Virtual Office Thursday already
Thursday, 23 July 2015 12:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
byslantedlightMorning! Ordinary office today, I think, cos there was a Riverford delivery, and I've an appointment in the village in a bit, but that means I definitely need to brighten the day up! I've been thinking about my Victorian story a lot lately (remember that? - gosh, just over a year ago now...). I wrote 50k of it for NaNoWriMo last year, but god it was dull and dreary, so I need to tear it down and start again. Also, recent inspiration has made me realise something that was missing. Here are some clues... *g* 
And then there's my newspaper project - I've subscribed for ages to British Newspaper Archive, and I've also wanted for ages to read the day's paper for the year that my story is set, to get a feel for what people were talking and thinking about, so I'm starting that today too! In today's news...
The Coming of Cetawayo, Zulu king from South Africa - "a perfect type of the savage hero"... "We all know the Zulu war was an unjustifiable war; we all know that the deposition and imprisonment of Cetawayo was unjust as well as unpolitic..." (Lloyd's Weekly News)
Cetshwayo kaMpande (From Wiki): In 1878, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, British High Commissioner for South Africa and, sought to confederate South Africa the same way Canada had been, and felt that this could not be done while there was a powerful and independent Zulu state. So he began to demand reparations for border infractions and forced his subordinates to send carping messages complaining about Cetshwyo's rule, seeking to provoke the Zulu King. They succeeded, but Cetshwayo kept his calm, considering the British to be his friends and being aware of the power of the British army. He did, however, state that he and Frere were equals and since he did not complain about how Frere ruled, the same courtesy should be observed by Frere in regards to Zululand. Eventually, Frere issued an ultimatum that demanded that he should effectively disband his army. His refusal led to the Zulu War in 1879, though it should be noted that he continually sought to make peace after the first battle at Isandhlwana. After an initial crushing but costly Zulu victory over the British at the Battle of Isandlwana, and the failure of the other two columns of the three pronged British attack to make headway - indeed, one was bogged down in the Siege of Eshowe - the British retreated, other columns suffering two further defeats to Zulu armies in the field at the Battle of Intombe and the Battle of Hlobane. However, the British follow-up victories at the famous Battle of Rorke's Drift and the Battle of Kambula restored some British pride. While this retreat gave the chance for a Zulu counter-attack deep into Natal, Cetshwayo refused, his intention only being to repulse the British, not provoke further reprisals.
However, the British then returned to Zululand with a far larger and better armed force, finally capturing the Zulu capital at the Battle of Ulundi, in which the British, having learned their lesson from their defeat at Isandlwana, set up a hollow square on the open plain, armed with cannons and Gatling Guns. The battle lasted approximately 45 minutes before the British unleashed the cavalry to rout the Zulus. After Ulundi was taken and torched on 4 July, Cetshwayo was deposed and exiled, first to Cape Town, and then to London...
From 1881, his cause had been taken up by, among others, Lady Florence Dixie, correspondent of the London Morning Post, who wrote articles and books in his support. This, along with his gentle and dignified manner, gave rise to public sympathy and the sentiment that he had been ill-used and shoddily treated by Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford.
Interesting - the newspaper doesn't seem to think he's being exiled... I must look that up in more detail. Oh, and A blue plaque commemorates Cetshwayo at 18 Melbury Road, Kensington.
Cricket - "Australians v. Yorkshire - Yesterday the Colonial won this contest at Middlesborough by seven wickets the Yorkshirement totalling 129 and 140, against 222, and the necessary 48 to win." (Lloyd's Weekly News)
The State of Ireland - "A number of persons were arrested in the west of Ireland for being out after sunset without lawful business.
A farmer named Allis, who resides... reported to the police that while walking along the road near Hollyford he was fired at by two men, but was not struck. Two persons have been arrested on suspicion. The outrage is believed to be of an agrarian character.
A series of moonlight outrages have been committed on the Rev. Michael Scully, parish priest, of Kensh, near Boyle, because in conjunction with his brother he had taken the grazing of a small farm from Mr Phibbs, Curradsey. A peasant handed him a threatening letter at his own door and presented a revolver at him. The priest called for help and the man escaped. On Monday night the priest's horse was found stabbed in several places.
On Monday night a police patrol at Limerick encountered a party of Moonlighters, and called upon them to surrender. The Moonlighters, in reply, fired, and the police returned the fire, wounding three of their assailants.
The driver of the mail car was attached at Sixmilebridge by a party of men, and brutally beaten, but the mails were left intact. THe driver had taken premises from which another man had been evicted." (Reynold's Weekly News)
House of Commons reports - The Channel Tunnel - Sir Harry Verney asked whether the works of the Channel Tunnel had been stopped, and whether the work had been carried beyond the low water mark. Mr Chamberlain stated that on the 20th March last the Board of Trade received a plan, showing htat on that day the works of the Channel TUnnel had nearly attained the limits of the low water mark... On the 6th the secretary to the Submarine Railway consented, but asked that some work necessary for the protection of life should be done. On the 9th the Board of Trade ordered the works to be stopped...
The entertainment column:
Princess's Theatr - Every Evening at Eight, "The Romany Rye" by George R. Sims...At 7.30, A Photographic Fright.
"Pluck" (A Story of £50,000) - A New Sensational and Domestic Drama...
Lyceum Theatre - Romeo and Juliet (125th Performance) every evening at 8.0
Globe Theatre - The Vicar of Bray... a new and original English Comic Opera, in two Acts...
Marion, The Giant Amazon Queen, At the Royal Alhambra Theatre every evening, in the magnificent Silver Armour Scene in the enormously successful Fairy Extravaganza 'Babil and Bijou'. This young lady was born on the 31st Jauary, 1866...at a village in the Thuringian Mountains, Germany, and has attained the remarkable height of 8 feet 2 inches, and is still growing. Notice - The success is so great, that it is absolutely necessary to be early to get seats.
Midgets - Imperial Theatre. Royal American Midgets. General Mite, the Smallest Man in the World, now in his 18th year. Actual weight, 9lbs... Patronised by her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, &c., &c., &c., &c., &c. Admission afternoon or evening, One Shilling.
Victoria Hall - Messrs Poole in Egypt. More new pictures. Great success and grand reception of the New Panorama, illustrative of Alexandria, Cairo and the Suez Canal. Every event of importance and place of interest vividly depicted, in addition to the Mammoth Diorama of the World. Great Concert Company and Banda. Admission 6d. to £1.1s.
I am fascinated by this - I want the column back in today's newspapers, and I rather want the job of answering the questions! Now, what do you think they were?!Notices to Correspondents:
Wilts.-1. We should think not. 2. We don't think you can compel him to. You should have seen to it when you took the ground. 3. We cannot say without knowing more of the circumstances.
Bill Blades - If she applies for an order against your son you had better resist it with such evidence as you can produce to show she is leading an immoral life.
Alexandria.-1. Yes; the consent of parents and guardians is only required for minors. 2. An ordinary license costs about £2 2s. 3. Your writing is very good.
Warwick. - No.
Charles Hillier (Rotherhithe). - The Life Guards have not been out of the country since the battle of Waterloo.
J.J.E. - 1. England has not gone to war with Egypt. As Mr Gladstone explains it, the fleet only fired on Alexandria in self-defence. 2. No, we do not believe he is engaged in any private business.
E.B.B. - We think not.
T.Smith. - The United States.
P.C. Courtenay.-1. Keep out of the sun. 2. No.
Naros - 1. Either of them. 2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. In England and Wales only. 5. If you think they are married you can ascertain the fact by searching at Somerset House.
D.Barratt. - At Mssrs Eyre and Spottiswoode's, East Harding street, Fetter lane, London, E.C. The price depends upon the length.
H.A. - We do not understand your question.
Tero. - The one with rising gallery, of course.
Corsham, W. - 1. No, you cannot. 2. Not that we are aware of. 3. We are unable to say.
Doubtful. - Yes, a will made on a Sunday is quite legal.
More news as I "pick up" the paper throughout the day, but for now I'd better get on with work - much time has passed since I started this, and it's now just past noon - *headdesk* (ETA - now it's half-past noon - apparently I shouldn't be allowed to read old newspapers either. Oh, but interesting...)
Today's Stuff
Riverford delivery
Bloods
Job 1 pgs 61-70
Job 1 pgs 71-80
Job 1 pgs 81-90
Job 1 pgs 91-100
Job 1 pgs 101-110
Job 1 pgs 111-120
Job 1 pgs 121-125
Hacktrack mile
Practice fiddle
Archery? - No, played Victoriana instead when I should have been working...
And then there's my newspaper project - I've subscribed for ages to British Newspaper Archive, and I've also wanted for ages to read the day's paper for the year that my story is set, to get a feel for what people were talking and thinking about, so I'm starting that today too! In today's news...
The Coming of Cetawayo, Zulu king from South Africa - "a perfect type of the savage hero"... "We all know the Zulu war was an unjustifiable war; we all know that the deposition and imprisonment of Cetawayo was unjust as well as unpolitic..." (Lloyd's Weekly News)
Cetshwayo kaMpande (From Wiki): In 1878, Sir Henry Bartle Frere, British High Commissioner for South Africa and, sought to confederate South Africa the same way Canada had been, and felt that this could not be done while there was a powerful and independent Zulu state. So he began to demand reparations for border infractions and forced his subordinates to send carping messages complaining about Cetshwyo's rule, seeking to provoke the Zulu King. They succeeded, but Cetshwayo kept his calm, considering the British to be his friends and being aware of the power of the British army. He did, however, state that he and Frere were equals and since he did not complain about how Frere ruled, the same courtesy should be observed by Frere in regards to Zululand. Eventually, Frere issued an ultimatum that demanded that he should effectively disband his army. His refusal led to the Zulu War in 1879, though it should be noted that he continually sought to make peace after the first battle at Isandhlwana. After an initial crushing but costly Zulu victory over the British at the Battle of Isandlwana, and the failure of the other two columns of the three pronged British attack to make headway - indeed, one was bogged down in the Siege of Eshowe - the British retreated, other columns suffering two further defeats to Zulu armies in the field at the Battle of Intombe and the Battle of Hlobane. However, the British follow-up victories at the famous Battle of Rorke's Drift and the Battle of Kambula restored some British pride. While this retreat gave the chance for a Zulu counter-attack deep into Natal, Cetshwayo refused, his intention only being to repulse the British, not provoke further reprisals.
However, the British then returned to Zululand with a far larger and better armed force, finally capturing the Zulu capital at the Battle of Ulundi, in which the British, having learned their lesson from their defeat at Isandlwana, set up a hollow square on the open plain, armed with cannons and Gatling Guns. The battle lasted approximately 45 minutes before the British unleashed the cavalry to rout the Zulus. After Ulundi was taken and torched on 4 July, Cetshwayo was deposed and exiled, first to Cape Town, and then to London...
From 1881, his cause had been taken up by, among others, Lady Florence Dixie, correspondent of the London Morning Post, who wrote articles and books in his support. This, along with his gentle and dignified manner, gave rise to public sympathy and the sentiment that he had been ill-used and shoddily treated by Bartle Frere and Lord Chelmsford.
Interesting - the newspaper doesn't seem to think he's being exiled... I must look that up in more detail. Oh, and A blue plaque commemorates Cetshwayo at 18 Melbury Road, Kensington.
Cricket - "Australians v. Yorkshire - Yesterday the Colonial won this contest at Middlesborough by seven wickets the Yorkshirement totalling 129 and 140, against 222, and the necessary 48 to win." (Lloyd's Weekly News)
The State of Ireland - "A number of persons were arrested in the west of Ireland for being out after sunset without lawful business.
A farmer named Allis, who resides... reported to the police that while walking along the road near Hollyford he was fired at by two men, but was not struck. Two persons have been arrested on suspicion. The outrage is believed to be of an agrarian character.
A series of moonlight outrages have been committed on the Rev. Michael Scully, parish priest, of Kensh, near Boyle, because in conjunction with his brother he had taken the grazing of a small farm from Mr Phibbs, Curradsey. A peasant handed him a threatening letter at his own door and presented a revolver at him. The priest called for help and the man escaped. On Monday night the priest's horse was found stabbed in several places.
On Monday night a police patrol at Limerick encountered a party of Moonlighters, and called upon them to surrender. The Moonlighters, in reply, fired, and the police returned the fire, wounding three of their assailants.
The driver of the mail car was attached at Sixmilebridge by a party of men, and brutally beaten, but the mails were left intact. THe driver had taken premises from which another man had been evicted." (Reynold's Weekly News)
House of Commons reports - The Channel Tunnel - Sir Harry Verney asked whether the works of the Channel Tunnel had been stopped, and whether the work had been carried beyond the low water mark. Mr Chamberlain stated that on the 20th March last the Board of Trade received a plan, showing htat on that day the works of the Channel TUnnel had nearly attained the limits of the low water mark... On the 6th the secretary to the Submarine Railway consented, but asked that some work necessary for the protection of life should be done. On the 9th the Board of Trade ordered the works to be stopped...
The entertainment column:
Princess's Theatr - Every Evening at Eight, "The Romany Rye" by George R. Sims...At 7.30, A Photographic Fright.
"Pluck" (A Story of £50,000) - A New Sensational and Domestic Drama...
Lyceum Theatre - Romeo and Juliet (125th Performance) every evening at 8.0
Globe Theatre - The Vicar of Bray... a new and original English Comic Opera, in two Acts...
Marion, The Giant Amazon Queen, At the Royal Alhambra Theatre every evening, in the magnificent Silver Armour Scene in the enormously successful Fairy Extravaganza 'Babil and Bijou'. This young lady was born on the 31st Jauary, 1866...at a village in the Thuringian Mountains, Germany, and has attained the remarkable height of 8 feet 2 inches, and is still growing. Notice - The success is so great, that it is absolutely necessary to be early to get seats.
Midgets - Imperial Theatre. Royal American Midgets. General Mite, the Smallest Man in the World, now in his 18th year. Actual weight, 9lbs... Patronised by her Most Gracious Majesty the Queen, their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, &c., &c., &c., &c., &c. Admission afternoon or evening, One Shilling.
Victoria Hall - Messrs Poole in Egypt. More new pictures. Great success and grand reception of the New Panorama, illustrative of Alexandria, Cairo and the Suez Canal. Every event of importance and place of interest vividly depicted, in addition to the Mammoth Diorama of the World. Great Concert Company and Banda. Admission 6d. to £1.1s.
I am fascinated by this - I want the column back in today's newspapers, and I rather want the job of answering the questions! Now, what do you think they were?!Notices to Correspondents:
Wilts.-1. We should think not. 2. We don't think you can compel him to. You should have seen to it when you took the ground. 3. We cannot say without knowing more of the circumstances.
Bill Blades - If she applies for an order against your son you had better resist it with such evidence as you can produce to show she is leading an immoral life.
Alexandria.-1. Yes; the consent of parents and guardians is only required for minors. 2. An ordinary license costs about £2 2s. 3. Your writing is very good.
Warwick. - No.
Charles Hillier (Rotherhithe). - The Life Guards have not been out of the country since the battle of Waterloo.
J.J.E. - 1. England has not gone to war with Egypt. As Mr Gladstone explains it, the fleet only fired on Alexandria in self-defence. 2. No, we do not believe he is engaged in any private business.
E.B.B. - We think not.
T.Smith. - The United States.
P.C. Courtenay.-1. Keep out of the sun. 2. No.
Naros - 1. Either of them. 2. Yes. 3. Yes. 4. In England and Wales only. 5. If you think they are married you can ascertain the fact by searching at Somerset House.
D.Barratt. - At Mssrs Eyre and Spottiswoode's, East Harding street, Fetter lane, London, E.C. The price depends upon the length.
H.A. - We do not understand your question.
Tero. - The one with rising gallery, of course.
Corsham, W. - 1. No, you cannot. 2. Not that we are aware of. 3. We are unable to say.
Doubtful. - Yes, a will made on a Sunday is quite legal.
More news as I "pick up" the paper throughout the day, but for now I'd better get on with work - much time has passed since I started this, and it's now just past noon - *headdesk* (ETA - now it's half-past noon - apparently I shouldn't be allowed to read old newspapers either. Oh, but interesting...)
Today's Stuff
Bloods
Job 1 pgs 61-70
Job 1 pgs 71-80
Job 1 pgs 81-90
Job 1 pgs 91-100
Job 1 pgs 101-110
Job 1 pgs 111-120
Hacktrack mile
Practice fiddle
Archery? - No, played Victoriana instead when I should have been working...
no subject
Date: Thursday, 23 July 2015 04:02 pm (UTC)So, wonderful start, but these mails could be long gone.
Nothing more happening here, today wasn't as hot, so big sigh!
I do hope your headache left you early on yesterday, and happy archery tonight!
no subject
Date: Thursday, 23 July 2015 04:50 pm (UTC)Eep for undone emails, but the rest of your day sounds rather good, especially the fabric shopping with friends - how nice! *g*
no subject
Date: Thursday, 23 July 2015 04:25 pm (UTC)Forty odd years ago there was a series of 'Great Newspapers Reprinted' which I used to buy avidly. The front page headlines were all concerned with big news stories such as the sinking of the Titanic, the Relief of Mafeking, the death of Queen Victoria and so on, but I used to spend more time reading the tiny little news items tucked away inside, the classified ads, and the ads for surgical appliances and 'Carters Little Liver Pills' etc. I've still got them all boxed up in the attic somewhere...
I remember seeing the airship hangars at Cardington from the coach going home from Nattercon one year when we were diverted off the M1 for some reason. I was quite taken aback when I saw them, and like you I couldn't work out what they were at the time but they'd obviously been built for something huge. Can't remember now how I eventually found out about them, I've got a feeling that the OH knew all about them when I mentioned the diversion.
Ooh, 'The Romany Rye' by George R Sims - I've got a couple of books by him! Two volumes entitled 'Living London' , published around the turn of the 20th century, packed full of fascinating photos. There are actually three volumes in the series, I believe - I'll have to hunt down my missing one some day!
no subject
Date: Thursday, 23 July 2015 04:56 pm (UTC)I like the sound of your Great Newspapers Reprinted - I'd much rather read them on paper, too. I have newspapers from WWII tucked away actually, that came with the "Images of War" series about twenty or so years ago! Hmmn - I wonder if they included the classifieds in the reprints - I suspect not somehow, but I should check. Victorian classifieds etc. were so much more interesting, though! They make me think of Julian Lynes too, in Melissa Scott/Amy Griswold's Mathey/Lynes books, trawling the classifieds to see if anything would turn out to be a case for him to solve! *g* (I had to post the notices in their own post too, cos I suddenly thought how fun it'd be to think of them alongside pics of our Victorian lads... *g*)
So pleased you've seen the hangars too - aren't they the most amazing things? Airships in them! *g*
I didn't recognise George R. Sims' name at all - and you have books by him, how brilliant! You know, I imagine your bookshelves with much lust in my heart... *g*