Tea at Trianon: Housekeeping in India

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

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Housekeeping in India

Everyday life on the other side of the world.

Alexandra said...: I really like the picture of the women washing their saris in the river. I have a few skirts made of vintage sari material, so beautiful, and made for the hot weather, of course. They hand wash and dry so quickly. Although they are silk blends, I could swear they are somehow stain resistant - very sturdy practical material(but gorgeous). Maybe the clothing reflect the women of Indian. :); August 6, 2009 at 10:43:00 PM EDT
elena maria vidal said...: I love sari material. I wonder where my friend Gette is since she is the expert.; August 6, 2009 at 10:56:00 PM EDT
Alexandra said...: Sari material can be reworked into beautiful bed comforters and throw pillows as well. I've been eyeing a few online. :); August 8, 2009 at 7:13:00 PM EDT
The North Coast said...: The Indian "superstitions" such as "worshipping" the precious household article and polishing them to a high shine on the ceremonial cleansing day, is a way of giving thanks for the things that make our lives possible, and reflect the struggle it is for most people to acquire the necessities and a few amenities. We here in the west need to learn to live with less and be very grateful for it, instead of always craving more, more, more of what ends up useless in an overfilled garage... or in a landfill.; February 17, 2013 at 11:49:00 AM EST
The North Coast said...: For sari material- you will be able to find beautiful silk saris and sari material easily if you have an Indian neighborhood in your city or town. If you come to Chicago, come on up north to Devon Avenue in West Rogers Park- there are dozens of stores selling every grade of sari and sari material, in addition to emporiums dealing beautiful Indian jewelry.; February 17, 2013 at 11:51:00 AM EST