Be Careful What We Wish For

Currently at work, I am researching the history of energy efficiency. Everyone thinks that this issue had its real foundation in the 1970's with what was at that time, considered non-mainstream, basically a "tree-hugger's" ideal. But over the past 40 years, various and evolving forms of energy efficiency have become the norm for the home, workplace, transportation, health maintenance.

But surprising, I find information about energy efficiency going back to the 18th Century. Perhaps, in those days it was a matter of producing as much energy as possible. At this time economic and technological development is linked to shifts in energy sources, i.e., from coal (a solid fuel) to oil (liquid) or natural gas (gas). From the beginning of history up until the 18th Century, man's use of energy came from muscular or biomass (wood) sources. Most work was done by manual labor or animals,  using wood for heating and cooking. Windmills and watermills were employed but not to great extent. Eventually, the Industrial Revolution would change all that with steam or coal powered engines.

In 1712 - the first Steam Engine was developed in England to Pump Water Out of Coal Mines.

In 1767 - the first solar thermal collector was developed by Swiss scientist Horace de Saussure, to generate energy, with simple foods being cooked in black cast iron pots, and heat collectors in the form of hot boxes to cook food. Horace was ahead of his time!

1790's - coal began to take the place of current sources of energy... Wood, wind, water, beeswax, tallow, sperm-oil - all these were displaced steadily by coal and derivatives of coal...

1800 - the process of electrolysis is discovered , with English scientists William Nicholson and Sir Anthony Carlisle discovering that applying electric current to water produced hydrogen and oxygen gases. This process was called electrolysis. This was an important historic step in the development of hydrogen energy and the hydrogen fuel cell.

Of course, as the Industrial Revolution took hold, its great benefits also held the beginnings of the dreaded black skyline, creating the London combination of smoke and fog, or "smog" as it became known. The rest is history, and now we have the massive clean up underway.  We need to be careful, or be careful what we wish for! 

Phys Ed, 18th Century Style

When the Summer comes along, everybody.....and I mean everybody, wants to look their best in their summer attire, or beach wear. During the winter, all those "Figure Flaws" are concealed under coats and sweaters. Haha

We start to take stock of what we eat, and how much, and then there is the task of doing more, or better, exercise. But we 21st Century folk are not alone at this.

The history of exercise dates back to pre-historic times, though Cro-Magnum man might not have understood that he was exercising, when he was running away from a T-Rex! Keeping fit is important for many reasons! 

Around 400 BC, Hippocrates famously mentioned about exercise, "If we could give every individual the right amount of nourishment and exercise, not too little and not too much, we would have found the safest way to health."  At this time, people gave seriously thought to the importance of physical exercise, and its beneficial effects on the human body. Hippocrates's thoughts were shared by other famous thinkers a few centuries later.

The idea of exercise routines to help build up the body, came along later, and no one is sure exactly when, but there are some suggestions from ancient Rome, Greece and even in India, where artifacts like dumbbells have been found. 

But in the 18th Century, the idea of physical fitness took hold. exercises became more efficient, and included running, weight lifting, some exercise machinery employed. The notion of going to the gymnasium became popular. Some "myths" about exercise were dispelled, like weight training slowed down athletes, endurance training taxed the heart and was unhealthy for women, that exercise was not good for elderly people. All these myths have been found to be untrue, and the more exercise, the better, as long as people work up to it. The notion of the "Weekend Warrior" sees many good intentions ruined. But as they say, use it or lose it!

A Study in Color

I have been away traveling a bit, and before that, I had a ton of work on my desk, so I have not had the opportunity to blog.

But, now that I am back, I wanted to touch base on COLOR.

Before I left I was engaged in choosing some new interior colors for an apartment complex we are refurbishing. Every year, an official board of color publishes the "in" colors for the year to be used by interior designers, fabric and furniture suppliers, etc. This is how the market keeps people buying. You want to have what is current, what is in style, what is the new thing.

You would think this is a current phenomenon, but it is not. The "in" color goes back a long way. Sometimes it is a political thing, sometimes a cultural trend, sometimes it is created by rebellion, or what is accessible, or suggests class distinction.

For instance, in ancient Rome, the color Purple was used by the wealthy, or status-conscious. Purple was hard to come by in natural dyes, and so only the few could afford it.

For our concern, in the 18th Century, a kind of Bluish-Green, maybe Aqua, became popular. When I visited Mount Vernon, President George Washington's estate, I saw this color in his formal dining room. It was considered most fashionable, and I remember taking particular note of it. Supposedly he loved the color green, and added the striking "verdigris" green in 1785, believing it was ease on the eye, and the best color to aid in digestion. His words described the color as "grateful to the eye", and less likely to fade. he added a glazing coat over it to intensify the color. By the way, his personal family dining was an even more intense green! What do you think?!

Recently, when I was at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London, I saw this particular color again. The V&A is the premier museum for decorative arts, and contains rooms that are set up with furniture and furnishings from several historical periods. It's fun to walk through, and picture yourself 'back in the day". One room I entered featured 18th Century décor, and this Aqua color was on a mantelpiece.

Also, many pieces of Wedgewood porcelain sport the typical classical white figures against the green background. These pieces are known as Jasperware, inspired by the Etrurian works of ancient times that were being excavated from ancient sites. In 1789, Josiah Wedgewood developed an acceptable reproduction of this pottery, and it became the rage. Once you notice something, you see it everywhere! 

So it's not just our modern world that has an interest in their surroundings. People from all ages want to live comfortably, with their favorite items displayed in their favorite ways, and that includes COLOR!

Once you notice something, you start to find it everywhere!

Looking for the Comforts of Home

Recently my Mom gave me a bunch of letters from my Uncle, who was killed in  WWII, a Bombardier who perished over Bremen, Germany in August 1944. I never knew him, and these are a treasure, being introduced to someone who I have always heard good things about, but through his letters to his mother, I see the character of the person, the selflessness, the concern for his family, the responsibility and duty to his nation not only accepted but seen as an honor. He wrote practically every day from the time he left for training in late 1943 to the day before he died.

Got me to thinking about letters from 18th Century soldiers to their families and friends. My WWII letters are somewhat browned with age, but still in pretty good shape. Letters from over 200 years ago may be a different thing. Of course, letters written by famous commanders such as Gen. Washington survive and are displayed in museums and archives, but every day folk's correspondence is not always easy to find, or was kept in the best way possible.

As technology keeps changing, we are losing more and more hand written correspondence. Tweets, emails, etc have taken the place of what is generally and sarcastically known as "snail mail". But, to me, the an actual letter delivered to your mail box suggests that someone took the time to communicate, to choose the stationary, to write in detail, to (and this many be the most important!) choose their words most carefully. Once words are committed to paper, and placed in the mail slot, they are irretrievable. You better have been careful! 

For our purposes from the Enlightened Age, here's a sampling the American Revolution, from 1777:

Lieutenant WILLIAM BARTON of the Fourth and later the First New Jersey Regiment;To his father, Gilbert Barton of Allentown, N.J.,

(Whitemarsh, 22 November 1777) "...I expected to have been at home before this, but cannot Obtain leave Untill we go into Quarters, I have sent some clothes by Mr. Griggs which is one pair of Breaches two Jackets three pr Stockings...l am removed from the company I was in which was Capt. Lyon's and am know in Capt. Holmes Compy. as first Lieut, there are many officers resigning which is Like to make a Great deal of Promotion...my love to my Mother Sisters & all inquiring frinds..."

And, another from 1778 from Barton again, mentioning Valley Forge:

..."Camp Valley Forge, Feb. 18th 1778...I should wrote oftener but have been in expectation of Coming home but this day find my expectations blasted, and have no maner of hope to get home Untill April...I have Received my Coat & boots by Capt. Weycoff and am Inform'd you have procured me some shirts which I am Extremely Glad of as l shall be in Great need of them in a short time. I'me at this Present time in health, and hope these may find you all in Perfect health, if to the reverse at any time Please to give me inteligence Thireof and I shall come home at all Events. I have not Receiv'd a Letter from you since at home, should be very Glad to be favour'd with a few lines if Convenient and Likewise a few pounds of Sugar and A little Chocolate...there is a Scarcety of those articles in this Place...Camp does not very well agree with me..."

In the letters I am currently reading and copying, I see the every day life of an air man, a bombardier, in this case, asking for his Mom to send some heavy wool knit socks, or hoping she'll send some paper (as it was rationed), so he could write home. He also asked for some chocolate or gum to hand out.  In Lt. Barton's letter, you see him ask for stockings, some sugar, or chocolate. Not much has changed when looking for the comforts of home!

Get a Room!

On May 7th, 1789 President George Washington attended a ball in his honor, which became the model for the official inaugural ball, held for Madison ten years later! From Madison's inaugural to the present day, this celebration has become tradition, though I'm sure it was not the media event it has become today.

Washington took the oath of office on April 30, 1789, then the special ball was held a week later in New York, as it was the temporary seat of the US federal government. The event was located in a building on Broadway near Wall Street. Martha, his wife, could not attend as she was packing up things at Mt. Vernon before she left for "the Big Apple". Can you imagine that kind of thing happening today. The "little woman" at home attending to domestic chores?!

Anyway, George arrived along with some other statesmen and their wives, and even danced a couple dances! It is said he liked to dance, was graceful, didn't step on anyone's toes, and held up a good conversation. It is said he liked the minuet! Vice President John Adams and family were there as were some French and Spanish dignitaries. Eliza Hamilton, Alexander Hamilton's wife, recorded some of her impressions in a memoir.

John Adams and Thomas Jefferson had their official parties, too, but still sedate, and dignified as was befitting the office. By 1809, Dolly Madison threw a huge gala for James Madison, her husband. 400 people in attendance at Long's Hotel in Washington DC. She, being her flamboyant self, got the ball rolling so to speak for the events we now witness. Bigger, grander, more celebrity-attended, more "can you top this"! And we can look forward to this now every four years.

And having been to one, I can speak from experience. Even though it now occurs in January, and the weather is generally extremely cold, no one is bundled up against the wind and/or snow. Shoulders are bared, cleavages exposed in deep V-neck gowns, lots of foundation, powder and lip liner, and yes, a great deal of botox. Men and women's faces, as the evening goes on, are flushed with excitement, fueled with cocktails.

People talk to one person, while looking over their shoulder to see if they are missing anything or anyone better to attack with copious qualities of charm and influence. It's quite a spectacle. And actually, the President and Mrs. must attend more than one ball. They make the rounds, have a chat, an official dance and then they're off to the next. And now days, we have the overt PDA. Get a room!

 What would the founding fathers think if they were a fly on the wall?!

Now Fade Away

Recently I have been watching a lecture series about Leonardo da Vinci, his paintings, his sculptures, his drawings, his fresco work. The man had a curiosity for everything. He was an artist and an engineer in his view of the world. He wanted not only to render the beautiful, but know everything about how things worked.

This morning the lecture subject was The Last Supper, a mural fresco painting that Leonardo created in the late 15th Century, from 1495-1498. It was commissioned by Ludovico Sforza, Duke of Milan, for the convent refectory (dining area) of Santa Maria delle Grazie, in Milan. As we all know, it depicts the story as told in John's Gospel, 13:21, the disciples breaking bread with Jesus, and he telling them that he will be betrayed. A powerful message for the diners. At that time, the meal was generally eaten in relative silent, perhaps the abbot or abbess reading a bible passage. The mural towers above the dining area.

Painted on an exterior wall, the effects of humidity were devastating, and paint did not properly adhere to the mural surface. This damage was happening as early as 1517! By 1556, the work was described as ruined, the figures unrecognizable. How sad. And so, restoration was considered, but first, for the refectory's convenience, a door was cut into the wall. This was in 1652, and it was later closed up, but that damage was done as well. You can still see the area where the door was placed.

In the 18th Century, the following occurred:

A first restoration began in 1726 by artist Bellotti, filling in missing sections of the work with oil paint and then a coat of varnish. Bad move!

In 1768, a curtain was hung over the painting, and though for protection, it trapped more moisture, and when the material was removed, there was further flaking.

Another restoration effort began in 1770, by a relatively unknown artist Giuseppe Mazza. He stripped off Bellotti's work, and began repainting most of the mural. There was public outrage, and he was stopped.

In 1796, French revolutionary anti-cleric troops used the refectory as an armory, and in their protestation, threw stones at the work, and scratched out the eyes of the apostles. The room was later converted to a prison.

The 19th Century saw other attempts to recreate the mural, repair the damage, but it was not until the late 1970's to 1999 that technology allowed for the work to be preserved as we see it today.

Of course, nothing lasts forever, but we can now see Leonardo's efforts as best as they can be seen. The good intentions of our 18th Century counterparts took their toll, but as they sometimes say, the good never dies, it just fades away.

Discovery of Planets

The other day the news featured a bit about Pluto, and is it or is it not a planet? This is a controversy that goes back a while, and the planet is so far away that it is hard to truly document its path. In 2006, Pluto was demoted, by recent debate says it IS a planet. In the next few months, the New Horizon probe spacecraft, will "visit" Pluto and we will have an answer...maybe.

Anyway, I looked into 18th Century info on the planets, and find the following:

Sir Frederick William Herschel, a German-born British scientist/astronomer first reported the discovery of Uranus on April 26, 1781. It was initially believed to be a comet. He also, in 1787, reported 2 satellites orbiting Uranus, Titania and Oberon. we later reported four more.

From August to November 1789, he noted two moons of Saturn, Mimas and Enceladus.

Herschel became interested in astronomy in 1773, constructing his own large telescope in 1774, spending nine years doing sky surveys. In 1781 he realized that Uranus was a planet and not a star. It was the first discovery of a planet since antiquity, and he himself became a star (celebrity) overnight. King George III appointed him as "Court Astronomer", and he was elected to the Fellows of the Royal Society, and given grants to develop new telescopes.

Later, His catalog of nebulae were published in 1802, including over 2,500 objects flying around "out there", and another 5,000 by 1820. He also discovered the existence of infrared radiation. He was knighted in 1816, and died in 1822. His only son, John, continued his work.