*Please note- This site search does not include the Vic. & Tas. BMD's, Lots o' Links & Worth a Look Books
|
Now truth more than fiction is strange,
as customs and laws they have changed;
There're things quite absurd
that we've never heard
and some of them seem quite deranged
as customs and laws they have changed;
There're things quite absurd
that we've never heard
and some of them seem quite deranged
FASCINATING FACTS
page 1
The Name 'Wendy'
It is a common belief, that the name Wendy was created by J.M. Barrie for the character "Wendy Darling" in his books about Peter Pan. Is this true? was the name Wendy used before this? If Wendy is derived from a Welsh name, would it be Gwendydd? Genealogical research discovered the name Wendy twice in the 1881 census of England, one born 1840, one born in 1880. The magazine 'Family History' also states that Wendy, along with the names Marian & Shirley were once used as boys names & that in 1797 a boy named Wendy was apprenticed to some one in Glouscestershire. Two emperors in China who had the name "Wendi" Emperor Wendi, Han Dynasty (179BC-157BC) and Emperor Wendi, Sui Dynasty (541-604) were born long before this of course. So the name 'Wendy', may be older than you think? http://www.wendy.com/wendyweb/history.html |
Wendy Darling, from Peter Pan. by J.M. Barrie
|
Molly Duke
Left handed people are called Molly Duke, but was Molly a real person? No!. Duke, is another term for hand, as in "put up your dukes" (for a fist fight), supposedly from rhyming slang of your hand being your fork (eating with your fingers) so, calling it your 'Duke of York', then shortened to just 'Duke'. Molly, is a term that is used for someone who is fussy, or does things a bit differently from their peers, so that's it- Molly Duke! |
A Left-handed Pencil?
No, it's not a joke! there really is such a thing. But it's nothing to do with the way that it writes, it's the way that the text is printed on the pencil. On an ordinary pencil the text runs from the tip to the head, so it's the right way up for right handers, so a left handed pencil has the text printed the other way. http://www.pencils.sundrymemes.com/pen_left.htm |
Early Movies Called 'Flickers'
Early movies were called “flickers” and then “flicks”. The reason that they were called this, was not because of the series of pictures that flicked across the screen, but because they actually flicked, due to the projection equipment. All motion-picture film projectors require a moving shutter to block the light whilst the film is moving, otherwise the image is smeared in the movement direction. This shutter causes the image to flicker & images with low rates, flicker much worse. |
The Many-Headed Monster
The 17th century gentlemen, often thought of ‘the common people’ as a monstrous beast that would devour the rich whole, if given half a chance. "Most writers about politics during the century before 1640 agreed that democracy was a bad thing … ‘The people’ were fickle, unstable, incapable of rational thought: the headless multitude, the many-headed monster." Christopher Hill, class hatred and the many-headed monster https://manyheadedmonster.wordpress.com/2012/09/10/christopher |
Chef's Hat
Legend has it that even earlier than seventh century A.D., chefs in Assyria wore crown-like hats that differentiated them from other kitchen help. Why? It seems that kings were being poisoned left and right by indignant chefs, so in order to placate them and make them feel special (thus hopefully eliminating the desire to poison the leader), they were presented with a unique piece of headgear. http://reluctantgourmet.com/education/culinary-career-path/ |
Boarder or Lodger?
What is the difference between a Boarder or Lodger in a Census? GENDOCS had this to say- Lodger ~ a person who has separate accomodation to the householder. Boarder ~ a person who shares the dinner table with the family http://homepage.ntlworld.com/hitch/gendocs/abbr |
|
It is speculated that road splits or 'trivia' were resting places where travelers paused to have
small talk before continuing on their separate ways. Hence, the modern word 'trivia' evolved from a literal meaning. Watch video on the History of Trivia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2_8GO_wYT0 |
Flautlist
A Flautlist has nothing to do with playing the flute, or any instrument, it is a Professional Farter who entertain people by farting in a creative, musical or entertaining manner. At the turn of the 20th century there were still stand up comedians who performed in this manner. The most famous of this art was Joseph Pujol whose stage name was Le Pétomane which in English means The Fartomaniac. He performed at prestigious venues like the Moulin Rouge and his audience comprised of esteemed guests such as Prince Edward, King Leopold II and Sigmund Freud. Some of the highlights of his stage act involved sound effects of cannon fire and thunderstorms, as well as playing "'O Sole Mio" and "La Marseillaise". He could also blow out a candle from several yards away. |
Macassar oil / Anti-Macassar
In the late Victorian age, men used Macassar oil as a conditioner. The name of the product is due to the fact that it's ingredients were manufactured and bought in the Makassar port in Indonesia. The oil was usually made from coconut oil or similar. Because this oil was usually transferred from the fine gentleman's hair to the back of his seat, the antimacassar was invented. It is the crocheted, embroidered or mass-produced small cloth which is pinned or laid over the back of the chair, to protect the upholstery from being tainted. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/a-brief-hair-care-history.html |
Seafaring Superstitions
Flowers Flowers are for funerals, and therefore weren’t welcomed aboard ship. If somebody’s sweetheart brought some aboard as a bon voyage gift, they were quickly thrown overboard. Clergy weren’t welcomed either, for the same connection with funerals, but they weren’t tossed off the ship. http://www.dtmag.com/Stories/Weird%20Stuff/08-06-feature.htm |
The Last Stitch
When sailors died at sea their bodies would, more often than not, be committed to the deep. They would be wrapped in their hammocks with cannon balls or weights placed at their feet to ensure they would sink. The hammock was then sewn up with the last stitch going through the sailor’s nose. If he did not wake up at the pain, they knew he was definitely dead. http://theoddmentemporium.tumblr.com/post/62 |
The Scotch Thistle
The thistle was adopted as the Emblem of Scotland during the reign of Alexander III (1249 -1286). Legend has it, that an Army of King Haakon of Norway, intent on conquering the Scots, landed on the Coast of Largs at night to surprise the sleeping Scottish Clansmen. In order to move quietly in the darkness the Norsemen removed their footwear. |
As they drew near to the Scots, one of Haakon's men stood on one of these prickly plants and shrieked out in pain, alerting the Scots of the advancing Norsemen and thus prevented the Norse invasion. The first use of the Thistle as a royal symbol of Scotland was on silver coins issued by James III in 1470.
http://www.scotshistoryonline.co.uk/thistle/thistle.htm |
This was a traditional paper size used in Europe and the British Commonwealth, before the adoption of the international standard A4 paper. Foolscap was named after the fool's caps and bells watermark commonly used from the fifteenth century onward, on paper of these dimensions. The earliest example of such paper that is firmly dated was made in Germany in 1479. A fool's cap customarily worn by jesters in the European courts during the Middle Ages is a brightly colored hat decorated with bells.
http://nga.gov.au/conservation/Watermarks/details/foolscap.cfm Watermarks are identification marks produced during the paper making process. The first water-marks appeared in Italy during the 13th century, but their use rapidly spread across Europe. They were used as a means to identify the papermaker or the trade guild that manufactured the paper. http://www.lib.utexas.edu/engin/trademark/timeline/ren/watermarks.html |
Danish Pastry
The origin of the Danish pastry is often ascribed to a strike amongst bakery workers in Denmark in 1850. The strike forced bakery owners to hire workers from abroad, among them several Austrian bakers, who brought along new baking traditions & pastry recipes. The Austrian pastry of Plundergebäck soon became popular in Denmark and after the labour disputes ended, Danish bakers adopted the Austrian recipes, adjusting them to their own liking. This resulted in what is now known as Danish pastry
|
The rosy red rash (ring around the rosie) first appeared on their skin, they filled their pockets with pouches of sweet-smelling flowers and herbs (a pocket full of posies) to try to hide that fact that the disease was tearing through their body, then there were the unplanned sneezes (a tishoo, a tishoo) all fall down (dead!)
http://lisaswritopia.com/the-black-death-and-ring-around-the-rosie/ http://www.library.otago.ac.nz/exhibitions/london/london_two.html |
Titanic Photographs
If you're interested in photos taken on board the Titanic, by Father Browne a keen photographer who disembarked at the last stop before the sinking, lucky him. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-15856784 |
Waterloo Teeth
We all know about organ transplants, but what about denture transplants? Before the mid 19th century, dentures were commonly made with teeth pulled from the mouths of dead soldiers. (Yuck!) And here's another oral hygiene tip from the Romans, who used urine for mouthwash (double Yuck!) http://thechirurgeonsapprentice.com/2014/03/28/dead-mens-teeth-a |
A Hundred Years from Now
This song written in 1914, A Hundred years ago, called 'A Hundred years from now'. I'm sure the song writers would be stunned if they saw how we're really living now in 2014.
Earrings were also worn for superstitious reasons. Some pirates were convinced that wearing an earring would improve or even cure bad eyesight, as they believed that the precious metals in an earring possessed magical healing powers. Another tale was that pierced ears would prevent seasickness.
http://thedutchrose.blogspot.com.au/2010/08/but-words-are-words.html
Since the 1940s, the societal norm was inverted; pink became considered appropriate for girls and blue appropriate for boys, a practice that has continued today.
http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2014/10/pink-used-common-color-boys-blue-girls/ http://www.historyextra.com/blog/great-misconception http://www.mother-god.com/pink-for-boys.html TIME Magazine wrote in 1927- 'In Belgium, Princess Astrid gave birth a fortnight ago, to a 7 lb daughter. The cradle had been optimistically outfitted in pink, the colour for boys, that for a girl, being blue'. Obviously, Princess Astrid was expecting a boy, so if she left the cradle that way, it may have slowly influenced the change in pink being only for boys? but we do know that beginning in 1933, prisoners in the Nazi concentration camps, wore an inverted triangle on their arm band, which signified the reason for their crime and pink was used for homosexuals. The Star of David underneath a Pink triangle, meant that the person was a homosexual Jew.
|
The Word 'Golf'
Like most modern words, the word "golf" derives from older languages and dialects. In this case, the languages in question are medieval Dutch and old Scots. The medieval Dutch word "kolf" or "kolve" meant "club." It is believed that word passed to the Scots, whose old Scots dialect transformed the word into "golve," "gowl" or "gouf" so by the 16th Century, the word "golf" had emerged. Many people continue to spread the myth that "golf" is an acronym for "gentlemen only, ladies forbidden", but this is not true. http://golf.about.com/cs/historyofgolf/a/hist_golf |
Shakespeare's Words & Phrases
We owe thanks to Shakespeare, for a lot of the words & phrases that we use today. As a poet, he minted quite a number of words & phrases, coining them for his own special use to express his own meanings in his own passages; and they have stuck with the English language through the years. He invented over 1700 of our common words by changing nouns into verbs, changing verbs into adjectives, connecting words never before used together, adding prefixes and suffixes, and devising words wholly original.
|
Some of his words that we use today-
addiction, bloodstained, barefaced, caked, circumstantial, dauntless, dishearten, flawed, frugal, generous, impartial, laughable, monumental, premeditated, submerge, worthless, zany, grovel, just to name a few. http://www.shakespeare-online.com/biography/wordsinvented.html |
Victorian Calling Cards
The custom of carrying calling or visiting cards began in France in the early 1800's. It quickly spread throughout Europe, and then became vastly popular in the United States, and Britain from 1840-1900. Calling cards were carried primarily by the "well-to-do" ladies who made a point to go calling on friends and family on a specified day of the week or month. Calling cards were left at each persons home the individual went to visit, whether they were home or not. The person visiting would typically either leave their card in a "card receiver" which was set on an entry table in the foyer or on a parlor table or leave the card with a servant so that the homeowner would know they stopped by. If there was a black band around the edge, it signified the carrier was in mourning over the loss of a loved one.
http://www.daysofelegance.com/callingcards.html |
Combo fringed envelope card with decorative scrap
Hands clasped in friendship were a dominant theme on the cards and in jewelry during the Victorian era
|
Jamaican rum is much more toxic than British Beer & the fleet's state of readiness was compromised. Admiral Vernon ("Old Grog") ordered that the rum should be diluted with water,which displeased the sailors so much that they began referring to the weaker version as 'grog'. The name and the drink both stuck & grog became a standard ration throughout the Royal Navy.
http://www.albany.edu/~wm731882/what_is_prohibition_final.html |
Extreme Compulsive Hoarding
Homer Lusk Collyer (Nov. 6, 1881 – Mar. 21, 1947) & Langley Wakeman Collyer (Oct.3,1885 – c.Mar.9 1947) were two American brothers who became famous because of their bizarre natures & compulsive hoarding. For decades, neighbours rarely saw the men at their home in Manhattan, where they had collected books, furniture, musical instruments & many other items. Both were eventually found dead in their home, surrounded by over 140 tons of items that they had amassed over several decades. (WIKIPEDIA) |
Spilling salt
Spilling salt was considered bad luck, because Salt was expensive & shouldn't be wasted. Also, 'The last supper' by Da Vinci shows Judas having just knocked over a salt vessel, he was the betrayer. Throwing the salt over your left shoulder where the Devil waits, will blind him. Some people count to ten as, they do this. |
The whole Royal court became ill as a result of eating what had been prepared for them, so Queen Elizabeth banned the potato for 100 years. The ban was eventually lifted a few years later, when potatoes became popular in Spain, France & Italy.
|
One night he completely failed to return & a search party was sent out. As the party approached him in the darkness, Nuttall assumed they were Indians & tried to escape. The annoyed rescuers pursued him for three days through bush and river until he accidentally wandered back into the camp. On another occasion Nuttall was lost again and lay down exhausted. He looked so pathetic that a passing Indian, instead of scalping him, picked him up, carried him three miles to the river and paddled him home in a canoe.
From Stephen Pile's Book 'Heroic Failures.' http://members.tripod.com/martin_leese/Literature/Pile1979.html |
Red Tape
Legal Documents were once tied in 'Red Tape' (like bias binding) to make them easily reconisable as being ímportant'. This is why we now refer to anything to do with the government as having a lot of 'red Tape' attached. |
Documents to do with the 'Crown' were tied in white, to differentiate them, but eventually the white became dirty, so they just used the red.
|
Land documents were tied in 'Green Ferret' (silk ribbon), so that they could be easily recognised as well. Over time, the red tape became faded & looked like 'pink' tape, so now, pink string is used instead. Documents were also later, stitched together, down the side with the coloured tape as an edge.
|
Separation From N.S.W.
With the separation from N.S.W. in 1851 La Trobe became the first Lieutenant-Governor. The white population of Victoria was only 77,000 & only 23,000 people lived in Melbourne. History timeline of Victoria http://www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/history/ |
Origin of the pound sign (£)
This sign is simply a capital letter L, written in an old-fashioned handwriting style and with one or two crossbars to show that it is being used as a symbol or abbreviation. The L stands for the Latin word libra, the name of a Roman unit of weight, which also gave rise to the abbreviation lb for a pound as a measure of weight http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/ what-is-the-origin-of-the-pound |