In this issue: Convicts' Love Tokens Exhibit Today in History - Dec 30 Ugh on Ugh RE: Another Shot At Billy Today in History - Dec. 31 WWW etext avail: Orczy's _The man in grey_ Re: Konnor Old House Re: Konnor Old House Re: Konnor Old House et al. Ghostly Phenomena De La Mare novel Today in History - Jan. 4 Chat: painting question Victorian Crime Conference - London - 24 April 1999 Today in History - January 5 Re: Victorian Crime Conference - London - 24 April 1999 Today in History - January 6 History Re: History & The Man in Grey H. C. Anderson Bio Today in History - Jan. 7 Re: History & The Man in Grey Re: History & The Man in Grey Today in History - Jan. 8 -----------------------------THE POSTS----------------------------- Date: Mon, 28 Dec 1998 23:35:55 -0500 From: "James E. Kearman" <jkearman(at)gate.net> Subject: Convicts' Love Tokens Exhibit An article in the Court Pages section of the London Times web edition for December 29, describes a unique collection of "Love Tokens" about to go on display in London. The tokens were made by soon-to-be-transported prisoners bound for Australia. The prisoners scraped away the features of pennies (about 1-3/8 inch diameter) and engraved remembrances for their families and loved ones. The exhibit consists of some 200 pieces, and the owner of the collection has located descendants of some of the men and women who created them. The article tells some of their stories. The London Times website is available at this URL: http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/Times/frontpage.html?2254451 and back issues can be viewed, if you don't get to this one on the twenty-ninth. If you can't read the article online, send me (mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com) email with "1228A" in the Subject: line of the message, and my computer will automatically send you a copy of the article. Cheers, Jim - ---------------------------------------- Jim Kearman mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com http://www.gate.net/~jkearman
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Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 08:48:28 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - Dec 30
1803
The United States takes possession of the Louisiana area from
France at New Orleans
with a simple ceremony, the simultaneous lowering and raising
of the national flags. Andrew
1861
Banks in the United States suspend the practice of redeeming
paper money for metal
currency, a practice that would continue until 1879.
1862
The draft of the Emancipation Proclamation is finished and
circulated around Lincoln's
cabinet for comment.
1905
Governor Frank Steunenberg of Idaho is killed by an assassin's
bomb.
Born on December 30
1865
Rudyard Kipling, British author, best known for Jungle Book and
Soldiers Three.
1867
Simon Guggenheim, philanthropist.
1884
Tojo Hideki, Japanese Prime Minister during WWII.
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Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 10:33:48 -0700 From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> Subject: Ugh on Ugh I know this is pure personal opinion but I just wanted to say I tried. The cave men stories just weren't working for me. Love Wells but no to Ugh. I didn't see the illustrations, maybe that was good. For lovers of movies like WHEN DINOSAURS RULED THE EARTH (like they did with men) and ONE MILLION B.C. this could be a fun fest for you. I'm going back to reading a wonderful little volume titled DARK ENCOUNTERS by William Croft Dickinson, sometimes referred to as the Scottish Antiquarian. Stories, alas, are out of Gaslight era but if you have a chance to pick up this volume (available easily from Amazon U.K.) and are an M. R. James fan you will not be displeased. Not as detailed as James, still, the frights are still those which lurke and lye in waite. Hope all Gassers have a good New Years. Be safe. Deborah Deborah McMillion deborah(at)gloaming.com http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html
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Date: Wed, 30 Dec 1998 12:50:43 -0500 From: "Marcella, Michelle E" <MMARCELLA(at)PARTNERS.ORG> Subject: RE: Another Shot At Billy Hi, just coming back from some time off. Same story, different writer in this week's New Yorker > -----Original Message----- > From: James E. Kearman [SMTP:jkearman(at)gate.net] > Sent: Saturday, December 26, 1998 11:12 PM > To: Gaslight > Subject: Another Shot At Billy > > An article in the WWW edition of the Sunday (London) Times for > December 27 > discusses a theory proposed by Fintan O'Toole, an Irish historian, > regarding > Billy the Kid, whom we discussed earlier this year. > > According to O'Toole, Billy was an Irish Catholic who converted to > Protestantism, which put him on the side of John Tunstall, a British > protestant, against Lawrence Murphy, who led a powerful group of Irish > Catholic settlers. > > The article is in the first section of the website, titled "It's Billy > the > 'sectarian killer' Kid." > > If you can't get the article, send me email with 1226A in the Subject > line > and my computer will automatically send you a copy. > > Cheers, > > Jim > > ----------------------------------------------------- > James E. Kearman, Travel Consultant > All About Travel, West Palm Beach, Florida > 561-966-9614 -- 800-327-8785 > mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com > http://www.gate.net/~jkearman > > >
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Date: Thu, 31 Dec 1998 09:58:43 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - Dec. 31
1852
The richest year of the gold rush ends, with $81.3 million in
gold produced.
1862
Union General William Rosecrans' army repels two Confederate
attacks at the Battle of
Murfreesboro (Stone's River).
1910
Moisant and Hoxsey, two of America's foremost aviators die in
separate plane crashes.
1911
Helene Dutrieu wins the Femina aviation cup in Etampes. She
sets a distance record for
women at 158 miles.
1915
The Germans torpedo the British liner Persia without any
warning; 335 are dead.
Born on December 31
1869
Henri Matisse, French artist best known for his paintings Woman
with a Hat and The Red
Studio.
1889
George Catlett Marshall, Chief of Staff who led the U.S. Army
to victory in World War II
and later became Secretary of State for President Harry Truman.
Won Nobel Peace Prize
for the Marshall Plan.
1908
Simon Wiesenthal, survivor of the Nazi Holocaust who dedicated
his life to tracking down
former Nazis.
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Date: Fri, 01 Jan 1999 19:30:53 -0600 (MDT)
From: "STEPHEN DAVIES, MT. ROYAL COLLEGE" <SDAVIES(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA>
Subject: WWW etext avail: Orczy's _The man in grey_
Next week's story is the first in another series created
by Baroness Orczy, taking us back to our Napoleonic
discussions of last September.
_The man in grey_ (1919) is a set of nine stories about
the mysterious agent of the French police, laid in the
era of the first French empire. The agent's sworn duty
is to root out the Chouans, Royalists who are trying to
subvert Napoleon and his order. The first five stories
have been prepared so far.
The first chapter, "Silver-Leg", will be the focus of our
discussions.
It is currently only available on the Gaslight website at:
http://www.mtroyal.ab.ca/gaslight/orczmenu.htm#mangrey
Stephen D.
(still with "send-only" email,
but looking forward to catching up
soon.)
mailto:Sdavies(at)mtroyal.ab.ca
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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 13:12:21 -0500 From: "S.T. Karnick" <skarnick(at)INDY.NET> Subject: Re: Konnor Old House I finally obained a moment in which to read the two Low stories, and I agree with Bob and Deborah that "Konnor Old House" is not meant to demean anyone by race. It is certainly an appalling tale, and I found its cautionary attitude toward scientific experimentation quite apposite, especially for that time but also for ours. The key thought in the story is that we humans always know quite a bit less than we think we do. That is something of which all persons all too often need to be reminded, in everything from our personal lives (say, in judging other people's motives) to national and global politics (say, forecasting the effects of efforts to help people through political means). That is to say, this promethean illusion is not a failing just of scientists but a natural condition of all human beings, which we all have to some greater or lesser extent. Thus Low's attitude toward the supernatural in both stories is exemplary. It is derived, of course, from Bulwer-Lytton's notion that all supernatural phenomena must be "natural" -- that is, reasonable and law-abiding -- in some way that we simply do not yet understand. Low seeks to know how things work, and does not leave any category of phenomena, nor any type of explanation, out of his kit. Deborah's comparison to Holmes is quite sensible, and I should note that although there is room for all types of people in a good world, a land in which Holmes is the highest reach of insight would be a dreary one indeed. Holmes is an artist who works in the realm of the possible. Low is a scientist, for he extends our knowledge into new realms. Best w's, S.T. Karnick - -----Original Message----- From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> To: gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA <gaslight(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA> Date: Friday, December 18, 1998 10:57 AM Subject: Re: Konnor Old House >>I don't know that I can wholeheartedly agree that this tale smacks of a >>racist > >Frankly I didn't get that feeling either. When I read the story I thought >of it in the same way. I wondered about the differences in climates and >certainly the fact that Jake was killed, too, means something got out of >hand. I had surmised the daughter had gone slowly insane from an infection >of it and committed suicide, sexual and racial overtones were simply not >there. > >The "white shining" figure struck me first as a serious ectoplasmic vision >and wondered why the shining (shades of Stephen King) or was this just a >type of ghost that was prevalent in spiritualism at the time. Of course, >that is soon explained in a very grisly way. Does science and reason >prevail all the time over peasant magic? Do we have to go into ta >situation with only logic on our side? Well, as demonstrated in Sherlock >Holmes "there is no room for ghosts" and the Hound was merely a mistreated >dog painted with phosphorous. That's what I thought we would find here >more than an ectoplasmic manifestation. > >A spooky and well read story. > >Deborah > >Deborah McMillion >deborah(at)gloaming.com >http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html >
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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 11:33:37 -0700 From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> Subject: Re: Konnor Old House > all supernatural phenomena must be "natural" -- that is, reasonable and >>law-abiding -- in some way that we simply do not yet understand Thanks for your insight Sam! My definition of supernatural has always been a literal one...above the natural. Not unnatural, not impossible, but above. And I usually place that in the area of "not understanding". Natural in that it must somehow conform to known and unknown laws of physics. So therefore, if something is supernatural there is a possibility that we may yet understand. There is an interesting article in this months NEW SCIENTIST magazine on detecting ghostly emanations. If anyone is interested in the search for proof of ghosts this is a good one to look up. I don't think it takes away from a good ghostly belief! Deborah Deborah McMillion deborah(at)gloaming.com http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html
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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 12:13:08 -0700 (MST)
From: "p.h.wood" <woodph(at)freenet.edmonton.ab.ca>
Subject: Re: Konnor Old House et al.
Thanks to Deborah for the "New Scientist" reference on ghostly phenomena;
Is it, by any chance, a reference to the VLF (Very Low Frequency) sound
waves which were referred to some months ago in various n/g's?
AS long-term Gaslighters may recall, the subject of "ghosts & ghost
stories" (which do not always relate to the same thing!) crops up every so
often on Gaslight; I have a file on the subject from July/August 1996
which contains some interesting points.
One question still outstanding in my notes is "Is there any authenticated
shared 'ghostly' experience?"
A second item is just over thirteen months old, and its origin is now two
years ago:
>>> Date: Nov 28 1997
Dear Stephen,
On Mon, 13 Jan 1997, you wrote:
> Today we begin discussing "A school story" by M.R. James.
> I think it's an effective chiller, despite its brevity.
> I wonder what listmembers would call the quintessential
> James story? If you were compiling an anthology of
> representative stories, which would you chooose to
> stand for James' style (not necessarily his best or
> most unique) but one that works and is most typical
> of him.
Stephen
> I may have missed the replies to your enquiry; so, when I was
> compacting "Gaslight" files for archiving, I came across this, and
> thought I'd tie
> up at least _one_ loose end in my correspondence!
> Best wishes,
> Peter<<<
Something obviously intervened, and I never received a reply; now, once
again compacting the archive files, I ask it once more.
Happy New Year, and may all Gaslighters' systems be free of Y2K bugs a
year from now,
Peter Wood
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Date: Sat, 02 Jan 1999 12:56:46 -0700 From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> Subject: Ghostly Phenomena >Thanks to Deborah for the "New Scientist" reference on ghostly phenomena; >Is it, by any chance, a reference to the VLF (Very Low Frequency) sound >waves which were referred to some months ago in various n/g's? Actually its on 'unusual magnetic field" data, "primarily static DC field like those emitted by biological systems such as mammals, not an AC field typical of electrical circuits. And these ghostly electromagnetic fields don't stay in one place 'They float from one room to another and vary from the size of a baseball to a basketball'." Also of interest is "freak standing waves", vibrations, which cause symptoms such as hyperventilation, breathlessness and a feeling of oppression. Sound familiar? NEW SCIENTIST 19/26 December 1998-2 January 1999, weekly. Deborah McMillion deborah(at)gloaming.com http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html
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Date: Sun, 03 Jan 1999 02:38:27 -0900 From: Robert Raven <rraven(at)alaska.net> Subject: De La Mare novel To all Gaslighters, Walter de la Mare's novel "The Return", which may be of interest to gaslighters, is now available free on-line at http://www.litrix.com. Bob Raven
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Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 10:10:29 -0700 From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org> Subject: Today in History - Jan. 4 1863 General Halleck, by direction of President Lincoln, orders U.S. Grant to revoke his infamous General Order No. 11 that expelled Jews from his operational area. 1902 The French offer to sell their Nicaraguan Canal rights to the U.S. 1904 The U.S. Supreme Court decides in the Gonzales v. Williams case that Puerto Ricans are not aliens and can enter the U.S. freely, yet stops short of awarding citizenship. Born on January 4 1785 Jacob Ludwig Grimm, German philosopher who wrote Grimm's Fairy Tales. 1809 Louis Braille, developer of a universal reading system for the blind. 1914 Jane Wyman, U.S. film actress who was the first wife of President Ronald Reagan.
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Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 13:01:39 -0700 From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> Subject: Chat: painting question Trying to track down illustrators of a very well known painting done of Hans Christian Anderson--it's an image of Hans sitting at his desk in the dark surrounded by flying images of his creations. It is signed CAJ (or possible GAJ) and JJ. This is so familiar but I haven't found anything on websites or in books on illustrators. Does this strike a bell with anyone?--it's very much in the style of Dulac and Rackham. Deborah Deborah McMillion deborah(at)gloaming.com http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html
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Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 14:27:39 +0000 (GMT) From: Chris Willis <c.willis(at)bbk.ac.uk> Subject: Victorian Crime Conference - London - 24 April 1999 Hi! - ----------------------------------------------------- Victorian Crime Conference- 24 April 1999 - London University Institute of English Studies - ----------------------------------------------------- Just to let you know that the provisional programme for the Victorian Crime conference is now on the web at: http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Crete/3783/crimeprog.html The conference includes sessions on Sherlock Holmes, Wilkie Collins, sensation fiction, female detectives, crime history and gender. With all good wishes Chris - -------------------------------- Chris Willis Conference Organiser - Victorian Crime English Dept Birkbeck College Malet St London WC1E 7HX e-mail c.willis(at)bbk.ac.uk - -------------------------------------------
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Date: Tue, 05 Jan 1999 09:04:12 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - January 5
1815
Federalists from all over New England, angered over the War of
1812, draw up the
Hartford Convention, demanding several important changes in the
U.S. Constitution.
1861
The merchant vessel Star of the West sets sail from New York to
Fort Sumter, in response
to rebel attack, carrying supplies and 250 troops.
1904
American Marines arrive in Seoul, Korea to guard U.S. legation
there.
1914
Henry Ford astounds the world as he announces that he will pay
a minimum wage of $5 a
day and will share with employees $10 million in last year's
profits.
1917
Bulgarian and German troops occupy the Port of Braila.
1919
British ships shell the Bolshevik headquarters in Riga.
Born on January 5
1779
Stephen Decatur, U.S. naval hero during actions against the
Barbay pirates and the War of
1812.
1876
Conrad Adenauer, first chancellor of post-World War II West
Germany
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Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 06:12:06 +1000 From: Toni Johnson-Woods <t.johnsonwoods(at)mailbox.uq.edu.au> Subject: Re: Victorian Crime Conference - London - 24 April 1999 The programme looks fabulous...Mike Huggins--do you have a contact address...I have found some interesting fictional stuff on racecourses in Australian crime fiction.... I wish I could be there... Cheers toni Lecturer Contemporary Studies University of Queensland Brisbane 4072 entjohns(at)mailbox.uq.edu.au
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Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 11:28:33 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - January 6
1861
Governor of Maryland sends a message to the people of Maryland,
strongly opposing
Maryland's secession from the Union.
1904
A Japanese railway in Korea refuses to transport Russian troops.
1910
Union leaders ask President Taft to investigate U.S. Steel
practices.
1912
New Mexico becomes the 47th U.S. state.
1918
Germany acknowledges Finland's independence.
Born on January 6
1811
Charles Sumner, leading anti-slavery senator.
1856
Sherlock Holmes, noted English apiarist.
1878
Carl Sanburg, U.S. journalist, poet and biographer who won a
Pulitzer Prize in history for
his biography of Abraham Lincoln.
1882
Sam Rayburn, U.S. congressman from Texas who became the Speaker
of the House of
Representatives (1940-46, 1949-53).
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Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 11:41:08 -0700 From: Deborah McMillion Nering <deborah(at)gloaming.com> Subject: History > Born on January 6, 1856- Sherlock Holmes, noted English apiarist. Really, I had no idea we had an exact date. I wish I'd known and I'd have planned a dinner from the Sherlock Holmes Cookbook. Wait...maybe it's not too late to at least have some eggs, kippers, scones and a little tea? Deborah Deborah McMillion deborah(at)gloaming.com http://www.gloaming.com/deborah.html
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Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 15:12:14 -0800 From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu> Subject: Re: History & The Man in Grey Re: > Born on January 6, 1856- Sherlock Holmes, noted English apiarist. Deborah replied: << Really, I had no idea we had an exact date. I wish I'd known and I'd have planned a dinner from the Sherlock Holmes Cookbook. Wait...maybe it's not too late to at least have some eggs, kippers, scones and a little tea?>> And we forgot to plan a Gaslight birthday party for the dear chap! Anyone reading the Man in Grey? I have enjoyed the first few chapters. The Man in Grey is an intriguing fellow, sort of a Napoleonic James Bond, but I find myself more sympathetic to the Chouans, who are tracked down and eliminated with fierce determination. Happy 1999 to one and all! Patricia
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Date: Wed, 06 Jan 1999 23:36:03 -0500 From: "James E. Kearman" <jkearman(at)gate.net> Subject: H. C. Anderson Bio Peter Ackroyd reviews a new biography of Hans Christian Anderson, in the London Daily Times for Thursday, January 7. The bio is titled "The Fan Dancer," and the author is Alison Prince. As you might expect, Anderson was a character, as well as a gifted writer. You can find the review in the Books section of the London Times on the web. If you don't have web access, send me email mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com with "0106A" in the Subject, and my computer will automatically reply with a copy of the article. Cheers, Jim - ---------------------------------------- Jim Kearman mailto:jkearman(at)iname.com http://www.gate.net/~jkearman
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Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 09:04:53 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - Jan. 7
1807
Responding to Napoleon's blockade of the British Isles, The
British blockade Continental
Europe.
1865
Cheyenne and Sioux warriors attack Julesburg, Colo., in
retaliation for the Sand Creek
Massacre.
1901
New York stock exchange trading exceeds two million shares for
the first time in history.
1902
Imperial Court of China returns to Peking. The Empress Dowager
rules again.
1918
The Germans move 75,000 troops from the East Front to the
Western Front.
Born on January 7
1800
Millard Fillmore, 13th President of the United States.
1845
Louis III, last King of Bavaria.
1912
Charles Addams, cartoonist whose macabre Addams Family appeared
in The New
Yorker.
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Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 13:19:57 -0700
From: sdavies(at)MtRoyal.AB.CA
Subject: Re: History & The Man in Grey
Following up on Patricia T.'s opener...
The Man in Grey is a curious anti-hero. He's sent by the national Ministry
of Police to track down, within France, agitators against Napoleon's
empire. The local law enforcement agencies are slack, and therefore resent
his successes, and the Chouans (pro-Royalist rebels) are direly
antagonistic to him. Even the innocents who are aided by his fancy
brainwork don't send any positive words his way. He's just not liked.
The entire concept seems to have been an attempt by Orczy to present the
antithesis of Pimpernel, of whom she must have written countless stories by
the time she created the Man in Grey (1919). Part of the reverse image of
Pimpernel may also have included being unliked.
Stephen
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Date: Thu, 07 Jan 1999 13:21:55 -0800 From: Patricia Teter <PTeter(at)getty.edu> Subject: Re: History & The Man in Grey Stephen wrote: << The Man in Grey is a curious anti-hero. [...] He's just not liked. [...] The entire concept seems to have been an attempt by Orczy to present the antithesis of Pimpernel, of whom she must have written countless stories by the time she created the Man in Grey (1919). Part of the reverse image of Pimpernel may also have included being unliked.>> Very good points, Stephen. I am curious how many readers find him unlikeable, or unsympathetic as well. He is very intelligent, capable of solving difficult mysteries, however, from the chapters I have read, Orczy never allows the reader any personal views of the Man in Grey. He is exactly that...a man dressed in grey...an unobserved man, unnamed, overlooked and discarded, which is after all, the perfect spy. Even with an anti-hero such as this, the stories are very enjoyable; the code names, disguises, cloak and dagger activities, and murder keep the reader well entertained. Patricia
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Date: Fri, 08 Jan 1999 09:05:57 -0700
From: Jerry Carlson <gmc(at)libra.pvh.org>
Subject: Today in History - Jan. 8
1815
A rag-tag army under Andrew Jackson defeats the British on the
fields of Chalmette in the
Battle of New Orleans.
1871
Prussian troops begin to bombard Paris during the
Franco-Prussian War.
1892
Coal mine explosion kills 100 in McAlister, Okla.
1900
The Boers attack Ladysmith, but are turned back by General
White in South Africa.
1908
A subway linking New York's Brooklyn and Manhattan opens.
Born on January 8
1862
Frank Nelson Doubleday, founder of Doubleday publishing house.
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End of Gaslight Digest V1 #34
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