Dear Subscriber,

It's hard to believe that it's August.  In another month or two, leaves will begin turning.  They're already dropping off the trees that line our street - a little early this year!  Suffocatingly humid days alternate with thunderstorms and the occasional marvelously cool afternoon.

In addition to this month's Victorian Times, I have two new publications to announce: Victorian Poetry To Make You Laugh Out Loud! and Victorian Bookmarks to Color.  I've had a ton of fun with both of them.  The poetry book brings you a wonderful selection of poems along the lines of what I put into the newsletter now and then - that is, poetry that doesn't take itself too seriously.  (In fact, you'll find pretty much every poem that I have run in the newsletter, along with a coupla' hundred more.)  It's a delightful way to get a glimpse of Victorian life from the point of view of those who were living it - and found it funny.  And the bookmarks - well, they're just plain fun to color, especially if you like stained glass.  Hand-colored bookmarks also make a fantastic stocking-stuffer for just about anyone, and one thing August reminds us of is the fact that Christmas is coming...

Now here's what we have for you in August:

• Queer Conveyances (The Strand, 1897) "It occurred to the present writer that a collection of photographs of many of the most picturesque conveyances of the world would prove interesting alike to the traveler and the 'stay-at-home'." And so, from the Pondicherry Push-Push to the camel-drawn state carriage of the Begum of Bhopal, we have a round-up of fascinating means of transport.
• Some Old School Books (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1887) Alphabets were presented a bit differently in earlier times, when "R stands for robber, who died by the rope"!
• Foolhardy Feats: The Niagara Fools (The Strand, 1897) "The last thirty years has witnessed an unending procession of fools to Niagara," to jump, walk a tightrope over the falls (in imitation of Blondin, who cooked an omelette on a stove balanced on such a tightrope), and, of course, to attempt the falls in the ever-famous barrel.
• How I Made Soap (Demorest, 1880) A delightful account... let's just say that it didn't work quite according to the directions.
• Writing for the Press (Ingalls' Home Magazine, 1889) "Oh, let me advise you and beseech you not to write for the press unless you possess that most valuable and most beautiful of personal gifts--common sense."
• Notes by an Artist Naturalist (Girl's Own Paper, 1892-94) Beautifully illustrated monthly series by artist Fred Miller on the flora, fauna and lore of the season.
• True Economies in Household Management (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1882) "Economy is the management, regulation, and government of a family or household; a frugal and judicious use of money, that management which spends money to advantage and incurs no waste... a judicious application of time, labour, and the instruments of labour." A two-part essay that won first prize in a magazine competition.
• Bees and Their Folklore (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1881) "Numerous superstitions have clustered around this highly useful insect, and in many a country place it is regarded almost with feelings of veneration."
• The Table and Its Decoration (Demorest, 1884) This author goes on at length as to why her kitchen and table are better than those of an acquaintance, partly because "I do not disdain to put some of the common sense Providence has given me, in my kitchen."
• Tapestry Painting (Girl's Own Paper, 1880) Beautiful patterns that could be used in a variety of crafts.
• Etiquette for "Our Brothers" (Girl's Own Paper, 1883) On the importance of chivalry, honor and courtesy on the part of the male...
• Practical Points of Law (Girl's Own Paper, 1901) More intriguing points of English law in Victorian times, with sections on Servants, Wills, and "Infants."
• Angle Decoration (Demorest, 1880) Tips on decorating in a corner...
• My Conjuring Tricks (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1892) The author discovers it's not quite as easy to become a magician as he hoped - particularly when it comes to making a bill disappear!
• The Pitcairn Islanders, and the Mutiny of the Bounty (Cassell's Family Magazine, 1880) Anyone who has seen the Clark Gable movie will get quite a different picture of the mutineers, their motives, and their fate from this interesting article.
• Some Eastern Sweets (The Girl's Own Paper, 1896) Some delicious dishes from India, including coconut pudding, leechee cream, pears in jelly, and plaintain fritters.
• Poetry A Dialogue in Low Life
  

Visit https://www.victorianvoices.net/VT/issues/VT-1908.shtml to download  this issue!

Or download it directly from DropBox:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/o02c5nnh83u4iih/VT-1908.pdf?dl=0

Victorian Poetry To Make You Laugh Out Loud!

Sparkling!  Lighthearted!  Wickedly Witty!  If these aren't terms you normally associate with Victorian poetry (or Victorian anything), you're in for a treat! Because this is exactly what you'll find in this collection of Victorian Poetry to Make You Laugh Out Loud. Or giggle. Or chuckle. Or guffaw. (Which is simply Victorianese for "LOL.")

Here you'll enjoy 265 sparkling, lighthearted, witty and sometimes downright silly Victorian poems and verses. These are poems written not for the sages of the ages, but for and by people like us. People who struggle with the bills, the housework, raising the kids and making sense out of love and life in general. You'll find everything from snappy four-liners to four-page epic chuckle-fests, dealing with everything from the complications of "modern" romance to the best way to write a letter to Santa Claus. We bring you poems on The Animal Kingdom • Home and Family • Love, Romance, and the "New" Victorian Woman • The Lighter Side of Life • The Love of Books • The Writing Life • Farm and Country Life • Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Grab a copy and enjoy - and grab another for a friend!  Find out more at https://www.victorianvoices.net/bookstore/poetry.shtml

Victorian Bookmarks to Color

If you love to color, but are tired of your works of art ending up stored in a drawer, why not color a collection of bookmarks?  Bookmarks give your coloring a purpose - and you can enjoy the results of your artwork every single day.  They also make fantastic personal gifts.

This collection brings you 125 Victorian-themed bookmarks, including Victorian decorative motifs from books and magazines, floral designs, holiday bookmarks, and an extensive collection of stained glass designs, including a selection of French mosaic glass patterns from the 17th and 18th century. 

You'll also find some helpful tips on ways to protect and embellish your bookmarks so that they will last literally for years to come.  Bookmarks are the perfect "quick fix" coloring project, and this unique collection will keep you busy for weeks!

Find out more (and preview the complete collection) at https://www.victorianvoices.net/bookstore/coloring.shtml

Enjoy the summer!

Your Intrepid Editor,
Moira Allen

editors@writing-world.com