the alley Newspaper | News & Views of Phillips Since 1976

Deaths of entire family grieves Cora Stickney Deaths of husband and three children within 15 years grieved Cora Stickney greatly highlighted by 80 day vigil of daughter”'s “trance”

Written by editor on 03 January 2012

Deaths of husband and three children within 15 years grieved Cora Stickney greatly highlighted by 80 day vigil of daughter”'s “trance.” Husband, John Stickney died March 20, 1876; Son, John Hanson Stickney, died Sept. 8, 1876; Daughter, Cora Stickney, died between Nov. 30th, 1887 and Thursday, Feb. 17th, 1877; son, William, died August 18th, 1891. Two markers Her husband and children are buried in Lot K, Block 100 in Minneapolis Pioneers and Soldiers Cemetery. There are two markers: an illegible military marker for John H. Stickney, and a family marker bearing the names of John H. Stickney and his youngest son. Cora and William”'s names were never added to the marker; the burial place of Ann Stickney is unknown.

By Sue Hunter Weir

It wasn”'t often that the death of someone buried in Layman”'s Cemetery was reported in the New York Times, but the story of Cora Stickney”'s burial was a most unusual, almost gothic, tale.

Cora was the daughter of John H. and Ann Stickney; her parents were transplanted New Englanders, who moved to Minnesota shortly after the Civil War. Mr. Stickney was a Civil War veteran who served in the 16th Maine Infantry. After arriving in Minneapolis he went into business but by the early 1870s was in poor health, and on March 20, 1876, two weeks shy of his 34th birthday, he died of “quick consumption”.… Read the rest “Deaths of entire family grieves Cora Stickney Deaths of husband and three children within 15 years grieved Cora Stickney greatly highlighted by 80 day vigil of daughter”'s “trance””

Melancholia

Written by editor on 03 January 2012

Melancholia

“Melancholia”

Sci-fi/Drama/Art House

Cast: Kirsten Dunst (Justine), Charlotte Gainsbourg (Claire), Alexander Skarsgard (Michael), Charlotte Rampling (Gaby), Stellan Skarsgard (Jack), Cameron Spurr (Leo), Kiefer Sutherland (John). Running time:136 minutes. Director: Lars von Trier.Â

“Melancholia” opens up with the classical composition Tristan und Isolde* by Richard Wagner while some of the cast are standing still or moving in eerily slow motion. What a beautiful send off with the underbelly of fate if one looks closely in the eyes of the characters.

Justine (Kirsten Dunst) has just gotten married to Michael ( life forms (including Alexander Skarsgard), both bride and groom join the wedding party at a mansion on a golf course. Justine”'s consumed by depression, her sister Claire (Charlotte Gainsbourg) the practical one, and her husband John (Kiefer Sutherland) reminds himself of how sumptuous the wedding party is. Justine and Claire”'s father (John Hurt) calls every cute woman at the party “Betty”. The sisters”' mother (Charlotte Rampling), long divorced from their father, in her wedding toast blasts out a fatalistic statement: “Enjoy it while it lasts” (I presume she means the wedding).