Show TAKE MY WORD By Frank Colby Black and white represent extremes extremes- opposites But the words and the colors they represent have inspired some strange stories When the businessman demands that an agreement be put in black and white black ink on white paper he merely wants the transaction to be in writing He probably would have ha no objection to pink paper and md green ink This expression is attributed to Ben Jonson the English author Blackbirds were so named because of their color and the name became their species If a white specimen is found it itis itis itis is correctly called a white blackbird Just Justas as there is a species of white blackberries The Roman emperors decreed white as the mourning color This custom was strange and gruesome Death was looked upon as abhorrent the d dead ad and even their relatives were considered unclean If the relatives of the deceased wore while there was no danger of anyone's accidentally touching them in the dark It was Anne the wife of Charles VIII of France who in 1498 changed the mourning mourning mourning mourn mourn- ing color from white to black On the death of her husband she wore black to enhance the beauty of her blond hair- hair thus a modern custom was born White animals have long been worshipped worshipped worshipped wor wor- shipped or given respect among different peoples The White Coyote of the Indians is the father of all coyotes This tribe also treasures the albino deerskin Black the color of midnight and the unknown has played an important role in superstition and religion For example the Black Bear guardian spirit of the Osage Indians and Black the creator of man man of or the Apaches |