#because he was 17 in 1907

[more-than-tender-curiosity]

Every time I remember that jordan’s literally 21 in this book I find a grey hair

[useless-catalanfacts]

The Catalan authors who were kept out of the Nobel Literature Prize for being Catalan

Did you know that there have been a handful of Catalan writers who were candidates to win the Nobel Literature Prize, but because of Spanish interference they never did?

The Nobel Prize discloses its debate and reasoning process 50 years after each edition. This means that we already know the details of what happened in the earliest editions of this Prize, which was started in 1901.

The name of the Catalan play-writer Àngel Guimerà (author of Marta of the Lowlands, Mar i cel, La filla del mar...), whose works have been translated to many languages and played all around Europe and the Americas, with many film and opera adaptations, sounded often in the Nobel committee. He was presented as a candidate to win the Nobel Prize 17 times in a row, since 1907 until his death in 1924. In the editions of 1917 and 1919, many were convinced he would win. However, the declassified documents show why he didn't: as written by the man who was then president of the Nobel Committee, Haralg Härne, Guimerà wasn't given the prize "to avoid hurting the national pride of the Spanish". In 1919, Härne writes that the objective of the Nobel Prize is to promote peace and thus to award Guimerà and show support for a minority culture would be to encourage internal conflict (🤦). The Academy decided that they couldn't give a prize to Guimerà "before awarding another writer who expresses himself in the most ancient noble language of the country" (weird way to mean "the official language", aka Spanish, because they surely didn't mean Basque). In summary, if a Catalan is to be considered, he must always be second to a Spanish man. Even when the Catalan is, in the words of the Nobel Academy, "the most eminent writer of our times", he can never be considered an equal, always must be behind.

Àngel Guimerà wrote in the Catalan language, which was discriminated against by Spanish and considered an enemy by the Spanish government and much of Spanish society. Guimerà was a firm defender of the right to use the Catalan language and that nobody should be forced to speak the imperial languages instead of their own, and was involved with the political movement for the rights of Catalan people. For this reason, every time the famous Swedish academy was considering Guimerà, the Spanish Royal Academy of Language (RAE) fought it with all its might. Nowadays, Guimerà's theatre plays continue to move thousands of spectators every year.

The same happened again with the poet Josep Carner. In the 1960s, Josep Carner was on exile, because he was a Catalan poet writing in Catalan and who stood against the fascist dictatorship of Spain, which persecuted the Catalan language and identity. Famous writers from around the world, including T. S. Eliot, François Mauriac, Giuseppe Ungaretti and Roger Caillois, supported Josep Carner's candidacy to win the Nobel, but the Spanish Government did everything possible to obstruct it. We don't know if Carner would have won or not, but he was deprived of even trying because of the Spanish government's hatred of Catalan.

Something similar seems to have happened between the 1970s and 1990s to three other Catalan poets: Salvador Espriu, J. V. Foix, and Miquel Martí i Pol, where they did not get any support from the Spanish authorities, so we don't know how it would have ended up.

Another example of what it means to have a state actively working against you because of bigotry against your cultural group.

Sources: book Det litterära Nobelpriset by the president of the Nobel Committee Kjell Espmarck, Pep Antoni Roig (El Nacional), Joan Lluís-Lluís (El Punt Avui), and Jordi Marrugat (Institut Ramon Llull).

[zanazirafanfic]

WIP Whenever (Remainder of 2024)

Here it is, my lovelies - the master (monster) list of every WIP from now through the end of the year. I'm listing them all in order, but am not including dates, because I SUCK at sticking to a schedule and it will only frustrate all of us.

I'm SO SORRY for how long it's taken me to finish both of these series, but I hope you all enjoy, and I look forward to a whumpy, Christmassy, Red Dead-filled remainder of 2024.

Happy holidays of all kinds, y'all!

01. Whumpcember Day 14: “Like A Drowned Rat" - Chapter 2, "An American Pastoral Scene." What should have been an easy job takes a sudden turn, leaving Arthur's life quite literally resting in the hands of the last person he would ever have wanted it to. Prompt: “Drowning”

02. 25DCC, Ch. 14: "Getting Snowed In” - 1896. Jake and Sadie Adler find ways to pass the time during their first blizzard together.

03. Whumpcember Day 15: "Cloghinne Winds" - 1907, post-Epilogue. Dutch is haunted by a ghost from his past he wishes he could forget. Prompt: "Hallucinating" (idea inspired by @tiredcowboyy)

04. Whumpcember Day 16: “Ringing A Bell” - Pre-canon/pre-John. Hosea takes a blow to the head during a robbery gone wrong; Dutch and Arthur are left to deal with the aftermath. Prompt: "Head Injury"

05. 25DCC, Ch. 15: “Icicles” + “Someone Spiked the Eggnog!” - 1910. A day of fun and frolicking in the snow in the MacGuire-Jones-O'Shea household, followed by a night of mischief and merriment (and eggnog.)

06. Whumpcember Day 17: “Where There’s Smoke” - Chapter 3, "Blood Feuds, Ancient and Modern." The raid on Braithwaite Manor goes just a little bit differently this time around, for both better and worse. Prompt: “Fire”

07. 25DCC, Ch. 16: “Family invited an old crush/first love to a dinner party.” - 1885. Dutch, Hosea, Susan, and the boys plan an early Christmas dinner, and a surprise guest arrives just in time to share in the merriment.

08. Whumpcember Day 18: “New Roles, Old Pains” - post-1907/pre-1911. While settling into his new life as a rancher, some old wounds remind John that while he may have escaped Dutch's gang with his life, he didn't escape unscathed. Prompt: "Chronic Pain"

09. Whumpcember Day 19: “Down To the Wick" - Chapter 3, post-BATPM. Unable to simply stand by and watch while Arthur withers away from infection, Sean decides he's going to help by shouldering Arthur's share of the work himself. It goes about as well as anyone would expect. Prompt: "Exhaustion"

10. 25DCC, Ch. 17: “Cuddling With Them” - 1910. After nursing Arthur through a nasty flu, Charles unsurprisingly comes down with it himself. He only ever wants one thing when he's not feeling well, and Arthur is only too happy to oblige.

11. Whumpcember Day 20:  "Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble" - While out on a hunting trip with Charles in the Grizzlies, Arthur samples a mysterious potion he found brewing in an abandoned shack - which, in hindsight, probably wasn't the smartest thing he's ever done. Prompt: "Drugged"

12. 25DCC, Ch. 18: “Big Hugs from Family” - 1903. Bill tries to hunt enough game for a big feast in honor of his first Christmas season with his two new partners. When he manages to get himself into trouble in the process, their reaction is not one he was expecting.

13. Whumpcember Day 21: "The Air That You Breathe" Chapter 4. Arthur hasn't forgotten the way Charles saved him from being nearly garrotted a few weeks back, and he knows that he'd return the favor in a heartbeat, if the tables were turned. But he had still hoped, for Charles's sake, that they never would be. Prompt: "Choking"

14. Whumpcember Day 22: "The Dose Makes the Poison" - RDR1, "You Shall Not Give False Testimony, Except for Profit." John's role as "random test subject" in Nigel West Dickens's latest money-making scheme is going perfectly to plan… until it isn't. Prompt: "Seizures"

15. 25DCC, Ch. 19: "First Christmas As A Couple/Family/Friend Group" - 1902. The Morgan-Smiths visit Tilly in Saint Denis. Arthur struggles between just being happy his little sister is happy, and wanting to put the fear of God into her new husband (just a little). Charles just hopes he doesn't have to try and break Arthur out of the Saint Denis jail again before the day is out, because he's pretty sure the officers still remember his face from last time. (for @photo1030)

16. Whumpcember Day 23: "Friendly Fire" Post-RDR2, Arthur Lives! AU. It's been years since the dissolution of Dutch's gang, longer still since Arthur's "vacation" with the O'Driscolls, but no matter how much time passes, some scars never fully fade. Charles finds this out the hard way. Prompt: "Nosebleed"

17. 25DCC, Ch. 20: "Happy Tears" - 1901. When Charles loses his mother's necklace during their travels, he's absolutely distraught; besides the photo taken when he was just a baby, it was the only possession of hers he still owned. Unable to stand seeing him so sad, Arthur uses every tracking skill Charles ever taught him to find it - and brings back a little something extra for good measure.

18. Whumpcember Day 24: "When the Bullet Hits the Bone" Pre-canon. The first time John gets shot is also the first time he and Arthur work a job without Dutch or Hosea, leaving it up to Arthur to get them both home and keep his brother in (mostly) one piece. Prompt: "Bullet"

19. 25DCC, Ch. 21: "Kissing Under the Mistletoe" + "Confessing A Crush When It's Snowing" - 1910. Lenny and Javier help their son prepare for a special date, before going on one of their own.

20. Whumpcember Day 25: "In This Borrowed Likeness of Shrunk Death" - pre-canon, 1877. Hosea, ever one for a bit of method acting, concocts a genius plan to make off with an entire horde of treasure from the mausoleum of a well-to-do family. The only downside is the trauma he inflicts on Dutch in the process. Oops. Prompt: "Coma"

21. 25DCC, Ch. 22: "Buying Last-Minute Gifts" - 1910. Abigail and John make a trip to Blackwater for some groceries, and bump into an old friend.

22. Whumpcember Day 26: "My Brother's Keeper" The Bell boys know better than to provoke their father when he's in one of his moods - that were one of the first things they learned, after Mama died and Daddy came to take them away with him. So why Amos picked tonight, when Junior is in one of the foulest tempers either of 'em have seen in months, to sass the man is beyond him. Don't matter why, though; Micah's the oldest, and it's him, not Amos, who's gonna have to answer for it. Alt Prompt: "Abused"

23. Whumpcember Day 27: "What Lurks Beneath" Chapter 4, "Country Pursuits." "'Hurry up, Arthur! Just - just don't look behind you!' Arthur's feet dug deep into the slimy muck, slipping and sliding. He wasn't sure how he kept his feet, and had he not been completely lost in his own panic, he might even have been impressed. As it was, all he could do was focus straight ahead - on the boat, on Dutch, on safety. Just a few more seconds, just a few more feet, keep running, keep running, don't look back -!" Prompt: "Bleeding Out"

24. 25DCC Ch. 23: "I'll Be Home for Christmas, No Matter What." 1910. In spite of the awful weather, Dutch and Hosea make the journey to Beecher's Hope.

25. Whumpcember Day 28: "What Is, and What Will Never Be" Epilogue II, post "American Venom." John visits an old friend, and a ghost from his past is finally put to rest. Prompt: "Sacrifice"

26. 25DCC Ch. 24: "Sneaking a Gift" - 1910. It's midnight on Christmas Eve, and while everyone else sleeps off their holiday dinner, Abigail decides to give John his present early.

27. Whumpcember Day 29: "The Terrors of Tall Trees" 1907, post-Epilogue II. That shortcut through Tall Trees was supposed to save time on the trip back from Owanjila, or so Uncle had said. True to John's luck, though, all it did was nearly get him killed. If he never sees another one of those Skinner bastards again, it'll be too soon. Prompt: "Paralyzed"

28. 25DCC Ch. 25: "Christmas Morning" + "Trying To Get A Family Photo" - 1910. The Marstons, Morgan-Smiths, and Van der Linde-Matthews (and Uncle) open their gifts and take a family portrait to celebrate the season.

29. Whumpcember Day 30: "Fever Bright" Chapter 4/5, post "Banking, The Old American Art" - In the midst of the chaos surrounding the failed bank heist, Mary-Beth falls dangerously ill. With the other men doing their best to move camp and the women watching over a wounded Lenny and Hosea, Kieran - only just recovered from his own injuries at the hands of the O'Driscolls - takes it upon himself to care for her until she recovers. Prompt: "Delirium"

30. Whumpcember Day 31: "Robbery and Dreams" pre-canon, 1870. Dutch Van der Linde is only fifteen when he leaves home, ready to live free and pursue his dreams, as is his God-given right. But, as he learns the hard way, life on the fringes of society is not nearly as idyllic as he imagined it. Prompt: "Homeless"

[thedarkat]

This photo takes us back to 5 July 1913....

Con esta foto volvemos al 5 de julio de 1913...

Questa foto ci riporta al 5 luglio 1913...

(English / Español / Italiano)

This photo takes us back to 5 July 1913. Amedeo Modigliani moved from Rue De Delta (9th arrondissement, Paris) to Place Drancourt (17th arrondissement, Paris). The photo shows the unloading of Modigliani's belongings at his new home in Place Drancourt. The former building where he and other artists lived had been vacated because the town hall had claimed ownership of it.

So Dr. Alexandre found him a new home in this square in the photo.

It is now quite impressive to see his works resting on the asphalt, works that are now worth millions of euros. The move took place thanks to a whole host of friends who lent a hand to Amedeo Modigliani, even the patron Paul Alexandre lent a hand with the mattresses and Jean Dupont, a friend of the artist with an armchair on his head, is on his way to his new home.

The paintings on the floor are: "Study of a nude" ( 1908 ) and "Head of a woman in profile" ( 1907 ). The photo is by an anonymous author.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Con esta foto volvemos al 5 de julio de 1913. Amedeo Modigliani se traslada de la " Rue De Delta " ( 9º arrondissement, París ) a la " Place Drancourt " ( 17º arrondissement, París ) La foto muestra la descarga de las pertenencias de Modigliani en su nuevo domicilio de la Place Drancourt. El antiguo edificio donde vivían él y otros artistas fue desalojado porque el ayuntamiento había reclamado su propiedad.

Así que el Dr. Alexandre le encontró un nuevo hogar en esta plaza de la foto.

Ahora es bastante impresionante ver sus obras descansando sobre el asfalto, obras que ahora valen millones de euros. La mudanza tuvo lugar gracias a toda una serie de amigos que echaron una mano a Amedeo Modigliani, incluso el mecenas Paul Alexandre echó una mano con los colchones y Jean Dupont, amigo del artista con un sillón en la cabeza, se dirige a su nuevo hogar.

Los cuadros del suelo son: "Estudio de un desnudo" ( 1908 ) y "Cabeza de mujer de perfil" ( 1907 ). La foto es de autor anónimo.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Questa foto ci riporta al 5 luglio 1913. Amedeo Modigliani si trasferisce da Rue De Delta (9° arrondissement, Parigi) a Place Drancourt (17° arrondissement, Parigi). La foto mostra Modigliani mentre scarica le sue cose nella sua nuova casa di Place Drancourt. Il precedente edificio dove lui e altri artisti vivevano era stato sgomberato perché il municipio ne aveva rivendicato la proprietà.

Così il dottor Alexandre gli ha trovato una nuova casa in questa piazza nella foto.

Ora fa un certo effetto vedere le sue opere appoggiate sull'asfalto, opere che ora valgono milioni di euro. Il trasloco è avvenuto grazie a tutta una serie di amici che hanno dato una mano ad Amedeo Modigliani, persino il mecenate Paul Alexandre ha dato una mano con i materassi e Jean Dupont, amico dell'artista con una poltrona in testa, sta per raggiungere la sua nuova casa.

I dipinti sul pavimento sono: "Studio di un nudo" ( 1908 ) e "Testa di donna di profilo" ( 1907 ). La foto è di autore anonimo.

[iiitsnotbase]

I wanted to wait until it was done but here's a snippet of The Circle Of Protection (between Lucas and Emily) because i'm obsessed with them

“Nobody in this house likes electricity.” He said as she stood up, walking over to the curtains and opening them, letting the sunlight in. On his windowsill were a variety of things, newspapers, books, pictures of his Mother. Emily looked at one such photo of her, Nathaniel, and three other people he never met. He joined her by the window, looking out over the back of his house in Briar Green, at the garden that seemed to stretch for ages. All the photos on his window were sun-bleached now. 

“Is this your Mother?” Emily asked, looking at the picture, “I didn’t realise she knew Mr Trapp.” 

“They worked together, once. She sacrificed herself to save him.” Emily bit back a smile, and didn’t say what she was thinking. Lucas didn’t push it, but he knew she was thinking it. He had been to Emily’s house before, been in her room. She didn’t have as many photos of her family in there, she hardly had any photos at all. There was one of their circle, and one of her when she had been younger, 7 years ago, in a gold mask and gold dress. 

“You look just like her.” She said, and he knew she meant it. “I wish I could have met her.” Lucas hummed. He had yet to tell his circle about his Mother being stuck in The Fourth Pharos, because he didn’t know how they would react. Still, wishing she could have met her…

“Emily, there’s something I have to tell you.” He started. She was quite a lot taller than he was, so he had to look up by a good head to look at her eyes. In the window, they seemed different, almost brighter. One was slightly bluer than the other. The door to his room opened and Auntie Bea walked in, hand on her hip.

FOR REFERENCE:

The Circle of Protection:

(Soldier) Lucas Suarez- 24(1902) (You know him)

(Occultist) Mina Clearson- 19 (1907) (You know her)

(Journalist) Emily Amicus-  25 (1901) (Leo's Niece)

(Detective) Charlotte Black- 17(1909) (Arlo and Auggie's Daughter).

[uncloseted]

Hi Christina, I really enjoy your scholarly deep dives on history and influential people. I was wondering if you could share any of your thoughts or articles on the dark side of Picasso (misogyny, stealing art from POC, etc? I recently heard about how he was a total piece of crap but I wanted to *how* and *why*. thank you in advance!

That's so nice of you! I can definitely explain the controversy around Picasso.

So, the biggest criticism that's usually leveraged against Picasso is that he was a misogynist or a chauvinist. It seems that he is generally considered to have been an abusive partner. He cheated on nearly all of his lovers and had many romantic affairs. One of those affairs was with French model Marie-Thérèse Walter, who was 17 at the time their relationship began and later died by suicide, as did his second wife, Jacqueline Roque. His first wife, Olga Khokhlova, and his lover Dora Maar both experienced nervous breakdowns. His son, Paulo, developed a fatal alcoholism due to depression. His grandson, Pablito, also died by suicide that same year by ingesting bleach when he was barred by Jacqueline Roque from attending the artist's funeral. It's unclear to me how much he was ultimately responsible for any one of those deaths, but it seems his treatment of those individuals played a part in their worsening mental health.

His lover, Dora Maar, told him that, "as an artist you may be extraordinary, but morally speaking you’re worthless.” His long time partner Françoise Gilot reports he told her that, "women are machines for suffering," and that "for me there are only two kinds of women: goddesses and doormats." Gilot details his abusive treatment towards her in her book, Life With Picasso. She also paints a picture of a man who's struggling with his own mental health- he is superstitious, anxious, unable to make trivial decisions, and volatile in his moods. Scholars have theorized that he suffered from depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia, although of course, nobody can really say for sure.

In terms of appropriation or stealing art from people of color, these claims seem less substantial (at least from what I could find). In 1907, Matisse showed Picasso a Vili figure from what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Picasso was drawn to it, in part because of his superstitious personality, and was inspired by its aesthetics. After that, he visited the Trocadero Museum, an anthropological museum that displayed (what they considered to be) "primitive" art. African art offered a completely different way of depicting the world than traditional European art did, and that different way of depicting the world eventually inspired Picasso to begin the Cubist movement. Picasso later began collecting African art, and had amassed over one hundred works by his death. Picasso initially acknowledged that African art inspired his work, although he would later deny that they was any connection. This much appears to be based in fact, rather than interpretation.

Les Demoiselles d’Avignon is the painting that is usually discussed in the context of Picasso and cultural appropriation. It is generally considered to be the first Cubist work that Picasso created. The faces of the two central figures in the painting are inspired by sculptural busts from Picasso's native Iberia, while the face of the woman in the top right corner appears to be inspired by the masks of the Dan tribe of the Ivory Coast. In the lower right, the woman's face appears to be inspired by the Mbuya Mask of the Pende people. Both the Dan masks and the Mbuya masks are of spiritual significance to their respective tribes.

The criticism of Picasso is typically that, while he was inspired by African art and aesthetics, he had little interest in African culture or understanding the significance of the pieces he borrowed from. In Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, the Iberian faces are centered in the painting, not the African ones. Are the African individuals in the painting merely props for his European subjects? Was he taking from an artistic culture that didn't belong to him? Was he romanticizing or fetishizing "primitive" people? By painting African masks into his work, is he expressing dominance over Africans or exploiting them? I think that's up to individual interpretation.

For me, personally, I think Picasso thought he was appreciating the art, and that Picasso didn't really have the cultural context to understand issues of appropriation. So I don't know how productive of a conversation "Picasso: Appreciator or Appropriator" is. I think the MOMA exhibition, 'Primitivism’ in 20th Century Art: Affinity of the Tribal and the Modern, had a good approach to this issue, as does the Picasso Museum in Paris. By showcasing the tribal art alongside Picasso's own work, it allowed for proper contextualization of Picasso's inspirations, acknowledgement of the crucial impact of African art on the development of Cubism, and underlined the importance of traditional African art. But I'm not African, and I'm not really an artist, so it's not my place to say.

Ultimately, I think my view on this is that we can't undo the past. Picasso is important not because of who he was as a person or any one piece he made, but because of his contributions to the field of modern art. You can't have a meaningful conversation about Cubism if you're determined not to talk about Picasso, and you can't have a meaningful conversation about Constructivism if you're determined not to talk about Cubism. His work remains culturally important because it's historically important, and I don't think we can really change that. I do think we can provide more context to his work (such as acknowledging African art's influence on his work) or have conversations about his work (what does his depiction of women say about his thoughts about women?), but to "cancel" his work papers over history as opposed to acknowledging it.

Some articles I read, if you're curious to learn more:

‘Notoriously cruel’: should we cancel Picasso? Collectors, artists, critics and curators decide

How Picasso’s Muse Became a Master

How Picasso Bled the Women in His Life for Art

Picasso Was Brutally Chauvinistic, But Does “Cancelling” Him Really Serve Anybody?

How Much Does Picasso Owe to African Art?

The Controversies of Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon

‘Cultural appropriation is a two-way thing’: Yinka Shonibare on Picasso, masks and the fashion for black artists

Primitivism: Cultural Appropriation in the Art World

[opera-ghosts]

Parsifal: Walther Kirchhoff and Anna-Bahr Mildenburg; Bayreuth, 1914

Kirchhoff, Walter, German tenor; b. Berlin, March 17, 1879; d. Wiesbaden, March 26, 1951. He studied in Berlin with Eugen Weiss and Lilli Lehmann. He made his operatic debut at the Berlin Royal Opera in 1906 as Faust; continued on its roster until 1920 after it became the Berlin State Opera in 1918; sang there again in 1923-24, 1928-29, and 1932; also appeared at the Bayreuth Festivals (1911–14) and at Covent Garden in London in 1913 and 1924. He made an acclaimed Metropolitan Opera debut in N.Y. as Loge in Das Rheingold on Jan. 28, 1927; remained on its roster until 1931. He was particularly successful in Wagnerian roles.

***

Bahr-Mildenburg, Anna (1872–1947) Austrian soprano. Born Anna Mildenburg on November 29, 1872, in Vienna, Austria; died on January 27, 1947, in Vienna; studied with Rosa Papier-Paumgartner; married Hermann Bahr (the writer), in 1909.

Debuted in Hamburg as Brünnhilde in a performance conducted by Gustav Mahler (1895); began a relationship with Mahler; appeared with Mahler in Vienna (1898–1916) and at Bayreuth (1897–1914).

In the musical world, Anna Bahr-Mildenburg's name is inextricably linked with that of Gustav Mahler. Born in Vienna on November 29, 1872, she did not choose singing early and was already 19 when she began to study with Rosa Papier-Paumgartner , an influential teacher. Four years later, Anna auditioned for Pollini, the director of the Hamburg Opera. Recognizing her great talent, Pollini engaged her immediately, and she appeared shortly thereafter as Brünnhilde in Die Walküre, one of opera's most demanding roles. During rehearsals, Bahr-Mildenburg met Gustav Mahler, and he took over the direction of her career. Under his training, she became an outstanding dramatic soprano. During their years in Hamburg, Bahr-Mildenburg and Mahler had a passionate affair which ended by the time she first performed in Vienna in 1898. Their professional relationship continued, however, after Papier-Paumgartner suggested the former lovers renew their professional collaboration when Mahler became director of the Vienna Hofopera. Bahr-Mildenburg joined the peerless Mahler ensemble and was on the Hofopera staff until 1917, nearly 20 years.

Bahr-Mildenburg also appeared on the international stage. She was at Covent Garden in 1906 and would appear in the first London performance of Richard Strauss' Elektra in 1910. By 1907, some said her voice was in decline, perhaps because she had assumed the heaviest dramatic roles which taxed her capabilities. The sole recording which documents her talents was made in 1905; it demonstrates that hers was a powerful, penetrating voice with a superb attack. As a singer, she did not hold herself back, an approach which may explain the decline of her voice but also explains why Mahler and Pollini were so excited by their discovery of her.

[ultraheydudemestuff]

Mayfield Heights Historic District

1700-1848 Wilton Rd.

Cleveland Heights, OH 44118

The Mayfield Heights Historic District which, despite its name, is not in Mayfield Heights, includes Caldwell and Preyer Aves., Rock Ct., Euclid Heights Boulevard, and Hampshire, Mayfield, Middlehurst, Radnor, and Somerton Rds. in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For over a century, this beautiful tree-shaded community once known as "Mayfield Heights" has stood as a fine example of an early 20th-century American suburban development.  Again, it’s not the suburb that is located way out on Mayfield Road with the same name, but rather the original Mayfield Heights that is one of the oldest residential sections of Cleveland Heights. The neighborhood, initially part of East Cleveland Township, was envisioned by real estate attorney, developer, and philanthropist Marcus M. Brown (M. M. Brown). Brown, a self-made man, had a successful real estate and legal career in Chicago, but in 1896 he and his wife moved to Cleveland to seek more leisure time for literary and philosophical pursuits.

     Shortly after M. M. Brown's arrival, he constructed a home on a Mayfield Road bluff just east of Coventry Road. Real estate development, it seemed, was still in his blood. From his new home, he started planning the development of a modern suburban community. The new community, bounded roughly by Mayfield Road, Superior Road, Euclid Heights Boulevard, and Coventry Road, was christened Mayfield Heights because it was situated above Mayfield Road's interurban and streetcar tracks. Unlike Patrick Calhoun's Euclid Heights to the immediate west, designed to attract a well-to-do constituency, Mayfield Heights was originally envisioned to appeal to the professional and managerial middle class. While some rather imposing dwellings were developed in the Mayfield Heights Allotment by Mr. Brown prior to 1900 (including a splendid new estate for himself and his family on Euclid Heights Boulevard at Wilton Road), later residences were relatively modest builder-designed homes nestled on smaller lots.

     M. M. Brown created a network of fine brick streets for Mayfield Heights with such names as Center Avenue (Hampshire), Preyer Avenue (Somerton), Florence Avenue (Radnor), Hurst Avenue (Middlehurst), Monroe Avenue (Wilton), and Cadwell Avenue. Interestingly, Monroe was M. M. Brown's middle name and Cadwell was the maiden name of his wife, Jeanette. Unfortunately, after the turn of the century, sales began to wane and then the nationwide economic calamity known as the Panic of 1907 struck. Consumer interest in real estate all but dried up and in 1908, the Cleveland Trust Company foreclosed upon M. M. Brown and his Mayfield Heights Realty Company. The bank took ownership of the allotment at sheriff sale and began to aggressively market Mayfield Heights. Soon large newspaper ads proclaimed Mayfield Heights as "Country Life in Cleveland" and "Real Homes for Real People." In order to further advance the idea of "Country Life," Cleveland Trust changed the street names that M. M. Brown established to the English monikers that are familiar today. Homes were sold for the advertised deal of "$500 down, the rest same as rent" until all the lots were gone.

     The spirit of M. M. Brown's Mayfield Heights lives on to this day. The neighborhood's solid American Foursquare, Arts and Crafts, Craftsman, Bungalow, Colonial, and Queen Anne homes have been preserved and are mostly faithful to the styles in which they were originally built. The community prides itself as a traditional neighborhood of attractive homes and gardens in a pedestrian-friendly environment. The district was added to the National Register of Historic        Places on September 17, 2015.

[whitepolaris]

A Famous Market’s Spirits

by Jefferson Davis 

Seattle’s world-renowned Pike Place Market grew from an act of outrage in 1907, when the price for a pound of onions went from ten cents to one dollar. On August 17, 1907, eight farmers parked their wagons at the corner of First and Pike streets and sold directly to their customers. While the market that took root expanded to several buildings, some of the traditional shops have occupied the same stalls for ninety-plus years. 

If there was a place that reminds me of a doorway into an alternate universe, it’s Pike Place Market. I always find a surprise just around the corner or down another narrow stairway. Sometimes I walk down stairs that end at solid walls. Other passages open into galleries. Many tourists assume the market is limited to the main building, but it actually extends through many buildings on and around Pike Place Way.

An Assortment of Ghosts

The throngs of shoppers and tourists who browse the countless stalls aren’t the only presences in Pike Place Market. Three or four resident ghosts haunt the shops and corridors, if numerous shopkeepers and visitors are to be believed. Over the years, I took it upon myself to investigate, and in the process I heard stories of the following cast of characters. 

The American Indian. This female ghost is the most well-known spirit at the market. She spends a lot of time in the “down under” shops below the ground floor of the Main Market building. Some people believe she is Princess Kickisomlo, the daughter of Chief Seattle. (The Susquamish princess died in 1896 at the age of 85 and was buried at nearby Lake View Cemetery.) Witnesses describe the ghost as elderly, with her gray hair tied up in long braids. One person reported that she glowed with a white light. 

The merchants say the ghost has been seen everywhere-often only yesterday, and not just in the lower level. She’s been spotted at the Sound View Café, in the Leland building, along Flower Row, and in the Craft Emporium in the Main Market building. In the past she was associated with the Old Friend Memorabilia Shop, the former Goodwill Store (now the Market’s childcare facility), and the Shakespeare & Company bookstore (now Lionheart Books). 

The Craft Emporium is also known as the Bead Shop. Several years ago the owner, Lynn Roberts, saw an elderly Indian woman looking at the collection of seed beads. When Roberts asked if she could help her, the woman disappeared. 

The Little Boy. The Craft Emporium had a second ghost who spent time there-a small boy. One day he walked up to proprietor Roberts, tugged on her sleeve to get her attention, and then suddenly disappeared. The next day, a radio turned on all by itself. Roberts unplugged it, but even without power it kept playing. Was the tyke easily aggravated? Possibly so, because he also had a tendency to throw beads at employees and customers. 

When I visited the shop in 1998, I was told that a shaman had performed an exorcism there, and that most of the strange goings-on had stopped. Maybe the ghosts just moved on to another shop? 

The Large Woman. Sightings of the ghost of an obese woman date to a time when an overweight female customer fell through a weak floor and onto a table or floor below. However, I haven’t been able to find anyone who knows where-or even if-the incident actually happened. 

The Tall African American. The ghost of a tall black man was said to have haunted the Vitium Capitale restaurant. This contention cannot be further investigated, however, because of the Vitium Capitale is no longer at Pike Place Market. The mystery became even more elusive when no one I spoke with seemed to know which building or space the restaurant occupied. 

More Strange Happenings?

There are a few hauntings at Pike Place Market that aren’t associated with a specific spirit. Here are two examples: 

- At a candy store in the Main Market building, employees put the candy scoops are back with the candy. 

- At Left Bank Books, located in the Corner Market building, some employees have said that when they’re alone in the store, they’ve heard footsteps in the empty aisles. 

However many ghosts wander the shops and corridors and sidewalks of Pike Place Market-or ever floated through in the past-it somehow makes sense that this sprawling complex would become their residence of choice. It could be said that the life and colorful atmosphere that made the market famous make it that much more attractive to the spirits of the dead. 

[jacobsvoice]

Remembering Jacob

(January 17, 2023 / JNS) My grandfather Jacob came to visit when I was four years old. I was fascinated by him because he was my only relative with a beard. He sat quietly and I hesitated to speak to him. I never saw him again.

When I pestered my father, Jacob’s son, about why he had not returned, I was told that he had died 13 years before I was born. But I vividly remembered his visit, so that was hard to believe.

My father showed me his only photograph of Jacob. Dressed in a suit with his jacket buttoned and a pocket handkerchief visible, he is seated on a chair in front of a stone wall. A wide mustache and long beard covered much of his face. A dark fedora hat rested on one knee. It was some consolation that our first names both began with the letter “J.” That, I eventually realized, was meant to bind us together and preserve his memory.

I learned that, as a wave of antisemitism loomed near Kishinev in the 1880s, Jacob’s father Mendel relocated his family to Botosani, the second-largest Jewish community in Moldavia. But Jewish life was no less precarious there. Near the end of the century, synagogues were desecrated and violent rioting against Jews increased. One-third of Romanian Jews, Jacob among them, left their country behind. The United States was his destination.

It was not an easy transition. Prospering German-American Jews did not welcome Jews from eastern Europe. Jacob Schiff, a prominent philanthropist, suggested that other countries be their destination. Even the New York Romanian Committee criticized the arrival of “beggars” and urged a monthly quota of 200 immigrants.

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Leaving his wife and young child behind, Jacob, then 45 years old, arrived at Ellis Island, the major American immigration center. Newcomers were processed through a series of medical examinations for “contagious and loathsome” diseases. If health problems were discovered, compulsory return to Europe loomed.

After an overnight train ride from New York, Jacob arrived in Pittsburgh. He was met by Israel Cohen, a family member who guided him to the Hill District, a shabby neighborhood uphill from the railroad station and the center of Jewish life. Jacob’s first impression of Pittsburgh could not have been pleasing. Visitors described it as “dark, dismal and dirty” and “an unattractive, smokey city.”

Jacob soon began to work in Cohen’s stogy factory, where he earned three to seven dollars weekly for 65 hours of work. It must have been tedious. A photo showed a cramped and shabby room without windows. Two middle-aged bearded men wearing kippot are working at a cluttered table. An open carton filled with stogies was nearby.

Within a year, Jacob was able to bring his wife Minnie and their young daughter to Pittsburgh. One year later, she gave birth to a son named Menachem Moshe to honor the memory of his grandfather. His name was Americanized to M. Maurice, eventually abbreviated to Morry, the name by which my father would always be known.

Life was not easy for the Auerbach family. Jacob left the stogy business to work as a railroad watchman while Morry sold newspapers and shined shoes to help financially. He fondly remembered Jacob singing Romanian folk songs and their time together for high holiday services in the nearby, oldest Pittsburgh synagogue. Although the life of impoverished immigrants was not easy, American possibilities were preferable to Romanian realities. In 1907, there was a pogrom in Botosani where Jews were robbed and murdered.

Early in the evening of Jan. 22, 1923, as Jacob was driving a horse-drawn bakery wagon, it was struck broadside by a car. Flung to the street, he suffered a fractured skull and died that night. Jacob was buried in the Kasa Torah cemetery, where his gravestone—with a Star of David at the top—identifies him in large letters as “Father.” He was 58 years old.

A yahrzeit candle will commemorate one hundred years since Jacob’s tragic death. How I could remember a visit from the grandfather who died before I was born is a mystery. But that embedded yearning has enabled Jacob to remain with me. A solitary photograph may be all there is, but as I light the candle and watch it flicker, Jacob will surely return, if only in wistful memory.

My son Jeffrey, our third generation “J” and fellow historian, was my companion researcher for this article.

Jerold S. Auerbach is the author of twelve books, including Jacob’s Voices: Reflections of a Wandering American Jew.

[julianfawcettapologist]

Does anyone else feel like the Captain may have been a Scout growing up?

The founder of Scouts, Robert Baden Powell was a soldier himself and the boys in Scouts did contribute to both WWI & WWII so if the Captain was a member of a Scout pack by 1914 (meaning he would be aged somewhere between 11-17 at that point) then he would have been potentially working in both wars.

Scouts started in 1907 but there were over 100,000 Scouts in England by 1909 so it’s something that took off very quickly and it fits the Captain’s timeline. When you think about how excited and proud he is when Pat gives him the teamwork badge (and the way he pins it onto his uniform with his medals) it’s obviously not something he thinks is silly or beneath him in any way.

Also, imagine before Pat died the Captain might have led the other ghosts in some of the activities he remembered from being a Scout (no doubt with some military crossover) and then been so excited when Pat and his Scouts arrived at Button House.

We know the Captain and the others were there when Pat died, and that the Captain bet he would survive; perhaps because he had fond memories of Scouts himself and didn’t want these boys to lose their leader.

(Now I’m also imagining that he was probably excited to try and join in with all the activities Pat had planned the way he tries to join in Alison’s camping or the wedding.)

[its-deputy-caleb]

please tell me more about your joe and micah hc! that angsty fic made me cry!!

firstly anon i'm sorry for making you cry but i will happily go on a rant about this one random idea that i have while playing. (also this is terrible i'm sure no one will read this)

full disclaimer: i know these guys are villians and have done terrible things oml im not agreeing with any of it i'm merely just sharing a headcannon that i have.

————

Okay so I’ve had this idea for a while and its just grown from there so I know this is probably inaccurate af but I don’t care at this point (also pls keep in mind that I haven’t played much of red dead online and that I’m only going off research)

Its all kinda this idea of loyalty and I keep thinking about the ending of the game and how Joe has no real reason to stick around with Micah if he didn’t have a reason. So my little head cannon is purely that they have a friendship that’s not really explored there.

My thought process behind it is that Dutch, who was the leader of his gang ended up killing that girl during the robbery in Blackwater which was the start of some of the members questioning their whole role in the gang and I think this can be applied to Micah’s gang where Cleet leaves when they rob the family with the little girl. To me, it's clear Joe values loyalty above moral like the gang member's who overlooked Dutch's actions whereas Cleet is someone like Arthur who makes a choice because he doesn't agree with it.

Im my opinion Joe can clearly handle himself and seems to be observant enough that he could leave Micah’s gang if he wanted or if he felt that it was the right move and the game mentions that Joe has a greater loyalty to Micah than Cleet.

So this leads to my little thought that the two are just old friends because why would Joe stick with Micah to his literal death in 1907 if he didn’t have a reason. Like these guys are outlaws and some of the most morally backwards guys in the game who would stab each other in the back if it meant saving themselves so why didn’t Joe leave with Cleet? He could’ve joined another gang or run it alone again and so I think that Joe’s loyalty to Micah is different.

It also makes me think about the train robbery in chapter 6 where Joe stays behind with Micah while Cleet is sent out with Sadie and the others and I noticed how Joe is pretty much right behind Micah or hanging around right until the end so all of that kinda accumulated to this idea that I had that they’re friends. Even with Dutch, Micah looks to Joe for him to agree and sure it could mean nothing but I just have this feeling/vibe from the chapter that no matter what Micah said Joe would always be there to agree with him. So I can't help think that there's a friendship there:

Firstly Micah makes a comment in camp sitting around a table by Dutch’s tent at some point saying “I missed you boys” so I think that both Joe and Cleet know Micah for a while. And then I started thinking ‘hey what if they were like best friends from their childhood?’ or at least when they were younger.

Like think about it— Micah runs with his dad at 17 where he gets mentioned in that paper for a murder and then I’m thinking maybe when he’s in his early 20’s maybe even 19 he meets Joe who’s just as wild as him. Even if they split up and Micah runs with Norman and Joe is seen in the events of RDO then it would give context as to why Joe might stick with Micah for longer than Cleet. I also think this could contribute to Amos leaving bc if Micah's opinion (to rob and kill people) is backed constantly by Joe, then Amos would leave while Micah runs off to cause more trouble with him instead.

Secondly I started thinking about their characterisation and how I think that they 1) have a lot in common (obviously they’re outlaws and villains) and 2) Joe having the same outlook and low morals in life means that Micah doesn’t have to lie to him or manipulate him like he might have to with Dutch and the Van Der Linde’s.

I think Joe being this tough guy who doesn’t talk much is a personality Micah would get along with because he won’t go asking questions but Micah doesn’t have to convince him about anything. Like Micah could hypothetically say “hey lets go on a robbery” and all Joe has to do is nod whereas with someone from Dutch’s gang it’s like “I need to go on a robbery and do something morally wrong which most of you will dislike but I’ll tell you its so I can provide for the gang and do my fair share.”

Im not saying this is better or actually a good thing, I just think that the reason why Joe would even be a closer friend to Micah or even someone he trusts is because they come from a place of mutual understanding.

With the whole ‘childhood friends’ thing (which is purely just my own imagination here) that Micah is this reckless loud mouth who causes trouble everywhere and Joe, who’s this silent giant is completely opposite to him in that he’s quiet and just sorta follows Micah around wherever he goes because where else would he go? And I can’t help but feel like Joe just meets Micah accidentally one day and then with no where else to go or do in life, he ends up with this weird loyalty to Micah which only comes with knowing someone for a long time and its my explanation as to why Joe would stick around with Micah’s gang despite it being kinda obvious that it’s falling apart.

Then I started thinking about the ending and how Joe's death is avoidable if he left like Cleet did. Like the only time he's in the game he's either weirdly hanging around behind Micah (almost protectively) or he's out front shooting the guy who's only coming to threaten Micah. Joe doesn't help Cleet rob the train in chapter 6 but instead stays behind with Micah but when it's obvious his life is threatened he's one of the first to run into John.

So using this I started thinking with all Joe's scars and his rugged appearance, how many times he's jumped up to save Micah before and that was actually where I thought they must know each other well because why else would you throw away your life if it wasn't for someone you'd look out for?

Anyway this is kinda just one big rant about this little idea that came to mind when I was playing and I thought “wouldn’t it be cool if that big creepy guy looming in the corner was actually Micah’s childhood friend who grew up with him.”

Like I said this is total nonsense but I actually kinda like the thought and I’m happy with it

[gyanuvi]

Essay on Freedom Fighters

Essay on Freedom Fighters in Hindi : The spirit of patriotism among the freedom fighters was filled up profoundly. They educated everybody a league lesson and also obtained India freed with each other. All of us should remember them pleasantly and adhere to the path shown by them.

3. Rani of Jhansi (Laxmi Bai). The great Jhansi ki Rani was born on 19 November 1928 in Kashi, India. He encountered the British regulation increasingly and added considerably to the Revolt of 1857. Rani Laxmi Bai passed away on 17 June 1858 in Gwalior, dealing with British policy.

4. Tatya Tope. Tatya Tope was born Ramchandra Panduranga. He was birthed in 1814 in a Brahmin family in Aola, Nashik. He played an unlimited duty in the Rebellion of 1857 by holding the blog post of General. He was hanged at Shivpuri on 18 April 1859.

5. Mahatma Gandhi. Every one of them are passionately called "Bapu". He was born on 2 October 1869 at a place called Porbandar in Gujarat. They have a big payment in making the nation free.

6. Subhash Chandra Bose. We call them affectionately as "Netaji". The great netaji was born on January 23, 1897, in Cuttack, Odisha. He founded the "Azad Hind Fauj" to liberate the nation. He left high tasks like ICS to offer the country.

7. Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a social agitator as well as a political leader throughout the Indian self-reliance movement. He was born on May 9, 1866, in Kothaluk, Ratnagiri Area, Maharashtra, India. Gokhale was an elderly leader of the INC as well as the founder of the Slaves of India Culture.

8. Shaheed Bhagat Singh. He was born on 27 September 1907 in Punjab. They wanted to flatter the nation given that youth. They were full of patriotic feelings because youth. He asked the youth of Punjab to take part in the liberty activity of India.

9. Raj Expert. His complete name was Shivram Raj Guru. He was born on 24 August 1908 in Maharashtra. He had a significant duty in the Indian freedom movement. He was a citizen of Maharashtra. He killed a British policeman in Lahore in 1928.

10. Sukhdev Thapar. Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar was an Indian revolutionary. Thapar was born on 15 May 1907, in Punjab, India. He was an elderly participant of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association. He took part in many deals with Bhagat Singh as well as Shivram Rajguru and also hanged on 23 March 1931 at the age of 23 by the British authorities together with Bhagat Singh and also Raj Master.

Conclusion. In this article, you check out carefully the names of Indian freedom fighters. Aside from this, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Ganesh Vidyarthi, Jai Prakash Narayan, Batukeshwar Dutt, Ashfaq Ali, Rabindranath Tagore, Vipinchandra Friend, Nana Saheb, Chiranjan Das, Raja Rammohan Roy played a significant duty in the freedom battle of the nation.

[disregardcanon]

I posted 13,215 times in 2021

2932 posts created (22%)

10283 posts reblogged (78%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 3.5 posts.

I added 2,940 tags in 2021

#rwby - 698 posts

#personal ranting - 495 posts

#personal nonsense - 477 posts

#tiktoks - 261 posts

#rwby spoilers - 233 posts

#sarah listens to tma - 169 posts

#tma - 168 posts

#teaching things - 159 posts

#asoiaf - 144 posts

#trc - 136 posts

Longest Tag: 140 characters

#for being too white and not understanding the joke was clearly that miles was just saying peter was a guy he knew well and his parents going

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

a note on writing us americans: many us americans have never had a passport and will never get one. the percentage of people with passports increases the closer to the border and also increases with the amount of of wealth, but your average person from the central part of the country? no passport, never had a passport, will never even consider getting one.

in the states, people use their national driver's license as their primary form of identification because passports are just not something that are widespread in many areas here.

why would you go through all the trouble of getting a document you'll never use? the united states is a very large country that you don't need documentation to travel throughout, international travel is expensive, and most people have very little vacation time. it's just not something that's even on most people's radars

1907 notes • Posted 2021-04-05 22:11:19 GMT

#4

Thank you Alex

7256 notes • Posted 2021-01-20 17:58:50 GMT

#3

not to pretend that “american teachers should be paid more” isn’t a valid issue, but i think that people focus on that part too much. not only are they underpaid, they’re expected to work insane amounts of UNPAID overtime, pay for their own classroom supplies because they won’t always be provided, learn how to protect students in the event of SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, get rung through the ringer by both parents and admin, almost all times as the only adult in a classroom, and do all of it while focusing simultaneously on test scores, learning, student behavior, social emotional needs, fun, AND maintaining a smiling facade because you’re expected to be a customer service professional at all times in addition to that list.

10615 notes • Posted 2021-10-10 02:50:53 GMT

#2

i can say this from experience cis wlw. NO amount of “terfs unfollow me” will get them to do that. you are their intended conversion demographic and you just have this ittttsssyyy bitttsssyyy flaw where you aren’t a terf.

yet.

they will stick around to try to influence you and use your posts out of context and hope that they’re subtly “helping” you get out of your own beliefs (and they’re definitely using the content they get from you to try to influence their own followers). maybe YOU aren’t vulnerable to it (still be wary) but the people who follow them might be, and your followers who notice that person interacting with you might be.

so like. don’t just say “terfs unfollow me” because that does nothing. if you realize someone following you is a terf, put your money where your mouth is and block them.

18059 notes • Posted 2021-02-06 15:55:25 GMT

#1

Sometimes tumblr activism is just. So tiring. They’re like “you are personally responsible for every world wide tragedy and need to solve it by guilt tripping on the internet” and I’m like. Y’all. I was sitting on the bench

47267 notes • Posted 2021-05-16 05:30:26 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[myhauntedsalem]

25 Common Superstitions and Their Origins

From avoiding walking under ladders to carrying a rabbit’s foot for good luck; why do we do the things we do? What is the origin of many of our most common superstitions?

25. It’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors

Even though many people believe that this superstition started with the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, most historians trace the belief back to Victorian times when the poorly designed umbrellas of the time would have been a very legitimate hazard indoors.

24. Walking Under a Ladder is Bad Luck

Egyptians regarded triangles as sacred and since a ladder resting against a wall forms a triangle it was not ok for someone to walk through it.

23. Broken mirrors lead to seven years of bad luck

Looking into the mirror to predict the future was a practice used in ancient Greece and was called catoptromancy. Having a distorted reflection was considered a really bad sign. Later the Romans taught the idea that people have 7 year cycles of good health and then bad health. Combine those two traditions and the modern superstition is born.

22. When you spill salt, toss some over your left shoulder to avoid bad luck

Tossing spilled salt over your left shoulder started around 3,500 BC by the Sumerians. After that the tradition spread to the Egyptians, Assyrians, and later the Greeks.

21. Knock on wood to prevent Disappointment

Even though this is a very common superstition, historians are unsure what the true origins are. They believe it is possible that the habit comes from touching a wooden crucifix while taking an oath.

20. Hang a horseshoe on your door with the open end up for good luck

During the middle ages many people thought that witches feared horses and would stay away from any sign of them. Because of this the people would put horseshoes on their barns during the summer.

19. A black cat crossing your path is unlucky

Originally because of ancient Egyptians cats were considered good luck. But when King Charles the I mourned the loss of his cat he decided that his luck was gone. Now people all over the world believe the sight of a black cat is bad.

18. The number 13 is Unlucky

Also known as triskaidekaphobia, the fear of the number 13 originates back to Norse mythology when 12 Gods were said to be having dinner when Loki, the God of strife and evil, crashed the party and ultimately caused the death of Balder, one of the Gods.

17. Finding a four leaf clover is lucky

In ancient times the Celts believed that four leaf clovers were powerful objects and that they could be used to ward off evil.

16. Wishing upon a shooting star

In the first century Ptolemy theorized that shooting stars resulted from gods peering down on the Earth. While the gods were looking people would send their wishes and hope that they would hear them.

15. Holding your breath while passing a cemetery

Normally this is attributed to the connection between breathing and living. However in some Native American cultures breathing near the dead was risky because you might accidentally inhale someone’s soul.

14. Throwing coins in a fountain for luck

Originally this was practiced by the ancient Romans and then was also used by the Celts. Many theorize that it was to appease the water gods.

13. Wishing on Dandelions

Blowing out the seeds of a dandelion originated in Celtic Mythology. It was believed that dandelions could cure diseases and would bring about good fairies.

12. Putting hats on a bed is bad luck

Some cultures used to think that evil spirits lived in people’s hair and would get on their hats.

11. Putting candles on a birthday cake

In Ancient Greek they used to make birthday cakes. It is said that they would put candles on the cakes so that they would look like the moon in honor of the Moon Goddess Artemis. Today candles on a birthday cake are associated with making wishes and having good luck.

10. It’s lucky for a bride to see a chimney sweep on her wedding day

In 1066 King William was about to be run over by a carriage but was saved by a near by chimney sweep. The king then invited him to his daughter’s wedding and chimney sweeps are still seen to be lucky to this day.

9. Seeing the bride on the wedding day is bad luck

This was seen as bad luck because it was often worried that if the bride saw the groom she might get cold feet and not follow through with the wedding plans. This may also be because many weddings used to be prearranged.

8. Carrying the bride over the threshold

In western cultures it was seen as bad luck for the bride to trip while entering her new home so to completely avoid the possibility the groom would just carry her. Just as long as he doesn’t trip everything should be fine.

7. A rabbit’s foot brings good luck

During the seventh century BC the rabbit came to be considered a talismanic symbol and it’s left hind foot was a way to benefit from the rabbit’s luck.

6. Bird droppings on your head for luck

This belief possibly stems from the idea that if you have bad fortune the tide will soon turn in your favor. With life having its different cycles it would make sense that people would think: ‘well it can only get better from here!’

5. Wearing the wedding ring on the fourth finger of the left hand

This tradition started when the ancient Romans dissected corpses and found that there was a specific slender sinew or nerve that ran from the left fourth finger to the heart.

4. Wishbones being associated with luck

Ancient Etruscans would often use chickens in their sacred divination rituals. People believed that if they saved the wishbone after the chicken died they would be able to benefit from the oracles magic.

3. Lighting three cigarettes with one match is unlucky

Some people believe that this rumor was started among soldiers who believed that by the time they lit their third cigarette a sniper would have spotted them. Others say that the business man Ivar Krueger came up with the idea in order to get people to buy up more of his matches.

2. Placing shoes on the table

Many years ago when a miner died his shoes would be placed on a table. This tradition led to the superstition that putting shoes on a table brings bad luck.

1. Step on a crack and break your mother’s back

Although the exact origin is uncertain this myth became popular when it was published in Fletcher Bascom Dressler’s book “Superstition and Education” in 1907. It does make sense to avoid cracks while walking so that you don’t risk tripping. Perhaps this superstition goes back to fear of instability and the symbolism of falling in life.

[winnix85]

About Webster’s family and his mother Joan Kingsley Ohl

David Kenyon Webster was born on 2 June 1922 to Mr and Mrs David Frank Webster of 40 East Eighty-third Street NYC. For some reason it tooks his parents two weeks to post his birth announcement on newspaper. But it has his full name in the announcement so maybe they were deciding how to name him.

He was the second child among 4 children of his mother (his father had two daughters in his previous marriage).

His father was the vice presedent of the Pacific Commercial Company. He mainly lived abroad so there was not too much mention of him in social notes (it’s generally the case for the men, because social notes were mainly about ladies). He had married once but his first wife died. So when he married Web’s mother he was already a 43 yr old widower (the bride was 29).

Webster’s mother was Miss Joan Kingsley Ohl (sometimes her name was writtern as Jean). She was the daughter of Josiah Kingsley Ohl, who was a famous war correspondent. Web’s grandpa was the chief editor of Evening Telegram. From 1907-1917 he was the Far East correspondent for the New York Herald and he lived in China, Japan, Korea, Philippines and India (but he died two years before web’s birth so web never spent anytime with grandpa). Webster’s mother was his only child, she lived in Peking China when her parents were there.

Webster’s mother was a talented and accomplished women. In 1919 she was decorated for war service with “le Medaille de Son Alteese Royale la Duchesse Vendome” in recognition of her work in wwi as the interpreter and secretary to the Belgian Minister during the day and the rest of her time to the Red Cross canteen.

After their wedding in 1919, Mr and Mrs Webster went to live in Manila Philippines for two years. Web’s elder brother Frank was born in Manila, but they returned to US in 1921 so web was born in NYC.

In 1920s, the Websters and the Nixons were both living along Fifth Avenue, within 5 min by walk. From the social notes, Mrs Nixon and Mrs Webster attended some charity events together. They may not know each other, but it’s safe to say young web and nix both played at central park.

Web mentioned in his book that he was in Japan in 1935, so I guess the Websters were traveling in Far East during 1930s.

In the 1940 census, the Websters household included Mr David Frank Webster the head of the house, Jean the wife, 4 children (web was 17 yr old) and one servant.

Web attended Taft high school. In the yearbook, his classmates described him as “quiet and studious”, with a “never-give-up” attitude. “he never gets upset over the little things that bother most of us”, and “has an unusaul liking for sailing vessels”, he was always building boat in his dom. He was on the wrestling team, track squad and football club, and German club. (Most importantly, his classmates also call him “web”).

Web in his book described Dick Winters as “the medal winner, who was big and hard and aggressive, seemed like the kind of man who would live forever”, which made me believe that web was shorter than Dick Winters, but in fact web was 6 ft and Dick was 5'11" so web was slightly taller. Maybe he was so impressed by Captain Winters so his brain was just so convinced that Dick was “big and hard”?

Webster’s mother had 3 sons, all joined the army (Web saw his elder brother Frank in France in July 1944) Web and his younger brother John were paratroopers. Web wrote letters to John to give him advices (mostly about how to survive the war in the army). Among her 4 children, 3 predeseased her (only the oldest and a step-daughter outlived her. But mama web lived to 85 yr old.