Gaslight Digest Wednesday, December 15 1999 Volume 01 : Number 121


In this issue:


   Today in History -- Dec 12
   RE: OT_:  The 1999 _MP_:  A Must See for Janeites (long)
   RE: Today in History -- Dec 12
   Re: He's BAACCKKK
   Re: He's BAACCKKK
   Today in History -- Dec 13
   Wells?
   A non-literary(sort of)query
   RE: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
   Pirates
   Re: Today in History -- Dec 13
   Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
   Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
   Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
   Today in History -- Dec 14
   Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: Today in History -- Dec 13
   RE: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
   Re: Today in History -- Dec 13
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   Re: Picnic at Hanging rock
   RE: Wells?
   Chat: British history Druids
   Re: Chat: British history Druids
   Re: A non-literary(sort of)query
   Today in History -- Dec 15
   Re: Chat: British history Druids
   <FWD> London Street Signs

-----------------------------THE POSTS-----------------------------

Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 00:27:04 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Today in History -- Dec 12

Interesting things that happened December 12th:

Birthdays on this date:
  In 1805 Henry Wells, founded American Express Co. and Wells Fargo and
          Company
  In 1821 Gustave Flaubert (in France), novelist (Madame Bovary)
  In 1852 Henri Becquerel, discoverer of radioactivity (Nobel 1903)
  In 1863 Edvard Munch, Norwegian painter and print maker (The Scream)
  In 1915 Frank Sinatra, singer, "Old Blue Eyes", actor (Ocean's 11,
          Manchurian Candidate)
  In 1918 Joe Williams, jazz singer

Events worth noting:
  In 1787 Pennsylvania becomes the second state.
  In 1871 Jules Janssen discovers dark lines in solar corona spectrum.
  In 1899 George F. Grant patents golf tee.
  In 1901 Marconi receives the first trans-Atlantic radio signal from England
          to Newfoundland.
  In 1921 Henrietta Leavitt, cepheid period-luminosity relation discover,
          dies.
  In 1925 Arthur Heinman coins the term "motel," opens one in San Luis Obispo.

[Now, what was it that Henrietta Leavitt did?]

===0===



Date: Sat, 11 Dec 1999 23:26:41 -0600
From: Andy Duncan <dunca012(at)bama.ua.edu>
Subject: RE: OT_:  The 1999 _MP_:  A Must See for Janeites (long)

>===== Original Message From Ellen Moody =====
>I also didn't catch who wrote the
>screenplay.

The screenplay is also by the director, Patricia Rozema.  I'm glad to read a
positive review; the others I've seen have been quite grumpy.  --  Andy

Andy Duncan
Department of English
Box 870244
103 Morgan Hall
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
andrew.duncan(at)ua.edu
www.angelfire.com/al/andyduncan

===0===



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 13:07:12 -0600
From: Andy Duncan <dunca012(at)bama.ua.edu>
Subject: RE: Today in History -- Dec 12

>===== Original Message From Robert Champ =====
>[Now, what was it that Henrietta Leavitt did?]

It was Leavitt who realized that the brightness of certain stars known as
Cepheid variables is periodic over time.  "By measuring the variation period
one can calculate the brightness of these stars and thus determine their
distance. . . This turns out to be the key to unlocking the distances to
galaxies outside the Milky Way . . . Leavitt found that the Magellanic clouds
were well outside our own galaxy, at approximately a distance corresponding to
twice the diameter of our galaxy."  Source: Alexander Hellemans and Bryan
Bunch, _The Timetables of Science_ (New York: Simon, 1988; New York:
Touchstone-Simon, 1991).

Andy Duncan
Department of English
Box 870244
103 Morgan Hall
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
andrew.duncan(at)ua.edu
www.angelfire.com/al/andyduncan

===0===



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 14:26:55 -0600
From: puddlejumpers(at)birch.net (Michael Keating)
Subject: Re: He's BAACCKKK

Yes, mam,

Hey, where the heck is that web page.  I tried it a few times before I came
back and it isn't there.  What's the deal, ya to lazzzzy or to broke?
- -Gildy

===0===



Date: Sun, 12 Dec 1999 14:24:15 -0600
From: puddlejumpers(at)birch.net (Michael Keating)
Subject: Re: He's BAACCKKK

Sorry Linda baby,
I sold the barbeque company.  I now have a national breast cancer research
foundation.  want some?

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 01:24:15 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Today in History -- Dec 13

Interesting things that happened December 13rd:

Birthdays on this date:
  In 1797 Heinrich Heine (in Germany), poet
  In 1818 Mary Todd Lincoln, first lady
  In 1835 Phillips Brooks, clergyman, composer (O Little Town of Bethlehem)
  In 1871 Russell Porter
  In 1903 Carlos Montoya, guitarist
  In 1913 Archie Moore, light-heavyweight boxing champion
  In 1915 Ross Macdonald, detective novelist
  In 1920 George Schultz, U.S. Secretary of State

Events worth noting:
  In 1862 Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia.  South beats North.
  In 1903 Italo Marcioni patents the ice cream cone ... in New Jersey.
  In 1918 Wilson becomes first to make a foreign visit while President.
  In 1920 Interferometer used to measure first stellar diameter (Betelgeuse).
  In 1928 George Gershwin's "An American In Paris" premieres.

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 00:47:20 -0600
From: James Rogers <jetan(at)ionet.net>
Subject: Wells?

Are we supposedly discussing "Chronic Argonauts"?

                              James

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 12:09:50 -0600
From: Ann Hilgeman <eahilg(at)seark.net>
Subject: A non-literary(sort of)query

A friend is searching for a book that contains information on medical
practices of the American Civil War period.  She's searched the web to no
avail, asked medical professionals, and still can't find out information
like--did they use ether or chloroform.

Ann Hilgeman

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 05:26:43 +1100
From: Craig Walker <genre(at)tig.com.au>
Subject: RE: A non-fiction (perhaps) query

Good Morning

(I can't believe that I am still awake at 5:30am)...

I have a project that I am working on and would like some assistance if
anyone can. I am searching for events - particulaly those of a
mysterious/occult nature, taking place in any state of Australia or in New
Zealand - from January 1, 1890-December 31, 1900.

I am specifically interested in accounts relating to real-life mysteries
(alleged or not).

Thanks

Craig Walker

+---------------------------------------+
              Craig Walker
 Genre Manipulations - Reality Engineers

        Ph: Intl +61 2  9550-0815
        Fx: Intl +61 2  9564-5689
        Mb: Intl +61 419  22-0013
              ICQ: 1053193
             genre(at)tig.com.au

   "Cross a Goldfish with an Elephant
     and you get an Elephant ...that
        never....erm....something"
+---------------------------------------+

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 11:23:48 -0800
From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu>
Subject: Pirates

This is probably too late, however, I discovered a delightful
book called _Howard Pyle's Book of Pirates_ (1921)
that includes tales of "fiction, fact & fancy."  Included
in the volume are several entertaining stories:

Buccaneers and Marooners of the Spanish Main
The Ghost of Captain Brand
With the Buccaneers
Tom Chist and the Treasure Box
Jack Ballister's Fortunes
Blueskin, the Pirate
Captain Scarfield

along with some lovely illustrations by Pyle.  Very
nice!

best
Patricia

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 17:00:39 -0600
From: puddlejumpers(at)birch.net (Michael Keating)
Subject: Re: Today in History -- Dec 13

Yo, Bubba,

In all this "On this day in history" stuff, which I love, have you EVER run
across a day when not a bloody thing happened.  I mean, out here in the
middle of the prairie of Kansas there are entire decades when nothing
happens.  People will wait aronud on the front porch for years just filled
with antisapation that maybe a bird might fly over.  Yet you folks back
east are just filled with events. I was happy to hear that Rossie Mac was
born on this day, I always liked him.  I guess he's to young for gassers to
read, but if they live long enough they might be able to read him.

At any rate, keep up the good work.  One of my daughters just changed her
major from music education to history education.  I think she only did it
so she could call up her old man and ask him history questions at two in
the morning.  Could be why I don't allow a phone in the bedroom.

Historically yours is spelling,

- -Gildy

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 23:40:09 -0500
From: Kay Douglas <gwshark(at)erols.com>
Subject: Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query

>I have a project that I am working on and would like some assistance if
>anyone can. I am searching for events - particulaly those of a
>mysterious/occult nature, taking place in any state of Australia or in New
>Zealand - from January 1, 1890-December 31, 1900.
>
>I am specifically interested in accounts relating to real-life mysteries
>(alleged or not).
>

What about "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and the disappearance of those
schoolgirls in the outback?  I'm not entirely sure if that was real-life,
but I seem to recall that that Peter Weir's film was supposedly based on
real events that took place around the turn of the century.

Kay Douglas

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 22:32:05 -0700
From: Tracy Cooper-Posey <tracy.cp(at)home.com>
Subject: Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query

At 11:40 PM 12/13/99 -0500, you wrote:
>What about "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and the disappearance of those
>schoolgirls in the outback?  I'm not entirely sure if that was real-life,
>but I seem to recall that that Peter Weir's film was supposedly based on
>real events that took place around the turn of the century.

Yes, it was based on a true story -- and I believe the movie doesn't depart
too far from the actual events, although I can't verify that.

Tracy
(expat Aussie)

Tracy Cooper-Posey * Edmonton, Alberta * mailto:tracy(at)sashaproductions.com
EYES OF A STRANGER -- No.7 on the ebook romance bestseller list!!
CHRONICLES OF THE LOST YEARS -- A Sherlock Holmes Mystery
DARE TO RETURN, May 2000, Hard Shell Word Factory
For outlines and excerpts:  http://www.sashaproductions.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A gift for you for Christmas:  http://www.sashaproductions.com/dangerous.htm
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to write romance novels?  http://www.sashaproductions.com/course.html
Free articles on writing http://www.sashaproductions.com/Articles.html
Contests & special draws:  http://www.sashaproductions.com/contests.html
Free mailing list: http://www.sashaproductions.com/maillist.html

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 22:48:33 -0700
From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)alice.gloaming.com>
Subject: Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query

>At 11:40 PM 12/13/99 -0500, you wrote:
>>What about "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and the disappearance of those
>>schoolgirls in the outback?  I'm not entirely sure if that was real-life
>
>Yes, it was based on a true story -- and I believe the movie doesn't
>depart too far from the actual events, although I can't verify that.

Actually, it is NOT based on a true story.  All the new book versions
of this do explain that it was a fiction, the author made it up, but
when the book was released early in this century many people thought
it was true and the myth is what is believed still.

Deborah

Deborah McMillion
deborah(at)gloaming.com
http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 00:54:32 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Today in History -- Dec 14

Interesting things that happened December 14th:

Birthdays on this date:
  In 1895 George VI, king of England (1936-52)
  In 1896 James H. Doolittle, former Air Force general
  In 1897 Margaret Chase Smith, Maine Senator (R)
  In 1909 Edward L. Tatum, American molecular geneticist (Nobel 1958)
  In 1914 Morey Amsterdam, actor (Dick Van Dyke Show)
  In 1922 Charley Trippi, NFL halfback (Chicago Cardinals)

Events worth noting:
  In 1799 George Washington died at Mt Vernon, Va.
  In 1819 Alabama becomes the 22nd state in the Union.
  In 1911 South Pole first reached by Roald Amundsen.

===0===



Date: Mon, 13 Dec 1999 22:56:17 -0700
From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)alice.gloaming.com>
Subject: Picnic at Hanging rock

The story takes place on Valentine's day 1900.  Written by Joan
Lindsay, it is unavailable in the U.S. but you can order it from
AmazonUK.  There is a missing chapter that 'solved' the mystery but I
have never read this.  It was included after the author's death.

Deborah

Deborah McMillion
deborah(at)gloaming.com
http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 01:04:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Re: Today in History -- Dec 13

Actually, Gildy, as all good Gaslighters know, history stopped happening
in 1914 or thereabouts. All we've had since is news, and even that is
sliding into entertainment. Out there in the middle of the prairie in
Kansas, you're not missing a thing.

Remember that the expression "May you live in interesting times" was spoke
as a curse.

Glad to hear about your daughter's interest in history.  But I'd be
ambivalent about her dropping music for history.

Bob C.


 On Mon, 13 Dec 1999, Michael Keating wrote:

> Yo, Bubba,
>
> In all this "On this day in history" stuff, which I love, have you EVER run
> across a day when not a bloody thing happened.  I mean, out here in the
> middle of the prairie of Kansas there are entire decades when nothing
> happens.  People will wait aronud on the front porch for years just filled
> with antisapation that maybe a bird might fly over.  Yet you folks back
> east are just filled with events. I was happy to hear that Rossie Mac was
> born on this day, I always liked him.  I guess he's to young for gassers to
> read, but if they live long enough they might be able to read him.
>
> At any rate, keep up the good work.  One of my daughters just changed her
> major from music education to history education.  I think she only did it
> so she could call up her old man and ask him history questions at two in
> the morning.  Could be why I don't allow a phone in the bedroom.
>
> Historically yours is spelling,
>
> -Gildy
>
>
>


_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

Robert L. Champ
rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu
Editor, teacher, anglophile, human curiosity

Whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if
there is any virtue and if there is anything
praiseworthy, meditate on these things
                                 Philippians 4:8

rchamp7927(at)aol.com       robertchamp(at)netscape.net
_________________________________________________
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 17:47:34 +1100
From: Craig Walker <genre(at)tig.com.au>
Subject: RE: A non-fiction (perhaps) query

Hi Kay et al,

Yes I have Picnic at Hanging Rock - looking for others perhaps not so well
know (to me ;))

Thanks for that

Craig

+---------------------------------------+
              Craig Walker
 Genre Manipulations - Reality Engineers

        Ph: Intl +61 2  9550-0815
        Fx: Intl +61 2  9564-5689
        Mb: Intl +61 419  22-0013
              ICQ: 1053193
             genre(at)tig.com.au

   "Cross a Goldfish with an Elephant
     and you get an Elephant ...that
        never....erm....something"
+---------------------------------------+



> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA
> [mailto:owner-gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA]On Behalf Of Kay Douglas
> Sent: Tuesday, 14 December 1999 15:40
> To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA
> Subject: Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query
>
>
> >I have a project that I am working on and would like some
> assistance if
> >anyone can. I am searching for events - particulaly those of a
> >mysterious/occult nature, taking place in any state of
> Australia or in New
> >Zealand - from January 1, 1890-December 31, 1900.
> >
> >I am specifically interested in accounts relating to
> real-life mysteries
> >(alleged or not).
> >
>
> What about "Picnic at Hanging Rock" and the disappearance of those
> schoolgirls in the outback?  I'm not entirely sure if that
> was real-life,
> but I seem to recall that that Peter Weir's film was
> supposedly based on
> real events that took place around the turn of the century.
>
> Kay Douglas
>
>
>
>

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 02:59:35 -0900
From: Robert Raven <rraven(at)alaska.net>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

Deborah McMillion Nering wrote:
>
> The story takes place on Valentine's day 1900.  Written by Joan
> Lindsay, it is unavailable in the U.S. but you can order it from
> AmazonUK.  There is a missing chapter that 'solved' the mystery but I
> have never read this.  It was included after the author's death.
>
> Deborah
>
> Deborah McMillion
> deborah(at)gloaming.com
> http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html


The movie made some years ago is cracking good, too.  Eerie,
atmospheric, unresolved, and disturbing.

Bob Raven

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 02:49:40 -0600
From: James Rogers <jetan(at)ionet.net>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

At 02:59 AM 12/14/99 -0900, Bob Raven wrote:

>
>
>The movie made some years ago is cracking good, too.  Eerie,
>atmospheric, unresolved, and disturbing.
>
>Bob Raven
>


             Excellent movie, good book. One of my favorite horror flicks,
along with the somewhat similarly themed _The Wicker Man_.


                                       James

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 08:03:56 -0600
From: Brian McMillan <brianbks(at)netins.net>
Subject: Re: A non-fiction (perhaps) query

Craig,
   Do you have Basedow's THE AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL? Several copies are
available on Bookfinder.com. A second hand source I have excerpts a section
on "bone pointing".
Brian
- -----Original Message-----
From: Craig Walker <genre(at)tig.com.au>
To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA <gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA>
Date: Monday, December 13, 1999 12:27 PM
Subject: RE: A non-fiction (perhaps) query


>Good Morning
>
>(I can't believe that I am still awake at 5:30am)...
>
>I have a project that I am working on and would like some assistance if
>anyone can. I am searching for events - particulaly those of a
>mysterious/occult nature, taking place in any state of Australia or in New
>Zealand - from January 1, 1890-December 31, 1900.
>
>I am specifically interested in accounts relating to real-life mysteries
>(alleged or not).
>
>Thanks
>
>Craig Walker
>
>+---------------------------------------+
>              Craig Walker
> Genre Manipulations - Reality Engineers
>
>        Ph: Intl +61 2  9550-0815
>        Fx: Intl +61 2  9564-5689
>        Mb: Intl +61 419  22-0013
>              ICQ: 1053193
>             genre(at)tig.com.au
>
>   "Cross a Goldfish with an Elephant
>     and you get an Elephant ...that
>        never....erm....something"
>+---------------------------------------+

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 09:56:08 -0600
From: athan chilton <ayc(at)UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Today in History -- Dec 13

 Out there in the middle of the prairie in
>Kansas, you're not missing a thing.

Hmmm, wasn't it in Kansas recently that some schools banned the teaching of
Evolution, in favor of Creationism?  Is this history, or is it merely news?
There's nothing new about censorship or religious thinking infiltrating the
schools, but that doesn't mean it's not noteworthy when it happens.

I suppose they don't allow students to read Harry Potter stories either...

Athan, reading Sherlock Holmes at the moment
ayc(at)uiuc.edu

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:41:11 -0900
From: Robert Raven <rraven(at)alaska.net>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

James,

Tell me about The Wicker Man; I'm not familiar with it.  Is it something
gaslighters would like?

Bob R

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 10:38:23 -0600
From: Chris Carlisle <CarlislC(at)psychiatry1.wustl.edu>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

Robert Raven asked if The Wicker Man would be
good for Gassers.  Well, it's a good movie, but
it's totally out of our period.  There are two
versions around, one shorter, one longer.  I prefer the longer version, which 
gives you more
perspective about Sargeant Howie, who is sent
to Summerisle to investigate the disappearance
of a young Island girl. It's a powerful and
engaging film, with one of Christopher Lee's
best performances (and a wonderful reading from
Whitman).  In fact, it's SO powerful that some
innocent viewers have not realized that the
"thanks to Lord Summerisle" is a joke, and that
there IS no Summerisle. A lot of genuine ancient
folk practices are shown in the film, as well
as one reconstructed from Caesar's Gallic Commentaries (see the film's title to 
know
which).

So, if you can find it, especially the longer
version (which has more exposition and better
music), try it.  But don't expect it to be
Gaslight in period or theme.

Kiwi

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:24:23 -0600
From: James Rogers <jetan(at)ionet.net>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

At 10:38 AM 12/14/99 -0600, Kiwi wrote:
>Robert Raven asked if The Wicker Man would be
>good for Gassers.  Well, it's a good movie, but
>it's totally out of our period.

     Kiwi is right, it is completely wrong period but, like I say, I
suspect a lot of the Gaslight folks would probably go for it.


                                James

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:18:56 -0600
From: James Rogers <jetan(at)ionet.net>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

At 11:41 AM 12/14/99 -0900, you wrote:
>James,
>
>Tell me about The Wicker Man; I'm not familiar with it.  Is it something
>gaslighters would like?
>
>Bob R
>
>

      Right up the ol' Gaslight alley. Very strange story (script by
Anthony Shaffer) about a repressed, Protestant British detective sent to an
island in the Hebrides to find a missing girl. Unfortunately, said island
appears to be slipping back into ancient fertility practices a la Fraser's
_Golden Bough_ . As in _Picnic At Hanging Rock_, the viewer  feels caught
in an almost suffocating atmosphere of rather cloying sexuality.  Quite
disturbing film -  with horribly downbeat ending -  which my description
fails to do justice to.

                                    James



===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:55:13 -0600
From: athan chilton <ayc(at)UIUC.EDU>
Subject: Re: Picnic at Hanging rock

 A lot of genuine ancient
>folk practices are shown in the film, as well
>as one reconstructed from Caesar's Gallic Commentaries (see the film's
>title to know
>which).
>
I wondered if the Druids really did save up their prisoners and burn 'em in
a wicker construction.  I've read it in so many stories, etc. etc., but did
they really?  Not everything in Caesar's Gallic commentaries is accurate,
according to one book I've got on the Druids.

Athan
ayc(at)uiuc.edu

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 11:57:03 -0600
From: Andy Duncan <dunca012(at)bama.ua.edu>
Subject: RE: Wells?

>===== Original Message From James Rogers =====
>Are we supposedly discussing "Chronic Argonauts"?

I've been wondering about this myself, but I've only been on the list a couple
of weeks, and I assumed I'd figure out the procedure eventually.  How do the
scheduled book/story discussions work?  --  Andy

Andy Duncan
Department of English
Box 870244
103 Morgan Hall
University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487
andrew.duncan(at)ua.edu
www.angelfire.com/al/andyduncan

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 16:05:46 -0700
From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)alice.gloaming.com>
Subject: Chat: British history Druids

>I wondered if the Druids really did save up their prisoners and burn 'em in
>a wicker construction.

 From what I've read, too, there is little historicity for this
allegation except the stories the Romans told.  The old enemies
writing about you thing is not to be trusted "they eat their dead and
their women give birth to snakes" routine.

Deborah

Deborah McMillion
deborah(at)gloaming.com
http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html

===0===



Date: Tue, 14 Dec 1999 18:02:25 -0700 (MST)
From: "p.h.wood" <woodph(at)freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Subject: Re: Chat: British history Druids

Stuart Pigott's "The Druids" (Penguin) is fairly reliable, but by now is
probably somewhat oudated; unfortunately the Druids (and the Celts) were a
pre-literate culture, so we don't seem likely to come across any more
solid information on what they believed, or how they practised their
beliefs. Robert Graves's "The White Goddess" is very interesting reading.
I keep an eye on <sci.archaeology> n/g, but there hasn't been any major
findings in the last four years I've seen mentioned.
Peter Wood (from the *original* Isle of Mona, not the one which Suetonius
described)


On Tue, 14 Dec 1999, Deborah McMillion Nering wrotein reply to:
>>I wondered if the Druids really did save up their prisoners and burn 'em
in a wicker construction.<<

>  From what I've read, too, there is little historicity for this
> allegation except the stories the Romans told.  The old enemies
> writing about you thing is not to be trusted "they eat their dead and
> their women give birth to snakes" routine.

===0===



Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 00:02:49 -0500
From: John Barclay <Rostov(at)sympatico.ca>
Subject: Re: A non-literary(sort of)query

Ann Hilgeman wrote:

> A friend is searching for a book that contains information on medical
> practices of the American Civil War period.  She's searched the web to no
> avail, asked medical professionals, and still can't find out information
> like--did they use ether or chloroform.
>

American Civil war medicine was very crude.  As the idea of germs was not
known sergons often infected thier patients as they were treating them. Most
drugs were unknown and certinly in short supply, wounds were usually treated
by amputation and cauterising.

For fuller accounts I resommend "the Blue and the Grey" a famous and
interesting read about the whole of the war from the letters, diaries and
writings of the participants.

Hope this helps.



>
> Ann Hilgeman

===0===



Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 00:14:49 -0500 (EST)
From: Robert Champ <rchamp(at)polaris.umuc.edu>
Subject: Today in History -- Dec 15

Interesting things that happened December 15th:

Birthdays on this date:
  In 1832 Alexandre-Gustave Eiffel, built a tower in Paris
  In 1859 Ludwik Zamenhof, inventor of Esperanto
  In 1861 Charles Edgar Duryea, with his brother, invented first auto to be
          built and operated in US
  In 1892 J. Paul Getty, business tycoon

(Hey, Patricia, any celebrations at the Museum?)

Events worth noting:
        + U.S. Bill of Rights Day
  In 1791 Bill of Rights ratified when Virginia gave its approval.
  In 1836 Patent Office burns in Washington, DC.
  In 1859 G.R. Kirchoff describes chemical composition of sun.
  In 1877 Patent granted to Thomas Edison for the phonograph.

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Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 00:50:24 -0600
From: James Rogers <jetan(at)ionet.net>
Subject: Re: Chat: British history Druids


>I wondered if the Druids really did save up their prisoners and burn 'em in
>a wicker construction.  I've read it in so many stories, etc. etc., but did
>they really?  Not everything in Caesar's Gallic commentaries is accurate,
>according to one book I've got on the Druids.

The Peter Ellis book _The Druids_ was, in my opinion, quite a poor book.
Could this be the volume you are referring to? It telegraphed it's
intention early on to discount pretty much all of the Greek and Roman
sources as propaganda. It also took some surprisingly personal shots at
Nora Chadwick, a perhaps more mainstream scholar, based on what he imagines
to be her uncritical adultion of classical civilization. In many spots,
Ellis was very assertive based upon what seemed extremely sketchy evidence.
The book struck me an instance of the author starting out with a sort of
"pro-celtic" thesis and then shaping his sources for support, rather than
letting the primary material determine his judgment. I believe that Ellis
has plenty of fans but, based on this book, I would bring a healthy
skepticism to his work. I am quite a fan of celtic myth and history myself,
but I like to feel the author is "playing fair".

     The practice of burning "Midsummer giants" provided a fascinating
passage in Frazer....who has the virtue of being in our period. Although he
cannot bear out the sacrificial references in Caesar and Strabo, he is
clearly of the opinion that the ritual was a real one. The most interesting
aspect, I thought, was that this custom survived very, very far into
historical times, minus the human victims. Though a lot of Frazer has been
nibbled to death by later scholars his argument here seemed pretty cogent
to me.

                              James

===0===



Date: Wed, 15 Dec 1999 10:02:22 -0700
From: sdavies(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA
Subject: <FWD> London Street Signs

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Dear folks,
     just at the time that those in the know are warning us about using the WWW
to make purchases (Christmas is the time for fly-by-night salespeople), I find
this message.  Without being able to recommend it, I am passing it along in case
it is of interest.
                                    Stephen

- ---------------------- Forwarded by Stephen Davies/Academic/MRC on 12/15/99
09:58 AM ---------------------------





Michael Lawrence <Sign(at)post19.fsnet.co.uk> on 12/12/99 01:31:24 PM



 To:      Gaslight-Safe(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA

 cc:      (bcc: Stephen Davies/Academic/MRC)



 Subject: London Street Signs








Dear Stephen Davies and Diana Patterson:

I've just set up a website to sell full-size reproduction London street signs,
which my experience as an antiques dealer tells me should appeal to people who
are fond of London but don't live there. In my very frustrating search for the
interested parties that I'm convinced are out there I've just come across
Gaslight. Interesting idea - and I love the logo! I also write books for
children and have published adaptations of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and A Christmas
Carol, both of which fit in fairly well with your Gaslight image. One of my
London signs is Baker Street, which should certainly appeal to Sherlock Holmes
aficionados. I wonder if there's any way you can help me find the enthusiasts I
hope to reach? Naturally, if there's anything I can do in return I'll be glad
to.

Over to you!
Michael Lawrence

My website can be found at http://www.post19.fsnet.co.uk

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