Honey-Roasted Peanuts v. Hard Tack

Well, the time has come. I leave for London on Wednesday morning! I can't believe I will be flying there again, to seeing all my favorite things, and check out some new ones! This time going with friends: we are all Anglophiles! Fans of Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and of course, "Queenie" (Queen Elizabeth), as we call her.

Thinking about how easy it is, in reality, to get there. About 11 hours, not always the most comfortable, but I take a good book, have a few good flicks on the Ipad, and the time seems to pass. I ALWAYS keep my eye on the prize! London!

It was not always so easy to get there. In the 18th Century, the only way was on one of the sailing ships, subject to storms at sea, and at the mercy of lack of wind. The trip generally took around 60-80 days from the east coast of America to Portsmouth, England.

Travel at best was arduous, cramped and extremely dangerous. Always the threat of shipwreck, disease or piracy. In those years people didn't necessarily travel for fun. These voyages were reserved for official delegations, scientific exploration, emigrants, convicts, indentured servants, slaves, debtors, invalids seeking better climate. You ate what was provided, and when it was doled out. I don't believe there was even that complementary glass of cheap wine or spirits along with the endless supply of honey-roasted peanuts!

If one happened to get passage on a warship, they had to endure a possible naval action, gun or cannon fire, bloodshed, capture. It makes having a not- so-amiable passenger, or crying baby next to you seem like "child's play", compared to months of no real showers, seasickness, damp and cold, salted beef, dried peas and beans, stale barrelled water, mice, squalls, or love-starved sailors (ha ha)!

And so, I take a break from work, and normal daily life, and head out for some time across the pond. Looking forward to bringing home stories to share! Until then, adieu!

A Good Night's Sleep

It's very exciting to get something special for your home. This week I purchased a new bed! I am thrilled to bring something new and lovely into my "humble abode", and I am delighted to plan a new and improved look.
One thing leads to the next. Now, I plan a major "Spring Clean" as well, so I look forward to beginning the holidays all brand new!

When I went to my local furniture store the other night, I browsed around and then asked a salesperson to assist me. I was very lucky to encounter an extremely knowledgeable person, who asked me all kinds of questions, to determine what I needed. "Do you have lower-back problems?" No. "Does your neck hurt when you get up in the morning?" YES! "Do you sleep on your side, and do you get a numb arm?" YES! "Ah!", he said, "Your mattress is too hard!" Well, that answers that! He went on and on about pillows, mattress covers, etc etc, so by the time I made my purchase, I felt confident this is not only a good decorative change, but a healthy one as well.

This got me to thinking about bedding in the 18th Century. It was not all that splendid for the masses. Perhaps, Louis XIV or other Royals had  magnificent beds placed in palatial settings, but the common man did not.

In fact, in American Colonial times, sleeping arrangements were rather modest, plain and utilitarian for even the best of folks.
Look at the bedroom at right. This is President Washington's bedroom at Mount Vernon! Not so very grand, but cozy. He shared that room with Martha until the end of his days. He died at his beloved country home.
I can hardly imagine our current President, or any President from the 20th-21st Century, "enjoying" a room so modest.

I remember one instance from my travels to DC and Alexandria, VA with my daughter. We visited Gatsby's Tavern for dinner. It serves authentic Colonial cuisine, and has been in existence since 1785, and also contains the City Hotel and Ballroom upstairs that you can tour. George Washington visited there many a time, and stayed there as well. Other prominent patrons included John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and the Marquis de Lafayette.
The tour guide said that because there were only so many rooms upstairs, patrons often shared a room, up to eight people, and sleeping on rush bedding on the floor. Friendly, and intimate, to say the least!

Beds in the later Colonial era were, of course, influenced by Europe, but new designs and ideas emerged. There was an increasing use of Walnut wood, and posts were decorated with fabric drapes to create an environment of warmth and privacy. There were fireplaces in these rooms, but often times, the bed warmer was used to warm the sheets, filled with coals or wood, and passed over the sheets. The bed was probably one of the most costly, and thereby important, pieces of household furniture.

Rice beds emerged as well. They are generally the classic four poster bed, with no roof or canopy. Now the interesting things comes from the fact that Southern plantation owners at the time made great fortunes from selling rice and tobacco. They purchased as fancy a bed as possible to signify their wealth, and these beds became known as "plantation" or "rice" beds. At right, a typical Colonial rice bed. Often times, the pineapple motif was used as post decor. (Pineapples the colonial symbol of hospitality).

In the 18th Century the mattress began to take the form of what we utilize today. In the early 1700's they were filled with cotton and wool; by the later 1700's, filled with coconut fibers and horsehair. Buttons were included to help keep the stuffing in place.

Interestingly enough, beds were made to order, without standard sizes, to accomodate the user. Though George Washington was very tall (over 6'), most people in the 18th Century were much shorter. Some people chose to sleep propped up on pillows, and required an even shorter bed.

And finally, the pillow. Basically used to support the head in comfort and alignment. In the 1700's they were generally stuffed with feathers, and covers embroidered with cross-stitch for decoration, including initials, flora or fauna. Women embroidered sheets and pillow casings as young girls, looking forward to their marriage, bringing their trousseau with them, a dowry of linens the bride would contribute to the home. Often kept at the foot of the bed in a Hope Chest. From the simple, or whimsical to the very grand, they were the finishing touch to any proper bedroom!

 

18th Century Mid-Set: How different are we, really?!

This week, there was an article regarding the 21st Century Mind-Set, the views and observations of those in college right now, due to graduate in 2016. It's incredible how things change, and what things are considered in or out or all-together obsolete. Below is a sampling:

1) They have always lived in cyberspace, addicted to "electronics".
2) Robert De Niro is thought of as Greg Focker's father-in-law, not Vito Corleone.
3) Bill Clinton is a senior statesman, of who they have little knowledge.
4) Biblical terms like "forbidden fruit" have no meaning.
5) They have never held an airplane "ticket".
6) They live in a world of instant stardom with self-proclaimed celebrities.


I'm sure it was true for the 18th Century young person as well. There must have been things that were passe, things that were la mode, au currant.
I remember for one example, the story about Georgiana, the Duchess of Devonshire (1757 - 1808) meeting Charles Fox (1749-1806) a Whig member of Parliament, noted as an anti-slavery campaigner and supporter of the French Revolution. He was a particular advocate of religious tolerance and individiual liberty. The Duchess met him in 1777. He was quite the celebrity, speaking 5 languages, frittering away a fortune as he went partying!

Georgiana became a political groupie of sorts, following him to rallies, and even going so far as wearing clothing that mimiced him and his political ideas. She went so far as to wear a fox tail on her hat!


Regarding medicine and healing, in 1700 many believed that scrofula, a form of tubercular infection, could be healed by a monarch's touch. Today, I can imagine if one touches one of the Royals or famous celebrity or pseudo-celebrity, they may not be healed, but they certainly might feel a surge of excitement, a momentary glow of "I'm part of the in-crowd!"

The wealthy ran to Bath, outside of London, for water cures and big, public dances. Drinking spa water, or bathing in the hot springs was supposed to be a cure all. Today, The glitterati love to visit places like the Golden Door for treatments ranging from mud baths, hot stone applications to colonics, gluten-free foods, fish pedicures (where tiny, hungry fish eat away calluses). Of course, today no one would be caught dead drinking tap water. Heaven forbid!

We may have cel phones and Ipads these days, and beware keeping them too long, and showing them out of style. Then, communications was just as important, though by small hand-written note, delivered immediately or at least as soon as possible. And, the general salon where you could hear the latest gossip. I remember in Amadeus, Mozart exclaiming, "Come on now, be honest! Which one of you wouldn't rather listen to his hairdresser than Hercules?" You can imagine that today, Wolfie would probably love to turn on TMZ or catch PerezHilton.com.

Dressed to Kill!

Before 1740, the British Royal Navy had no established uniforms for its officers and sailors. Those in command typically wore the clothing of the upper class with wig and sword, denoting their station in life. There were only three shipboard ranks: Captain, Lieutenant and Master. Actually, in the Middle Ages, the Master ran the ship, and the Captain and Lieutenant were brought on board to oversee the military who were placed there during war or for military action.

Over time, though, more ranks emerged, and the captain took command of all. Under him, then came the Midshipman, rank established in 1758, who was an officer "candidate". Eventually, if they did their duty, and distinguished themselves, they got a ship of their own and commensary pay.  The Master became a warrant officer, commissioned by the Crown.

Uniform regulations for naval officers formally were established in 1748 by Lord Anson, with two categories of dress: "Best Uniform" with embroidered blue coat with white facings worn unbuttoned with white breeches and stockings, and then the "working rig" which was more simple with less embroidery.
By 1797, the epaulette was introduced, further denoting rank.

Standing officers were those who were permanently assigned to a ship who maintained, repaired and kept up the vessel. They had access to the quarterdeck, and wore uniforms, but were not part of the shipboard elite.

The rest of the ship's company was comprised of petty officers and seamen. Petty officers had a specific trade, and the general seaman was the sailor who was sometimes pressed into service. Seamen kept the watch. The final lowly rank was that of cabin boy, around 8-12 years of age, performing duties such as servant to an officer, mess attendant, or even (poor thing) powder monkey. Not only a dirty job, but dangerous as well.

In 2006, I visited the Greenwich Royal Museums just down The Thames outside of London proper. It's a great place with exhibits including the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Naval College, the Greenwich Observatory. In the Maritime Museum, there was a wonderful exhibit entitled "Dressed To Kill" which featured many of the Royal Navy uniforms from the 18th Century, with all their decorative splendor. There were many little dressing room doors, which you opened, and saw a mannequin displayed within, donning the uniform of a particular rank. I have looked high and low for the exhibit catalogue (I did not get it then), and now it is nearly impossible to acquire, unless you are willing to spend, no kidding, about $1,200 for it today (new) or a meazly $300 (used)! I should have bought it then!

Anyway, I was lucky to see Lord Nelson's "best uniform" and was surprised to see that physically he was a smaller man, though extremely tall in stature. He is England's greatest military hero!

Let the Games Begin!

The Olympic Games are over, and there's a bit of a void now for me. I really enjoyed the Games. Some sports I enjoy more than others, but once the various competitions are on, you can't help get into the spirit of the thing. One of my favorites was the Marathon, not only for its long-distance challenge, but the tour of London along the way! Brilliant!

This morning, I decided to look up sports in the 18th Century. I found that cricket and horse-racing go way back, actually to the 1600's, but what was very interesting, and new to me, were the Cotswold Olimpick Games, an annual public demonstration of sport etablished in 1612. They actually have continued to present day, but back in the day, they were organized by Robert Dover, with the approval of King James. They continued quite awhile, and then, as things generally go without great supervision and order, became a free-for-all of sorts, with drunk and disorderly conduct. They were disbanded, reinstiuted in the latter 1600's for a bit, then once again in the 1700's.

In 1719, James Figg became the first bare-knuckle boxing champion in England. By the 1700's, the Games included horse-back riding, running, jumping, dancing, sledge-hammer throwing, sword-fighting and wrestling. Also, booths were set up for games of chess and cards! The Games were thought to promote health, and physical exercise deemed necessary to defend the Kingdom. It was also thought it was a chance for rich and poor to mingle in "social harmony". They took place on Dover's Hill, in Chipping Campden in Gloucestershire. There was food aplenty for the gentry, and yellow ribbons pinned to hats or worn around arms, legs or neck for decoration.

                                                                                                                                                   The poet Nicholas Wallington wrote that:                                                                                                                                         He [Dover] spares no cost; this also doth afford
To those that sit at any board.
None ever hungry from these Games come home,
Or e'er made plaint of viands, or of room.^[

By 1740, the Games were known as Dover's Meeting, with wrestling contests where competitors wore heavily-nailed boots and employed shin-kicking into the sport. Ouch! By 1750, women were enrolled in a horse race. The Games were performed over a long weekend.

I have followed sports since I was a small child, sitting with my Dad in front of the television, or in a stadium, to watch a World Series, a Super Bowl, a Wimbledon Championship, and of course, the Olympics. I always remember my Dad, a consumate sports-lover, saying that "Sports are truth in motion!" And it's true, they take place where it can be anybody's day to shine. You never know the outcome until it happens, and then you celebrate a bit, but when it's over, it's over. You realize it was the getting there that holds the real excitement!

And so I look forward now to Sochi and the Winter Olympics 2014. May they be as satisfying as the London Games.

Take the Long Way Home

With my trip to London pending, and all the recent buzz about London and the Olympics on television every day, I have been thinking about how easy it is (finances excluded) to get across the pond! If you've got the money and the time, it really only takes about 10 hours of flying time - non-stop!

But it was not always so! I was watching "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" last night, and I just love the part when Walter Raleigh tells the Queen of his voyages to the New World, sailing for months across the ocean, nothing else in sight, and then one day you might possibly see a faint line, a stain on the horizon. You may hope, dare to dream that you see LAND! Clive Owens' delivery is breath-taking!

Sailors had a very difficult time finding their way across the seas, an almost impossible time not getting lost, were it not for the stars and the moon. There are no other points of reference, and so without the sextant, you were doomed. A degree wrong could have you, over the long haul, miles and miles away from your destination.
But, then one day, there was JOHN HARRISON, a self-educated English clock maker, who invented the marine chronometer! This ingenious and all-important device was the key to solving the problem for accurately establishing longitude at sea, which revolutionized the possibility of safely crossing long distances over the water!

Of course, before Harrison, there was Amerigo Vespucci and then Galileo, but they were more absorbed in theory. By the 18th Century, however, there were several tremendous disasters at sea due to errors in reckoning. One of the worst featured the loss of four ships of the British Naval fleet in 1707. Motivated by this terrible tragedy, the British goverment established a prize, through the Board of Longitude, awarded to the first person who could solve the problem!

Harrison was rewarded in 1773, but chronometers continued to be very expensive to produce, and the lunar method hung on for years. Actually it was not until the 20th Century that the wireless telegraph put an end to the watching and calculating from the moon. Also, as there is no natural starting point for longitude, a reference had to be established. While most countries established there own capital city as the reference, it was not until 1884 that the International Meridian Conference chose Greenwich in London as THE point for reference for the world. It is the universal prime or zero point of longitude.

I have stood on that line in Greenwich, and put one foot on one side, one foot on the other. I had the world at my feet!

A Diaphanous Departure!

My friend at http://dressedintime.blogspot.com recently invited me to participate along with her at an upcoming Civil War re-enactment. She is extremely particular about authenicity in costume, which spurred me on to study and learn as well, before I go ahead, crank out what I think is an 1860's gown, complete with zipper, velcro and synthetic fabric!! ha ha!

And so, last night, I was looking through some Civil War history books, as well as a wonderful "history of fashion" book I have had for too many years, published in 1966. Dress is shown mostly chronologically, ending with the current "hippie"/Carnaby Street fashion. Some geometric dresses, some Courreges! Wow! That's over 40 years ago now.

Anyway, while I was thumbing through, I noticed a marvelous, if not scandalous, painting of Madame Recamier, painted by Francoise Gerard  in 1802. The painting now hangs in the Musee Carnavalet in Paris, though not the Louvre. Her dress is the Chemise, which must have been quite liberating in response to the trussed up look of the day. It was an homage to the "grecque",  and the obsession with the classical. Her gown is very diaphanous, quite revealing, and a shawl replaces the structured jacket. Notice she wears no shoes and no voluminous wig! Ah!   A sigh of relief.

She was born Jeanne Francois Julie Adelaide in Lyons in 1777. Her father was a banker. She was married at age 15 to a man three times her age, a wealthy banker named Jacque Recamier. She was considered the beauty of the age, and she hosted men of genius, literature and politics at their lovely home. Again, another portrait (1800) by Jacque Louis David pictured on a chaise lounge is the painting the Louvre is honored to have.

Her husband was ruined by Napoleon's financial policies, and after his death, she left Paris. She died of cholera at the age of 71. She had gone blind before that time.

But, while she was at the height of her exquisite beauty, she has left us with the suggestion that true beauty needs very little other adornment.

Tick, Tock, Tick Tock

I love watches! I have many of them, some fancy, some utilitarian, and some as part of a collection of timepieces that I have purchased from various museums as a momento of favorite art exhibits. These are not valuable, but they remind me of wonderful excursions and happy hours.
And then, I have a wonderful old gold antique pocket watch that I was reminded of recently during the course of a particular conversation. It is a Waltham, Hunter-style, with delicate hands, and a marvelous sweep second hand in its own dial. Its cover has a floral design with tiny bird all rendered in various colors of gold (pink, yellow and even a rather green hue). It was given to me by my family many Christmases ago, so it is a treasured piece. I gather it is from the mid-to late 1800's, as in doing some research, I find that the pocket watch that we generally recognize was not manufactured until then.

The first mention of a "pocket clock"can be found in  some correspondence dating November 1462 in Italy, and by the 15th Century, Peter Henlein, a master locksmith of Nuremburg began manufacturing the small personal watch, spring-driven, called the Nuremburg Egg (at left), in 1524! German, of course!!

By the 1700's, a great advance in technology allowed for better time keeping, with the verge or crown wheel escapement, a mechanism that controlled the rate of advancing the hands in an orderly and "timely" manner. This is where the Tick, Tick, Tick of the workings comes from!!This verge  (shown below) made the development of all-mechanical clocks possible!

The first American pocket watches with machine parts were made by Henry Pitkin in the 1830's. Then there was Waltham, or the American Waltham Company. My Waltham is an American watch.

And then, there are the "Jewels". They are usually made from ruby or sapphire, though sometimes diamonds, garnet or even glass. They are shaped like discs with a hole in the middle. the pivot part of the watch rides in these holes, that act like bearings, providing an extremely smooth surface for the parts to move, resisting friction, and assisting with accuracy.

When pocket or personal watches first came on the scene, they were for the affluent. You really can't image a farmer in the countryside running the daily workings of his farm by taking out his watch, and remarking, "Oh, by jove, it's time to feed the cows!" Rather, he waited on the dawning of the sun, or the rising of the moon to mark the hours.

But for the privileged who could whip out their golden watch from a fob hanging from a satin waistcoat, it probably looked rather impressive, "Oh, by jove, it's time for tea!"