In the Show-Me State, the musings and writings of Samuel Langhorne Clemens (1835-1910) are revered as canon. With another birthday milestone approaching and bringing the BRC founder deeper into the uncharted terrains of senior citizenry, he turns to a philosophical  assessment by Missouri`s favorite son who summed-up this journey:

“Old age is mind over matter. If you don`t mind, it doesn`t matter.”

 At a recent  and  pre-birthday business meeting, the BRC founder painstakingly briefed our youthful CEO on projected FY2015 budgetary shortfalls. Grim  austerity measures and workshop staff down-sizing were proffered but discarded by the ever-optimistic CEO who recharged the flagging esprit de corps of all BRC personnel with another  timeless injunction

“When you want genuine music–music that will come right home to you like a bad quarter, suffuse your system like strychnine whiskey, go right through you like Brandreth’s pills, ramify your whole constitution like the measles, and break out on your hide like the pin-feather pimples on a picked goose,–when you want all this, just smash your piano, and invoke the glory-beaming banjo!”- Mark Twain, San Francisco Dramatic Chronicle, June 23, 1865.

Reader Quiz: Because of his wit and iconic authorship,  what is the definition of a gentleman attributed to humorist Twain? Answer below.

Header Note: “..twixt us twain…” (meaning `between us two`) from Act 2, Scene 1, Taming of the Shrew by Will Shakespeare.

Quiz Answer:  A gentleman is someone who knows how to play the banjo and doesn`t.

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For his first accomplishment in BRC Research and Development, our new director (pictured below) has developed the Peace Dove K model banjo for kids. This throwback instrument has features of a late 19th century classic 5 stringer. As the old-fashioned neck has no truss rod and will bend with metal strings, the instrument is outfitted with gut strings- which are gentle on little fingers.  Made in Italy by Aquila, modern Nylgut strings are applied and tuned to low E. This gives the banjo a funky low-down sound probably  reminiscent of the minstrel days.

The neck is figured with fluttering mother of pearl doves, and a large snowy bird carries the international peace sign on the peghead (click to enlarge).

The interior of the cherry pot is rimmed with shiny  washers to make the back of the banjo equally  interesting to young eyes.

At the base of the neck, it is planned to have each pot laser-etched with the owner`s name (e.g., `For Bubba`) followed by the Latin inscription: Pax doveum banjus per enfanti which roughly translates `Peace Dove banjo for kids`. This 5 stringer is light weight and suitable for years of wall-hanging until little fingers grow big enough to fret the fingerboard. Watch for it on eBay.

The BRC founder and his  band performed their annual Holiday gig on the psychiatric ward of the university hospital this week with songfests for the adult and children patients.  Starting with a jazzy  `Greensleeves` instrumental, the staff and patients were entertained with a mixture of Seasonal singalongs and Bluegrass standards.

From the our archives, we pause to offer a Yuletide greeting card (Cleo Inc., A Gibson Greeting) sent to the BRC founder about 20 years ago by a boyhood pal and fellow musician. It is one of our favorite treasures, and we hope you enjoy it and all your Seasonal remembrances.

The workshop staff wishes its faithful readers a a Prosperous and Healthy New Year.

All the Best pickin` in 2015.