The two weeks that made Headlines

In 1909, seventeen year old heiress Roberta Buist DeJanon, grandaughter of wealthy Philadelphia seedman Robert Buist Jr (his father credited with introducing the poinsettia to the United States), and daughter of Ferdinand H. De Janon, disappeared from her house "Bellevue-Stratford" in Philadelphia, with a false intention to visit the dentist. And she disappeared, along with her dog and a 46 year old waiter from Vienna named Frederick Cohen. He had inherited a small fortune from his brother who had emigrated to Australia. Loving horse races, and he lost by spending his one million seven hundred dollars in a short time. He went then to work as a waiter again, this time at the Hotel Birham, and at the Bellevue-Stratford hotel he along with another waiter served the De Janon family, inside their apartments, due to the heiress' mother illness. The heiress' mother had died a month before her run away. After her name appeared on the newspapers' headlines for many days, they both got married, Frederick having divorced from his wife in exchange of valuable items. Later on they would divorce and she would marry Harry Blank Cavendish. As other sources inform as well, she later on married Stephen Glaser, 26 years old, in 1911, after her grandfather had died that same year, which creates a doubt regarding the real name of the so called Cohen, or maybe Cavendish, since the year of her disappearance was 1910. She possibly divorced him in 1930.


The headlines showed different possibilities regarding their whereabouts, including a trip to Mexico.



While disappeared, newspapers asked people to help find the elopes, and some had mentioned they saw him in New York, while others would point at the races in Philadelphia, thus starting a hunt that kept for days making the news on different newspapers, from El Paso until Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington, etc. They were searched all along the US, including Canada, until they were found in Chicago.




It seems that she was not the only rich girl to have left home and go ahead with her way, as through reading newspapers regarding this story, another heiress had left her house and had married her chauffeur.

As a note aside, Patrice De Janon, the heiress' grandfather on her paternal side, I discovered to have been a sword-master and Spanish teacher at West Point Military Academy, being himself of Spanish origin and a gentleman. He had a kind of conspiracy against him at the academy, which leaded him to address a long explanation as an Answer and Defense, and asking for help to the President of the United States, then Franklin Pierce published in 1864.




Patrice De Janon

READ FULL STORY OF THE ADVENTURE

The Land Beyond The Sunset (1912)

Silent short movies tend to be funny and when they are dramatic the intention is to give to the audience in a short frame of time a story told in a way that explains many things abruptly, leaving us with the feeling of having tasted a good piece of candy or a sad sip of wormwood, that is why short films are very intense almost since their beginning. Preamble, plot and climax represent perhaps ten to twenty minutes, if so, of our 24 hour day, and either we like them or dislike them. Drama in shorts tend to be exaggerated to give to the audience the sense of fatality and we see this in many shorts from the silent era. Realistic yet brutally sincere, or laughable until reaching tears, silent short films bring up aspects of our emotions in the glance of an eye. The end of the stories are mostly predictable yet they are beautiful to see.

In this case, "The Land Beyond The Sunset" is a poem made short film. A poem that sadly can be applied to our world of now, a world where poverty increases even in places nobody would ever think of. The great thing of this short in my opinion is how it ends, for it doesn't. Something we don't see in our movies today. It is art, movies as an art, as an expression of art. It is a poem, it is more than that, a dream, a wish, a subtle emotion.

We don't see here the Dickens child, thriving to survive to have a plate of soup, but rather a child who, among poverty, thrives to survive for a piece of magic.

This is a tender story that many children and adults should watch, since we are used to not having to think much when we see movies, the end is told, and here things change.

I am happy to know that this movie was one of the five silent shorts that were seen at the University's School of Music yesterday. Not only this, but that students and faculty accompanied these films with music.


Land Beyond the Sunset, The (1912) by Lost_Shangri_La_Horizon

Wikipedia says that "The Land Beyond the Sunset is a 1912 short, silent drama film which tells the story of a young boy, oppressed by his grandmother, who goes on an outing in the country with a social welfare group. It stars Martin Fuller, Mrs. William Bechtel, Walter Edwin and Bigelow Cooper. The movie was written by Dorothy G. Shore and directed by Harold M. Shaw.
In 2000, The Land Beyond the Sunset was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". It is included on the DVD Treasures from American Film Archives (2000)."

Every child and adult with a child heart should see this silent short. If you like The Little Prince, then I am sure this short will tell you many things as well.

Pola Negri

Pola Negri in Madame du Barry - 1919

 

Technorati Tags: pola negri,madame du barry,1910s,silent movies,silent films

Romantic Postcard

via

Here I love you.
In the dark pines the wind disentangles itself.
The moon glows like phosphorous on the vagrant waters.
Days, all one kind, go chasing each other.
The snow unfurls in dancing figures.
A silver gull slips down from the west.
Sometimes a sail. High, high stars.

Pablo Neruda

 

Aquí te amo.
En los oscuros pinos se desenreda el viento.
Fosforece la luna sobre las aguas errantes.
Andan días iguales persiguiéndose.
Se desciñe la niebla en danzantes figuras.
Una gaviota de plata se descuelga del ocaso.
A veces una vela. Altas, altas estrellas.

Pablo Neruda

Technorati Tags: vintage postcards,pablo neruda,poetry,romantic postcards,1920s,1910s

1913

A Happy Woman in 1913

Una Mujer Feliz en 1913

Or at least she seems so…

O al  menos lo parece…

I see her as  an traveler

La veo como una viajera

 

VIA FLICKR

Technorati Tags: 1900S,1913,VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHY

Weekend Poll: What time do you belong to?

I was reading an article that speaks about Ditta Von Tyssen and I know the pinup style doesn’t fit me well. I mostly prefer the 20s , its fashion and the flapper era. But at times, I can also feel that I would why not could be living in the 1900s, those times filled with art, culture, expeditions and marvelous perfume creations.

So, I was thinking why not write about this as a poll? This is a great way to know your likes, what times you really love most and perhaps seeing these images those who wonder will finally get an idea of what times they really feel to fit in.

So here are some images, randomly selected. Just choose one (or two) that will let us know what times, what old and not so old times you really love.

I made a selection starting with the 1900s. I could go further back but perhaps this will be posted on another article, only to show a certain time, let’s say the Victorian and Edwardian era.

So, here are the pictures. Chose the one or two photos that make you feel good as if you were precisely in the photo.

Let’s start with 1800s

 

1900

 

1910s

 

1920s

 

1930s

(btw, she reminds me of Madonna)

 

1940s

 

1950s

 

1960s

 

1970s

 

1980s

 

Make your choice!

 

Image Credits:

Victorian Lady Preparing Her Bath ca. 1890s /Bettman

Woman Dress as Virgin Mary © Alinari Archives/ 1895 – 1900

French Ballet Dancer Wearing Feather Plume 1900-1910 © Alinari Archives

Model Alden Gay Wearing Cartier Jewelry 1924 © Condé Nast Archive

Woman in Satin Crepe Suit 1934 © Condé Nast Archive

Designer Charles James 1948 © Condé Nast Archive

Model Suzy Parker with flowers 1956 © Genevieve Naylor

1960s Woman Dancing In White Fringed Halter Top Mini-Dress Skirt And Go-Go Boots  April 21, 1965 © H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock

Nan Kempner  ca. January 1974 © Condé Nast Archive

Marc Jacobs Runway Show Fall 1986 © Condé Nast Archive

Shaking Hands

 

The etiquette with regard to shaking hands is not an open question, it is distinct enough and simple enough for all exigencies, but yet there is individual temperament to be taken into account which in many drives etiquette out of the field, if by etiquette is understood not merely stiff propriety of action, but politeness in the truest sense of the word, and doing that which is exactly the right thing to do. Etiquette rules when to shake hands and when not to do so, when to bow and when not to bow; but in spite of this knowledge, which is within every one's reach, there are many mistakes made on this head.

For instance, one does not offer to shake hands when expected to do so; another offers to shake hands three times; one displays unwarrantable warmth in shaking hands; another extends two fingers only; one shakes hands in a limp and uncomfortable manner, and takes the extended hand merely to drop it; another literally pumps the extended hand, or crushes the rings into a lady's fingers when shaking hands with her.

A lady who does not shake hands when expected to do so is actuated by one or other of the following reasons—she did not wish to shake hands with a certain acquaintance, and preferred to bow only, or she was not aware whether she should have shaken hands or not.

The gentlemen who shake hands with great warmth and empressement are two distinct individuals; the one is [p.226]cordial and large-hearted, and has a friendly grasp for every one—a grasp indicative of kindliness, geniality, and good fellowship—the other wishes to ingratiate himself in certain quarters, and loses no opportunity of demonstratively shaking hands, but no one is deceived by this spurious imitation of the real thing.

When a lady gives but two fingers to people whom she does not care about, she is always a person who fancies herself, and who feels very fine; she doubtless is, but her good breeding and her good feeling are both in question when she takes this method of showing the superiority of herself and her position over that of other people.

There are other eccentricities indulged in by different people who shake hands when they should not, and people who do not shake hands when they should.

It depends upon whom a lady is introduced to, or upon who is introduced to her, whether she should or should not shake hands. She should not shake hands on being casually introduced to a person altogether a stranger to her; but yet there are so many occasions when it is both proper and correct to shake hands on being introduced, that the rule on this head is a very elastic one.

For instance, a host and hostess should shake hands with every stranger introduced to them at their house.

A lady should shake hands on being introduced to the relations of her intended husband.

A lady should shake hands on being introduced to the friend of an intimate friend.

When a lady has entered into conversation to any extent with some one to whom she has been introduced, and finds she has much in common with her, she should shake hands on taking leave; but if she has only exchanged a few commonplace sentences, a bow would be all that is necessary.

A lady usually takes the initiative with regard to shaking hands as with bowing; but in reality it is a spontaneous [p.227]movement, made by both lady and gentleman at the same moment, as the hand ought not to be extended or the bow given unless expected and instantaneously reciprocated.

A young lady should not offer to shake hands with one not expectant of the honour.

Shaking hands on taking leave is, with some few people, a graceful and pleasant fashion of saying good-bye; intimate friends hold the hand while the last words are being said. Women hold each other's hands thus on parting, and some few men take each other's hands; but with them it is rather a foreign fashion, and is principally followed by those who have lived much on the Continent; for, as a rule, an Englishman prefers the hearty English shake of the hand.

A lady having once shaken hands with another, should continue to do so at subsequent meetings, unless a coolness of manner warns her that a bow would be more acceptable.

With regard to shaking hands at a dinner-party with acquaintances: if the dinner-party is a small one, and there is time to shake hands, it is correct to do so; but when there is little time before dinner, and no good opportunity for shaking hands, bows to acquaintances at distant parts of the room, or when seated at the dinner-table, are sufficient recognition for the time being.

At an evening-party it depends upon opportunity whether acquaintances shake hands or not.

The fashion of raising the arm when shaking hands is followed by very few in the exaggerated style in which it was first introduced, but a modification of it has distinctly become the fashion in general society.

The hand, instead of being extended straight out, is now offered on a line or parallel with the chest, a trifle higher than the old-fashioned style, and the fingers of the hand are held and gently shaken, but the palm is not grasped or even touched.

 

From:

MANNERS AND RULES
OF
GOOD SOCIETY
OR SOLECISMS TO BE AVOIDED

BY A MEMBER

OF THE ARISTOCRACY

THIRTY-EIGHTH EDITION

LONDON

FREDERICK WARNE AND CO.

AND NEW YORK

1916

Technorati Tags: 1910s,etiquette,history,books,vintage,handshake,shaking hands

Queen Liliuokalani 2 September 1838, Honolulu, Hawaii - 11 November 1917

 

The last reigning monarch of the Hawai'ian Islands, she became Queen of Hawai'i upon the death of her brother, King Kalākaua I, in 1891. She reigned for just under two years and was then overthrown in 1893 by a group in the white business community led by Sanford Dole, cousin of pineapple magnate James Dole. This effort was backed with the threat of force from combined forces of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The American minister in Hawai'i, John L. Stevens, had troops take over Iolani Palace, the Honolulu residence of the Queen, as well as other governmental buildings and in 1894, the Queen was deposed, ending centuries of monarchial rule and establishing the Republic of Hawai'i with Sanford Dole as its first president.
In 1895, Liliuokalani was accused of attempting to regain the throne after weapons were found in the gardens of her home in Washington Place in Honolulu. She was arrested but denied knowledge of the existence of these weapons, claiming that any plan of rebellion was due to the efforts of others and in 1896, she was released after the perpetrators were caught. At the request of the Queen, Dole subsequently granted all of them a pardon. The former Queen lived the remainder of her life at Washington Place, now the official residence of the Governor of Hawai'i. Dole led a successful effort to lobby Congress for the annexation of Hawai'i to the United States for economic exploitation, which occurred in 1898 through a joint resolution of Congress. Liliuokalani died due to complications from a stroke in 1917.

 

From imdb

He was the grandaunt  of Mary Kaye, the so-called “Queen of Rock’ n Roll”

FANTOMAS – OFFICIAL TRAILER

Starring René Navarre and directed by Louis Feuillade, this movie is a classic silent.

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Lillian Russell Film in Colour (1913)

Small fragment of a lost film in Kinemacolor, "How to Live 100 Years" (1913), starring Lillian Russell. This appears to be the only surviving footage of Russell in colour.

Technorati Tags: 1910s,cinema,music,lillian russell

Precognition and Death

IN THE morning of December 16, 1897, Frederick Lane, an
actor in William Terriss's company, entered the Adelphi
Theatre, London, to take part in a rehearsal.

Before arriving at the dressing rooms he encountered Miss
Olive Haygate, also a member of the company, and they ex-
changed greetings.

"There will be no performance to-night! " declared Lane
jovially, and went on to explain that a few hours earlier he had
dreamed that he saw Mr. Terriss lying on the stairs leading
to the dressing rooms. His chest was bare and his clothing torn
aside, so that Lane thought he must be in some kind of fit.
Various people belonging to the theatre were standing by, and
doing their best for him. Immediately afterwards Lane
dreamed that the theatre would not open that night.

He did not take his dream in the least bit seriously. Rather
did he regard it as a waggish story about the chief, and on
entering the dressing rooms he repeated it in this spirit to
several men members of the caste.

In the evening of the same day, as William Terriss reached
the private entrance of the theatre in Maiden Lane, and was
putting his key in the lock, a man who for some time had been
lurking about the lane, rushed forward, and, with a long thin-
bladed knife, stabbed the unfortunate actor in the region of
the heart and again in the back.

Lane, who was himself on his way to the theatre about this
time, heard the outcry resulting from the outrage, and learn-
ing what had happened, rushed for a doctor. When he got
back to the theatre he saw Terriss lying in the place where he
had seen him in the dream. In the interval the wounded man
had been carried inside the theatre, but it had been found im-
possible to take him further than the foot of the stairs leading
to the dressing room, and there in less than twenty minutes he
died. Terriss's clothing was open as Lane had seen it in the
dream, and the same people were standing round and tend-
ing him. There was no performance at the theatre that night.

At the request of the Society for Psychical Research, Miss
Haygate, H. Carter Bligh, and S. Creagh Henry, members of
the caste, wrote out signed statements confirming that Lane
had told the dream to them in detail in the morning, when
neither he nor anyone else attached any serious importance to
it. These statements, with that of Lane himself, are included
in a full report of the case published in the Society 's Proceed-
ings, vol. xiv, 1898-9. 1

Telepathy from the murderer (who, by the way, was found
to be insane) , would not account for this dream, because the
deed was committedwhere the murderer obviously intended
to commit it outside the theatre, and he could not know that
his victim, on being carried inside, would have to be left at the
foot of the stairs.

The case well illustrates that it is the coming experience of
the percipient himself that is precognised, and not the event.
Lane did not foresee the crime. He dreamed a picture ("I saw
it like a tableau") of the scene at the foot of the stairs as it
would be presented to him, individually, in the future. His
dream did not even tell him that Terriss was wounded, let
alone that he would die. So far as the demonstration of Pre-

cognition is concerned Lane's dream could as well have re-
lated to some trivial matter, but then it would never have been
recorded, and even the dreamer himself might not have re-
membered his experience for long.

The too-ready assumption in all ages that experiences un-
der the head of Precognition must be intended as "warnings"
ol what is to come has prevented a detached judgment of
them. The records of mankind teem with legends and anec-
dotes of solemn premonitions given to kings and to every
grade of their subjects. These prophecies or premonitions
generally portended death or some great calamity.

France Olive Haygate, one of the witnesses of Lane’s dream account.

Taken from:

SECOND SIGHT IN DAILY LIFE 

By W. H. W. SABINE, 1951

Technorati Tags: 1910s,theater,extrasensorial,actresses,actors,mysteries

Mary Pickford

Flickr

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