#esther armstrong

[wexhappyxfew]

CHAPTER 9 - CONVINCING ENOUGH TO WRITE

October 2nd, 1942 - 1800 Camp Toccoa, Georgia, United States War Correspondent Esther Armstrong

Resentment of another within a company will benefit no one else other than the enemy. That was simple enough to have learned in basic classroom instruction in training or read from a textbook; to actually apply it was another. In war, pushing your differences aside or not, meant life or death in many cases. In basic, I could feel half the men take one look to me and assume they would never like what I was doing or who I am. Yet, when we ran nighttime maneuvers and I'd take point, we all trusted one another with our lives. Any man in that squad could've taken the second to dislike me for who I was and what I did, but there was always something greater than that. We had a war in front of us and a fight that was only being fed more wood to brighten the flame. It might have taken over two months for that to get nailed through all of our heads, but realizations like that grow you right up and make you realize there is greater things than the hatred of someone just like yourself. - Esther Armstrong, in her book, Stroke of Luck

[read the newest update here!]

tags: @mads-weasley @icantdecideofthename @cetaitlaverite @sergeant-spoons @vintagelavenderskies @ronald-speirs @easycompanys @hinkel-im-home

if you would like to be added or removed from the taglist, please let me know! :)

[wexhappyxfew]

hey friends! i am DONE with the semester!!!! and to have a little celebratory rest of the day for myself i am writing and making moodboards and enjoying the day! SO! feel free to send some of these in! all characters for ATTDC are tagged below or you can check out the #and then the dawn came or #attdc tag!

details about ocs!

send an emoji/description of emoji to learn more about a writer's oc! many of these are taken from my munday asks meme, because i thought it would be fun to make a version for characters too! the prompts are categorized by emoji type and given descriptions in case anyone can't see the symbols. can be used for roleplayers and any general writers alike! for roleplayers, these can also be used for your interpretations of canon characters if you so desire as well!

𝐎𝐁𝐉𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐒. 💭 THOUGHT BALLOON — what is your oc's MBTI, enneagram, and/or other personality aspects (if known/interested in)? 🚗 CAR — does your oc have a driver's license? can they drive/operate any automobiles/machinery besides cars? ✈️ AIRPLANE — does your oc like traveling, or do they consider themselves a more homey person? 🎮 VIDEO GAME CONTROLLER — what are three of your oc's favorite hobbies? 💍 RING — does your oc have any piercings? do they want any (more) piercings? 🖊️ BALLPOINT PEN — does your oc have any tattoos? do they want any (more) tattoos? 📚 BOOKS — what level of education has your oc most recently completed/is currently in (GED, undergraduate, grad school, phd, etc)? 🎻 VIOLIN — does your oc play any instruments? what is their skill level (beginner/intermediate/advanced/virtuoso/etc)? 🩹 ADHESIVE BANDAGE — does your oc have any physical and/or mental disabilities? 🩸 DROP OF BLOOD — what is your oc's blood type?

𝐒𝐘𝐌𝐁𝐎𝐋𝐒. 🎶 MUSICAL NOTES — what type of music does your oc like? do they listen to music very often? 💯 HUNDRED POINTS SYMBOL — share three random facts about your oc that others may not know. 💤 SLEEPING SIGN — is your oc a light sleeper or a heavy sleeper? how are their sleeping habits? 🔱 TRIDENT EMBLEM — can your oc swim? do they enjoy swimming? 🔺 RED TRIANGLE POINTED UP — does your oc know how to use any weapons? 🔶 LARGE ORANGE DIAMOND — does your oc know cpr? do they have any other medical expertise? 🚫 PROHIBITED — does your oc drink/smoke? do they do it regularly, or is it more on occasion or for special events?

𝐍𝐀𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄. 🌈 RAINBOW — what is your oc's sexual orientation/gender identity? what pronouns do they use? 🎄 CHRISTMAS TREE — what is your oc's favorite holiday? 🐶 DOG FACE — does your oc have any pets? 🐈 CAT — does your oc prefer a wide circle of friends or a few close friends? 🐷 PIG FACE — what is your oc's favorite animal? 🐉 DRAGON — what is your oc's favorite mythical creature? 🍃 LEAVES FLUTTERING IN WIND — what is/was your oc's favorite subject in school? 🌴 PALM TREE — does your oc have a green thumb? do they enjoy gardening? 🍎 RED APPLE — where was your oc born? do they still live in/around their place of birth or do they live somewhere else? how do they feel about their birthplace?

𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐒. ❤️ RED HEART — what are three of your oc's positive traits? 🤍 WHITE HEART — what are three of your oc's neutral/questionable traits? 💔 BROKEN HEART — what are three of your oc's negative traits? 💘 HEART WITH ARROW — what and/or who do(es) your oc consider the most important to them? 🧡 ORANGE HEART — does your oc tend to prioritize family or friends? 💛 YELLOW HEART — how many languages does your oc speak? what language(s) are they learning, if any? 💚 GREEN HEART — does your oc prefer being inside or outside? 💙 BLUE HEART — does your oc have any cool/special powers and/or abilities? how are they with magic, if it exists in their world? 💜 PURPLE HEART — what is your oc's ancestry/genetic background? 🖤 BLACK HEART — has your oc killed or seriously wounded anyone before? have they broken someone's heart and/or broken someone's trust?

𝐅𝐎𝐎𝐃𝐒. 🎂 BIRTHDAY CAKE — when is your oc's birthday? how old are they? what are their sun, moon, & rising signs (if known)? what about their tarot card, ruling planet, & ruling number (if known)? do they fit the typical traits of these sun, moon, & rising signs? 🍝 SPAGHETTI — what is/are your oc's favorite food(s)? 🍰 SHORTCAKE — what is/are your oc's favorite sweet(s)/dessert(s)? 🍦 SOFT ICE CREAM — what is/are your oc's favorite ice cream flavor(s)? 🍔 HAMBURGER — is your oc good at cooking? are they good at baking? which one do they prefer? 🥯 BAGEL — what does your oc's typical breakfast look like? do they usually eat breakfast? 🥪 SANDWICH — what does your oc's typical lunch look like? do they usually eat lunch? 🍛 CURRY AND RICE — what does your oc's typical dinner look like? do they usually eat dinner? 🍸 COCKTAIL GLASS — what is your oc's favorite alcoholic drink, if they can drink? ☕️ HOT BEVERAGE — does your oc prefer coffee, tea, hot chocolate, milk, water, or some other drink? how do they like to take this drink (ex. coffee with milk, hot chocolate with whipped cream, a specific kind of tea, etc)?

𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄. 😊 SMILING FACE WITH SMILING EYES — what are your oc's career/general life desires? what do they want to get the most out of life? 😖 CONFOUNDED FACE — is your oc an introvert, an extrovert, or an ambivert? do they let people in easily, or are they more reserved? 🤔 THINKING FACE — what are some of your oc's quirks/mannerisms? 🧐 FACE WITH MONOCLE — is your oc more logical or emotional? 🤓 SMILING FACE WITH GLASSES — is your oc chatty or quiet? are they at ease in social situations, or are they more shy? 🤩 FACE WITH STARRY EYES — is your oc a planner, or are they more spontaneous in their actions? 😥 SAD BUT RELIEVED FACE — is your oc prone to getting stressed out, or is it easy for them to keep their cool? 😓 DOWNCAST FACE WITH SWEAT — is your oc open-minded or stubborn? are they inquisitive or do they prefer to keep to their bubble of knowledge? 😞 DISAPPOINTED FACE — does your oc attract others, or do they tend to be left alone? 🤒 FACE WITH THERMOMETER — does your oc get sick easily? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FAMILY WITH MOTHER, FATHER, SON AND DAUGHTER — how many people are in your oc's immediate family? how many people are in your oc's extended family? do they have aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, etc? who in their family are they closest with? are they close with their birth family, or do they have a found family?

[sunlightmade]

tags for characters ( part one ).

agatha cavanaugh ( emily carey, 22 ).

amelia canberk née benoit ( adelaide kane, 31 ).

bethany jean prescott ( madelyn cline, 27 )

caroline gallagher ( sabrina carpenter, 26 ). 

constance o’brien ( jennifer aniston, 54 ).

delilah dubois ( jessica chastain, 47 ).

devin watkins ( margot robbie, 33 ).

drew watkins ( madison iseman, 28 ). 

elias wilkes ( calahan skogman, 31 ).

esther prynne ( kennedy walsh, 24 ).

forest mcallister ( wolfgang novogratz, 28 ).

gabriel cruzado-lamenza ( josh andrés rivera, 28 ).

gideon crowley ( sam corlett, 27 ).

honor wilkes née o’brien ( danielle galligan, 31 ).

hudson pryor ( miles teller, 36 ).

indiana williams ( abigail cowen, 27 ). 

isidora armstrong ( giorgia whigham, 26 ).

jasper carmichael-morelli ( milo ventimiglia, 46 ).

karlie fischer ( naomi roestel, 27 ).

karolina kovalenko ( alice pagani, 25 ). 

lucas graves ( matthew daddario, 36 ).

lucifer scratch ( jeffrey dean morgan, 59 ).

lyra wickham ( kathryn newton, 27 ).

madison harper ( danielle rose russell, 24 ). 

maisie fitzroy ( corinna kopf, 28 ).

matilda anderson ( sarah jeffery, 27 ).

molly taylor linnaeus ( madelyn cline, 27 ).

montana williams ( abigail cowen, 27 ).

nina tohska ( dua lipa, 28 ).

oriana arslan ( aslihan malbora, 28 ).

[deadboydetectives-confessions]

I'm the anon who projected my music shit on characters, back for more:

Tragic Mick is a STAX and Muscle Shoals man. He also likes Motown, though not as much.

Esther hates female singers & has rerecorded a bunch of songs with her singing that she loves. She's shit at singing but don't tell her that. Her current musical nemesis is Adele.

Monty is the character who likes pop punk / emo. He is the tumblr music character. Is this because I fundamentally don't understand Monty's appeal & so I associate him with other popular fandom things that don't appeal to me? Probably, tbh.

The Night Nurse likes experimental eletronica dj soundscape stuff that starts intense and gets more intense. Charles is fascinated & a little turned on, but can't listen to more than a song or two at a time. No one else can stand her music.

TCK is a musical theater gay. He's a divas of pop gay.

Niko & Crystal discover they both listen to Muppet songs when they are sad

Edwin thinks Frank Sinatra is sexy & generally has an interest in jazz, big band, swing. Charles is up for it -- it's another musical overlap they share. Charles is more a Louis Armstrong man though. He also likes Cab Calloway. Niko is more into Duke Ellington & Nat King Cole. Crystal is more into Ella Fitzgerald.

Niko tries to teach herself the ukelele, with mixed results.

Charles, Crystal, & Niko all appreciate a good mashup. Edwin does not understand the appeal.

Crystal introduces Edwin to Nina Simone & Tracy Chapman. Jenny likes Tracy Chapman a whole bunch as well.

Niko & Crystal both introduce Janelle Monae to Edwin. He appreciates their music, but isn't as fond of it as the girls.

Charles intros Prince to Edwin. Prince is another musician Edwin finds himself embarassingly attracted to.

Jenny learned how to play the piano when she was younger & when she is sad she will play Bach. Edwin loves the Goldberg Variations.

Edwin & Charles have a longstanding argument about whether or not John Cage's 4'33" is music. No one understands which side either of them is on, because it seems to shift everytime they argue.

.

[soulmusicsongs]

Female Soul in 26 songs

Female Soul Music

Angel - Aretha Franklin (Hey Now Hey (The Other Side of the Sky), 1973)

Are You Fooling? - Lil Gray (Are You Fooling? / I Want To Tell You Something Blues, 1965)

Blues Get Off My Shoulder - Dee Clark (How About That / Blues Get Off My Shoulder, 1959)

Chains Of Love - Esther Marrow (Newport News, Virginia, 1970)

Dead - Cresa Watson (Dead / Alpine Winter, 1969)

Don’t Send Nobody Else - Millie Jackson ‎(It Hurts So Good, 1973)

A Girl’s Tears - Alice Thomas (I’m Coming Home / A Girl’s Tears, 1970)

I Just Love You - Belita Woods (I Just Love You /Who’s Fooling Who, 1973)

If I Ever Needed Love - Jean Stanback (I Still Love You / If I Ever Needed Love, 1967)

I’m A Woman - Christine Kittrell (It’s Nobody’s Fault / I’m A Woman, 1962)

I’m Coming Home - Alice Thomas (I’m Coming Home / A Girl’s Tears, 1970)

I Still Love You So - Judy Green (I Still Love You So / Face To Face, 1972)

Love King Jesus - Cora Bell Watkins (The Word Of God / Love King Jesus, 1973)

Loving You Is Mellow (Part 1) - Kitty & The Haywoods (Loving You Is Mellow (Part 1) / Loving You Is Mellow (Part 2), 1975)

N'Zambi - Lilly Tchiumba (N'Zambi É Deus, 1973) - Angola

Put A Lotta Lovin To It - Lolita And The Exotics (Too, Too Good To Be True / Put A Lotta Lovin To It, 1969)

Reborn - Marilyn Barbarin And The Soul Finders (Reborn / Believe Me, 1970)

Right’s Alright - Rose Banks (Rose, 1976)

That's The Way It Goes - Elaine Armstrong (That's The Way It Goes, 1968

Sad Song - Amanda Ambrose (Laughing, 1973)

Take Another Look - Teresa Graves ‎(Teresa Graves, 1970)

Take Me I’m Yours - Debra Powell (Take Me I’m Yours / Hear My Plea, 1980)

This Empty Place - Dionne Warwick (Presenting Dionne Warwick, 1963)

This World Today Is A Mess - Donna Hightower ‎(This World Today Is A Mess, 1972)

Who Do You Want To Love - Brenda Mathis (Leaving You / Who Do You Want To Love, 1976)

You Can Only Do Wrong So Long - Tommie Young ‎(Do You Still Feel The Same Way, 1973)

More Soul Music

Female Soul in 25 songs

Female Soul, Part 2

Female Soul in 50 songs

Feminist Soul Music: 10 songs  

[vlogbrothershistory]

August 27 in Vlogbrothers History

2007: August 27th: Thanks Yous and Cameos

2008: Butte Montana

2009: DEMOLITION DERBY!

2010: Rest In Awesome, Esther

2012: Six Reasons Neil Armstrong was a BADASS

2013: On the TFIOS Movie Set

2019: Are Viruses Necessary?

2020: I have a new book coming out surprise livestream?

2021: Is it Better Not to Know?

[femslashrevolution]

Popular Pairing List Update

The following pairings have more than 10 recent posts in their pairing tag, and are therefore too popular to be posted on Rarepair Thursdays:

Alex Vause x Piper Chapman (Orange is the New Black)

Aloy x Seyka (Horizon: Zero Dawn)

Barbie x Gloria (Barbie)

Becky Armstrong x Freen Sarocha Chankimha (RPF Actors)

Betty Cooper x Veronica Lodge (Riverdale)

Cassandra Cain x Stephanie Brown (DCU)

Celia St James x Evelyn Hugo (The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo)

Cherine x Meena (Show Me Love)

Cleo de Nile x Frankie Stein (Monster High)

Cleopatra Philopator x Frida Kahlo (Clone High)

Corky x Violet (Bound)

Cosima Niehaus x Delphine Cormier (Orphan Black)

Diana x Leona (League of Legends)

Elphaba Thropp x Glinda Upland (Wicked)

Esther Warner x Max Chapman (Amazon A League of Their Own)

Geeta x Rika (Pokemon)

Jane Rizzoli x Maura Isles (Rizzoli & Isles)

Jester Lavorre x Yasha Nydoorin (Critical Role)

Kitty Song Covey x Yuri Han (XO Kitty)

Laurie x Mira Harberg (Irma Vep)

Lottie Matthews x Natalie Scatorccio (Yellowjackets)

Misty Quigley x Natalie Scatorccio (Yellowjackets)

Paris Geller x Rory Gilmore (Gilmore Girls)

The following pairings have been posted less frequently recently, and have therefore been removed from the popular pairing list:

Alicia x Leighton (The Sex Lives of College Girls)

Amy Silva x Kirsten Longacre (Vigil)

Andi Agosti x Emília Alo (Rebelde)

Aneela x Delle Seyah Kendry (Killjoys)

Anissa Pierce x Grace Choi (Black Lightning; DCU)

Aster Flores x Ellie Chu (The Half Of It)

Bobbie Draper x Chrisjen Avasarala (The Expanse)

Bonnie Bennett x Nora Hildegard (The Vampire Diaries)

Carol Aird x Therese Belivet (Carol)

Clary Fray x Isabelle Lightwood (The Mortal Instruments)

Cristina Soto x Joana Bianchi (Skam Spain)

Dani Núñez x Gigi Ghorbani (The L Word)

Dina x Sydney Novak (I Am Not Okay With This)

Dorothy Gale x Ruby (Once Upon A Time)

Emily Prentiss x Jennifer Jareau (Criminal Minds)

Eve Polastri x Hélène (Killing Eve)

Fatou Jallow x Kieu My Vu (Druck)

Fleur Delacour x Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

Francesca Findabair x Fringilla Vigo (The Witcher)

Ginny Weasley x Hermione Granger (Harry Potter)

Joann Owosekun x Keyla Detmer (Star Trek: Discovery)

Jules Thomas x Ophelia Mayer (Sweet Vicious)

Kaioh Michiru x Tenoh Haruka (Sailor Moon)

Lauren Bloom x Leyla Shinwari (New Amsterdam)

Mace Brown x Marie Schmidt (The 355)

Margaery Tyrell x Sansa Stark (A Song of Ice and Fire)

Mia Reed x Vada Cavell (The Fallout)

Nicole Haught x Waverly Earp (Wynonna Earp)

Nyssa al Ghul x Sara Lance (Arrow)

Raiden Ei x Yae Miko (Genshin Impact)

[pixiestix05]

the coastal grandmother aesthetic

The coastal grandmother aesthetic, term coined by TikToker Lexi Nicoleta, is one of the many niche aesthetics making its rounds of the internet right now- and my personal favorite. It represents a life spent valuing the little things, romanticized by the image of a slow-paced, quaint, seaside summer. A coastal grandma is typically an affluent older woman, a confident, lives-life-on-her-own-terms sort of person enjoying a slower summer by the coast before she returns to her busy urban worklife. The aesthetic is defined by comfy-chic clothing, knickknacks reminiscent of the ocean, and an emphasis on a life well lived.

Of course, it isn’t a necessity to be a grandmother or live in a quaint beach town to embody this aesthetic- at its essence, the coastal grandma aesthetic is all about romanticizing everyday life, breezy, chic clothing and a relaxed small-town vibe

Here’s how you can embrace the coastal grandma in you!

ACCESSORIES: delicate gold jewelry, sunglasses, sunhats, straw tote bags, hair scarfs

FOODS: freshly picked fruit, homemade sandwiches, lemonade

ACTIVITIES: long walks on pretty streets, cooking with ingredients from the garden, beach picnics, book club with friends, thrifting quaint knickknacks

MUSIC: a good playlist sets the mood! Consider the below songs your soundtrack to a coastal grandma summer:

Beyond the Sea by Bobby Darin

Feeling Good by Michael Buble

La vie en Rose by Elaine Paige

Girl from Ipanema by Esther Phillips

Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters

Do you Wanna Dance by Bette Middler

Blue Skies by Ella Fitzgerald

Come Away with Me by Norah Jones

Summertime by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald

The Writer by Elle Goulding

Carolina by Taylor Swift

Flowers in Your Hair by the Lumineers

Starting over by Chris Stapleton

[yatescountyhistorycenter]

The fascinating life and mysterious death of Helen M.T. Ayres

By C.J. Thompson

After reading the story, “Clippings from Fanny’s Bible,” written by M. Laura Race in the March /April 2023 issue of Yates Past, I was compelled to do more research on the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Miss Helen M. T. Ayres. The newspaper clipping described that Helen hadn’t been seen all day on Thursday, January 26, 1899. The neighbors became very concerned, as she hadn’t appeared for her usual meal at the Knapp House.

Once authorities obtained a key from the man who had worked on her furnace, they – along with Mrs. Bower, a neighbor – searched her home without success until one of them opened her old Saratoga trunk, which she apparently let her Angora cats sleep in (with the lid opened). They found Helen in the trunk kneeling with her head on the tray cleat with a bottle of chloroform that was opened near her face. Was this a murder or a suicide? Who was the man who took care of her furnace?

She was born Helen M. Turner on October 11, 1840, in Ovid, Seneca County to John Turner and Susannah Ayres. John and Susannah died in 1842 in Elmira, Chemung County. One of Susannah’s older half-brothers, Lewis Smalley Ayres, and his wife, Esther McLellan, adopted Helen, as they had no children of their own. Lewis had lost his mother and another sibling during a difficult childbirth when he was just 3 years old, and his mother was only 19 years old.

In order to better understand all of Helen’s amazing achievements for a woman living in the 19th century, I delved into the lives of her adoptive parents. Lewis was born on January 29, 1811, in Trumansburg, Tompkins County to Nathaniel Ayres and Susannah Coddington.

At the age of 17 in 1828, he went to Ithaca to learn the hatter’s trade. He married Esther McLellan in 1832, and they settled in Penn Yan, where he purchased stock in the hat business of Eleanor Jenkins. Lewis later sold his shares in the hat store for health issues to Lewis B. Mandeville.

In 1835, Lewis and William Griffin established a dry goods business and he worked there for about a year. His next venture, in 1841, was a hardware business with partners William Whitney and Oliver Stark on the corner of Main and Elm streets. Subsequent to the dissolution of the partnership before 1850, Lewis created an insurance agency, where he worked for the remainder of his life. He was also active in political affairs and held a high position in the Masonic order.

Interestingly, the hardware store now known as Pinckney Ace Hardware remains in the same location where a hardware business first began more than 180 years ago. A fire in March 1985 did extensive damage to the building, but the building was salvageable and has been renovated. The hardware business in this location has had numerous partnerships that served Penn Yan and surrounding areas, including Armstrong & Gage, Armstrong & Hollowell, and Hollowell & Wise. Sons would either purchase their father’s shares or inherit their shares when they died.

Between 1836 and 1841, Lewis also held various town offices, being a village trustee for Penn Yan and a superintendent of the Crooked Lake Canal, and he worked under the Pierce and Buchanan administrations for eight years. Lewis died at home on May 14, 1876 at age 66. Helen had been his assistant early on and then became his partner in the insurance agency for numerous years and now assumed control of the business, located on the Knapp House block on Main Street.

Esther Ayres was born in 1810 in Johnstown, Fulton County. Her parents were Archibald McLellan and Isabella McIntyre. I traced Isabella’s maternal side back to 1492 to her 10th great-grandfather, John MacIntyre, who was born in Strathclyde, Scotland. All of the men in this line were chieftains of Clan MacIntyre. Isabella and Archibald were both born in Scotland and married there at the young age of 16.  According to Esther’s obituary in the Penn Yan Express, dated September 17, 1879, her parents headed to America shortly after marriage. It is unknown if Esther displayed any attributes from her Scottish ancestors. The port of Glasgow, Scotland was the starting point of Helen’s European trip itinerary in the summer of 1888, onboard the S.S. Furnessia of the Anchor Line.

Did Helen perceive education and hard work exemplified by her father as a key to her success or did social discrimination lead Helen to attend college? Lewis was dedicated to his family and the small community of Penn Yan. Helen first appeared with her parents in the 1850 U.S. Census, living in Penn Yan. Esther was listed as a homemaker in the Census from 1855 to 1875. It is mentioned in Esther’s obituary, dated September 10, 1879, that she had become an invalid in her later years. Three different servants were also listed as living in the household between 1860 and 1875.

Helen was a woman ahead of her time; she attended Elmira Female College from 1855 to 1859 and was one of 17 women in the first graduating class. She was only 15 years old when she started classes there. Being first in alphabetical order, Helen was handed the first diploma. Helen later presented her diploma back to the college as a gift, and it now hangs in the College Archives.

Elmira Female College was founded as a college for women in 1855, and it is the oldest existing college in the United States granting degrees to women equivalent to those given to men. Helen, along with other women of her class, would have lived in the first college building known as Cowles Hall. The women would also attend classes and dine there.

In the Troy Weekly Times, dated July 26, 1856, an article describes a fire at 212 Liberty St. in Penn Yan and how 15-year-old Helen M. T. Ayres was badly burned. Fire ignited by fluid in a lamp consumed her dress and burned her flesh. William Gaumann, of Leroy, was there and burned as well. Given the time frame, Helen must have been home from college on summer break. Helen did not let the burns stop her from attending the Fall 1856 semester at Elmira female College.

The article is brief and doesn’t give details on the severity or where on Helen’s body she was burned. This could be another clue that may have played a role in Helen’s death. In those days, it was common to prescribe chloroform to treat pain.

It was exciting to view a photograph of Helen on FamilySearch. The following excerpt is from the original copy of her passport written by Helen, dated June 21, 1888 in Penn Yan: “Enclosed please find application for a passport. Our trip will include Scotland, England, Ireland, Wales, France, Germany and Switzerland. As I could not give a very description of myself, I enclose a photograph from what of myself, so that you will be able to file the passport more intelligently. Please return at once as we sail next week, signed Helen M.T. Ayres.”

She had also included money for her friend and neighbor, Miss Helen Baxter, to accompany her on this voyage. Helen and her friend, Helen Baxter, were two of the 207 passengers aboard the S.S. Furnessia. It appears Helen either jotted this note hurriedly or maybe it was a sign of an underlying health issue that would return later down the road.

Helen did not let her rural upbringing deter her from attaining her goals.  She was only 5 feet tall and wanted her voice to be heard. Helen is not listed in the U.S. Federal Census for Penn Yan from 1860 to 1870. She reappears in 1875.

In a letter dated February 6, 1955, Sidney E. Ayres, of the Penn Yan Printing Company and editor of The Chronicle-Express, wrote to Mr. Barber of Elmira: “Helen had apparently taught and was a preceptress in one or more southern schools for about 10 years after graduation, according to a pile of letters from her former pupils. Family legend tells that the feeling ran so high against her as a Yankee teacher, at one time that she was sent home through the lines by a Confederate gunboat and transferred under a flag of truce to a Union gunboat on the Mississippi, I presume.”  Although Sidney E. Ayres, a relative of Helen’s, never found any proof of that happening.

It is interesting to note that Helen and other family members – Stephen B. Ayres Jr., his wife, Harriet, and son Malcolm claim that they were all born in England, in the 1892 U.S. Census. Was it possible for all of them to be hiding from someone? If so, who?

Helen was actively involved with her alma mater after graduation and took many trips with friends and students attending Elmira Female College. One such trip was documented by Montreal Printing and Publishing, dated 1871. On this trip, passengers would travel on the Northern Central Railway as well as the Royal Mail Line of steamers. The tour included the Hudson River; Trenton Falls; Toronto, Ontario; Montreal, Quebec; the Thousand Islands; and the St. Lawrence River.

Like her father, Helen was an active participant in her community. Among her many achievements, she served not only on the board of the Penn Yan Public Library, which was founded in 1895, but also was the first librarian there. She was one of the founders of the 19th Century Club. Club members took many trips and one of their favorite places to go was Lake Luzerne. Helen hosted numerous lawn parties that included members along with their children at her home at 212 Liberty St. in Penn Yan.

Her house was located next to where the Michael Sterns Clothing Factory once was, and the house was demolished in 1956 in order to accommodate a much-needed expansion for the Michael Sterns Clothing Factory. Aldi is there now.

In April 1873, Sibyl, Elmira Female College’s literary magazine, stated, “We learned that Helen M. T. Ayres, is at present engaged in writing a book.” Helen purchased a Remington typewriter in December 1884 in Syracuse according to an article in the Yates County Chronicle. The Remington typewriter was manufactured by gun makers E. Remington and Sons, of Ilion, in 1874.

The Shakespeare Club was another club Helen was active in, and according to various newspaper articles she went from secretary in October 1883 to president at the December 9, 1898, meeting. The club meetings were held at different members’ homes. According to her obituary, she had sent out notes the day before her questionable death, assigning members parts for the next meeting on the second Friday of every month.

Why would Helen send out notes for the Shakespeare Club on the day before she was found “possibly positioned” in her Saratoga trunk? According to witnesses, she had gone to supper on Wednesday evening, and by all appearances seemed to be her normal, lighthearted self. However, she did purchase a 6-ounce bottle of chloroform earlier in the day. Who was the chloroform for?

In the past, known by her closest family and friends, Helen had purchased chloroform from the local druggist to provide her treasured Angora cats – who were very sick and had no hope of surviving – a more tranquil way to pass. On her death certificate, the Manner of Death was documented as “Chloroform Administered by herself.”

How did the police and possible witnesses of Helen come to that conclusion? There surely must have been an inquest. Given the year of the incident, Helen’s house may have not been secured as a potential homicide site. Those who walked into the home and touched things in search of Helen may have contaminated any evidence.

It is also mentioned in her obituary that there had been a handkerchief saturated with chloroform on the nightstand bedside Helen’s bed along with a smaller container of chloroform. Were these items placed there specifically to throw the authorities off the possibility of murder?

Furthermore, there had been what appeared to be a slight irritation on Helen’s face as she was lifted from the Saratoga trunk and placed back on her bed. According to those who were present, her bed looked as though she had been in her bed prior to the trunk.

Neighbors had mentioned that before her untimely death, she had suffered a severe attack of the grippe, commonly known today as influenza, and that it had left her weak and suffering from insomnia. Chloroform can make an individual sleepy quickly, but how long they sleep depends upon how much of the chloroform they were exposed to. Is it possible that Helen neglected the power of this drug?  

The Penn Yan community had lost an intelligent and vibrant individual who by all accounts was happiest when helping others. Family, friends, and business acquaintances alike were dumbfounded as to why Helen M. T. Ayres would end her life in such a matter when all circumstances gave the impression of her going about happily as she would any day.

Nothing in her will, dated and signed on May 31, 1893, seems out of the ordinary. She listed items she wanted to go to specific family members and friends. At the time of her death, the value of personal property did not exceed $2,500. The last sentence in her will reads, “I do this in token of affection, and as a recognition of their affection for me, believing as I do that they, better than any other living persons, love me.”

Her obituary was in the Yates County Chronicle and the British Whig of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Helen was mentioned in the Chronicle, dated February 1, 1899, by other members of the 19th Century Club: “Our dear friend was kind, generous, thoughtful for each member-the perfect embodiment of unselfishness.”

Although my research on Helen M. T. Ayres is finished, I am fascinated by all that she accomplished in her life. The tenacity that she had challenged her to do things that most women would not have dared to do during that time period. I am now able to put her story to rest, but I will always wonder whether she truly did administer the chloroform herself.

[rockislandadultreads]

Book Recommendations: New Mysteries Hitting Our Shelves

The Sanctuary by Katrine Engberg

Jeppe Kørner, on leave from the police force and nursing a broken heart, has taken refuge on the island of Bornholm for the winter. Also on the island is Esther de Laurenti, a writer with a mysterious path who is working on a biography. When Jeppe lends a helping hand at the island’s local sawmill, he begins to realize that the island may not be the peaceful refuge it appears to be. Before he knows it, Jeppe unwittingly finds himself in the crosshairs of a sinister mystery rooted in the past, forcing him to team up with Esther to unravel the island’s secrets before it’s too late.

This is the fifth volume in the “Korner and Werner” series. 

Of Manners and Murder by Anastasia Hastings

1885: London. When Violet's Aunt Adelia decides to abscond with her newest paramour, she leaves behind her role as the most popular Agony Aunt in London, "Miss Hermione," in Violet's hands. And of course, the first letter Violet receives is full, not of prissy pondering, but of portent. Ivy Armstrong is in need of help and fears for her life. But when Violet visits the village where the letters were posted, she finds that Ivy is already dead. She'll quickly discover that when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in Britain, both marauding husbands and murder are par for the course.

This is the first volume in the “Dear Miss Hermione” series. 

Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron

It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop. Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, however, Ricki is determined to uncover the culprit.

This is the second volume in the “Vintage Cookbook Mystery” series. 

Murder Your Employer by Rupert Holmes

Who hasn’t wondered for a split second what the world would be like if a person who is the object of your affliction ceased to exist? But then you’ve probably never heard of The McMasters Conservatory, dedicated to the consummate execution of the homicidal arts. To gain admission, a student must have an ethical reason for erasing someone who deeply deserves a fate no worse (nor better) than death. The campus of this “Poison Ivy League” college is where you might find yourself the practice target of a classmate, and where one’s mandatory graduation thesis is getting away with the perfect murder.

[wexhappyxfew]

why hello friends - since my last post a few days ago, i’ve seen finally gotten to thanksgiving break AND am nearly done all applications for grad school! and with my brain having time to actually ya know…breathe, i’ve rekindled my excitement with ATTDC for band of brothers….not sure if i still have people interests in that (or remember that fic lmao) but i have some good ideas and some of what i’ve written but yet to publish just really makes me happy i wrote it so…more of that in the future :)

[entrelac]

intel

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I'm done with you!

[sakurajjam]

pode me sugerir fcs com uma vibe de patricinha? sem etnia ou nacionalidade especifica, só quero que tenha ou consiga passar como alguém de 21-24 anos

Claro que posso, pompurin! Juntei algumas meninas que adoro e vejo se encaixando no que pediu, espero te ajudar.

Alba Baptista (1997)

Alisha Boe (1997)

Anya Taylor Joy (1996)

Aslihan Malbora (1995)

Bae Joohyun, Irene (1991)

Bruna Marquezine (1995)

Camila Mendes (1994)

Cho Miyeon (1997)

Choi Yena (1999)

Cierra Ramirez (1995)

Coco Jones (1998)

Davika Hoorne (1992)

Devyn Nekoda (2000)

Elle Fanning (1998)

Emilija Baranac (1994)

Emily Alyn Lynd (2002)

Esther Yu (1995)

Giulia Be (1999)

Huh Yunjin (2001)

Jennie Kim (1996)

Jeon Somi (2001)

Jessica Alexander (1999)

Josefine Frida Pettersen (1996)

Joy Sunday (1996)

Ju Jingyi (1994)

Kim Chaewon (2000)

Kim Minjeong, Winter (2001)

Kim Minju (2001)

Komatsu Nana (1996)

Kristine Froseth (1995)

Madelyn Cline (1997)

Maia Reficco (2000)

Marina Ruy Barbosa (1995)

Maris Racal (1997)

Minatozaki Sana (1996)

Mook Mookda Narinrak (1996)

Ning Yizhuo, Ningning (2002)

Özge Yağız (1997)

Park Chaeyoung, Rosé (1997)

Park Sooyoung, Joy (1996)

Priscilla Quintana (1992)

Rebecca Patricia Armstrong (2002)

Ryan Destiny (1995)

Sabrina Carpenter (1999)

Savannah Lee Smith (2000)

Simone Ashley (1995)

Sofia Carson (1993)

Uchinaga Ari, Giselle (2000)

Yeh Shuhua (2000)

Yoo Minji, Karina (2000)

Zhao Lusi (1998)

Zion Moreno (1992, Trans)

[mercurygray]

@wexhappyxfew said:

hey merc!!! i’m just managing to slide in one of my OCs for Thankful Thursday and i’m honestly so grateful too because that means a little break, a time to be thankful, and some recuperation from the chaos everyone seems to be in for some reason 🫠 so! i wanted to submit a character below! thank you for this! it’ll be nice to see everyone’s characters tomorrow :))

Esther Armstrong was introduced last year, but she’s come a long way from where she’s been living in my mind for the past 3 years and so:

Esther Armstrong is a Bryn-Mawr graduate and a war correspondent with Easy Company alongside her trusted companion and photographer, Mercy Codona. Esther is level-headed, intelligent, and viewed as a leader by many of the men, not only from the way she acts around them, but her actions as a member of Easy Company. (Basically - if you go through shit, she’ll go through it, too.) Esther is usually found hanging around Mercy or Floyd Talbert, in the company of jokes and laughter, especially considering who her two closest friends are. She spends many nights in Aldbourne writing to family or writing up details of the training and her travels, and eventually begins drafting an idea for an autobiography, entitled Stroke of Luck, which documents her time in the war and all the stories from Easy Company during their time together. Her time in the war isn’t easy,but she uses her ability to make meaningful connections, form trust and loyalty with her companions and a ear to ensure the ability to continue forward in a war such as this. Esther can be found in And Then The Dawn Came, along with Mercy and a handful of other OCs!

AO3: And Then The Dawn Came Tumblr:[ and then the dawn came tag]

Thanks for sharing her, Shannon! I hope you have a great holiday and some needed rest, too!

[soulmusicsongs]

Female Funk

Female Funk is a list of great female soul singers you might have forgotten. Soul singers with unforgettable voices and iconic songs. Listen to 20 female soul songs!

Baby I’m Leaving You - Geraldine Jones (Baby I’m Leaving You / When You Get Tired Of Me, 1964)

Baby Your A Jive Cat - Sheila Wilkerson (Baby Your A Jive Cat /Can You Do It, 1969)

Boog-A-Dunk - (Sweet Linda Divine, 1970)

Candy Man - Josephine Jones (Candy Man / Candy Man (Instrumental), 197?)

Feelin Good - Sunday’s Child (Sunday’s Child, 1970)

I Can’t Live Without You - Byrdie Green (Sister Byrdie!, 1968)

I Don’t Mind Doin’ It - Jackie Lavant & The Fashions (What Goes Up / I Don’t Mind Doin’ It, 1972)

I'm Not Trying To Make You Pay Pt. 1 - Brenda George (I'm Not Trying To Make You Pay Pt. 1 / I'm Not Trying To Make You Pay Pt. 2, 1971)

The Lady, The Doctor And The Prescription - Inez Foxx (Inez Foxx At Memphis, 1973)

Money Honey - Esther Marrow (Newport News, Virginia, 1970)

Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line - Pat Lundy (Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line / Only Mama That’ll Walk The Line, 1970)

Sad But True - Elaine Armstrong (Sad But True / Precious Minutes, 1968)

Somebody’s Been Lovin’ You (But It Ain’t Been Me) - Jean Wells (Somebody’s Been Lovin’ You (But It Ain’t Been Me) / He Ain’t Doing Bad, 1970)

They're Coming To Take Me Away - Rose Brooks (They're Coming To Take Me Away / I'm Moanin', 1966)

Things Got to Get Better (Get Together) - Marva Whitney (It’s my Thing, 1969)

Think About Me - Marlena Shaw (Just a Matter of Time, 1976)

This Is The Me Me (Not The You You) - Brenda Jones With Groove Holmes (This Is The Me Me (Not The You You) / Morning Children, 1976)

Tightrope - Ten Wheel Drive With Genya Ravan (Construction #1, 1969)

Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone - Sandy Gaye (Talk is Cheap / Watch The Dog That Bring The Bone, 1969)

You - Spanky Wilson (Doin’ It, 1969)

More Soul Music

Female Funk

Feminist Soul Music: 10 songs

Female Soul in 25 songs

Female Soul, Part 2

Female Soul, part 3

Female Soul in 50 songs

[bruiisedpetals-a]

polite request for help!    i’ve lost a fair few work shifts due to my back injury, and now our hours have changed so i’m losing an an hour and a half per shift on top of that, my rent has gone up as well so i’m stressing.    i only have seven gif packs up thus far, but if anyone is interested —   please do give it a look? ofc a reblog would help as well 🙏🏾

          PETALS PACKS:  [HERE]   ;  esther yu as chu li in moonlight & as yu mei ren in a romance of a little forest,  viva bianca as ilithyia in spartacus,   brooke williams as aurelia in spartacus, model & influencer caroline hu,  jaime pressly as tina armstrong in doa: dead or alive, devon aoki as princess kasumi in doa: dead or alive.