(On preceding page is a view of Pretoria looking westward through one of the arches of the government buildings)

Inherent in Christmas is the spirit of goodwill.

It prompts the sending of greeting cards to those who we especially cherish. It disregards all color lines and geographical boundaries. It underlies our whole Christian faith.

So, now that I have returned from a visit to Africa – – Cairo to Cape Town – – I want to emphasize that in no place in this world where it has been so far my privilege to visit, have I found so great a manifestation of “goodwill toward men” as in East Africa, the Rhodesians and the Union of South Africa. It abundantly manifests itself at slightest opportunity in courtesy, sincerity, honesty and cheery on selfishness. “White Africa’s” Christmas spirit, prevalent here the year ’round, is an outstanding memory I bring back from my…

I know that Christmas isn’t behind the corner. I publish my card now so that you have time to send this card to your family members and friends if you wish.

Please use the card below to your wishes.

The video shows to you how you can add the picture to your email message.

The music on the video: Duo Forelli’s “Keskustelu motellissa” (The Conversation in the Motel). I played in early 90th with Aarre Hakomäki.

IT BEGINS LONG AGO

Emerging from Europe’s Dark Ages, Charlemagne’s death marked the emergence of the French and German nations. Here, at first, petty principalities for self-defense against marauding Norsemen, Huns, Tartars and other barbarous hordes, were headed by Duke, count, Bishop or Baron.

One such was an ancestor, Jean Guyon, created Baron in 1289, who from his big stone castle erected on top of Roche-Guyon, still overlooks the surrounding country through which the stately Seine winds its way northwest of Paris to the sea.

From this vantage point these early overlords kept a watchful eye over their subjects, protecting them from armed robber bands and acting as chief of police, judge, patron of church and monastery, and generally maintaining peace and order throughout their small domain.

THE HUGUENOT

As the centuries rolled by there gradually developed in Western Europe and ever growing battle between Church and State with the “common people” in between, exploited by both.

In France, a bitter…

Finally, everyone is home from the war. Dan, Paulette and baby Arla arrived in late December, 1946. These are the pictures I have from the first Christmas Dinner when all the family is together. Arla is now a year and a half and has been joined by a little brother, Cedric. My twin brother Douglas and I are 6 weeks younger than Arla and have been joined by a baby brother also. His name is Gregory. Dave has married Eleanor Kintop. Other family members present include Aunt Helen (Peabody) Human, Aunt Anne (Peabody) Stanley and Aunt Dorothy Peabody.

Clockwise from center bottom: Baby Cedric, Paulette (Senechal) Guion, Aunt Helen (Peabody) Human, Elizabeth (Biss) (Guion) Zabel, Aunt Dorothy Peabody,Dave Guion, Eleanor (Kintop) Guion,) Raymond (Butch) Zabel, Jr., Marty Zabel, Cedric Duryee Guion.

Clockwise from left: Daniel Beck Guion, Cedric Duryee Guion, Raymond (Zeke) Zabel, Aunt Anne (Peabody) Stanley, empty chair…

Daniel Beck Guion, 2nd son of Alfred Duryee and Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion, was born in Mount Vernon, New York on October 27, 1915. The following is the story of his life  in pictures.

Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion with Dan, 1916

Alfred Duryee Guion holding Dan, Arla (Peabody) Guion with Lad

Lad and Dan in Larchmont Gardens, New York

Arla Mary (Peabody) Guion and children – Dan, Lad, Ced, Dick, and Biss at the Trumbull house, 1922

Dan (upper left) with siblings in Trumbull

Dan (far left) with siblings on porch in Trumbull

Dan Guion, 1934

Dan, self-portrait

Daniel Beck Guion 1938

Dan in Venezuela, 1939

Dan, 1940

Dan in Alaska, winter of 1940-41

Dan, in France, 1945

Dan and Paulette’s wedding, Calais, France, 1945

Dan in France, 1944-1946

Dan and Paulette Guion, 1980

On December 6, 2018, Finland has been independent for 101 years. Here is a card to greet your family members and your friends on Independence Day.

If you want to add your greetings to the card, below is the card without text.

You can easily add text by using the free PhotoScape software, which you can download from: http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php The video below tells you how to do it.

You can find more my free postcards at: http://yellingrosa.com/Free%20Postcard%20Slideshow.htm#frp01 There is also the card which is in the video.

Remember the virus scanning …

PS Even though the video is in Finnish, you shouldn’t have any problems to understand how to use the free PhotoScape picture editor which you can download from the URL http://www.photoscape.org/ps/main/download.php You find more of my free postcards in English and Finnish at http://yellingrosa.com/Free%20Postcard%20Slideshow.htm#frp01

For the People of Karelia Something is Missing on Independent Day

Evakon laulu singing…

The following is a letter written by Clara Maria de los Dolores Marina de Beck to Amelia Bowden Guion of Seneca Falls, New York in 1883:

“My grand-parents on my mother’s side were of royal descent. My grandfather Cadoret was guillotined in France for his loyalty to Marie Antoinette. My grandmother with her three daughters (my mother being the youngest) were secluded for months in a tower outside Paris and were released by being let down in the dead of night in a Cracker Barrel. This was suitably curtained inside and slightly ventilated, and with my grandmother inside was taken as freight on board a ship bound for Havana. My grandmother was of Spanish birth and it was deemed safer to send her to Cuba, than to Spain, as she might have been traced, and her head would have gone too. Of course they were rescued by friends, and when…