Flashback Friday - Taxes and Threatening and Annoying Letters

Taxes in 1921!

Income Tax Facts

Births, deaths and marriages during the year 1920 affect materially income tax returns for that year.

Millions of babies were added to family circles, each of whom brings an exemption of $200 in the parents' income tax returns.

Widows and widowers who lost their husbands or wives during the year are especially affected. They are single for the purposes of the income tax law and are granted only an exemption of $1000, unless the head of a family.

Persons who were divorced or separated by mutual agreement during the year must also consider themselves as single persons.

The status of the taxpayer on Dec. 31, 1920, determines the amount of the exemptions. If on that day the taxpayer was married and living with wife or husband, claim may be made for the $2000 exemption. If single, or married and not living with wife or husband on Dec. 31, the exemption is only $1000.

Persons who reached majority during the year and whose earnings for that period amounted to $1000 or more, or $2000 or more, according to their marital status, must file a return and pay a tax on their net income in excess of those amounts.

To avoid penalty, the return must be in the hands of the Collector of Internal Revenue for the district in which the taxpayer lives, or has his principal place of business, on or before midnight of March 15, 1921.

--Casa Grande Bulletin, February 12, 1921

THREATENED PRESIDENT.

Brooklyn Man Says He Wrote Mr. Harding Hoping to Get $300,000.

--The New York Times, April 19, 1921

I didn't see any record of what happened to him since then, but yes, there have been people a little touched in the head for at least 90 years... But they took him to court in Coney Island.

Speaking of Coney Island (how is that for a flimsy segueway?), this Saturday in 2011 is when the famous Cyclone and the new Luna Park open for the season.

Back in the 1840s, of course, people visited Coney Island for the fresh air and even to see nature. Now people also go for thrill rides!

Writing Wednesday - Progress Report

Taking a break from the Tucson Festival of Books reports this week, but I should have a lot more notes in the next few Wednesdays.

I found this blog post on Seekerville very interesting; it's about "Rewards Per Page." The idea is to write a book with something on every page to "reward" your reader--a joke, a fact, a fun interaction. The idea is a good one for people (like myself) who write with a goal of entertaining. At the very least, it served as a reminder to write what you'd love to read, and don't be afraid to tweak the story or even do something that might seem gratuitous (random kidnapping, anyone?), if you (and the readers) will find it compelling.

As to my writing progress, I'm working on finishing my 25-paragraph outline. Lately I think God's given me more of a passion for the work, which is exciting. I spent two hours planning Monday...considering I work full-time, that's not bad.

Though my outline wasn't at all as polished as I would have liked, I ran the first five paragraphs or so past my sometimes-co-author Maggie, who has an absolutely brilliant mind for finding inconsistencies and noting what just plain doesn't make sense. Her prodding questions made me rethink my introduction (paragraph 1 of 25), which I will now consolidate into fewer scenes, which should greatly strengthen the story. (Come on. Why does the lead need to start sobbing in a bathroom stall, anyway?)

Maggie has also shown me I'm going to need to figure out some big-picture stuff--since I'm more of an "idea" person, those specifics can really trip me up. Her advice is always invaluable and I have a lot of editing/thinking/working ahead of me! With her help on the big picture, this may very well turn out to be my strongest novel yet.

I think every writer could use a Maggie. Do you have one?

Miscellany Monday - Random Florida stuff

I didn't have time to put together a blog on the Bonnet House, so I'll just put together some pictures from my beautiful trip to Florida.



Maggie took me to Two Georges, where you get to eat right on the water.



Sometimes you see water creatures like manatees. We didn't...but last time I visited Florida a few years back, I didn't see an alligator, so we figured I had to come back again to see one. So, I guess I will have to go back again to see a manatee. :D

The food was good. The prices were fair given the huge portions!



I like to take pictures of my food. Such as this ice cream from Kilwin's. (I think the white half-scoop was cinnamon-something? WOW.)


This was a small breakfast at Steak and Shake the day I flew back home. I don't have much of an appetite when I'm about to fly...but I still finally managed to get a mint chocolate chip shake!


I also like to take pictures of old buildings.


And modern buildings. (WOW that was a small Jo-Anns!)


And random boxcars you can see from the road.


The water in Florida was just gorgeous!


There was some WEIRD stuff at the beach in Florida. A random person covered head to toe in a green bodysuit, evidently Green Mann. He was...something else. A passerby noted, "Only in South Florida!"

Also a sand sculpture at Delray Beach.


And man-of-wars, the animals that look like trash. (I thought they were water bottles from a distance!) Some people actually were in the water despite the dangerous tides and poisonous creatures washing up on the beach.


Oh, Florida. I hope I see you in person again soon!

Flashback Friday - Daniel Carone, Steve Brodie and child star Jackie Coogan - April 10-11, 1921

I'm keeping this short. Again, if you find history interesting, check out my Coney Island blog!

Leaps Off Brooklyn Bridge, Is Unhurt; Duplicates for Movies "Steve" Brodie's Feat

--The New York Times, April 11, 1921

Daniel Carone, "an expert swimmer" jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge into the East River, almost 175 feet. Supposedly, he leaped on a bet, and had it filmed for posterity.

On July 23, 1886, Steve Brodie (at least claimed to have) jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge, on a bet. He went on to open a saloon and even leave $100,000 to his heirs.

If the New York Times is correct, other men died trying the same feat. Knickerbocker Village has a great rundown of Brodie's notoriety.

INFANT FILM STAR DOTES ON CASINO

That and Rum--the Card Game, Not the Liquor--Jackie Coogan's Hobbies at 5.
--
WANTS TO RETIRE AT 13
--
Calls His Partner "Charles Expensive Chaplin" and "Treats Girls Rough."

--The New York Times, April 10, 1921

The article is an intimate portrait of a few minutes with this precocious Hollywood tyke who was visiting New York. It goes on to note that 5-year-old Jackie Coogan made $64,000 in movie roles since he was 4. He would "play" casino and deal out the cards. His father, Jack Coogan Senior, was formerly a dancer in vaudeville, and says he's concerned that his child behaves in public and is "polite and obedient."

Per IMDB, he didn't quite retire at 13, though he took a break for 1928 and 1929, when he was about 13. According to the biography there, his popularity waned and his mother and stepfather wouldn't give him his earnings; by law they weren't his. (This led to California passing the Child Actors Bill to protect child stars' earnings!) He had his share of downs but in the 1950s and 1960s he got a new start on television. Maybe the most recognizable role to today's audiences would be Uncle Fester from the Addams Family.

Oh, and I don't know if he treated grown-up girls rough, but he did divorce three times before he settled on his fourth wife!