JPK Huson 1863
Brev. Brig. Gen'l
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2012
- Location
- Central Pennsylvania
Post war by less than a decade, this 1873 painting by ( Bodini? ) may seem charming but should make your skin crawl. Title a giveaway, " Gossips ". Someone is being torn to shreds, only difference between then and now is we had to be in the same room. Paintings of we girls busy slandering each other while hunched over keyboards would be less picturesque, don't you think?
So we've been at this for awhile. It's a little disappointing. Ok, a LOT disappointing that we girls can't manage to not only get along but be supportive of each other. Our common experiences seem not-enough to convince anyone we're all in this together. As ever, snips taken from papers published 1861-1865.
Pull up any, era magazine or newspaper. ' Gossips ' figure large, denounced on the grounds it was not only harmful and hurtful but pretty trashy. No one, said these authors, with the smallest claim to the word ' lady ' would indulge in underhanded, back-stabbing, poorly intended attacks on another woman. What's so remarkable is how single mindedly feminine was the practice. Oh well, if equality between the sexes has progressed it's made a shambles of the idea men didn't do it too.
Am very short on time this morning or would include more. Maybe there are aspects of life 150 years ago we wouldn't care to experience but at least this proclivity towards tearing each other to shreds was frowned upon. In 2019? Like a hobby. Nice to see some protest about the whole thing 150 years ago.
... lack of honor. Indeed.
Yes, the ducking stool and scold's bridle were barbaric, frequently used to shush women who were disliked. As awful as it was at a time when women could be shoved around, having no rights whatsoever, bet it had one beneficial effect. Bet it cured gossips.
May be able to find one on Ebay.