Dear Subscriber,
Welcome to June! Here in Maryland we are having an early cicada invasion. Part of the "brood" that was not expected to come crawling out of the ground until 2021 has decided, for reasons that are baffling local scientists and experts, to emerge now. Consequently the trees are filled not just with the normal sound of cicadas (for which it's a bit early anyway) but with a pulsating "woo-woo-woo" that sounds as if the Martians are landing. We're told, of course, that it's literally cicadas wooing one another... I suppose Marylanders of the Victorian era must have also experienced cicada invasions (though they probably didn't think to compare them to visiting Martians). I wonder what they thought of them? Probably just took them for granted as part of life! Cicadas are surely among the most fascinatingly ugly bugs of this world - when they first emerge from their little grub husks they are both ugly and amazingly beautiful. (They also can't fly right away, which provides all sorts of opportunities for some great photos. It also makes the hungry birds happy!)
In other nature news, two sets of goslings have finally appeared on the nearby pond - one set still in the "golden downy puffball" stage that means they're fairly recently hatched, the other in the awkward gawky stage that suggests they came out around Mother's Day - which has been the traditional "first gosling sighting" day on the pond. Squirrels are rebuilding their nest in the oak tree, and this concludes my attempt to bring you a nature article along the lines of, say, John Burroughs or Olive Thorne Miller. And now, besides squirrels and cicadas, here's what we have for June:
- Amateur Ballooning (Century, 1886) Going up isn't so bad, but coming down can become quite exciting...
- Wedding "At Homes" for People of Small Incomes (GOP, 1891) Tips on hosting a summer country wedding, including a host of recipes.
- A June Wedding (Demorest, 1888)A charming look at a Victorian wedding in June.
- Tapestry Painting (GOP, 1889) Beautiful Fred Miller designs for paint or embroidery.
- A Study in Backs (The Lady's Realm, 1902) From the back: The respectable woman, the horsey woman, the vulgar woman, the "new" woman, and so on.
- Hospital Days and Hospital Ways (The Strand, 1895) A ten-week stay at a London hospital makes for interesting reading - not least because the physican makes his rounds with his terrier, Peter!
- Novel Nut Confections (CFM, 1894) The tantalizing delicacies in this article include Almond and Chocolate Paste, Almond Aigrettes, and Walnut Cake.
- Animal Jealousies (CFM, 1893) "The most striking developments of jealousy are to be found among the animals brought most closely into contact with man."
- June (CFM, 1875) A monthly series on the seasons in the English countryside - the birds, beasts, and flowers to be seen, along with tips on what to do in the garden, and natural history notes. This installment looks at the wealth of wildflowers - both domestic and "imported" - to be found in the British countryside this month.
- Precious Stones: Their Homes, Histories and Influence (GOP, 1894) This month: The "Unlucky" Opal.
- Things in Season, in Market and Kitchen (GOP, 1899) Suggested menu for the month, based on what is to be found in the market, and what is appropriate for the weather.
- Fashion Curiosities of a Century (The Strand, 1892)
- Fiction: The Author of "The Lion and the Lamb" (Century, 1883) A delightful piece from the author of "The Lady or the Tiger" - Who wrote a famous book? Who didn't!
Visit http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/issues/VT-1706.shtml to download this issue!
Or download it directly from DropBox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/klxirq0rsrynkkg/VT-1706.pdf?dl=0
Victorian Times Quarterly #12
Victorian Times Quarterly #12 is coming at the end of the month! This volume will feature the April, May and June 2017 issues of Victorian Times, in a lovely, easy-to-read print edition. Here's what you'll find in this volume:
- Peculiar Wills and Hiding Places for Wills
- A Month-by-Month Guide to Garden, Field and Countryside
- A Visit with a Tribe of American Gypsies
- Women on Wheels: Women Tricyclists
- A Glossary of French Cooking Terms
- How to Make an Easter-Egg Tea Set
- The Lore and History of Precious Stones, Parts 4-6 (Rubies & Sapphires, Emeralds, and Opals
- The Lore Surrounding Mustard and Cress
- A Couple's Walking Tour in Britain
- Animal Justice: Animal "Trials by Jury"
- English Ladies in Washington DC
- Dinner at the London Zoo
- A Look at Some "Politically Correct" Words for 1860
- How to Manage a Musical Party
- Tips on Camping on the Thames
- Favorite American Dishes
- Designing Flannel Tapestry Embroideries
- Living in Europe on a Shoestring
- Some Victorian Superstitions
- An Amateur Balloonist's Aerial Adventures
- How to Host a Country Wedding "At Home" on a Budget
- Beautiful Designs for Tapestry Painting
- A Stay in a London Hospital
- A June Wedding, American-Style
- Delicious Nut Treats
- Some Jealous Pets
- A Study in Backs
- Short Fiction: The Wrong Baby; The Author of "The Lion and the Lamb"
- Plus loads of poetry, illustrations, trivia, recipes, household hints and more!
Find out more at http://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/VTQ/VTQ12.shtml
Summer is here - enjoy!
Your Intrepid Editor,
Moira Allen
