Nancy by Olivia Jaimes for March 29, 2013

Looks like Phil is beginning to suspect that Sluggo’s “uncles” could be imaginary. Of course, we all need to remember that Sluggo was introduced during the Depression – When all aspects of the public welfare system were overwhelmed. So I am pretty sure that, during that time period, it was not all that unusual for underaged kids to be living on their own. In those days, most people didn’t have to worry about paying a monthly water, electric, heating or telephone bill – because most people didn’t actually have electricity or telephones. And most homes were still heated by pot-belly stoves, which could burn wood or coal. So it was just a matter of going out to collect whatever you could find to burn in the stove. Also, of course, most people did not actually have running water in their houses. Even back in the 40s, when my folks proved up on a homestead in Nebraska – my mother was very proud that they had “indoor plumbing.” But "indoor plumbing in those days did not actually mean what that terms means today. Our “indoor plumbing” consisted of a pump which was inside – in the kitchen. Having “indoor plumbing” meant that you had the pump right in the kitchen so that when you had to boil water to help thaw out the pump in the morning, you only had to walk across the kitchen with your hot teakettle and thaw out the pump, instead of going outside in the cold to thaw out the pump. So, as long as there was a reason why Sluggo would have been considered the owner of the house where he was living – he would not really have any bills which he needed to worry about. He could probably work at odd jobs to be able to get enough money to purchase an occasional lump of coal for the stove or kerosene for a lamp. During the Depression, my dad grew up on a farm near a little town not far from Dodge city, Kansas. There were 11 kids in my Dad’s family and 10 kids in my mother’s family. In those days, most families were usually large. On a neighboring farm to my Dad’s family was a family with 9 children. The family’s father had died of wounds which he received during World War I. The mother and the 9 kids continued working the farm. When the mother became so ill that she was bedridden permanently, the 9 kids kept working the farm, kept getting themselves to school on time, kept doing their homework, kept putting food on the table, kept getting their clothes washed and ironed (and – in those days – most people did NOT have automatic washers or dryers for doing those jobs.) So I can understand why, back in the 30s, it was easy for the readers to accept the fact that a kid was living alone in a rundown house – and no one from the county was turning up to ask questions about how Sluggo came to be living alone in that house. The folks at the county probably had their hands full and most likely did not go around looking for ways to add to their work load!

Lived in Dodge five years. Lots of small towns thereabouts: Wright, Cimarron, Fowler, Spearville, Bucklin, Jetmore. It’s been awhile, or I’d remember more.

Thank you, Estrelita and Tom. Great comments. The large family situation was certainly handled differently in those days. My grandmother was put in charge of 8 siblings when she was 9 years old. My great grandmother was a midwife, and would ride for miles on horseback to deliver “young ’uns”.

I remember a classic “Nancy” strip from many, many years ago. An “Ernie Bushmiller” style burglar, mask and all, slips into Sluggo’s bedroom through the window. He looks around, and sees the conditions Sluggo lives in. The last panel shows him leaving through the same window, while putting some money in Sluggo’s piggy bank.

Guy, that one has never left me. I don’t even know it Ernie was still drawing them back then. But I would love to see that strip again.

Great insights and comments today! This arc is a very important one, as we move the characters forward. I will do my best to honor Ernie and the traditions of the feature, while moving us into my version of 2013. Oh. But remember…we’re still “the Funnies”.

Who is Sluggo’s doctor: Doctor Who.

: )Cool!

Hey, SUSAN! Where’s Fritzi?

It’s always fun to reminisce about the “olden” days, but I am so grateful and thankful I made it thru to today! I never had to go without during my childhood (1934-1948) so I congratulate and am humbled by all of you who did.Of course, Nancy was a BIG part of growing up! Guy…continue with this story to help us remember how it was! But…Sluggo deserves more in the end..odd tho, how we never thought it was so bad when we were living thru it!!! .

Thanks for a very interesting lesson. Now where can I find a nice southern girl?

If the house is standing, who pays the property tax?-and property tax on a property can be more than rent used to be!

Some of the best food ever love it with vinegar on it

Thanks Guy! Happy Easter everyone!

I saw this coming days ago.

Mr. Gilchrist, love the changes you’ve added to Nancy, e.g., moving Fritzi and Phil to co-starring status, almost an ensemble cast or family now. “Nancy” still has great charm, and surreal beauty. Thanks so much!

So, when Phil and Fritzi get married, will there be a little one in the future or maybe twins with Sluggo as a step brother?

We’ll be having Turnip Greens and Blackeyed Peas with our Easter meal. I enjoy cooking greens…and eating them!

One of the benifits of coal-fired steam locomotives was the coal that fell off the tenders. Locals could “harvest” their heating fuel along the tracks—especially where the tracks were rough or curving.

Up in Maine, there are “fiddlehead greens”, which are young ferns.