Formula One Quiz: O.K. folks. I recognize that most of you
aren”t Auto racing fans, but you need to know this answer. Trust
me..some day, when you least expect it, it will come in handy.
The following are all in the Top 5 for career victories in Formula
One Grand Prix racing. See if you can put them in the correct
order: Nigel Mansell, Michael Schumacher, Jackie Stewart,
Ayrton Senna, Alain Prost. Answer below.
The Awful Disclosures of Maria Monk…Catholic Bashing
The following may be disturbing to some of you. Believe me, it
was for me. But it”s a story that has to be told.
In the current issue of American Heritage magazine, Kevin
Baker goes into some detail on a book that has just been re-
released for the umpteenth time, “The Awful Disclosures of
Maria Monk.” The book is Catholic bashing of the worst sort
and, regardless of your faith, you should be upset it once again
has found a hearing.
Baker writes, “(The book) is not simply another sweaty piece of
contemporary pornography but a book that figured in some of the
worst episodes of religious persecution this country has ever
witnessed.”
Back in 1836, nativist, anti-immigrant political parties were
coming to the forefront of American politics. Specifically, a
movement labeled the “Know-Nothings.” Officially called the
American Party, the Know-Nothings arose from secret, anti-
immigrant societies and derived the nickname from its members”
standard answer to inquiries. In 1856, former president Millard
Fillmore gained 20% of the popular vote heading up the
American Party ticket.
Against this background, “Awful Disclosures” went to print in
1836. The book purported to be the memoir of a young girl
growing up in Montreal who converts to Catholicism, joins a
nunnery and finds herself in a convent that is filled with horrors.
As written, the disobedient nuns are repeatedly whipped, beaten,
and gagged. Equally disturbing are Maria”s “revelations” that
nuns from wealthy families were secretly murdered or
imprisoned if they expressed dissatisfaction. According to
Maria, nuns had sex with priests and their offspring were then
murdered.
Maria didn”t want her unborn to suffer a similar fate so, to save
her child, she fled to New York…and into the hands of Know-
Nothings and journalists. The book became an instant bestseller.
Maria was lionized by Protestant groups and sent out on a
speaking tour. Then the truth was revealed.
Maria”s mother came forward and announced that Maria had
never been a nun but, instead, was a runaway from a Catholic
asylum for delinquent girls. And the father of Maria”s child
wasn”t a priest but her boyfriend who helped her escape. So, as
Baker put it, “Her champions quickly faded away.” Maria was
soon penniless and went into a life of prostitution; dying in
prison after she had been arrested for pickpocketing.
However, writes Baker, “Her lies lived after her, as lies will.”
Anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant violence hit the nation before the
Civil War. Riots in Philadelphia, for example, killed 13 in 1844,
with 3 Catholic churches burned to the ground. In the 1850s,
nativist mobs ran roughshod from Baltimore to Lawrence, Mass.
Know-Nothing parties were sweeping to victory in state
legislative races. And throughout, “Awful Disclosures”
remained the bible of the movement.
With 20 printings, some 300,000 copies were sold. Now, a
major imprint, Random House UK Ltd. has reissued the book,
complete with a salacious cover.
What Kevin Baker finds even more disturbing is that the book
has not been reprinted for some historical purpose, sick as that
may be. Rather the introduction to this latest edition,
anonymous, of course, purports to vouch for all of Maria Monk”s
“disclosures.” Quoting from the introduction, “The truth
contained in this explosive book has undeniably confirmed” and
fed the outright lie “. Maria Monk was able to corroborate her
claims by producing reliable witnesses. This show of good faith
effectively prevented the detractors from taking the matter
further, and, over the years, Maria Monk”s story has been freed
from any suggestion of untruth.”
Sad. Concludes Baker:
“Once the whole tissue of truth is torn, once reality becomes a
weak and tattered thing, there is no keeping down the most
monstrous of lies. This is why history matters. This is why truth
matters.”
Switching gears…One-Hit Wonders, Last Round
[Artists whose only Billboard Top 40 song was also a Top 10 hit,
covering the period, 1961-75. Chart release date and peak
position included. I hope you enjoyed these listings.]
Steam “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” 1/69 #1
D.W. Stevenson “My Maria” 8/73 #9
Stories “Brother Louie” 7/73 #1
Billy Swan “I Can Help” 10/74 #1
Sylvia “Pillow Talk” 4/73 #3 [Uhhh…uhhh…]
*Editor is not responsible for this last bit.
Syndicate of Sound “Little Girl” 6/66 #8 [One of the great
air guitar songs of all time.]
The Tams “What Kind Of Fool (Do You Think I Am) 1/64 #9
R. Dean Taylor “Indiana Wants Me” 9/70 #5
The Tee Set “Ma Belle Amie” 2/70 #5 [Dutch group]
Johnny Thunder “Loop De Loop” 1/63 #4
The Tornadoes “Telstar” 11/62 #1
The Undisputed Truth “Smiling Faces Sometimes” 7/71 #3
[Survey says?…great tune.]
The Village Stompers “Washington Square” 10/63 #2
Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell “Dueling Banjos” 2/73 #2
Mason Williams “Classical Gas” 7/68 #2
J. Frank Wilson / The Cavaliers “Last Kiss” 9/64 #2
[“teenage angst” hit.]
The Winstons “Color Him Father” 6/69 #7
The Youngbloods “Get Together” 8/69 #5
Zager & Evans “In The Year 2525” 6/69 #1 [Ughh…ughh…]
Top 3 songs for the week of 8/23/75: #1 “Fallin” In Love”
(Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds.Editor”s Top 40 all time)
#2 “One Of These Nights” (Eagles…as is this one) #3 “Get
Down Tonight” (K.C. & The Sunshine Band…basically, an
awesome Top 3!)
Formula One Quiz Answer: #1 Alain Prost, 51 #2 Ayrton
Senna, 41 #3 Michael Schumacher, 35 #4 Nigel Mansell, 31
#5 Jackie Stewart, 27.
Next Bar Chat, Friday…How to steal a freighter.
