Tea at Trianon: Old Fashioned Habits We Need To Bring Back

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

Monday, September 18, 2023

Old Fashioned Habits We Need To Bring Back

From New Trader U:

This article will explore everyday frugal habits from the past and how reviving them can increase savings and reduce waste. Adopting a few of these time-tested skills can lead to impressive benefits. The old ways contain timeless wisdom – with creativity and purpose, households can spend less and live more frugally, like in generations past. In the past, people routinely mend, alter, and repair their possessions instead of replacing them. Even minor damage was fixed to extend the item’s use. For example, loose buttons were tightened, small holes were patched, frayed hems were re-stitched, and broken appliances were repaired. Taking up these habits again saves money compared to buying replacements. Set aside time for visible mending and repairs. Invest in a quality sewing kit and sewing machine. Watch online tutorials to learn sewing, darning, patching, and basic alterations. Repair shops can handle more complex fixes for appliances and electronics. You can give clothes, household goods, and gadgets new life with practice for a fraction of the replacement cost. (Read more.)