet and your pocketbook a favor. And if Mother needs to provide you a set, say “Sure!”
Melinda R. Meister
New Vernon, N.J.
Serving to Federal Employees Below the Trump Presidency
To the Editor:
Re “I’m a Federal Employee. This Is What We Need Most in the Trump Era,” by Stacey Younger (Opinion visitor essay, nytimes.com, Jan. 12):
The author expresses solely affordable concern about job safety and integrity in addition to harassment on the job by politically appointed higher-ups and in personal life by the MAGA goon squad.
To supply the sensible assist she requests, we want a nationwide fund-raising effort: Small donors and billionaires alike ought to create and fund a system that pays for on-line protection (and offense), authorized protection (and offense), and all method of assist, together with direct and substantial monetary help.
Maybe it could restrain frivolous company “investigations” and the ever-urgent right-wing media seek for a villain du jour if everybody knew that the most recent sufferer would get monetary assist to climate the storm and may burden the perpetrators with each doable authorized motion in opposition to their defamation and harassment.
Keith Nelson
Newton, Mass.
To the Editor:
I perceive Stacey Younger’s level that federal staff will want authorized, psychological and sensible assist to remain of their jobs, given the brand new administration’s possible hostility towards them.
Nonetheless, to produce that, the general public wants complete data on what is going on to staff and to the federal institution generally. However due to a tradition of gag guidelines constructed up over at the least 5 presidential administrations, Democratic and Republican alike, we’re unlikely to get that. In lots of companies staff are barred from chatting with reporters or having such contact with out the authorities’ oversight.
Fortuitously there are some people, together with the Society of Skilled Journalists, combating this gorgeous risk to democracy and human welfare.
Kathryn Foxhall
Hyattsville, Md.
The author is a longtime freelance journalist and a volunteer advocate with the Society of Skilled Journalists on the gag rule subject.
An ‘Interabled’ Couple
To the Editor:
Kudos to Wendy Lu for her glorious article, “Sharing Stories About Love and Disability” (Sunday Kinds, Jan. 26).
I’ve been a quadriplegic since struggling a soccer damage after I was in school. Now, greater than 50 years later, I’m a part of an “interabled” couple, married to Anna, the love of my life, and the daddy of triplet boys who’re school sophomores. I by no means thought I’d be capable of have my very own organic kids, however medical science has allowed that.
I just lately retired from a 40-year profession as an assistant district lawyer on Lengthy Island, and have a life wealthy with a loving household, great buddies, journey and the chance to inform my story to encourage others.
My incapacity doesn’t outline me. With Anna at my facet, I’ve been in a position to face challenges to turn into the person I’m right now.
Ken Kunken
Rockville Centre, N.Y.
