Show and Tell - Happy New Year 1871

I selected my own Christmas present this year.  Can you guess what it is?

I now have my own Godey's Lady's Book.  It's 1871, all twelve months.  I found it at Abe Books; there were quite a few to choose from.  The price was reasonable but the postage was dearer than the book.  That comes from living in the Land Down Under.

However, just looking at the first colour foldout in the volume, you can tell it was meant to come to Australia.  That's a Major Mitchell Cockatoo as a tapestry chart.

Berlin wool work cockatoo

Feathered work cockatoo

All twelve fashion plates are attached with some wear and tear.  The colours are vivid.

March 1871 Spring

September 1871 Autumn

December 1871 Winter

Each month also has a foldout, front and back, with fashion ideas.

March foldout fashion

And most unusually, patchwork is mentioned!  You will know from reading this blog that patchwork does not rate very highly in the Godey's world. But I have already found two references.

Patchwork. No need to explain.

March issue - patchwork with instructions.

Design in Patchwork - In this design, the pieces of the same shape must be of the same color.  The best way to have the sections accurate in shape, is to have each separate part cut by a tinman.  The papers should then be cut out to the shapes; and finally, the pieces of silk or velvet should be carefully tacked to the papers previously to being neatly sewn together.

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Jingle Bells and Sleigh Rides

It's Christmas Carols by Candlelight season in Australia.  The candles are now LED lights.  Santa comes by Country Fire Authority firetruck - if the truck isn't out fighting bushfires.  Carols are always outside in the evening - unless there are thunderstorms or a heatwave.  And we still sing about dashing through the snow and sleigh rides.  It's mad but it's Christmas.

In my e-book "Round is the Ring" I included the wedding story of Sarah Stubbs and Jacob Swayne.  Sarah Stubbs made a block in the Chester Criswell Quilt and she married Jacob on 24th January 1857.  The couple's honeymoon included a lot of snow and sleigh rides, and was re-told at their 50th wedding anniversary in 1907.

They were married at the home of the bride’s parents in Peach Bottom Township, York County.  At the time both were members of Fawn Grove meeting, York County. On the day of the wedding the country was deeply snowbound and the blockaded roads made traveling unsafe and impossible.  About 50 people had been invited to the wedding, but only ten succeeded in reaching the house.  Outside of the immediate members of the Stubbs family three of the ten guests referred to at the wedding are living: Elizabeth Stubbs of Delta, widow of Vincent G. Stubbs; Hannah Stubbs of Kennett Square, widow of Reuben Stubbs; Mrs. William Moore of York.  Three brothers of Mrs. Swayne, who were present, are also living – Daniel and Thomas Stubbs, residing on the old homestead, Dr. Henry Stubbs of Wilmington.

The wedding journey was so different in travel compared with the present day of swift and comfortable transportation that we give some of the important points for the edification of this generation of brides and grooms.  The following morning Jacob and his bride in a sleigh behind a pair of willing mules, started and drove across the frozen Susquehanna to Peach Bottom.  They were accompanied by Albert Stubbs and Phebe Hickman and Reuben and Hannah Stubbs, all in sleighs.  Near Cherry Hill Albert’s sleigh broke down.  While repairs were making in Wakefield the party stopped for two hours in the store which John and Samuel Wilkinson kept in the village.  Below Wakefield there is a spring and close to it Albert’s sleigh upset, he and his friend alighting in the snow.  Through fields and across roads the party continued on their toilsome way.  At nightfall they reached Oak Hill and inquiring about the roads were advised not to go any further.  They decided to remain over night at the home of Nathan Haines, nearby.  Driving carefully down the long lane they reached the house at a late hour and called Mr. Haines out, who received them in a friendly manner and entertained them until morning.  Of the large family at this homestead at the time – ten persons in all – but one is now living, Elizabeth L. Brinton, Oxford, who has a vivid recollection of the event.

Amid the unlimited expanse of snow a start was made next morning and Russellville reached by noon, the party stopping for an hour or two.  As the Limestone road was fence-top full of snow the party drove through fields, going by way of Faggs Manor to the White Horse.  At Joseph Pennock’s, the other side of the latter place, the drifts were immense and by permission of Mr. Pennock, Jacob sawed a panel out of a new fence in order to drive through his yard.  Doe Run was reached by dark, then Unionville and on through field and roads to Willowdale before nine o’clock – the home of Jacob’s parents.

In conclusion Mr. Swayne tells us he and his wife spent about ten days at the home of his parents.  They then started for York County, Albert Stubbs and lady accompanying.  The party stopped at the home of Samuel Passmore, near Chrome.  Mrs. Passmore is a sister of Mrs. Swayne.  Next day the party resumed their travel on runners, the roads in more passable condition, Mr. Passmore and wife having joined them.  All drove to Peach Bottom and proceeded in their sleighs over the frozen river to York County.  This statement is made to show that the Susquehanna was frozen over that winter, another paper having said that it was not.

It's a wonderful story.  And this is the last post for 2018.  I hope you join me again in 2019, there are some changes afoot and some nice surprises. Merry Christmas!

Signature Quilt Alert - Pambula, NSW

Historically, signature quilts in Australia were primarily fund raising quilts. Red embroidered signatures on white backgrounds was a standard layout around the world to raise funds during WWI.  The Red Cross provided guidelines to organise such a quilt but they were made by many community groups.

Romsey Quilt - Red Cross Collection, Victoria

Cheltenham State School - Red Cross Collection, Victoria

Not a lot of these Australian quilts are still in existence.  There seems to be less than two dozen documented quilts but they are not often on display.

Recently I discovered a reference to another one of these Red Cross quilts.  This newspaper article was first published in the Pambula (New South Wales) 'Voice' on 26th March 1937, and then appeared in the Delegate (New South Wales) 'Argus' on 1st April 1937.

Historic Quilt

Presented to Hospital

At last Saturday night's Red Cross meeting, the president (Mrs. D. V. Hart) handed to Mrs. C. A. Woollard (secretary of Pambula Hospital Auxiliary) a quilt of historic interest. It appears that, away back in the early days of the war, the late Mrs. J. W. Haywood, then president of the local Red Cross and a foremost patriotic worker, suggested the idea of raising funds by working names of soldiers, local people and visitors on a quilt at a charge of 1/- (one shilling) each. The intention, Mrs Woollard stated, on Saturday, was to present the finished article to the hospital for the use of returned soldier patients from time to time. Scores of names were duly worked on the quilt by local ladies, and many memories of other days and people who have left the district were revived by a look at the finished article on Saturday night. Among them we noticed the names of Professor Peden and the late Sir Austin Chapman, once Federal member for the electorate. Mr. Graham, Red Cross Commissioner, suggested that as the quilt was an article of great sentimental value is should be placed in a glass case and kept at the hospital entrance as a memento, but it was decided to observe the original intention. Mrs. Hart therefore made the presentation, and Mrs. Woollard suitably acknowledged it on behalf of the auxiliary.

What a great story - but so many questions!  If the quilt was started in 'the early days of the war', say 1915, why was it being presented in 1937?  Did it take 22 years to make, or was it waiting for Mrs. D. V. Hart to finish the quilting? How long did the quilt last in a hospital laundry? And what is the likelihood that it still exists?

I haven't found any other references to this quilt.  Both Professor Peden and Sir Austin Chapman had very productive and interesting lives. Pambula is a lovely place for summer holidays, next time I am there I will look for some answers.

The Godey's Lady's Best Bits Book

My newest e-book is live and ready to roll.

The Godey's Lady's Best Bits Book: March 1854

It's collection of some of the best bits of the Godey's magazine and demonstrates what it was like to be a woman of the 19th century.  

"This is the ‘Lady’s Book’ par excellence. We admire this work, for the plain and simple reason that, like refined, polished, and virtuous female society, it powerfully tends to improve the manners and mend the heart"

It's a Kindle book but you don't need a Kindle to download it - I download to my phone.

Prices are US $2.56 / Aust $3.53 / UK £1.96.  

And if you do get a copy, please let me know if you like it.