- Joined
- Aug 27, 2011
- Location
- Central Massachusetts
A Civil War example:
[Hartford Daily Courant, May 25, 1861]
We've seen a few period photos of people "cutting up" in front of the camera, but this one is outrageous.
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A Michigan Civil War soldier from my collection. Could it be he is giving some sort of Freemason sign?!?
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The source says they call this 'cocking a snook' in England. A new phrase for me. Great photo.The latest addition to Ron S. Coddington's flickr photostream (used here with permission), shows an unidentified Union officer with a munchkin-hair-doo, demonstrating the traditional gesture of contempt and derision. "Thumbing one's nose" has been recorded back at least to the 17th century -- Shakespeare is said to have used it on seeing a rival playwright.
We've seen a few period photos of people "cutting up" in front of the camera, but this one is outrageous.
It doesn't look post mortem to me. (Do hands swell shortly after death?)That's a new one! There's another somewhere, less dynamic than this though. At least we know what he means! Have a few photos saved because they're baffling- am convinced if you stare at one long enough the meaning will appear ( it doesn't work ).
Hopefully this isn't a post mortem - I go back and forth about it. Just always wonder what that mother is saying to us?
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A Mason couldn't tell you if it is a Masonic sign!A Michigan Civil War soldier from my collection. Could it be he is giving some sort of Freemason sign?!?
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Just always wonder what that mother is saying to us?
A Michigan Civil War soldier from my collection. Could it be he is giving some sort of Freemason sign?!?
The way his cheeks are puffed out, I can almost hear a Bronx Cheer.And how long did that munchkin guy have to hold that look ?
...an unidentified Union officer with a munchkin-hair-doo, demonstrating the traditional gesture of contempt and derision. ...We've seen a few period photos of people "cutting up" in front of the camera, but this one is outrageous.
If you apply today’s sign language to her gesture then you would interpret her as saying either woman or sister. Pointing the finger at the cheek represents a bonnet strap which is the sign we still use today. Could the photo be intended for the little girls absent brother, perhaps he has been away from home for a long time and the woman is indicating to him that this is your sister, she may have changed a great deal since the last time he’d seen her.That's a new one! There's another somewhere, less dynamic than this though. At least we know what he means! Have a few photos saved because they're baffling- am convinced if you stare at one long enough the meaning will appear ( it doesn't work ).
Hopefully this isn't a post mortem - I go back and forth about it. Just always wonder what that mother is saying to us?
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Simple. She has a tooth ache. Bless herThat's a new one! There's another somewhere, less dynamic than this though. At least we know what he means! Have a few photos saved because they're baffling- am convinced if you stare at one long enough the meaning will appear ( it doesn't work ).
Hopefully this isn't a post mortem - I go back and forth about it. Just always wonder what that mother is saying to us?
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