Clue Pointing You?

Winnie’s probably thinking of bacon treats and not her canine forebears.

This picture, with the dog’s ear apparently pointing towards something, serves to remind us of at least two things.

One is that most documents contain clues pointing us in one direction or another–we just need to take the time to see them. Those clues can be direct, in-your-face statements. Those clues can be subtle references to a person’s age, religious affiliation, military experience, previous residences, etc. The person’s presence on a document may indicate they were “eligible” for one thing or another–to vote, to register for the draft, to serve on a jury, to own land, etc.–that is a clue.

And the ear? Well it suggests listening to what the document or record has to say. Reading it out loud is not necessary, but thinking about what it says is.