A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE

I’m sharing a couple of my photos and stories of the life in Placerville, California in the gold rush era that began around 1849 and, in some circumstances, is still alive now.  These two buildings have quite an interesting history as one gave immediate gratification in the form of a drink and the second in the form of lust fulfilled.

The Soda Works building was constructed in 1852 and is one of the oldest buildings in Placerville.  Soda water was bottled using a carbonation machine — which is still on display — and sold to miners as ordinary water was polluted due to the mining.   The building is still open today and over the years it has seen many different types of businesses inside its doors.  I had the opportunity to enter the tunnel that remains open at the back of the building.  It is narrow with cold rock along the edges.  I had to stoop over to keep from banging my head.  There is a cool draft as you proceed deeper into the dark and I can imagine it might have been an unnerving experience for the men who headed to the other end to find the Chinese bordello.  Up until a couple of years ago when there was a rockslide at the bordello end of the tunnel, it was till fully functional.  The tunnel started at one end of town and went nearly the entire length of Placerville’s Main Street, inside a mountain of rock.  If you didn’t know about it, you would never suspect it was there.

 I stepped inside the bordello several years ago to have a video copied.  That was the current business that was operating in the building.  The owner showed me their historical holes in the wall.  I wish I had taken photos, but at the time didn’t think to do it.  Along a hallway there are niches cut into a rock wall that were about five foot long and maybe 2 1/2 to 3 feet deep.  Apparently when the men finished with their drinks, they would walk the length of the tunnel from the soda works to visit the bordello.  Now, I am not sure how long that walk was, but I’d guess at least a quarter mile.  When the gentleman reached the end of his walk, he was expected to shower before spending time with the girl in that small cubby hole cut into the wall.  What can I say except that they had to be tough and they had to be a bit desperate.  The saving grace of visiting the girls in that manner is that nobody knew you were there, if that is something you wanted to keep to yourself.

Victorian Slang of the Week

Ace–the best one, or a thing held in high esteem.  First used 1840, in The ‘Spirit of the Times’.   Contrary to what one might think, however, this word does not appear to be in widespread use, at least in written word, until the 20^th century.  That doesn’t mean that it wasn’t used in spoken word, though. 

“Ace high” was first used in 1885.  Again, I’m not certain if there wasn’t more widespread use verbally, especially among gamblers.

Victorian slang of the week

Several years back my husband found me a book called the Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang, Volume 1, letters A-G, by J.E. Lighter.  It’s huge, full of all sorts of wonderful words, and is one of my most prized of all my research books.  I’ve been asked by a few people how I made some of my character’s speech sound authentically Victorian.  I’ve blogged about this now and again, mentioning combing through Victorian novels and finding words and phrases.  This, book, though is the backbone of much of my phrasing.  I’d happily advise any one who wants to write in this period to buy this book and the followup, if money is allows (they aren’t cheap or weren’t when I bought them). 

For everyone else who is only interested in the era, but not in the nitty gritty language, I’ve decided to start a “slang word of the week” post for every monday.  I’m culling only words that are from the 19th century and have several references attached to them.  For every word or phrase Lighter cites date and the publications in which the words appear.  It’s assumed that the slang itself did not hit written word until it had been used quite often in spoken language, perhaps as much as 5-10 years. Whether or not an author wants to use that word in earlier or later years is up to how he interprets it.

I’ll cite the word/phrase, the meaning, write a sentence if I don’t think it’s clear (and only if I can come up with a sentence that makes it clear).  I’m going to try not to copy verbatim, but at times it is difficult not to.  To be clear–all the words are from this book.  That doesn’t mean there aren’t other bits of Victorian American slang or phrases, just that it isn’t in this book, or I chose not to include it for whatever reason (often to avoid vulgarity).  Anyone who is interested is certainly welcome to email me with questions about certain words or information about the books at victorianromance@comcast.net.  I’ll get back as quickly as time allows.

Quick note–the first book is 1001 pages long.  52 chosen words (for each week) didn’t get me past the b’s.  It’ll take a LONG time to get to the end of the two books.  Unfortunately, the third book, P-Z was never published that I could find (although I’ve signed up at Amazon for an email alert if it does become available).  So it’ll take a little less time!

 Absquatulate –to run, flee, run away, abscond–first appeared 1830, used througout the period.  “Your horse has absquatulated”.  There are a number of other words associated with it, like absquatulation, 1847, absquatulator, 1842, absquatulize.

New excerpt from Angel of My Dreams

It’s my turn to post here again and I’ve already done my history post for this month, so I thought I’d share a new excerpt from my novella-length story in the anthology Northern Roses and Southern Belles. And read the newest review! A 4.5 book rating from Long and Short Reviews!

When Civil War reenactor, Kyle Dalton, keeps seeing a beautiful woman on the battlefield tending to soldiers, he thinks she’s another reenactor. But when she disappears into thin air, he starts to believe he’s seen a ghost. Did he have a past life with this woman?

Excerpt:
     
A chill ran down Kyle’s spine. Josie, that’s the name Derek said he’d been calling out last night.
     
“What reenactment group you with?”

She bit her lip. “I’m afraid I don’t understand your question, sir.”

“You’re not with a group? How about one of the civilian groups?”

“Oh, no. I’m here on my own. I want to help in whatever way I can.”

Kyle decided to take a different track. “Do you live near Philadelphia?”

“I live in the city, on Chestnut Street.”

He glanced at her ring finger. Empty. “Most ladies in my group come with their husbands or boyfriends.”

“No. As I said, I’m here on my own.”

“Well, can I walk you back to camp? Or are you staying off-site?”

She frowned again. “I stay with the other nurses.”

“Great. Lead on, and I’ll walk you back.”

She smiled, and he reached for her arm. His hand closed on air.

“What the hell?”

She gazed at him. “I can’t stay.”

She dissolved before his eyes.

Angel of My Dreams, part of Civil War romance anthology, Northern Roses and Southern Belles, available now from The Wild Rose Press.

To purchase http://www.thewildrosepress.com/northern-roses-and-southern-belles-p-3578.html?zenid=3c2ecae5e1c99338dc3430a1c3bd4419

For more info on this anthology and to read excerpts from other stories, visit http://nrandsb.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sarah Emma Edmonds

Sarah Emma Edmonds was born in New Brunswick, Canada in 1841. She grew up on a farm, so along with her sisters, she participated alongside her one brother to perform the hard physical work of farming. She tended to the animals, chopped wood, milked cows, planted and harvested. She also learned to ride horses, hunted and fished.

Her upbringing caused her to develop a lean, masculine-looking physique.

In 1860, she was nineteen. She moved south into the United States dressed in men’s garb. Pretending to be a man, she called herself “Franklin Thompson.” She worked in Hartford, Connecticut as a publishing agent, selling Bibles in Canada and Michigan.

In 1861 the Civil War began. She enlisted in Company F of the 2nd Michigan Infantry Volunteers, signing up for three years.

As Franklin Thompson, Sarah spent her first months of military service at the regimental hospital, serving as a “male” nurse. She then became postmaster and then a mail carrier.

One of her superior officers, General O. M. Poe, recalled that “Frank Thompson was effeminate looking, and for that reason was detailed as a mail carrier, to avoid taking an efficient soldier from the ranks.” All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 171.

As a mail carrier, Edmonds carried two or three bushels of mail over a distance of 50 or 60 miles.

In her own words: “I was often compelled to spend the nights alone by the roadside. It was reported that the bushwackers had murdered a mail carrier on that road and robbed the mail, and there seemed to be evidence of the fact, for, in the most lonely of spots of all the road the ground was still strewn with fragments of letters and papers, over which I often passed when it was so dark that I only knew it by the rustle of the letters under my horse’s feet.” All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 171-172.

She was also engaged in combat starting with the battle of First Bull Run in July 1861.

According to a Congressional report: “Franklin Thompson, gave his heart and soul to the regiment, sharing in all its toil and privations, marching and fighting in the various engagements in which it participated… (He was) never absent from duty, obeying all orders with intelligence and alacrity, his whole aim and desire to render zealous and efficient aid to the Union cause.” All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 172-173.

While serving, Sarah became good friends with a young medical steward and assistant surgeon for the 2nd Michigan. She fell in love with the man, confessing that she was female. She felt rebuffed when he told her he was betrothed.

Besides soldiering, Sarah also served the Union as a spy. She disguised herself as a male fugitive slave wearing a wig and coloring her skin with silver nitrate. At other times she portrayed a female Irish peddler by the name of Bridget O’Shea. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Edmonds

In Kentucky in the spring of 1863, Sarah fell ill with chills and fever. She feared a hospital stay would expose her sex, so, after a request for a leave of absence was denied, she deserted the army. She checked herself into a civilian hospital, planning to return to the army once she’d recovered.

On learning that Franklin Thompson was wanted for desertion, she donned women’s clothes, resumed using her real name and returned to the army to serve as a female nurse for the remainder of the war. All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies, p. 178

After the war ended, she published her autobiography, Nurse and Spy in the Union Army under the pen name of S. E. Edmonds. “In 1887, she married L. H. Seelye, a Canadian carpenter with whom she had three children.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Edmonds

For more on Sarah Edmonds and other women soldiers of the American Civil War…

Sources: All the Daring of the Soldier: Women of the Civil War Armies by Elizabeth D. Leonard

 

 

 

 

 

 

Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst

She chewed tobacco, smoked “two-bit” cigars, and was one of the best “whips” in the West.  Her name was Charlotte “Charley” Parkhurst, a woman who, for reasons of her own, masqueraded as a man for almost 50 years. 

Charlotte Darkey Parkhurst was born around 1812 in New Hampshire.  She was placed in a Massachusetts orphanage at an early age and grew up surrounded by poverty and a lack of love.  When Charlotte was about 15, she borrowed male attire and ran away from the institution disguised as a young boy.  Since all the children’s hair was cut short, it was easy to pass as a male.  Charotte obviously discovered that life was much less difficult for men than for women, so she adopted the name of Charles D. Parkhurst, and eventually became known as “Charley.”

Charley applied for work and was immediately hired to clean stables, pitch hay and care for horses.  She was fond of horses and learned how to handle a team, becoming proficient with the reins and became one of the most popular drivers.  Her instinctive talent and skill with the horses earned Charley the title of “Whip.” 

In the early 1850s she arrived in California and soon became known throughout the Sierra as a fearless stagecoach driver.  The early trails of California were no place for a lady…and nobody ever accused her of being one.  Her face was weathered by sun and wind, and brown tobacco stains, from the large chaw she always had in her cheek, could be seen on her chin.

Charley was of medium build and height with a voice that could be described as a whiskey tenor.  She had broad shoulders and was clean shaven with a scraggly moustache.   She wore pleated blousy shirts with wide belts.  Her trousers were expensive, as were her buffalo skin coat, fancy high-heeled boots, broad Texas hat, and the embroidered buckskin gloves which covered small, but strong hands.  The gloves were necessary for the task of handling the teams on her long runs.

She lost her feminine looks when an obliging horse kicked her in the eye.  She was deprived of her sight in the eye and started wearing a black patch.  That’s when she gained the name of “One-eyed Charley.”

Although she drove like a person possessed and would extend her team and passengers to the limits of their endurance, she was still a popular whip.  Her rides were hair-raising, but Charley had a feel for the road that brought her through safely.  On many occasions she would cover 60 miles a day on roads knee-deep in mud or water, and make the return trip as well.

Taken from Women of the Sierra by Anne Seagraves

And the winner is…

Out of the comments received on the 25th, I held a drawing and Debra St. John is the winner of the pdf download!

Debra, contact me at susanmacatee@aol.com to claim your prize! And thanks to everyone for the comments and congratulations. Hopefully, we can make editors and publishers see that there is a demand for American Civil War romances.

Release Day for Confederate Rose!!

My latest Civil War romance, Confederate Rose, officially released today at The Wild Rose Press.

Disguised as a man to serve with her husband as a soldier in the Confederate Army, Irish immigrant, Katie Rose O’Reilly, vows to remain in the ranks and seek revenge on Yankees after her husband is killed at Sharpsburg. As she’s transporting mail from Richmond back to camp, a stranger startles her, causing her to fall and almost drown in a swollen stream.

Southerner Alexander Hart, a Yankee spy, saves Katie from drowning, then nurses her through a resulting fever. He must keep his identity secret from the beautiful Rebel soldier even as he finds himself falling in love with her.

Katie falls in love with the caring gentlemen stranger, only to later discover he’s the enemy. Heartbroken, she turns him in to the Confederates, but then questions her goals and beliefs. Is it possible to put aside her quest for revenge to save the man she loves?

Excerpt:
“What? Are you telling me you were kissing him?” His blood heated at the thought of her moving on to another man.

“I was tryin’ to escape.”

“By kissing him?”

“Aye.” Anger flashed in her eyes. “And it was working until you came along and hit the poor lad.”

He grasped her forearm and pulled her from the guardhouse. They couldn’t stay here debating. “Come on, we’ve got to get out of camp. I fear I’ve compromised my cover.”

“But what about Nate?” she protested. “You may have killed him.”

Sighing, Alex knelt and felt for a pulse. The lad’s breathing was regular, his pulse steady. “Reckon he’ll be out for awhile, but aside from a nasty headache and some bruising, he should be all right.” He rose and glanced into the guardhouse. “They’ll reckon you clobbered him when he came for your dinner plate.” He caught her worried gaze. “Now, let’s skedaddle.”

She nodded, but eyed him again. “Why are you dressed as a priest?”

“It’s a disguise. I’m ministering to the Rebel soldiers.” His eyes roved to the white vee of her bosom. “Button your shirt before we go. We don’t want to attract any more attention.”

Read the opening chapters at my website:  www.susanmacatee.com/confederateroseone.html

And if you leave a comment to this post today, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win a pdf download of Confederate Rose. Winner will be announced here tomorrow.

Upstairs/Downstairs: The Lady’s Maid

In her best interest, the lady’s maid first priority was to study her mistress’ temper. The astute lady’s maid was keenly observant of the most minute changes in mood and disposition because only then could she step in with her services and become indispensible to her mistress.

Indispensability was the status every lady’s maid strived for. As can be akin to many jobs today, by anticipating, she subtly created the dependence between the two, establishing her position in the household. Beyond that indispensability, she must always present herself in a professional manner with proper etiquette and agreeable appearance.

Always ranked as an upper servant, she was accorded a room to herself and in some homes, a very lavishly decorated one. Expected to read and write, she was given The Duties of a Lady’s Maid published in 1825 which, among other things, told her how to chose a color that best fit her lady’s complexion. There were 6 descriptions: carnation, floride, fair, pale, sallow, and brunette.

Some of her duties include: dressing, changing, and undressing her lady; the care of her lady’s wardrobe; mixing and making up of cosmetic potions and cream. She always received her lady’s castoffs, and upon her death expected (if she was good enough) to receive her entire wardrobe.

“The lady’s maid was warned, in particular, to have neither eyes, ears, nor understanding for what your mistress tries to conceal from you. There is nothing will sooner make you feared, distrusted, and ruined.” The Duties of the Lady’s Maid, 1825

I even have recipes for making things (perfume, dyeing leather, etc), but that’s for another blog.

Amelia Celio’s Cattle Ranch Adventures

For almost a century, from 1853 to 1950, the Celio family owned and operated one of the largest enterprises in the Sierra Mountains of California.  Their sawmills provided lumber for most of the homes built in the South Lake Tahoe area, and they were also responsible for the community’s milk, butter, cheese and meat, and owned Meyers Station.

In 1892, Amelia Jelmini joined prestigious pioneer family when she married Frank Celio.  Through her gentle nature and dedicated work, Amelia became known as “the rock of the family.”  Amelia, a tall, slender woman with blond hair, firm sensitive features and quiet brown eyes, married Frank Celio in 1892 in Placerville, California.

By the time Amelia married Frank, the Celios had established a pattern for the family that continued through the years.  They would pasture their cattle at Upper Ranch during the summer and by mid-October, they would be on the trail to Lower Ranch to move the cattle away from heavy snow.

Every member of the family participated in the annual cattle drive.  In the fall they would spend several days preparing for the trek over Echo Summit.  There was bread to bake, food to store, and clothing to be packed.  They took all their belongings with them…it was a big job.

Amelia made her first cattle drive a few months after her marriage.  In June they started getting ready for the trip to the Upper ranch, and it must have been a strenuous ordeal for the new bride.  She baked, cooked, and filled the “ticks” with hay.  A “tick” was a mattress that was split down the center for easy storage and served as a bed for the nights on the trail.  On the day of the drive, Amelia took her place in one of the horse drawn wagons, and they headed for Lake Valley.

The first trip was an exciting event for the young woman.   It took five days to reach the Upper Ranch.  By the end of the drive, everyone was exhausted and Amelia had completed the first of many cattle drives she was to make over the years.  On the return trip in October she was expecting her first child.  By then she had learned to kill a chicken, clean it and cook it along the side of the trail.  In 1902 her third child, Hazel, made the cattle drive at two months old, wrapped in a blanket in a basket on the seat of the buggy.

The home at Upper Ranch had no conveniences.  It was a barren place until Amelia arrived.  She brought a fresh new look to the old homestead, as well as a happy outlook on life.  She worked from before sunrise to sunset cooking, cleaning, and helping with the milk and butter.  The family raised beef and cattle and sold butter, cream and eggs commercially.  There were 80 cows that Amelia helped milk by hand.  She also prepared the meals for the family and ranch hands, and washed clothes in a wash house with water carried from a creek.  Amelia’s congenial personality and gentle ways made everyone love her. The house was filled with laughter whenever she was there.

Amelia never wore trousers or hats.  She preferred simple dresses with homemade petticoats, and, on special occasions, she would add a little fancy lace.  For work days and cattle drives she wore boots.    Saturday was the highlight of the week when Frank would take her dancing at Globan’s Dance Hall on the shore of Lake Tahoe.  That was the one night they shared alone, away from the routine of the ranch.

Taken from Women of the Sierra by Anne Seagraves