Every Woman Dreams...

Announcing the Winner of “Leap Year” from Regina Jeffers’ Sadie Hawkins’ Day Post

Posted on March 5, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Congratulations go out to Martha Claycomb, who will receive a DVD copy of the film Leap Year. Martha, please contact Regina at jeffersregina@gmail.com to claim your prize. In your email, include your mailing address.

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Has Lady Violet Crawley, Countess of Grantham, Made Being a “Dowager” Popular Again?

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Of late, I am once again dealing with the term “dowager” in one of my works in progress (WIP). The Earl of Remmington’s mother resides at one of his smaller estates. As she is the widow of the late earl, I, at first, was referring to her as the dowager countess. Then I began my first round of edits, during which I slapped my forehead with a “Duh!” Until Lord Remmington remarries, his mother is still the Countess of Remmington. So, what does all this mean? What exactly is a “dowager”? Are all Dowagers like Lady Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham, on Downton Abbey? When would one use the term “dowager”?

In the Regency Period the word “dowager” was used in newspapers, letters, the Gazette, etc., but not in oral forms of address. One would never say for example, “I am pleased for the acquaintance, Dowager Countess.”

Oxford Dictionaries defines the word as: A widow with a title or property derived from her late husband. Its origin is Mid 16th century: from Old Frency douagiere, from douage ‘dower’, from douer ‘endow’, from Latin dotare ‘endow’. A dowager is a widow who holds a title or property—a “dower”—which was derived from her deceased husband. As an adjective, dowager usually appears in association with monarchical and aristocratic titles. In popular usage, the noun dowager may refer to any elderly widow, especially one of both wealth and dignity. (Dowager)

The word dowager started attracting negative emotions and widows began trying to avoid its use. However, it was in use in the Regency for widows of landed and usually titled men. In the United Kingdom, the widow of a peer may continue to use the style she had during her husband’s lifetime, e.g., “Countess of Remmington,” provided that his successor, if any, has no wife to bear the plain title. Otherwise she more properly prefixes either her forename or the word Dowager, e.g. “Ianthe, Countess of Remmington” or “Dowager Countess of Remmington.” In any case, she would continue to be called “Lady Remmington.” (Dowager)

Maria Feodorovna, christened Dagmar, a Danish princess, became Empress of Russia as spouse of Emperor Alexander III of Russia. Wikipedia

A queen dowager (also known as dowager queen or queen mother) is a title generally held by the widow of a king, while empress dowager is the widow of an emperor. A queen regnant is a female monarch, who reigns in her own right and not as the wife of the reigning king (queen consort) or guardian of a child monarch reigning temporarily in their stead (queen regent).

According to Debrett’s Correct Form: “Officially the widow of a peer is known as the Dowager Countess (or whatever [title she held previously]) of X, unless there is already a dowager peeress of the family still living. In the latter event, the widow of the senior peer of the family retains the title of Dowager for life, and the widow of the junior peer in that family is known by her Christian name, e.g., Mary, Countess of X, until she becomes the senior widow. . . . When the present peer is unmarried, by custom the widow of the late peer continues to call herself as she did when her husband was living, i.e., without the prefix of (a) dowager, or (b) her Christian name. Should the present peer marry, it is usual for the widowed peeress to announce the style by which she wishes to be know in future.”(113) This last bit is twentieth century, and Black’s agrees: most widows don’t use “dowager” at all anymore, and simply use the Mary, Countess of X option, announcing in the press the style they will be using. (Dowager Peeresses)

Empress Dowager Cixi, of the Manchu Yehenara clan, was a Chinese empress dowager and regent who effectively controlled the Chinese government in the late Qing dynasty for 47 years from 1861 until her death in 1908. Wikipedia

Laura A. Wallace ©2004 says, “If she is eligible, a widow assumes the title of dowager immediately she becomes a widow. However, she continues to be referred to as “Lady Denville” without the “Dowager” tacked on as long as the current title-holder (her son or grandson) remained unmarried, i.e., so long as there is not another “Lady Denville. (Titles and Forms of Address: A Guide to the Correct Use. London: A. & C. Black, Ltd., Third Edition, 1932) I think sometimes people also referred to dowagers as “the elder Lady Spenborough.” (Unless, as in Fanny’s case, the new Lady Spenborough is older than she is!) I seem to recall reading some contemporary letters which refer to “the old duchess” when meaning the widow of the 1st Duke of Marlborough (and in that case, it was one of her own daughters who was the new duchess). The rules for addressing a dowager in speech are in all ways the same as if her husband were still living, except that if confusion arises, she is referred to as The Dowager Countess (or Amabel, Countess of Denville) to distinguish her from the current peer’s wife, or from any other countesses still alive.

“In False Colours, when Lady Denville decided to marry Sir Bonamy, one beneficial circumstance she noted about the match was that after she was married, she would no longer be a dowager countess. Fanny, Lady Spenborough, is not a dowager and never will be, because the new Lord Spenborough was not a descendant of her deceased husband.

“In Their Noble Lordships (Winchester, Simon. Their Noble Lordships: Class and Power in Modern Britain. New York: Random House, 1982.) Winchester notes is that thanks to dukes’ apparent inability to make or maintain good marriages, there are twice as many duchesses today as there are dukes. That’s because most divorceés are entitled to the “Mary, Duchess of Southampton” style until they remarry.” (Dowager Peeresses)

Invitations to court and the lady’s name in the newspaper or on formal lists ( as in the list of those who attended a Queen’s birthday bash) would use “dowager ” if there were another one with her same title. If there were more than one widow, the first widow is the dowager and the others are Mary Countess of XX. The main purpose was to avoid confusion between or among ladies. One never addressed the lady as a “dowager” in person. One only spoke of her as the dowager when it was necessary to distinguish her from any other living Countess of Someplace, for instance.

However, as girls could marry at age twelve in England during the early 1800s, a “dowager” wasn’t connected to age. That being said, because old women were usually “dowagers” (in the upper crust of society) and because people spoke poorly of sitting among the dowagers and chaperones at social events, widows of the time decided they did not like the word “dowager.” If woman wanted to present her granddaughter at court, or her new daughter-in-law, she would need to describe herself as a “dowager” XXX (title). Ordinarily she wouldn’t use it at all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk

In Downton Abbey, Maggie Smith portrays Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham. Ms. Smith’s popularity has brought the word “dowager” into style again.

Nancy Mayer’s Regency Researcher ~ Titles and Names

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged aristocratic titles, British history, dowager, Regency Period, titles | 2 Comments

Life Below Stairs ~ Part Four: The Work Never Ends

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Word Wenches: The Well-dressed Maid.
wordwenches.typepad.com

Up before dawn, the servants of an aristocratic household found the work tedious. Likely, the lower servants worked two hours before he/she was permitted to sit to his own meager breakfast.

The kitchen maid began her day with lighting the cooking fire. To do so in a cast iron stove, she must first rake out the cinders and sweep the bars, the hobs, and the hearth free of dust. She would then clean the stove with a round-headed brush and black lead mixed with some water to make a “paste.” When the black lead dried, it was polished with a special brush, which was designed to get into the groves of the ornamental work. At least one weekly, she also swept away the accumulated soot from the flues. Generally, she was expected to bring the cook the woman’s morning tea.

The housemaids began their days with cleaning the carpets. An unusual ritual included scattering wet sand or damp tea leaves over the carpets before they swept them. They cleaned the main hall and receiving rooms thoroughly and set fires in the hearths (after cleaning the grates). After morning prayers, the housemaids cleaned the bedchambers: changed bed linens, emptied chamberpots and baths, swept the carpets, dusted the furnishings, washed and polished wooden floors, etc. One must recall that there were three mattresses on a Victorian bed. The bottom one was filled with straw and was turned once weekly. The middle one was filled with wool or horsehair. It was turned daily. The top mattress was filled with feathers. Please recall that the housemaids were supposed to finished with their work by mid day.

August | 2012 | M. Louisa Locke
mlouisalocke.com

Upper servants (cook, lady’s maid, governess, parlour maid, and nurse) usually got an extra hour sleep while others began their days as early as 5 A.M. The cook was responsible for 4 meals daily for the master and mistress and their guests, the children, and the other servants. She prepared a different type of meal for each group. All the servants, minus the nursery staff, sat down to breakfast shortly after 8 A.M. They would dine on leftovers of yesterday’s roast or cold meat pie and a slice of bread, along with a weak tea or home brewed beer. A tea break for the servants came at approximately 11 A.M. The cook would meet regularly with the mistress to discuss the menus for the day. The servants had their “dinner” between midday and one o’clock. Generally, it was a roast and vegetables with a rice or suet pudding. Beer was served with the meal. The nursery staff were given a shepherd’s pie or mutton stew. The master and mistress and the older children had a luncheon served by liveried footmen. This was a more formal meal than was breakfast. The course was usual fish, which was followed by hot dishes and then a sweet dessert or fresh fruit. The ladies would be out the door for afternoon social calls.

Parlour maids, which replaced butlers during the Victorian era, set the table in the dining room, as well as to oversee the removal of the leftovers. Occasionally, the parlour maid acted as a valet to the master of the house. Parlour maids, like footmen, were chosen for their height and good looks, and they were often a target for unfaithful husbands. At about 9 each morning, the parlour maid would summon the family, the children, and the other servants to family prayers in the drawing room. (If you recall, Edmund Bertram and Mary Crawford discuss this practice in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park.) Before she called the household to prayers, the parlour maid had set the table with linen and silverware. She had also placed bread, toast, butter, jam, and honey on the table, along with a cream and sugar for tea. After the prayers, she brought in the covered breakfast dishes. They family would then choose from hot and cold dishes: eggs, bacon, kidneys, kippers, fish, tongue, potted meat, etc.

The ladies’ maid woke her mistress and helped the lady of the house with her ablutions and dress. Remember that women of the Victorian Period wore tightly laced corsets or stays, several petticoats, steel-hooped crinolines, tight pantaloons, and dresses with yards and yards and yards of material.

Nursery maids swept and cleaned the day nursery and lit the hearth for warmth. The governess saw to the children. Upper class ladies rarely visited their children in the nursery for longer than 30 minutes per day. With infants, a wet nurse was engaged. Ladies of quality never breast fed their children. Governesses were occasionally accused of using a bit of laudanum to keep the children in order. The first duty of the day was to bath and feed the babies/children. A mixture of milk and barley water was used for the infants. The governess was also responsible for administering prescribed medicines and purges of castor oil, senna, or peppermint. They took the children out for morning and afternoon excursions. Older children were bathed and dressed. Even little boys wore stays until the age of 7 or 8. Breakfast was a porridge or gruel. It was quite bland when compared to what the parents ate.

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged governess, life below stairs, maids, nurse, parlour maid, Regency Period, upper servants | 5 Comments

St Michael Paternoster Royal Church, a Medieval Marvel, and Whittington College

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

16433 St Michael Paternoster Royal is a church in the London proper. The original building, which was first recorded in the 13th century, was destroyed in the Great Fire in 1666. The church was rebuilt under the aegis of Sir Christopher Wren. However St Michael’s was severely damaged during the London in WWII. It was restored between 1966 and 1968. In 1423 Richard “Dick” Whittington, the fabled Lord Mayor of London, was buried within its precincts; although the tomb is now lost. The earliest record of St Michael’s is as St Michael of Paternosterchierch and is dated 1219. Richard Whittington, four time Lord Mayor of London, founded the College of St Spirit and St Mary within the church, so that St Michael’s became a collegiate church, i.e. it was administered by a college of priests, in this case five, instead of a rector. It was commonly known as Whittington’s College, or Whittington College. Adjacent to the Church, Whittington also founded an almshouse. The College was dissolved by Edward VI in 1548; but was re-established in a new entity a few years later under Queen Mary. The title seems in any case to have persisted for the church, giving the names of College Street, and College Hill. The almshouses moved to Highgate in 1808 and later to their present location in East Grinstead in 1966. (St Michael Paternoster Royal)

Whittington_College_(almshouses),_City_of_London;_perspectiv_Wellcome_V0014818 From British History Online, we learn, “The church of St. Michael Paternoster Royal was the parish church of the wealthy Richard Whittington, and therefore had a special claim on him. At the beginning of the fifteenth century it needed enlarging, and was also in a ruinous state, so that he determined to rebuild it entirely, and in 1411 began the work by adding a piece of ground to the site. His idea was to make the new church collegiate, but before he could complete his project he died early in 1423. His executors, however, with the consent of the king and the archbishop of Canterbury, erected there in 1424 in honour of the Holy Ghost and St. Mary a perpetual college of five secular priests, of whom one was to be master, two clerks and four choristers. William Brooke, the rector of St. Michael’s, was made master, and it was ordained that henceforth the office of master should be held to include that of rector. When a vacancy occurred one of their number was to be chosen by the chaplains and presented by the wardens of the Mercers’ Company to the prior and chapter of Christchurch, Canterbury, who as patrons of the rectory were to present him to the bishop for institution; vacancies among the chaplains were to be filled by the master and senior chaplains; the clerks and choristers were to be appointed and were removable by the master and chaplains, and when past work were to be supported in the Whittington Almshouse; all the members of the college were to live in a house built by Whittington at the east end of the church; the master was to have a salary of 10 marks besides the oblations of the church, each chaplain 11 marks, the first clerk 8 marks, the second 100s., the choristers 5 marks each, and out of this they were to provide their food and clothing, but the cook was paid out of the college funds; the dress of the chaplains was to be of one style and colour; residence was obligatory, no chaplain being permitted to be absent for more than twenty days in the year, and then for good cause; the college was to have a common seal which was to be kept with the charters in the common chest; the goods of the college were not to be alienated by the master and chaplains except for urgent necessity; an inquiry into debts was to be made at the general chapter held annually; the supervision of the college was vested, after the decease of the executors, in the mayor of London and the wardens of the Mercers’ Company.”

250px-St._Michael_Paternoster_Royal Whittington College is a Gothic almshouse built around three sides of a quadrangle. The chapel is the center point of the structure. The Whittington charity called College Hill home, but eventually moved to the another site near the Whittington Stone in 1822. “St Michael’s is rectangular in plan, with only the west front on College Hill being slightly out of true. Before the Second World War the south front was hemmed in by buildings. Following bomb damage, these buildings were cleared and Whittington Garden laid out on their site, so that St Michael’s main façade is now on the south, along Upper Thames Street. The south front is faced with Portland stone and has six round-headed windows with cherub keystones. The less prominent north and east fronts are of brick. The roof is balustraded.

“Entrance is through the tower in the southwest corner. This has a round-headed window at the lowest level, then a circular window, then a square-headed belfry window. At the top is a pierced parapet with square urns on the corners. The stone spire was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor and is similar to those of St Stephen Walbrook, St James Garlichythe and, to a lesser extent, the west towers of St Paul’s Cathedral. It is an open octagon formed by eight Ionic columns, each with its own entablature and topped by an urn. Above this is another, smaller, octagon with another eight columns with urns. Above the second octagon is a tiny dome surmounted by a pennant vane. The height of the tower and steeple is 128 ft.” (St Michael Paternoster Royal)

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Life Below Stairs, Part 3 ~ The Male Servant

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

dinner-in-the-servants-hall The English aristocrat often lived beyond his means. Maintaining country houses (often several of them) and a large Georgian town house in Mayfair took its toll on his purse strings. In addition to owning the property, Society forced him to maintain an extensive staff, which would see to his family’s needs.

Rank among the serving class manifested itself in extra bedrooms and workrooms to meet the servant hierarchy. The house steward and the housekeeper were often given a sitting room in which the upper servants could dine. A work space was required for the steward to conduct his business. The butler oversaw an extensive pantry. A stillroom was necessary. Storerooms for groceries. A separate china closet. The scullery. The ladies’ maids required a separate room where they could do their mending and ironing. Don’t forget a knife room. A shoe room. A lamp room. A brushing room. A servants’ hall. Etc. Etc. Etc.

the-servants-60193_w650 Even a modest staff was costly. Characteristically, a land owner maintained 40-50 servants. A large number of male servants was an indication of a man’s wealth. Employing males, instead of females, created a greater expense because a tax on male servants was introduced by Lord North in 1777. The tax was to be used for the cost of fighting the Americans and the war with the French. It cost a landowner £7 for each male servant if there were eleven or more in the household. Although it was gradually reduced over the years, the tax continued until 1937.

Compounding the issue of keeping powdered footmen increased by the duty placed on the hair powder. That tax remained in place from 1786 to 1869. Is it any wonder that some landowners forced their servants to use ordinary house flour to save on expenses? A smart footman might use the household flour and then claim the reimbursement for the expense of the duty.

Thomas-Barrow-thomas-barrow-35847975-391-582 Footmen and other male servants were provided tailored livery. In the mid 1800s, it would cost 3 guineas for a footman’s uniform. Typically, a footman received 2-3 suits per year. Only the wealthiest aristocrat could afford to employ a house steward, groom of the chambers, valet, cook, butler, under-butler, footmen, footboy, usher, page, “tiger,” coachmen, grooms, a man-of-all-work, gardeners, etc.

Footmen were chosen for their height and their handsomeness. Most were at least six feet tall. It was desirable to match the footmen in height (like Radio City Music Hall does with the Rockettes). Most households had 3 footmen. The first footman, who was often called “James,” no matter what was his Christian name, usually acted as the lady’s footman. He would serve her breakfast, clean her shoes, take her dogs for a walk, stand behind her chair when she dined elsewhere, carry packages when she shopped, etc. The second footman served the afternoon meal. Often he completed valet duties for the eldest son. The third footman carried the coals and wood. The first and second footman served meals. They would accompany the carriage whenever it was used by any member of the household. The footmen were responsible for cleaning and polishing the silver. (Frank Hugget, Life Below Stairs, John Murray Publishers (July 14, 1977) 1901093

article-2207935-0B6311FC000005DC-422_306x575 The valet was usually at least 30 years of age. He was expected to have a superficial air of aristocracy about him. He saw to his master’s dress and was expected to be abreast of social gossip to aid his master in social engagements, etc. He did not wear livery. He would rise before his master. The aristocrat’s clothes were prepared, a bath drawn, and everything his master required for his ablutions prepared. He might also be required to dress the master, or he might need to know how to load a gun quickly so that his master could shoot with his friends.

A CARNIVAL FILMS PRODUCTION FOR ITV1. DOWNTON ABBEY. COMING SOON. ITV’s new costume drama series, Downton Abbey, written and created by Oscar-winning writer Julian Fellowes and made by Carnival Films for ITV will star Maggie Smith as Violet, Dowager Countess of Grantham, Hugh Bonneville as Robert, Earl of Grantham and Elizabeth McGovern as Robert’s wife, Cora, Countess of Grantham. They will lead an all-star cast, which also includes: Penelope Wilton, Dan Stevens, Michelle Dockery, Jim Carter, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Nicol, Siobhan Finneran, Rob James Collier, Joanne Froggatt and Rose Leslie. Set in an Edwardian country house in 1912, Downton Abbey will portray the lives of the Crawley family and the servants who work for them. PICTURED: JIM CARTER as Mr Parson. This photograph is (C) ITV Plc/CARNIVAL FILMS and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograp

The butler needed similar skills as the valet. He was responsible for the footmen, the custody of the plate, and the contents of the wine cellar. He also oversaw the brewing of the servants’ beer, the arrangement of the dining room, etc. Unlike our perceptions of the haughty butler who ruled a household with an iron hand, the Victorian butler was in a more lowly position. In reality, the valet, the house steward, and the groom of the chambers, all outranked him in the household. They also received higher pay.

The groom of the chambers was the one who attended the main door, opened doors for members of the household, filled inkpots, saw that everything the household members needed was within reach.

The house steward oversaw the transition from country estate to Town when the Season came around. He was responsible for all the servants. He maintained the household accounts.

Posted in British history, buildings and structures, customs and tradiitons, estates, Georgian England, Georgian Era, Great Britain, history, Living in the Regency, Living in the UK, Regency era, tradtions, Victorian era | 2 Comments

Life of the Gentry in the Regency Period

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

During the Regency Period, wealth and social class separated the English citizenry. Beginning with the Royals, citizens found their place based on birthright and wealth. The nobility stood above the gentry, who stood above the clergy, who stood above the working class, etc. As part of the gentry, Jane Austen’s family held certain privileges, but also lacked political power. Although he was a rector, the Reverend George Austen was a “gentleman,” meaning man of the gentry class. Austen’s novels are populated with those of the gentry. Occasionally, her readers encounter the nobility, as in Lady Catherine De Bourgh and the Dowager Viscountess Dalrymple or the clergy as with Mr. Collins or Mr. Elton.

To be part of the landed gentry, the family had to own 300+ acres of property. The Reverend George Austen was part of the gentry, but he came from the lower end of the class distinction, while Jane’s mother came from a wealthier background. When one reads Austen, the reader meets the gentry. A male member of the gentry was known as a gentleman, but not all members of the gentry acted as a gentleman.

Good manners defined a person during the era. Loosely based on Renaissance Italy and 17th Century French customs, the “rules” of engagement during the Regency Period were strictly enforced by members of the “ton.” One who did not adhere to the rules would be shunned by Society.

A gentleman, for example, was expected to speak properly and to avoid vulgarity; to be dressed appropriately; to dance well; to be well versed on a variety of subjects and to have a university education or above; and to practice condescion to those of a lower class.

When addressing women the eldest daughter in a family would be referred to as “Miss” + her last name (i.e, Miss Elliot or Miss Bennet). The younger sisters would be “Miss” + the woman’s given name (i.e, Miss Anne or Miss Elizabeth). Addressing males followed a similar form. The eldest son was “Mister” + last name (i.e, Mr. Ferras or Mr. Wentworth). The younger sons used both given name and surname (i.e., Mr. Robert Ferras or Mr. Frederick Wentworth).

People of lower rank were expected to wait to be introduced to someone of a higher rank. (Do you recall Catherine Morland and Mrs. Allen at Bath? They must wait for an introduction to Henry Tilney, who calls upon the evening’s master of ceremonies to do the deed.) Women of the period were to be obedient to their fathers and husbands, docile and without opinions, have refined qualities, and attendant to their families. Education was not a prerequisite for women. In Austen’s stories, her heroines often shun these predisposed qualities. One must remember that Darcy admires Elizabeth Bennet’s desire to improve her mind by extensive reading.

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Regency era, Victorian era | Tagged 19th Century England, Catherine Morland, customs, England, gentry, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, social structure | Comments Off

“I Won’t Dance, Don’t Ask Me” – Dance as a Plot Device in Jane Austen’s Novels

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Pride and Prejudice - Pride and Prejudice 2005 Photo (17217510 ... www.fanpop.com

Pride and Prejudice – Pride and Prejudice 2005 Photo (17217510 …
http://www.fanpop.com

“To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love.” (Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 3) During Austen’s time, young people looked for a potential mate at dances. Austen, herself, enjoyed a good dance, and, therefore, she often used dance as part of her plot line. In a 1798 letter to her sister Cassandra, Austen wrote, “There were twenty Dances & I danced them all, & without any fatigue.” Dancing well was a “necessary evil.” Those who trod on their partners toes (i.e., Mr. Collins) were seen as gauche. Children of the gentry learned the latest dance steps early on.

Public balls or assemblies and private balls formed the two types of formal dances. Assemblies took place in large ballrooms in market towns and cities. They were constructed for the purpose of public gatherings. One might also hold a dance in the ballrooms at country inns (as in the Crown Inn in Emma) or in formal ballrooms in large houses (as in the Netherfield Ball in Pride and Prejudice or Sir Thomas’s ball in Mansfield Park).

Occasionally, the gentry would roll up the rugs for an impromptu dance. These were more characteristic of country life.

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE” (1995) Review: miniseries_anon
miniseries-anon.livejournal.com

Characters discussing “dancing” and participating in “dance” occurs often in Austen’s story lines. From Pride and Prejudice, we find, “Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances…” (and) “Come, Darcy,” said he, “I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.” (as well as) “She had known him only a fortnight. She danced four dances with him at Meryton…”

“Every savage can dance.” Sir William only smiled. (and)

“You would not wish to be dancing when she is ill.” (and)

“…and Elizabeth thought with pleasure of dancing a great deal with Mr. Wickham…” In fact, Austen uses “dance” eight and sixty times during the story line.

Persuasion 1995 - Part 4 / VBOX7 www.vbox7.com

Persuasion 1995 – Part 4 / VBOX7
http://www.vbox7.com

From Persuasion, the reader finds these references to “dancing.”

“The girls were wild for dancing; and the evenings ended, occasionally, in an unpremeditated little ball.” (and) “This evening ended with dancing.” (as well as) “Oh, no; she has quite given up dancing.” (and)

“Yes, I believe I do; very much recovered; but she is altered; there is no running or jumping about, no laughing or dancing…” There are ten references to dance in Persuasion.

The Rush Blog: April 2012
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The reader comes across nine and forty mentions of the word “dance” in Mansfield Park. We have such gems as, “…for it was while all the other young people were dancing, and she sitting, most unwillingly, among the chaperones at the fire…” (and) “…been a very happy one to Fanny through four dances, and she was quite grieved to be losing even a quarter of an hour.” (as well as) “…but instead of asking her to dance, drew a chair near her, and gave her an account of the present state of a sick horse…” (and) “I should like to go to a ball with you and see you dance. Have you never any balls at Northampton? I should like to see you dance, and I’d dance with you if you would, for nobody would know who I was, and I should like to be your partner once more.”

Best Country Dancer - Reviews of Jane-Austen Films www.theloiterer.org

Best Country Dancer – Reviews of Jane-Austen Films
http://www.theloiterer.org

“Dancing” is mentioned nine and sixty times in Emma. “She was in dancing, singing, exclaiming spirits…” (and) “She had suffered very much from a cramp from dancing, and her first attempt to mount the bank brought on such a return of it as made her absolutely powerless…” (and) “Indeed I will. You have shewn that you can dance, and you know we are not really so much brother and sister as to make it at all improper.” (as well as) “Pleasure in seeing dancing! – not I, indeed – I never look at it – I do not know who does. Fine dancing, I believe, like virtue, must be its own reward.”

From Love and Freindship, one finds, “The Dancing, however, was not begun as they waited for Mis Greville.” (and) “I soon forgot all my vexations in the pleasure of dancing and of having the most agreeable partner in the room.” (as well as) “I can neither sing so well nor Dance so gracefully as I once did.” There are ten references to “dance” in Love and Freindship.

Jane Austen - Sense and Sensibilty on Pinterest | Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman www.pinterest.com

Jane Austen – Sense and Sensibilty on Pinterest | Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet and Alan Rickman
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One and twenty references to “dance” appear in Sense and Sensibility. They include: “In the country, an unpremeditated dance was very allowable…” (and) “Never had Marianne been so unwilling to dance in her life…” (and) “They speedily discovered that their enjoyment of dancing and music was mutual…”

Seven and sixty uses of “dance” can be found in Northanger Abbey. One can find, “He wants me to dance with him again, though I tell him that it s a most improper thing, and entirely against the rules.” (and) “Oh, no; I am much obliged to you, our two dances are over; and, besides, I am tired, and do not mean to dance any more.”

Northanger.Abbey.(2007).BDRip.720p.AC3.X264-7SinS – sharethefiles.com
sharethefiles.com

My favorite quote regarding dancing comes from Northanger Abbey. In it, Henry Tilney makes a comparison between “dancing” and “matrimony.” He says, “…that in both, it is an engagement between man and woman, formed for the advantage of each; and that when once entered into, they belong exclusively to each other till the moment of its dissolution; that it is their duty, each to endeavor to give the other no cause for wishing that he or she had bestowed themselves elsewhere, and their best interest to keep their own imaginations from wandering towards the perfections of their neighbours, or fancying that they should have been better off with any one else.”

Thoughtful Spot: Miss Austen
thoughtfulspot.typepad.
com

So, what are your favorite scenes in Austen’s novels that are associated with dancing? Are there other poignant Austen moments centering around dance? Please share your favorite scenes with all of us.

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Jane Austen, Living in the Regency, Regency era | Tagged country dance, dance, Emma, Jane Austen, Love and Freindship, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey, Persuasion, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility | 9 Comments

Life Below Stairs, Part II – Rules of Engagement

Posted on February 17, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

9e258cff4045bcc508f349fc6f62d9b6 Previously, we looked at what a servant in an upper house, or even in a second-class household, of the late Regency Period or early Victorian times, might encounter. We spoke of wages, delineation of duties, and additional compensation. Today, we wish to examine the “snobbery” found among the servant class. As mentioned in the previous’s article, the servants in upper households expected “tips” from the master’s guests. If he did not receive it, he might still exact his revenge on those who paid a second visit to the estate. On his return, a guest might find himself in a one of the draftier bedchambers or he might be met at the train in a cart rather than an estate carriage.

The servants expected the guests to conform to certain standards of gentility. Heaven help a stranger who appeared on the doorstep and not dressed to the hilt. John James, in The Memoirs of a House Steward, tells a tale of how, in 1895, he mistook His Grace the Duke of Westminster for a servant. Apparently, Westminster wore shabbily clothing, and he was clean shaved, which was frowned upon in that time. James did not realize his mistake until he examined the man’s card.

Of course, below stairs, the servants commented freely on the master’s guests. “Behind the servants’ mask of perfect politeness and consummate gentility, there were dark thoughts and hidden feelings, another world to which only the still innocent children of the house were ever admitted, where rumours echoed from the lofty ceilings and were imagined and distorted into malicious gossip and false report. The roots of the servant grapevine were embedded deep in the foundation of each great London house. A fragment of conversation overheard by a footman at the dinner table or some actual confidence foolishly entrusted by some too ingenuous mistress to her maid, would be carried swiftly downstairs to the kitchen. From there it was transported lovingly up and down the neighboring area steps by the visiting butterman and butcher to be deposited with that day’s order on the great wooden tables in nearby kitchens, whence it could be disseminated to every part of the house by a word and a wink between the first and second footman or by a whispered conversation between two under housemaids who shared the same room, and sometimes the same bed, in the cold and draughty attic.” (Frank Huggett, Life Below Stairs, John Murray Publishers (July 14, 1977)) 1901093

sabrina-fair-1954-sabrinaalt-audrey-hepburn-sbf-019p-bkb9eg This situation reminds me of the chauffeur in the play Sabrina Fair (basis of the movie Sabrina, which starred Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn) who earns a fortune by simply listening to his employer conduct business in the backseat of the car and then buying and selling stocks based on Linus Larrabee’s knowledge of the stock market.

Some servants even followed their masters into battle. Yet, such devotion to the old ways died quickly as the servant class became more aware of the world in which they lived. The penny post might have brought down a feudal way of life. Although wages increased significantly in the later part of the 19th Century, it did not guarantee a servants’ loyalty. Also, the lower servants no longer accepted the strict unspoken rules of the household. One might find those below stairs sporting more freely among the servant dichotomy.

This information comes from a website I dearly adore. Weddington Castle – An Online History (KEY PEOPLE: The Life of Victorian Servants). http://www.webspinners.org.uk/weddingtoncastle2/new_page_77.htm

Below are examples of some of the rules that the servants had to follow

1 – When being spoken to, stand still, keeping your hands quiet, and always look at the person speaking.

Housemaid

2 – Never let your voice be heard by the ladies and gentlemen of the household, unless they have spoken directly to you a question or statement which requires a response, at which time, speak as little as possible.

3 – In the presence of your mistress, never speak to another servant or person of your own rank, or to a child, unless only for necessity, and then as little as possible and as quietly as possible.

4 – Never begin to talk to the ladies or gentlemen, unless to deliver a message or to ask a necessary question, and then, do it in as few words as possible.

5 – Whenever possible, items that have been dropped, such as spectacles or handkerchiefs, and other small items, should be returned to their owners on a salver.

6 – Always respond when you have received an order, and always use the proper address: “Sir”, “Ma’am”, “Miss” or “Mrs,” as the case may be.

7 – Never offer your opinion to your employer.

8 – Always “give room”: that is, if you encounter one of your betters in the house or on the stairs, you are to make yourself as invisible as possible, turning yourself toward the wall and averting your eyes.

9 – Except in reply to a salutation offered, never say “good morning” or “good night” to your employer.

10 – If you are required to walk with a lady or gentleman in order to carry packages, or for any other reason, always keep a few paces back.

11 – You are expected to be punctual to your place at mealtime.

12 – You shall not receive any Relative, Visitor or Friend into the house, nor shall you introduce any person into the Servant’s Hall, without the consent of the Butler or Housekeeper.

13 – Followers are strictly forbidden. Any member of the female staff who is found to be fraternizing shall be immediately dismissed.

14 – Expect that any breakages or damages in the house shall be deducted from your wages.

Servants’ Wages

In Victorian times, live-in servants, who had all their expenses (food, lodging, clothes etc) taken care of, earned as little as £10 a year, (which is only the equivalent of £77 in today’s money).

Here is a list of the average wages of servants (figures collected by the Board of Trade in the 1890s ~ also from Weddington Castle).

Between Maid £10, 7s
Scullery Maid £13
Kitchen Maid £15
Housemaid £16, 2s
Parlour Maid £20, 6s
Cook £20, 2s
Lady’s Maid £24, 7s
Cook / Housekeeper £35, 6s
Housekeeper £52, 5s

In 1888 Butlers earned £45 per annum and had no expenses except clothes. They would make up their income from such perks as tradesman offering discounts to receive continued orders. Butlers would also collect the end of candles and one bottle of wine for every six opened.

Changes in Weaponry at the End of the Regency

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

This post appeared the last week of September 2015 on Caroline Warfield’s most-excellent blog on historical fiction/fact, but I thought I’d share it here in case some of you missed it.

The first seven books of my award-winning “The Realm” series took place during the height of the Regency Era. Book one (A Touch of Scandal) began in early 1814, and Book 7 (A Touch of Honor) ended in the spring of 1819. Although I am quite familiar with the Regency, I set the series’ conclusion (A Touch of Emerald) in 1829. In fact, George IV’s death in June 1830 is mentioned briefly in the latter chapters of the book. The shift of ten years made it necessary for me to revisit several points of history, most specifically the fashions of the day, but there were other details that required a bit of research.

The British Baker rifle seen with sword bayonet
Antique Military Rifles – Derivative work of Baker Rifle; originally posted to Flickr
CC BY-SA 2.0

That being said, another point of interest was weaponry used by the members of the Realm. During the Regency, the single-shot rifle and pistol were common (although the Americans had developed rifles with longer ranges) and many of the British army used the Baker rifle. “The Baker rifle (officially known as the Pattern 1800 Infantry Rifle) was a flintlock rifle used by the Rifle regiments of the British Army during the Napoleonic Wars. It was the first standard-issue, British-made rifle accepted by the British armed forces. The Baker Rifle was first produced in 1800 by Ezekiel Baker, a master gunsmith from Whitechapel. The British Army was still issuing the Infantry Rifle in the 1830s.” (Wikipedia) It was the mid to late 1800s before the public saw major improvements in the bolt-action rifle.

In A Touch of Emerald, my hero, Daniel Kerrington, Viscount Worthing, lived in Europe after the Napoleonic Wars, serving as his father’s assistant to several foreign courts. Worthing has the opportunity to purchase a gun developed by Jean Samuel Pauly and another by Casmir Lefaucheux. In the novel, he uses them in his rescue of Lady Sonalí Fowler.

http://www.christies.com
A FINE 13MM SYSTEME PAULY BREECH LOADING CENTER-FIRE SINGLE SHOT PISTOL, CIRCA 1812

Pauly was an artillery sergeant with the Swiss Army, who wrote a manual on firearms in 1799. With French gunsmith François Prélate, Pauly developed the first self-contained cartridges with a copper base and integrated potassium chlorate primer powder, a paper casing, and a round bullet. The cartridge loaded through the breech and fired with a needle or pin. A firearm was developed by September 1812. Pauly traveled to London in April 1814, where he worked under Durs Egg, the maker of the Ferguson rifle.

Casmir Lefaucheux received his first patent in 1827; he brought the world one of the first efficient self-contained cartridge systems. Lefaucheux’s early work was based on that of Pauly’s. The Lefaucheux possessed a conical bullet, a cardboard powder tube, a copper base, and an incorporated primer pellet. Lefaucheux’s was one of the first breech-loading weapons.

Lefaucheux M1858 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
en.wikipedia.org
Revolver Lefaucheux IMG 3108.jpg

The Books of the Realm:
A Touch of Scandal: Book 1 of the Realm Series (aka The Scandal of Lady Eleanor) – James Kerrington, Viscount Worthing, and Lady Eleanor Fowler

A Touch of Velvet: Book 2 of the Realm Series – Brantley Fowler, the Duke of Thornhill, and Miss Velvet Aldridge
A Touch of Cashémere: Book 3 of the Realm Series – Marc
us Wellston, Earl of Berwick, and Miss Cashémere Aldridge

A Touch of Grace: Book 4 of the Realm Series – Gabriel Crowden. Marquis of Godown, and Miss Grace Nelson

A Touch of Mercy : Book 5 of the Realm Series – Aidan Kimbolt, Viscount Lexford, and Miss Mercy Nelson

A Touch of Love: Book 6 of the Realm Series – Sir Carter Lowery and Mrs. Lucinda Warren

A Touch of Honor: Book 7 of the Realm Series – Baron John Swenton and Miss Lucinda Neville

A Touch of Emerald: The Conclusion of the Realm Series – Daniel Kerrington, Viscount Worthing and Lady Sonalí Fowler

His American Heartsong: Companion Novel to the Realm Series – Lawrence Lowery, Lord Hellsman, and Miss Arabella Tilney

The Realm is a group of covert agents working behind the lines throughout Europe during the Napoleonic Wars. The men of the Realm possess personal demons, but they return to England after the war to reclaim their titles and search for a bit of contentment. However, an old enemy follows them to England. Shaheed Mir, a Baloch warlord, believes one of he Realm stole a fist-sized emerald, and Mir means to have it back.

Book Blurb: A Touch of Emerald
Four crazy Balochs. A Gypsy band. An Indian maiden. A cave with a maze of passages. A hero, not yet tested. And a missing emerald.

For nearly two decades, the Realm thwarted the efforts of all Shaheed Mir sent their way, but now the Baloch warlord is in England, and the tribal leader means to reclaim the fist-sized emerald he believes one of the Realm stole during their rescue of a girl upon whom Mir turned his men. Mir means to take his revenge on the Realm and the Indian girl’s child, Lady Sonalí Fowler.

Daniel Kerrington, Viscount Worthing, has loved Lady Sonalí since they were but children. Yet, when his father, the Earl of Linworth, objects to Sonalí’s bloodlines, Worthing thinks never to claim her. However, when danger arrives in the form of the Realm’s old enemy, Kerrington ignores all caution for the woman he loves.

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Book Excerpt Teaser:

A horrifying sense of inevitability swept over Sonalí. Icy dread claimed her spine, but Mir’s hand caught the fist, which came to her lips to stifle the scream drowning out the sound of the gun, to wrench her arm behind her. Sonalí’s gaze remained riveted upon the pain crossing Daniel’s features. She longed to rush to his side – to wrap Daniel in her embrace – to cradle his head in her lap.

“Move!” Mir growled as he shoved Sonalí forward.

She strained to reach Lord Worthing, but the Baloch pulled upward upon her arm, bending Sonalí over at the waist. She stumbled forward unable to straighten her stance.

They paused beside Worthing, who stilled. Even in the semi-darkness, Sonalí recognized how the blood seeped from his wound; regardless, his steady gaze demanded hers.

“Leave her with me,” Worthing pleaded. “Lady Sonalí is of no use to you. Just go. Neither of us is capable of giving pursuit. You can travel faster without her. Lady Sonalí is injured.

Although Sonalí could not see the Baloch’s expression, she could hear the vehemence in his tone.

“You dared to spill…my blood…on English shores,” Mir hissed. “I returned…the gesture.”

A prickle of foreboding ricocheted through Sonalí. Her tears rolled down her cheeks to drip upon Worthing’s upturned face.
 “Lady Sonalí…will protect me…from your…father. Linworth killed Talpur…and I will kill…his son,” Mir declared with relish.

“No!” Sonalí wailed. “You cannot!”

“I can,” Mir assured. “And you may watch.”

Meet Regina Jeffers
The Award-winning author of twenty-three Austenesque and Regency romance novels, Regina Jeffers has worn many hats over her lifetime: daughter, student, military brat, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, tax preparer, journalist, choreographer, Broadway dancer, theatre director, history buff, grant writer, media literacy consultant, and author. Living outside of Charlotte, NC, Jeffers writes novels that take the ordinary and adds a bit of mayhem, while mastering tension in her own life with a bit of gardening and the exuberance of her “grand joys.”

Posted in British history, Great Britain, Living in the Regency, real life tales, Realm series, Regency era, Victorian era, weaponry | Tagged A Touch of Emerald, Casmir Lefaucheux, Johann Samuel Pauly, Regency Era, the Realm series, weaponry | 10 Comments

Congratulations to the Winner of Heidi Sprouse’s “Whispers of Liberty”

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Regina Jeffers

Congratulations to kwithey, who will receive a signed copy of Heidi Sprouse’s time slip novel, Whispers of Liberty. Heidi will contact the winner directly for her mailing address. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!!

Posted in American History, giveaway, Guest Blog, Guest Post, historical fiction, Uncategorized | Comments Off

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Life Below Stairs ~ Part Four: The Work Never Ends

St Michael Paternoster Royal Church, a Medieval Marvel, and Whittington College

Life Below Stairs, Part 3 ~ The Male Servant

“I Won’t Dance, Don’t Ask Me” – Dance as a Plot Device in Jane Austen’s Novels

Life Below Stairs, Part II – Rules of Engagement

Changes in Weaponry at the End of the Regency

Congratulations to the Winner of Heidi Sprouse’s “Whispers of Liberty”

Congratulations to kwithey, who will receive a signed copy of Heidi Sprouse’s time slip novel, Whispers of Liberty. Heidi will contact the winner directly for her mailing address. HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!!!!

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