On many a long long cold winter nights, my father would sit and tell us tales of our grandparents.I sometimes feel I had known them personally, for my fathers stories were so detailed and enriching. Oh yes, at times I also feel I had been cheated. During these moments I feel that I have be deprived of the privilege of knowing these precious individuals. How I wish I could have sat on their laps and had gotten a warm hug from their loving arms. Sadly though, I was never able to meet my grandparents on the Dupont family side. Although I am very fortunate they taught their children the importance of a loving family because through this loving and devoted family I have learnt much about my powerful history. I can now understand why the roots of this family tree are so very deep and so very strong like the  mighty oak tree which has stood for hundreds of years. 
I want you to sit back, relax and enjoy what you are about to read....
Me, being the author of this tale, I felt I would take a certain creative liberty with the telling of the story. Perhaps, a way for me to make up for never having had the privilege of knowing my grandparents. At times I will allow myself the imaginary honour of sitting with the loving spirit of my Grandfather and together having enriching and fulfilling conversations. I hope to be able to look into his heart and soul and understand how he looked at life. At times I will be drawing certain conclusions which may or may not depict his vision of these events, however they are based on truths as have been told to me about him and his times. I have always attempted to stay within the realm of historical authenticity and document the reality of the life and times in question but as with anything in history, after a time events become somewhat distorted and sometimes are seen through different coloured glasses. Although the core facts of these historical events are intact and from them we are able to learn and understand what was happening at that particular point in time.

Some of the stories come from my parents, some from my uncles, cousins and even neighbours who knew this powerful, yet gentle soul named 'Gus Dupont'.

The 1900's had just arrived and the times were ever so busy. The past few years had brought so many new inventions to mankind. The first public projection (film) "The Arrival of a Train at the Train Station" by the Lumiere Brothers was seen in Paris, France at the Hotel Scribe in 1895.

football game .was played in Latrobe, PA, USA.
In 1896 Niagra Falls hydroelectric plant opensand the first modern Olympic gamesare held in Athens, Greece.   The world is enriched with the delightful and mysterious tale of "Alice in Wonderland", written  by Lewis Carroll. 

Marie Curie andPierre Curie discovers radium, and we have no idea how all this will touch those who come into contact with our family, but it will. My stories will show how life has so many wonderful twists, turns and unexpected connections.

These times were also making us question things in life and forcing us to become "Masters of our own Destiny".

Oscar Wilde wrote the play, "The Importance of Being Earnest" in 1899, 

Sigmund Freud followed with his "Interpretation of Dreams" in 1900 and 

Renoir paints "Nude in the Sun" the same year.

The first flight of  the Zeppelin dirgible  built by Count Von Zepplin would also take place.

 A child namedWalter Elias Disney is born in 1901, with little knowing what wonderful magical  future would  be instore for this sweet child. In the future he would take many of us away into a magical kingdom were we could escape from the humdrum tasks and stressors of life. Through his imagination and creativity he would allow us all to become children once more, if only in our thoughts.

Oh yes, times were rapidly changing then, just as they continue to do so today.