The Spy Trade

Last week there was an announcement of the new James Bond film, to come out in 2015, entitled Spectre! It's very exciting to anticipate another film about the famous spy! The past two films with Daniel Craig in the title role, have been particularly good. He and his fellow actors from the last film will be working together again to bring romance, intrigue and suspense to the silver screen once more.

Got me to thinking about spies of the 18th Century. Spying is a murky business that actually kick-started Britian's industrial revolution. For example, the town of Derby tried but was unsuccessful in competing with Italy for silk production. And so, John Lombe, Englishman, travelled to Piedmont, Italy to gain knowledge of how silk was spun there. He surreptitiously made drawings of the Italian machinery and smuggled them back to England. On his return he arranged for an engineer to construct a five-story building to use as a factory to wind, spin and twist silk! The factory ran on water power. Lombe's Mill, as it was called, was the first and successful operation of its kind!

But besides men in the spy trade, there is always the "Mata Hari", the "Pussy Galore" as it were. A surprising 18th Century equivalent was Margaret Kemble Gage, wife of General Thomas Gage of Revolutionary War fame. He was British and she a Colonist! It is said that she sent word of her husband's strategy regarding Lexington and Concord! Once he learned of her actions, he sent her to England for the remainder of the war. But, obviously, the damage was done. We in the States might view her as a patriot; back in the UK, she is considered a traitor.

Cheers to George!

With the Christmas holiday on its way, I look for interesting and tasty gifts for my whisky drinkers, yet I'd have to go to Mount Vernon to pick up these particular bottles. That's the caveat.... no shipping. You must be present to pick up your purchases. Sorry, guys.

Anyway, this is quite a special whiskey - from George Washington's Mount Vernon estate!

In Washington’s time, whiskey was not aged and was sold in its original clear form. George Washington’s Rye Whiskey® is the most authentic version of Washington’s whiskey available today, at $185/bottle. Mount Vernon staff used Washington’s original mash bill and traditional 18th-century methods in the production of this rye whiskey. The mash bill, or recipe, was discovered by researchers examining the distillery ledgers for 1798 and 1799. His whiskey consisted of 60% rye, 35% corn and 5% malted barley.

The Rye Whiskey was made according to Washington's original recipe then aged on-site in charred oak barrels for two years. Mount Vernon staff produced this whiskey based on traditional 18th-century methods. After aging for two years in barrels, this straight rye whiskey was bottled and labeled by hand, at $95 each.

Cheers!

A Thanksgiving Proclamation - Something to Reflect Upon

In 1780, the US Congress made a proclamation for Thanksgiving. You might want to review it below. A bit different than our lead up to Black Friday deals, door buster sales, excess and gluttony. And, note, a religious bent as well, thanking God for our bounties. And this is America. What has happened, I ask you to reflect? I send my readers my best wishes for a blessed Thanksgiving Day, with family, friends, or in the quiet and peaceful silence of your home. God bless you all.

A PROCLAMATION by the United States in Congress assembly:

Whereas it hath pleased Almighty God, the Father of all mercies, amidst the vicissitudes and calamities of war, to bestow blessings on the people of these states, which call for their devout and thankful acknowledgments, more especially in the late remarkable interposition of his watchful providence, in rescuing the person of our Commander in Chief and the army from imminent dangers, at the moment when treason was ripened for execution; in prospering the labors of the husbandmen, and causing the earth to yield its increase in plentiful harvests; and, above all, in continuing to us the enjoyment of the gospel of peace;

It is therefore recommended to the several states to set apart Thursday, the seventh day of December next, to be observed as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer; that all the people may assemble on that day to celebrate the praises of our Divine Benefactor; to confess our unworthiness of the least of his favors, and to offer our fervent supplications to the God of all grace; that it may please him to pardon our heinous transgressions and incline our hearts for the future to keep all his laws that it may please him still to afford us the blessing of health; to comfort and relieve our brethren who are any wise afflicted or distressed; to smile upon our husbandry and trade and establish the work of our hands; to direct our public councils, and lead our forces, by land and sea, to victory; to take our illustrious ally under his special protection, and favor our joint councils and exertions for the establishment of speedy and permanent peace; to cherish all schools and seminaries of education, build up his churches in their most holy faith and to cause the knowledge of Christianity to spread over all the earth.

Done in Congress, the lath day of October, 1780, and in the fifth year of the independence of the United States of America.

Providing Quality Goods since 1707

I know it's not even time for Thanksgiving, and yet I am receiving all kinds of advertising in the mail for Christmas shopping. I usually toss them, but the other day I received a "dignified" envelope in the mail, with familiar gold embossed seals at the upper left hand corner. Those familiar seals are the lovely "By Appointment to the Queen" royal warrants for exceptional service, or for patronage by the royal family.

I looked again, and saw that the letter came from Fortnam & Mason, the beloved store off Piccadilly Circus, home to first-rate coffee, tea, glace fruit, honey, jam, nuts, confections, chocolates, all beautifully packaged and ready for shipment all over the world. AND, that's just what's on the first floor of this world-renown emporium.

The basement carries wines, spirits, cured meats, olive oil, vinegars, mustards, basically anything savory and lovely on your hors d'oeuvre table.

Upstairs, you will find men's and women's sundries, perfumes, quality stationary, gift items including porcelain, crystal, etc etc.

Fortnam & Mason's carries everything the lady or gentleman would want for themselves or for distinctive gifts.

I was delighted to open the envelope and see a gracious invitation to shop at the store, a quiet advertisement for quality goods. They speak for themselves. Makes me want to go on-line, and see what I could possibly purchase.

Of course the shipping costs are a killer across the pond, but when you have been supplying the elite with lovely merchandise since 1707, well, I guess this is the way it goes. The price you pay, as it were, to enjoy the very best! How nice to know that Fortnam has been going strong for over 307 years.

Adding Color to your Life

The other night as I sat in the salon chair waiting for my hair color to process, I began thinking of hair trends and fashions of the 18th Century. Of course, by the Victorian era and following, no "decent" woman would color her hair, but as time went on, just as make-up and lipstick became more and more acceptable, so too did the notion of coloring one's hair, just for fun, or to disguise the greying of the head. Today, blue and green and pink are not only acceptable, but practically commonplace!

Well, contrary to what I thought, the idea of colored hair was quite acceptable in the 18th Century, not only of one's own tresses, but also with the additions of hair pieces to accentuate or add volume. During Marie-Antoinette's time, the ideal woman had black, brown or blond hair. Red was definitely out, so many women changed their "carrot" top.

To dye hair blonde or light, it would be soaked in alkaline pastes and then the person would sit in the sun. Also, lead could be used. To dye hair dark or black, a mix of wine and elderberries was applied, to the desired effect. Of course tinted powders could be used, but generally applied to wigs.

 

By the early 1800's, chemists had found a substance called para-phenylenediamine to create synthetic dye. True dyes from plant life were extremely expensive, and sometimes hard to find. Also, hydrogen peroxide was used, a gentler and safer chemical for bleaching of the hair. These solutions paved the way for the first chemical dyes used exclusively for hair, called "aureole". By the way, the product was later known as "L'Oreal".

Field of Red

I take the liberty today to talk about Veteran's Day, and to pause to remember those who serve, have served, and those who, as they say, made the ultimate sacrifice to protect the nation, to keep us free. In this jaded and cynical world, it is sometimes hard to imagine there are those who CHOOSE to serve, whose love of the "Red, White and Blue", or "King and Country" goes well beyond everyday patriotism. After the difficulties of the Vietnam war, it almost became embarrassing to acknowledge love of country. But, there are those who stand proud. Today, we do a better job of honoring our fighting men and women, for their service in the Afghanistan, Iraq and a myriad of dessert conflicts. But we can always do more.

One beautiful tribute that has honored the war dead is the magnificent display of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London in England. Over several months, over 888,246 poppies have been placed in the moat, representing the field of red, the blood spilt in WWI. These lovely, handmade flowers each represent one life lost of British and Canadian soldiers in the conflict that began 100 years ago. It acknowledges the poem written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae (Canadian physician). He wrote it on May 3, 1915 for a friend who died in the war.

In Flanders fields the poppies grow,
      Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Crowds and crowds of people have come to see the display. It will be dismantled after today, and hopefully people will remember thought the red field will be gone. In a way, (as long as we don't forget), perhaps that is a good thing. Like the profuse flag-waving that came after the 9/11, eventually we got on with things, put the horror away a bit, and carry on.  

The King of Flour

With the holidays coming up sooner than we think, a lot of us will be heading to the pantry for our baking supplies....for those traditional cookies and cakes. We all have our favorites that we like to enjoy in our own homes, as well as distribute to family and friends. BUT, the most important aspect of this baking is the ingredients we use!!

That being said, I turn to flour. By and large, one is only as good as one's ingredients, and it's important to use the very best. The king of flours is, of course, King Arthur Flour, a brand established in 1790!

King Arthur Flour is the oldest flour company in the US, founded in Boston in 1790, providing high-quality flour for the colonists. Henry Wood started importing European flour, primarily English milled flour, to the Long Wharf in Boston, his goal to supply the best for bakers in America. He called the company by his name, later gaining stock holders and revising the name to Sands, Taylor & Wood Company, which included another Wood (George Wood - no relation to Henry). More than 100 years later, the company name was changed to King Arthur, introducing the product at the Boston Food Fair.

In 1896 George Wood attended the theatre to see a musical, entitled King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table! This was his inspiration for the name change! Perhaps he liked the idea of the knights sitting around a common table supping bread and wine! Who knows, but nevertheless, we are the better for it.