in his words...

I had gotten this book for Bobby from one of my very favorite people Tara at Blondie 'N' SC {at one of her  shops here.}  The book initially blew me away to say the least...

I am not just talking about the beautiful cover or the weight of this precious book ~

but precisely the foreword to the book...the inside goods...

The book,  Around the World with Eyes Wide Open

I cannot help but share this little treasure with everyone and hopefully it will bring you joy just as it did to me...this may be my "boring" side you know...but I love travel...I love reading about places...I love dreaming...someday I will and I cannot wait to do some mission trips somewhere...

...and of course these beautiful pictures are taken by Tara {with permission} because hers are far better than ever mine could be of the book...

Here we go

in his foreword entitled "How it Happened..."
{text provided is exact text in book but paraphrased a little by me too~ 1898}

"It happened in this way. In the Spring of 1895, a handsome map of the world was presented me by a friend at Baltimore; and while glancing at it, hanging on my study wall, I arose from my desk-chair, one quiet mid-night hour, and traced with my pencil a route from Baltimore, over the American continent, to San Francisco, thence to the Hawaiian Islands, Japan, China, Malay Archipelago, Ceylon, India, Assam, Arabia, Africa, Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, Europe, and back again to the Monumental City. This was only on paper!

But, day by day, as my eyes turned wistfully toward the map, which now became increasingly fascinating, the desire of my life to visit the countries of the world, and study the peoples of earth, grew into a determination to start upon this circuit of the globe at the earliest practicable moment. Difficulties which seem insurmountable, frequently fade away as you approach them.

Distance not only lends enchantment to the view, but oftentimes it disenchants, by seemingly magnifying the obstacles that lie in the pathway of our goal.

The only way to do a thing is to do it.

... A few months after the pencil-tracing on the map was made, I waved farewell to my loved ones at the Union Station, Baltimore, and was off - moving toward the setting sun. ...I decided, in my journeyings, frequently to turn aside from the usual route pursued by the globe-trotter: to rough it while studying the customs and characteristics of natives far from the treaty ports; systematically to record my impressions and the results of my study, on the ground, day by day, while they were fresh in my mind: to illustrate these strange scenes and interesting studies both by the pen and photographic art; and to present to the public a book on travel that would be somewhat unique in its character. If I have enabled others to share with me the pleasures and profits of my visits to many lands and among many peoples....my pen has not written in vain."

H. Allen Tupper, Jr.

Published by the Christain Herald
Louis Klopsch

1898

The book was supposed to be for Bobby...hmm....he may not get his hands on it quite yet...at least not until I am done...{chuckle}

simply what spoke to me was his interest in humanity, travel, and study

...and also this amazing but simple quote...

"the only way to do a thing is to do it"

I love this quote because all of my favorite things in my life so far...are those things I decided to just do.

I'm not quite sure how the book will end up as far as the text or what his opinions and thoughts entail...but from the outside it sure is eye candy not to mention the pictures are amazing...

I cannot wait to see his view from 1898 {perhaps earlier since that is the published date}...

this book was sweetly dedicated to his wife and children...

Now all I need is a chair on the beach, umbrella, mai tai, and the sun to dive into this...

{sigh}

someday, right?

now to sweeten your day hop on over to Tracey's blog for her amazing give-a-way...if you haven't already!