Columns

From the Vault: The Art of Escape By Jarrett Zeman Henry Brown’s escape was immortalized in a lithograph titled “The Resurrection of Henry Brown.” COURTESY IMAGES / MARBLEHEAD MUSEUM On March 23, 1849, Henry Brown attempted one of the most daring escapes on the Underground Railroad. Brown paid a white shoemaker in Manchester, Virginia, to drill him inside a crate measuring three-feet long, two-feet wide and two-feet deep. Brown crouched uncomfortably inside the crate and breathed through three air holes, beginning a harrowing 27-hour journey…

By Margaret Bacon It has occurred to me that most of us are still guided by instincts built for a much rougher coastline. We wake up in old houses that have seen a few Nor’easters. We glance toward the harbor, check our phones before coffee and worry about parking near Abbot Hall.  Yet we carry habits shaped by cold Atlantic nights, uncertain catches and boats that did not always return when expected. The puzzle is not that we behave strangely. The puzzle is that we…

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, this month’s column focuses on money conversations in relationships. One of the most common hot-button topics in any partnership is finances. When couples talk about money, the discussion often centers on the everyday: mortgage payments, grocery bills, vacations and perhaps the occasional splurge. But one of the most important and frequently overlooked aspects is the broader financial picture. Investment decisions, in particular, can quietly become a source of misunderstanding, even in otherwise strong relationships. Not necessarily because couples disagree…