Tea at Trianon: Muffs

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

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Muffs

Every lady should have one on a cold winter's day. From Gio:

When they first became popular, in the early 18th century, muffs were small and cozy, but overtime, their size increased, until it almost reached the knees! What started as a practical fashion accessory became a very cumbersome thing to carry around with you! With your muffs, you could go anywhere. You could use them to go for a walk, to the opera, or even just to warm your hands in your cold sitting room. (Read more.)

The North Coast said...: I adore muffs, and I was vexed when I missed out on a beautiful vintage fur muff the other day on E-bay. They are wonderful in Chicago's super-frigid winter weather, because you can wear an ordinary kid glove that allows finger movement, and still keep your hands warm while adding an elegant touch to your heavy winter outer wear, so much nicer than clumsly, ugly mittens.

Given the way they are bid up on E-Bay, I believe that fashion world could market them very successfully. I will surely be thinking about them when I wait for the train in the -12 F weather next week.; January 19, 2014 at 10:05:00 AM EST
Gio said...: Thanks a lot for linking to my post!; January 21, 2014 at 5:16:00 PM EST