Plenty of Nothing

Avicenna Postage Stamps

Source. Source.

Archer Martin in Ireland

Ross House, Oughterard, Connemara. Source.

In a letter dated August 4th, 1888, Violet Martin describes a visit from a distant relative:

We have had a curious visitor for the last three days -- On Saturday evening up drove a car through the mist and off it lept an agile figure, and walked into the house -- followed by a portmanteau. With the breeding of the old noblesse Geraldine and I waited till he was in converse with Mama and then listened at the door. We heard an American accent and a fluent harangue of some sort, and finally Selina was sent out from the ark to tell us that the visitor was one Archer Martin a descendant of the Ballinahinch people, who had come all the way from America to write a book about the family, as it might be Howard Coghill -- I bundled out of my room and gave it to him, and here he has been ever since, rooting out all kinds of things. We had heard of his being in Galway, at the same game, and he already has a thick manuscript compiled -- deeply interesting to most people, I should say, except for a few wild tales of bloodshed -- and the like -- He is not a very near relative -- his great grandfather was Humanity Dick (the Martin's Act Man, whom I am in the future going to erect in opposition to the Chief) and Humanity Dick's great grandfather was younger brother of the Ross man of that date which makes the relationship a trifle distant. This youth is not the least like us -- but a little like both Hildegarde and Hugh -- only fairish neither tall nor small, right well made -- awfully well put on head and ears, beautiful feet, and hands more like mine than I thought possible, only a great deal better, and not much larger. His accent is detestable, his manner alert and American beyond telling, his ways those of a gentleman -- his intelligence immense. He is moreover a person who has read and travelled, and taken in all he saw and read and can repeat Longfellow and Edgar Allan Poe by heart, does not much care for Howells, thinks "Tennessee's partner" magnificent and is wholly in earnest on all subjects. I alternate between dislike and affection, hatred of his odious smart Americanisms, and respect for his candour and self reliance. He is a barrister in Manitoba, but his people have always lived in Hamilton, in Canada somewhere -- and from a photograph of their house they seem to be very rich. There is a pertinacity and an energy about him which are incredible and refreshing. On Sunday he just hiked up on to the roof top of the house and began to wage war with the jackdaws, standing on a place that makes me giddy to think of. Yesterday he was up there again, and also I, and he sent loads of soot and jackdaws nests thundering down the chimneys with a long pole -- a thing that many sweeps have failed to do. Today he has given Mama and Geraldine a lively time with examinations as to Martin marriages and the like and leaves this afternoon for Oughterard and finally Ballinahinch. He has fought with Burke, has extorted an apology from Froude for some misstatements in his "English in Ireland" as to some ancestor or other and I think the epitome of him is that he spent an hour at the top of a ladder in a crowded Galway Street, composedly taking a rubbing of the coat of arms over a door, with about 200 people gaping at him.

                The Selected Letters of Somerville and Ross (ed. Gifford Lewis), pages 92 and 93.

In her return letter Somerville replies:

I cannot ever explain our amusement at the notion of Archer Martin dropping from the skies and staying on to clean the chimneys. You certainly ought to marry him -- I am sure he is very nice -- I like his description immensely. But why do you call him American when he comes from Canada?

                Selected Letters, pages 119 and 120.

Archer was 23 and Violet 26 at the time of this visit. They did not get married, but they did meet again at least one time. In March 1912 he was back in Ireland. Violet writes Edith,

On Saturday we met Archer Martin at Athenry, and drove him straight on to the meet at Monivea -- a big one -- and also, it poured in bitter floods from the South East. Amy and Archer and I sat in the house and talked, and the hounds battered one fox at least round the coverts, and we left them at it (Robert Gregory on Jim's mare) and got home for a late luncheon, and all drove over here in the afternoon. Archer and Tilly Redington (one 'd' please remember) were instantly deep in antiquarian things -- each a great talker, and each finding it hard to get a word in. It was chiefly about a Martin and French marriage stone that is at Tyrone House, the St. Georges wonderful wreck of a place near here -- (the St. Georges were originally Frenches --)

                Selected Letters, pages 293 and 294.

Archer Martin sends you many apologies and much gratitude about Drishane but it could not be. He is bundling out of the country as fast as possible, for fear he might get hung up, as he must be back for his work. Yesterday he and I drove to Tillyra, and there we left him with Edward Martyn, who was very civil, interesting, and amusing -- and very like George Moore's description and also like Bertie Windle -- Tillya beats all the houses I have seen here ... [Jim] and I did not get home till past eight -- and had a narrow shave or two with Quinine -- Jim is a peculiar driver and Amy is even more so. Archer Martin crossed himself privately, & to me about his drive home with her from Kilcornan -- "She does nothing till it is almost too late -- drove bang up against a wall at a crossroad from not turning in time, and banged into a cart as well -- " When I got back from Kilcornan on Monday I found an exquisitely empty house -- all having gone in a motor to Ballynahinch (Archer's picnic) and they were not back till nearly 11 p.m. Archer is really a very good fellow -- warm hearted and generous and I am rather horrified to find that he has sent for me -- to Drishane -- a dressing box -- a gift! with some letters inside expressing the opinion of the favour that I confer on my family by belonging to it. He does not think they realise the magnitude of our work -- they are very kind about it, but they do not understand -- is what he says. He is a most faithful creature and a valuable friend to us all. Now I must catch my train.

    Selected Letters, pages 295 and 296.

Notes:

    Edith Somerville (1858 to 1949) and Violet Martin (1862 to 1915) were cousins who gained fame as humourists, and are best known for their Irish R.M. books published in 1899, 1909 and 1915. Violet Martin used the pseudonym Martin Ross throughout her career.

    I haven't completely caught the sense of "as it might be Howard Coghill -- I bundled out of my room and gave it to him" but here's what I think. James Henry Coghill had published The Family of Coghill 1377 to 1879 nine years earlier, and as there were strong Martin/Coghill connections it was the sort of book the Martins of Ross would have had in the house. I think Martin Ross handed the book to Archer and since she consequently did not have it in front of her while she was letter-writing she got the author's given name wrong. See here for the text of The Family of Coghill.

    Humanity Dick was Richard Martin (1754 to 1834) who sponsored the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act of 1822. The Chief was Charles Kendal Bushe (1767 to 1843), Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland, and the ancestor of both Somerville and Ross.

    The Martins had taken up residence in Ross House in June 1888 after an absence of fifteen years. In the interim it had been leased out and the tenant had left it in a state of disrepair. Archer picked up on the need to chip in and took it upon himself to clean the chimneys. Violet Martin was no shrinking violet and after the initial scandal of finding a house guest on the roof she was soon up there too.

    Edith Somerville's home was Drishane.

    Notice how Violet sizes up Archer by body part, as she would a horse. Notice also how she makes no distinction between America and Canada. It's only when she mentions Manitoba and Hamilton that you realize that the visitor is Canadian. The detail about his being a barrister in Manitoba nails down his identity as Archer Evans Stringer Martin (1865 to 1941) who was called to the Manitoba bar in 1887 and went on to serve as Chief Justice of British Columbia from 1937 to 1940.

    He published his Irish research under the title "A Genealogy of Martin of Ballinahinch Castle."

Albrecht-Dürer-Haus-Shaped Box

Source.

Roman Scissors

Scissors from the site of Roman Conimbriga in Portugal. Source.

Felber Autoroller

Source.

Höchstadt Alligators versus Riessersee

Höchstadt is the birthplace of naturalist Johann Baptist von Spix (1781-1826) who led an expedition into Brazil in 1817. There are no alligators in Brazil or Bavaria, apart from the hockey kind. Source.

SC Riessersee visit Höchstadt Alligators at Eisstadion Höchstadt. Riessersee are eighth, Höchstadt seventh. If this game comes off it'll be the only one of six today to avoid a Covid postponement.

The Alligators wear green, black and white, and their emblem is an alligator's eye, looking very Jurassic Park. The club was founded in 1993, the year the film came out.

Have Höchstadt Alligators ever played Crocodiles Hamburg?

Höchstadt an der Aisch is a town of about 13,000 people in the Middle Franconian region of Bavaria. The Swedes burnt it to the ground in 1633. Understandably, there are no Swedish players on the Höchstadter squad.

Riessersee and Höchstadt have met twice already this season:

2021/12/3      Riessersee 4 - 7 Höchstadt

2021/12/1      Höchstadt 1 -2 Riessersee

And they collided in the playoffs at the end of last season, Höchstadt winning three games to none.

[Today: Alligators 4 - 1 Riessersee]

Seasons of Höchstadt Alligators:

2020-21    36    19    3    0    14    138    133      +5    63     4th, Oberlida Süd

2019-20    32      3    1    1    27      67    163     -96    12   12th, Oberliga Süd

2018-19    32      9    3    4    16      93    129     -36    37     9th, Oberliga Süd

2017-18    26    21    1    0      4    152      66    +86    65     1st, Bayernliga

2016-17    32    11    2    2    17      86    121     -35    39     9th, Oberliga Süd

2015-16    26    13    2    0    11    108    101      +7    43     7th, Bayernliga

2014-15    24    16    3    1      4      91      63    +28    55    2nd, Bayernliga

2013-14    30    14    4    2    10    130      93    +37    52     7th, Bayernliga

2012-13    26    11    2    1    12      99    114     -15    38      9th, Bayernliga

2011-12    26    22    1            3    238      87  +151    45     2nd, Landesliga N-O

2010-11    30    11    3    0    16    151    138    +13    39     11th, Bayernliga

2009-10    30    15    0    1    14    135    158    -23    46     10th, Bayernliga

2008-09    30    18    0    2    10    145    107   +38    56       3rd, Bayernliga

2007-08    30    11    6          13    115    122      -7    28      11th, Bayernliga

2006-07    30    14    3          13    118    120      -2    31        8th, Bayernliga

2005-06    30    22    2            6    145      79   +66    46        1st, Bayernliga

2004-05    36      8    1    2    25      97    172    -75    28        9th, Oberliga N-O

2003-04    36      2    0    3    31      79    228  -149      9      10th, Oberliga N-O

2002-03    36      3    4    1    28    105    192    -87    18      10th, Oberliga S-O

2001-02    44    19    0    2    23    173    227    -54    59        8th, Reginalliga Süd

2000-01    14    12    1            1    134      38   +96    25        1st, Bayernliga Ost

                 14    10    2            2    100      50   +50    22        1st, Bayernliga final

1999-00    26    22    0            4    198      69  +129   44        3rd, Bayernliga

1998-99

1997-98

1996-97

1995-96

1994-95

1993-94    Bezerksliga Bayern Nord

(Sources: German Wikipedia Oberliga articles; hockeyarchives.info)

Shankland

Lawrence Shankland advances the ball against Partick Thistle, er, KV Mechelen. He honed his skills at Morton and Ayr United, among other places. Source.

Ayr United host Morton. Ayr are seventh with 21 points, Morton eighth with 17. Both teams won last weekend.

Last week's manita was Morton's first 5 - 0 win since July 23rd, 2019 and their first in league play since October 15th, 2016. (See below.) That score effectively cancels out the 1 - 6 loss of December 11th and leaves Morton with the best goal difference of the bottom five teams, something that could come in handy in April.

Morton have scored in each of their last nine games, league and cup, after having gone four straight without a goal earlier in the season.

The Ton have signed right-back Jamie Brandon on loan from Hearts. Michael Garrity is back after playing the first half of the season on loan to Annan. [Tom Allan has returned to Newcastle.]

Starting Monday Scottish football grounds can return to full occupancy.

The Premiership clubs have agreed to allow five player substitutions for the remainder of the season, as a hedge against the coming congested schedule. League Two already allows five subs. It's interesting how the SPFL sometimes treats the four divisions as leagues in their own right, with their own rulebooks, even though there's no such thing as, say, a Championship league office.

[Dougie Imrie is up on illegal gambling charges.]

[Morton win 0 - 2. Two goals for Reilly.]

The other Championship matches:

Partick Thistle (5th) 1 - 1 Kilmarnock (3rd)* (last night)

Dunfermline Athletic (10th) [1 - 0] Hamilton Academical (6th)

Inverness Caledonian Thistle (2nd) [2 - 2] Queen of the South (9th)

Raith Rovers (4th) [1 - 2] Arbroath (1st)

*Plenty of Nothing Championship Consolation Cup R1 match. [Kilmarnock advance on the yellow card rule.]

David Clanachan has stepped down as Canadian Premier League commissioner and has been granted exclusive franchise rights to Windsor, Ontario. So now the league has eight active teams, plus a ninth team in Vancouver starting 2023, plus conditional franchises in Saskatchewan and Windsor.

Iida Kodai's club OKC Energy is on hiatus for the 2022 USL Championship season. HFX Wanderers might like to have him back but they already have a full quota of international players.

54-year-old Kazuyoshi Miura, the old man of Japanese soccer, has been loaned by Yokohama FC to Suzuka Point Getters of the JFL.

Other matches:

East Stirlingshire [4 - 5] East Kilbride

Turriff United [0 - 3] Clachnacuddin

VfL Osnabrück [2 - 1] 1.FC Saarbrücken

SWF Championship South: Ayr United Football Academy [1 - 0] Morton (tomorrow)

FC Isle of Man [3 - 0] Ellesmere Rangers

Cumnock [4 - 2] Largs Thistle

South Challenge Cup Third Round: Darvel [5 - 1] Cambuslang

St Gallen 5 - 5 Winterthur (January 13) (friendly)

Luzern [0 - 1] Wintherthur (today) (friendly)

Jupiler League: Genk [4 - 1] Beerschot (tomorrow)

Lawrence Shankland's goals for Morton against Ayr United:

2017/4/22      38'    Cappielow    Ayr Utd    Fleming               league

Lawrence Shankland's goals for Ayr United against Morton:

2018/7/14      48'    Somerset     Morton    Scully    League Cup group stage

2018/7/14      72'    Somerset     Morton    Scully    League Cup group stage

2018/7/14      75'    Somerset     Morton    Scully    League Cup group stage

2018/9/29      19'    Cappielow    Morton    Scully                   league

2018/9/29      75'    Cappielow    Morton    Scully                   league

2019/4/2        21'    Somerset     Morton    McCrorie               league

Lawrence Shankland's goals for Beerschot:

2021/10/24    56'    Lotto Park    Anderlecht    Van Crombrugge    league

2021/11/21      4'    Olympic Stadium    Genk    Vandevoort           league

Ayr United's last ten winning seasons:

2019-20    27    12      4    11    38    35      +3    40    4th, Championship

2018-19    36    15      9    12    50    38    +12    54    4th, Championship

2017-18    36    24      4      8    92    42    +50    76    1st, League One

2015-16    36    19      4    13    65    47    +18    61    2nd, League One

2010-11    36    18      5    13    62    55      +7    59    2nd, Second Division

2008-09    36    22      8      6    71    38    +33    74    2nd, Second Division

2001-02    36    13    13    10    53    44      +9    52    3rd, First Division

2000-01    36    19    12      5    73    41    +32    69    2nd, First Division

1998-99    36    19      5    12    66    42    +24    62    3rd, First Division

1996-97    36    23      8      5    61    33    +28    77    1st, Second Division

Most recent 5 - 0 win in league play, 2021-22 Championship clubs:

2022/1/8        Morton 5 - 0 Dunfermline                      Championship

2021/4/29      Partick Thistle 5 - 0 Falkirk                   League One

2020/11/7      Raith Rovers 5 - 0 Morton                     Championship

2019/8/30      Inverness CT 5 - 0 Morton                    Championship

2019/3/30      Kilmarnock 5 - 0 Hamilton                    Premiership

2018/11/30    Dundee United 0 - 5 Ayr United            Championship

2018/9/1        Queen of the South 5 - 0 Ayr United    Championship

2018/4/14      East Fife 0 - 5 Arbroath                         League One

2016/3/5        Dunfermline 5 - 0 Stenhousemuir         League One

2015/1/1        Hamilton 5 - 0 Motherwell                     Premiership

Greenock Morton results for 1888-89:

1889/6/22      Wishaw Thistle 4 - 3 Morton

1889/6/1        Morton 2 - 0 Dumbarton        Greenock Charity Cup final

1889/5/28      Morton 4 - 2 Dykebar            Greenock Charity Cup SF

1889/5/18      Stevenson Thistle 2 - 3 Morton

1889/5/18      Morton 7 - 2 Port Glasgow          

1889/5/18      Stevenston Thistle 2 - 3 Morton   

1889/5/16      Morton 3 - 2 Dumbarton Athletic    Greenock Charity Cup R1

1889/5/4        Morton 7 - 0 Thornliebank          

1889/4/27      Morton 3 - 3 Ayr Athletic             

1889/4/20      Port Glasgow 4 - 4 Morton

1889/4/13      2nd Abercorn 1 - 2 2nd Morton

1889/4/13      Morton 5 - 1 Abercorn                

1889/4/6        Morton 1 - 2? Thistle                   

1889/3/30      Morton 5 - 4 Cambuslang           

1889/3/23      Partick Thistle 2 - 2 Morton

1889/3/16      Morton Strollers 0 - 3 Rangers Swifts

1889/3/16      Rangers 0 - 2 Morton                  

1889/3/2        Morton 1 - 4 Port Glasgow

1889/2/23      Morton Strollers 3 - 1 2nd Cambuslang         

1889/2/16      Morton 1 - 3 St Mirren           Renfrewshire Cup SF replay

1889/2/9        St Mirren 3 - 3 Morton           Renfrewshire Cup SF

1889/2/2        Morton 3 - 3 Dumbarton Athletic   

1889/1/26      Queen's Park 8 - 0 Morton         

1889/1/19      Morton 4 - 5 Celtic

1889/1/12      Morton Strollers 5 - 0 2nd Dykebar                     

1889/1/12      Dykebar 5 - 4 Morton

1888/12/29    Morton 7 - 2 2nd Rangers                

1888/12/15    Morton 2 - 6 Vale of Leven         

1888/12/8      Lochwinnoch 2 - 4 Morton    Renfrewshire Cup R3

1888/12/1      Morton 1 - 0 Battlefield              

1888/11/17    Morton 4 - 1 Cambuslang         

1888/11/17    bye                                        Renfrewshire Cup R2

1888/11/10    2nd St Mirren 7 - 2 2nd Morton     2nd XI Cup R4

1888/11/10    Airdrieonians 2 - 1 Morton

1888/11/3      Celtic Crusaders 3 - 2 Morton 2nd XI

1888/11/3      Morton 11 - 0 1st RRV               

1888/10/27    Cartvale 0 - 3 Morton            Renfrewshire Cup R1

1888/10/27    2nd Morton 4 - 0 2nd Abercorn    2nd XI Cup replay

1888/10/20    2nd Abercorn 4 - 4 2nd Morton    2nd XI Cup R3

1888/10/20    Royal Albert 2 - 5 Morton          

1888/10/13    Vale of Leven 8 - 3 Morton         

1888/10/6      Morton 5 - 3 Dykebar                

1888/9/29      Morton 6 - 2 Middlesbrough   international friendly

1888/9/29      bye                                            2nd XI Cup R2

1888/9/22      2nd Abercorn 5 - 2 2nd Morton

1888/9/22      Morton 1 - 4 Abercorn            Scottish Cup R2

1888/9/15      2nd Morton 2 - 0 Carlton

1888/9/15      Uddingston 2 - 1 Morton

1888/9/8        2nd Renfrew 1 - 8 2nd Morton    2nd XI Cup R1

1888/9/8        Kilmarnock 4 - 3 Morton

1888/9/1        Port Glasgow 3 - 7 Morton    Scottish Cup R1

1888/8/25      Morton 7 - 1 Port Glasgow       

1888/8/18      Queen of the South Wanderers 2 - 4 Morton   

1888/8/7        Dumbarton Athletic 2 - 1 Morton    Glasgow Exhibition Trophy R1

The Sept. 10, 1888 Glasgow Herald nicknames Morton the "Sugaropolitan," a handle that can be attached to the club right up to the end of the Golden Casket era.

January 19, 1889 looks to be Morton's first ever game against Celtic FC, who were founded in 1888.

Morton versus Port Glasgow Athletic. "This is the sixth occasion on which these two teams have met this season. Of the previous matches the Morton have won three, the Port one, and one was drawn." (Glasgow Herald, May 20, 1889, p. 9.) I've only found five of the six, but from the Herald's summary the missing game must have been a win for Morton.

The Stevenston Thistle result is listed in the same issue of the Glasgow Herald (May 20, 1889) as the Port Glasgow game, so it must have been played by the 2nd XI.

(Sources: The Beautiful Dribbling Game for the Scottish Cup; SFHA for the Glasgow Exhibition Trophy, Renfrewshire Cup, 2nd XI Cup and Greenock and District Charity Cup; the Glasgow Herald for ordinary matches, and the 1888/12/8 match, which SFHA puts on 1888/11/10.)

Riessersee versus Passau

Olimpia Eissport Zentrum, Garmisch, about ten years ago. Source.

Riessersee host the Passau Black Hawks. Passau wear black, red and white like their Chicago role models.

EHF Passau Black Hawks came to be in 1997. The team was promoted to the Oberliga in 2007, but in 2012 dropped down to tier VI and only got back up in 2020. Last year they finished 12th out of 13.

Passau is the place where the Danube passes out of Germany and into Austria, though that probably is not the accepted etymology of the name.

Passau is also the name of a hockey goalie equipment manufacturer based in Chambly, Quebec. Did the owner once play goal for this club?

European hockey is full of clubs that use Indigenous names and imagery, no doubt because it seems North American to them. But North American sports teams are getting rid of their culturally appropriated branding fast. The CBC has started to refer to the Blackhawks as "the NHL's Chicago team" (example), so you can see that the days are numbered for that trademark. Passau Black Hawks and Frölunda Indians are going to have to think about this soon.

Passau has a loan agreement with EV Landshut of DEL 2 which affords members of Landshut's development squad game time with the Oberliga team. There are ten Landshut U-20 players in Passau's 34-man roster. Riessersee has a similar arrangement with Red Bull München.

Games so far this season:

2021/10/31    Riessersee 3 - 4 Passau

2021/12/5      Passau 1 - 6 Riessersee

2022/1/7        Passau 2 - 1 Riessersee   

(Both of their opponents were down with Covid January 7th so they played each other, moving forward a game originally scheduled for late February.)

[But now Passau has Covid and this game is postponed to February 25th.]

Reformation Wall Reformed

Source.

Heike Monogatari (2021)

Trailer.