Flowering of Womanhood

My 1906 Ladies’ Home Journal Girl.

Hmm.

Yesterday, I watched the final 4 or 5 episodes of series 3 of Upstairs Downstairs.

I can see why that year the series won the Emmy for best Drama.

The stories are more polished than in the first two years.

It’s so weird. 4o years later, I’m discovering this famous television series, after having spent 5 years researching the 1908-1913 period from a Canadian point of view.

Perhaps had I been familiar with the series, and already known about the era of Model T’s and suffragettes, I wouldn’t have been as interested in researching the background to the Nicholson Family letters…

As it was, I knew nothing about the era and started from scratch and then waited until I was well-informed to watch this series that is ALL about 1908-1913 and makes a effort to be historically correct. In fact, these 3rd series episodes are a bit weighed down by efforts to teach history. Lord Bellamy’s speeches, anyway.

But the fashions are spot on. The series didn’t spend much on sets, but it made up for it in fashion. I will certainly go back over the series and take a closer look at Lady Bellamy’s hats, etc.

Anyway, I’ve reached a point in my draft of Flo in the City, where I want to expound on the Presbyterian thing. Light in Dark Places… That’s the 1910 book or “Sex Manual” that was so popular in Canada.

I inlcluded the Gertrude Atherton “Threshold Girl” quote in the book, where she describes ‘teenage’ girls as being confused by the sex drive and their female role… which is good, but I have to put it in context by describing the Presbyterian mindset. I want to do this fairly and honestly.

Oddly, I recently framed a 1906 Ladies Home Journal Cover and mounted it on the mantle and as I look at it I think: “That picture captures something of what I want to say.”

At first glance the viewer gets the sense that the girl on the cover is a pretty Puritan, what with herperfect posture, her book held at just the right distance from her face. (I open Flo in the City with Flora studying in a reed rocker, with her feet up on the chair.) But the girl on the cover glancing at the viewer.. hmm. and that bonnet! At second glance it is very sensual. Isn’t it?

This was not uncommon for covers of the Ladies’ Home Journal. I found another, which I posted on my Tighsolas website, at http://www.tighsolas.ca/ that is very suggestive. I think, anyway.

Or maybe a braid is just a braid and a bonnet is just a bonnet. But it can’t be denied: on Magazine covers of the time, young women are either gazing at blooms or wearing hats that look like blooms.

Anyway, must get to it. I am writing a story about 1910 ‘teachers’ – how to make it ‘sexy’..hmm. Marion’s story is easier, as she is ‘courting’ and she broke a lot of rules. I have already decided to have her see the snake wrestling man in Dominion Park..

100 Years Ago 1911….Coronation Day.

Perth, such a pretty Heritage Town, it could be England. But Kate and Wills aren’t going there.

Well, we spent a few days west of Ottawa on a lake, nearish Perth, a place without cell coverage, visiting my sister in law, the granddaughter of Marion Nicholson, who wrote the letter below, almost 100 years ago to the day.

As it happened, Marion N. talks of a visit to Hudson, near where I now live, and where my kids grew up.

It’s Canada Day, July 1, 2011, and we didn’t stop in Ottawa on the way back, because we knew the crowds would be too crazy, what with the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Of course, back then, they’d just had the Coronation of, hmmm, let’s see, Wills’ great great grandfather…George V, Colin Firth’s Dad.

Well, 100 years to the day, and I have finished my first draft of Flo in the City, posted at www.tighsolas.ca/page10.pdf.pdf

I’m going to print it out and think about things for a while. Maybe I’ll listen to some dramatizations on BBC Radio 4, or some readings of Zola of litteratureaudio.com or finish my Sentimental Education, to clear my head and put nice rhythms in my head.
Hmm. I didn’t put anything about the Opera House and Lorne Elwyn. Someone was looking up Lorne Elwyn a few days ago and found this blog.

Tighsolas,
June 28, 1911
Richmond Quebec

Dear Father,

Your will see by the heading where I am. I only got here Monday evening for I went to Hudson with the Fields’ and had a fine time. They have a cottage by the lakeside and they also have a motor boat where I spent most of my time.

Then one of the men there had a yacht and he took us for a sail from Hudson to Ste. Anne’s and back and after all I find Richmond quite a nice place although it looks queer without a station.

Did I tell you that we really have got an increase of salary for next year so that I will be getting $650 next year and they have given me the next class on my way to the top so that my work I hope will be easier.

The next time you see me you will find me sporting a pair of glasses. I had Dr. Byers examine my eyes and he said that I should wear them all the time but I find that very hard to do and a great deal of the time they stay in their case.

Mother, Edith and Flora have gone to our opera house to hear the famous Lorne Elwyn and I am keeping house with Floss for protection from the tramps. Last night Dr. Skinner took us for a ride from Corris nearly to Trenholmville. It was great and the first time I have been cool for a week.

Since I have not been here very long I have not any Richmond news so will close for this time.

Lovingly,

Marion

Dolly Faced Girls

Picture of Macdonald Girl signed Helen Buzzell

Well, I have a clearer picture of this little pastel of some young woman. Indeed, I have the little pastel right in front of me in Flora’s Macdonald Portfolio.

At first I thought this was a pic of Marion, but my husband’s Aunt said it wasn’t her Mom.

Then I somehow figured out it is a Mac Girl.

Well, it’s all in the letters, the 1911 letters, and as I write Flo in the City I am seeing new things.

Helen Buzzell was a classmate of Flora’s who roomed with her one day when Mabel, her usual roomate, was away.

Flora is feuding with Mabel, who goes on a picnic with Helen and another girl called Gladys Lefevre, leaving her out. (I am using this as a plot device.)

In a letter, Flora says Gladys is one of those ‘dolly faced girls.’ Pretty! This woman is probably her. Somehow a picture of her got caught up in the Nicholson papers in the trunk.

I’m really having trouble writing this Flo in the City. I’ve got all the elements, the plot and the letters (and I certainly know my stuff) but maybe I know too much.

Today, I added a scene in front of Ecole Methodiste, which I just lately figured out was just below Ste Catherine on Greene.

That’s where the Ville Marie starts, but in 1910 that was where the poorer area started… Not quite the City Below the HIll, but I will make it such.

Flora will stand in that place and think, “It is much easier to slide downhill than to climb uphill, but she’d much rather visit Westmount than St. Henri…It will be my way of showing what it is to be MIDDLE CLASS. And Edith in her Missionary School will symbolize this.. for no one aspired to higher things (ideas and finery) than did Edith. She lived her life in genteel poverty, but she hobnobbed with important people, at McGill especially.

Our Most Famous Society Woman

Lady Julia Grace Parker Drummond from National Archives of Canada.

I am writing the scene where Edith takes Flora to a meeting of the Montreal Council of Women. It will be the time when Miss Wiley, British Suffragette speaks, but they will miss her speech (just catching the reporter’s scrum at the end) and only be there for ‘business’ arising.

I will have Julia Parker Drummond (Founder and First President of the Council) read a bit from the Far From Nature editorial(which is about child labour in Canada) and Flora will be enraptured by her elegance and speaking skills and attire, but miss out on the substance of her speech.

The girls will hear a woman from the Immoral Materials Committee expound on the evils of the nickelodeon. (The woman in question, a Mrs. Liddel, lives on Lorne, which is a short street where the Cleveland’s live…So I will use that somehow.) I will use a funny line from a Canadian Council Report that describes vaudeville as having a rather low tone.

Then they will hear a woman bring up the subject of Technical Schools and Women. This will capture Flora’s interest, because she will hear the words MacDonald College and say THAT IS MY SCHOOL.

She will listen closely to what is said this time, but leave before the conclusion of the discussion – which will cause her to do something stupid at Macdonald College when Robertson comes around.

Anyway, I got to thinking. In the 1910 era, it was the job of society women to work on the social problems of the day. Lady Aberdeen, Lady Drummond, Mrs. Reford…These are three of Canada’s leading figures in the social welfare movement.

Society Women had the education, energy, time and connections to do the work.

Many of these women were feminists who worked to give women equal opportunities. Now women have won these opportunities, but the ones with the brains and drive are too busy running the rat race and don’t have the time to fight for social justice, if they want it.

Movies stars now are the equivalent of ‘society women’. Only they have the time and prestige.

Just a thought.

Now Julia Parker Drummond was clearly a ‘good looking woman’ but she had androgynous features and a huge male chin in profile: she wasn’t a beauty (although a little makeup might have helped. So Flora will make this observation…not about the makeup…but that she is handsome, not beautiful.

But she did have charm and eloquence and Grace, like her name. Apparently. And she had smarts too. After all, I have posted a letter she wrote in 1909 in answer to a query from the Moral Reform Association of Canada who wanted ‘living in sin’ to be criminalized. She wrote: You cannot make people ‘good’ by acts of parliament.

She was the second wife of Sir George Drummond, whose first wife was a Redpath, which was a help to him, no doubt. She was presented to Queen Victoria and also got some face-time with Edward and Alexandra. This will impress Flora of course.

The Redpath Refineries were not far from where Marion taught. I’ll use that too, but probably in the Marion story.
She was a wise woman.

Gingerbread Life

A non Queen Anne place in Melbourne. It was the general store.

Tighsolas in 1908 or so. Assymmetrical footprint, irregular roof, only a touch of gingerbread moulding around the porch. Tasteful in a gawdy time.

I am writing Flo in City, which I have decided will be the first in a Tighsolas Trilogy. Flo in the City is about Flora Nicholson’s life year at school in 1911/12/13.
It will tell the Tigsolas Saga from her point of view and the social theme will be garmet workers and fashion.

The next book will be Marion’s Choice (tentative title) and it will follow the Nicholson Saga through Marion’s Eyes and the underlying theme will be her ‘push pull’ of biology and ambition and the eugenics movement.

The Final Book will tell the story through Edith’s eyes. I haven’t quite thought it out, but it will tell the story of the NEW WOMAN, but from the point of view of a woman who lost her great love in a fire and is likely never to marry but who has great depth of feeling and a curious mind. The underlying theme: something to do with the change in women’s roles. I will play on that belief that there was no job out of bounds for women, especially those who did not marry. It was Edith who jumped from career to career, after all. Maybe I’ll call it Illusions and Truth.

I was editing the first paragraphs of the first chapter of Flo and I had to describe Tighsolas. Well, it is Queen Anne Revival, but a restrained and modest version of the gingerbread, neo-baroque style.

This style was popular in 1890 to 1910 and that’s because, I think, of the rising middle class, with money, who could build such ‘expensive homes.’ All the decorative flourishes.. expensive to build and to maintain. I wll have Normans saying that these houses are money pits. He’s a practical man and a builder himself.

The biggest houses in Richmond were on College Street, and Margaret in her meaner moments makes fun of the rich people like her sister and brother in law on College Street and their big houses.

It was about class within a class. Who has the biggest most elaborate house? So the 1911-1912 letters take on even more meaning as both neighbours are renovating their homes, but the Nicholsons cannot do anything. Well, they light it up electrically in 1913.

So that fits awfully well into the Tighsolas story