Etiquette & Manners is something often discussed on some of my of the writer loops I belong to as they pertain to the 19th century. Through Google books I've found a great source of books regarding such topics. Below is a list ordered by the year they were published. I've gathered this resource list over the past two years from Google Books. Hope it helps you in your search for proper behavior in the time period of your setting.
1832 Domestic Manners of the Americans
1835 Pencil Sketches
1837 The Young Lady's Friend
1839 Miss Leslie's Behavior Book
1842 Elegant Extracts
1843 Etiquette or, A Guide to The Usages of Society with a Glance at Bad Habits
1854 Etiquette Social Ethics and the Curtiousy of Society
1854 The Behavior Book
1860 The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manners
1860 The Hand Book of Etiquette
1866 Marine's Sensible Letter Writer
1868 Manners or Happy Homes
1870 Good Manners a Manual of Ediquette
1872 The Ladie's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness
1873 The Gentlemen's Book of Etiquette and Manual of Politeness
1884 Don't: A Manual of Mistakes and Improprieties More or Less
1888 Manners
1889 American Etiquette and Rules of Politeness
1889 Perfect Etiquette or How to Behave in social...
1892 Etiquette An Answer to the Riddle, When? Where? How?
1896 Social Etiquette or Manners and Customs of Polite Society
1897 Manners for Men
1897 Practical Letter Writing
1899 Twenty Letters in Letter Writing and Business
Showing posts with label 1868. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1868. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 11, 2017
Wednesday, March 29, 2017
English Sparrows
I stumbled upon this little tidbit while reading a history of Essex, MA.
In 1873 English sparrows began to make their presence known here about this year--probably the progeny of those imported into Boston. It was believed that they would benefit agriculturists by destroying ravaging insects, but they did not fulfill expectations, and were soon declared worthless.
In 1889 "The English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in North America" was published. According to their research the English Sparrow was brought to America via Brooklyn, NY. Eight pairs. They were released into the wilds in the Spring of 1851. Several trips to England were made for these birds and during the last delivery some escaped in Boston. Ten years later (1868) the English Sparrow was seen regularly in the Boston Commons.
In 1873 English sparrows began to make their presence known here about this year--probably the progeny of those imported into Boston. It was believed that they would benefit agriculturists by destroying ravaging insects, but they did not fulfill expectations, and were soon declared worthless.
In 1889 "The English Sparrow (Passer domesticus) in North America" was published. According to their research the English Sparrow was brought to America via Brooklyn, NY. Eight pairs. They were released into the wilds in the Spring of 1851. Several trips to England were made for these birds and during the last delivery some escaped in Boston. Ten years later (1868) the English Sparrow was seen regularly in the Boston Commons.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Household Pets 1868
Hi all,
Below is an excerpt from "Manners: or, Happy Homes and Good Society all the year round," by Mrs. Hale, regarding household pets. The passage is quite long, the humor is in the account of the various pets in the author's home.
The small wood-tortoise will be found to be one of the best, safest, and most convenient pets for little boys. Children always long to handle a pet; and they can do so here, without risk either to themselves or the object of their affections. We shall have more to say on this point later.
Our aquarium has had a large population; but, as in the world of humanity, few individuals have risen to particular distinction. Fishes are monotonous pets ; still it is pleasant to see an aquarium, with its variety of life, * and very little care is needed to make the pets comfortable. The chief pleasure to the owners of this " watercolony " is in replenishing it; and one might well envy the happiness of our May, when she comes home with her wealth of snails, bugs, tadpoles, and dragon-flies.
The glory of our aquarium has departed. Only fishes, gold and silver, remain, with one eel and two lizards. During the past winter, this eel lay concealed under the pebbles and gravel at the bottom of the aquarium; but at the call, or rather whistle, of pater familias or May, this " water-snake" would wriggle itself up and out, eager to get the little rolls of meat held in the hands of its friends, even thrusting its long head above water to seize its food.
We have had a large collection also of birds, canaries, paroquets, ring-doves, and a mocking-bird. The paroquets were a novelty at first, and made a grand sensation at the end of their career. May had set her heart upon a parrot, and pater familias promised to bring her one from Brazil; but the fleet was ordered home suddenly while lying at Monte Video, where only the larger kind of paroquets abound, and the result was that May had two paroquets instead of one parrot. We all tried to love and praise these birds, and to persuade May that they were beauties.
Their color was beautiful, — green all over, in different tints, from the softest spring green of grass and opening leaves, to the dark shade of the closing summer foliage; and then their brotherly love (they seemed like brothers) * was more beautiful than their colors. Nestled closely side by side, as their habit was, with their necks crossed together, like green ribbons to be tied in a knot, they were indeed lovely.
At first they were very quiet; but, as time went on, their vocal powers developed. They did not talk; but oh, when they opened their beaks, what a volume of strange sounds those green throats could pour forth !
Unfortunately for our peace, a piano in full practice was within hearing of our paroquets. They listened and learned, and, after some time, began, on their own resources, a performance which none who heard can ever forget. It was as if every chord in music had broken loose, every quaver gone distracted, every semi-tone become a grand crash. This caused laughter at first; but, as the unearthly din went on day by day, even our steadfast patience with pets gave way, and we hailed the escape of one of them from the window, and exchanged the other for a pair of ring-doves; and thus ended the farce of the paroquets. May has never since coveted a parrot.
The ring-doves proved stupid as dunces, rarely opening their beaks except to eat, and then sitting with stuffed crops, seemingly asleep. Nobody thought these would fly away, but they did. Dunces are usually discontented; neither birds nor people are happy who have no resources within themselves.
Our mocking-bird was a female, and therefore could not be expected to sing; but, as it was a present from
May's uncle, General , who was among the early
magnates of the war at the South, and brought the bird from Port Royal, we all prized it exceedingly. Mockingbirds, however, should never be confined pets. Their nature requires space and freedom. Poor Dixie ! Every feather in its plumage seemed to quiver with its longings for liberty. One of her tricks excited much amusement.
When we said, " Hurrah for General ! " teaching her
to know, by a particular motion of the hand, she would fly round and round the cage, like a whirligig, always watching our hand, and ceasing when we ceased to cheer and wave.
One bitter cold night the furnace went out, and Dixie's little life went out with it. She was buried in the garden, beneath frozen turf, but May's warm heart gave her a "fficjacet."
Of the beast kind, our guinea-pigs were a nuisance, the mice pests, and the gray rabbits not much better. But Bunny, our white rabbit, was Fay's particular treasure. Bunny was well trained, and would stand on his hind legs, and hold up his paws for food. He would come at call, and lick your hand, — " kissing " Fay calls it, — and be very innocently winning.
In appearance and habits, this Angora species of rabbit seems to unite the distinctive qualities of several animal tribes, — laps milk like a kitten, nibbles grass like.a sheep, browses like a goat, and loves sweets like a bear; he plays like a lamb, leaps like a kangaroo, and has, like that strange animal, long hind legs and strong tail to assist his bounds; whiskers like a cat, ears like a donkey, fur white and soft as the ermine, and eyes that, in some gleams of light, shine like rubies.
In short, we cannot but wonder where the rationalistic philosophy would place the " development" of our Bunny, and from what class of animal life he can claim to have been "evolved." Probably the learned Herbert Spencer would himself rank these queries among " The unknowable."
Among our domestic favorites the most distinguished is a very small English terrier, black and tan color, pure blooded and thorough bred, one of the most perfect specimens of doghood to be found in petdom. Mio belongs to May; but we all feel that "Mio" means mine, and so all claim a share in loving him. Mio's reverence as well as affection is certainly given to the pater familias, who — softly be it said — is as fond of pets as any of us children, old or young, can be. So Mio is pampered and petted, and leads a useless life, except that he gives much pleasure to the household. His own happiness would be complete, but for one fault; he will bark when gentlemen come in, and then he is scolded. This wounds his feelings, especially if the reproof comes from his master. Then tears gather in Mio's eyes, — veritable tears, tears that sometimes fall; and his whole manner is so humble and pleading, that you could not but forgive him had he bitten you. We should add that he admires ladies more than gentlemen, and rarely barks at a lady dressed in black.
Our sketch is growing long; but we cannot close without a notice of Tip, the only reptile we ever petted. This little turtle was given to May, as one of the waterspecies, for her aquarium: it was kept three years among the fishes. While there it was only known as the "snapping turtle," and deserved its name. It snapped up and ate or killed bugs, snails, the insects of all kinds, and even the little fishes. It was the ogre of the aquarium: though its shell was not larger than might have been covered by a silver dollar, it seemed ,so fierce we were all afraid to touch it lest it should bite.
At length it was discovered accidentally, that this turtle could live out of water,—indeed, seemed to like the change, and became more gentle in its nature. May was glad to be freed from such a destructive in her aquarium, and gave it to little Carolus who had been longing for a pet of his own ; but, as he could not take care of it, both boy and pet came under grandmamma's protection; and so we had a reptile to instruct.
The first thing was to give it a name; and Tippecanoe, shortened to Tip, was chosen. The first lesson was to teach this name. We have heen often asked about the process; the best illustration may be gathered from " Molly Dumpling's" way of " calling spirits from the vasty deep ;" that is, calling for her drowned lover and his drowned dog: —
" Oh ! tearfully she trod the hall,
And 1 Thomas !' cried, with many a sob ;
And thrice on Bobtail did she call,
Repeating sweetly, ' Bob ! Bob ! Bob !'"
There's the secret; repetition, "sweetly." Fix your eye (" sweetly ") on your pet's eye, and thus chain his attention ; then repeat the name (" sweetly") till the lesson is learned. This will be much sooner, probably, than you expect.
" Tip " soon knew his own name, and we then went further. We placed him upon our hand, extending the arm, saying, repeatedly, " Come, ' Tip,' come, if you love me;" and the little creature would run up the extended arm, and nestle at our throat. This feat he refused to perform with any other member of the family, although always ready to come to them when they called his name. But, alas! " Tip" proved himself unworthy the confidence reposed in him, and grieved us all by wandering away and getting lost. His place was then supplied by two little turtles, named " Tip" and " Tina," to which they responded when called, but never developed the intelligence shown by our old favorite.
Carolus has now a wood-turtle named "Terry," who seems to enjoy its new life upon carpeted floors and amidst the luxuries of civilization. We know little of his powers as yet, but trust much the effect of the two great tamers and civilizers, — kindness and love. We find our opinion in this matter confirmed in a charming little work which has lately appeared, " The Chronicles of a Garden, its Pets and its Pleasures," by Miss Wilson, niece of Dr. Wilson, who seems to have a large experience in pet-life. She says, —
"The great secret of training and attaching animals seems to be kindness and quietness, and a certain sort of friendly intercourse with them, which, perhaps, is only understood by those to the manner born. All teasing them, even in fun, should be avoided, if you wish them to trust you and be gentle. There are individual exceptions in every species; but there are few exceptions, either among quadrupeds or birds, that will not soon get attached to the person who feeds them; but they are frequently far more attached to the individual who understands them, and keeps up a quiet, friendly intercourse with them.
" Unless this sort of' rapport' is established between us and our pets, they are (to my mind) hardly worthy of the name: they degenerate into ' captive animals,' and can neither give pleasure to others nor be made happy themselves."
Below is an excerpt from "Manners: or, Happy Homes and Good Society all the year round," by Mrs. Hale, regarding household pets. The passage is quite long, the humor is in the account of the various pets in the author's home.
The small wood-tortoise will be found to be one of the best, safest, and most convenient pets for little boys. Children always long to handle a pet; and they can do so here, without risk either to themselves or the object of their affections. We shall have more to say on this point later.
Our aquarium has had a large population; but, as in the world of humanity, few individuals have risen to particular distinction. Fishes are monotonous pets ; still it is pleasant to see an aquarium, with its variety of life, * and very little care is needed to make the pets comfortable. The chief pleasure to the owners of this " watercolony " is in replenishing it; and one might well envy the happiness of our May, when she comes home with her wealth of snails, bugs, tadpoles, and dragon-flies.
The glory of our aquarium has departed. Only fishes, gold and silver, remain, with one eel and two lizards. During the past winter, this eel lay concealed under the pebbles and gravel at the bottom of the aquarium; but at the call, or rather whistle, of pater familias or May, this " water-snake" would wriggle itself up and out, eager to get the little rolls of meat held in the hands of its friends, even thrusting its long head above water to seize its food.
We have had a large collection also of birds, canaries, paroquets, ring-doves, and a mocking-bird. The paroquets were a novelty at first, and made a grand sensation at the end of their career. May had set her heart upon a parrot, and pater familias promised to bring her one from Brazil; but the fleet was ordered home suddenly while lying at Monte Video, where only the larger kind of paroquets abound, and the result was that May had two paroquets instead of one parrot. We all tried to love and praise these birds, and to persuade May that they were beauties.
Their color was beautiful, — green all over, in different tints, from the softest spring green of grass and opening leaves, to the dark shade of the closing summer foliage; and then their brotherly love (they seemed like brothers) * was more beautiful than their colors. Nestled closely side by side, as their habit was, with their necks crossed together, like green ribbons to be tied in a knot, they were indeed lovely.
At first they were very quiet; but, as time went on, their vocal powers developed. They did not talk; but oh, when they opened their beaks, what a volume of strange sounds those green throats could pour forth !
Unfortunately for our peace, a piano in full practice was within hearing of our paroquets. They listened and learned, and, after some time, began, on their own resources, a performance which none who heard can ever forget. It was as if every chord in music had broken loose, every quaver gone distracted, every semi-tone become a grand crash. This caused laughter at first; but, as the unearthly din went on day by day, even our steadfast patience with pets gave way, and we hailed the escape of one of them from the window, and exchanged the other for a pair of ring-doves; and thus ended the farce of the paroquets. May has never since coveted a parrot.
The ring-doves proved stupid as dunces, rarely opening their beaks except to eat, and then sitting with stuffed crops, seemingly asleep. Nobody thought these would fly away, but they did. Dunces are usually discontented; neither birds nor people are happy who have no resources within themselves.
Our mocking-bird was a female, and therefore could not be expected to sing; but, as it was a present from
May's uncle, General , who was among the early
magnates of the war at the South, and brought the bird from Port Royal, we all prized it exceedingly. Mockingbirds, however, should never be confined pets. Their nature requires space and freedom. Poor Dixie ! Every feather in its plumage seemed to quiver with its longings for liberty. One of her tricks excited much amusement.
When we said, " Hurrah for General ! " teaching her
to know, by a particular motion of the hand, she would fly round and round the cage, like a whirligig, always watching our hand, and ceasing when we ceased to cheer and wave.
One bitter cold night the furnace went out, and Dixie's little life went out with it. She was buried in the garden, beneath frozen turf, but May's warm heart gave her a "fficjacet."
Of the beast kind, our guinea-pigs were a nuisance, the mice pests, and the gray rabbits not much better. But Bunny, our white rabbit, was Fay's particular treasure. Bunny was well trained, and would stand on his hind legs, and hold up his paws for food. He would come at call, and lick your hand, — " kissing " Fay calls it, — and be very innocently winning.
In appearance and habits, this Angora species of rabbit seems to unite the distinctive qualities of several animal tribes, — laps milk like a kitten, nibbles grass like.a sheep, browses like a goat, and loves sweets like a bear; he plays like a lamb, leaps like a kangaroo, and has, like that strange animal, long hind legs and strong tail to assist his bounds; whiskers like a cat, ears like a donkey, fur white and soft as the ermine, and eyes that, in some gleams of light, shine like rubies.
In short, we cannot but wonder where the rationalistic philosophy would place the " development" of our Bunny, and from what class of animal life he can claim to have been "evolved." Probably the learned Herbert Spencer would himself rank these queries among " The unknowable."
Among our domestic favorites the most distinguished is a very small English terrier, black and tan color, pure blooded and thorough bred, one of the most perfect specimens of doghood to be found in petdom. Mio belongs to May; but we all feel that "Mio" means mine, and so all claim a share in loving him. Mio's reverence as well as affection is certainly given to the pater familias, who — softly be it said — is as fond of pets as any of us children, old or young, can be. So Mio is pampered and petted, and leads a useless life, except that he gives much pleasure to the household. His own happiness would be complete, but for one fault; he will bark when gentlemen come in, and then he is scolded. This wounds his feelings, especially if the reproof comes from his master. Then tears gather in Mio's eyes, — veritable tears, tears that sometimes fall; and his whole manner is so humble and pleading, that you could not but forgive him had he bitten you. We should add that he admires ladies more than gentlemen, and rarely barks at a lady dressed in black.
Our sketch is growing long; but we cannot close without a notice of Tip, the only reptile we ever petted. This little turtle was given to May, as one of the waterspecies, for her aquarium: it was kept three years among the fishes. While there it was only known as the "snapping turtle," and deserved its name. It snapped up and ate or killed bugs, snails, the insects of all kinds, and even the little fishes. It was the ogre of the aquarium: though its shell was not larger than might have been covered by a silver dollar, it seemed ,so fierce we were all afraid to touch it lest it should bite.
At length it was discovered accidentally, that this turtle could live out of water,—indeed, seemed to like the change, and became more gentle in its nature. May was glad to be freed from such a destructive in her aquarium, and gave it to little Carolus who had been longing for a pet of his own ; but, as he could not take care of it, both boy and pet came under grandmamma's protection; and so we had a reptile to instruct.
The first thing was to give it a name; and Tippecanoe, shortened to Tip, was chosen. The first lesson was to teach this name. We have heen often asked about the process; the best illustration may be gathered from " Molly Dumpling's" way of " calling spirits from the vasty deep ;" that is, calling for her drowned lover and his drowned dog: —
" Oh ! tearfully she trod the hall,
And 1 Thomas !' cried, with many a sob ;
And thrice on Bobtail did she call,
Repeating sweetly, ' Bob ! Bob ! Bob !'"
There's the secret; repetition, "sweetly." Fix your eye (" sweetly ") on your pet's eye, and thus chain his attention ; then repeat the name (" sweetly") till the lesson is learned. This will be much sooner, probably, than you expect.
" Tip " soon knew his own name, and we then went further. We placed him upon our hand, extending the arm, saying, repeatedly, " Come, ' Tip,' come, if you love me;" and the little creature would run up the extended arm, and nestle at our throat. This feat he refused to perform with any other member of the family, although always ready to come to them when they called his name. But, alas! " Tip" proved himself unworthy the confidence reposed in him, and grieved us all by wandering away and getting lost. His place was then supplied by two little turtles, named " Tip" and " Tina," to which they responded when called, but never developed the intelligence shown by our old favorite.
Carolus has now a wood-turtle named "Terry," who seems to enjoy its new life upon carpeted floors and amidst the luxuries of civilization. We know little of his powers as yet, but trust much the effect of the two great tamers and civilizers, — kindness and love. We find our opinion in this matter confirmed in a charming little work which has lately appeared, " The Chronicles of a Garden, its Pets and its Pleasures," by Miss Wilson, niece of Dr. Wilson, who seems to have a large experience in pet-life. She says, —
"The great secret of training and attaching animals seems to be kindness and quietness, and a certain sort of friendly intercourse with them, which, perhaps, is only understood by those to the manner born. All teasing them, even in fun, should be avoided, if you wish them to trust you and be gentle. There are individual exceptions in every species; but there are few exceptions, either among quadrupeds or birds, that will not soon get attached to the person who feeds them; but they are frequently far more attached to the individual who understands them, and keeps up a quiet, friendly intercourse with them.
" Unless this sort of' rapport' is established between us and our pets, they are (to my mind) hardly worthy of the name: they degenerate into ' captive animals,' and can neither give pleasure to others nor be made happy themselves."
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Oh Little Town of Bethlehem
In honor of Christmas Day and the location of Jesus' birth place I thought this 19th century hymn was very appropriate. Phillip Brooks wrote this in 1868. Three years after being inspired and overwhelmed by a visit to Bethlehem.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Have a blessed and merry Christmas this year.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary,
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep, the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth!
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of his heaven.
No ear may hear his coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child,
Where misery cries out to thee,
Son of the mother mild;
Where charity stands watching
And faith holds wide the door,
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,
And Christmas comes once more.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel!
Have a blessed and merry Christmas this year.
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
19th Century Photography
Wikipedia has a great overview of the history of the camera. There are a few dates that should be noted for those of us who write historical fiction.
In 1839 the first commercially produced camera, a Daguerreotype Giroux was sold.
1840 an American Chamfered daguerreian was made
Daguerrotypes are shown at the Great Exhibit in London in 1851 by 1853 New York Daily Tribune estimates that in the US 3 million daguerrotypes are being produced yearly.
The first studio that took portrait shots opened in 1853 in Paris.
In 1854 a boom of portrait studios worldwide over the next decade.
1859 a panoramic camera was invented.
1861-1865 Civil War is photographed by Mathew Brady and staff creating 7000 negatives.
Color Photography is introduced to the world in 1868
Eastman sets up Dry Plate Company in 1880
In 1887 a detective camera was patented by Eastman.
1888 First Kodak camera containing 20 foot roll of paper.
1889 first Kodak camera containing film
1900 Brownie camera introduced.
And behind every camera there is a photographer. I stumbled on this page and thought it might be helpful as well. It is a list of 19th century photographers, along with the dates they were in operation and where. Wikipedia has a great overview of the history of the camera. There are a few dates that should be noted for those of us who write historical fiction.
In 1839 the first commercially produced camera, a Daguerreotype Giroux was sold.
1840 an American Chamfered daguerreian was made
Daguerrotypes are shown at the Great Exhibit in London in 1851 by 1853 New York Daily Tribune estimates that in the US 3 million daguerrotypes are being produced yearly.
The first studio that took portrait shots opened in 1853 in Paris.
In 1854 a boom of portrait studios worldwide over the next decade.
1859 a panoramic camera was invented.
1861-1865 Civil War is photographed by Mathew Brady and staff creating 7000 negatives.
Color Photography is introduced to the world in 1868
Eastman sets up Dry Plate Company in 1880
In 1887 a detective camera was patented by Eastman.
1888 First Kodak camera containing 20 foot roll of paper.
1889 first Kodak camera containing film
1900 Brownie camera introduced.
And behind every camera there is a photographer. I stumbled on this page and thought it might be helpful as well. It is a list of 19th century photographers, along with the dates they were in operation and where.
In 1839 the first commercially produced camera, a Daguerreotype Giroux was sold.
1840 an American Chamfered daguerreian was made
Daguerrotypes are shown at the Great Exhibit in London in 1851 by 1853 New York Daily Tribune estimates that in the US 3 million daguerrotypes are being produced yearly.
The first studio that took portrait shots opened in 1853 in Paris.
In 1854 a boom of portrait studios worldwide over the next decade.
1859 a panoramic camera was invented.
1861-1865 Civil War is photographed by Mathew Brady and staff creating 7000 negatives.
Color Photography is introduced to the world in 1868
Eastman sets up Dry Plate Company in 1880
In 1887 a detective camera was patented by Eastman.
1888 First Kodak camera containing 20 foot roll of paper.
1889 first Kodak camera containing film
1900 Brownie camera introduced.
And behind every camera there is a photographer. I stumbled on this page and thought it might be helpful as well. It is a list of 19th century photographers, along with the dates they were in operation and where. Wikipedia has a great overview of the history of the camera. There are a few dates that should be noted for those of us who write historical fiction.
In 1839 the first commercially produced camera, a Daguerreotype Giroux was sold.
1840 an American Chamfered daguerreian was made
Daguerrotypes are shown at the Great Exhibit in London in 1851 by 1853 New York Daily Tribune estimates that in the US 3 million daguerrotypes are being produced yearly.
The first studio that took portrait shots opened in 1853 in Paris.
In 1854 a boom of portrait studios worldwide over the next decade.
1859 a panoramic camera was invented.
1861-1865 Civil War is photographed by Mathew Brady and staff creating 7000 negatives.
Color Photography is introduced to the world in 1868
Eastman sets up Dry Plate Company in 1880
In 1887 a detective camera was patented by Eastman.
1888 First Kodak camera containing 20 foot roll of paper.
1889 first Kodak camera containing film
1900 Brownie camera introduced.
And behind every camera there is a photographer. I stumbled on this page and thought it might be helpful as well. It is a list of 19th century photographers, along with the dates they were in operation and where.
Friday, November 11, 2016
Memorial Day
Memorial day originally started as Decoration day in the 1867 but was officially proclaimed in 1868 by Gen. John A. Logan.
Here's a link with a brief history Memorial Day History
Google Books also has a viewable document of "The National Memorial Day" ©1870 that gives a detail of the services for Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally to recognize Union troops who fought in the Civil War. It wasn't until 1898 and President McKinley delivered a speech in GA that urged the US government to take care of Confederate graves. In 1900 Arlington National Cemetery began this process, a much needed event in the reconciliation of the North & South.
Today is actually Armistice Day but that didn't happen until Nov. 11, 1918.
Here's a link with a brief history Memorial Day History
Google Books also has a viewable document of "The National Memorial Day" ©1870 that gives a detail of the services for Memorial Day
Memorial Day was originally to recognize Union troops who fought in the Civil War. It wasn't until 1898 and President McKinley delivered a speech in GA that urged the US government to take care of Confederate graves. In 1900 Arlington National Cemetery began this process, a much needed event in the reconciliation of the North & South.
Today is actually Armistice Day but that didn't happen until Nov. 11, 1918.
Thursday, November 10, 2016
Shooting Stars
Below is an article from Harper's Magazine ©1868. The science during the 19th century was developing regarding stars, meteors and shooting stars. I became interested in the science of that century while researching my novel, Raining Fire. The 1833 Lenoids meteor shower was so profound at that time that it was nicked name "The Night it Rained Fire." This article is over 30 years from that event and the information they learned/observed at that point in time is quite interesting, imho.
SHOOTING-STARS, DETONATING.METEORS, AND AEROLITES.
By ELIAS LOOMIS, Professor Yale College.
EVERY one has occasionally seen upon a clear evening a small bright object, in appearance very much like a fixed star, move rapidly across the sky and suddenly disappear, as if a star were shot away from its place in the firmament to a distant region of the heavens. This phenomenon is commonly known by the name of " Shooting-star," or "Falling Star." Occasionally the path of a shooting-star is marked by a luminous stream which continues for an appreciable time after the star has vanished. Shooting-stars may occasionally be seen on every clear night, and at times follow each other so rapidly that it is quite impossible to count them.
Ordinary shooting-stars are not accompanied by any audible sound, although they are sometimes seen to break into pieces. Occasionally meteors of extraordinary brilliancy, like globes of fire, presenting an apparent diameter of considerable magnitude, are succeeded by a loud detonation or explosion, followed by a noise like that of musketry or the discharge of cannon These have been called "Detonating Meteors" or "Bolides."
No solid body has been known to reach the earth's surface which could be traced to an ordinary shooting-star; but occasionally solid substances descend to the earth from beyond the earth's atmosphere. These bodies are called "Aerolites." These three classes of bodies are known by the general term of "Meteors." It is convenient to speak of these classes separately, although it is not supposed that they differ from each other essentially either in their character or their origin.
Shooting-stars are not seen with equal frequency at all hours of the night. They generally increase in numbers from the evening twilight throughout the night until the morning twilight; and when the light of day does not interfere, they are generally most numerous about six o'clock in the morning. From a comparison of a vast number of observations it has been ascertained that the average number of shooting-stars which may be seen by a single observer upon a clear night, in the absence of the moon, about the middle of the evening, is four per hour; about midnight it is six per hour; about two o'clock in the morning it is eight per hour; and about four o'clock it is ten per hour.
In order, however, that an individual maysee so large a number he must observe, not from an open window, much less through a pane of glass, but he must stand in the open air where the view of the sky is entirely unobstructed, and he must devote his exclusive attention to a constant watch of the heavens. Upon a cool night such exposure is far from agreeable, and few persons are willing long to persevere in it.
Professor Newton of Yale College has made extensive investigations to determine the relative number of shooting-stars which may he seen in a given period by different numbers of observers. For this purpose twelve observers were stationed upon the top of a tower from which there was an unobstructed view of the heavens, and they were intended to be so arranged as to divide the sky equally amonj; them. Whenever a meteor was seen, each person perceiving it called out his own name, and a secretary entered the names of the observers upon a record. These observations were continued for several hours. From n comparison of these records it has been concluded that four persons, looking toward difl'erent portions of the heavens so ns to divide the' sky symmetrically among them, will see three times as many meteors as the average number seen by them individually; eight persons will see four times as many as one; and fifteen observers will see five times as many as one. The entire number of meteors which might be seen by a sufficient number of observers is about six times as many as would be seen by a single observer. The reason that four persons will not sec four times as many meteors as one person is that two of them will frequently see the same meteor.
Combining these results with those previously stated we conclude that the nverago number of meteors that traverse the ntmosphcre, and that are large enough to be visible to the naked eye, if the sun, moon, and clouds would permit, is forty-two in an hour, or one thousand daih/.
Shooting-stars are not seen with equal frequency at all seasons of the year. From July to December they are more abundant than during the other six months of the year; and they are ordinarily most abundant in the month of August.
If two observers, at a suitable distance from each other, note the npparent altitude and azimuth of a shooting-star at the commencement of its flight, and do the same also for its termination, they have the data for computing the absolute height of beginning and end above the surface, of the earth. The earliest observations of this kind were made in 171)8 by Benzenberg and Brandes in Germany, and since that time similar observations have been made in mamparts of Europe, us well as in the United States. Such observations were made nt New Haven, Hartford, Williamstown, Wolcottville, Albany, etc., on the night of August 10-11, 18(53; at Washington and Philadelphia on the night of November 13-14, 1868; and again on the 13-Hth of November, 1807, such observations were made at Washington, Richmond, NewHaven, and several other places. It has been ascertained that when the base line employed is only three or four miles in length a shooting
star is seen in nearly the same direction at both stations, showing that its altitude is much greater than the length of that base. When the base line is 30 or 40 miles, the average difference of the directions of the star at the two stations is about fifteen degrees. The base line should not be less than 40 or .10 miles in length, and one of 75 or 100 miles would not be too great. Observers at distances of over 150 miles from each other see for the most part different shooting-stars.
The heights of over 500 meteor paths have been computed, and we thus learn that shooting-stars begin to be visible* at elevations of from 40 to 120 miles, and perhaps sometimes 150 miles, or an average height of 74 English statute miles. They disappear at elevations of from 30 to 80 miles, and perhaps sometimes 100 miles or more, giving an average height at disappearance of 52 English statute miles.
The length of the visible path of shootingstars varies from 40 to 100 miles, though in a few cases they have been found to be even 300 nnd 400 miles long—the average length being 28 miles. The time of describing the visible path varies from less than one second to five seconds, and in some rare cases amounts to ten seconds; but their average duration is less than one second. The average duration of meteors whose brightness exceeds that of stars of the first magnitude is estimated at one and a half seconds. Their velocity relative to the earth's surface varies from 10 to 45 miles per second, and the average velocity of the blighter class of shooting-stars amounts to about 30 miles per second.
Shooting-stars are seen to move in all directions through the heavens. Their apparent paths are, however, general!} inclined downward, though sometimes they move upward; and after midnight they come in the greatest numbers from that quarter of the heavens toward which the earth is moving in its annual course around the siin.
The magnitude of shooting-stars is very variable. Some of them have been computed to have a diameter of 100 or 200 feet, and others 1000 up to 5000 or 0000 feet. We must, however, regard this as the diameter of the blaze of light which surrounds the meteor, while the meteor itself before it takes fire may have a diameter of only a few feet, or perhaps only a fraction of an inch. The apparent size of meteors is greatly magnified by irradiation.
l'rofessor Darkness has undertaken an elaborate investigation to estimate the qnantity of matter in shooting-stars by means of the light evolved during their-passage through the atmosphere, and he concludes that the mass of ordinary shooting-stars does not differ greatly from one grain ; that is,_/b«r hundred awl eighty ofthem would weigh ou/y one ounce at the surface of the earth.
Occasionally shooting-stars appear in great splendor, flashing with a brightness nearly equal to that of the full moon, and leaving behind them a train of dazzling light, which lasts for several seconds, and even for whole minutes. Their color is usually white, with a reddish tinge; but occasionally they exhibit a green light, and sometimes a mixture of green and blue or purple. Even quite faint shootingstars Bometimesjeave trains. Fig. 1 represents a remarkable meteor seen in June, 1866.
The path of shooting-stars is frequently curved; sometimes the path consists of two portions inclined to each other at a considerable angle; and at last the meteor sometimes hursts like a rocket into numerous fragments. In such cases the place of explosion is usually indicated by a smoky cloud, which sometimes continues visible for ten minutes. Fig. 2 represents a meteor seen in 1850, which was followed by a long train of light, and which exploded emitting a large number of scintillating radiations.
Observers frequently imagine that they hear a whizzing noise accompanying the passage of a brilliant meteor. It may be easily proved that such impressions are an illusion. When we compute the path of the meteor from which the sound was supposed to proceed, we always find that it was quite distant from the observer, frequently 40 or 50 miles, and sometimes 100 miles. Now sound is known to move with a velocity of 1120 feet per second, or 50 miles in about four minutes. If, then, any noise was caused by the motion of the meteor, the sound could not possibly be heard until a considerable time after the meteor disappeared, viz., two, five, or even ten minutes, according to its distance.
The light of shooting-stars is probably due to the high temperature resulting from the resistance of the atmosphere to the rapid motion of the meteor. Since at the ordinary elevation of shooting-stars the air is exceedingly rare, some have supposed that the resistance would not develop sufficient heat to give meteors their brilliant appearance. The researches of modern philosophers have enabled us to compute the quantity of heat that may be developed by the stoppage of a meteor in the atmosphere. A portion of the living force of the body is expended in setting the air in motion, and a portion in heating the meteor and the air. This living force, and the consequent heat that maybe developed, is proportioned to the mass of the body and to the square of its velocity. The arresting the motion of an iron meteor whose velocity is thirty miles per second would, if the whole living force were changed into heat, be sufficient to raise the temperature of the meteoric body more than four million degrees of Fahrenheit's scale. If even the larger part of this force was expended in giving motion to the air, there would remain enough to furnish a brilliant light and to melt the exterior portion of the meteor, or entirely to disintegrate it. Aerolites, such as will be hereafter described, always present a peculiar appearance upon the exterior, an if the outer crust had suffered partial fusion, and many of them when first discovered have still been quite hot.
The mean distance of shooting-stars from the observer is found to be about 105 miles, and the average height above the earth of the middle points of their paths is 63 miles. Hence the mean horizontal distance of the paths may be regarded as about 90 miles. It is estimated that the number of shooting-stars actually falling within a circle of 90 miles radius is somewhat greater^han the number seen at one place. The area of this circle is contained nearly 8000 times in the entire surface of the globe; whence we conclude that the number of shooting-stars over the whole earth is more than eight thousand times the number visible at one place.
The average daily number of shooting-stars visible to the naked eye at one place has already been stated at 1000. Hence the average number of meteors that traverse the atmosphere daily, and that are large enough to be visible to the naked eye, if the sun, moon, and clouds would permit, must be more than a thousand times eight thousand, or more than eight millions.
The observations of two European astronomers indicate that the number of meteors visible with, a telescope of four inches aperture is about forty times the number visible to the naked eye. A further increase of optical power would doubtless reveal a still larger number of these small bodies. Hence we must conclude that the source from which these meteors come is of immense extent, otherwise it would long since have been exhausted.
The quantity of matter in these bodies is, however, so small, and their distance from each other so great, that they exert no appreciable influence upon the motion of the planets. It is computed that the average distance from each other of shooting-stars, such as under favorable circumstances would be visible to the naked eye, is about three hundred miles.
Having determined the velocity and direction of a meteor's path with reference to the earth, and knowing also the direction and velocity of the earth's motion about the sun, we can compute the direction and velocity of the meteor's motion with reference to the sun. This computation has been made for several different meteors, and has shown that these bodies, before they approached the earth, were revolving about the sun in ellipses of considerable eccentricity. In some instnnces the velocity has been found to be so great as to indicate that the path differed little from a parabola.
It is thus demonstrated that ordinary shooting-stars are small meteoric bodies, moving through space in paths*similar to the comets: and it is probable that they do not differ miiterially from the comets except in their dimensions, and perhaps also in their density.
SHOOTING-STARS, DETONATING.METEORS, AND AEROLITES.
By ELIAS LOOMIS, Professor Yale College.
EVERY one has occasionally seen upon a clear evening a small bright object, in appearance very much like a fixed star, move rapidly across the sky and suddenly disappear, as if a star were shot away from its place in the firmament to a distant region of the heavens. This phenomenon is commonly known by the name of " Shooting-star," or "Falling Star." Occasionally the path of a shooting-star is marked by a luminous stream which continues for an appreciable time after the star has vanished. Shooting-stars may occasionally be seen on every clear night, and at times follow each other so rapidly that it is quite impossible to count them.
Ordinary shooting-stars are not accompanied by any audible sound, although they are sometimes seen to break into pieces. Occasionally meteors of extraordinary brilliancy, like globes of fire, presenting an apparent diameter of considerable magnitude, are succeeded by a loud detonation or explosion, followed by a noise like that of musketry or the discharge of cannon These have been called "Detonating Meteors" or "Bolides."
No solid body has been known to reach the earth's surface which could be traced to an ordinary shooting-star; but occasionally solid substances descend to the earth from beyond the earth's atmosphere. These bodies are called "Aerolites." These three classes of bodies are known by the general term of "Meteors." It is convenient to speak of these classes separately, although it is not supposed that they differ from each other essentially either in their character or their origin.
Shooting-stars are not seen with equal frequency at all hours of the night. They generally increase in numbers from the evening twilight throughout the night until the morning twilight; and when the light of day does not interfere, they are generally most numerous about six o'clock in the morning. From a comparison of a vast number of observations it has been ascertained that the average number of shooting-stars which may be seen by a single observer upon a clear night, in the absence of the moon, about the middle of the evening, is four per hour; about midnight it is six per hour; about two o'clock in the morning it is eight per hour; and about four o'clock it is ten per hour.
In order, however, that an individual maysee so large a number he must observe, not from an open window, much less through a pane of glass, but he must stand in the open air where the view of the sky is entirely unobstructed, and he must devote his exclusive attention to a constant watch of the heavens. Upon a cool night such exposure is far from agreeable, and few persons are willing long to persevere in it.
Professor Newton of Yale College has made extensive investigations to determine the relative number of shooting-stars which may he seen in a given period by different numbers of observers. For this purpose twelve observers were stationed upon the top of a tower from which there was an unobstructed view of the heavens, and they were intended to be so arranged as to divide the sky equally amonj; them. Whenever a meteor was seen, each person perceiving it called out his own name, and a secretary entered the names of the observers upon a record. These observations were continued for several hours. From n comparison of these records it has been concluded that four persons, looking toward difl'erent portions of the heavens so ns to divide the' sky symmetrically among them, will see three times as many meteors as the average number seen by them individually; eight persons will see four times as many as one; and fifteen observers will see five times as many as one. The entire number of meteors which might be seen by a sufficient number of observers is about six times as many as would be seen by a single observer. The reason that four persons will not sec four times as many meteors as one person is that two of them will frequently see the same meteor.
Combining these results with those previously stated we conclude that the nverago number of meteors that traverse the ntmosphcre, and that are large enough to be visible to the naked eye, if the sun, moon, and clouds would permit, is forty-two in an hour, or one thousand daih/.
Shooting-stars are not seen with equal frequency at all seasons of the year. From July to December they are more abundant than during the other six months of the year; and they are ordinarily most abundant in the month of August.
If two observers, at a suitable distance from each other, note the npparent altitude and azimuth of a shooting-star at the commencement of its flight, and do the same also for its termination, they have the data for computing the absolute height of beginning and end above the surface, of the earth. The earliest observations of this kind were made in 171)8 by Benzenberg and Brandes in Germany, and since that time similar observations have been made in mamparts of Europe, us well as in the United States. Such observations were made nt New Haven, Hartford, Williamstown, Wolcottville, Albany, etc., on the night of August 10-11, 18(53; at Washington and Philadelphia on the night of November 13-14, 1868; and again on the 13-Hth of November, 1807, such observations were made at Washington, Richmond, NewHaven, and several other places. It has been ascertained that when the base line employed is only three or four miles in length a shooting
star is seen in nearly the same direction at both stations, showing that its altitude is much greater than the length of that base. When the base line is 30 or 40 miles, the average difference of the directions of the star at the two stations is about fifteen degrees. The base line should not be less than 40 or .10 miles in length, and one of 75 or 100 miles would not be too great. Observers at distances of over 150 miles from each other see for the most part different shooting-stars.
The heights of over 500 meteor paths have been computed, and we thus learn that shooting-stars begin to be visible* at elevations of from 40 to 120 miles, and perhaps sometimes 150 miles, or an average height of 74 English statute miles. They disappear at elevations of from 30 to 80 miles, and perhaps sometimes 100 miles or more, giving an average height at disappearance of 52 English statute miles.
The length of the visible path of shootingstars varies from 40 to 100 miles, though in a few cases they have been found to be even 300 nnd 400 miles long—the average length being 28 miles. The time of describing the visible path varies from less than one second to five seconds, and in some rare cases amounts to ten seconds; but their average duration is less than one second. The average duration of meteors whose brightness exceeds that of stars of the first magnitude is estimated at one and a half seconds. Their velocity relative to the earth's surface varies from 10 to 45 miles per second, and the average velocity of the blighter class of shooting-stars amounts to about 30 miles per second.
Shooting-stars are seen to move in all directions through the heavens. Their apparent paths are, however, general!} inclined downward, though sometimes they move upward; and after midnight they come in the greatest numbers from that quarter of the heavens toward which the earth is moving in its annual course around the siin.
The magnitude of shooting-stars is very variable. Some of them have been computed to have a diameter of 100 or 200 feet, and others 1000 up to 5000 or 0000 feet. We must, however, regard this as the diameter of the blaze of light which surrounds the meteor, while the meteor itself before it takes fire may have a diameter of only a few feet, or perhaps only a fraction of an inch. The apparent size of meteors is greatly magnified by irradiation.
l'rofessor Darkness has undertaken an elaborate investigation to estimate the qnantity of matter in shooting-stars by means of the light evolved during their-passage through the atmosphere, and he concludes that the mass of ordinary shooting-stars does not differ greatly from one grain ; that is,_/b«r hundred awl eighty ofthem would weigh ou/y one ounce at the surface of the earth.
Occasionally shooting-stars appear in great splendor, flashing with a brightness nearly equal to that of the full moon, and leaving behind them a train of dazzling light, which lasts for several seconds, and even for whole minutes. Their color is usually white, with a reddish tinge; but occasionally they exhibit a green light, and sometimes a mixture of green and blue or purple. Even quite faint shootingstars Bometimesjeave trains. Fig. 1 represents a remarkable meteor seen in June, 1866.
The path of shooting-stars is frequently curved; sometimes the path consists of two portions inclined to each other at a considerable angle; and at last the meteor sometimes hursts like a rocket into numerous fragments. In such cases the place of explosion is usually indicated by a smoky cloud, which sometimes continues visible for ten minutes. Fig. 2 represents a meteor seen in 1850, which was followed by a long train of light, and which exploded emitting a large number of scintillating radiations.
Observers frequently imagine that they hear a whizzing noise accompanying the passage of a brilliant meteor. It may be easily proved that such impressions are an illusion. When we compute the path of the meteor from which the sound was supposed to proceed, we always find that it was quite distant from the observer, frequently 40 or 50 miles, and sometimes 100 miles. Now sound is known to move with a velocity of 1120 feet per second, or 50 miles in about four minutes. If, then, any noise was caused by the motion of the meteor, the sound could not possibly be heard until a considerable time after the meteor disappeared, viz., two, five, or even ten minutes, according to its distance.
The light of shooting-stars is probably due to the high temperature resulting from the resistance of the atmosphere to the rapid motion of the meteor. Since at the ordinary elevation of shooting-stars the air is exceedingly rare, some have supposed that the resistance would not develop sufficient heat to give meteors their brilliant appearance. The researches of modern philosophers have enabled us to compute the quantity of heat that may be developed by the stoppage of a meteor in the atmosphere. A portion of the living force of the body is expended in setting the air in motion, and a portion in heating the meteor and the air. This living force, and the consequent heat that maybe developed, is proportioned to the mass of the body and to the square of its velocity. The arresting the motion of an iron meteor whose velocity is thirty miles per second would, if the whole living force were changed into heat, be sufficient to raise the temperature of the meteoric body more than four million degrees of Fahrenheit's scale. If even the larger part of this force was expended in giving motion to the air, there would remain enough to furnish a brilliant light and to melt the exterior portion of the meteor, or entirely to disintegrate it. Aerolites, such as will be hereafter described, always present a peculiar appearance upon the exterior, an if the outer crust had suffered partial fusion, and many of them when first discovered have still been quite hot.
The mean distance of shooting-stars from the observer is found to be about 105 miles, and the average height above the earth of the middle points of their paths is 63 miles. Hence the mean horizontal distance of the paths may be regarded as about 90 miles. It is estimated that the number of shooting-stars actually falling within a circle of 90 miles radius is somewhat greater^han the number seen at one place. The area of this circle is contained nearly 8000 times in the entire surface of the globe; whence we conclude that the number of shooting-stars over the whole earth is more than eight thousand times the number visible at one place.
The average daily number of shooting-stars visible to the naked eye at one place has already been stated at 1000. Hence the average number of meteors that traverse the atmosphere daily, and that are large enough to be visible to the naked eye, if the sun, moon, and clouds would permit, must be more than a thousand times eight thousand, or more than eight millions.
The observations of two European astronomers indicate that the number of meteors visible with, a telescope of four inches aperture is about forty times the number visible to the naked eye. A further increase of optical power would doubtless reveal a still larger number of these small bodies. Hence we must conclude that the source from which these meteors come is of immense extent, otherwise it would long since have been exhausted.
The quantity of matter in these bodies is, however, so small, and their distance from each other so great, that they exert no appreciable influence upon the motion of the planets. It is computed that the average distance from each other of shooting-stars, such as under favorable circumstances would be visible to the naked eye, is about three hundred miles.
Having determined the velocity and direction of a meteor's path with reference to the earth, and knowing also the direction and velocity of the earth's motion about the sun, we can compute the direction and velocity of the meteor's motion with reference to the sun. This computation has been made for several different meteors, and has shown that these bodies, before they approached the earth, were revolving about the sun in ellipses of considerable eccentricity. In some instnnces the velocity has been found to be so great as to indicate that the path differed little from a parabola.
It is thus demonstrated that ordinary shooting-stars are small meteoric bodies, moving through space in paths*similar to the comets: and it is probable that they do not differ miiterially from the comets except in their dimensions, and perhaps also in their density.
Wednesday, November 2, 2016
Taxes
There was no annual Federal Income Tax in the 19th century but the folks of that century still had to pay taxes. Here's a brief sketch of some of the taxes.
1812 because of the cost of the War of 1812 the nation's first income taxes were paid. Gold, silverware, jewelry and watches.
1817 did away with taxes and started to rely on tariffs on imported goods.
1862 Congress enacted the first income tax law
1862 Commissioner of Internal Revenue established.
1868 Congress enacted a tobacco and Spirits tax
1872 Eliminated the Income Tax law
1894-1895 Income tax returned
1895 Supreme Court decided the tax unconstitutional
1812 because of the cost of the War of 1812 the nation's first income taxes were paid. Gold, silverware, jewelry and watches.
1817 did away with taxes and started to rely on tariffs on imported goods.
1862 Congress enacted the first income tax law
1862 Commissioner of Internal Revenue established.
1868 Congress enacted a tobacco and Spirits tax
1872 Eliminated the Income Tax law
1894-1895 Income tax returned
1895 Supreme Court decided the tax unconstitutional
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
1868 Fashions
This is taken from Arthur's Home Magazine ©1868
Below is an example of two dresses from Jan issue of that same year.
FASHIONS
FURNISHED BY MME. DEMOREST FOR THE HOME MAGAZINE.
No. 1.—MAPONAIRE SUIT. No. 2.—LACROSSE DRESS.
No. 1.—A young lady's carriage or walking suit of Humboldt purple Biarritz cloth. Double jupe, both gored so as to be without fulness at the top. The lower one is trimmed with satin bands stitched upon each edge, and satin buttons. The upper jupe is festooned at each side with a pyramid of cloth bound with satin and studded with buttons. The basque is fancifully shaped, attached to a "sntin zone, and finished at the bottom with embroidered points. The basque, body, and sleeves are trimmed with satin bands and buttons. Duchesse bonnet of gray royal velvet, trimmed with purple pansies; gray tulle Duchesse veil and satin ties. Purple cloth boots.
No. 2—This is appropriate for a young lady as an attire for school or a walking dress. It is made of mosaic cloth, and trimmed with dark blue velvet, cross-barred upon the skirt about a foot in width. A basket bodice is formed upon the waist; the wrists of the sleeves are also trimmed. A little satchel of cloth, ornamented with velvet, is attached to the riant side of the body by a mosaic button. Mosaic buttons down the front of the w»i»t Bonnet of blue velvet, with a small coron«t of blue satin; velvet ties, and cluster of frosted roses at the ear.
Below is an example of two dresses from Jan issue of that same year.
FASHIONS
FURNISHED BY MME. DEMOREST FOR THE HOME MAGAZINE.
No. 1.—A young lady's carriage or walking suit of Humboldt purple Biarritz cloth. Double jupe, both gored so as to be without fulness at the top. The lower one is trimmed with satin bands stitched upon each edge, and satin buttons. The upper jupe is festooned at each side with a pyramid of cloth bound with satin and studded with buttons. The basque is fancifully shaped, attached to a "sntin zone, and finished at the bottom with embroidered points. The basque, body, and sleeves are trimmed with satin bands and buttons. Duchesse bonnet of gray royal velvet, trimmed with purple pansies; gray tulle Duchesse veil and satin ties. Purple cloth boots.
No. 2—This is appropriate for a young lady as an attire for school or a walking dress. It is made of mosaic cloth, and trimmed with dark blue velvet, cross-barred upon the skirt about a foot in width. A basket bodice is formed upon the waist; the wrists of the sleeves are also trimmed. A little satchel of cloth, ornamented with velvet, is attached to the riant side of the body by a mosaic button. Mosaic buttons down the front of the w»i»t Bonnet of blue velvet, with a small coron«t of blue satin; velvet ties, and cluster of frosted roses at the ear.
Saturday, August 13, 2016
Gold
Below is a picture taken from page 30 of Houghtaling's Handbook. It's the high and low of the value of gold for each month over a sixteen year period. Since many write historical novels during that time period I thought it might be of value to some of you.
Here's the link to an enlarged image of the page. Link
Here's the link to an enlarged image of the page. Link
Friday, December 4, 2015
1868 New Books
Below is a list of new books that were reviewed in the 1868 Peterson Magazine's January issue. Each of these books were listed as a "New Book" however, I found some had earlier copyright dates. Also, being a January edition to see an 1867 date makes sense. I've attached links to as many of the books as possible for you to see what your characters might have been reading during those days. Enjoy!
The Guardian Angel by Oliver Wendell Holmes This volume is a later volume but the same book.
Shamrock & Thistle by Oliver Optic
Rienzi by Lord Lytton Google books has an earlier publishing date but I believe it comes from the text of the story not the actual publishing date since it was a new book in Peterson 1868.
Widow Spriggins, Mary Elmer and other sketches by Mrs. F. M. Whitaker (This book doesn't have a link in Google books or on the web but is mentioned in many publications.
A Book About Lawyers by J. C. Jefferson (Again no link in Google books or on the web.)
Silcole of Silcoles by Henry Kingsley
The Child's Own Book of Standard Fairy Tales
Circe or Three Acts in the life of an Artist by Babington White
Birds of Prey by Miss Braddon
Modern Palmistry by A. R. Craig M.A. (No link)
Malcolm's Cottage & Malcolm's Friend by Mrs. J. McNair Wright (no links but books are available by this author in Amazon)
Breaking Away by Oliver Optic
On the Wing by Nellie Eryster
The Child's Illustrated Book of Natural History by Duffield Ashmead (Not in Google's Free books but you still might be able to access it.)
It Isn't Right by Mrs. Joseph Lamb (This has an earlier publishing date than 1868 but it was listed in Peterson Magazine.
Crocked & Straight by Mrs. Maratha E. Berry (I was unable to find an online copy. You can pay to have a book printed of this title but all free copies are no longer available on the Internet.)
The Tenants of Malory by J. S. Le Fann
The Guardian Angel by Oliver Wendell Holmes This volume is a later volume but the same book.
Shamrock & Thistle by Oliver Optic
Rienzi by Lord Lytton Google books has an earlier publishing date but I believe it comes from the text of the story not the actual publishing date since it was a new book in Peterson 1868.
Widow Spriggins, Mary Elmer and other sketches by Mrs. F. M. Whitaker (This book doesn't have a link in Google books or on the web but is mentioned in many publications.
A Book About Lawyers by J. C. Jefferson (Again no link in Google books or on the web.)
Silcole of Silcoles by Henry Kingsley
The Child's Own Book of Standard Fairy Tales
Circe or Three Acts in the life of an Artist by Babington White
Birds of Prey by Miss Braddon
Modern Palmistry by A. R. Craig M.A. (No link)
Malcolm's Cottage & Malcolm's Friend by Mrs. J. McNair Wright (no links but books are available by this author in Amazon)
Breaking Away by Oliver Optic
On the Wing by Nellie Eryster
The Child's Illustrated Book of Natural History by Duffield Ashmead (Not in Google's Free books but you still might be able to access it.)
It Isn't Right by Mrs. Joseph Lamb (This has an earlier publishing date than 1868 but it was listed in Peterson Magazine.
Crocked & Straight by Mrs. Maratha E. Berry (I was unable to find an online copy. You can pay to have a book printed of this title but all free copies are no longer available on the Internet.)
The Tenants of Malory by J. S. Le Fann
Friday, April 10, 2015
Moving the Hen House
I stumbled on this tidbit and could see all kinds of possibilities for my characters to run into trouble or have a bonding experience when moving chickens. When I was young my father and I raised chickens. We did not move our coup but when we had a season of no chickens the weeds grew over ten feet tall in the penned in area from all the manure. So when I stumbled over this I thought it was extremely practical. Enjoy!
Movable fowl-houses are used exclusively, with the exception of some large ones for hatching-rooms. By building small, light, and low, with strong sills made on purpose for runners, the houses may be moved every spring by an ordinary team, to the section tilled the previous summer. The distance traveled in transferring 100 fowl-houses, from one 6O-acre lot to_ another, is one-third of a mile for each building, and back with no load. The amount of labor is much less than would be involved in hauling the manure, mixed with dry earth, from the buildings. The moving is acoomplished systematically; the fowls belonging to a building being all moved in one flock in a large box made on purpose, in which they are quietly entrapped when attempting to leave their house in the morning by placing it adjoining, after which the box is darkened and drawn upon runners, on which it stands, to the new station. On arriving they are immediately allowed to escape into a spare house, shaped and colored like the one they left, placed before-hand, when they are ready to commence their day as usual, the whole operation of removal occupying only a few minutes.
Source: An Egg Farm ©1891
Referring to a "broody hen"
most hens will bear moving, nest and all, to a quiet place; but a great many will not like to be taken out of the chosen nest, and placed in another.
Source: Rural Life Described and Illustrated ©1868
Movable fowl-houses are used exclusively, with the exception of some large ones for hatching-rooms. By building small, light, and low, with strong sills made on purpose for runners, the houses may be moved every spring by an ordinary team, to the section tilled the previous summer. The distance traveled in transferring 100 fowl-houses, from one 6O-acre lot to_ another, is one-third of a mile for each building, and back with no load. The amount of labor is much less than would be involved in hauling the manure, mixed with dry earth, from the buildings. The moving is acoomplished systematically; the fowls belonging to a building being all moved in one flock in a large box made on purpose, in which they are quietly entrapped when attempting to leave their house in the morning by placing it adjoining, after which the box is darkened and drawn upon runners, on which it stands, to the new station. On arriving they are immediately allowed to escape into a spare house, shaped and colored like the one they left, placed before-hand, when they are ready to commence their day as usual, the whole operation of removal occupying only a few minutes.
Source: An Egg Farm ©1891
Referring to a "broody hen"
most hens will bear moving, nest and all, to a quiet place; but a great many will not like to be taken out of the chosen nest, and placed in another.
Source: Rural Life Described and Illustrated ©1868
Monday, February 2, 2015
Raspberry Recipes
Here are some recipes for raspberries that might prove to be helpful in some of your stories or your kitchen.
Raspberry Vinegar.—In a china bowl or jar, free from metallic glaze, steep three full pints of fine fresh gathered raspberries in one quart of best vinegar. Let them remain steeping three days, then strain through a flannel jelly bag, damped with plain vinegar, to prevent waste of the flavoured vinegar. The bag should be suspended over a stone jar, and left at least twelve hours to drain; but it should not be pressed, as this would injure the brightness of the liquor. To each pint of vinegar and juice allow one pound of good loaf sugar, powdered; stir it with a silver spoon, set the jar in ft copper or kettle of water, which is to be kept boiling. Stir frequently till the sugar is perfectly dissolved and taken up by the liquor, by which time it will have nearly or quite arrived at boiling heat. The jar may then be covered, and the water round it kept boiling for an hour, then remove the skum. When cold, put the liquor in bottles most carefully cleaned and dried. Cork very close, cut down the cork, and entirely cover with sealing wax or bottle cement. It has been usual to put in each bottle a ^lass of the best brandy, by way of preserving the liquor; but if due attention be paid to the foregoing particulars, that addition is by no means necessary.
The following method is rather more simple, and answers nearly as well. Through a fine hair sieve, or linen strainer, too fine to suffer the seeds to pass through, press any quantity of ripe, freshgathered raspberries. To every pint of the juice allow one pound of loaf sugar, powdered. Boil them together, as for jelly, from three-quarters of an hour to an hour, after actual boilmg. Pour into a bowl, either foreign china or stone ware, and immediately mix with the liquid jelly an equal quantity of distilled vinegar. When cold bottle as above, and keep m a cool place.
A very good substitute for raspberry vinegar is often prepared by dissolving raspberry jam, straining the juice, and mixing withthe latter an equal quantity of distilled vinegar. The fruit from which the juice is strained serves very well for present use in tarts.
The fruit pulp that remains m the jelly bag or the strainer may be made into raspberry cakes, by beating with an equal weight of fine loaf sugar, powdered. The longer it is beaten the better. Spread out on flat dishes or Dutch tiles. The thickness should not exceed a quarter of an inch. Dry in the sun; for this purpose a large flagstone in a sunny aspect, with a garden glass over the sweetmeats, answers exceedmgly well. When the top becomes dry, cut out with the lid of a canister or a small wine glass. Turn them on dry dishes, and again put in the influence of the sun. When quite dry, keep them shut m glass jars, or in tin boxes, with layers of white paper between. Keep in a dry cool place.
If raspberry cakes are not wanted, the fruit pulp, mixed with a little sugar, either loaf or fine moist, serves very well for use in tarts.
Source: Four Hundred Household Recipes ©1868
Raspberry Sauce
Raspberry.—1. Raspberry juice 1 pint, simple syrup 2 pints, solution of citric acid 2 drams. 2. First make a syrup with 36 pounds of white sugar and 10 gallons of water, and put it into a plain barrel; dissolve 34 pound of tartaric acid in 1 quart of cold water and add to the syrup; take 3% pound of orris root and pour over it 34 gallon of boiling water; let it infuse until cold, then filter and put it into the barrel, stirring it well.
Raspberry Shrub.—Place red £ in a stone jar, cover them with good cider vinegar and let stand over night. In the morning strain, and to each pint of juice, add 1 pint of Sugar; boil for 5 minutes, skim and let cool; then bottle and cork tightly.
Source: Lee's Priceless Recipes ©1895
RASPBERRY WATER ICE.
One pottle of raspberries, the juice of two lemons, half a pint of water, one pint of clarified sugar. Colour; freeze. One quart.
Source: The Ice Book ©1844
Note: Pottle is equal to 1/2 gallon
BAKED RASPBERRY PUDDING.
Butter a dish, and lay in a thick layer of raspberry jam, beat two ounces of sweet, and ten bitter almonds, take a cup of bread crumbs, a cup of sugar, and a cup of milk, which mix with the almonds and four beaten eggs; lastly add a £lb. of butter, slightly melted ; pour all over the jam, and bake with this dish, placed inside a larger baking dish, half full of water.
Source: Bonnes Bouches A Collection of Recipes ©1882
Raspberry Vinegar.—In a china bowl or jar, free from metallic glaze, steep three full pints of fine fresh gathered raspberries in one quart of best vinegar. Let them remain steeping three days, then strain through a flannel jelly bag, damped with plain vinegar, to prevent waste of the flavoured vinegar. The bag should be suspended over a stone jar, and left at least twelve hours to drain; but it should not be pressed, as this would injure the brightness of the liquor. To each pint of vinegar and juice allow one pound of good loaf sugar, powdered; stir it with a silver spoon, set the jar in ft copper or kettle of water, which is to be kept boiling. Stir frequently till the sugar is perfectly dissolved and taken up by the liquor, by which time it will have nearly or quite arrived at boiling heat. The jar may then be covered, and the water round it kept boiling for an hour, then remove the skum. When cold, put the liquor in bottles most carefully cleaned and dried. Cork very close, cut down the cork, and entirely cover with sealing wax or bottle cement. It has been usual to put in each bottle a ^lass of the best brandy, by way of preserving the liquor; but if due attention be paid to the foregoing particulars, that addition is by no means necessary.
The following method is rather more simple, and answers nearly as well. Through a fine hair sieve, or linen strainer, too fine to suffer the seeds to pass through, press any quantity of ripe, freshgathered raspberries. To every pint of the juice allow one pound of loaf sugar, powdered. Boil them together, as for jelly, from three-quarters of an hour to an hour, after actual boilmg. Pour into a bowl, either foreign china or stone ware, and immediately mix with the liquid jelly an equal quantity of distilled vinegar. When cold bottle as above, and keep m a cool place.
A very good substitute for raspberry vinegar is often prepared by dissolving raspberry jam, straining the juice, and mixing withthe latter an equal quantity of distilled vinegar. The fruit from which the juice is strained serves very well for present use in tarts.
The fruit pulp that remains m the jelly bag or the strainer may be made into raspberry cakes, by beating with an equal weight of fine loaf sugar, powdered. The longer it is beaten the better. Spread out on flat dishes or Dutch tiles. The thickness should not exceed a quarter of an inch. Dry in the sun; for this purpose a large flagstone in a sunny aspect, with a garden glass over the sweetmeats, answers exceedmgly well. When the top becomes dry, cut out with the lid of a canister or a small wine glass. Turn them on dry dishes, and again put in the influence of the sun. When quite dry, keep them shut m glass jars, or in tin boxes, with layers of white paper between. Keep in a dry cool place.
If raspberry cakes are not wanted, the fruit pulp, mixed with a little sugar, either loaf or fine moist, serves very well for use in tarts.
Source: Four Hundred Household Recipes ©1868
Raspberry Sauce
Raspberry.—1. Raspberry juice 1 pint, simple syrup 2 pints, solution of citric acid 2 drams. 2. First make a syrup with 36 pounds of white sugar and 10 gallons of water, and put it into a plain barrel; dissolve 34 pound of tartaric acid in 1 quart of cold water and add to the syrup; take 3% pound of orris root and pour over it 34 gallon of boiling water; let it infuse until cold, then filter and put it into the barrel, stirring it well.
Raspberry Shrub.—Place red £ in a stone jar, cover them with good cider vinegar and let stand over night. In the morning strain, and to each pint of juice, add 1 pint of Sugar; boil for 5 minutes, skim and let cool; then bottle and cork tightly.
Source: Lee's Priceless Recipes ©1895
RASPBERRY WATER ICE.
One pottle of raspberries, the juice of two lemons, half a pint of water, one pint of clarified sugar. Colour; freeze. One quart.
Source: The Ice Book ©1844
Note: Pottle is equal to 1/2 gallon
BAKED RASPBERRY PUDDING.
Butter a dish, and lay in a thick layer of raspberry jam, beat two ounces of sweet, and ten bitter almonds, take a cup of bread crumbs, a cup of sugar, and a cup of milk, which mix with the almonds and four beaten eggs; lastly add a £lb. of butter, slightly melted ; pour all over the jam, and bake with this dish, placed inside a larger baking dish, half full of water.
Source: Bonnes Bouches A Collection of Recipes ©1882
Tuesday, January 20, 2015
Private Detectives
Most historical writers are aware of the Pinkerton Detective Agency and the fictional tales of Sherlock Holmes. Both are from the 19th Century. Below are links and tidbits to other detective related stories and tidbits.
The Revelations of a Private Detective ©1868
Here's a copy of an advertisement for the above story with other detective stories listed.
Chapter Five of Major Joshua is a chapter on the life of the character as a private detective. 1894
Chapter Seven of Sealed Orders is the chapter on a private detective. 1886
Thirty Years A Detective by Allan Pinkerton ©1884
The Adventures of a United States Detective ©1876
Traced and Tracked; or Memoirs of a City Detective ©1884
Hands Up; Or Twenty Years a Detective ©1882
There are many more volumes you can find in Google books if you wish to search further and within your time frame.
The Revelations of a Private Detective ©1868
Here's a copy of an advertisement for the above story with other detective stories listed.
Chapter Five of Major Joshua is a chapter on the life of the character as a private detective. 1894
Chapter Seven of Sealed Orders is the chapter on a private detective. 1886
Thirty Years A Detective by Allan Pinkerton ©1884
The Adventures of a United States Detective ©1876
Traced and Tracked; or Memoirs of a City Detective ©1884
Hands Up; Or Twenty Years a Detective ©1882
There are many more volumes you can find in Google books if you wish to search further and within your time frame.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Cabins
In 19th Century literature you'll find several books, poems, etc. written with a cabin as a major focus. Below is a list with links to various resources. Something to keep in mind that during the 19th century a cabin was a single room structure.
The most common source would be Life at the South or more commonly known as Uncle Tom's Cabin ©1852
The Log Cabin ©1844
The Hunter's Cabin ©1862
Poor Paddy's Cabin ©1854
The Cabin in the Clearing & Other Pioneer Poems ©1868
The Cabin on the Prairie ©1869
The Mud Cabin ©1853 So this one is not fiction but uses the term with regard to the politics or how the author saw the politics of Britain at this time.
Of course a cabin can be more nautical in nature so we have The Cabin Boy's Story ©1854
Chronicles of Capstan Cabin ©1878
The Two Cabin Boys©1881
The Captain's Cabin ©1877
The most common source would be Life at the South or more commonly known as Uncle Tom's Cabin ©1852
The Log Cabin ©1844
The Hunter's Cabin ©1862
Poor Paddy's Cabin ©1854
The Cabin in the Clearing & Other Pioneer Poems ©1868
The Cabin on the Prairie ©1869
The Mud Cabin ©1853 So this one is not fiction but uses the term with regard to the politics or how the author saw the politics of Britain at this time.
Of course a cabin can be more nautical in nature so we have The Cabin Boy's Story ©1854
Chronicles of Capstan Cabin ©1878
The Two Cabin Boys©1881
The Captain's Cabin ©1877
Monday, May 26, 2014
Memorial Day
In 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War, Union Veterans declared a day for Memorial of those who fought. It wasn't until after WWI that Memorial Day began the recognition of all soldiers who fought.
There's an online book in Google books The National Memorial Day Which dates to 1870.
You can find other addresses given on Memorial Day during different years. Perhaps your characters are sitting in the audience during one of these addresses. Or perhaps they are crowd control, or could they be there because of a threat to one of the speakers?
Anyway, just a few thoughts, tidbits about how you might use this National Holiday correctly in your historical setting. Enjoy!
And if you're a veteran reading this post, thanks for your service. It means a lot to me.
There's an online book in Google books The National Memorial Day Which dates to 1870.
You can find other addresses given on Memorial Day during different years. Perhaps your characters are sitting in the audience during one of these addresses. Or perhaps they are crowd control, or could they be there because of a threat to one of the speakers?
Anyway, just a few thoughts, tidbits about how you might use this National Holiday correctly in your historical setting. Enjoy!
And if you're a veteran reading this post, thanks for your service. It means a lot to me.
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