Snippet of newspaper found tucked into one of my old recipe books:
Sunshine and Sleep
No syrup of poppies, no tincture of opium, no powders of morphine can compare in sleep-inducing power with sunshine. Let sleepless people court the sun. The very worst soporific is laudanum, and the very best is sunshine. Therefore it is very easily understood that poor sleepers should pass as many hours in the sunshine as possible.
Many women are martyrs and do not know it. They shut the sunshine out of their houses, they wear veils, they carry sunshades they do all that is possible to keep off the subtlest and yet most potent influence which is intended to give them strength and beauty and cheerfulness. Is it not time to change all this, and so get roses and colour in your pale cheeks, strength in you weak backs? The sunlight would be a potent influence in the transformation.
* * *
A way to clean black and coloured ribbons is to rub them well with common brown packing paper. It is astonishing how well this cleans dark silks, and takes all grease spots from them, and nothing can be more easily done wherever you may be.
The newspaper is undated, alas. You could, however, travel steerage from Liverpool to Montreal or Quebec for the sum of £4.00. There was also the offer of a free land grant of 160 acres and a £3.00 bonus to settlers... Any takers?
I must stop playing and get on with the baking.
x
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteFresh baked goods sound lovely, but I like your playing.
Historical misconceptions (or were they?), such as the one you quoted (sunshine) were common. During a period in the late 19th century, various kinds of baths were supposedly good for what ailed folks. (Considering common hygiene, maybe they WERE effective.) Arsenic was "medicinal."
Interesting information -- AND fresh baked goods! It is going to be a good day!
Some of the perceived wisdom of those days makes for scary reading indeed - which makes me wonder about the things we do and how they will be regarded in the future. I thoroughly enjoy reading these old books and will occasionally try out a cleaning tip. I love it when they work!
DeleteI hope your day is a good one, too.
At least you cannot get any of ingredients first mentioned legally now, they must have been on a permanent high. Can't agree more about the sunshine though too much is bad for you now if you stay in it too long
ReplyDeleteBill, I am always careful about the sun. I have skin cancer problems as a result of being fair skinned and living abroad for too many years of my early life, when sun creams were not as effective as those of today.
DeleteMy mother's grandmother was in a daily stupor from her incessant doses of cough medicine with codeine. This at the turn of the last century. Her grown children attempted to withhold it from her, but eventually just became the gatekeepers against overdosing. Different times, similar problems.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right, that is one of the things which these old books continually show me, Joanne. There is very little that is new.
DeleteI would love to head to Canada for £4! although I would want to come back again.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be good if all old books had newspaper cuttings tucked inside, maybe we should start in now for future finders.
I think that is a great idea, quite fun to do. I also enjoy it when I find little note next to a recipe, especially when they state that 'this one doesn't work!' or 'excellent!'.
DeleteI've heard that the abundance of vitamin D deficiency these days are because of the abundance of sunscreens and everyone's fear of sunburn. There has to be a happy medium somewhere...
ReplyDeleteThat is true of so many things, Silver Willow. Balance and common sense also need to come into play!
DeleteYour old books, can be little goldmines of added pleasure! :-)
ReplyDeleteDelightful newspaper clipping. :-)
Happy Midsummer’s Eve...!!!
Happy Midsummer's Eve!
Delete(We celebrate Midsummer on 24th, here.)
What is Blogger doing to your blog???????? As you said, the type changing size, is not your doing.
ReplyDeleteToday, the sides of your blog (where the green leaves are) are huge. And the middle, main part, is tiny. It's squashed in. Your posts and your sidebar, squashed together, in the middle.
I had to increase the size here, on my computer, to even seeeee the print, here in your comments. It is very, very tiny.
What are the Computer or Blogging gremlins doing here???????????
And is anyone else, noticing this????????? I'm pretty sure, if they are, they just don't say anything about it. And of course, if they don't, the blogger never knows.
But to repeat,
Happy Midsummer’s Eve...!!!
I have checked my blog out on three different devices - and iphone, ipad, and a PC, they all show the same view as that on my own laptop - normal. I'm really sorry you are having problems seeing it, but nothing has been altered. Perhaps it is all suffering from a little midsummer madness in the workings. Sorry.
DeleteEnjoy your Midsummer's Eve.
and it looks all OK on my lap top too.
DeleteThanks, Sue. That is reassuring.
DeleteYes, it's probably "The Great Computer Godesssssss In The Sky," having a few bad hair days. Over here. With me. >,-)))))
DeleteLOL...!!!!!
DeleteI just re-entered your blog URL, and guess what????? It showed up, with nice big print, and not all squished-in-the-middle!!!!
LOLLLLLLLL...
I am totally confused now. It really has to be "The Great Computer Godesssssss In The Sky"!!!! No doubt about it!!! :-))))))))))
Gripping stuff, that! However, I think they have something there. I never have trouble sleeping after a day filled with outside activities. What are you baking?
ReplyDeleteHello Susan - an elderflower cake, i thought I had better do it now, before the flowers go over. I have to be careful not to have too much sun, but I do agree, a day out in the fresh air works wonders!
DeleteI am a huge believer in sunshine as a cure for what ails one. And, it doesn't hurt to wriggle ones toes around in good clean soil once in a while. Happy baking and happy summer!
ReplyDeleteSunshine definitely makes me feel happy and my granddaughter would agree with you about the bare toes in the soil, she hates wearing shoes. Happy summer, Chip.
DeleteWe should be jumping for joy every minute of the day over here. I can't keep out of the darn sun though I try to, keeping shutters half closed, hanging out the clothes at night and following the shade around the house if I want to sit outside
ReplyDeleteYour beautiful island, bathed in sunshine, always looks like the happiest of places, Linda. I have to haunt the shade a lot more than I would really like (skin problems). I wouldn't be half as grumpy as I am if I could just get out there and enjoy it. ;)
DeleteIt was like finding a time capsule of a time long passed.
ReplyDeleteMy heart beats a little faster each time i come across one, Marcia.
DeletePity Jane Barton hadn’t read your newspaper cutting!
ReplyDeleteLX
Indeed it is.
Delete