The Day

[pyat]

In addition to paper plane flying and photography, today involved the succesful second launch and retrieval of our model rocket with the girls, a trip to the hardware store, installation of a coat rack, a visit to the local comic shop (where Elizabeth spent her allowance on Carl Barks Donald Duck reprints), snuggling on the couch with small girls, and a trip to an antique book store in Burlington.

I picked up Witch Wood, a 1927 fantasy/horror novel by former Canadian governor general, John Buchan. Buchan is an author I've always wanted to read, based on a passing reference to his works in the C.S. Lewis SF/fantasy, That Hideous Strength. A similar passing reference in the same book pointed me to George MacDonald's almost forgotten Curdie books, which I enjoyed immensely. The book dealer had a number of Buchan novels, and if I like this one, I'll go back there.

I also picked up a present for velvetpage!


I expected this 1888 reference to be full of hilariously outdated personal advice.



It mostly seems to be quite sensible. It advises against corsetry, as unnatural. It gives advice on things like treating cracked or sore nipples while nursing. While it gives a recipe for "artificial milk," it stresses it that it should only be used when a mother's milk is not available.


Aha! Here's a bit of quaintness. "Ceasing to be unwell" as a sign of pregnancy. Interesting use of words. Though, I suppose "period" is just as much a euphemism for menstruation.


We worry about trace amounts of lead paint in Chinese toys. In 1888, toymakers were selling your kids arsenic and lead kits.


Sorry about the blur here - this passage recommends the rhythm method to avoid having too many kids. It also notes that masturbation is still dangerous even if there are two people involved...

Comments

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

OMG, I want that book!

[pyat.livejournal.com]

There was an even bigger and cooler tome with a similar theme, if you're interested!

[snobahr.livejournal.com]

I've found some copies listed on Amazon, but I'm interested in the arcane tome you have unearthed.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

It was $48 CDN - perhaps we could set up some kind of trade? :) Email me!

[waiwode.livejournal.com]

My friend has a whole series of these, for girl, boys, and young married men and women, written about two decades later.

Men, I have learned, should bend vigorously. It helps them remain spry.

Doug.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Well, naturally. It stimulates the phagocytes, and prevents blood poisoning!

[mrs-dm.livejournal.com]

Oh, oh, I've got it; "Congratulations, velvetpage, on ceasing-to-be-unwell" (that is, when she's feeling well again).

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Any day now, I hope!

[anidada.livejournal.com]

I have a couple of books like this, somewhere. I enjoy collecting obsolete "manuals" and laughing at them. Even more fun nowadays, as I spend a large amount of my workday redesigning factsheets the contents of which would make the authors of these old tomes turn over in their graves. :D

[pyat.livejournal.com]

...which would make the authors of these old tomes turn over in their graves.

I believe O.S. Fowler's (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orson_Squire_Fowler) grave actually exploded at some point in the mid-60s.

[easyalchemy.livejournal.com]

I was puzzled as to what ceasing to be unwell could possibly mean, until I read your comment.

I love John Buchan. Huntingtower, Castle Gay and The House of the Four Winds are endlessly delightful; I have many of his other works, too, but find I don't enjoy them as much because I so completely love Dickson McGunn and Jaikie and Allison and Scotland, which is almost as much a character as the others.

I found Greenmantle and The 39 Steps and The Dancing Floor less engaging, but I think it's only because I read Huntingtower first. I highly recommend them all, especially as so many of his very tense chases (and much of a lot of his books) take place on foot over Scotland; making a brisk walk through lovely and fairly friendly country seem suspenseful is no mean feat.

[easyalchemy.livejournal.com]

Um, y'know, some of that was not supposed to be italicized, but I'm too tired to edit it.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the ecommendations, though. :)

[relee.livejournal.com]

I don't know... She kinda says "The Cessation of the monthly period" on that third page you showed. Are you sure that ceasing-to-be-unwell is that? I thought it might describe morning sickness.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

http://books.google.ca/books?id=8rML6yfTYNoC&pg=PA51&lpg=PA51&dq=ceasing+to+be+unwell&source=bl&ots=AWiEczn60L&sig=tHz1yr5iNB-HnTEkv-jZhtwaSQM&hl=en&ei=SQLGSfH1Ht_qnQfSqIWSDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result

[relee.livejournal.com]

That book is on Google Book Search as a full work? Geez. XD

My dad tried to figure that out a while back but was disappointed they hardly have any books. They do have the Wind in the Willows and The Wizard of Oz but not much else came up on my searching. XD

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Nah, that's another text that mentions the use of the term as a Victorian polite phrase.

[relee.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see!

[sassy-fae.livejournal.com]

You might enjoy a similar book I've found, but it was done by Edward Gorey, so the slant might be somewhat different ;)

The Recently Deflowered Girl (http://www.joeydevilla.com/2009/01/10/the-recently-deflowered-girl-1965-illustrated-by-edward-gorey/)

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Somewhere, somehow, I've read that one already!