MORE ON BAUM: Mary Fairbanks writes us about one of her
passions, L. Frank Baum and his connection to Bradford.

“The discussion on Santa Claus makes me want to share some of my
research about the early writings of L. Frank Baum, author of ‘The
Wizard of Oz’ and one-time resident of Bradford, Pa.

“As you remember, it is known that Baum lived in Bradford in his
early twenties where he worked as an oil field reporter and later
editor of ‘The New Era’ newspaper (1875).

“By 1882, Baum was writing plays, like his famous ‘Maid of
Aaran,’ and even starring in it on opening night in Gilmore, Pa.,
(Derrick City) at Baum’s Opera House.

“By the early 1900s, Baum was an accomplished children’s writer,
having penned his most famous work, ‘The Wizard of Oz’ while
working on the other 13 sequels along with his other famous
works.

“One of the most overlooked is ‘The Life and Adventures of Santa
Claus,’ which was printed in 1902 and more recently adapted by
Rankin-Bass for television in the 1980s.

“It is a curious look at a fantasy character and magical place
which most certainly lived in Baum’s mind.

“And, since several renowned scholars insist that some of Baum’s
work is derived from his memories, I began to wonder if the setting
for the opening of this work, Burzee, isn’t his childhood memory of
Bradford, where he had often accompanied his father who was in the
oil business.

“Once one reads the opening chapter of this novel, you can
immediately feel like you are standing in the Bradford hardwood
forests and perhaps even standing there with Baum as he saw it as a
child.

“And, even if those forests really did not influence Baum, then
it is still fun to think they did and believe in this parallel
world.

“Only someone who lives or lived in Bradford will truly
understand and see the link so clearly.”

We don’t have enough room today but will pass along that
“Burzee” opening in tomorrow’s column.

You can judge for yourself whether Baum was describing Bradford
or not.

TODAY’S QUOTE: “I still carry the smell of jail on my skin. I
was convicted for expressing what I thought, what I think. But
there are no prisons that can contain thought, nor bars that can
confine words,” said Manuel Vazquez Portal, Cuban journalist,
2005.