A few years ago, I wrote an essay in the Garrett Park Bugle about why it was important to preserve the architecture and ambience of the town.
The next day, in the mail, I got a silver note card whose careful, beautiful calligraphy read:
MARGARET SOLTAN
TOWN PHILOSOPHER
I was especially flattered because it came from Donal McLaughlin, an eminent Garrett Parker — architect, designer, fellow writer.
Donal was famous around town for being very old — he just died at 102, and the New York Times has a long obit — and for being very political. His calligraphy was all over town on homemade signs which urged us to vote for various Town Council candidates (he supported Mr UD in his successful Council run). There were tons of other signs, most expressing some view of local, national, or international politics.
Donal objected to the expansion of the town’s main commercial building, Penn Place, and after the town voted to go ahead with the project, one of his signs appeared at the entry to the post office:
IF YOU HAVE TEARS,
PREPARE TO SHED
THEM NOW.
Brooding gray letters, funereal background.
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We used to brood, Mr UD and I, about the fact that in his hundreds Donal still drove. “I just saw McLaughlin in his car again,” Mr UD would say. “Driving it.” We’d look at each other, wide-eyed.
This is what the world will remain Donal for.
He designed the United Nations logo.
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And speaking of the UN, UD‘s old friend Peter has been, as you may know, fired. Here’s his account of it.
October 4th, 2009 at 11:46PM
Peter’s last paragraph sums up the UN, doesn’t it. Good intentions, lack of resolve.