Historical Cosmo Girls

[Gene C]

This reminds me of a song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0a45z_HG3WU

[L Verge]

On that same site is a song with Ray Stevens doing "Sitting Up With the Dead." I had to laugh because we had spent some time at the office this week putting the last touches on a new exhibit that will run through the month of June -- Death Comes a Knocking: Mourning Rituals of the Civil War. One of the topics we have been debating putting in the accompanying booklet was a section on superstitions about death and dying. During the days when the dead were laid out in the family parlor, it was believed that someone had to sit with the body at all times -- even the dead of night (pardon the pun). I remember my mother saying that they did that for her father, and she had to spend several hours in the dark with him. This was back in the 30s, and she was not a happy camper.

[Linda Anderson]

(05-10-2014 07:16 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thus IMO one can't "advance" in one's perceptions of beauty, but only enlarge them. (In other words, I think it's inappropriate to consider people inadvanced who don't find Angelina Jolie beautiful.) Also I've frequently experienced that "true beauty comes from within" - and it is fascinating to me how beautiful people can become.

Whether or not someone finds Angelina Jolie beautiful is a matter of individual taste. What I am saying is that society as a whole has broadened its perception of beauty so that all kinds of people can be considered beautiful not just white, blue eyed blondes. There were whispers in Richmond that Varina Davis was of "mixed blood." "Her olive complexion was considered unattractive, and some white Richmonders compared her to a mulatto or an Indian 'squaw.'" Perhaps that is why she was considered unattractive at the time.

http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Davis_Va...tart_entry

[Eva Elisabeth]

This reminds me of an incident...when I was 5, we travelled to Sri Lanka, Ceylon back then. In a jungle village the kids had never before seen nor heard of someone with blond hair and blue eyes, and just found it strange and scaring. They pulled my hair and scratched my skin on a dare to see if the color was real.

[LincolnToddFan]

(05-10-2014 09:59 AM)Linda Anderson Wrote:  

(05-10-2014 07:16 AM)Eva Elisabeth Wrote:  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, thus IMO one can't "advance" in one's perceptions of beauty, but only enlarge them. (In other words, I think it's inappropriate to consider people inadvanced who don't find Angelina Jolie beautiful.) Also I've frequently experienced that "true beauty comes from within" - and it is fascinating to me how beautiful people can become.

Whether or not someone finds Angelina Jolie beautiful is a matter of individual taste. What I am saying is that society as a whole has broadened its perception of beauty so that all kinds of people can be considered beautiful not just white, blue eyed blondes. There were whispers in Richmond that Varina Davis was of "mixed blood." "Her olive complexion was considered unattractive, and some white Richmonders compared her to a mulatto or an Indian 'squaw.'" Perhaps that is why she was considered unattractive at the time.

http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Davis_Va...tart_entry

Thanks Linda! I read a GREAT dual biography of Varina Davis and MTL called "Crowns of Thorns and Glory". Those two women had more in common than is widely known. Anyway I saw photos of Varina in that book and I thought she was striking, but she did not fit the stereotype for the 19th century Southern belle and she was not universally considered a beauty in her day.

Eva Elisabeth, thanks for sharing your experience with children in the Far East who were not comfortable with blond hair and blue eyes. It reminded me of an anecdote shared by one of the late Malcolm X's daughters about her experiences at camp as a little girl. She and her sisters were the only Black children there. The other children and even a couple of the teachers kept touching their skin and hair until a young teacher's aide came and stopped them. Some of them had never been in the presence of a non Caucasion before and they were fascinated.

[LincolnToddFan]

(05-08-2014 04:12 AM)RJNorton Wrote:  A forum member sent me a link to a web page created by another of our members, Susan Higgenbotham. I hadn't had such good laughs in a long time and thought I would share with the group. Kudos, Susan!

http://www.susanhigginbotham.com/histori...girls.html

I keep reading these over and over...they are hysterical and inspired. Especially the "covers" featuring Henry VIII's doomed queens!

[L Verge]

Toia,

Thanks for mentioning Crowns of Thorns and Glory. I loved that book and have recommended it previously on this forum. Great assessment of both First Ladies.