My city editor put down the phone, pursed her lips and looked at me, a scrawny and green 20-year-old newspaper intern.
“That was the Klan,” she said. “They are pissed at you.”
That summer I was an intern at my hometown paper, the Southwest Times Record, a small daily in Fort Smith, Ark. Most of that summer I wrote hard-hitting pieces about mutant chicken trading societies, Chamber of Commerce luncheons and the hot weather.
But all summer long I also worked on a series of articles about how the local public schools were still as segregated as they were in 1954. Still as segregated as they were when I went through the system. And so segregated that the local NAACP was considering a lawsuit.
After my stories ran, the Klan called the newsroom to ask about the New York Jew-boy reporter sent down by the ACLU to stir up the black population. And to tell me that I should watch my back.
I was terrified. And then I was furious. Those people didn’t know me. I’d lived in that town since I was 5. I went to public elementary, junior high and high school there. I was a member of First Presbyterian Church. And I doubt the ACLU even knew my hometown existed.
This week I stumbled on the first woodworking chisel I ever bought. It’s a Popular Mechanics 1/2″ bevel-edge chisel I bought from Wal-Mart about four presidents ago. It was my only chisel for about eight years. But I took good care of it until I bought my first set of Marples.
I’ve forgotten how much I actually like that little chisel. Sure, the steel is as soft as the Pillsbury Dough Boy, and the handle is a lovely clear plastic. But that was the chisel I used to chop out my first dovetails. My first mortise. My first half-lap.
As I looked it over I noticed it was getting some rust on it. So I decided to bring it back to its former blue-light special glory. As I worked on the tool, my mind began to wander to the e-mail beatings I’ve been taking lately for some tool reviews I’ve written – reviews both positive and negative.
These whuppings come with the territory, but sometimes they do get to me. (Just like I’m sure my reviews occasionally annoy other people.)
As I honed the secondary bevel of the chisel this morning I held it up to the light and thought, “This is who I am.”
I’m taking this chisel home tonight to give to my youngest daughter, Katy. It’s not the best tool in the world, but it is a good place to start. And it does come with a lesson, one that I learned that summer day at the Southwest Times Record.
Despite my city editor’s warnings that day, I walked out the front door of the paper to my car every day that summer instead of ducking out the door by the pressroom.
— Christopher Schwarz
Chris, I like who you are, keep it up.
Corey
I think integrity is not a quality within the reach of all; one has to be strong for it can become a burden. I raise my hat to you mr Schwarz.
My Grandfather told me “if every body’s happy with you – your screwing up”
Your intellectual curiosity and your seemingly boundless energy are to be admired . I would like to think I share the former though I no longer have the later. So keep on sending back notes from the edge they are much appreciated.
As my grandma–born in 1906, world traveller, could shoot the head off a snake from 200 feet–used to tell me: Don’t let the b*stards get you down!
Chris,
Please keep up the good work, and continue your honest assessment of the tools and techniques that make up our shared obsession. There are plenty of "Fine" publications out there with no particular editorial voice. I enjoy reading Pop. Woodworking and Woodworking Mag. and all the affiliated blogs because you and the other editors and contributors clearly speak from the heart on all things – wood related or not. Illegitimi non carborundum.
—–wade hutchison, working wood in Milton, PA.
Chris,
What a great connection you made between the tool and your experience.
Since we’re quoting our elders I’ll chip in with my dads favorite: "The man of integrity walks securely."
Been following your blog for a while now, and I’ve found it quite informative. While digging through the archives I was especially impressed with the Roubo translation, as were a number of my co-workers. I work for a custom stair and design company which hosts an exchange program for French Compagnons (Master woodworkers in training). They work for us for a year and we glean knowledge and know how from them – its a pretty great arrangement. Long story short, we’re curious about the future of the Roubo translation. Is there more in store? Also wonder if you have contact info for Bjenk Ellefsen?
Thanks for all you contribute to the craft.
Chris, not only do I value your opinion, I look forward to hearing it.
Wow, you had the Klan upset with you, and you continued in your integrity! My hat is off to you, Mr. Schwarz. I would think that experience would make it a little easier to continue with your integrity, despite the occasional angry woodworker, tool manufacturer, or tool vendor. Remain in your integrity…that makes your articles very useful to us woodworkers.
And just as you are passing this chisel to Katy, I am pleased to see you are also passing on the lesson in integrity as well. Proverbs 20:7.
Chris,
You are a brilliant writer, funny and witty. You have a way to tell stories using life experiences from yourself or from others and its always a pleasure to read you. As for your reviews, I understand how sometimes critiques are going to get to you. A lot of us appreciate your reviewing because we trust your experience and we respect you. They are fair and they reflect what you are, as you said. Isn’t it why we read you? For every mail that gets to you, you can think of us who can’t wait to read your next article or blog entry!
I loved this story too! So, you pissed off the Klan, huh? You are so full of interesting things to tell Chris!
Nic, I stopped working on translating Roubo when I learned that someone is working to publish a translated version of Roubo. Moreover, I have had very serious health problems for the last few years and only received surgery last month. I am flattered that you liked the translation. I’d love to continue to share bits of interests that I’m still translating. There are so much to discuss in Roubo’s work.
You can contact me at bjenk dot ellefsen at gmail dot com if you want.
Chris,
From a real New York Jew Boy – I got your back my man!!
Stay true to yourself as I’ve no doubt you will.
Michael
Excellent blog entry. Excellent.
Good stuff, Chris.
Never had the clan on my back but I grew up in a small enough town where it was quite simple to annoy the local rednecks by using large, complicated words, insulting or not. The trick was, stem the tide before my Dad got involved because that could make things ugly and involve whole families.
I acquired alot of diplomacy skills in that time. Running really fast helped too.
Regardless, keep up with the reviews and writings. This is what sets PopWood and WWM apart, and why I continue to subscribe. There’s only so many ways to cut a dovetail, tenon, or half-lap but there are many eccentricities in the tools and attitudes required by each of those tasks. And that is where I think your writing excells.
And passing a tool along is something I look forward to as well.