Tea at Trianon

John Wilson Croker on Marie-Antoinette

"We have followed the history of Marie Antoinette with the greatest diligence and scrupulosity. We have lived in those times. We have talked with some of her friends and some of her enemies; we have read, certainly not all, but hundreds of the libels written against her; and we have, in short, examined her life with– if we may be allowed to say so of ourselves– something of the accuracy of contemporaries, the diligence of inquirers, and the impartiality of historians, all combined; and we feel it our duty to declare, in as a solemn a manner as literature admits of, our well-matured opinion that every reproach against the morals of the queen was a gross calumny– that she was, as we have said, one of the purest of human beings."

~from History of the Guillotine by John Wilson Croker, 1844

Edmund Burke on Marie-Antoinette

"It is now sixteen or seventeen years since I saw the queen of France, then dauphiness, at Versailles; and surely there never lighted on this orb, which she hardly seemed to touch, a more delightful vision. I saw her just above the horizon, decorating and cheering the elevated sphere she had just begun to move in, glittering like a morning star full of life and splendor and joy. Oh, what a revolution....Little did I dream that I should have lived to see such disasters fall upon her, in a nation of gallant men, in a nation of men of honor and of cavaliers! I thought ten thousand swords must have leaped from their scabbards, to avenge even a look which threatened her with insult. But the age of chivalry is gone; that of sophisters, economists, and calculators has succeeded...."

~Edmund Burke, October 1790

Thursday, December 4, 2008

My husband has indicated on several occasions that since I devote a certain amount of effort to this blog, I should receive some direct remuneration for my troubles. Therefore, as readers may or may not have noticed, a few advertisements have been inserted onto the sidebar. I have made every effort to make certain that the ads are relatively tasteful and deal with matters which readers of this blog might be interested in, such as "green tea" and "ballet lessons." However, if anything such as "flat belly diet" or "look good naked" creep into the mix, then I beg your indulgence. Share

9 comments:

Anonymous said...: I am not sure if this is an option, but i know in TypePad, you can set up "widgets," which will sell items which have something to do with the topic of your blog. For example, I can put in an Amazon widget if I so choose, and sell books of my choosing by making a list which the widget reads and displays the titles of your choice (making a small "finders fee," should someone purchase,) via this widget. TypePad also has a "tip jar." While I've not used either, you might check into this. This way you can have some power over some of the ads drawn to your blog - the very reason I've not used broad advertisement...I trust NO ad-service to populate my blog with appropriate ads...and with Amazon, I stopped liking them back in '99, so, heh heh, I can't say I'd advertise for them. I only advertise for those I personally know (otherwise I'm sure my blog would be selling Viagra and goodness knows what else.) :P

I don't use the tip jar, but I do have a link asking people to donate. They really will, so that might be another option.; December 4, 2008 at 8:58:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thanks for the advice. I really like the Amazon widgets and am going to add those right now.; December 4, 2008 at 10:12:00 AM EST
Terry Nelson said...: I agree with your husband. I have one on abbey2 - but it is placed there by st.blogs.com - I receive nothing. I'm also a dolt - I don't know how to set up widgets - because I hate to read instructions. That is why I'm poor.; December 4, 2008 at 10:49:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thanks, Terry. Very much.; December 4, 2008 at 10:55:00 AM EST
elena maria vidal said...: I added some widgets! Amazon.com has really refined the process. Anyone who can set up a blog can add a widget. It's easy, even for me. And they are nice-looking, too, and fun.; December 4, 2008 at 11:27:00 AM EST
Anonymous said...: I agree with your husband. :>
Thank you for your work. Susan; December 4, 2008 at 4:24:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: You're welcome, SF.; December 4, 2008 at 6:09:00 PM EST
Wendy Haught said...: Yes, your husband is right: you ought to be compensated. Your blog is outstanding. My 15-year-old daughter reads it regularly. She told me the other day that she is beginning to love researching history. I'm sure that Tea at Trianon deserves part of the credit for this.

I hope you write another book soon.; December 4, 2008 at 8:58:00 PM EST
elena maria vidal said...: Thank you, Wendy. Please tell your daughter that I am working on the final editing of a book which she will love. Hopefully it will be out sometime in 2009.; December 4, 2008 at 9:02:00 PM EST