Enric Posted September 10, 2009 Posted September 10, 2009 (edited) Various oils were used in lieu of bathing back in the day. Louis XIV, for example, rarely ever took a bath. Instead, he had his body rubbed down daily with oils. I'm not sure what kind of oils they used, so I personally visualize it as Johnson's Baby Oil. Wouldn't that be fun! Damn. thank you Mark for contributing as last of the pile.... yes, the french upper class of Versailles were famed for not having water even nearby their skins and, they grew fleas and things... and, smelled so bad... Pretty much, they gave the air of somethings really rotten. Oils of course helped in that. Probably it was to rule their enemies by the force of untolerable presence.... and, they used quite a lot of perfumes, to cloak their nasty presence from their own noses... weell, what a concoction... Edited September 10, 2009 by Enric
Mark Arbour Posted September 11, 2009 Author Posted September 11, 2009 thank you Mark for contributing as last of the pile.... yes, the french upper class of Versailles were famed for not having water even nearby their skins and, they grew fleas and things... and, smelled so bad... Pretty much, they gave the air of somethings really rotten. Oils of course helped in that. Probably it was to rule their enemies by the force of untolerable presence.... and, they used quite a lot of perfumes, to cloak their nasty presence from their own noses... weell, what a concoction... I'm not sure you're right on that. First of all, fleas, ticks, lice, and other parasites flourish when you have closely packed people, at least in that era. It was a problem in all countries, but especially prevalent among the lower classes. It's those pesky servants. As far as the smell, I don't think it would be the French upper-crust that would really smell. A peasant working in the field every day would probably reek the most. And by the way, their habits were not different than their European peers. The oil baths would clean them adequately, but it's the perfumes that would really block the smells. There's a reason most noblemen had a handkerchief in their pocket loaded with scent. I mentally factored in all of these smells (and thus this is just an impression, not fact) and I came to my own personal conclusion that there would probably be an underlying aroma of body odor that was partially overshadowed by an overabundance of perfumes.
dachcr Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 I dont really care about the smell or lack of it - just get rid of that Wilcox! Keep the poor Calvert alive for a while..., but what about Jeffers! He need some more action!
Hoskins Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 In the interest of science I stopped bathing, and have been oiling myself with mineral oil since Chapter 3. Now give with the home addresses people. I'm comin for a visit! 1
Tiger Posted September 14, 2009 Posted September 14, 2009 In the interest of science I stopped bathing, and have been oiling myself with mineral oil since Chapter 3. Now give with the home addresses people. I'm comin for a visit! Eww... I'll never invite you to my house.
Mark Arbour Posted September 14, 2009 Author Posted September 14, 2009 In the interest of science I stopped bathing, and have been oiling myself with mineral oil since Chapter 3. Now give with the home addresses people. I'm comin for a visit! LMAO. Although a well-lubed, er, I mean well-oiled Hoskins has a certain appeal.
Enric Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 a naval official of those days: some portraits, and some family history, of a presumably middle-class-origin navy man http://www.jjhc.info/cuthbertarthur1787.htm I happen to know about the guy because his youngest daughter, a scandalous woman of her epoch (and pretty much same age as the fictional Georgie and Caroline), ended up to Northern countries...
paya Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 Now that was some adventure! :-) And what a plan to copper their pockets. I don't think George will be much pleased to see his brother again... What I don't get... It seems that the Wilcox admiral is not included, that he didn't know about it otherwise he wouldn't send Granger to look after them. Or it's just that bad luck :-D I'm really curious about the diplomatic solution we are about to see. I think Georgie will lose some illusions about his brother, the governor?, and actually about the world he's living in. ;-) In fact, George could be in a big danger if Cosa Nostra dislikes him...
Tiger Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 Well well... more French treachery is what there seems to be. Admiral Wilcox will be most displeased. He wanted Granger to fail in finding out what happened to The Rattlesnake. However, he was successful, and I believe he'll come up with a plan to rescue the crew and restore the ship to British control. I hope the next chapter will be out soon.
Conner Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 Granger shows us even more cunning! Barney's help was invaluable in this instance that's for sure. So the young French midshipman didn't want to hang from his own yard arm? No surprise there. Although, that may well be his fate anyway...hanging that is. I'm hoping it's Wilcox who's in cahoots with the French privateers. But Bertie would have to have known about it as well with French ships right there in Madras. Wilcozzzx and Bertie working together would seem an oddity given their family "feud". Mind you, next to lust, greed is a very motivating factor...two of my favourite deadly sins. Did Wilcox already know that the Rattlesnake had been captured or had he guessed at its fate. I'm just hoping Bertie didn't send his brother off to a would be slaughter. Maybe we'll see Wilcox and Bertie hang together.
Tiger Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 Where do you get the idea that Bertie knew what happened to The Rattlesnake, Conner? I don't think he'd sink that low, and he has expressed great dislike for Admiral Wilcox along with the governor. I know Bertie is a gambling man a heart, but I don't think he'd sink to treason.
paya Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 Where do you get the idea that Bertie knew what happened to The Rattlesnake, Conner? I don't think he'd sink that low, and he has expressed great dislike for Admiral Wilcox along with the governor. I know Bertie is a gambling man a heart, but I don't think he'd sink to treason. He didn't have to know, but maybe he could guess quite accurately... well I think it's because that mention about business Bertie has there or something like that... I don't remember exactly, but it reminded me The Godfather... :-D and well, Bertie became very rich very quickly and we don't know who he met on his voyage to India... I hope he's not involved but the sceptical me (plus if I were Mark and wanted to spice up the story ;-) ) tells me that at minimum, Bertie knows (and probably has his share to shut up). We don't know much at this time about this stuff, so it's hard to back it up with some arguments, it's just this feeling... :-/ Yeah and Wilcox... I'm not sure what to think about his involvement... If he knew about that, Bertie and the governor wouldn't try to circumvent him. And probably that is why they want to get rid of him - but Wilcox on the right side of justice... :blink:WTF? Or he's too demanding. He wants more and more, like Conner said, greed is... greed. (Hey Conner, what about fornication? ;-D)
dachcr Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 oooh lala, Wilcox is the main man, he send poor Granger after Rattlesnake knowing that he will also be shot out of the water. That sly dog, Wilcox, he's going to be very surprise when Granger arrives allive and with the Rattlesnake. Mark you are sly, but love your writing! And I still love Jeffers!!!
Tiger Posted September 15, 2009 Posted September 15, 2009 Well, I don't think Bertie would be too keen on the idea of his own brother being a lamb to be slaughtered. I he knew about the danger, I doubt he'd allow it. He'd have found a way to stop it. Wilcox, on the other hand, would have the motive to have Granger killed if at all possible. However, he severely underestimates Granger, and I hope that Wilcox hangs for his treachery.
Mark Arbour Posted September 15, 2009 Author Posted September 15, 2009 This storyline has some of my favorite twists so far.
amBIguoustwo Posted September 16, 2009 Posted September 16, 2009 Excellent description of a naval battle and great display of strategy by Granger. I'm a firm member of the Wilcox-is-involved-in-this camp. It totally explains why Wilcox keeps his ships in port. Bryan
Tiger Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 That was an interesting chapter indeed. It seems that greed supersedes feuds. It disappoints me. Sadly, Bertie and Wilcox should hang (and no I'm not saying that I support the death penalty, rather the order of the day). George could have been killed, and his own brother would be the reason... a sad turn of events. I wanted to believe in Bertie's innocence too.
paya Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 That was an interesting chapter indeed. It seems that greed supersedes feuds. It disappoints me. Sadly, Bertie and Wilcox should hang (and no I'm not saying that I support the death penalty, rather the order of the day). George could have been killed, and his own brother would be the reason... a sad turn of events. I wanted to believe in Bertie's innocence too. :-X Yay! now that was so far... I can't wait for the rest of Granger's plan. And what more - the highlight of the chapter - Calvert is up again! :-D
amBIguoustwo Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Yes, so glad Calvert is back in action. I feared Mark's writing talents would soon be wasted on descriptions of Rosy Palm and her five sisters.
Conner Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 Quite an ingenious plot really, given the war with the French. Bertie may well walk away from all this, although he will never be able to look George in the eye again. I wonder if George will speak of Bertie's treachery to their father. I think not. George would want to save his father that disappointment and sorrow. Oh to see Wilcox's face when Granger shows up with the Rattlesnake, her crew and having sunk the Bon Frere! Ah! But the greatest news in that chapter was indeed that Calvert is back...with his back to Granger this time! Excellent chapter, Mark!
Mark Arbour Posted September 17, 2009 Author Posted September 17, 2009 I'm so glad you guys liked it. I enjoyed this plot twist a lot. Of course, he still has to get back to Madras and face the powers that be there.
Tiger Posted September 17, 2009 Posted September 17, 2009 I'm so glad you guys liked it. I enjoyed this plot twist a lot. Of course, he still has to get back to Madras and face the powers that be there. Well, he should have too much difficulty. It seems that he and the governor know each other in the biblical sense.
Enric Posted September 18, 2009 Posted September 18, 2009 ch16: well, looks like I was a day absent.... some of the confusion cleared. this politics is nice. Bertie is good. Georgie will learn...
Conner Posted September 18, 2009 Posted September 18, 2009 ch16: well, looks like I was a day absent.... some of the confusion cleared. this politics is nice. Bertie is good. Georgie will learn... I must admit that I'm hoping Bertie is good as well. Mark has set it up pretty tight though. We'll see if Mark can weasal his way out of it. I'm sure this is one instance where Georgie would love to be wrong.
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