Pocket of Thoughts – Emily's Snippets

Grandmother Suderman was not dressed for the day until she put on her apron to protect her dress. I can see her now putting chicken feed into the apron as she held it up with the other hand. Her apron ‘pocket’ helped her do chores. I watched as she flung the feed in a circle about her. The free ranging chickens scampered with a flurry of feathers to eat. After her supply of grain was gone, she went into the hen house. She again held the apron in a ‘pocket’ and gathered eggs in it.

Once in the kitchen, she used the apron to shield her hands from the handle of the iron skillet on the wood stove. She went into the bathroom and pumped water into a container to heat water to wash dishes. That apron had many uses, even as our pockets do today. I loved to watch Grandma Suderman, hands wrapped in her apron standing at the kitchen door.

Later, aprons sported pockets. Mother made many pockets in her lifetime in the clothing she made for all of us, in my brothers’ clothes as well as mine. When she wore pajamas every day in the last days of her life, I often had to add a pocket to her sleep-wear because she needed that pocket.

The other day, I carried in my pocket the flash drive that contained this week’s message to be transferred to the church website. “A sermon in my pocket.” This began my interest and search of the genesis of pockets.

The Internet is rich in all manner of information. One that I found intriguing contained this information about pockets:
Why We Oppose Pockets for Women – From the book Are Women People? by Alice Duer Miller, 1915

BECAUSE pockets are not a natural right.
Because the great majority of women do not want pockets. If they did they would have them.
Because whenever women have had pockets they have not used them.
Because women are required to carry enough things as it is, without the additional burden of pockets.
Because it would make dissension between husband and wife as to whose pockets were to be filled.
Because it would destroy man’s chivalry toward woman, if he did not have to carry all her things in his pockets.
Because men are men, and women are women. We must not fly in the face of nature.
Because pockets have been used by men to carry tobacco, pipes, whiskey flasks, chewing gum and compromising letters. We see no reason to suppose that women would use them more wisely.

Questions I wondered include:
What was the genesis of the word, pocket?

People in early Bible times did not have pockets. They simply used bags to carry their coins. During the Dark Ages the pocket was out of sight….it had to be.
Originated in 1250–1300 – poquet (pochet, pochette), poque, poke
It was in the 1700’s that pockets were sewn on or in the clothing.

Is a pocket a fashion statement or a necessity?

The more ‘civilized’ we have become, the more we have needed pockets to carry things.
In 1716, A sudden theft of a woman’s tie-on pocket with its contents and it was worn beneath skirts and petticoats.
Our grandmothers had large pockets in their flowing skirts – carrying keys, yarn with needles stuck in it, spectacles, cookies, doughnuts or an apple,
In 1812 – ‘In one is her handkerchief, and any heavier matter that is not likely to come out with it, such as the change of sixpence. In the other is a miscellaneous assortment, consisting of a pocket-book, a bunch of keys, a needle-case, a spectacle-case, crumbs of biscuit, a nutmeg and grater, a smelling-bottle, and, according to the season, an orange or apple, which after many days she draws out, warm and glossy, to give to some little child that has well behaved itself.’
In 1819, Theresa Tidy wrote the 18 Maxims of Neatness and order – the essentials for a pocket. – ‘It is also expedient to carry about you a purse, a thimble, a pincushion, a pencil, a knife and a pair of scissors, which will not only be an inexpressible source of comfort and independence, by removing the necessity of borrowing, but will secure the privilege of not lending these indispensable articles.’ – Objects of Vanity – Many pockets held objects essential to personal grooming, such as a mirror, scent bottle, snuffbox and comb.

How were pockets used by my ancestors? When my ancestors traveled to this country, what did they carry and how?

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·Recently I saw the items that were packed in the trunk in Russia to come to this country in the latter 1800’s. Beside the winter wheat chosen seed by seed – all they could place in one trunk was brought by each family to begin a new life in this country. Bags, satchels were used besides the trunk.

What was the number of pockets in the garments of men and women?

Fully dressed, men had from 5 to 7 pockets in their suit, and 5 – 7 pockets in their overcoat, and several in a vest and shirt – 1898 – NY Times And now men use pockets to carry billfolds, pen, pocket change, receipts, tickets, comb, mints, gum, cell phone, mail, ipod, handkerchief and many other items. Meanwhile a woman has allowed fashion designers to limit the number of their pockets, necessitating carrying a bag (purse), diaper bag, or knapsack to carry important items they cannot hide in their clothes.

To my surprise there are many historical subjects covered in Pocket Histories of countries, people, events, etc. Then there is the pocket watch, the pocket book, the Hot Pocket, pocket change, pocket toys, pocket notebooks, pocket pens….. And there are phrases that abound, I’ve got him in my pocket, I’ve got the ball in the pocket, and playing music – Roby, the guitarist, teaching rhythm – get it in the pocket, and a teacher accompanying a line of elementary children down the hall, keep your hands in your pocket.

I remember Ed’s Dad, my Grandpa Suderman and Great Grandpa Loewen using pocket watches with long gold chains that dangled from the pocket to the belt loop. Learning the time at any given moment was not a quick glance but a dramatic fluid and practiced gesture of removing the watch, snapping open the lid, looking at the time and making the announcement. My Dad had a pocket watch, but never could afford a gold chain. Then wrist watches came to be for a less dramatic way of learning the time. Sneaking a peak during a long sermon or a long meeting became a slight of hand motion.

One of the things our youngest son enjoyed was going ‘out-tide’ and checking things outside like his Grandpa Siemens did. He would jam his hands in his pockets and stroll around the yard.

Pockets tend to be a private matter. A personal place to secret many things. The objects change from the boy who kept a top, a yo-yo, and a worm, a small pocket knife in his pocket. Sad it was, if the only thing it contained was lint. Of course, in today’s world, not emptying pockets can create havoc for the laundry.

Girls’ pockets became the purses today. A fashionable carry-all that can cost from $15 to more than $10,000. A badge of honor and status. Recently, in our small group, we played the ‘whats-in-your-purse’ game. I did not participate since I gave up carrying a purse that soon becomes an impediment and fills to the brim with useful and not so useful things.

The definition of pocket is also a bag. Interesting that babies are carried now, near to their Mother’s hearts, in a pocket-like sling.

I submit to you that the heart is a pocket of secrets, dreams and things we hold dear including our beliefs and memories. The beliefs can lead to life….spiritual eternity. Just as the heart holds our life here on earth. Mother had a gold locket she wore close to her heart. In it was a picture of her true love – Dad. Her locket was a pocket to hold something precious to her.

In the heart, we treasure our hope and our dreams to arm ourselves to face each day. In our pockets we put our earthly possessions – our things. But the lasting treasure in within the heart, where neither rust or thieves can enter. That treasure is faith and trust in God.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. Matthew 6:19 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, Colossians 3:23 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 Jesus replied: ” ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ Matthew 22:37

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