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At what address did murderer John Christie live?	John Christie (murderer) - Serial Killers Profiles and News - Criminal Motives Serial Killers Profiles and News Halifax, West Riding of Yorkshire, England Died: 15 July 1953 (aged 55) Pentonville Prison, London, England August 1943–6 March 1953 Country: Date apprehended: 31 March 1953 John Reginald Halliday Christie (8 April 1898 – 15 July 1953), born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, was an English serial killer active in the 1940s and 1950s. He murdered at least six women—including his wife, Ethel—by strangling them in his flat at 10 Rillington Place, Notting Hill, London. He was arrested, tried, and hanged in 1953 for his wife’s murder, after his victims’ bodies were found in the flat by a new tenant. Christie had served in World War I, and was injured in a gas attack in 1918. After his return to civilian life he took to crime, and was convicted and imprisoned several times for offences including theft and assault. He moved to Rillington Place in 1938, and on the outbreak of war in 1939 was accepted for service as a Special Constable without revealing his criminal record. He committed his murders between 1943 and 1953, his general modus operandi being to strangle his victims after he had rendered them unconscious with domestic gas. While they were unconscious, Christie also raped his victims and continued to do so as they died, ensuring his reputation as a necrophiliac. [2] Substantial controversy exists as to whether Christie was responsible for the murders of two additional victims, Beryl Evans and her daughter Geraldine. They, along with Beryl’s husband Timothy, were tenants at 10 Rillington Place during 1948–49. Timothy Evans was charged with both murders, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter and was hanged in 1950. Christie gave evidence that helped secure Evans’s conviction. When Christie’s own crimes were uncovered three years later, serious doubts were raised over the safety of Evans’s conviction, many people believing that Christie had been responsible for their deaths. In an official inquiry conducted in 1965–66, Mr Justice Brabin stated that it was “more probable than not” that Evans killed his wife and that he did not kill his daughter Geraldine. [3] This finding, challenged in subsequent legal processes, nevertheless enabled the then Home Secretary to grant Evans a posthumous pardon because it was for the murder of his daughter that Evans had been convicted in 1950. The question of Christie’s involvement in the Evans murders, and the possible miscarriage of justice, contributed to the suspension of capital punishment for murder in the United Kingdom in 1965. [4] Contents <![CDATA[ // ]]> Early life Christie was brought up in Halifax, West Yorkshire. He was abused by his father, a strict disciplinarian, and dominated by his sisters. His mother in turn overprotected him, which further undermined his self-confidence. In 1907, at the age of eight, he was witness to the open coffin of his maternal grandfather; in later years, Christie spoke of how profound this experience was to him, seeing the dead body of a man who had previously frightened him. [5] Christie won a scholarship to Halifax Secondary School when he was 11. His favourite subject was mathematics, particularly algebra. [6] It was later found he had an IQ of 128. [7] Christie sang in the church choir and was a Boy Scout as a child; upon leaving school at the age of 15 he worked as an assistant film projectionist. [8] Christie had a lifelong problem with impotence; his first attempts at sex were failures, branding him throughout adolescence as “Reggie-No-Dick” and “Can’t-D o-It-Christie”. [9] His difficulties with sex remained throughout his life, and most of the time he could only perform with prostitutes. [10] In September 1916, Christie enlisted as a signalman in World War I. In June 1918, he was hospitalised after a mustard gas attack while serving in France. He spent a month in a military hospital in Calais. Later on in his life, Christie claimed to have been both blinded and rendered mute for three and a half years from the attack. [11] Christie’s period of muteness was the alleged reason for his inability to talk much louder than a whisper for the rest of his life. Author Ludovic Kennedy points out that no record of his blindness has been traced and that while Christie may have lost his voice when he was admitted to hospital, he would not have been discharged as fit for duty had he remained a mute. [11] His inability to talk much louder than a whisper, Kennedy argues, was a psychological reaction to the gassing rather than from any physiological effects of the gas itself. [12] This reaction, together with Christie’s exaggeration of the effects of the attack, stemmed from underlying hysteria in Christie; such a condition encouraged him to exaggerate or feign illness as a ploy to get attention and sympathy. [13] Christie married Ethel Simpson Waddington from Sheffield, on 10 May 1920 at Halifax Register Office. It was a dysfunctional union, as Christie was mostly impotent with her and frequented prostitutes. [14] They separated after four years, when Christie moved to London and Ethel stayed to live with relatives in Sheffield, to where they had moved after Halifax. [15] Early criminal career After his marriage to Ethel, Christie was convicted of many petty criminal offences over the course of more than a decade. His first conviction was for stealing postal orders while working as a postman, for which he received three months’ imprisonment on 12 April 1921. [16] In January 1923, Christie was convicted of both obtaining money on false pretenses and violent conduct, for which he was bound over and put on 12 months’ probation respectively. [17] He committed two further instances of larceny in 1924 and received consecutive sentences of three and six months’ imprisonment from September 1924. [18] In May 1929, he was convicted of assaulting a prostitute with whom he was living in Battersea and was sentenced to six months’ hard labour; Christie had hit her over the head with a cricket bat, which the magistrate described as a “murderous attack”. [15] Finally, he was convicted of stealing a car from a priest who had befriended him, and received three months’ imprisonment in late 1933. [19] Christie and Ethel reconciled after his release from prison in late 1933. While Christie was able to end his cycle of petty crime, he did not reform; he continued to seek out prostitutes in his wife’s absence. [20] In December 1938, Christie and his wife moved into the ground floor flat of 10 Rillington Place in Notting Hill. On the outbreak of World War II, he applied to join the Special Constabulary and was accepted in spite of having an extensive criminal record (the police did not check his background). [21] He was assigned to Harrow Road police station. Christie began an affair with a woman working at the police station whose husband was a serving soldier. The relationship lasted until mid-1943, when the woman’s husband returned from the war and found out about the affair. He went to the house where she was living, discovered Christie there and assaulted him. [22] Murders First murders The first person Christie admitted to killing was Ruth Fuerst, an Austrian-born munitions worker who also engaged part time in prostitution. [23] Christie claimed to have met Fuerst either while she was on the beat or in a snack bar in Ladbroke Grove. Christie impulsively strangled her during sex at Rillington Place in August 1943, not long after he had been assaulted by the husband of the woman with whom he had been having the affair. Christie buried Fuerst’s body in the building’s communal garden, after having initially hidden it beneath the floorboards of the front living room. Remaining in the police force after having committed a murder may have proved too much of a strain for Christie, and he resigned as a Special Constable at the end of 1943. [24] In 1944 he found new employment, as a clerk at a radio factory. It was here that he met his second victim, Muriel Amelia Eady, a co-worker. In October 1944, he invited Eady back to his flat with the promise that he had concocted a “special mixture” that could cure her bronchitis. [25] Eady was to inhale the mixture from a jar with a tube inserted in the top. The mixture in fact was Friar’s Balsam, which Christie used to disguise the smell of domestic gas. Once Eady was seated breathing the mixture from the tube with her back turned, Christie inserted a second tube into the jar connected to a gas tap. [25] As Eady continued breathing, she inhaled the domestic gas, which soon rendered her unconscious from the carbon monoxide. Once Eady was unconscious, Christie raped and then strangled her. He buried her alongside Fuerst’s body in the back garden. [26] Later murders Rear view of 10 Rillington Place, showing the backyard where Christie buried the bodies of Ruth Fuerst and Muriel Eady. The wash-house where the bodies of Beryl and Geraldine Evans were found is the building with the light-coloured tin roof situated farthest from the main house. In Easter 1948, Timothy Evans and his wife, Beryl, moved into the top floor flat at Rillington Place. Beryl gave birth to their daughter, Geraldine, in October 1948. In late 1949, Evans informed police that his wife was dead. [27] A police search of 10 Rillington Place revealed the dead bodies of Beryl and Geraldine Evans, both of whom were found in an outside wash-house with Beryl’s body additionally parcelled up. They had both been strangled. [28] After initially alleging that Christie had killed his wife in a botched abortion operation, Evans then confessed to murdering his wife and daughter himself. [29] After he was charged with their deaths, Evans recanted his confession and again accused Christie of being the murderer, this time of both his wife and daughter. On 11 January 1950, Evans was put on trial for the murder of his daughter, the prosecution declining to pursue a second charge of murdering his wife. [30] Christie was a principal witness for the Crown and gave evidence denying Evans’s accusations. [31] Evans was found guilty of the murder by the jury and was hanged on 9 March. [32] Following Evans’s trial, nearly three years passed without major incident for Christie. Christie lost his job at the Post Office Savings Bank because his criminal past had been disclosed in Evans’s trial, and he later found new employment as a clerk with the British Road Services at their Shepherd’s Bush depot. [33] At the same time, new tenants arrived to fill the vacant first and second-floor apartments in 10 Rillington Place. The tenants were black immigrants from the West Indies with whom the Christies despised living because of racial prejudices. [34] Tensions between the new tenants and the Christies came to a head when Ethel Christie took one of her neighbours to court for assault. [35] Christie successfully negotiated with the Poor Man’s Lawyer Centre to continue to have exclusive use of the back garden, ostensibly to have space between him and his neighbours but more probably to prevent anyone from stumbling upon the buried remains. [36] [37] On the morning of 14 December 1952, Christie strangled Ethel in bed. She had last been seen alive two days earlier. [38] To prevent people from making inquiries into what had happened to her, Christie told a number of lies to explain her disappearance. He replied to a letter sent from relatives in Sheffield that Ethel had rheumatism and could not write herself; to one neighbour he explained that she was visiting her relatives in Sheffield; to another he said that she had gone to Birmingham. [39] Christie had resigned from his job on 6 December and had been unemployed since then. To support himself, Christie sold Ethel’s wedding ring and watch and then most of the furniture in his flat. Not long after he forged his wife’s signature and emptied her bank account of its savings. [40] Between 19 January and 6 March 1953, Christie murdered three more women whom he had invited back to 10 Rillington Place: Kathleen Maloney, Rita Nelson and Hectorina Maclennan. Maloney was a prostitute from the Ladbroke Grove area; Nelson was from Belfast and was visiting her sister in Ladbroke Grove when she met Christie. [41] Christie first met Maclennan, who was living in London with her boyfriend, Alex Baker, in a cafe. All three met on a number of occasions after this, and Christie let Maclennan and Baker stay at Rillington Place while they were looking for accommodation. [42] On another occasion, Christie met Maclennan on her own and persuaded her to come back to his flat where he murdered her. He convinced Baker, who came to Rillington Place looking for her, that he had not seen Maclennan. Christie kept up this pretence for several days, meeting Baker regularly to see if he had news of her whereabouts and to help him search for her. [43] When Christie murdered his final three victims, he modified the gassing technique he had first used on Muriel Eady: he simply used a rubber tube connected to the gas pipe in the kitchen, which he kept closed off with a bulldog clip. [44] He seated his victims in the kitchen, released the clip on the tube and let gas leak into the room. [45] The gas made his victims drowsy and therefore vulnerable to assault. Christie then used a rope that he kept in the kitchen to strangle them. [44] He hid the bodies in a small alcove behind the back kitchen wall, which was covered over with wallpaper. [46] Arrest Christie moved out of 10 Rillington Place on 20 March 1953. [47] He defrauded a couple who took up residence by taking £7.13s.0d (£7.65p or about £154 in today’s money) from them—he was not authorised by the landlord to sub-let the property. The landlord visited the property that same evening and, finding the couple there instead of Christie, stipulated they leave first thing next morning. [43] Once they had left, the landlord allowed the tenant of the top floor flat, Beresford Brown, to use Christie’s kitchen. On 24 March, Brown discovered the kitchen alcove when he attempted to insert brackets into the wall to hold a wireless set. Peeling back the wallpaper, Brown saw the bodies of Maloney, Nelson and Maclennan. After getting confirmation from another tenant in 10 Rillington Place that they were dead bodies, Brown informed the police an d a citywide search for Christie began. After he left Rillington Place, Christie had booked a room at the King’s Cross Rowton Houses under his real name and address. He asked for seven nights, but stayed only for four, leaving on 24 March when news of the discoveries at 10 Rillington Place became widespread. [48] After he left Rowton House, Christie wandered all over London, spending a lot of time in cafes. [48] The search for him ended on the morning of 31 March when he was arrested on the Embankment by Putney Bridge after being challenged about his identity by a policeman. When arrested, all he had with him were some coins and an old newspaper clipping about the remand of Timothy Evans. [49] Conviction and execution While in custody, Christie confessed to six murders: the three women found in the kitchen alcove, Ethel Christie, and the two women buried in the back garden. He also admitted to killing Beryl Evans, with which Timothy Evans had originally been charged during the police investigation in 1949. He never admitted to killing Geraldine Evans. [50] Christie’s trial, solely for the murder of his wife, began on 22 June 1953 in the same court where Evans had been tried. [51] Christie pleaded insanity and claimed to have a poor memory of the events. [52] The jury rejected the plea and, after 85 minutes’ deliberation, found him guilty. [53] Christie did not appeal his conviction, and on 15 July 1953 he was hanged at Pentonville Prison by Albert Pierrepoint, who had also hanged Evans. [54] Controversy and the pardon of Timothy Evans Main article: Timothy Evans After Christie’s conviction, there was substantial controversy concerning the earlier trial of Evans. Not only had Evans been convicted mainly on the evidence of a serial killer, but the very fact that a serial killer had been living in the same property where Evans supposedly carried out his crimes raised doubts as to whether he was really responsible for the murders. [55] Christie confessed to Beryl Evans’s murder and although he neither confessed to, nor was charged with, Geraldine Evans’s murder, he was held guilty of both by many at the time. [56] This in turn cast doubt on the fairness of Evans’s trial and raised the possibility that an innocent person had been hanged. [56] The controversy prompted the then Home Secretary, David Maxwell-Fyfe, to commission an inquiry led by John Scott Henderson, QC, the Recorder of Portsmouth, to determine whether Evans had been innocent of his crimes and if a miscarriage of justice had occurred. Scott Henderson interviewed Christie prior to his execution, as well as another twenty witnesses who had been involved in either of the police investigations. He concluded that Evans was in fact guilty of both murders and that Christie’s confessions to the murder of Beryl Evans were unreliable and made in the context of furthering his own defence that he was insane. [57] This did not end the matter, as questions continued to be raised in Parliament concerning Evans’s innocence, [58] along with newspaper campaigns and books being published making similar claims. [59] The Scott Henderson Inquiry was criticised for being held over too short a time period (one week) and for being prejudiced against the possibility that Evans was innocent. [60] [61] This controversy, along with the unusual coincidence that two stranglers would have been living in the same property at the same time if Evans and Christie had both been guilty, kept alive the issue that a miscarriage of justice had taken place in Evans’s trial. [62] This uncertainty led to a second inquiry, chaired by High Court judge, Sir Daniel Brabin, and conducted over the winter of 1965–66. Brabin re-examined much of the evidence from both cases and evaluated some of the arguments for Evans’s innocence. His report’s conclusions were that it was “more probable than not” that Evans had killed his wife, and that he had not killed his daughter, for whose death Christie had been responsible. Christie’s likely motive was that her continued presence would have alerted people to Beryl’s disappearance. [63] Brabin also noted, however, that the uncertainty involved in the case would have prevented a jury from being satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of Evans’s guilt had he been re-tried. [64] These conclusions were used by the Home Secretary of the time, Roy Jenkins, to recommend a posthumous pardon (in turn granted) for Timothy Evans, since Evans had been tried on and executed for the murder of his daughter. [65] [66] The pardon allowed authorities to return Evans’s remains to his family, who had him reburied in a private grave. [67] Even so, Evans remained implicated in the murder of his wife according to Mr. Justice Brabin’s findings. At this time, there was already debate in the United Kingdom over the continued use of the death penalty in the legal system. The controversy generated by Evans’s case, along with a number of other controversial cases from the same time, is considered to have contributed to the suspension in 1965, and later abolition, of capital punishment. [68] Later developments In January 2003, the Home Office awarded Timothy Evans’s half-sister, Mary Westlake, and his sister, Eileen Ashby, ex-gratia payments as compensation for the miscarriage of justice in Timothy Evans’s trial. The independent assessor for the H ome Office, Lord Brennan QC, accepted that “the conviction and execution of Timothy Evans for the murder of his child was wrongful and a miscarriage of justice” and that “there is no evidence to implicate Timothy Evans in the murder of his wife. She was most probably murdered by Christie.” [69] Lord Brennan believed that the Brabin Report’s conclusion that Evans probably murdered his wife should be rejected given Christie’s confessions and conviction. [69] However, a legal appeal by Mrs Westlake to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have Evans’s convictions formally quashed in the Court of Appeal was rejected in March 2004. The Commission ruled that even though there was a real possibility that Evans’s conviction for the murder of his daughter would be overturned, the cost in resources to do so could not be justified since it would not lead to any tangible benefits (Evans had already been pardoned and his family awarded compensation). [69] Furthermore, the Court of Appeal could not address the question of Evans’s guilt in the murder of his wife if he had not been formally convicted of that charge. [69] Mrs Westlake subsequently appealed against the Commission’s decision in the High Court on 16 November 2004. Her appeal was turned down, with the High Court justices agreeing with the Criminal Cases Review Commission that the cost of overturning Evans’s conviction could not be justified. Both justices nevertheless considered Evans to be innocent in the murder of his daughter and held that no jury could have convicted him of the murder of his wife had he been tried on that charge. [69] Supporters of Evans’s innocence have often, as justification for their case, pointed to the unlikelihood of two people living in the same property who were guilty of murdering people in the same way, [70] that Evans’s sub-normal intelligence made him easily manipulable by Christie [71] and that there may have been police impropriety in securing Evans’s confessions. [72] Critics of this view point out that Evans continued to confess to the crimes—to the prison medical officer—even after his police interrogation, [73] that the evidence that Evans could have been either manipulated or influenced by shock to confess to a crime he did not commit is unconvincing [74] and that the pathologists and medical officer who were involved in both cases believed that Evans was guilty of the crimes. [75] Other murders It has been speculated that Christie was responsible for the murders of other victims besides those at 10 Rillington Place. The basis for this is in a collection of pubic hair that Christie took from his victims. Christie claimed that the four different clumps of hair in the collection came from Mrs Christie and the three bodies in the kitchen alcove. [76] However, only one of the clumps was of the same hair type as those on the bodies—that of Mrs Christie. [77] Two could have come from the bodies of Fuerst and Eady, which had by then decomposed into skeletons. [78] That still left one clump of hair unaccounted for. (The clump also could not have come from Beryl Evans, as no pubic hair had been removed from her body.) [79] Professor Keith Simpson, one of the pathologists who worked on the case, considered it “odd” that “Christie should have said hair came from the bodies in the alcove if in fact it had come from those now reduced to skeletons; not very likely that in his last four murders the only trophy he took was from the one woman with whom he did not have peri-mortal sexual intercourse; and even more odd that one of his trophies had definitely not come from any of the unfortunate women known to have been involved.” [80] In popular culture Christie and Timothy Evans’s story was turned into a film, 10 Rillington Place, directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Richard Attenborough as Christie. A reconstruction of Christie’s execution at Pentonville Prison can be seen in the Chamber Of Horrors at Madame Tussauds in London. [81] The protagonist of Thirteen Steps Down, a psychological thriller novel by Ruth Rendell, is obsessed with John Christie. [82] A fictional play based around the resurrection of John Christie, Christie in Love, was written by Howard Brenton. While based in London, Australian artist Brett Whiteley produced a series of paintings of Christie in the 1960s. [83] References ^ Eddowes, John (1995). The Two Killers of Rillington Place. London: Warner Books. p. 4. ISBN 0751512850. ^ Marston, Edward (2007). John Christie. Surrey: The National Archives. p. 5. ISBN 978-1-905615-16-2. Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, p. 9 cautions against overuse of this description since Christie’s sexual assaults were peri-mortem—they took place around the time of death—and not exclusively post-mortem. ^ Brabin, Daniel (1999). Rillington Place. London: The Stationery Office. p. 269. ISBN 0-11-702417-1. ^ Marston, John Christie, p. 108 ^ Kennedy, Ludovic (1961). Ten Rillington Place. London: Victor Gollancz Ltd. p. 24. ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 22 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 225 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 23 and p. 26 ^ Marston, John Christie, p. 7 ^ Kennedy (p. 34) reports that even with his wife, Christie’s sexual activity was sporadic. He says that because prostitutes offered a service, they were undemanding and did not become emotionally involved with their clients, which could appease sexually dysfunctional people such as Christie. ^ a b Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 29 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 30–32 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 33 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 35 ^ a b Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 36 ^ Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, p. 35 ^ Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, p. 5 ^ Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, p. 36 ^ Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, pp. 36–37 ^ Marston, John Christie, p. 12 ^ Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, pp. 40–41; the police were apparently unable to check applicants’ backgrounds due to the substantial influx of new recruits during the war. ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 42 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 43 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 46 ^ a b Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 47 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 48 ^ Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 2 ^ Brabin, Rillington Place, pp. 56–60 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 90–103 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 138–139 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 143–156 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 198–208 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 210 ^ Marston, John Christie, p. 69 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 211 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 210–211 ^ Marston, John Christie, p. 69 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 213 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 214–215 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 215 ^ Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 215–217 ^ Marston, John Christie, pp. 76–77 ^ a b Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 221 ^ a b Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 216 ^ The Brabin Report pointed out that this was not a satisfactory explanation from Christie as to how he gassed his final victims as he would have been overpowered by the gas as well. Nevertheless, it was established that all three victims had been exposed to carbon monoxide. See Brabin, Rillington Place, pp. 220–221 ^ “Plan of 10 Rillington Place showing position of the bodies”, Brabin, Rillington Place, p. x ^ Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 188 ^ a b Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 222 ^ Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rilling ton Place, p. 90	John Christie (murderer)
What was the name of the ship on which Dr. Crippen was apprehended on docking in America?	John Christie (murderer) : Map (The Full Wiki) The Full Wiki Map showing all locations mentioned on Wikipedia article: John Reginald Halliday Christie (8 April 1898 – 15 July 1953), born in Halifax, West Yorkshire , was an English serial killer active in the 1940s and 1950s. He murdered at least six women—including his wife, Ethel—by strangling them in his flat at 10 Rillington Place, Notting Hill , London. He was arrested, tried, and hanged in 1953 for his wife's murder, after his victims' bodies were found in the flat by a new tenant. Christie had served in World War I, and was injured in a gas attack in 1918. After his return to civilian life he took to crime, and was convicted and imprisoned several times for offences including theft and assault. He moved to Rillington Place in 1938, and on the outbreak of war in 1939 was accepted for service as a Special Constable without revealing his criminal record. He committed his murders between 1943 and 1953, his general modus operandi being to strangle his victims after he had rendered them unconscious with domestic gas. While they were unconscious, Christie also raped his victims and continued to do so as they died, ensuring his reputation as a necrophiliac . Substantial controversy exists as to whether Christie was responsible for the murders of two additional victims, Beryl Evans and her daughter Geraldine. They, along with Beryl's husband Timothy , were tenants at 10 Rillington Place during 1948–49. Timothy Evans was charged with both murders, was found guilty of the murder of his daughter and was hanged in 1950. Christie gave evidence that helped secure Evans's conviction. When Christie's own crimes were uncovered three years later, serious doubts were raised over the safety of Evans's conviction, many people believing that Christie had been responsible for their deaths. In an official inquiry conducted in 1965–66, Mr Justice Brabin stated that it was "more probable than not" that Evans killed his wife and that he did not kill his daughter Geraldine. This finding, challenged in subsequent legal processes, nevertheless enabled the then Home Secretary to grant Evans a posthumous pardon because it was for the murder of his daughter that Evans had been convicted in 1950. The question of Christie's involvement in the Evans murders, and the possible miscarriage of justice, contributed to the suspension of capital punishment for murder in the United Kingdom in 1965. Early life Christie was brought up in Halifax, West Yorkshire . He was abused by his father, a strict disciplinarian, and dominated by his sisters. His mother in turn overprotected him, which further undermined his self-confidence. In 1907, at the age of eight, he was witness to the open coffin of his maternal grandfather; in later years, Christie spoke of how profound this experience was to him, seeing the dead body of a man who had previously frightened him. Christie won a scholarship to Halifax Secondary School when he was 11. His favourite subject was mathematics, particularly algebra. It was later found he had an IQ of 128. Christie sang in the church choir and was a Boy Scout as a child; upon leaving school at the age of 15 he worked as an assistant film projectionist . Christie had a lifelong problem with impotence ; his first attempts at sex were failures, branding him throughout adolescence as "Reggie-No-Dick" and "Can't-Do-It-Christie". His difficulties with sex remained throughout his life, and most of the time he could only perform with prostitutes . In September 1916, Christie enlisted as a signalman in World War I. In June 1918, he was hospitalised after a mustard gas attack while serving in France. He spent a month in a military hospital in Calais . Later on in his life, Christie claimed to have been both blinded and rendered mute for three and a half years from the attack. Christie's period of muteness was the alleged reason for his inability to talk much louder than a whisper for the rest of his life. Author Ludovic Kennedy points out that no record of his blindness has been traced and that while Christie may have lost his voice when he was admitted to hospital, he would not have been discharged as fit for duty had he remained a mute. His inability to talk much louder than a whisper, Kennedy argues, was a psychological reaction to the gassing rather than from any physiological effects of the gas itself. This reaction, together with Christie's exaggeration of the effects of the attack, stemmed from underlying hysteria in Christie; such a condition encouraged him to exaggerate or feign illness as a ploy to get attention and sympathy. Christie married Ethel Simpson Waddington from Sheffield , on 10 May 1920 at Halifax Register Office . It was a dysfunctional union, as Christie was mostly impotent with her and frequented prostitutes. They separated after four years, when Christie moved to London and Ethel stayed to live with relatives in Sheffield, to where they had moved after Halifax. Early criminal career After his marriage to Ethel, Christie was convicted of many petty criminal offences over the course of more than a decade. His first conviction was for stealing postal orders while working as a postman, for which he received three months' imprisonment on 12 April 1921. In January 1923, Christie was convicted of both obtaining money on false pretenses and violent conduct, for which he was bound over and put on 12 months' probation respectively. He committed two further instances of larceny in 1924 and received consecutive sentences of three and six months' imprisonment from September 1924. In May 1929, he was convicted of assaulting a prostitute with whom he was living in Battersea and was sentenced to six months' hard labour ; Christie had hit her over the head with a cricket bat , which the magistrate described as a "murderous attack". Finally, he was convicted of stealing a car from a priest who had befriended him, and received three months' imprisonment in late 1933. Christie and Ethel reconciled after his release from prison in late 1933. While Christie was able to end his cycle of petty crime , he did not reform; he continued to seek out prostitutes in his wife's absence. In December 1938, Christie and his wife moved into the ground floor flat of 10 Rillington Place in Notting Hill . On the outbreak of World War II, he applied to join the Special Constabulary and was accepted in spite of having an extensive criminal record (the police did not check his background). He was assigned to Harrow Road police station. Christie began an affair with a woman working at the police station whose husband was a serving soldier. The relationship lasted until mid-1943, when the woman's husband returned from the war and found out about the affair. He went to the house where she was living, discovered Christie there and assaulted him. Murders First murders The first person Christie admitted to killing was Ruth Fuerst, an Austrian-born munitions worker who also engaged part time in prostitution. Christie claimed to have met Fuerst either while she was on the beat or in a snack bar in Ladbroke Grove. Christie impulsively strangled her during sex at Rillington Place in August 1943, not long after he had been assaulted by the husband of the woman with whom he had been having the affair. Christie buried Fuerst's body in the building's communal garden, after having initially hidden it beneath the floorboards of the front living room. Remaining in the police force after having committed a murder may have proved too much of a strain for Christie, and he resigned as a Special Constable at the end of 1943. In 1944 he found new employment, as a clerk at a radio factory. It was here that he met his second victim, Muriel Amelia Eady, a co-worker. In October 1944, he invited Eady back to his flat with the promise that he had concocted a "special mixture" that could cure her bronchitis . Eady was to inhale the mixture from a jar with a tube inserted in the top. The mixture in fact was Friar's Balsam , which Christie used to disguise the smell of domestic gas. Once Eady was seated breathing the mixture from the tube with her back turned, Christie inserted a second tube into the jar connected to a gas tap. As Eady continued breathing, she inhaled the domestic gas, which soon rendered her unconscious from the carbon monoxide . Once Eady was unconscious, Christie raped and then strangled her. He buried her alongside Fuerst's body in the back garden. Later murders size=300x300 In Easter 1948, Timothy Evans and his wife, Beryl, moved into the top floor flat at Rillington Place. Beryl gave birth to their daughter, Geraldine, in October 1948. In late 1949, Evans informed police that his wife was dead. A police search of 10 Rillington Place revealed the dead bodies of Beryl and Geraldine Evans, both of whom were found in an outside wash-house with Beryl's body additionally parcelled up. They had both been strangled. After initially alleging that Christie had killed his wife in a botched abortion operation, Evans then confessed to murdering his wife and daughter himself. After he was charged with their deaths, Evans recanted his confession and again accused Christie of being the murderer, this time of both his wife and daughter. On 11 January 1950, Evans was put on trial for the murder of his daughter, the prosecution declining to pursue a second charge of murdering his wife. Christie was a principal witness for the Crown and gave evidence denying Evans's accusations. Evans was found guilty of the murder by the jury and was hanged on 9 March. Following Evans's trial, nearly three years passed without major incident for Christie. Christie lost his job at the Post Office Savings Bank because his criminal past had been disclosed in Evans's trial, and he later found new employment as a clerk with the British Road Services at their Shepherd's Bush depot. At the same time, new tenants arrived to fill the vacant first and second-floor apartments in 10 Rillington Place. The tenants were black immigrants from the West Indies with whom the Christies despised living because of racial prejudices. Tensions between the new tenants and the Christies came to a head when Ethel Christie took one of her neighbours to court for assault. Christie successfully negotiated with the Poor Man's Lawyer Centre to continue to have exclusive use of the back garden, ostensibly to have space between him and his neighbours but more probably to prevent anyone from stumbling upon the buried remains. On the morning of 14 December 1952, Christie strangled Ethel in bed. She had last been seen alive two days earlier. To prevent people from making inquiries into what had happened to her, Christie told a number of lies to explain her disappearance. He replied to a letter sent from relatives in Sheffield that Ethel had rheumatism and could not write herself; to one neighbour he explained that she was visiting her relatives in Sheffield; to another he said that she had gone to Birmingham . Christie had resigned from his job on 6 December and had been unemployed since then. To support himself, Christie sold Ethel's wedding ring and watch and then most of the furniture in his flat. Not long after he forged his wife's signature and emptied her bank account of its savings. Between 19 January and 6 March 1953, Christie murdered three more women whom he had invited back to 10 Rillington Place: Kathleen Maloney, Rita Nelson and Hectorina Maclennan. Maloney was a prostitute from the Ladbroke Grove area; Nelson was from Belfast and was visiting her sister in Ladbroke Grove when she met Christie. Christie first met Maclennan, who was living in London with her boyfriend, Alex Baker, in a cafe. All three met on a number of occasions after this, and Christie let Maclennan and Baker stay at Rillington Place while they were looking for accommodation. On another occasion, Christie met Maclennan on her own and persuaded her to come back to his flat where he murdered her. He convinced Baker, who came to Rillington Place looking for her, that he had not seen Maclennan. Christie kept up this pretence for several days, meeting Baker regularly to see if he had news of her whereabouts and to help him search for her. When Christie murdered his final three victims, he modified the gassing technique he had first used on Muriel Eady: he simply used a rubber tube connected to the gas pipe in the kitchen, which he kept closed off with a bulldog clip. He seated his victims in the kitchen, released the clip on the tube and let gas leak into the room. The gas made his victims drowsy and therefore vulnerable to assault. Christie then used a rope that he kept in the kitchen to strangle them. He hid the bodies in a small alcove behind the back kitchen wall, which was covered over with wallpaper. Arrest Christie moved out of 10 Rillington Place on 20 March 1953. He defrauded a couple who took up residence by taking £7.13s.0d (£7.65p or about £ in today's money) from them—he was not authorised by the landlord to sub-let the property. The landlord visited the property that same evening and, finding the couple there instead of Christie, stipulated they leave first thing next morning. Once they had left, the landlord allowed the tenant of the top floor flat, Beresford Brown, to use Christie's kitchen. On 24 March, Brown discovered the kitchen alcove when he attempted to insert brackets into the wall to hold a wireless set. Peeling back the wallpaper, Brown saw the bodies of Maloney, Nelson and Maclennan. After getting confirmation from another tenant in 10 Rillington Place that they were dead bodies, Brown informed the police and a citywide search for Christie began. After he left Rillington Place, Christie had booked a room at the King's Cross Rowton Houses under his real name and address. He asked for seven nights, but stayed only for four, leaving on 24 March when news of the discoveries at 10 Rillington Place became widespread. After he left Rowton House, Christie wandered all over London, spending a lot of time in cafes. The search for him ended on the morning of 31 March when he was arrested on the Embankment by Putney Bridge after being challenged about his identity by a policeman. When arrested, all he had with him were some coins and an old newspaper clipping about the remand of Timothy Evans. Conviction and execution While in custody , Christie confessed to six murders: the three women found in the kitchen alcove, Ethel Christie, and the two women buried in the back garden. He also admitted to killing Beryl Evans, with which Timothy Evans had originally been charged during the police investigation in 1949. He never admitted to killing Geraldine Evans. Christie's trial, solely for the murder of his wife, began on 22 June 1953 in the same court where Evans had been tried. Christie pleaded insanity and claimed to have a poor memory of the events. The jury rejected the plea and, after 85 minutes' deliberation, found him guilty. Christie did not appeal his conviction, and on 15 July 1953 he was hanged at Pentonville Prison by Albert Pierrepoint , who was the same man who had hanged Evans. Controversy and the pardon of Timothy Evans After Christie's conviction, there was substantial controversy concerning the earlier trial of Evans. Not only had Evans been convicted mainly on the evidence of a serial killer, but the very fact that a serial killer had been living in the same property where Evans supposedly carried out his crimes raised doubts as to whether he was really responsible for the murders. Christie confessed to Beryl Evans's murder and although he neither confessed to, nor was charged with, Geraldine Evans's murder, he was held guilty of both by many at the time. This in turn cast doubt on the fairness of Evans's trial and raised the possibility that an innocent person had been hanged. The controversy prompted the then Home Secretary , David Maxwell-Fyfe , to commission an inquiry led by John Scott Henderson, QC , the Recorder of Portsmouth , to determine whether Evans had been innocent of his crimes and if a miscarriage of justice had occurred. Scott Henderson interviewed Christie prior to his execution, as well as another twenty witnesses who had been involved in either of the police investigations. He concluded that Evans was in fact guilty of both murders and that Christie's confessions to the murder of Beryl Evans were unreliable and made in the context of furthering his own defence that he was insane. This did not end the matter, as questions continued to be raised in Parliament concerning Evans's innocence, along with newspaper campaigns and books being published making similar claims. The Scott Henderson Inquiry was criticised for being held over too short a time period (one week) and for being prejudiced against the possibility that Evans was innocent. This controversy, along with the unusual coincidence that two stranglers would have been living in the same property at the same time if Evans and Christie had both been guilty, kept alive the issue that a miscarriage of justice had taken place in Evans's trial. This uncertainty led to a second inquiry, chaired by High Court judge, Sir Daniel Brabin, and conducted over the winter of 1965–66. Brabin re-examined much of the evidence from both cases and evaluated some of the arguments for Evans's innocence. His report's conclusions were that it was "more probable than not" that Evans had killed his wife, and that he had not killed his daughter, for whose death Christie had been responsible. Christie's likely motive was that her continued presence would have alerted people to Beryl's disappearance. Brabin also noted, however, that the uncertainty involved in the case would have prevented a jury from being satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of Evans's guilt had he been re-tried. These conclusions were used by the Home Secretary of the time, Roy Jenkins , to recommend a posthumous pardon (in turn granted) for Timothy Evans, since Evans had been tried on and executed for the murder of his daughter. The pardon allowed authorities to return Evans's remains to his family, who had him reburied in a private grave. Even so, Evans remained implicated in the murder of his wife according to Mr. Justice Brabin's findings. At this time, there was already debate in the United Kingdom over the continued use of the death penalty in the legal system. The controversy generated by Evans's case, along with a number of other controversial cases from the same time, is considered to have contributed to the suspension in 1965, and later abolition, of capital punishment . Later developments In January 2003, the Home Office awarded Timothy Evans's half-sister, Mary Westlake, and his sister, Eileen Ashby, ex-gratia payments as compensation for the miscarriage of justice in Timothy Evans's trial. The independent assessor for the Home Office, Lord Brennan QC, accepted that "the conviction and execution of Timothy Evans for the murder of his child was wrongful and a miscarriage of justice" and that "there is no evidence to implicate Timothy Evans in the murder of his wife. She was most probably murdered by Christie." Lord Brennan believed that the Brabin Report's conclusion that Evans probably murdered his wife should be rejected given Christie's confessions and conviction. However, a legal appeal by Mrs Westlake to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to have Evans's convictions formally quashed in the Court of Appeal was rejected in March 2004. The Commission ruled that even though there was a real possibility that Evans's conviction for the murder of his daughter would be overturned, the cost in resources to do so could not be justified since it would not lead to any tangible benefits (Evans had already been pardoned and his family awarded compensation). Furthermore, the Court of Appeal could not address the question of Evans's guilt in the murder of his wife if he had not been formally convicted of that charge. Mrs Westlake subsequently appealed against the Commission's decision in the High Court on 16 November 2004. Her appeal was turned down, with the High Court justices agreeing with the Criminal Cases Review Commission that the cost of overturning Evans's conviction could not be justified. Both justices nevertheless considered Evans to be innocent in the murder of his daughter and held that no jury could have convicted him of the murder of his wife had he been tried on that charge. Supporters of Evans's innocence have often, as justification for their case, pointed to the unlikelihood of two people living in the same property who were guilty of murdering people in the same way, that Evans's sub-normal intelligence made him easily manipulable by Christie and that there may have been police impropriety in securing Evans's confessions. Critics of this view point out that Evans continued to confess to the crimes—to the prison medical officer—even after his police interrogation, that the evidence that Evans could have been either manipulated or influenced by shock to confess to a crime he did not commit is unconvincing and that the pathologists and medical officer who were involved in both cases believed that Evans was guilty of the crimes. Other murders It has been speculated that Christie was responsible for the murders of other victims besides those at 10 Rillington Place. The basis for this is in a collection of pubic hair that Christie took from his victims. Christie claimed that the four different clumps of hair in the collection came from Mrs Christie and the three bodies in the kitchen alcove. However, only one of the clumps was of the same hair type as those on the bodies—that of Mrs Christie. Two could have come from the bodies of Fuerst and Eady, which had by then decomposed into skeletons. That still left one clump of hair unaccounted for. (The clump also could not have come from Beryl Evans, as no pubic hair had been removed from her body.) Professor Keith Simpson , one of the pathologists who worked on the case, considered it "odd" that "Christie should have said hair came from the bodies in the alcove if in fact it had come from those now reduced to skeletons; not very likely that in his last four murders the only trophy he took was from the one woman with whom he did not have peri-mortal sexual intercourse; and even more odd that one of his trophies had definitely not come from any of the unfortunate women known to have been involved." In popular culture Christie and Timothy Evans's story was turned into a film, 10 Rillington Place , directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Richard Attenborough as Christie. A reconstruction of Christie's execution at Pentonville Prison can be seen in the Chamber Of Horrors at Madame Tussauds in London. The protagonist of Thirteen Steps Down , a psychological thriller novel by Ruth Rendell , is obsessed with John Christie. A fictional play based around the resurrection of John Christie, Christie in Love , was written by Howard Brenton . While based in London, Australian artist Brett Whiteley produced a series of paintings of Christie in the 1960s. References Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, p. 9 cautions against overuse of this description since Christie's sexual assaults were peri-mortem—they took place around the time of death—and not exclusively post-mortem. Marston, John Christie, p. 108 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 22 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 225 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 23 and p. 26 Marston, John Christie, p. 7 Kennedy (p. 34) reports that even with his wife, Christie's sexual activity was sporadic. He says that because prostitutes offered a service, they were undemanding and did not become emotionally involved with their clients, which could appease sexually dysfunctional people such as Christie. Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 29 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 30–32 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 33 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 35 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 36 Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, p. 35 Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, p. 5 Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, p. 36 Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, pp. 36–37 Marston, John Christie, p. 12 Kennedy,Ten Rillington Place, pp. 40–41; the police were apparently unable to check applicants' backgrounds due to the substantial influx of new recruits during the war. Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 42 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 43 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 46 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 47 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 48 Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 2 Brabin, Rillington Place, pp. 56–60 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 90–103 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 138–139 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 143–156 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 198–208 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 210 Marston, John Christie, p. 69 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 211 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 210–211 Marston, John Christie, p. 69 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 213 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 214–215 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 215 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 215–217 Marston, John Christie, pp. 76–77 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 221 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 216 The Brabin Report pointed out that this was not a satisfactory explanation from Christie as to how he gassed his final victims as he would have been overpowered by the gas as well. Nevertheless, it was established that all three victims had been exposed to carbon monoxide . See Brabin, Rillington Place, pp. 220–221 "Plan of 10 Rillington Place showing position of the bodies", Brabin, Rillington Place, p. x Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 188 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 222 Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, p. 90 Marston, John Christie, p. 86 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 232 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, p. 235 Marston, John Christie, p. 94 Marston, John Christie, p. 95 See for instance Marston's summary of Geoffrey Bing's, MP, criticism of the trial, p. 100: "Bing pointed out that Evans's guilt depended on two incredible coincidences. The first was that two murderers, living in the same house but acting independently, strangled women... The second was as extraordinary as the first: that Evans accused the one man in London who was strangling women in the identical way that he, Evans, had strangled his wife and child." Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, pp. xiv–xviii details the pervasiveness of the view that Evans was innocent and the subsequent campaign undertaken to overturn his conviction. Henderson, John Scott (1953). "Report By Mr. J. Scott Henderson, Q.C., Presented by the Secretary of State for the Home Department to Parliament", reprinted in Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 249–297 Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, pp. 98–100 Marston, John Christie, pp. 104–105 lists Michael Eddowes's The Man On Your Conscience, F. Tennyson Jesse's The Trials of Timothy John Evans and John Reginald Halliday Christie and Kennedy's own Ten Rillington Place as being particularly instrumental in keeping the issue of the miscarriage of justice alive. Marston, John Christie, p. 96, pp. 99–100 Kennedy, Ten Rillington Place, pp. 282–285 Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, p. xvi considers Kennedy's Ten Rillington Place and a newspaper campaign run by the editor of the Northern Echo as being effective in maintaining the view that Evans was innocent after the Scott Henderson Inquiry. Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 265 Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 268 Marston, John Christie, p. 106 It includes a segment from the Hansard transcript of Jenkins's decision to recommend a pardon in the House of Commons. Marston, John Christie, p. 106 Marston, John Christie, p. 108 See Bing's comments in Marston, John Christie, p. 100 Kennedy (p. 73) reports that Christie said to his psychiatrist during his imprisonment that he "could make Evans do or say anything that (Christie) wanted". See Chapter VI of Kennedy Brabin, Rillington Place, pp. 88–89 See Brabin, Rillington Place, p. 240, pp. 246–247 See Eddowes, The Two Killers of Rillington Place, pp. xvii-xviii: "But the professionals actually on the scene, who had seen Evans, Christie, or both, thought very differently. Scott Henderson, whose report found Evans guilty of both murders, and three of the most notable pathologists of their day, Professor Simpson, Professor Camps and Dr Teare… never whispered a doubt. Their comments (and their evidence) point away from Christie. The Principal Medical Officer at Brixton, Dr Matheson, who interviewed and tested Evans after he had been charged, and also Christie, thought that Evans killed both wife and daughter—and this was after the bodies of Christie's victims had been found." Simpson, Forty Years of Murder: An Autobiography, p. 206 Simpson, Forty Years of Murder: An Autobiography, p. 206 Simpson, Forty Years of Murder: An Autobiography, pp. 198–200 Simpson, Forty Years of Murder: An Autobiography, p. 206 Marston, John Christie p. 106 Marston, John Christie pp. 107–108 External links	i don't know
Who was the leader of the House of Commons from 1998 - 2001?	Labour's attempts to reform the House of Lords \| Politics \| The Guardian Labour's attempts to reform the House of Lords Chronology of changes to the composition of the upper house since 1997 The House of Lords during the state opening of parliament. Photograph: Martin Argles Tuesday 27 January 2009 05.55 EST First published on Tuesday 27 January 2009 05.55 EST This article is 7 years old 1997: Labour manifesto promises early abolition of hereditary voting rights as part of wider reform. 18 November 1998: Lords defeat European elections bill for fifth time, precipitating a constitutional crisis. Tension mounts between Lord Cranborne, the Tory leader in the Lords, and his party leader, William Hague, over tactics. 27 November 1998: Lord Cranborne goes behind Hague's back to clinch deal with Downing Street on Lords reform. The deal removes most hereditary peers from the Lords but saves places for 92. Peers vote to decide who will stay. 2 December 1998: Tony Blair turns his back on the idea of a completely elected House of Lords , instead opting for a majority coming from indirect regional elections and a pool of life peers. 20 January 1999: Labour publishes a white paper proposing to abolish "hereditary peers with no democratic legitimacy", from the House of Lords. This is seen as a first stage on the route to further reform following a general election. A commission, chaired by Lord Wakeham, is set up to propose routes forward. 12 May 1999: The Lords overwhelmingly endorses slashing the number of hereditary peers from 750 to 92. 27 October 1999: The Lords agrees to the first stage of reform, preventing hereditary peers from sitting and voting in the upper chamber – and ending 700 years of parliamentary tradition. Bill to axe hereditaries clears Lords. 1 November 1999: A leak from the Wakeham commission on Lords reform reveals that only 100 out of 500 members would be directly elected. 6 November 1999: The names of hereditary peers who will remain – for a while – in the reformed House of Lords is read out. 800 years of history ends in seven minutes. 20 January 2000: Margaret Beckett, the leader of the Commons, says it is unlikely any major reform will be put into place until well after the next general election. 26 April 2001: The Queen confirms her intention to create 15 new non-party-political members of the House of Lords termed "people's peers". 7 June 2001: Labour wins the general election with a manifesto promise to complete Lords reform. 7 November 2001: Robin Cook, the new leader of the Commons, unveils a government white paper and consultation on House of Lords reform, to stiff opposition from MPs. The white paper calls for 20% of peers to be elected by the public and the axing of the 92 hereditary peers. Many claim the recommendations are not comprehensive enough. 9 January 2002: The white paper comes under fierce attack in two days of Lords debate on constitutional reform. In a poll, the British public overwhelmingly says an independent commission rather than the prime minister should make appointments to the upper chamber. 11 January 2002: A cross-party committee of peers and MPs is set up to consider the white paper. It looks likely they will campaign for a larger elected element. 13 May 2002: In joint statement by Lord Irvine in the upper chamber, and Robin Cook in the Commons, the government announces a major retreat from its original white paper in response to consultation. A joint committee of the two chambers will decide on the entire powers and structure of the second chamber, with members of both houses allowed a free vote on its proposals. 17 June 2002: Jack Cunningham, the former Cabinet Office fixer, is named as the chairman of a cross-party committee that will draw up options on the future of the House of Lords. Campaigners for a largely elected Lords see the appointment as a victory for traditionalists who want to keep elected peers to a minimum. 19 June 2002: MPs announce the membership of a new committee on the future of the upper house. Allies of the leader of the house, Robin Cook, voice fears that reform of the Lords could be "kicked into the long grass". 9 September 2002: The Lords reform committee is understood to favour legislation that would deprive any peer who received a prison sentence longer than 12 months of the right to sit, speak or vote in the Lords. This could cost Lord Archer, a convicted perjurer, his seat in the upper chamber. 28 October 2002: The Lords reform committee is expected to announce that five options for reform of the upper chamber are to be put to a vote in both houses before Christmas. The options on the percentage of peers to be elected are: 100%, 80%, 60%, 20%, and 0%. 7 January 2003: The lord chancellor, Lord Irvine, the original architect of the government's plans for a 20% elected upper chamber, claims consensus is moving towards having either a fully elected or fully appointed Lords. 22 January 2003: Two weeks before voting on the future of the House of Lords, MPs and peers begin to discuss the seven options for reform. 23 January 2003: After a two-day debate on Lords reform, Irvine backs a wholly appointed upper chamber. This contrasts with his position a year earlier, when he called for an appointed house with 120 elected members. 29 January 2003: Tony Blair, then prime minister, backs a wholly appointed House of Lords. Arguing that a hybrid chamber would fail, Blair tells MPs they would have to choose between a wholly elected or wholly appointed second chamber. 30 January 2003: There is speculation that Robin Cook could resign as the leader of the Commons, following the prime minister's open support for a wholly appointed House of Lords. 4 February 2003: MPs fail to agree a final stage of Lords reform, voting to reject five options in turn, ranging from maintaining the status quo to establishing a fully elected second chamber. Parliament's indecision gives the prime minister the chance to continue as before. 16 July 2003: Responding to the report by the joint committee on Lords reform, the government says that there is no consensus in parliament for introducing any elected element into the second chamber, only for removing the remaining 92 hereditary peers and establishing a new independent appointments commission. 18 September 2003: Britain's first constitutional affairs secretary, and likely last lord chancellor, Lord Falconer, announces government plans to expel the remaining 92 hereditary peers from the upper house "when parliamentary time allows" and strip anyone who has ever committed a criminal offence, including Archer, of their peerages. A statutory commission, made up of representatives of all three major parties and crossbench peers, is also to be established to select and oversee appointments to the Lords. 18 March 2004: Blair drops plans to get rid of the remaining hereditary peers before the next general election. Falconer says they were unlikely to succeed so there was no point spending more parliamentary time on the issue. April 2005: Labour launches its election manifesto, which proposes a review of the powers of the House of Lords, with the last hereditary peers removed and MPs given a free vote on whether to elect some peers. 8 February 2007: The government publishes a new white paper that calls for an upper house composed of elected members and members appointed by a new statutory appointments commission. Elections, based on a regional list system, would take place every five years, with one third of the house admitted at each intake to a fixed 15-year non-renewable term. While the white paper makes recommendations for a half-elected, half-appointed house, it proposes a free vote of MPs on seven options: 100%, 80%, 60%, 50%, 40%, 20%, and 0%. The white paper also recommends that at least 20% of members be non-party-political appointees. The total size of the house is proposed to be 540 members — with 180 introduced at each intake. The paper provides for a gradual transition, with no life peers forced to retire before death, but with the possibility of a redundancy package should they choose it. The remaining hereditary peers would be removed, but the white paper leaves open whether they would be removed at one stroke or allowed a gradual removal by "natural wastage". 7 March 2007: MPs votes by a large majority for an all-elected upper house. 19 July 2007: Jack Straw, in his new position of justice secretary in the cabinet of Gordon Brown, insists the government is determined to proceed with Lords reform and that the powers of the chamber, the method of election, financial packages and the number of members will (yet again) be discussed by a cross-party working group. 14 May 2008: Gordon Brown announces that the government intends to publish a new white paper on Lords reform. PM says government is 'taking the action necessary' following newspaper 'cash-for-amendments' allegations Published: 28 Jan 2009 The most damaging claim is that what was on offer was a change in the law, not just asking embarrassing parliamentary questions Published: 26 Jan 2009 Nick Clegg says that under the current system there is 'one rule for lawmakers and another for everyone else' Published: 27 Jan 2009 This is an edited transcript of the conversation alleged to have taken place between an undercover Sunday Times reporter and one of the Labour peers accused of offering to use his influence to deliver an amendment to legislation Published: 27 Jan 2009	Margaret Beckett
In which play by Shakespeare does the character 'Sir Andrew Aguecheek' appear?	United Kingdom Ministers Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Female Suffrage 1918/22) Cabinet Members and other high officials are members of the Privy Council of the Queen for life and thereafter styled (The) Rt. Hon. 1924 Parliamentary Secretary of State of Labour Margaret Bondsfield 1929-31 Minister of Employment (In the Cabinet) Chairperson of the Trade Union Conference 1923, MP 1923-31. She lived (1873-1953). 1924-29 Parliamentary Secretary to Board of Education The Duchess of Atholl Dame Katherine M. Stewart-Murray was active in Scottish social service and local government and Conservative Member of Parliament 1923-38. She was married to The 8th Duke of Atholl, John George Stewart-Murray (1879-1957), son of the 7th duke and a MP until he succeeded his brother as Duke in 1917. They had no children and he was succeeded by a kinsman. She lived (1874-1960). 1929-31 Parliamentary Secretary of Health Susan Lawrence Member of London School Board from 1900 and 4 years later co-opted to the Education Committee of the London City Council, MP 1923-44. Chairperson of Labour 1923, and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Board of Education 1924. She lived (1871-1947). 1939-44 Minister for Economic Warfare Ester Boothroyd Civil servant as Assistant Secretary of the Department of Economy 1965-67, Assistant Under-Secretary of State of Economy 1967-69 and Under-Secretary of the Treasury 1969-75. 1939 Parliamentary Secretary of Food Florence Horsburgh 1940-45 Parliamentary Secretary of Health 1945 Parliamentary Secretary of Food 1951-54 Minister of Education (Cabinet Minister 1953-54) Conservative MP 1931-45and 1950-59, created Baroness Horsburgh, of Horsburgh in the County of Peebles in 1959. She lived (1889-1969). 1940 Parliamentary Secretary of Pensions Ellen Cicely Wilkinson 1940-45Secretary of State for Home Security 1945-47(ï¿½) Minister of Education (Cabinet Member) She had been Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Health 1929-31 and was Chairperson of Labour 1945. She lived (1891-1947). 1945(ï¿½) Parliamentary Secretary of Education Thelma Cazalet-Kein Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Board of Education 1937-40. She lived (1899-1945). 1945-50 Parliamentary Secretary of Food Dr. Edith Summerskill 1950-51 Minister of National Insurance (Unemployment Insurance) Chairperson of Labour 1954-55, 1961 Created Baroness Summerskill, of Kenwood in the County of London. She lived (1900-80). 1945-46 Parliamentary Secretary of Pensions Jennie Laurel Adamson Chairperson of Labour 1936 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Pensions 1945-46. Member of the London County Council (1928-31) and Labour MP 1938-46, married to the MP William Adamson, and lived (1882-1962). 1950-51 Under-Secretary of State for Scotland Margaret McCrovie Herbison 1963-67 Minister of Pensions and National Insurance 1963-67 Minister of State of Social Security 1970 Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Kirk (Representative of the Queen) Chairperson of Labour 1957. She lived (1908-97). 1951-57 Parliamentary Secretary of Health Dame Patricia Margaret Hornsby-Smith 1957-59 Under-Secretary of State of Home Office 1959-61 Parliamentary Secretary of State of Pensions and National Insurance Created Baroness Hornby-Smith, of Chislehurst in the County of Kent in 1974. She lived (1914-85). 1955-57 Parliamentary Secretary of Pensions and National Insurance Edith Pitt 1959-61 Parliamentary Secretary of Health Conservative MP from 1953 till her death. She lived (1906-66). 1957-58 Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of The Home Office Dame Mervyn Parnicott Pike 1959-63 Assistant Postmaster General 1963-64 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Home Office Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Home Office 1958-59, and created Baroness Pike, of Melton in the County of Leicestershire in 1974. (b. 1918- ). 1961-64 Joint Parliamentary Secretary of Pensions and National Insurance Margaret Thatcher 1970-74 Secretary of State for Education 1975-79 Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition (The Rt. Hon.) 1979-90 Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of the Civil Service (5.5.79-28.11.90) MP 1959-90, 1974 Shadow Minister of Environment and Housing, 1974-75, Shadow Special Minister of Finance and Public Expenditure, 1975-90 Leader of The Conservative Party, Head of the European Communities Presidency - President of the European Council 1981 and 1986, she was President of the Group of Seven, G-7 all of 1984. She was Created Baroness Thatcher, of Kesteven in the County of Lincolnshire in 1992. She lived (1925-2013). 1962-64 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Scottish Office 1970-72 Minister of State of Scottish Office 1972-74 Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office The Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie Principal Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the House of Lords (1. Deputy Speaker) 1974-78 (ï¿½), Deputy Chairperson of the European Parliament 1974-77. Lady Patricia Fortescue Buchan was created Baroness Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie, of Potterton in the County of Aberdeen in 1970. She was married to the 2. Baron of Tweedsmuir, John Buchan, but their 2 daughters were not heiresses to fatherï¿½s title. She lived (1911-78). 1964-65 Minister of Overseas Development Barbara Castle 1965-68 Minister of Transport 1968-70 First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (Third in Cabinet) 1974-76 Secretary of State for Social Security and Health Parliamentary Private Secretary to the President of the Board of Trade 1945-51, Vice-Chairperson 1957-58 and Chairperson of Labour 1958-59, 1961 Leadership Candidate, Vice-President of the Socialist Group of the European Parliament 1985-89, Created Baroness Castle of Blackburn, of Ibstone in the County of Buckinghamshire in 1989 and has remained a very active member of the House of Lords until her death. She lived (1910-2002). 1964-67 Minister of State of Home Office (Lady) Alice Bacon 1967-70 Minister of State of Education and Science Chairperson of Labour 1951, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire in 1974, and was created Baroness Bacon, of the City of Leeds and of Normanton in the West Riding of the County of York in 1970. She lived (1910-93). 1964-66 Parliamentary Secretary of State for Colonies Eirene Lloyd White 1966-67 Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1967-70 Minister of State for Wales Chairperson of Labour 1969, 1980-83 1. Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords as The Baroness White, of Rhymney in the County of Monmouth. (Created 1970) and Chairperson of Select Committee on the European Communities. She lived (1909-99). 1964-66 Under-Secretary of the Scottish Office Dame Judith Hart 1966-67 Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1967-67 Minister of Social Affairs 1968-69 Paymaster General 1969-70 Minister of Overseas Development (In Cabinet) 1974-75 Minister of Overseas Development 1977-79 Minister of Overseas Development (In Cabinet) Chairperson of Labour 1981-82 (and given a Damehood), Sometime Vice-President of the General Assembly of The United Nations and created Baroness Hart of South Lanark, of Lanark in the County of Lanark in 1987. She lived (1924-91). 1964-65 Parliamentary Secretary of Public Buildings and Works in charge of Arts Jennie Lee 1965-67 Under-Secretary of Education and Science in charge of Arts 1967-70 Minister of State of Education and Science in charge of Arts MP 1929-31, 1933-35 and 1945-70, Chairperson of Labour 1967-68, Created Baroness Lee of Asheridge, of the City of Westminster in 1970. Married to Labour Minister Aneurin Bevan, and lived (1904-88). 1964-66 Junior Lord of the Treasury, Government Whip Hariet Slater First female government whip (Labour) in the House of Commons. 1965-70 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Phillips Lord-Lieutenant of Greater London 1978-85. She was the first female government whip in the House of Lords, and mother of Gwyneth Dunwoody. Norah Philips was created Baroness Philips, of Fulhalm in 1964. She lived (1910-92). 1966-67 Parliamentary Secretary of Labour Shirley Williams 1967-68 Parliamentary Secretary of Technology 1969-70 Minister of State of Home Office 1974-76Secretary of State for Prize and Consumerï¿½s Affairs (In Cabinet) 1976-79 Paymaster General and Secretary of State for Education (In Cabinet) She had been Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of Health 1964-66, Shadow Home Secretary 1971-73, Labour Leadership-Candidate 1976, 1982-87 President of Social Democratic Party and afterwards a leading member of the Liberal Democrats after the merger of SDP with the Liberal Party and Leader of the Liberal Peers in the House of Lords 2001-04. Shirley Vï¿½vian Teresa Brittain Catlin Williams was created Baroness Williams of Crosby, of Stevenage in the County of Hertfordshire 1993. (b. 1930- ). 1967-70 Parliamentary Secretary to Board of Trade Gwyneth P. Dunwoody Local Councillor 1963-66, Labour MP 1966-74 and 1974-2008, Member of the European Parliament 1974-79, Candidate for the Deputy Leadership of Labour 1983, Since 1992 Member of Speakerï¿½s Panel of Chairmen in the House of Commons and 2000 candidate for the post of Speaker of the House. She was daughter of Baroness Phillips, Baroness in Waiting and Lord Lieutenant of London. Her daughter, Tamsin Dunwoody-Kneafsey, was a Deputy Minister in Wales 2005-07. Gwyneth lived (1930-2008). 1969-70 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Education and Science Joan Lestor 1974-76 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1975-76 Minister of State of Education and Science Created Baroness Lestor Eccles, of Tooting Bec in the London Borough of Wandsworth in 1997. She lived (1931-98) 1968-69 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Serota 1969-70 Chief Whip in House of Lords and Minister of State of Health and Social Security Principal Deputy Chairperson of the Committees of the House of Lords (Deputy Speaker) and Chairperson of the European Select Committee 1986-92. Dame Beatrice Nancy Serota was created Baroness Serota, of Hampstead in Greater London in 1967. She lived (1919-2002). 1969-70 Baroness in Waiting The Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe 1974-79 Captain of The Gentlemen at Arms, Chief Government Whip in House of Lords 1975-97(ï¿½)Privy Councillor (The Rt. Hon.) Chief Whip of the Opposition (Labour) 1979-82, Deputy Chief Opposition Whip, 1973-74 Chief Opposition Whip 1972-73, Principal Deputy Chairperson of Committees (1.Deputy Speaker) 1983-86, Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords 1987-97 (ï¿½) Annie Patricia Llewelyn-Davies was created Baroness Llewelyn-Davies of Hastoe, of Hastoe in the County of Hertfordshire in 1967, and lived (1915-97). 1972-74 and 1981-86 Parliamentary Secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods Dame Peggy E. Fenner Conservative MP 1970-97 and Member of the European Parliament 1974-75. (b. 1922-). 1972-73 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Young 1973-74 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment 1978-79 Baroness-in-Waiting 1979-81 Minister of State of Education and Science 1981-83 Lord Keeper of the Privy Seal and Leader of The House of Lords (In Cabinet) (Rt. Hon) 1981 Minister in Charge of the Civil Service 1981-83 Minister in Management and Personnel Office 1981-82 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 1983-87 Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Vice-Chairperson of the Conservative Party 1973-83, from 1987 Director in WestMinisterï¿½s National Bank, 1992 Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire. Janet Young was created Baroness Young, of Farnworth in the County Palatine of Lancaster. in 1971, and lived (1926-2002). 1974 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Birk 1974-79 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment 1979 Minister of State of Privy Council Office Alma Birk was created Baroness Birk, of Regent's Park in 1967. She lived (1921-96). 1974-79 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Shirley Summerskill She might have been Under-secretary in the home office. Her mother, Edith Summerskill, was Minister 1945-51. (b. 1931-) 1974-75 Assistant Government Whip Betty Boothroyd Member of the Speakerï¿½s Panel of Chairmen 1979-87, Deputy Speaker (Second Deputy Chair of Ways and Means) 1987-92, The 155th Speaker of the House of Commons (The Rt. Hon) 1992-2000, and created Baroness Boothroyd, of Sandwell in the County of West Midlands in 2000. (b. 1929- ). 1974-75 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Steadman 1975-78 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment Whip 1982-86, Chief Whip of the Liberal Party 1986-88, Leader of the Social Democratic Party in the House of Lords 1988- 91, Cross-bench 1992(Independent). Phyllis Steadman was created Baroness Steadman, of Longthorpe, of Longthorpe in the City of Peterborough in 1974. She lived (1916-96). 1975-76 Assistant Government Whip Dame Margaret Beckett 1976-79 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Education 1993- Privy Councillor (The Rt. Hon.) 1994 Acting Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition and Leader of Labour 1997-98 President of the Board of Trade and Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 1998-2001 President of the Council and Leader of The House of Commons, Deputy Government Spokesperson and Minister in charge of the Millennium Bug 2001-06 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries 2006-07Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2008-09 Minister of State for Housing in Department for Communities and Local Government (Attending Cabinet) (Deputy to the Secretary of State) Labour MP 1974-79 and again from 1982, she was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Overseas Development 1974-75, Deputy Leader of Labour 1992-94, Acting leader after the death of John Smith, and she was a candidate for both the Leadership and the Deputy Leadership of Labour. She had various Posts in the Labour Shadow Cabinets 1989-97. Candidate for the post of Speaker of the House of Commons in 2009 and considered the favourite but withdrew from the contest after finishing third in the two first rounds of voting. Margaret Jackson Beckett was given a Damehood in 2012. (b. 1943-). 1977-79 Assistant Government Whip Ann Taylor 1997-98 President of the Council and Leader of The House of Commons (In the Cabinet) 1998-2001 Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 2007-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Defence (Minister for Defence Equipment and Support) 2009-10 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Labour MP 1974-2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Education and Science 1975-76 and to the Secretary of State for Defence 1976-77, and had a number of Shadow Cabinet posts. As Leader of the House of Commons her full title was Lord President of Her Majesty The Queenï¿½s Privy Council. Created Baroness Taylor of Bolton, of Bolton in the County of Greater Manchester 2005. (b. 1947-). 1978-79 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness David 1979-83 Opposition Whip 1983-87 Deputy Chief Whip Nora Ratcliff David was created Baroness David , of Romsey in the City of Cambridge in 1978. She lived (1913-2009). 1979-82 Minister of State of Trade for Consumer's Affairs Dame Sally Oppenheim-Barnes 1979- Privy Councillor Chairperson of the Conservative Party 1973-74, Created Baroness Oppenheim-Barnes, of Gloucester in the County of Gloucestershire in 1989. (b. 1930-). 1979-82 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Security Lynda Chalker 1982-83 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Transport 1983-96 Minister of State of Transport 1986-89 Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Deputy to the Foreign Secretary with responsibility for the Common Market, Western Europe, Trade and Economic Relations, African Commonwealth and Personnel Matters) 1987- Privy Councillor 1989-97 First Minister of State Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Minister of Overseas Development Created Chalker of Wallasey, of Leigh-on-Sea in the County of Essex 1992 (b. 1937- ). 1983-85 Baroness in Waiting The Baroness Trumpington of Sandwich 1985-87 Minister of State of Health and Social Security 1987-92 Minister of State of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods 1992-97 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) and Privy Councillor (The Rt. Hon.) 1998- Extra Baroness in Waiting to HM The Queen Lady Mayor of Cambridge 1971-72. Jean Alys Barker was created Baroness Trumpington, of Sandwich in the County of Kent in 1980. (b.1922- ). 1985-86 Parliamentary Secretary of Environment Virginia Bottomley 1986-87 Minister of Overseas Development in Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1987-88 Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1988 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1988-89 Minister of State of Environment 1989-92 Minister of State of Health 1992-95Secretary of State for Health (Rt. Hon.) 1995-97Secretary of State for National Heritage (Cultural Affairs) Conservative MP 1984-2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Education and Science (1985-86), to the Minister of Overseas Development (1986-87) and to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1987-88). Later she had posts in the Conservative Shadow Cabinets 1997-99 and Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey from 2006. Her aunt, Peggy Jay (1913-2008) was a Labour Member of the Greater London Council 1934-67 and her cousin's ex-wife is Margaret Jay, a former Minister. Her full name is Virgina Hilda Brunette Maxwell Garnett Bottomley, and was created Baroness Bottomley of Nettlestone, of St Helens in the County of Isle of Wight in 2005. (b. 1948-). 1985-86 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment Dame Angela Rumbold 1986-90 Minister of State of Education and Science (Deputy for the Secretary of State) 1990-92 Minister of State of the Home Office (Deputy for the Secretary of State) 1991-2010 Privy Councillor Conservative MP 1982-97, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary 1983-85 and sometime Deputy Chairperson of the Conservative Party and given a Damehood in 1992. She lived (1933-2010). 1985 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Cox Deputy Speaker of House of Lords since 1986, Caroline Anne Cox was created Baroness Cox of Queensbury in 1982. (b. 1937- ). 1985-87 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Hooper 1987-88 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Education and Science 1988-89 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment and Energy 1989-92 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Housing Deputy Chief Whip of the European Democratic Group 1985, since 1993 Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords, Gloria Hooper was created Baroness Hooper, of Liverpool and St Jamesï¿½s in 1985. (b. 1939- ). 1986-88 Minister of State of Health and Social Security Edwina Curri Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Education and Science 1985-86. (b. 1946-). 1987-88 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment Dame Marion Audrey Roe Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Transport 1985-87, to the Minister of State of Transport 1986-87 and to the Secretary of State of Transport 1987-88. She was member of the Executive of the 1922 Committee, Backbencher's Group in House of Commons 1992-97 and appointed Member of The Speakerï¿½s Panel of Chairmen of the House of Commons in 1997. (b. 1936-). 1988-89 Economic Secretary to the Treasury Gillian Shephard 1989-90 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Social Security 1990-92 Minister of State of The Treasury 1992-93Secretary of State for Employment 1993-94 Secretary of Agriculture, Fisheries and Foods 1994-97 Secretary of State for Education 1995-97Secretary of State for Employment Conservative MP 1987-2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Economic Secretary 1900-89, Deputy Chairperson of the Conservative Party 1991-92 and 2002-05 and Chair of the Association of Conservative Peers from 2006. Member of the Conservative Shadow Cabinet 1997-99. Gillian Patricia Watts Shephard was ceated Baroness Shephard of Northwold, of Northwold in the County of Norfolk 2005. (b. 1940-). 1990-93 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Social Security Ann Widdecombe 1993-94 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Employment 1994-95 Minister of State of Employment 1995-97 Minister of State of Home Office (Prison Minister) 1997- Member of the Privy Council (The Rt. Hon.) Conservative MP from 1987, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1990, Member of Speaker's Panel of Chairmen 1997-98 and again from 2005, Member of the Tory Shadow Cabinet 1998 as Shadow Home Secretary 1999-2001. Candidate for the post of Speaker of the House of Commons in 2009. (b. 1947-). 1990 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Blatch 1992-94 Minister of State of Education 1994-97 Minister of State of the Home Office Emily May Blatch was created Baroness Blatch, of Hinchingbrooke in 1987. Deputy Leader of the Oppositions of the House of Lords 2000-05. She lived (1937-2005). 1990-93(ï¿½) Political Secretary of the Prime Minister Judith Chaplin Close aide of John Major, whose Leader of the Political Unit in the Cabinet Office was Sarah Hogg. 1992-97 Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health The Baroness Cumberledge Vice-Lord Lieutenant East Sussex in 1992. Julia Cumberledge was created Baroness Cumberlege, of Newick in the County of East Sussex 1990. (b. 1943-). 1992-93 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Trade and Industries for Consumers' Affairs 1993-97 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Northern Ireland The Baroness Denton of Wakefield Responsible for the Departments of Health and Social Service 1993-95 and for the Agriculture and Economy as well as Spokesperson on all Northern Ireland matters in the House of Lords 1995-97. Jean Denton was created Baroness Denton of Wakefield, of Wakefield in the County of West Yorkshire in 1991, and lived (1935-2001). 1994-97 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Angela Browning 2011 Minister of State at the Home Office (Minister for Crime Prevention and Anti-social Behaviour Reduction) Conservative MP 1992-2010, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Employment 1993-94 and Vice-Chairperson 2001-02 and Deputy Chairperson of the Conservative Party from 2005. Created Baroness Browning, of Whimple in the County of Devon in 2010. (b. 1946- ). 1994-97 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Miller of Hendon Opposition Whip 1997-99. Doreen Miller was created Baroness Miller of Hendon, of Gore in the London Borough of Barnet 1993. (b. 1933- ). 1995-97 Minister of State to the Treasury, Economic Secretary Angela Knight Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Trade and Industry 1993-94, and to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance) 1994-95. (b. 1950-). 1995-97 Minister of State of Education and Employment Cheryl Gillian 2010-12Secretary of State for Wales Conservative MP from 1992, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal 1994-95. Shadow Junior Minister 1997-2001, Opposition Whip in the House of Commons 2001-03, Shadow Home Minister 2003-05 and held other Shadow Cabinet posts, Became Member of Speakerï¿½s Panel of Chairmen of the House of Commons in 2015. (b. 1952-). 1996-97 Assistant Government Whip Jaqui Lait Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Parliamentary Under-Secretaries of State of Social Security 1994-95 and for the Secretary of State of Wales until 1996, when she was appointed as the first female ever in the Tori (Conservative Party's) Whips office. In 1999 Opposition Whip in the House of Common. (b. 1947-). 1997-99 Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Dr. Mo Mowlam 1999-2001 Minister in the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lanchester As Minister in the Cabinet Office she was "Cabinet Enforcer" and Coordinator of the government policies and also discharged the responsibilities of the Minister for the Civil Service. Marjorie lived (1949-2005). 1997-2003 Secretary of State for of International Development Claire Short Vice-Chairperson of Labour 1996-97. She resigned in protest against the non-involvement of UN in post-war Iraq. (b. 1946-). 1997-98 Secretary of State for Social Security and Minister for Women Harriet Harman 2001-05 Solicitor General 2005-07 Minister of State of Constitutional Affairs with responsibility for Lords reform and the review of the voting system (Deputy of the Secretary of State) 2007 Minister of State of Justice 2007-10 Leader of the House of Commons and Lord Privy Seal, Secretary of State for Equalities, Minister for Women and Labour Party Chairperson (and deputising for the Prime Minister at Prime Minister's Question Time) 2009-10 Second in the Cabinet 2010 and 2015 Leader of the Opposition and the Acting Leader of the Labour Party Held a number of Shadow Ministry posts before 1997. After having outside the government for three years, she became the first female law-officer outside Scotland. Elected Deputy Leader of Labour and Party Chairperson in 2007 and as such she often co-ordinated government business when the Prime Minister was on holiday or abroad, even though she only ranked as the 9th in the Cabinet since there was no Deputy Prime Minister a post traditionally belonging to the Deputy Leader of the Governing Party. (b. 1950- ). 1997-98 Minister of State of Health (NHS Minister) and Spokesperson of Health in the Lords 1998-2001 Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords and Minister of Women The Baroness Jay of Paddington Margaret Jay was created Baroness Jay of Paddington, of Paddington in the City of Westminster 1992. She is daughter of former Prime Minister James Callaghan, later Baron Callaghan of Cardiff (1912-2005). Her first husband's mother was Peggy Jay (1913-2008), a Labour Member of the Greater London Council 1934-67 and his cousin the former Cabinet Member Virginia Bottomley. Married secondly to Professor M.W. Adler. In 2001 she left the government on her own request. (b. 1939-). 1997-98 Minister of State of The Home Office (Prison Minister) Joyce Quin 1998-99 Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for Europe 1999-2001 Minister of State and Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in charge of EU, Production, Export Promotion, Food and Drinks Labour 1987-97. She left the government on her own request in 2001 and was created Baroness Quin, of Gateshead in the County of Tyne and Wear in 2006. (b. 1944-). 1997-99 Financial Secretary to the Treasury Dame Dawn Primarolo 1999-07 Paymaster General 2002- Privy Councillor (Rt. Hon) 2007-09 Minister of State of Health (Deputy to the Secretary of State) 2009-10 Minister of State for Children in Department for Children, Schools and Families (Attending Cabinet when her Ministerial responsibilities are on the agenda) As Financial Secretary she was in charge of Customs Revenue and Taxes, as Paymaster General for the expenditures of the Government. Labour MP from 1987 and Deputy Speaker from 2010. Given a Damehood in 2014. (b. 1954-). 1997-98 Economic Secretary to the Treasury Helen Liddell 1998-99 Minister of State of The Scottish Office (Deputy Secretary of State and Minister in charge of Education and Industry) 1999 Minister of State in the Department of Transport, Environment and the Regions (The Minister of Transport (Attending the Cabinet meetings)) 1999-2001 Minister of State of Trade and Industry (Minister for Energy and Competitiveness in Europe) 2001-03 Secretary of State for Scotland As Economic Secretary she was in charge of Financial Services and City Regulatory Work, 1977-88 Scottish Labour Party Secretary General. Labour MP 1994-97, Ambassador to Australia 2005-09 and created Baroness Liddell of Coatdyke, of Airdrie in Lanarkshire in 2010. (b. 1950-). 1997-2001 Minister of State of Environment, Transport and The Regions Hilary Armstrong 1997-2000 The Minister for Housing and Local Government 2000-2001 The Minister for Local Government and The Regions 2001-06 Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 2006-07 Minister for the Cabinet Office and Social Exclusion and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Labour MP 1987-2110 and created Baroness Armstrong of Hill Top, of Crook in the County of Durham in 2010. (b. 1946-). 1997-99 Minister of State of Health (Deputy Minister, Public Health) Dame Tessa Jowell 1998-2001 Minister of State of Womenï¿½s Affairs 1999-2001 Minister of State of Education and Employment (The Minister for Employment, Welfare to Work and the New Deal) 2001-07Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport 2005-10 Minister for the Olympics 2005-06 Minister for Women 2007-09 Minister for London and the South East (Attending the Cabinet) 2009-10 Minister for the Cabinet Office (In the Cabinet) Labour Whip 1994-95. From 2007 she was officially Minister in State in the Cabinet Office. Her full name is Tessa Jane Helen Douglas Jowell nï¿½e Palmer. Member of the Shadow Cabinet from 2010. In 2015 she was candidate in the internal party selection for the Labour candidate for Labour and was considered the favourite, but lost to a man. Her first husband was Roger Jowell and she has been married to David Mills since 1979. Given a Damehood in 2012 and created Baroness Jowell, of Brixton in the London Borough of Lambeth in 2015 (b. 1947-). 1997-2001 Minister of State of Education and Employment, and Spokesperson of the Department in the Lords 2001-03 Minister of State of Culture, Media and Sport for Arts The Baroness Blackstone Tessa Ann Vosper Blackstone was created Baroness Blackstone, of Stoke Newington in the County of Greater London 1987 in 1987 Member of the Privy Council since 2001. (b. 1943- ). 1997-99 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of The Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in charge of the West Indies, Immigration and Consular Affairs, Parliamentary Relations, and Spokesperson in the Lords on Foreign Affairs and Commonwealth Affairs and of International Development 1999-2001 Minister of State of Defence for Defence Procurement, and spokesperson of Defence in the Lords 2001-03 Minister of Trade (Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department of Trade and Industry) 2001-05 Deputy Leader of the House of Lords 2003-05 Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Middle East) The Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean Secretary General of the First Division Civil Servants 1989-96. Elizabeth Conway Symons was created Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, of Vernham Dean in the County of Hampshire in 1996. Member of the Privy Council since 2000. (b. 1951-). 1997-99 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Trade and Industry for Small Firms 1999 Financial Secretary to the Treasury 1999-2001 Minister of State of The Home Office (Immigration and Asylum Minister) 2001-02 Minister of State in the Cabinet Office for Regional Co-ordination, the Regions and Social Exclusion, Equal Opportunities and the Women's Unit 2002-03 Minister of State in the Deputy Premier's Office (Social Exclusion Minister) and Deputy Minister of Women Barbara Roche Labour MP until 2005. She was Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Leader of Labour (Margaret Beckett) 1993-95, Labour Whip 1994-95. In November 2001 she was given additional responsibility for Equal Opportunities, reporting to Patricia Hewitt, the Cabinet Minister with responsibility for this area. (b. 1954-). 1997-99 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment, Transport and The Regions (London Transport Minister) Glenda Jackson Before she began her political career she was a world-famous theater and actress. She resigned from the Government in order to stand for the candidacy for Mayor of London. From 2000 Member of the Mayor of London's Advisory Cabinet in charge of Homelessness (b. 1936- ). 1997-98 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Environment, Transport and The Regions in charge of Environment, Water and Health, Regions 1998-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Social Security 2001-02 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office for Europe, Community and Race Equality 2007-09 Exchequer Secretary (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) 2009-10 Minister of State or Work and Pensions Angela Eagle Labour Whip 1996-97 and Shadow Chief secretary to the Treasury 2010-11 and Leader of the House of Commons from 2011. She married her female partner in 2008, and her twin-sister, Maria Eagle, is also an MP and member of the government and shadow cabinet. Labour Leadership-candidate in 2016. (b. 1961-). 1997-98 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment, Transport and The Regions (The Minister for Roads) and Spokesperson in the Lords of the Department of The Regions, Environment and Transport. 1998-99 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health, and Spokesperson in the Lords 1999-2001 Minister of State of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Food and Animal Health Minister) and Spokesperson of the Department in the Lords 2001- Privy Councillor The Baroness Hayman Labour MP 1974-79 and the first female MP to give birth. From 2006 Lord Speaker of the House of Lords. Helen Hayman was created Baroness Hayman, of Dartmouth Park in the London Borough of Camden 1996. (b. 1949-). 1997-98 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Education and Employment (Schools Minister) 1998-2001 Minister of State of Education and Employment (The Minister for School Standards 2001-02 Secretary of State for Education and Skills 2003-05 Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sports (Minister for the Arts) Estelle Morris Labour MP 1992-2005, Opposition Whip 1994-95. Created Baroness Morris of Yardley, of Yardley in the County of West Midlands 2005. Both her father and uncle were Labour MP's. (b. 1960-). 1997-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Social Security in charge of Child Benefit, Child Support and War Pensions, and Spokesperson of the Department in the Lords 2001-05 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Work and Pensions Rt. Hon The Baroness Hollis of Heigham Patricia Lesly Hollis was created Baroness Hollis of Heigham, of Heigham in the City of Norwich 1990. 1997-98 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Social Security (Women's Affairs) Joan Ruddock 2007-08 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2008-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2009-10 Minister of State of Energy and Climate Change 1997-98 Vice-Chamberlain of the (Royal) Household Janet Anderson 1998-99 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sports (The Minister of Tourism, Film and Broadcasting) 1999-2001 Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sports for Tourism, Film and Broadcasting As Vice-Chamberlain she was 2. Deputy Chief Government Whip in the House of Commons, 1992-93 Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Leader of Labour (Margaret Beckett) and from 2005 Member of Speakerï¿½s Panel of Chairmen in the House of Commons. (b. 1949-). 1997-2010 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) and Spokesperson of The Regions, Environment and Transport, Spokesperson for Northern Ireland in the Lords 1998-2000 Government Spokesperson for the Scottish Office in the Lords 1998-99 Government Spokesperson of Education in the Lords 1999-2010 Government Spokesperson for Wales in the Lords The Baroness Farrington of Robbleton Vice-Chairperson 1990-94, Chairperson of the Association of County Councils 1994-97, Chairperson of Lancashire County Council 1992, leader of the Labour Group in the Council 1987- 94, Opposition Whip in the House of Lords 1996-97, Josephine Farrington was created Baroness Farrington of Ribbleton, of Fulwood in the County of Lancashire 1994. (b. 1932-). 1997-98 Baroness in Waiting and Spokesperson on Health, Spokesperson of Social Security in the Lords 2001-02 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) The Baroness Gould of Potternewton Labour Party Secretary 1975-85, Director of the Labour Party Organization 1985-93, Opposition Whip in House of Lords 1996-97 and Deputy Speaker from 2002. Joyce Brenda Gould was created Baroness Gould of Potternewton, of Leeds in the County of West Yorkshire in 1993. (b. 1931- ). 1997-98 Assistant Government Whip Jane Kennedy 1998-99 Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Deputy Government Whip) 1999-2001 Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department 2001-04 Minister of State in the Northern Ireland Office with responsibility for Security, Policing and Prisons (Deputy Secretary of State) 2002-04 Responsible for the Departments and of Employment and Learning in Northern Ireland 2003- Privy Councillor (Rt. Hon) 2004-05 Minister of State for Works and Pensions 2005-06 Minister of State of Health (Deputy to the Secretary of State) 2007-08 Financial Secretary to the Treasury 2008-09 Minister of State of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Formerly Labour Opposition Whip in the House of Commons. The Lord Chancellor is member of the Cabinet, Presides over the House of Lords and is Head of the Juridicy and Supreme Judge of the England and Wales. Mrs. Kennedy was the first woman in this department, and was in charge of various legal affairs. Resigned from the government. (b. 1958-). 1997-98 and 2003-05 Assistant Government Whip Bridget Prentice 2005-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Constitutional Affairs 2007-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Justice Formerly Labour Whip in the House of Commons and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office 1998-99 and 1999-2003 to the Lord Chancellor. (b. 1952-). 1998-99 Economic Secretary to the Treasury Patricia Hewitt 1999-2001 Minister of State of Trade and Industry (In charge of Trade) 2001-05Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and Minister for Women (Rt. Hon.) 2005-07Secretary of State for Health Labour MP. (b. 1949-). 1998-99 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office Kate Hoey 1999-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Culture, Media and Sport (Minister for Sport) Labour MP from 1989, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Social Security 1997-98 and Commissioner of Sport and the 2012 Olympics to the Mayor of London from 2008. (b. 1946-). 1998-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment (Employment and Equal Opportunities Minister) 2001-03 Minister of State of Education and Skills (Universities) 2003-05 Minister of State of Education and Skills (Children) 2003- Privy Councillor 2005-06 Minister of State for Work and Pensions (Work) 2006-07 Minister of State of Industry and Trade 2007-08 and 2009-10 Minister of State for Culture, Media and Sport Dame Margaret Hodge Member of Speakerï¿½s Panel of Chairmen and Chairperson of a Committee in the House of Commons 1997-98. Lady Hodge was given a Damehood 2015. Given a Damehood in 2016. (b. 1945-). 1998-2001 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) and Spokesperson on International Development and Social Security, and Spokesperson on Women's Issues in the Lords 2001-03 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Sub-Saharan Africa, Overseas Territories, Caribbean and Commonwealth Affairs, Consular and Personnel Affairs) 2003Secretary of State for International Development 2003-07 Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council The Baroness Amos of Brondesbury Valerie Amos was created Baroness Amos, of Brondesbury in the London Borough of Brent in 1997 as the first black woman. She was the first female and second black person in the Cabinet. Ambassador to Australia from 2009 and later EU Representative to the African Union and Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations for Humanitarian Affairs. (b. 1954-). 1998-2001 Baroness in Waiting (Whip) and Spokesperson of the Scottish Office, Spokesperson of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and Spokesperson of Culture, Media and Sports in the Lords The Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale Margaret (Meta) Ramsay was created Baroness Ramsay of Cartvale, of Langside in the City of Glasgow in 1996 and was Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords 2002-08. (b. 1936-). 1998-2001 Assistant Government Whip Dame Anne McGuire 2001-02 Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury (Deputy Whip) 2002-03 Parliamentary Secretary for Scotland 2003-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Scotland (Reporting to the Secretary of State of Scotland) 2006 Minister of State of the Home Office 2006-08 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Work and Pensions 2008- Privy Councillor Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Scotland 1997-98. 2003 the independent Department of Scotland was abolished and the Secretary of State of Transport was given additional charge of Scotland. She became attached to the newly established Department of Constitutional Affairs. Given a Damehood in 2015. (b. 1949-). 1999-2001 Economic Secretary to the Treasury Melanie Johnson 2001-03 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Trade and Industry 2003-05 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health (Minister for Public Health) Labour MP until 2005. 1999-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Foreign and Commonwealth Office with responsibility for North America, Caribbean, Overseas Territories, Consular Information, The British Council, FOC Central Administration, Personnel and Resources, and Spokesperson of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in the Lords 2001-03 Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department 2003-07 Minister of State of the Home Office with responsibilty for the Criminal Justice system and Law Reform 2007-10 Attorney General for England and Wales and Northern Ireland (Attending Cabinet) The Baroness Scotland of Asthal Became a member of the Shadow Cabinet in 2010 and Secretary General of the Commonwealth from 2016. Patricia Janet Scotland was created Baroness Scotland of Asthal, of Asthal in the County of Oxfordshires in 1997 and was the first female black Minister. Her father was from Antigua and her mother from Dominica - one of whose 25 siblings was Rosewelt (Rosie) Douglas, who was Prime Minister of Dominica 1999-2000 until his death. 1999-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Employment for Lifelong Learning 2001-03 Minister of State of Health 2003-05 Minister of state for Trade and Industry and Deputy Minister for Women, Privy Councillor 2005-06 Minister of State of Education and Skills (Schools) (Deputy to the Secretary of State) 2006-07 Chief Whip and Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury 2007-09Secretary of State for the Home Office Jacqui Smith Labour MP 1997-2010. (b. 1962-). 1999-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Environment, Transport and The Regions (Local Government) 2001-02 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office 2002-04 Minister of State of the Home Office (Asylum and Immigration Minister) 2004- Member of the Privy Council 2005-07 Minister of State of Education and Skills (Children) 2007-09 Minister of State for Children, Schools and Families (Children and Youth Justice Minister (Attending cabinet when her Ministerial responsibilities are on the agenda) and Minister for the North West Beverley Hughes Trafford Borough Council Leader 1995-97, Labour MP 1997-2010, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Local Government and Housing 1998-99 and Deputy to the Secretary of State from 2008. Resigned from the government. Created Baroness Hughes of Stretford, of Ellesmere Port in the County of Cheshire in 2010. (b. 1950-). 1999-2001 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Public Health Gisela Stuart Labour MP from 1997. (b. in Germany 1955-). 1999-2002 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health (The Minister of Public Health) Yvette Cooper 2002-03 Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Office (Electoral Law) 2003-05 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2005-06 Minister of State of Housing in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2006-10 Minister of State of Communities and Local Government 2007-08 Minister of Housing (Attending the Cabinet) 2008-09 Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2009-10 Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Labour MP from 1997. Mother of 3 children born 1999, 2001 and 2004, becoming the first serving minister to take maternity leave in 2001. Her husband became Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families in 2007. Later among others Shadow Foreign and Home Secretary, candidate for Leader of Labour in 2015. (b. 1969-). 1999-2005 Advocate General for Scotland in the Scottish Office Lynda Clark Dr. Clark was the first female Law Officer ever. Her office was a new creation after the introduction of Home Rule in Scotland. Labour MP 1997-2005, a judge in Scotland as Senator of the College of Justice from 2006 and Created Baroness Clark of Calton, of Calton in the City of Edinburgh 2005. (b. 1949-). 2001-02 Economic Secretary to the Treasury Ruth Kelly 2002-04 Financial Secretary to the Treasury 2004 Minister of State at the Cabinet Office (Minister for the Cabinet Office) 2004-06 Secretary of State for Education and Skills 2006-07Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and Minister for Women 2007-08 Secretary of State for Transport Previously the Parliamentary Private Secretary to Nick Brown at the Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (since 1998). She was a member of the Treasury Select Committee between 1997 and 1998. Member of the Catholic Opus Dei movement, she is mother of four. (b. 1968-). 2001 Minister of State in the Cabinet Office and Deputy Minister for Women's Issues The Baroness Morgan of Huytton Political Secretary in Downing Street 1997-2001. Director of Political and Government Relations of the Prime Minister 2001-05. Sally Morgan was appointed Morgan of Huyton, of Huyton in the County of Merseyside following her appointment to the government in July 2001. 2001-03 Parliamentary Secretary in the Lord Chancellor's Department Dame Rosie Winterton 2003-07 Minister of State of Health 2007-08 Minister of State of Transport 2008-09 Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber 2008-09 Minister of State for Works and Pensions 2009-10 Minister of State for Regional Economic Development and Co-ordination in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Minister of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Attending Cabinet when her Ministerial responsibilities are on the agenda) 2009- Member of the Privy Council. 2010-16 Chief Whip of the Labour Party in the House of Commons Labour MP from 1997 and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons 2010 and Chief Whip from 2010. Given a Damehood in 2015. (b. 1958-). 2001-05 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Work and Pensions Maria Eagle 2005-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Education and Skills 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Northern Ireland 2007-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice 2008-09 Parlimantary Under-Secretary of State for Equalities 2009-10 Minister of State of Justice, Member of the Privy Council Labour MP from 1997, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Health 1999-2001. Member of the Shadow Cabinet from 2010. Her twin sister, Angela Eagle, was member of the government 1997-2002. (b. 1961-). 2001-02 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Transport, Local Government and the Regions 2002-03 Parliamentary Secretary of International Development 2003-05 Minister of State of the Home Office Sally Keeble Leader of Southwark Council 1990-93, Labour MP from 1997, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Environment, Transport and The Regions 1999-2001. (b. 1951-). 2001-03 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health Hazel Blears 2003-06 Minister of State of the Home Office for Crime Reduction, Policing and Community Safety 2005-06 Deputy Home Secretary 2006-07 Minister without Portfolio at the Cabinet Office and Chairperson of the Labour Party (Attending the Cabinet) 2007-09Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Labour MP from 1997, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Health 1997-98 and to the Chief Secretary to Her Majesty's Treasury 1998-99. Candidate for the post of Deputy Leader of Labour in 2007. Resigned from the government. (b. 1956-). 2001-04 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Education and Skills 2004-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Constitutional Affairs responsible for Human Rights and Civil Justice Policy 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2007 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Justice 2007-08 Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council and Spokesperson for Equality and the Cabinet Office in the Lords 2008-10 EU-Commissioner for Trade 2010- Vice-President of the EU-Commission and High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy The Baroness Ashton of Upholland Cathy Ashton was appointed Baroness Ashton of Upholland, of St Albans in Hertfordshire in 1999. Married twice and mother of 2 children and 3 stepchildren. (b. 1956-). 2001-02 Assistant Government Whip Angela Evans Smith 2002-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the Northern Ireland Office with responsibility for the Departments of the Environment, for Regional Development and of Culture, Arts and Leisure 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government 2007-09 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 2007-08 Attending the Cabinet 2009-10 Minister of State for the Cabinet Office (Third Sector Minister) 2015- Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition in the House of Lords (Shadow Leader of the House of Lords) Labour MP 1997-2010, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of the Home Office 1999-2001 and to the Secretary of State of the same department 2000-01. In 2002 she was appointed temporary Minister in the Northern Ireland Office after the home rule was suspended. Created Baroness Smith of Basildon, of Basildon in the County of Essex in 2010 and was Candidate for the post of Deputy Leader of Labour in 2015. (b. 1959-). 2001-02 Assistant Government Whip Karen Buck 2005-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Transport MP from 1997. (b. 1958-). 2002-05 Baroness-in-Waiting, Government Whip and Government Spokesperson for Work, Health and Pensions in the Lords 2005-06 Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 2006-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government The Baroness Andrews Kay Andrews was created Baroness Andrews, of Southover in 1997 2002-08 Baroness-in-Waiting, Government Whip and Government Spokesperson for Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and International Development in the Lords 2009-10 Baroness-in-Waitning The Baroness Crawley Christine Crawly was Created Baroness Crawley, of Edgbaston in the County of West Midlands 1998. 2002-03 Assistant Government Whip Joan Ryan 2005-06 Lord Commissioner (Government Whip) 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office MP from 1997 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Andrew Smith at the Department of Education and Employment, and moved with him when he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury. She is Vice-Chairperson of Labour for Campaigns, and appointed Privy Councillor and Special Representative of the Prime Minister to Cyprus in 2007. (b. 1955-). 2002-04 Assistant Government Whip Charlotte Atkins 2004-05 Government Whip and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Transport Parliamentary Private Secretary to Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean as Minister of State for Trade and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords (b. 1950-) 2002-04 Assistant Government Whip Gillian Merron 2004-06 Lord Commissioner 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Transport 2007-08 Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office and Minister for the East Midlands 2008 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development 2008-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 2009-10 Minster of State of Health (Deputy to the Secretary of State) Labour MP 1997-2010 and former Parliamentary Private Secretary. (b. 1959-). 2003-05 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the Home Office for Reducing Organised and International Crime, Anti Drugs Co-ordination and International and European Issues 2005-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health 2007-08 Minister of State for Works and Pensions and Minister for Yorkshire and the Humber 2008 Minister of Housing (Attending Cabinet) 2008-09 Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Attending Cabinet) Caroline Flint Labour MP from 1997. Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Reid 2002-03 and prior to that to the the Minister for Europe. She is the Deputy to the Secretary of State from 2008. Resigned from the government in 2009. Member of the Shadow Cabinet from 2010 and Candidate for the post of Deputy Leader of Labour in 2015. (b. 1961-). 2003-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of the Home Office in charge of Race Equality, Community Policy, and Civic Renewal Fiona Mactaggart MP from 1997 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Chris Smith. Daughter of Sir Ian Mactaggart Bt, the multimillionaire Glasgow property developer, Tory candidate and Europhobe. Her mother Rosemary was the daughter of Sir Herbert Williams Bt, a Tory MP for 27 years. (b. 1953-). 2003-05 Assistant Government Whip Margaret Moran Former Deputy Chair of the Association of Metropolitan Authorities and Chair of its Housing Committee, MP from 1997 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to Transport Minister (Gavin Strang). (b. 1955-). 2005-06 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Works and Pensions Liz Blackman 2006-07 Assistant Government Whip 2007-08 Vice-Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household (Government Whip) Labour MP from 1997 and former Private Parliamentary Secretary to Geoff Hoon. (b. 1949-). 2005-06 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women and Equality in the Department of Trade and Industry (Deputy Minister for Women) 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Women and Equality) 2007-08 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Meg Munn Labour MP since 2001, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Education and Skills 2003-04, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Children 2004-05. 2005-08 Baroness-in-Waiting The Baroness Royall of Blaisdon 2007-08 Government Spokesperson in the Lords for Health, for International Development and for Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2008 Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms (Chief Whip in the House of Lords) 2008-10 Leader of the House of Lords 2008-09 Lord President of the Council 2009-10 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster 2010-15 Leader of Her Majesty's Official Opposition in the House of Lords (Shadow Leader of the House of Lords) Janet Royall was created Baroness Royall of Blaisdon, of Blaisdon in the County of Gloucestershire in 2004. 2005-06 Assistant Government Whip Claire Ward 2006-08 Lord Commissioner of Her Majesty's Treasury (Government Whip) 2008-09 Vice Chamberlain of Her Majesty's Household (Government Whip) 2009-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Justice Labour MP 1997-2010 and former Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Health. (b. 1972-). 2006-07 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Constitutional Affairs Vera Baird 2007 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Justice 2007-10 Solicitor General Labour MP 2001-10 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State of the Home Office 2005-06. (b. 1951-). 2007-08 Government Whip Alison Seabeck Labour MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Europe 2006-07 and PPS to the Secretary of State for Transport 2008-09. 2007-10 Baroness in Waiting and Parliamentary Secretary The Baroness Morgan of Drefelin 2008 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills 2008-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for for Children, Schools and Families Delyth Jane Morgan was Created Baroness Morgan of Drefelin, of Drefelin in the County of Dyfed in 2004. Married to Jim Shepherd and mother of 1 daughter. (b. 1961-). 2007-08 Economic Secretary (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) Kitty Ussher 2008-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Works and Pensions 2009 Exchequer Secretary (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) Labour MP from 2005 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Industry 2006-07. Resigned after a few weeks in office because of financial iregularities. (b. 1971-). 2007-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Home Office Meg Hillier Mayor of the London Borough of Islington in 1998, Member of the London Assembly 2000-05, Labour MP since 2005 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Ruth Kelly) 2006-07. Member of the Shadow Cabinet from 2010. Mother of 2 children. (b. 1969-). 2007-08 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Barbara Follett 2007-10 Minister for the East of England 2008-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Culture, Media and Sports 2009-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Communities and Regions Labour MP from 1997 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sports 2005-07. (b. 1942 in Jamaica). 2007-08 Paliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development The Baroness Vadera 2008-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform with responsibiliity for Competitiveness, Deregulation and British Business Council 2008-10 Parliamentary Secretary of the Cabinet Office 2009-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Shrit Vadera was appointed Baroness Vadera, of Holland Park in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, upon her appointment to the government. Ethic Indian born in Uganda, she has lived in United Kingdom since 1974. (b. 1963-). 2007-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health Ann Keen Labour MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Health 1999, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Department of Treasury) 2003-07. 2007-08 Deputy Leader of the House of Commons, Parliamentary Secretary at the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons 2008-09 Assistant Government Whip Helen Goodman 2009-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Labour MP from 2005 and Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Ministry of Justice in 2007. (b. 1958-). 2007-08 Assistant Government Whip Siobhain McDonagh Labour MP from 1997. Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence 2005-07. Her sister Margaret, Baroness McDonagh was General Secretary of the Labour Party from 1998 to 2001.(b. 1960-). 2007-08 Assistant Government Whip Alison Seabeck Labour MP from 2005- (b. 1954-). 2007-10 Assistant Government Whip Diana Johnson 2009-10 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Councillor of a London Borough before becoming member of the London Assembly. Labour MP from 2005 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State for Pensions Reform 2005-07. (b. 1966-). 2007-08 Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chief Whip Sarah McCarthy-Fry 2008-09 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Schools, Skills and Families 2009 Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Communities and Local Government 2009-10 Exchequer Secretary (Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury) Labour MP from 2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Financial Secretary to the Treasury 2006-07 and from 2007 a Junior Minister as PPS to Geoff Hoon. (b. 1955-). 2008-10 Baroness-in-Waiting The Baroness Thornton 2010 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health Glenys Thornton was created Baroness Thornton, of Manningham in the County of West Yorkshire in 1998. (b. 1952-). 2008-10 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Scotland Ann McKechin Labour MP from 2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister of State of Trade and Industry and Education and Skills in 2005. Member of the Shadow Cabinet from 2010. (b. 1962-). 2008-10 Assistant Government Whip Dawn Butler Third female black MP from 2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Health Minister 2005-06, Vice-Chairperson of Labour from 2007. (b. 1969-). 2008-09 Assistant Government Whip Barbara Keeley 2009-10 Parliamentary Secretary in the Office of the Leader of the House of Commons (Deputy Leader of the House of Commons) Labour MP from 2005, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office in 2006, PPS to the Minister of State at the Department of Work and Pensions 2006-07, PPS to the Secretary of State for Women and Equality 2007-09. (b. 1952-). 2008-09 Assistant Government Whip Helen Jones 2009-10 Government Whip Parliamentary Private Secretary of Health 2007-08, Opposition Whip in 2010. 2009-09 Minister of State for Europe in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead 2009-09 Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Africa and Government Spokesperson Labour MEP 1994-2009, Co-President of the African, Caribbean and Pacific / EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly 2002-09. She is married to the former Labour Leader and EU-Commissioner Niel Kinnock, Baron Kinnock, of Bedwellty in the County of Gwent, and mother-in-law of the the Danish Social Democrat Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. Glenys Kinnock was created Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, of Holyhead in the County of Ynys Mï¿½n in 2009. (b. 1944-). 2009-10 Assistant Government Whip Kerry McCarthy Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State of Health 2007, PPS to the Secretary of State for International Development 2007-09. 2009-10 Assistant Government Whip Sharon Hodgson Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of State of the Home Office 2006-07, PPS to the Minister of State of Defence 2007-08, PPS to the Minister of State of Health 2008-09 and Opposition Whip in 2010. 2010-16 Secretary of State for the Home Department Theresa May 2010-12 Minister for Women and Equality 2016- Prime Minister, First Lord of the Treasury and Minister for the Civil Service Conservative MP from 1997 and Chairperson of the Conservative Party 2002-03 and held a number of other Shadow Cabinet posts since 1999, Leader of the Conservative Party from 2016. (b. 1956-). 2010-12 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Dame Caroline Spelman Conservative MP from 1997, Chairperson of the Conservative Party 2007-09, held a number of other shadow ministry posts and was appointed Second Church Estates Commissioner and member of the body managing the historic property assets of the Church of England in 2015. Given a Damehood in 2016. (b. 1958-). 2010-12 Minister without Portfolio, Minister of State and Co-Chairperson of the Conservative Party Baroness Warsi 2012-14 Senior Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Senior Minister of State of Communities and Local Government for Faith Groups and Communities, Attending Cabinet without a vote Sayeeda Hussain Warsi was created Baroness Warsi, of Dewsbury in the County of West Yorkshire in 2007. (b. 1971-). 2010-11 Minister of State of the Home Office (Deputy to the Secretary of State and Minister for Security) Baroness Neville-Jones Career diplomat 1963-1996 and among others worked in the European Commission, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Defence and Overseas Secretariat in the Cabinet Office and Chair of the Joint Intelligence Committee 1993-94 and Special Representative to Business on Cyber Security from 2011. Dame Pauline Neville-Jones was created Baroness Neville-Jones, of Hutton Roof in the County of Cumbria in 2007. (b. 1939-). 2010-11 Economic Secretary to the Treasury Justine Greening 2011-12 Secretary of State for Transport 2012-16Secretary of State for International Development 2016- Secretary of State for Education and Minister of Women and Equalities Conservative MP from 2005 and Vice-Chairperson of the Conservative Party 2005-07. Is in a same-sex-relationship. (b. 1969-). 2010-12 Minister of State of Education (Deputy to the Secretary of State and Minister for Children and Families) Sarah Teather Liberal Democrat MP from 2003. (b. 1974-). 2010-12 Minister of State of Transport (Deputy to the Secretary of State and Minister of Rail and Aviation) Theresa Villiers 2012-16Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Conservative Member of the European Parliament 1999-2005 and MP from 2005. Held senior posts in the Shadow Cabinet. (b. 1968-). 2010-14 Lords Chief Whip, Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms Baroness Anelay of St Johns 2014- Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office 2014-16 Attending Cabinet without a vote 2016- Minister of State of International Development Opposition Chief Whip in the House of Lords 2007-10 and Deputy Speaker and Deputy Chair of Committees 2008-10. Dame Joyce Anelay was created Baroness Anelay of St. Johns, of St. Johns in the County of Surrey in 1996. (b. 1947-). 2010-12 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of the Home Office (Minister for Equalities and Criminal Information) Lynne Featherstone 2012-15 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of International Development Former Local Councillor and member of the London Assembly and Liberal Democrat MP 2005-15. Created Baroness Featherstone, of Highgate in the London Borough of Haringey in 2015. (b. 1951-). 2010-12 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Business, Innovation and Skills Baroness Wilcox Judith Wilcox was created Baroness Wilcox, of Plymouth in the County of Devon in 1996 and was a junior member of the Conservative shadow cabinet. (b. 1940-) 2010-12 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Works and Pensions (Disability Minister) Maria Miller 2012-14Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports and Minister for Women and Equality Conservative MP from 2005. (b. 1964-). 2010-12 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Health (Public Health Minister) Anne Milton 2012-15 Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury (Government Whip) 2015- Deputy Chief Whip (Treasurer of HM Household) Conservative MP from 2005. (b. 1955-). 2010-13 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government Baroness Hanham Leader of Kensington and Chelsea Council 1989-2000 and candidate in the conservative primaries for candidate for Lord Mayor of London in 1999, Opposition Whip 2000-09 and held other posts. Joan Hanham was created Baroness Hanham, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 1999. (b. 1939-). 2010-12 Lord Commissioner (Whip) Dame Angela Watkinson Conservative MP since 2001. Given a Damehood in 2012. (b. 1941-) 2010-11 Assistant Government Whip Chloe Smith 2011-12 Economic Secretary to the Treasury 2012-13 Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office Conservative MP from 2009. (b. 1982-) 2010-14 Baroness-in-Waiting (Government Whip) Baroness Northover 2014-15 Parliamentary Under Secretary of International Development Former Liberal Democrat spokesperson on various issues. Lindsay Northover was created Baroness Northover, of Cissbury in the County of West Sussex 2000. 2010-12 Baroness-in-Waiting (Government Whip) and Spokesperson on Scotland Baroness Rawlings Conservative MEP 1989-1994, Opposition Whip 1997-98 and spokesperson on various issues. Patricia Rawlings was created Baroness Rawlings, of Burnham Westgate in the County of Norfolk 1994. (b. 1939-) 2010-15 Baroness-in-Waiting (Government Whip) Baroness Verma 2015-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of International Development Opposition Whip 2006-10 and Conservative spokesperson on various issues. Sandip Verma was created Baroness Verma, of Leicester in the County of Leicestershire 2006. (b. 1959-) 2011-13 Baroness in Waiting Baroness Stowell of Beeston 2013-14 Parliamentary Under Secretary of Communities and Local Government 2014-16 Leader of the House of Lords 2014-15 Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Attending Cabinet) 2015-16 Lord Privy Seal (Full Cabinet Member) A former Conservative Party Advisor, Tina Stowell was appointed Baroness Stowell of Beeston, of Beeston in the County of Nottinghamshire in 2011. (b. 1967-) 2012-15 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Business, Innovation and Skills for Employment Relations, Consumer and Postal Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary of Culture, Media and Spor for Women and Equalities (Minister for Employment Relations and Consumer Affairs and Women and Equalities Minister) Jo Swinson Liberal Democrat MP 2005-15, Deputy Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats from 2010 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister 2010-12. On maternaty leave from December 2013. (b. 1980-) 2012-14 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Education for Early Years Education Elizabeth Truss 2014-16 Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 2016- Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Liz Truss was elected Conservative MP in 2010. (b. 1975-) 2012-13 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health Anna Soubry 2013-14 Parliamentary Under Secretary of Defence (Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans) 2014-15 Minister of State of Defence (Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans) 2015-16 Minister of State of Business, Innovaton and Skills (Minister for Small Business), Attending Cabinet Conservative MP since 2010. (b. 1956-) 2012-13 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Work and Pensions (Minister for Disabled People) 2013-15 Minister of State for Emloyment (Minister for Employment and Disabilities) Esther McVey 2014-15 Minister Attending Cabinet and Member of the Privy Council Conservative MP f2010-15 and Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Employment Minister (b. 1967-) 2012-13 Parliamentary Undersecretary of State for Justice and for Women and Equalities Helen Grant 2013-15 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Sport and Equalities at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (Minister for Sport, Tourism and Equalities) Conservative MP since 2010 as the first female black tory member of parliament. (b. 1961-) 2012-15 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Wales Baroness Randerson Minister for Culture and Sport and the Welsh Language 2000-2003 and Acting Welsh Deputy First Minister 2001-2002. Candiate for the Welsh Liberal Democrats in 2008. Jennifer Elizabeth Randerson was created Baroness Randerson, of Roath Park in the City of Cardiff in 2011. (b. 1948-) 2012-13 Assistant Government Whip Karen Bradley 2013-14 Lord Commissioner of the Treasury (Deputy Government Whip) 2014-16 Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Home Office (Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime) 2016- Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1970-) 2012-15 Assistant Government Whip Jenny Willott 2013 Acting Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills and for Culture, Media and Sport (Minister For Employment, Consumer Affairs, Women and Equalities) Liberal Democrat MP from 2005, Deputy Whip 2008-10 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2010-11. (b. 1974-) 2012-13 Assistant Government Whip Nicky Morgan 2013-14 Economic Secretary to the Treasury 2014 Minister of Women (Attending Cabinet) and Financial Secretary to the Treasury 2014-16 Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Conservative MP from 2010. She voted against Gay Marriage, and the responsibility for the law implementation is transferred to another minister. (b. 1972-). 2012-15 Baroness in Waiting Baroness Garden of Frognal Susan Garden was created Baroness Garden of Frognal, of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden in 2007. (b. 1944-) 2013-15 Minister of State of Transport Baroness Kramer Twice candidate for Mayor of London, Liberal MP 2005-10, Created Baroness Kramer of Richmond Park in 2011. (b. 1950-) 2013-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of Health (Public Health Minister) Jane Ellison 2016- Financial Secretary to the Treasury Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1964-) 2013-14 Assistant Government Whip Claire Perry 2014-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport (Rail Minister) Conservative MP from 2010 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Defence 2011-13 (b. 1964-) 2013-14 Assistant Government Whip Amber Rudd 2014-15 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change (Minister for Climate Change) 2015-16 Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change 2016- Secretary of State for the Home Department Conservative MP from 2010 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 2012-13. (b. 1963-) 2013-15 Assistant Government Whip Harriett Baldwin 2015-16 Economic Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister) 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence Conservative MP from 2010 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Employment in the Department of Work and Pensions 2012-13. (b. 1960-) 2013-15 Baroness-in-waiting Baroness Jolly Judith Jolly was created Baroness Jolly, of Congdon's Shop in the County of Cornwall in 2010. She is a Liberal Democrat. (b. 1951-). 2014-15 Economic Secretary to the Treasury (City Minister) Andrea Leadsom 2015-16 Minister of State at the Department for Energy and Climate Change (Deputy Secretary of State) 2016- Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Conservative MP from 2010 and in 2016 she was elected by the Conservative MPs to be one of the two candidates to contest the party leadership in September, but withdrew from the race after a week, making Theresa May Party Leader and Prime Minister. (b. 1963-) 2014-15 Excequer Secretary to the Treasury Priti Patel 2015-16 Minister of State of Work and Pensions (Minister for Employment), attending Cabinet (Deputy Secretary of State) 2016-Secretary of State for International Develoment Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1972-) 2014-15 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government (Minister for Planning and Coastal Communities) 2015-16 Minister of State of Defence (Minister for the Armed Forces) (Deputy Secretary of State) 2016- Minister of State at the Department for Work and Pensions Penny Mordaunt Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1973-) 2014-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills (Minister for Intellectual Property) 2015-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport) 2016- Minister of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Baroness Neville-Rolfe Former high ranking civil servant, business executive and government advisor Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe was created Baroness Neville-Rolfe, of Chilmark in the County of Wiltshire 2013. (b. 1953-) 2014-15 Assistant Government Whip Thï¿½rï¿½se Coffey 2015-16 Deputy Leader of the House of Commons 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1971-) 2014-15 Assistant Government Whip Lorely Burt Liberal Democratic MP 2005-15, elected Chair of the Liberal Democratic Parliamentary Party in 2007, Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chief Secretary to the Treasury 2012-14. Created Baroness Lister of Burtersett, of Nottingham in the County of Nottinghamshire in 2015. 2014-15 Baroness-in-Waiting Baroness Williams of Trafford 2015-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Communities and Local Government 2016- Minister of State in the Home Office A former Conservative Leader of the Trafford Council Susan Williams was created Baroness Williams of Trafford, of Hale in the County of Greater Manchester in 2013. (b. 1967-) 2015-16 Minister of State of or Work and Pensions (Pensions Minister) Baroness Altmann Rosalind Miriam Altmann (Ros Altmann) was created Baroness Altmann, of Tottenham in the London Borough of Haringey in 2015 2015-16 Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Justice and Minister for Equalities at the Department for Education 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for Education Caroline Dinenage Conservative MP from 2010 and Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Minister for Women and Equalities 2014-15. (b. 1971-) 2015- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Culture, Media and Sport (Minister for Sport) Tracey Crouch Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1975-). 2015- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office and Culture, Media and Sport (Minister for Internet Safety and Security) Baroness Shields Joanna Shields was created Baroness Shields, of Maida Vale in the City of Westminster. (b. 1962 in USA) 2015-16 Assistant Government Whip Margot James 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Conservative MP from 2015 and Private Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Investment 2011-13. (b. 1957-) 2015-16 Assistant Government Whip Sarah Newton 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Home Office Conservative MP from 2010 and Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party 2012-15. (b. 1961-) 2015- Assistant Government Whip Jackie Doyle-Price Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1969-) 2015- Baroness in Waiting Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen 2016- Spokesperson on Cabinet Office business in the House of Lords Carlyn Chisholm was created Baroness Chisholm of Owlpen, of Owlpen in the County of Gloucestershire in 2014. She is the daughter of John Wyndham, 6th Baron Leconfield 2015-16 Baroness in Waiting Baroness Evans of Bowes Park 2016- Leader of the House of Lords Natalie Jessica Evans was created Baroness Evans of Bowes Park, of Bowes Park in the London Borough of Haringey in 2014 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State of Health Nicola Blackwood Conservative MP from 2010. (b. 1979-) 2016- Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Caroline Nokes 2016- Assistant Government Whip Heather Wheelers Conservative MP from 2010. 2016- Baroness in Waiting Baroness Goldie Annabel MacNicoll Goldie was Member of the Scottish Parliament 1999-2011 and Leader of the Scottish Conservatives 2005-11. She was created Baroness Goldie, of Bishopton in the County of Renfrewshire in 2013. (b. 1950-) 2016- Broness in Waiting Baroness Mobarik Nosheena Shaheen Mobarik is a former chair of the Scottish branch of the Confederation of British Industry and was created Baroness Mobarik, of Mearns in the County of Renfrewshire in 2014. (b. 1957-) Last update 10.10.16	i don't know
Which former Music Hall comedian played 'Harry Payne' in television's 'Coronation Street' in 1978?	Max Wall - The Full Wiki The Full Wiki More info on Max Wall Wikis Note: Many of our articles have direct quotes from sources you can cite, within the Wikipedia article! This article doesn't yet, but we're working on it! See more info or our list of citable articles . Related top topics From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Max Wall King Bruno the Questionable from Jabberwocky (1977) Background information 21 May 1990 (aged 82) Death location Max Wall, born Maxwell George Lorimer (12 March 1908–21 May 1990), was an English comedian and actor, whose performing career covered music hall , theatre, films and television. Contents 5 External links Early years Wall was a son of the successful music-hall entertainer Jack (Jock) Lorimer, a Scottish comedy actor, known for his songs and dancing, and his wife Stella (born Maud Clara Mitchison). He was born near The Oval , at 37 Glenshaw Mansions, Brixton Road, Brixton , London SW9. In 1916, during a First World War air raid, Max and his elder brother Alex, were saved from death by a cast iron bed frame, but his younger brother Bunty and their Aunt Betty, who was looking after them, were killed by a bomb dropped from a German Zeppelin which also destroyed their house. Max and Alex went to live with their father and his family, whilst their mother went to live with Harry Wallace, who she had met on tour. When their father died of tuberculosis in 1920, aged 37, their mother married Harry Wallace, and they all moved to a pub in Essex . [1] Career Wall auditioned for a part with a touring theatre company, and made his stage debut at the age of 14 as an acrobatic dancer in a pantomime featuring George Lacey. He became determined not to rely on his father's name, so abbreviated Maxwell to Max, and his stepfather's name Wallace, to Wall. He is best remembered for his ludicrously attired and hilariously strutting Professor Wallofski. This creation notably influenced John Cleese , who has acknowledged Max Wall's influence on the creation of his own Ministry of Silly Walks sketch for Monty Python . After appearing in many musicals and stage comedies in the 1930s, Wall's career went into decline, and he was reduced to working in obscure nightclubs . He then joined the Royal Air Force during World War II and served for three years until he was invalided out in 1943. Wall re-emerged during the 1950s when producers and directors rediscovered his comic talents, along with the expressive power of his tragic clown face and the distinctive sad falling cadences of his voice. He secured television appearances and, having attracted Samuel Beckett 's attention, he won parts in Waiting for Godot and Krapp's Last Tape . In 1966 he appeared as Père Ubu in Jarry's Ubu Roi , and in 1972 he toured with Mott the Hoople on their "Rock n' Roll Circus tour", gaining a new audience. His straight acting gained him this review in 1974: "Max Wall makes Olivier look like an amateur in The Entertainer at Greenwich Theatre...." (The Guardian, 27 November 1974) He also appeared in Crossroads (as Walter Soper - 1982 to 1983), Coronation Street (as Harry Payne - 1978) and what was then Emmerdale Farm (as Arthur Braithwaite - 1978). He also played ex-con Ernie Dodds in Minder in 1982, with George Cole. On 1 April 1977, Wall's version of Ian Dury 's "England's Glory" was issued on Stiff Records (BUY 12) and given away with the album Hits Greatest Stiffs . [2] Wall also appeared onstage with Dury at the Hammersmith Odeon in 1978, but was poorly received, and said "They only want the walk" [3] In the 1980s, Wall occasionally performed a one-man stage show, An Evening with Max Wall, in which he recaptured the humour of old-time music-hall theatre. His last film appearance was in 1989 in the 12-minute movie A Fear of Silence , a dark tale of a man who drives a stranger to a confession of murder by answering only Yes or No to his questions; those two words, repeated, were his only dialogue. The film won a gold award in the New York Film and TV Festival. Death On the afternoon of 20 May 1990, Wall fell at Simpson's Restaurant in central London, fracturing his skull. He never regained consciousness, and died early the next morning at Westminster Hospital . He was 82. He was buried in Highgate Cemetery . Wall was survived by four sons, Michael, Melvin, Martin and Meredith, and a daughter, Maxine. References ^ Stiff Records Catalogue Retrieved 06 April 2009 ^ Balls, Richard (2000). Sex & Drugs & Rock'N'Roll: The Life of Ian Dury (1st ed.). London: Omnibus Press.. pp. 195–196. ISBN 0-7119-8644-4. External links	Max Wall
Who succeeded Betty Boothroyd as Speaker of the House of Commons, in 2000?	Max Wall Net Worth, Bio 2017-2016, Wiki - REVISED! - Richest Celebrities Richest Celebrities Home / Actors / Max Wall Net Worth Max Wall Net Worth How rich is Max Wall? Max Wall net worth: More net worths Max Wall net worth & biography: Max Wall was born on March 12, 1908 in Brixton, London, England as Maxwell George Lorimer. He was an actor and writer, known for Little Dorrit (1987), Jabberwocky (1977) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968). He died on May 22, 1990 in London. More about Max Wall: We Think the World of You 1988 An Evening with Max Wall 1982 Film (A Screen Play by Samuel Beckett) 1979 The Hound of the Baskervilles 1978 One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing 1975 The Nine Ages of Nakedness 1969 Roundhead Leader (segment "The Cavaliers") Chitty Chitty Bang Bang The Fearless Vampire Killers: Vampires 101 1967 Professor Cecil Havelock-Montague, Ph.D., LL.D., B.A.T. David Nixon's Comedy Bandbox The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club 1974 Will the Real Mike Yarwood Stand Up? 1969 Val Parnell's Sunday Night at the London Palladium 1955 Seriously Funny: An Argument for Comedy 1997 Himself, doing his funny walk Turns Looks like we don't have Max Wall awards information. Sorry! Looks like we don't have Max Wall salary information. Sorry! Fact 1 English music hall song-and-dance man, originally billed as "The Boy with the Educated Feet". He was first on stage as a baby dressed in a kilt. In his later years, he became a noted character actor, often in the plays of Samuel Beckett. 2 His father was also a stage comedian, Jock Lorimer. 3 Well-known for his appearances as Professor Wallofsky in shows such as Max Wall: Funny Man (1975) and An Evening with Max Wall (1982) wearing a bald cap and drainpipe trousers prancing around stage doing a funny walk in time to snare drum music. 4	i don't know
In which novel by Thackeray does the character 'Blanche Amory' appear?	Full text of "Thackeray; a study" See other formats 1 •■ 'iV.!c;' • ■■.■^•'»'«^ ■-,■■:•>■ v.- '• ■ , ^ .> i •;,'^. i-SSi-i-'>'^ y\ THACKERAY THACKERAY A STUDY BY ADOLPHUS ALFRED JACK MACMILLAN AND CO. AND NEW YORK 1895 Tfu right of Translation is reserved Richard Clav & Sons, Limited, London & Bungav. LIBRARY University of California ^AHx'A B/iilBARA THACKERAY: A STUDY. IJST OF ERRATA. Page 49, line 11. For Hoggarty read Haggarty 52, ,, 10. For forty-one read thirty-three 54, ,, 11. -For iindefensible read indefensible 54, ,, 14. For quality read quantity. 57, ,, 7^. For sketches read stretches. 70, ,, 0. For liberty read levity 158, ,. 14. Between " George " and " the " insert " and 179, ,, 17. For charms read charm TO MY FATHER, TO WHOSE ADVICE AND ENCOURAGEMENT IS DUE ANYTHING OF MERIT IN THIS BOOK. CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE INTRODUCTORY I I. BEFORE 'vanity FAIR ' I9 II. 'vanity fair' 74 III. 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 99 IV. STYLE AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS ... 171 CHRONOLOGICAL LIST OF WORKS MEN- TIONED IN THIS ESSAY 1 95 THACKERAY: A STUDY. LIST OF ERRATA. Page 49, line 11. Foi- Hoggarty read Haggavty 52, ,, 10. For forty-one read thirty-three 54, ,, 11. For undefensible read indefensible 54, ,, 14. For quality read quantity. 57, ,, 7. For sketches read stretches. 70, ,, (). For liberty 7-ead levity 158, ,, 14. Between " George " and " the " insert " and ' 179, ,, 17. For charms read charm THACKERAY INTRODUCTORY " We enter on burning ground," says Mr. Arnold in one of those luminous critical essays which are so provocative and so helpful ; — " we enter on burning ground as we approach the poetry of times so near to us, poetry like that of Byron, Shelley, and Wordsworth, of which the estimates are so often not only personal, but personal with passion." And that is why, as the great critic has told us, with as much sagacity as iteration, Time is the true test, and the judgments of the High Court are taken, for so wearisome a period, to avizandum. The justice of the remark is never more evident than when we consider the fallibility of contemporary criticism. If the writer has a new gospel to preach, or what looks like a new gospel, there is 2 THACKERAY: A STUDY the natural alienation of those who prefer the old order of ideas, or at least the same ideas in their old setting. If the writer does not pretend to offer anything new, and openly avows that he has nothing to say but what has been said before, only not quite in the same manner, or with quite the same precision, there is the danger that the value of his work may be lost sight of, or his profession of conservatism put down to him as a want of originality. But fallible as from its nature contemporary criticism is, prejudiced and careless as it too often has been, when contrasted with the criticism of the decade following the death of a great writer, when placed side by side with the mean- ingless phrases that airily condemn, or feebly prophesy immortality, it assumes the aspect of sobriety and justice. Contemporary criticism has at least this merit, that it is an honest attempt of the critic's own to apportion rewards and punishments. His hostility may be incurred, his sympathy may be enlisted, without adequate cause ; he may not be able to appraise at their true value all these novel sensations, which a new and striking work is bound to generate in an active and reflective mind. In short he may err, INTRODUCTORY 3 and he may err tremendously, but the error is his own. He may fall a prey to the dangers that beset the contemporary critic, but the critic who is not quite a contemporary is in a still worse position. He is too near not to be open to the same influences which have distracted the judg- ment of the earlier writer, and he is too apt to be prejudiced not only by the work which he is criticizing, but by the criticisms which have been written upon it. So that in one mood he is tempted servilely to endorse what has been said, in another quite as servilely to contradict it. Add to this that death places an author at the mercy both of enemies and friends, so that it is doubtful whether his memory suffers more from the long-restrained candour of the one class, or the unthinking panegyric of the other, and it will be readily acknowledged that there is no time more unfavourable for arriving at a correct estimate of any writer, than that intervening between his death and the sane decision of posterity. How long this critical chaos may continue it is quite impossible to say ; to attempt to fix for it any particular number of years would be worse than useless. The time fluctuates with quite a 4 THACKERAY: A STUDY surprising variation, and a moment's glance backward at literary history will show us that the comparative greatness of the writer has little to do with the duration of this period of suspense. It is true also, no doubt, that were we to say that we must wait for that judgment till the generation which he has influenced has passed away, this would be to fix too long a time for a few cases, and one far too short for most. But it would at least be safe to say, that when a generation to whom he has not been a con- temporary has had time to form its opinions, and has received the works of the author not as an offering peculiarly for itself, but only as a part of the legacy of the past, then it is reasonable to exercise critical opinion about him, and to attempt seriously to ascertain what is, or rather what will be, his ultimate position. As much as this at least may be said, and in particular cases it is possible to say more. If when we look round we find that the author is the object of criticism unimpassioned and painstaking, if we see that on the one hand his faults are admitted, while on the other his excellences are allowed, if we feel that responsible criticism has become cautious and discriminating, these are all proofs INTRODUCTORY 5 that there is fast forming about us a definite and not easily disturbed opinion. That this is the case with Thackeray, Mr. Trollope's fair and admirable monograph is demonstration enough. It was not to be ex- pected that such a book, published only sixteen years after the death of Thackeray, would be received without murmurs by his disciples, but on the whole the position that has since been accorded to it, the treatment it has received, and indeed the very fact of its existence, are strong evidences of a tendency towards agreement in critical opinion. Thackeray has been dead for thirty-one years, ample time for a generation to spring up for whom, except while they were in the nursery, he was never a living writer. His great contemporary Dickens died in 1870, and George Eliot ten years later ; and it is quite noticeable how different is the attitude of the educated public towards these three names. About Thackeray there is, though not by any means a final, a sufficiently marked consensus of opinion. If it is said that he was a cynic, it is at once admitted that he was too ready to label many of his characters, whose weaknesses he brought into prominence, fool or knave. If it is laid to 6 THACKERAY : A STUDY his charge that he was too much occupied with mean and little things, few who have read the miscellaneous papers and novelettes are prepared to deny it. With Dickens it is another matter. There are some who will not allow that his characters are exaggerated, and there are many who deny to him that gift of pathos on which, equally with his humour, his reputation was at one time supposed to rest. But if there is little agreement about the merits and demerits of Dickens, there is still less about those of George Eliot, and a critic who would attempt to estimate her future position would be but little, if at all, aided by the general opinion. This at first sight is the more curious, as the genius of Dickens or George Eliot is not at all difficult to understand. There was never any doubt about it in either case. The)- both achieved distinction by quite different, but by quite simple processes. Dickens, a man of great sensibility, and possessing a fund of humorous description that has in its way never been equalled, took the town by storm by virtue of these qualities. The strong understanding and depth of analytical power which belonged to George Eliot were at once acknowledsfed as INTRODUCTORY / the causes of her success. Thackeray's genius was of a more complex order. Alternately- amusing and irritating his generation, at one moment sneering at those very follies which at the next set him off into a strain of almost irresistible tenderness, he presented a problem to his contemporaries that seemed to admit of many answers. It is, in reality, precisely because of the difficulty of the problem that we may be said already to be within measurable distance of its solution. It was so impossible for his contemporaries to agree about this kind- hearted cynic, this courtier of Queen Anne who waged unrelenting war against the aris- tocracy, this fine gentleman who peered into cupboards, and assessed the price of his enter- tainment, that the critical intelligence was thoroughly aroused. There was no one who was content to read him and be thankful ; there was not one of his books which did not start the question : — Who is this man, so many-sided, so contradictory } And it was just because this question was so frequently asked, and so fre- quently answered, because Thackeray was an author of such complexity as to force the public to set themselves to understand him, that his 8 THACKERAY : A STUDY position in letters has been so quickly and so nearly ascertained. But it would be a great mistake to suppose that we have yet arrived at anything more than an approximation to the judgment of posterity. We are still far too near for that. Before any- thing final may be said, or even attempted, by a critic, it is necessary to wait, not only till a new generation shall have grown up to criticize the author, but till a new generation of original writers, who have felt his influence, shall in their turn have had their places apportioned to them, and his influence upon them weighed and appreciated. And so, though the task of the critic of Thackeray is, at the present day, easier than it might have been, it is by no means easy. He will be helped, no doubt, by the prevailing opinion, but he will still have to depend to some extent upon his own intuition, and in a greater degree upon those canons of criticism, by the correct use of which the place of all authors is ultimately decided. Happily there is in general no dispute about the canons ; the difficulty lies in their application. The business of criticism being to anticipate the judgment of the world, the obvious course in dealing with INTRODUCTORY 9 any author is to compare him with those upon whom a favourable judgment has already been pronounced. He is to be compared then with the classical authors, and just in so far as he has qualities that are common to the classics, is he likely himself to become classical. There is no disagreement about the classics ; it is the fact of this agreement that gives them their name. We may be said to call only those authors classics whom every one acknowledges to be so. But though there may be no doubt as to what authors are classical, and as to the fact that the author we are criticizing ought to be compared with them, the question may very well be asked, with what classics he ought to be compared .-' A novelist, it may be urged, ought only to be compared with the classical novelist, a romance-writer with the best writers of romance, and a dramatist with Shakespeare or Moliere ; to compare a writer with any or all of the classics would not only be tedious but confusing. There is truth in the remark, and no doubt it would be a roundabout way of proving that Tennyson's plays were not well fitted for the stage, to show that Hawthorne's 10 THACKERAY: A STUDY romances possessed a far higher dramatic power, and that there were in ' Queen Mary ' and ' Becket ' few of the marvellous touches that give to Scott's historical novels an appearance of reality. But that is because we have ready to hand an immense and classical literature written in the form of Tennyson's plays, by comparison with which they can easily be tried. The drama, besides, is almost as old as literature itself. It has portrayed nearly every epoch, it has chronicled nearly every passion, its capa- city, if not completely known, has yet had so wide a range that it would be difficult to extend it ; many of the greatest names in the world are the names of dramatists. But the novel is still in its infancy. When one speaks of it, the classical names that rise to one's memory, Cervantes and Le Sage, arc not properly those of novelists at all. They came too early for that. Le Sage, indeed, has been called the father or progenitor of the novel, and Fielding, who copied much of his manner, and who wrote immediately afterwards, died within sixty years of Thackeray's birth. That period produced no work of fiction greater than the adventures of Humphry Clinker, and extended to within INTRODUCTORY 1 1 three years of the production of ' Waverley.' But not only is the novel an essentially modern growth, not only is its province undetermined, so that we apply the name indiscriminately to the adventures of Tom Jones and Roderick Random, the prose dramas of Hawthorne, and the historical romances of Scott, — not only is the novel new and its capacity unknown, but it has not as yet given us many names of the first excellence. Fielding, Scott, Hawthorne ; if we were to try to add anything to that trio we should have to seek among the moderns. Richardson we may dismiss as too little read to be useful for purposes of comparison, and Smollett, where he is not surpassed by Fielding, is purely a humourist. Thus it would be plainly impossible to test an author who chose to put his writings in the form of a novel by comparing him with other novelists alone. There are so few great names that it becomes necessary to supplement the criterion, and for this purpose we may fairly use the romantic and dramatic fields that are open before us. We may fairly use the romantic, because the distinction between a romance and a novel has never been accurately 12 THACKERAY: A STUDY drawn. ' The Castle of Otranto,' though its author is careful to call it a Gothic story, would probably be classed as a romance, on account of the supernatural element which it contains ; but in ' The Mysteries of Udolpho, a romance,' the mysteries are all finally attributed to natural causes, and ' The Monastery,' though in its pages unsparing use was made of the White Lady, was not for that reason differentiated from the other novels of the series to which it belongs. ' The Recess,' by the sisters Lee, might well be called a romance from the license which it takes with historical characters, but the Waverley novels were never supposed to be free from that fault. A novel, it may be said, deals with character, but no novel can show more careful character-drawing than ' The Blithedale Romance,' and there is nothing more super- natural or romantic in it than a socialistic community. And wc may fairly use the dramatic field, because all novels more or less partake of the character of the drama. A novel, it is almost needless to say, need not be so dramatic as a drama. The latter, as it appeals to the eye as well as to the ear, and has to make its effect in INTRODUCTORY 1 3 a much shorter period, depends more upon striking situations. The novel, moreover, has not been subjected to the same extent to the unities of time and place. But many of the greatest dramas have flagrantly broken them, and when all limitations are allowed, it remains true that the qualities that are necessary to produce a good drama are approximately the same qualities that are necessary for a good novel. The object of both is to tell a story, and to tell it in an attractive way ; both are occupied with the representation of life and the delinea- tion of character. Not that it follows that a good novel will be easily dramatized, because the situations may not occur at the proper intervals for an adaptation into scenes and acts, they may not be sufficiently frequent or suffi- ciently pictorial ; but in so far as it is a good novel, the situations, when they do occur, must be dramatic enough to leave a definite impress on the mind, the story, when told, must have so much in common with a drama that it can be viewed as a connected whole. The adventures of Gil Bias fail, it is true, when tried by this criterion. Any other series of adventures might •equally well have led up to the castle of Lirias 14 THACKERAY : A STUDY and the patent of nobility, and, though the book affords much of the most deHghtful reading, it is impossible to remember anything more of it than that the hero fell among robbers, spent some time with the actors, and served rather longer with the Count Duke than with the Archbishop of Granada. The book contains enough incident and imagination to make half- a-dozen novels, but it is just because it leaves no definite or connected impression upon the mind that, though it has received the seal of posterity's approbation, and has as much likeli- hood of immortality as any disconnected story that was ever written, the title of novel has generally been withheld from it. We have, then, in attempting to estimate the value of Thackeray's works, to keep the example of the great classics constantly before us, the example of those classics, that is, who have occupied themselves with the representation of life. And in making any attempt of the kind, w^e might at once considerably lighten our task by discarding all those tales and sketches which were written as mere journeyman's work, and which are clearly ephemeral. We might at once, without any compunction, discard ten or INTRODUCTORY I 5 twelve volumes, and at the same time do a real service to Thackeraj^ for no author is helped by having to carry a load of old magazine literature along with him. By this means we might lighten our task, but we should probably miss the object of it. The early works of every author, his essays and imperfect attempts, are of considerable service to those who would understand his character and genius. And of no author is this more true than of Thackeray. There have been authors who at a certain period of their career have entirely changed their manner of working, so that it would almost seem that they came to look at the world from the opposite point of view to that from which they had started. Thackeray in later life modified his attitude, but there is no abrupt transition. One of his latest works was a rehabilitation of one of his earliest sketches, and one of the catastrophes in that book of many catastrophes, 'The Newcomes,' was borrowed from the turning incident in ' The Amours of Mr, Deuceace.' ^ The Marquis of T- Cf. the attack upon Deuceace, by which he lost his hand, and the duel of which Lord Kew was the victim. I 6 THACKERAY: A STUDY Farintosh was taken as a peg for the sermon he began to preach in The Hoggarty Diamond.' The lot of Catherine, the heroine of his first story, is cast among thieves. Denis Duval, the hero of his last, is the son of a smuggler. The moral of all his earlier stories is to be found in ' Vanity Fair.' Thackeray had three distinct periods, but they are periods which illustrate each other. First, there is the period before ' Vanity Fair,' the period of his shorter stories, which fore- shadow both his first important book, and in a lesser degree ' Pendennis,' ' Esmond,' and ' The Newcomes.' Then there is the period of 'Van- ity Fair,' in which he gathered up and used with greater effect all the qualities that had gone to the making of his earlier tales ; and after that there is what may properly be called the period of ' Pendennis,' for it was in ' Pendennis ' that he first adopted the larger and humaner manner that was to ripen in ' Esmond ' and ' The Newcomes.' But the three periods, though they are quite clearly marked, overlap. In the year in which ' Vanity Fair' was pro- duced, he was still writing ' A Little Dinner at Timmins's,' which appeared as a kind of belated INTRODUCTORY I 7 appendix to * The Book of Snobs.' The year that saw the completion of ' Pendennis ' gave him time to write * The Kickleburys on the Rhine,' a story quite in the method of ' Vanity Fair,' It follows, then, that a writer like Thackeray, who is throughout his career so true to himself, cannot properly be judged by samples. There is no book of his so bad that it does not bear some likeness to his best, and but one so good that it does not remind the reader of how far from his best it was possible for him to fall away. Concealed behind an attitude that varies from pity to mockery, and from mirth to tears, hid behind a multitude of characters in reality astonishingly diverse, there lies a sameness so provoking that there remains nothing which it is allowable to discard. Thackeray was a man- nerist, and of most mannerists one book is as good as all. He, almost alone, was the possessor of a manner which, though seldom varying in essentials, abounds in variety. Between his best book and his worst there is a surprising distance. With most authors who have left a body of work of widely differing degrees of C l8 THACKERAY: A STUDY excellence, it is possible to discard something ; he, almost alone, remains amid his differences essentially the same. To borrow a phrase from Mr. Arnold, " the real Thackeray " is not to be found by any process of selection. CHAPTER I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' Few authors have suffered more than Thack- eray from the republication of stories that would not live by themselves ; but the industry of disciples must stop somewhere, and the twenty- four volumes already published do not contain all that he wrote. Neither the title nor the subject of his first story are known, but he appears in a drawing of Maclise's, as one of the contributors to 'Fraser' in 1835, and before that he wrote for, and lost much money by, a transitory paper called ' The National Standard.' But the first work of any importance upon which we find him engaged is ' The Memoirs of Mr. C. J. Yellowplush, sometime footman in many genteel families.' There are two tales worth notice in the Memoirs, ' Miss Shum's Husband,' and 'The Amours of Mr. Deuceace.' 20 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. The hero of the first is a crossing-sweeper by profession, who plays the gentleman of small means in the evening, at a tumble-down lodging in John Street. The backbone of the story is a situation of which Thackeray did not weary till the period of Pendennis, the situation, in some form or other, of Cinderella and her sisters. It is a comparatively simple way of providing a heroine, all that is necessary being to place a spiritless and amiable young woman amid vulgar surroundings. However uninteresting in herself, she excites interest by virtue of the juxtaposi- tion. It is the wicked sisters that make us desire the prince for the little kitchen-wench, not the humility with which she receives their blows. The character of Mary Shum, as that of Caroline in the ' Shabby Genteel Story,' is hardly drawn at all ; they shine, where every- thing else is vulgar and mean, not by their virtues but by their nothingness. Many years later, in a far longer story, Thackeray tried to arouse interest in Amelia by contrasting her with Becky, and when this was found to be insufficient, by vulgarizing the characters of her parents. But it is easy to see that he grew tired of the negative doll he had created, and, from I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 21 his not recurring to the artifice after ' Vanity- Fair,' that he came to acknowledge his mistake. The truth is that if we consent to be interested in Cinderella, it is because the story is so slight that we never take the trouble to analyze the character at all. The artifice, though it may pass in a sketch, is quite unsuited for a work of a more important kind. Puppets, no doubt, have been introduced into the greatest works of imagination, but it is not for the purpose of shining. On the contrary, it is that they may- afford a background from which the more brilliant characters may stand out in relief. For the rest, Mr. Yellowplush tells his story with much of that humour which consists in bad spelling and the alliance of pretentiousness and poverty. * The Amours of Mr. Deuceace ' is an effort of a more ambitious nature. It is the story of the career of a gambler, considerably more highly placed in society than Mr. Yellowplush's last master, but possessing none of the advan- tages that rank and education are supposed to confer. The portrait is said to be drawn from nature, Thackeray having actually been the " pigeon " of the tale ; but for the subsequent 22 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. career of Mr. Deuceace, recourse has been had to the imagination. The story is told with great skill. We find ourselves following, with close attention, the career of a number of characters, in not one of whom we have the least interest. We are glad when Mr. Deuceace steals his four thousand pounds, we are quite satisfied that he should be maimed, and we rather enjoy the triumph which his worthless parent finally gains over him. The story, which was meant to be highly moral, is written in so low a tone that it is difficult to have a moral idea in connection with it. Mr. Dawkins is a foolish snob, Mr. Blewitt is as unprincipled as Mr. Deuceace, and the Earl of Crabs is the despicable prototype of the Marquis of Steyne. Of the female char- acters one is merely unfortunate and contempt- ible, but the other hunts for a title and attempts a murder. And even Mr. Yellowplush betrays the interests of his rascally employer. There is nothing for the mind to rest upon except the conflicting schemes of the disreputable crew, but so well is the story told that though we are indifferent as to which of the schemes is ultimately successful, we retain our interest in the denouement. Thackeray's intention was to I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 23 show that the profession of the gambler was as hurtful to himself as to his associates ; but in his effort to effect this he so crowded his canvas with vice and folly that he left little room for the moral sentiments to have play, and the chief impression we derive from the book is that Mr. Deuceace was no worse than his neighbours. The most remarkable thing about the two stories is the extraordinary care and patience with which the meanest actions are portrayed, and the absence of any sentiment more generous than the reflection of the runaway footman, with which the second story closes — " Deuceace turned round. I see his face now — the face of a devvle of hell ! First he lookt towards the carridge and pinted to it with his maimed arm ; then he raised the other, and struck the woman by his side. She fell, scream- ing. Poor thing, poor thing ! " Surely no moralist ever made a more unfortu- nate start than Thackeray with ' The Memoirs of Mr. Yellowplush.' In the next year or two there appeared another story of a somewhat similar character, which is open in some degree to the same objections. 24 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. It also was written with an avowed purpose, and as the purpose was not so definite as that which inspired ' The Amours of Mr. Deuceace,' and indeed was almost banal in its simplicity, it sufficiently served the object of the author. Bulwer Lytton and Harrison Ainsworth had attracted the attention of the public with novels of the class of * Eugene Aram,' ' Dick Turpin,' and ' Jack Sheppard,' and at the same time had excited the indignation of Thackeray, who was anxious to show to the world how " disgusting would be the records of thieves, cheats, and murderers, if their doings and language were described according to their nature, instead of being handled in such a way as to create sympathy, and therefore imitation." ^ The result was a story in which thieves and murderers were shown to be commonly very bad people indeed, and if the proposition could ever have been doubted, he may be said to have proved it. At the end of ' Catherine,' he makes I key Solomons, its supposed author, remark, " Be it granted Solomons is dull, but don't attack his morality." The wonder is that he should ever have thought it necessary to use such language ^ Trollope's ' Thackeray.' I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 25 in connection with it. The tendency of the story is not immoral, — the tendency of nothing that Thackeray ever wrote was immoral, — but neither is it moral. It was written to serve a moral purpose, but there is no opportunity in the whole of it for the exercise of morality. To say that there are some completely bad people in the world is not to utter a moral sentiment, it is merely to be guilty of a slightly uncharitable truism. Nor is it immoral for Shakespeare to refuse to paint Macbeth as wholly black, or for Scott to give to Rob Roy the qualities of courage and magnanimity. To give to a man who com- mits murder some of the finer feelings was no more a fault in Lytton ; and Ainsworth was entitled to assume that a man might be a high- wayman and at the same time dashing and debonair. Eugene Aram no doubt is a stilted character, and the almost forgotten romances of * Jack Sheppard ' and ' Dick Turpin ' have now few admirers left. If in them vice was painted so as to allure, though it is difficult to imagine what reasonable being could have been allured by them, in so far they were immoral. But they were not immoral because they gave a medley of faults and excellences to the same 26 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. character, any more than ' Catherine ' is moral merely because it depicts vice in unattractive colours ; if that were so the ' Newgate Calendar ' would be a moral production. Morality does not exist by the mere absence of immorality. In books, it is by the reasoned alternation of good and evil that the moral effect is produced. Faithful to the object with which he set out, Thackeray has enlivened the prevailing sombre- ness of ' Catherine' with few redeeming traits of character, and the latter half of the book is too sordid for the purposes of fiction ; but the tale, as Mr. Trollope has remarked, is rendered toler- able by the art with which it is narrated. There are few more characteristic bits of irony to be found in Thackeray than Count Galgenstein's reception of his offspring, and the saturnine playfulness with which the career of Captain Brock is chronicled, was the samts that enabled his creator, five years afterwards, to write that ' Jonathan Wild ' of the nineteenth century, ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon.' But ' Catherine ' and ' The Memoirs of Mr. Yellowplush ' were not the only result of the four years between 1837 and 1841. With that indolent industry for which he was famous. I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 2/ Thackeray poured out a succession of sketches and novelettes, only two of them, however, ' A Shabby Genteel Story' and 'The Great Hog- garty Diamond,' possessing more than a bio- graphical interest. ' The Tremendous Adventures of Major Gahagan ' are nearly as broad farce as those of Baron Munchausen. The story is parody all through, and even the artifice of exactness, by which in the most preposterous tale an impres- sion of truth is conveyed, comes in for its share of caricature. " I aimed so true," says the Major, " that one hundred and seventeen best Spanish olives were lodged in a lump in the face of the unhappy Loll Mahommed." ' The Fatal Book ' and ' Cox's Diary ' are also humor- ous efforts. There is some resemblance between the two stories, and it is satisfactory that in the treatment of the later there is a distinct advance in good-nature. There is a certain harshness in our being invited to laugh broadly at the ac- cumulated misfortunes of the idiot Stubbs, and his treatment of his mother is too wicked to be in keeping with his farcical character. But the ups and downs of Mr. Cox, and his final anchor- age in a station suited to him, are a justifiable 28 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. subject for humour. With the happy philosophy that induces Mr. Cox to acknowledge that "he is like the Swish people, and can't flourish out of his native hair," and with his daughter com- fortably paired with Mr. Crump, the comical barber can afford to let us laugh at his many absurdities. ' The Bedford Row Conspiracy ' is a more serious tale, that brings little credit to its author. The plot, which was borrowed, is extremely unfortunate, the happiness of the young couple being brought about by a trick which does not deserve a reward. The dramatis personae are nearly all self-seeking nonentities, and the gravity of the charges preferred against society in the tale is quite out of proportion to its im- portance. Forty pages suffice to tell us that there are old women without dignity, and young women without reserve, that there is nothing unusual in two old people keeping an assignation, or in a small bevy of men and women of all ages listening at a keyhole, that there are many toadies and liars in the world, and that political life is corrupt. ' Captain Rook ' and ' The Fashionable Authoress ' are studies of the same class. We learn here also that there are many I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 29 people who swindle, and many who are swindled, and an additional fact, which does not indeed surprise us, that if an author or authoress has rank or power, their productions are not likely to be less favourably reviewed. ' The Paris Sketch-Book ' is a more remark- able production. It is a curious but instructive medley of tales, translations, and reflections. Here we find every mood of Thackeray's young days represented, and the critic who would understand what kind of man it was who wrote ' Barry Lyndon ' and ' Vanity Fair ' has no more to do than to study it. The same hand which drew Messrs. Cox and Dawkins drew Mr. Pogson. The same taste that made it possible to write ' Catherine,' was responsible for Car- touche and the story of Mary Ancel. The same moralizing tendency which made Thackeray indignant with Bulwer Lytton, dictated the review of the fashionable novels of France. The same feeling that gives its pathos to the homely little tragedy in the ' Hoggarty Diamond,' Led him to write the charming morality of Beatrice Merger, and gave occasion for the attack on George Sand, The gambler's death- bed is reminiscent of Mr. Deuceace, and the 30 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. same cynicism which induced him to chronicle the pity of Mr. Yellowplush, puts an epitaph into the mouth of the landlady. It is with some feelings of curiosity that we turn to the last paper in the book. Here surely (' Meditations at Versailles ') we shall find some- thing new. The palace of the greatest monarchy of modern times must surely awaken other reflections than a druggist out for a holiday,^ a swindler,^ or a thief.^ Here at least have been men as great, and feelings and passions as ennobling, as any in the world. But our expect- ations are doomed to be disappointed. Amid the crowd of its memories, what arrests his attention is that the courtiers desert Louis XV. on his death-bed, as meaner servants desert their masters ; and the Grand Monarque himself gives rise to no other idea, than that as a journey- man may be tricked out to pass for a gentleman, so a puppet may be painted and padded to look like a king. " It is curious," he writes, " to see how much precise majesty there is in that figure 1 Mr. Pogson, in ' A Caution to Travellers.' 2 The Hon. A. P. Deuceace, in 'The Amours of Mr. Deuceace.' 2 Mr. Macshane, in ' Catherine.' I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 3 1 of Ludovicus Rex. In the plate opposite we have endeavoured to make the exact calculation. The idea of kingly dignity is equally strong in the two outer figures ; and you see at once that majesty is made out of the wig, the high-heeled shoes, and cloak all fleurs-de-lis bespangled. As for the little, lean, shrivelled, paunchy old man of five feet two, in a jacket and breeches, there is no majesty in him at any rate ; and yet he has just stepped out of that very suit of clothes. Put the wig and shoes on him, and he is six feet high ; — the other fripperies, and he stands before you majestic, imperial, and heroic ! Thus do barbers and cobblers make the gods that wc worship." When this is the treatment that Louis XIV. receives, it is no matter for surprise that the Second Funeral of Napoleon should not awake in Thackeray any sentiments of admiration or of awe, but that he should feel himself impelled to write a burlesque account of the ceremony is more than the ' Meditations at Versailles ' had given us reason to expect. The ' Meditations at Versailles ' were certainly not those to which we should have anticipated the place would give birth, but the criticisms upon Louis XIV., when 32 THACKERAY : A- STUDY CH. made, are quite easy to understand. Great as he was, Louis was more the centre of a vast system than the creator of it ; the throne that was his by right of birth was already one of the most distinguished in Europe, and it is historically true that not only was his court a court of pomp and parade, but also that an excessive respect was paid to the central figure within it. The criticism is an unjust caricature but had the paper been entitled ' Meditations upon Louis XIV.,' that would have been all that was to be said about it. None of the circumstances, however, which go to justify in a slight degree his references to Louis XIV. assist us to explain his attitude regarding Napoleon, Napoleon began life as a private man ; he is not only the central figure in the nineteenth century, but he was the creator of modern France. His court was more like the head-quarters of a general than the seat of a king, and there was no more pomp and parade in it than is inseparable from any court, ancient or m.odcrn. There is no story more splendid in history than that of his rise and fall. It was politically necessary after Waterloo that his people should desert him, but the fact of their I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 33 desertion remains. He might well be excused if he imagined, as he was sinking to an undis- tinguished grave in St. Helena, that the country for which he had done so much had treated him with ingratitude. It was not till nearly twenty years afterwards, when the political aspect of affairs had changed, that his countrymen determined to testify, as best they could, their regard for his memory. The means that suggested itself was to provide a more honourable sepulture for his remains. The preparations may have been insufficient, but there could hardly have been an occasion more solemn. From Austerlitz to St. Helena, from St. Helena to the Invalides, — there have been few careers, or few reputations, with transi- tions more abrupt, few that could better furnish a text for a sermon on the evanescent character of existence, or point more sharply the contrast between the ambitious achievements of man and the essential nothingness of his busy and anxious life. But Thackeray, from the time when the expedition sets out, under the command of the Prince de Joinville, to the time when, " My dear Miss Smith, the great Napoleon was buried," D 34 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. assails the ceremony with ridicule. At the grave at St. Helena, indeed, he allows another to tell the story, but at the Invalides he has no such reticence. The procession is described as if it were a scene from a pantomime, and the narrative is interspersed with such stage direc- tions as, " Enter a fat priest who bustles up to the drum-major," or such curiously vial a propos reflections as, " The very fact of a squeeze dissi- pates all solemnity " ; but he reserves the brunt of his raillery for the Q^^y that surmounted the funeral car. If it were usual to be critical in such things, it is probable that the effigy was a mistake ; but surely it is not usual to find a fit subject for ridicule in the trappings of a hearse. This is how Thackeray writes of it : — " His Majesty the Emperor and King reclined on his shield, with his head a little elevated. His Majesty's skull is voluminous, his forehead broad and large. We remarked that his Imperial Majesty's brow was of a yellowish colour, which appearance was also visible about the orbits of the eyes. He kept his eyelids constantly closed, by which we had the opportunity of observing that the upper lids were garnished with eye- lashes. Years and climate have effected upon the I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 35 face of this great monarch only a trifling altera- tion ; wc may say indeed that Time has touched his Imperial and Royal Majesty with the lightest feather in his wing. In the nose of the Conqueror of Austerlitz we remarked very little alteration ; it is of the beautiful shape which we remember it possessed five-and-twenty years since, ere unfortunate circumstances induced him to leave us for a while. The nostril and the tube of the nose appear to have undergone some slight alteration, but in examining a beloved object the eye of affection is perhaps too critical. Vive I'Empereur! the soldier of Marengo is among us again." Thackeray has his own excuse for this treat- ment of the subject. He protests, in effect, that one may ridicule the funeral without ridiculing the dead. No doubt it is perfectly possible, but Thackeray has not attempted to do it. He does not, it is true, ridicule the career of Napoleon, because even with his talents for caricature the task was quite beyond his capacity, but he ridicules Napoleon through his funeral. And even if wc allow his excuse, there was nothing ridiculous in the funeral itself If the pomp were not sufficiently magnificent to satisfy M. 36 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Thiers, Thackeray would not have had it more so ; and if he would, the fact that the prepar- ations were insufficient did not add to the humour of the occasion. The humour, on his own confession, must have consisted either in the removal of the body, or in its not being removed as quietly as possible. Reduced to this, the subject does not appear as particularly laughable ; but the truth of the matter is, that Thackeray, all through his life, was absolutely incapable of being impressed with those ideas of grandeur and majesty that produce so great an effect upon the rest of the world. In his later years there were none so quick to seize on the grandeur of simplicity, there were none who had a profounder idea of the majesty of virtue. Greatness, beauty, unselfishness ; — all the quali- ties which go to make a grand character, these he understood and admired. Before the sacred- ness of prayer, before a character as courageous and as simple as Scott's, he was the first to bow the knee ; but he seems never to have known what is meant by the word magnificent, or to have been dazzled by what is famous and splendid in life.^ His Prince in ' Esmond ' is 1 Cf., for an instance of this, his treatment of Rome, I B:EF0RE ' VANITY FAIR ' 37 royal, but he is not majestic ; and he judges of the four Georges as if they were English squires. He had an absolute genius for the historical novel, but it was the historical novel of private life. He never introduces us to a monarch, and hardly gets nearer a court than to tell us that Beatrix was a maid-of-honour, and that Captain Brock was presented. He was no chronicler of princes, and he seems with such labour to have come to the conclusion that a monarch is a man, that he resents the distinctions which a throne and a crown create. The same feelings are noticeable when he speaks of the petty princes of Germany, or of our landed aristocracy. The possession of a coronet is enough to provoke his resentment. At the idea of majesty all his hostility is incurred ; he begins at once to laugh or to sneer. When he comes to deal with the majestic and terrible Swift, he does not laugh indeed, — who could laugh at that tragedy ? — he is even surprised into an involuntary expression of admiration : — " So great a man he seems to me, that thinking of him is like thinking of an in the thirty-fifth chapter of ' The Newcomes,' with Hawthorne's, in the eleventh chapter of the second volume of ' The Marble Faun.' 38 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. empire falling," — but the larger part of his essay- is occupied in sneering at his religion, and mis- judging his genius ; and he drags him into ' Esmond ' ^ that he may call him a bully and a coward. It would indeed have been remarkable had it been otherwise. Had Thackeray been dazzled by the greatness of Louis XIV. or Napoleon, his character would have been even more com- plex than it is. Scott, it has been said with great critical truth, was equally at his ease with George IV. or Adam Purdie, equally at home with Queen Mary - or Jeanie Deans.^ The same man that, in ' Twenty Years After,' gave us Charles II. at the Hague, was able to depict with a charming tenderness of observation the bourgeois qualities of Goodman Buvat.* It is a commonplace that princes and peasants abso- lutely jostle each other in the pages of Shake- speare. But none of these authors ever drew anything that was merely squalid. Shakespeare has not the word in his vocabulary. The cabin of Meg Merrilees has none of the comforts of ^ ' Esmond,' Book iii., chap. v. 2 ' The Abbot.' ^ * The Heart of Midlothian.' ■* ' Le Chevalier d'Harmenthal.' I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 39 civilization, but who would hesitate to affirm that it is infinitely less contemptible and mean than the surroundings of Caroline Gann ? Dumas, Scott, or Shakespeare would not have understood, or if they had understood would have scorned to chronicle, the doings of the household which forms the subject of ' A Shabby Genteel Story.' From the cottage to the palace is only a step, but for the man who could look with unblinking eyes on the vulgar wickedness of Firmin,^ on the vulgar passion of Fitch,^ on the vulgar maternity of Mrs. Gann,^ Solomon in all his glory was no more than the naked Prince in the fairy tale, who, every one else thought, was clothed in the garments of majesty. It would be difficult to find anything favour- able to say of the book in which these persons appear. The reader may consent to be interested in the scheming wretches who surround Mr. Deuceace, and even in * Catherine ' the characters, once we allow that they will stick at nothing, act much as other selfish people do who have only their own ends to gain ; but in ' A Shabby Genteel Story' the atmosphere is impregnated 1 ' A Shabby Genteel Story.' 40 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. with a vulgarity so intense as to be brutal, and the laugh with which the sordid story is re- counted jars in our ears. It is not that satire offends ; it is that the methods of this satirist are offensive. Mankind, it may almost be said, appreciates abuse. The indignation that runs riot among the Yahoos forces us to receive the lesson in a thankful, if in a sorrowing spirit. We confess in church every Sunday that we are miserable sinners, and say over again the wonderful and penitent sentence that embraces the whole catalogue of crimes. But the lesson is accepted, and the admission is made, with anger and tears. Swift, it has been said, never threw filth except when he was angry. The remark is profound ; and we turn to demand from Thackeray what right he had to bring us into such company, unless he were very angry indeed. The gibe of the satirist is forgiven, because of the curse that follows and explains it ; but a laughter that has no pity in its mockery, that is neither merry nor scornful, cannot be forgiven, because it cannot be understood. No man ever rose from reading ' Gulliver's Travels ' without being either wiser or better. We close the ' Shabby Genteel Story ' with a shudder, I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 41 because we dare not allow ourselves to be ashamed of our species. It was at this period of Thackeray's life, just after the completion of this story, that his great sorrow befell him ; and the increased tenderness of some passages in ' The Great Hoggarty Diamond' may, no doubt, be traced to this cause. It was written at a time, he says in one of his letters, " when my heart was very soft and humble. Ich habe auch viel geliebt." But though this influence is noticeable, the manner remains very much the same. We are intro- duced again to " shabby-genteel " society, and there is quite the usual proportion of fools and knaves in the book. The plot is sufficiently simple. A young clerk has his head turned by the gift of a diamond pin, which not only draws attention to him, but induces him to live rather beyond his small means. This leads through the debtor's prison, and his wife's going out as a nurse, to the ultimate resuscitation of their small fortunes by the generosity of her employer. Partly because of the period at which it was written, and partly because there is to be found in it Thackeray's first serious attempt at the pathetic, the story has received much higher 42 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH, praise than it deserves. The characters are not drawn with a firm enough hand to provoke disgust, but it is only their insignificance that saves them. Mr. Brough, a pompous promoter of bubble companies, Miss Hoggarty, a quite incon- sistent old harridan, Gus Hawkins, a singularly rough piece of honesty, and the Misses Brough, who talk French and affect the airs of fashion, form the nucleus of a society whose acquaintance few would care to possess. Mr. Titmarsh himself is not a peculiarly attractive person, and his nick- name, " the West-Ender," gives a fair idea of the company which he frequents. The story is further garnished with a caricature portrait of an aristocratic menage, and winds up with the unnecessary incident of a frivolous attempt at seduction. But even with these unpromising materials, Thackeray has contrived to write a comparatively readable novel, and the troubles of Mr. Titmarsh and his young wife are told with some traces of that feeling which is so prominent a feature of his later work. " It was not, however," writes the autobiographical Titmarsh, " destined that she and her child should inhabit that little garret. We were to leave our lodgings on Monday morning ; but on I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR 43 Saturday evening the child was seized with convulsions, and all Sunday the mother watched and prayed for it ; but it pleased God to take the innocent infant from us, and on Sunday, at midnight, to lay it a corpse on its mother's bosom. Amen. We have other children, happy and well, now round about us, and from the father's heart the memory of this little thing has almost faded ; but I do believe that every day of her life the mother thinks of the first- born that was with her so short a while : many and many a time has she taken her daughter to the grave, in Saint Bride's, where he lies buried ; and she wears still at her neck a little, little lock of gold hair, which she took from the head of the infant as he lay smiling in his coffin. It has happened to me to forget the child's birthday, but to her never ; and often, in the midst of common talk, comes something that shows she is thinking of the child still, — some simple allu- sion that is inexpressibly affecting." Two other papers, * Going to see a Man hanged ' and an article on George Cruikshank, were also the product of this busy period. As to the former, there was no particular reason why Thackeray should have mixed himself up 44 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. with a controversial question, the different sides of which he does not appear to have studied. But the paper contains some graphic description, and represents fairly the popular view of the time. The review on Cruikshank was a kind office to an artist who was in danger of being neglected, and it is quite remarkable how, when he leaves fiction, he lays aside his prejudices, and his heart begins to expand. The article is full of discriminating, if lenient criticism, and a kindliness that in doing honour to Cruikshank does equal honour to its author. Even the spirited illustrations to the hated ' Jack Sheppard ' come in for their full measure of praise ; and every one who has had in his hand the queer old romances of Pierce Egan, and remembers what they were to our grandfathers, will appreciate the wise charity of the references to Bob Logic and Corinthian Tom. Seldom has an appeal for a brother genius been put more delicately or better than this : — " What labour has Mr. Cruikshank's been ! Week by week, for thirty years, to produce something new ; some smiling offspring of pain- ful labour, quite independent and distinct from its ten thousand jovial brethren ; in what hours of I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR 45 sorrow and ill-health to be told by the world, 'Make us laugh or you starve — Give us fresh fun ; we have eaten up the old and are hungry.' And all this he has been obliged to do — to wring laughter day by day, sometimes, perhaps, out of want, often certainly from ill-health or depression — to keep the fire of his brain per- petually alight ; for the greedy public will give it no leisure to cool. This he has done, and done well. He has told a thousand truths in as many strange and fascinating ways ; he has given a thousand new and pleasant thoughts to millions of people ; he has never used his wit dishonestly ; he has never, in all the exuberance of his frolicsome humour, caused a single painful or guilty blush ; how little do we think of the extraordinary power of this man, and how ungrateful we are to him ! " More than twelve years afterwards, he was occupied in doing a similar service for Leech, but the later article, though excellent, as was all the work of that period, does not exceed the former in grace. Neither paper pretends to be a complete critical estimate of its subject. They both remain as perfect examples of the manner in which to teach a careless public how to admire. 46 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Much of the same good-nature is evident in ' The Confessions and Professions of Mr. Fitz- boodle,' the least unimportant of the stray- works which occupied 1S42. George Fitzboodle is a man about town, and his confessions are the narrative of the love-affairs of his youth. He introduces himself with much bonJioinie : — " What is the simple deduction to be drawn from this truth.?"— the truth that Mr. Fitz- boodle was more than a match for " these literary fellows " — " Why, this — that a man to be amusing and well-informed has no need of books at all, and had much better go to the world and to men for his knowledge. There was Ulysses, now, the Greek fellow engaged in the Trojan war, as I dare say you know. Well, he was the cleverest man possible, and how .-' From having seen men and cities, their manners noted and their realms surveyed, to be sure. So have I. I have been in every capital, and can order a dinner in any language in Europe." It is in this spirit that Mr. Fitzboodle rattles on, with no very clear idea of the distinction in things, but always self-satisfied and jovial. It is a style which admirably suits the little historiettes of Mary, Dorothea, and Ottilia. « BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 47 With great self-complacency he tells us how he lost Mary on account of his affection for tobacco, Dorothea through a disastrous tumble at a ball, and Ottilia because he discovered that she was a glutton. Besides this, there are glimpses of the court of Pumpernickel, and some of Ottilia's peculiarities were reproduced in Blanche Amory. Blanche also ate too much, but unlike Ottilia she had the sense to do it in private, and Ottilia scribbles verses that if they were not so good would remind us of ' Mes Larmes ' : — "All, happy childish tales — of knight and faerie ! I waken from my dreams — but there's nev er a knight for me. I waken from my dreams — and wish that I could be A child by the old hall fire — upon my nurse's knee." The character is well kept up in the ridiculous * Professions,' and fairly preserved in ' Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berry,' but it is difficult to imagine what induced Thackeray to credit Mr. Fitz- boodle with the authorship of ' The Ravens- wing.' The humorous idler who is at once the historian and the hero of his own trifles had no motive for telling it, and a club-lounger could not have had any knowledge of the society 48 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. which it professes to depict. There is no reason for attempting to deny what is so palpable, that the novel was written by the author of 'A Shabby Genteel Story ' and ' The Great Hog- garty Diamond.' The story is sad enough in itself. Morgiana Crump, the daughter of the landlord of the Bootjack, refuses both the selfish, though passionately devoted Eglantine, and the genuine Mr. Woolsey, preferring the attractions of a certain Captain Walker, whose name does not appear in the Army List. She pays the penalty of her folly, and her husband, who lives on her voice, and turns out to be a swindler and a bankrupt, returns her affection with ill-usage. It is only in a postscript that we are told that she lived to survive him, and passed the re- mainder of her days as the respectable Mrs. Woolsey, The characters, good, bad, and in- different (and there is only one that is good), are so deplorably vulgar as to become, long before the end of the book, intolerably weari- some. But that is not how Thackeray regards them. To him they are a constant source of amusement, and their escapades and misfortunes amazingly diverting. He tells us that Mrs. Crump was a retired ballet-dancer, and to him I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 49 it is an excellent joke ; that Mr. Woolsey was a tailor, and for him thenceforward his virtues are merely an occasion for ridicule ; that Mr. Eglantine was a hairdresser, and he bids us agree with him that it is the funniest thing in the world. Indeed, so uncontrollably merry is he, that we are constrained to laugh in spite of ourselves ; but we pause to consider whether we have laughed at a man for being a tradesman, or at a tradesman for falling in love. The next story, ' Dennis Hoggarty's Wife,' has a widely different treatment accorded to it. It is a short and gruesome study of the relations between an honest simpleton and the worthless woman whom he has married, but it hardly repays the trouble of reading, and throws no new light on Thackeray's character. The same remark might almost be made about * The Irish Sketch-Book,' which, however, of its kind is exceedingly well done. But guide-books and itineraries, be they ever so industrious and painstaking, must of their nature have little interest, except for the generation for which they are written. Wordsworth's ' Guide to the Lake District,' no doubt, will continue to be read, but then not only is it a model of 50 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. English classical prose, but it contains some of the most philosophical reflections upon scenery that have ever appeared. But from the inform- ation that was amassed in ' The Irish Sketch- Book,' Thackeray seldom takes the trouble to derive a general conclusion, and there are none of those wide disquisitions upon society and government, which the investigation of a par- ticular country suggests to writers of the class of De Tocqueville and M. Taine. It is not easy even to get an accurate idea from it of his views on Ireland itself. At one moment he seems to incline to the opinion that there is a large class in a state of apparently helpless poverty, at another to the more optimistic one, that the country was generally advancing, and that we had good reason to hope for the best. There is a legend that he wrote a preface for the second edition, advocating the disestablishment of the Irish Church, and the repeal of the Union.^ This preface, however, has not appeared. If it was ever written, it must have fitted in oddly with some other parts of the work. But though ' The Irish Sketch-Book ' has few attractions for ' ' The Life of Thackeray,' p. 117, Great Writers Series. Herman Merivale and Frank T. Marzials. I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 51 the general reader, neither the traveller nor the historian can afford to neglect it ; and there arc many passages which help the critic of Thack- eray's novels more thoroughly to understand his treatment of the Irish. ' Little Travels and Roadside Sketches,' though only about a tenth part of the length, is also very much of a guide-book, but the author is more inclined to moralize upon what he observes, and here and there there is a touch of his ironical manner. " An instance of honesty," he remarks, " may be mentioned with applause. The writer lost a pocket-book containing a pass- port and a couple of modest ten-pound notes. The person who found the portfolio ingeniously put it into the box of the post-office, and it was faithfully restored to the owner ; but somehow the two ten-pound notes were absent. It was, however, a great comfort to get the passport and the pocket-book, which must be worth about ninepence." And again, writing of his doings at the Hospital of Bruges, " The box-bearer did not seem at first willing to accept our donation — we were strangers and heretics ; however, I held out my hand, and he came perforce as it were. Indeed it had only a franc in it ; but que voulez- 52 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. voiis ? I had been drinking a bottle of Rhine wine that day, and how was I to afford more ? The Rhine wine is dear in this country, and costs four francs a bottle." The writer who spoke in this tone of the motives that prompted his own good actions, was not likely, when he came to more serious work, to be much impressed with the feelings that are responsible for the little kindnesses of everyday life. In 1844, when Thackeray was forty-one years of age, ' Barry Lyndon ' was published ; and ' The Next French Revolution,' a burlesque which appeared about the same time, is interest- ing, though a trifle, as showing how completely he had caught the art of telling a fictitious story with a semblance of truth. The seriousness of the narrator is preserved in a wonderful manner, and the attitude maintained throughout is one of judicial calm. But the incidents are so intention- ally monstrous that no skill could induce us even for a moment actually to believe in them. Barry Lyndon's adventures, on the contrary, though it is true they are not the most probable, do not exceed the bounds of probability ; and the art, which is conspicuous in ' The Next French Revolution,' is here in such complete perfection, » BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 53 that under its spell we would have no hesitation in believing a tale fifty times less probable. Here indeed we have "old friends with new faces." Over and over again Thackeray had shown the public that out of the most un- fortunate materials he could construct a story that would interest, even when it did not please, and that would amuse even when it excited disgust. But no one was ever disgusted at ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon.' It is as pleasant a story of its kind as ever excited the mirth, or absorbed the interest of a reader. Already he had shown that he had patience to deal with every species of rascal, and with every variety of vice, a patience so vast indeed that in many cases it exceeded that of his audience. But Redmond Barry might recount his rascalities for €ver, and his audience would only be thankful. Often he had told us that gambling was a vice, that mercenary marriages invariably led to mis- fortune, and that brutality was almost a crime ; but we scarcely troubled to listen to the sermon, and we hastened to forget the text. ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon ' contains all these moral sentiments, yet we not only listen to them with eagerness, but they impress themselves on 54 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH„ the mind. In ' Catherine ' and 'The Amours of Mr. Deuceace/ he had preached to unheeding ears that there were wicked people in the world, and that it behoved us to beware of them ; — we at once acknowledge that Redmond Barry is a bad man, because we recognize that he is human. Four years before, Thackeray had shouted from the housetops that it was the height of morality to talk about rascals, and here certainly we have rascality enough and to spare. But he has completely unlearned the undefensible part of his lesson, and in giving to Redmond Barry a medley of qualities, good as well as bad, though no doubt a preponderating quality of evil, he has adopted the very method which, with un- critical haste, he had fastened on as the fault of Ainsworth and Lytton. But no work was ever more unlike ' Jack Sheppard ' and * Dick Turpin,' because from the real faults of these novels, from their over-colouring and want of proportion, he was preserved by a kind of artistic intuition. Many of the characters in ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon' had been seen before, and all its component parts, to the student of Thackeray, were tolerably familiar, but he had never sfiven more than a foretaste of its match- ^ BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 55 less composition. Yet great as the book is, and with all its merits, it takes rank rather as a tour de force than as a work of the highest order. And to see that this is so, it is only necessary to glance for a moment at things not comparable indeed, but in this connection instructive, at three or four of the best works of imagination. Arthur Dimmesdale, in ' The Scarlet Letter,' is faulty and weak, but though he has allowed another to suffer for him, he remains capable of an act of heroic self-sacrifice. Miriam, in ' The Marble Faun,' gives way to gusts of passion, but who does not appreciate the greatness of her character and the warmth of her heart 1 Even Tom Jones, pleasure-loving and careless as he is, keeps bright the pure image of Sophia. And these are only the central, and in two cases the tragic characters of the books which they adorn. What a host of others there is, who have not an evil thought, and never did anything but a good action. For any people at all resembling Hilda, or the kind Squire Allworthy, we might search ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon ' in vain. In- deed it may be conscientiously said, that there is not a good man or a good woman to be found in its pages. There are some characters, it is $6 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. true, that are not utterly wicked, but there is none in whom vice does not immensely pre- dominate over virtue. It would be a poor standard to set up for the masterpieces of our language to say that it was enough that vice should be charitably treated. But if that were the standard, ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon ' would be something more than a remarkable achievement, and Thackeray would have had to wait no longer before being hailed as a classic. From the first page to the last, the book sparkles with vivacity, and it was a stroke of genius which induced its author to allow the reckless hero to tell his own story, — a hazardous experiment always from the difficulty of the task, but in this instance crowned with complete success. It is the use of this artifice which makes the novel, though in many ways com- parable with, in many ways so immeasurably the superior of ' Jonathan Wild.' It might indeed almost be laid down as an axiom, that a good man should never write an autobiography, and that a bad one should himself tell his own reminiscences. A virtuous man who recounts his own virtues can hardly escape the charges of vain-glory and self-satisfaction, and a writer I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 57 who respects the opinion of the pubh'c must, of necessity, in following the career of a scamp, reprehend the course of conduct which is pur- sued. This is why Colonel Esmond, though admirable, does not take captive our admiration, and why Fielding, though a perfect master of irony, has in ' Jonathan Wild ' many sketches of ironical narrative that are a little too obvious and thin. 'Jonathan Wild' has some ad- vantages over ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon.' It contains the character of Heartfree, whose honesty, though a little stagey, forms an ex- cellent foil to the excesses of the hero of the book, and there are passages in it of a humour so broad, so Rabelaisian in their grasp, as to be quite beyond anything of the kind that Thackeray ever attempted. But ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon ' possesses a 7iaivete far more surprising, as when we find Mr. Barry repri- manding, with an imperturbable seriousness, the very faults in others which he has just been committing ; and the tenderness of the blubber- ing scoundrel has in it something quite essen- tially modern. This is how he writes of the fatal accident to his son, to whom he had guaranteed a " good flogging " if he mounted an unbroken 58 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. pony, which when trained he had intended to give him : — " I took a great horse-whip and galloped after him in a rage, swearing I would keep my promise. But heaven forgive me ! I little thought of it, when at three miles from home I met a sad procession coming towards me : peasants moaning and howling as our Irish do, the black horse led by the hand, and, on a door that some of the folks carried, my poor dear, dear little boy. There he lay in his little boots and spurs, and his little coat of scarlet and gold. His dear face was quite white, and he smiled as he held a hand out to me, and said, painfully, * You won't whip me, will you, papa ? ' I could only burst into tears in reply. I have seen many and many a man dying, and there's a look about the eyes which you cannot mistake. There was a little drummer-boy I was fond of who was hit down before my company at Kuhnersdorf; when I ran up to offer him some water, he looked exactly like my dear Bryan then did — there's no mistaking that awful look of the eyes." The child is taken home, and lies in a help- less condition for two days : — " During this time the dear angel's temper seemed quite to change : I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 59- he asked his mother and me pardon for any act of disobedience he had been guilty of towards us ; he said often he should Hke to see his brother Bulh'ngdon. ' Bully was better than you, papa,' he said ; ' he used not to swear so, and he told and taught me many good things while you were away.' And, taking a hand of his mother and mine in each of his little clammy ones, he begged us not to quarrel so, but love each other, so that we might meet again in heaven, where Bully told him quarrelsome people never went. His mother was very much affected by these admonitions from the poor suffering angel's mouth ; and I was so too. I wish she had enabled me to keep the counsel which the dying boy gave us." How admirably the whole thing is done : the man's tears for the loss of his offspring, his last hope in life, as he sadly and beautifully calls him ; and with what truth he is made to dash the tears away, and turn round with a snarl on poor Lady Lyndon. Thackeray was too well acquainted with the nature of such men, — and there are many of them, though few so bad as Redmond Barry, — not to know that the last thing that the tragedy of their lives 60 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. would induce them to confess to, is a feeling of remorse. The two next years were, it is not remarkable to find, somewhat barren in matters of pro- duction. The ' Legend of the Rhine,' a bur- lesque of the historical romance, is little more than a first study for ' Rebecca and Rowena,' and is too long to be as effective as the better- known parodies collected under the title of ' Punch's Prize Novelists.' The ' Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairo ' is more readable than ' The Irish Sketch-Book,' from the greater variety of the objects which are described, but the author is not so much at home as he was in Dublin or Limerick, and some of the remarks upon scenes which usually call up historical associations are bald and jejune. The splendour of Versailles irritated him, and he is annoyed with the seraglio because it is not magnificent enough. He has nothing more to say of the Pyramids than that they are surrounded by a crowd of dirty ruffians, and when the Sultan passes he tries to comfort himself by reflecting that he must be nearly the most miserable of men. In short, he finds a cause of quarrel with everything that could by any possibility I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 6l awaken the sentiment of awe, or dazzle the imagination. This was, however, his practice ; but so blinded is he by annoyance, that when other people take to pointing his moral, he does not stop to perceive it. " What a chival- rous absurdity," he writes, " is the banner of some high and mighty prince, hanging over his stall in Windsor Chapel, when you think of the purpose for which men are supposed to assemble there ! The Church of the Knights of St. John is paved over with sprawling heraldic devices of the dead gentlemen of the dead order ; as if in the next world they expected to take rank in uniformity with their pedigrees, and would be marshalled into heaven according to the orders of precedence." The heraldic devices are there for no such purpose. They are there partly to preserve the memory of the dead, as old Mortality re-cut the names on the tombstones of people of lower rank, and partly to point, as they do very effectively, the mutability of human affairs. As to the flags in St. George's Chapel, they are there not only to mark in a more artistic manner than letters can do the seats of the separate knights, but also as a visible sign, that there prince and peasant ■62 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. alike acknowledge a majesty before which all distinctions are forgotten. In a later page, Thackeray gives a very fair sample of one of the ways of looking at life that were to become so familiar in ' The Book of Snobs' and its attendant productions. He is describing the tumble-down condition of sleepy old Rhodes. "A ragged squad of Turkish soldiers lolled about the gate ; a couple of boys on a donkey ; a grinning slave on a mule ; a pair of women flapping along in yellow papooshes ; a basket-maker sitting under an antique carved portal, and chanting or howling as he plaited his osiers ; a peaceful well of water, at which knights' chargers had drunk, and at which the double- boyed donkey was now refreshing himself — would have made a pretty picture for a senti- mental artist. As he sits and endeavours to make a sketch of this plaintive little comedy, a shabby dignitary of the island comes clatteringly by on a thirty-shilling horse, and two or three of the ragged soldiers leave their pipes to salute him as he passes under the Gothic archway." The peculiarity of the passage lies in the fact that he mentions the probable value of the horse, when any other adjective would have done as I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 63 well as the adjective of price. Had he substi- tuted some such expression as ' a broken-down horse,' the romance of the delicate piece of description would have been preserved, and a writer who falls into traps of this kind with facility must have a more than ordinarily keen eye for the commercial aspect of things. But money and its influence upon society was a subject that always had a strange fascination for Thackeray, though never a stronger one than in the years from 1846 to 1848. The whole plot of the farcical story of Mr. Jeames de la Pluche turns upon the sudden ac- quisition of a fortune by a footman in love with a housemaid. Of the vulgarity of newly-acquired wealth Thackeray was no doubt cognisant, but it was not till ' Vanity Fair ' that he treated it with the scorn that it deserves. In Mr. Jeames it receives very gentle treatment, and the satire* which throughout the book is never unkindly, only begins to lose its suavity when he comes to write of a genteel poverty that insists upon pre- serving appearances. " Old Lord Bareacres," he tells us, " was as stiff as a poker, as proud as Lucifer, and as poor as Job." The sting of the sentence is in its conclusion, and once we are 64 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. informed that he is not only indigent, but bravely determined not to confess it, we must have little knowledge of Thackeray if we expect Lord Bareacres to find any mercy at his hands. He positively delights in rendering the character contemptible, and it is but fair to say that, using all the license of burlesque, he speedily completes his intention. This is a method of enlisting the reader's sympathy in favour of one's prejudices, which a writer of fiction finds excessively con- venient. If he dislikes the notion of kingship, it is as good as an argument to set Richard I. about the murder of a child.^ If he has no high opinion of journalists, it is easy to have them at a disadvantage by locating them in the Fleet.^ But it is a method which an essayist is debarred from employing, and when a writer is about to give rein to every one of his prejudices, essays or papers are quite the unsafest material in which to embody them. It was, therefore, by an artistic mistake so serious as to be remarkable in the author of ' Barry Lyndon,' that Thackeray was induced to put his reflections upon English society into the ^ 'Rebecca and Rowena.' 2 Captain Shandon in ' Pendennis.' Jt BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 65 form of * The Book of Snobs.' ' The Book of Snobs ' is only not a failure, because every now and then it is enlivened with anecdotes, and far the most readable part of it is the comparatively lengthy history of Major and Mrs. Ponto. It is not long before the reader is completely weary of the discursive series of papers, and it is diffi- cult to believe that they were much less tiresome as they came out week by week in the pages of < Punch.' It is not merely that there are too many of them ; they have little or no connection with each other, and, as Mr. Trollope has pointed out, the word snob is made to embrace so much, that it loses its precision and interest. It is impossible, it seems, to avoid being a snob, unless one dines upon chops and porter, and marries on nothing a year. But though it is not clear from the book what is a snob, or rather what a snob is not, an instructive catalogue of what was obnoxious to Thackeray could readily be compiled from it. He applies the term snob indiscriminately to every person he dislikes, and for this purpose he sweeps together James I., Louis XIV., and the Prince Consort, though there is no other likeness between them than that they were royal ; but 66 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Thackeray hated the ceremonial of courts. He so despised all forms of pretentiousness that he would have erected a universal palace of truth. If he had had his will, old women would have gone about bald-headed, and his Lady Susan Scrapers would have proclaimed their monetary difficulties aloud. Though there is no- thing to be ashamed of in poverty, people may be pardoned for struggling against a reversal of fortune, and the satirist who thought it was a disgrace that at the Universities rich and poor should be distinguished by their costume, might have had some sympathy with a gentlewoman who, when she lost money, did not at once diminish her state. There are many passages, no doubt, in ' The Book of Snobs,' in which the little meannesses of men are ridiculed with temperance and justice, but the whole philosophy of it is wrong. " He who meanly admires mean things," says Thackeray, " is a snob," but that is not how he used the word, nor what it is generally sup- posed to connote. A snob neither admires mean, nor despises great things. He admires and despises the things which he ought to admire and despise, but he admires overmuch. I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' Gj and despises without a sense of proportion. It is not in his admiration or contempt, but in their quah'ty, that he is in error, and it would be much more near the truth to say, if the phrase were read with proper Hmitations, that a snob is one who wrongly admires the right things. But it is not easy to define a snob, as the word has acquired an artificially restricted meaning ; and it is obvious that a man might wrongly admire the right things without being snobbish, as the mistaken admiration might arise from ignorance and not from snobbery. A man might con- ceivably admire the Madonna di San Sisto, not on account of its own excellence, but because it reminded him of a much inferior painting. But though this is true, and though it is evident that the class that wrongly admires is wider than the " genus snob," the characteristic of the genus, in so far as it has a characteristic, is an undue and false admiration of certain things quite admir- able in themselves. These things, as the word snob is now used, will all be found to be con- nected in some way or another with the ideas of rank, wealth, dignity, or power. To be mis- taken in one's admiration for this restricted class of objects is to run in danger of snobbery, 68 THACKERAY: A STUDY ch. but to safeguard oneself by refusing to admire them at all is to make a graver mistake. There is nothing mean in those ideas, on the contrary, they are the antithesis of what is mean ; and to say that it is snobbish to meanly admire mean things is to shoot very wide of the mark. In this epigram, which depends on an adverb and an adjective, the adverb hardly conveys the right idea, and the epithet is exactly wrong. Rank and wealth have had privileges extended to them in all countries and at all times, and unless the government of mankind has been conducted from the beginning on false prin- ciples, they are no more mean, and they have as much right to evoke their proper share of admiration, as learning, or courage, or any other of those abstract ideas which command habitual respect. "The word snob," writes M. Taine, " does not exist in France, because they have not the thing." This is not the reason of the poverty of the French language in this particular. Wherever there are distinctions of place or wealth, and quite irrespective of the form of government, there will be found many to over- estimate their value. To take only two instances : — The same I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' 69 feeling that, in unworthy excess, prompts a man to be ashamed of being a novus homo, is responsible for the motto " Noblesse oblige," and has made government by oligarchies historically possible. The same feeling, that, disproportioned and absurd, induces us to think poverty dishonourable, awakens us to a sense of the value of those privileges of environment and education, which only money has the power to confer. Snobbery, indeed, is a much more com- plex and a much less humorous affair than Thackeray imagined, and the sudden changes of fortune in families and individuals may be looked at as well from their serious as from their ridiculous side. It is no unusual thing for a man to raise himself in the world, and to become fitted to take his place in a different society from that of his origin. Let him formerly have been a footman, and if he is momentarily flustered at the ill-timed arrival of the washerwoman and the coalheaver, many of the readers of novels will be content to laugh,^ and to label him a snob ; but let him be Car- lyle writing to his future wife that her mother ^ ' The Diary of C. Jeames de la Pluche.' 7C THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. and his must not meet/ and the sentiment aroused is more akin to tears than to mirth. The critical intelligence of the public has not been slow to seize upon this, and to resent the one-sided aspect from which Thackeray viewed, and the liberty with which he treated, failings that have their root in the necessary conditions of life. And indeed there is something harsh and uncharitable in a book that has nothing else to say of pride, shame, and ambition, but that they are all forms, more or less disguised, of a snobbery that is rampant everywhere. The critic would have cause for anger in the flip- pancy of the attitude, even were the remarks, with this deduction, otherwise fair ; but when he finds their author gravely telling him, that from the institution of civil society, man has felt pride and shame on the wrong occasions, and that the objects of his ambition have always been misplaced, patience is exhausted, and ' The Book of Snobs ' is speedily condemned. Once started, however, on an investigation into the faults and foibles of contemporary existence, Thackeray was not a writer to re- ^ ' Thomas Carlyle,' by John Nichol. English Men of Letters Series, p. 47. I BEFORE 'VANITY FAIR' Jl linquish it until he had exhausted his invention, and pointed the same moral in a hundred similar ways. ' Mrs. Perkins's Ball,' ' Our Street,' and ' A Little Dinner at Timmins's ' quickly followed each other from the press, and in them the satirist has the immense advantage of being able to make the fictitious snobs whom he assembles together as ridiculous as his fancy desires. They are all nearly entirely narrative, and the author seldom ventures on a reflection ; if he does, he is betrayed into his earlier manner. He has been describing a young man of fashion " who would borrow ten guineas from any man in the room, in the most jovial way possible," and he adds, — " When I see these magnificent dandies yawning out of ' White's ' or caracoling in the Park on shining chargers, I like to think that Brummel was the greatest of them all, and that Brummel's father was a footman." The habits of fops are contemptible, because they can be learnt in a generation. How much better is Horace's simple chronicle of his desires and tastes, — " Persicos odi, puer, apparatus." In ' Mrs. Perkins's Ball ' and ' Our Street,' the names of the guests, and the headings of the chapters, are a fair index to their style. There 72 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. is Mrs. Perkins, who entertains beyond her means ; Mr. Minchin, a simpering barrister ; Mr. Flam, a flatterer; Miss Meggot, a neglected spinster; Mr. Winter, a satirist; Miss Toady; and the Lords Methuselah, Billygoat, and Tar- quin : while in ' Our Street ' we have such titles as " The Bungalow," " Captain and Mrs. Bragg," " Levant House Chambers," " Some of the Servants," "The Dove of the Street," "The Bumpshers," and " Somebody whom nobody knows." In 'A Little Dinner at Timmins's,' Thackeray, to render the account more graphic, condescended to allow the story of their " somewhat osten- tatious hospitality " to be told by one who had partaken of the feast. So anxious was he to hunt down this particular form of what he called snobbery, that to effect his purpose he was ready to act in a manner which he had been the first to deride.' The ' Little Sketches and Travels in London ' are marred by no fault of this sort, and no better idea could be given of the range of Thackeray's intellect than by comparing them ^ Cf. the comment on Lord L.'s travels in ' The Book of Snobs ' (chapter iii., Influence of the Aristocracy on Snobs). I BEFORE ' VANITY FAIR ' 73 with ' The Book of Snobs ' and * Mrs. Perkins's Ball.' A man of no great diversity of mind may, at different times, look at the same subject from different points of view ; but it is in the insensible gradations of one particular mood, so difficult to seize upon, and so obvious at once, that the capacity of a really fertile and various writer is most conclusively shown. The ' Travels in London ' point much the same moral as the other books of this period, and they are likewise occupied in satirizing those who pay undue attention to trifles, but the gentle if slightly senile benignity that breathes in their pages gives us a regard for their author, and there are few who have not a warm place somewhere in their hearts for Don Pacifico and Spec. CHAPTER II 'VANITY FAIR' On the threshold of * Vanity Fair ' the atten- tion of the student is arrested by a work not so remarkable in itself as in its subject and the time selected for its publication. It is a collec- tion of parodies, and bore the title of ' Punch's Prize Novelists,' These sketches have received all the praise which it is possible to bestow on this species of composition. They have been called the best of parodies, and where there were no serious competitors it was easy for a man of Thackeray's eminence to distance what competition there was, but they appeared simul- taneously with the production of his own bid for success. They are characterized by little of the rudeness of the earlier ' Epistle to the Literati,' but he was engaged in satirizing his great contemporaries at the moment when he CH. II ' VANITY FAIR ' 75 was clamouring to be admitted of their company. Mr. Arnold combined the functions of poet and critic, and a serious estimate of Tennyson or Browning would have been welcome from his pen, but he never could be induced to refer, except in the conventional language of compli- ment, to any original writer of his time. This was, perhaps, to err on the other side ; but Byron's references to " Wordsworth, Coleridge, Southey," and Shelley's ' Peter Bell the Third,' are blots upon their fame. The one, however, was but an occasional burst of irritation, the other a solitary lapse. But that Thackeray should sit down whenever he was tired of ' Vanity Fair,' to laugh at the other travellers who had brought back different accounts of that city, forms an instructive commentary on his character. Of the many-sidedness and perplexity of that character there was further proof to come, but 'Vanity Fair' itself gave no added demonstra- tion of it. The book is singularly straightfor- ward. The same attitude is preserved throughout, and that attitude, though severer than, is in all essentials similar to that formerly adopted. There is a greater diversity in the personages of the novel, and more sagacity in the com- y^ THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. mentary which accompanies the record of their doings than is to be found in any of Thackeray's earHer works. But the figures are such as we should have expected him, when concentrat- ing his faculties, to be able to draw, and the sentiments have nothing surprising in them, coming from the author of ' Catherine,' ' The Hoggarty Diamond,' and * The Book of Snobs.' Miss Wirt, the governess of the two Miss Osbornes, was formerly in the service of Major Ponto ; Dobbin's fight at Slaughter House School is a repetition of Mr. Frank Berry's ; Deuceace, Viscount Cinqbars,and Lord Bareacres flit about in the background, and just as the mother of the heroine of * The Ravenswing' was a ballet-dancer, so Mrs. Sharp is an opera- girl. These are not merely superficial resem- blances, but there are others that are still more striking. " The richly - dressed figure of the wicked nobleman " is merely a compound of all those vices which Thackeray had for long pointed out as appertaining especially to the aristocracy. Dennis Haggarty's devotion to a woman unworthy of him gave a hint for Dobbin's ; Rawdon Crawley has not the ability of Redmond Barry or of Deuceace, but he has as many of " 'VANITY fair' yy their vices as were compatible with his stupidity ; Amelia gave scope for an elaborate study of the virtues of Mary Titmarsh and Caroline Gann ; while it is easy to see that Becky is a cleverer Catherine Hayes, moving in a higher rank of society, and amid less melodramatic surroundings. Mr. Sedley in his misfortunes, and Mr. Osborne in his prosperity, are both indebted to the earlier portraiture of the oil- merchant in ' A Shabby Genteel Story ' ; the feelings entertained for Caroline by the Misses Macarthy, and those that characterize the re- lations of George Osborne's sisters with his fiancee, are the same with a difference ; while Sir Pitt has as much bluster as Sir George Tufto, and more vulgar arrogance than Lord Crabs. The origins of George Osborne, Pitt Crawley, and Miss Briggs, it is true, are not so easily traceable ; and though Miss Hoggarty's money had been an object of much solicitude to Mr. Brough, she has no other likeness to Miss Crawley. Major O'Dowd and his wife, and the admirably drawn Jos Sedley, are also original. But though these figures give variety to the canvas, and we are forced to confess that wc 78 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. do not recognize them, they all have a family- likeness to the people whom we already knew, and take their places naturally by their sides. Nor is the treatment accorded to these characters unfamiliar. The sub-title of the book is ' A Novel without a Hero,' a phrase that, effective as it is, fails to express the meaning of the author. There was nothing to necessitate a flourish in the absence of a hero. Shakespeare wrote plays without a hero : — the interest of one is centred in Lady Macbeth, and in ' Twelfth Night' it is Olivia and Viola who arrest our attention ; while ' The Blithedale Romance ' subordinates Miles Coverdale and Hollingsworth to the more commanding personality of Zenobia. Rebecca Sharp takes up as much of the space of ' Vanity Fair ' as is usually allocated to a heroine, and there was nothing remarkable in giving to a woman the chief position in a tale. The characteristic of ' Vanity Fair ' is not that it has no hero, but that there is nothing heroic in it, and this it is that differentiates the novel from the works of other writers, and supplies the real reason of its effect upon the public. But this, for Thackeray, was not a new departure ; on the contrary, it is this that furnishes the " 'VANITY fair' 79 distinct peculiarity of all his earlier tales. ' Vanity Fair ' came with the novelty of a new sensation, only because they were so little read. But the book itself is the best justification of its success. In some ways it is the most striking thing that Thackeray ever did. He never surpassed it for quiet observation of character, and for the skill with which he has contrived to make the most unreal and fantastic of its personages appear to live. But it is hard, one-sided, and the peculiarity which made it famous is the most marked of its defects. It has been said that it is an actual transcript from life, but the 'Mid- summer Night's Dream ' is more near to reality. While we read the book, so great is its fasci- nation, we can almost believe it to be true, but as soon as we lay it down, the narrative begins to assume its true form for us, and we see it as it is, from the beginning to the end " one entire impossibility." It is not that the characters are impossible, though some of them are impossible enough. It is not that no woman was ever simply a calculating machine, it is not that no man was ever merely sanctimonious, it is not that no baronet was ever a brutal bully and 80 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. nothing more, or a peer ever wholly profligate, or a merchant ever made up only of vulgarity and rage, because such people have on rare occasions existed, and may by possibility again. It is not in this that the impossibility consists, but such a collection was never got together in one corner of the world. There are two good people in the book, — Dobbin, who is a simpleton, and Amelia, who is a fool. But these are not the only virtuous inhabitants of the Vanity Fair in which we live. If it were otherwise, if there were no other virtuous inhabit- ants, a man walking through it would not only " not be oppressed by his own or other people's hilarity," but he would decline, and very properly decline, to walk through it at all. If life were as Thackeray depicts it in ' Vanity Fair,' not only would the earth be more sparsely populated than it is, but it would have been impossible for true virtue ever to have manifested itself. Virtue being the product of precept and example, Scott could not have lived, nor the qualities of the Vicar of Wakefield had opportunity to develop. Had the world been peopled with Neros, there would have been no room for Seneca, and were every one a Crawley or a Sharp, Esmond's self- " 'VANITY FAIR' 8l sacrifice or Colonel Newcomc's heroism would never have been understood. In ' The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon ' the company is worse than in ' Vanity Fair,' and * The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon ' is a triumph of art but it would have been far from a triumph if we had been asked to take the company there assembled as a fair representation of society. We should have rejected it at once as an imposture, whereas the falsehood underlying 'Vanity Fair' is only apparent — and it is a tribute to Thackeray's power — after a careful perusal of the work. But when this fact is allowed, when we turn to look at ' Vanity Fair ' not as a portrait, not even as a caricature of society, but as a brilliant painting of a section of it, there remains much that is admirable. It is almost as difficult to draw a woman without a heart as a woman without a soul, and the latter has not yet been seriously attempted. Mr. Benson's Dodo is an ingenious and clever study of such a character, but it is only necessary to compare his method with Thackeray's to see why he has failed, and how much he has under- rated the gravity of the task. Thackeray devotes all his resources to the creation of Becky Sharp. G 82 THACKERAY: A STUDY ^^h. He was well aware how long a course of observation had to be undertaken before even the broad lines of such a figure could be accur- ately sketched. And it is this that makes him watch Becky with a solicitude that might deceive the reader into imagining that her creator could not resist occasionally admiring her cleverness and resource. He calls her " darling," it is true ; but the epithet is always abusive, never laudatory, and though in a sense she is the darling of his eye, it is only that he knew that, if he was for a moment to lose sight of her, her interest for the reader could not have been sustained. She is hardly ever absent from the stage, and her introduction is so bold that Mr. Trollope thought it must have slipped in by mistake. " No school- girl," he writes, " who ever lived would have thrown back her gift-book as Rebecca did the ' dixonary ' out of the carriage-window as she was taken away from school." The error is comprehensible, even in so acute a critic, but the facts are quite the other way. No woman so selfish and calculating as Becky afterwards became could have failed to make mistakes of temper and forwardness in her youth. It was natural that she should speak French to Miss II 'VANITY fair' 83 Pinkerton, who could not understand it, and bestow on Jos Sedley " ever so gentle a pressure with her hand." " The latter," says Thackeray, " was an advance, and as such, perhaps, some ladies of indisputable correctness and gentility will condemn the action as immodest ; but, you see, poor dear Rebecca had all this work to do for herself. If a person is too poor to keep a servant, though ever so elegant, he must sweep his own rooms ; if a dear girl has no dear Mamma to settle with the young man, she must do it for herself." And it was equally natural that when elated by her marriage with the son of a baronet, she should forget her manners, and speak rudely to George Osborne. "What an honour," she says to him, " to have had you for a brother-in-law, you are thinking ? To be sister-in-law to George Osborne, Esquire, son of John Osborne, Esquire, son of — what was your grandpapa, Mr. Osborne.-'" Her second appearance as Clytemnestra is, however, less to be defended. She had by that time acquired too much experience to risk, even when driven to bay, poisoning Jos Sedley ; but the incident is improbable, not impossible, and the same artist who leaves a lingering suspicion 84 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. that Lord Steyne may, at the last moment, have been baulked of his prey, refrains from deliberately accusing her of murder. The intro- duction of Sir Pitt Crawley, on the other hand, is caricature, and Mr. Trollope is justified in supposing that it must have been written before any of the other members of the Crawley family had been conceived. And what a family it is ; a selfish old woman who has money, a dissolute clergyman, a hypocritical diplomatist, and a dissipated bully. But they all manage to pre- serve some relation to humanity, and their actions and sentiments are for the most part chronicled with a strange fidelity to life. " ' Shut up your sarmons, Pitt, when Miss Crawley comes down,' said his father. ' She has written to say that she won't stand the preachifying.' " ' O sir, consider the servants.' " ' The servants be hanged,' said Sir Pitt ; and his son thought even worse would happen were they deprived of the benefit of his instruction. " ' Why, hang it, Pitt ! ' said the father to his remonstrance, ' you wouldn't be such a flat as to let three thousand a year go out of the family.' II 'VANITY FAIR' 85 " ' What is money compared to our souls, sir ?' continued Mr. Crawley. " * You mean that the old lady won't leave the money to you ? ' And who knows but it was Mr, Crawley's meaning." For Rawdon Crawley it is difficult to under- stand Thackeray's admiration. He calls him " honest Rawdon," with real fondness in his voice, and seems to pity him for his connection with his wife. But the man was a drunkard and a cheat long before Becky had anything to do with him ; and we are left to supply the occasion of the duel which ended disastrously for Captain Marker. Duelling days were nearly over then, and it is as likely as not that Captain Marker had some serious cause for offence. That Rawdon should experience a passion for a fascinating governess was nothing particularly meritorious. He did not expect to lose money by it, and when he discovered that he had, even he had sense enough to perceive that he owed something to the woman who alone was able to keep him above water. Besides, the money was never really his, and he was too stupid to appre- ciate the excellence of his chance. That he should beat an old man who had been intriguing 86 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. with his wife so openly that every one but he had seen it long before, was no more praise- worthy than the resentment of a. thief when his own property is stolen. It is true that there was a pitch of baseness to which he could not bring himself to descend, and he returned the price of Becky's dishonour to Lord Steyne ; but he sulkily accepted from the same noble- man the considerable income of a sinecure which he could easily have refused, and for the slight duties of which he was totally unfit. All this was natural enough, but it was no subject for admiration ; and though it was human of him to be fond of his son, there was as much merit in the maudlin tears of Redmond Barry, or the pleasure Catherine took in the fine clothes of the adopted son of Mr. Hayes. It is one thing to treat vice with charity, and quite another to speak of its professors with affection. The same book that spoke of " honest Rawdon " could hardly contain a character that would ensure our respect. Amelia fails even to enlist our sympathy. In prosperity she is childish, in adversity she becomes petted and wilful, and Mr. Senior has pointed out that her reluctance to part with II ' VANITY FAIR ' 8/ her boy is due wholly to a desire that they should not be separated, not to any fear of the prejudicial results for him that might arise from acquaintance with the Osbornes. She is passionately devoted during his life to George Osborne, who half despises her, and after his death she cherishes a romantic attachment to his memory. To Amelia Sedley, however, a large portion of the book is devoted, and it is not to be supposed that she should not occasionally be betrayed into animation. Thackeray's purpose in delineating this charac- ter was twofold ; he introduced her first as an example of the negative virtues, and after- wards continued the study of her disposition as a foil to that of Becky. He maintains an unswerving determination to keep her as we first met her, a timid, expansive school-girl, with a fund of maudlin sensibility dangerously apt to develop into selfishness. Again and again, in her passages with Dobbin, Thackeray resists the temptation to endow her with a heart, and where one would have expected from the most long-suffering, righteous anger, or an outburst of wronged and passionate love, we find only sobs and protestations, and a page 88 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. of sentimental reflection. Once or twice she finds her lot too hard, and becomes peevishly unreasonable, as in the scene with Mrs. Sedley and the baby's medicine, or flings out into a momentary burst of irritation. But these pas- sages are for the most part calculated, and have a touch of artifice. They serve to vary the monotony of her characterless virtue, but they give a laboured effect to the portrait. Once only Nature takes the pen from his hand, and allows us to have a peep at the heart of this too real Cinderella. It is the morning after the Duchess of Richmond's ball, when the English officers have left for Waterloo. At the ball Becky (Mrs. Crawley) has con- cluded her long and successful siege of Amelia's husband. Captain Osborne. Mrs. Crawley bears the absence of " honest Rawdon " lightly, and calls upon Amelia to condole with her on her anxiety : — " After the first movement of terror in Amelia's mind — when Rebecca's green eyes lighted upon her, and rustling in her fresh silks and brilliant ornaments, the latter tripped up with extended arms to embrace her — a feeling of anger succeeded, and from being deadly pale II 'VANITY FAIR' 89 before, her face flushed up red, and she returned Rebecca's look after a moment with a steadiness which surprised and somewhat abashed her rival. " ' Dearest Amelia, you are very unwell,' the visitor said, putting forth her hand to take Amelia's. ' What is it .-' I could not rest until I knew how you were.' "Amelia drew back her hand — never since her life began had that gentle soul refused to believe or to answer any demonstration of goodwill or affection. But she drew back her hand and trembled all over. 'Why are yoii here, Rebecca t ' she said, still looking at her solemnly with her large eyes. These glances troubled her visitor. " ' She must have seen him give me the letter at the ball,' Rebecca thought. ' Don't be agi- tated, dear Amelia,' she said, looking down. ' I came but to see if I could — if you were well.' " ' Are you well .■* ' said Amelia. ' I dare say you are. You don't love your husband. You would not be here if you did. Tell me, Rebecca, did I ever do you anything but kindness } ' '"Indeed, Amelia, no,' the other said, still hanging down her head. 90 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. " ' When you were quite poor, who was it that befriended you ? Was I not a sister to you ? You saw us all in happier days before he married me. I was all in all then to him ; or would he have given up his fortune, his family, as he nobly did to make me happy ? Why did you come between my love and me ? Who sent you to separate those whom God joined, and take my darling's heart from me — my own husband ? Do you think you could love him as I did ? His love was everything to me. You knew it, and wanted to rob me of it. For shame, Rebecca ; bad and wicked woman — false friend and false wife.' " ' Amelia, I protest before God, I have done my husband no wrong,' Rebecca said, turning from her. " ' Have you done inc no wrong, Rebecca } You did not succeed, but you tried. Ask your heart if you did not .'* ' " She knows nothing, Rebecca thought. " ' He came back to me. I knew he would. I knew that no falsehood, no flattery, could keep him from me long. I knew he would come. I prayed so that he should.' " The poor girl spoke these words with a spirit u ' VANITY FAIR ' 9 1 and volubility which Rebecca had never before seen in her, and before which the latter was quite dumb. ' But what have I done to you,' she continued in a more pitiful tone, * that you should try and take him from me ? I had him but for six weeks. You might have spared me those, Rebecca. And yet, from the very first day of our wedding, you came and blighted it. Now he is gone, are you come to see how un- happy I am .'' ' she continued. ' You made me wretched enough for the past fortnight : you might have spared me to-day.' "' I — I never came here,' interposed Rebecca, with unlucky truth. " ' No. You didn't come. You took him away. Are you come to fetch him from me ? ' she continued in a wilder tone. ' He was here, but he is gone now. There on that very sofa he sate. Don't touch it. We sate and talked there. I was on his knee, and my arms were round his neck, and we said " Our Father." Yes, he was here : and they came and took him away, but he promised me to come back.' " * He will come back, my dear,' said Rebecca, touched in spite of herself. " ' Look,' said Amelia, ' this is his sash — isn't 92 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. it a pretty colour ? ' and she took up the fringe and kissed it. She had tied it round her waist at some part of the day. She had forgotten her anger, her jealousy, the very presence of her rival seemingly. For she walked silently, and almost with a smile on her face, towards the bed, and began to smooth down George's pillow. " Rebecca walked, too, silently away. ' How is Amelia } ' asked Jos, who still held his position in the chair. " ' There should be somebody with her,' said Rebecca. * I think she is very unwell ' : and she went away with a very grave face, refusing Mr. Sedley's entreaties that she would stay and partake of the early dinner which he had ordered." But Amelia never again rises to this height of womanly indignation, and she sinks back into the spiritless creature whom the worthy and clumsy Dobbin was content to pursue. His devotion is disinterested and noble, but it is expended on so poor an object that it lessens him in our esteem. She was no "dear lady Disdain," whose waywardness increased her attraction, and it is natural and fitting that her " ' VANITY FAIR ' 93 knight-errant should be as uninteresting as herself. Thackeray might have gauged the effect Amelia would have upon the public from the fate he prescribes for Dobbin. Like her, he is a compound of all the negative virtues, though he has a warmer heart, and is, as all soldier-heroes, necessarily courageous. But she prefers the memory of her first husband, who, if he had few virtues, had just enough character to commit occasional and ineffectual sins. His approbation was perhaps also the more precious as she was conscious of having partially lost it. As to Dobbin's affection, it was to be had long before it was asked, and always at her command. He is so formally precise that he cannot even blunder into his own happiness, and it is by a subtle touch of irony that he is made to win Amelia at length, not because her sentiments towards him are altered, but because she has discovered that her first husband was unfaithful. " This is what he has asked for every day and hour for eighteen years. This is what he pined after. Here it is — the summit, the end — the last page of the third volume." Well might Thack- eray conclude his book with the melancholy 94 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. ' question, " Ah, Vanitas Vanitatum ! which of us has his desire ? or having it is satisfied ? " A satirist speaking in this tone, and offering at the same time to the world so extended a gallery of portraits, was bound, however, to secure attention, and the success of ' Vanity Fair,' though not immediate, was very great. But the influence of what Carlyle has called " the poison of popular applause " is not always beneficial, and as often as not has proved the ruin of a writer. Those who have long listened for it in vain are too apt to be intoxicated with it when it comes. Thackeray had waited ten years for it, but when it came it was of ines- timable service to his nature. Like Byron, he woke one morning to find himself famous, but he also, like Rip van Winkle, awoke to discover that he was a hundred years older than when he fell asleep ; — so great is the gap that lies between the sober observation and large humanity of ' Pen- dennis ' and the brilliant satire and character- drawing of ' Vanity Fair.' Under the rays of a steady sun of popularity, the seeds of latent and unsuspected qualities in him began to grow. Once sure of his public, he far less often was betrayed into those faults of over-statement and Ji ' VANITY FAIR ' 95 exaggeration of manner with which he had caught its ear. He had played the satirist to good effect in ' Vanity Fair,' but after all it was a game ; and as much satire as was really genuine to Thackeray is to be found in ' Pendennis,' * Esmond,' and ' The Newcomes.' Two trifles of this period serve sufficiently to mark the change. In ' Mr. Brown's Letters to his Nephew,' the garrulous old man, " full of wise saws and modern instances," has always a kind word for the follies from which he warns the younger, and a fellow-feeling for the youthful indiscretions which he knows well his corre- spondent will commit. In * Dr. Birch and his young Friends ' we have the spectacle of an author, always determined to see sermons in stones, if not good in everything, coping suc- cessfully with the difficulties of an unromantic subject. Childhood is pretty when it is kept in the place of childhood, and bears its proper relation to age. There is no lovelier couple than a mother and a child, nothing pleasanter to contemplate than a father's love for his boy. But when children are placed in un- natural situations, they lose all the qualities which induce us to care for them. A boardine- 96 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. school, however useful for hardening the char- acter, in an age when most have to " fend for themselves," contains of necessity conditions that are quite out of the course of nature. It is there that we see youths with all the exaggerated sense of individuality characteristic of the begin- ning period of life, aping the conduct, and assuming the attitudes, of middle-aged men. As a result we have there independence without restraint, and selfishness unrelieved by any knowledge of our comparative unimportance to others. Boys, moreover, however high an opinion they may have of themselves, are seldom re- markable for self-respect, and they will pay a far higher price than grown-up people for immunity from ill-usage, and for their own personal security. To ingratiate themselves with the powerful, the weak will take sides against the weak. Hence it is that the strong, who are not ashamed to use their strength, are always secure of a servile following, and that, at school, to be unpopular is to lose every friend. These things happen of necessity where both body and spirit are timid and unformed, but they are not pleasant to look back upon, " 'VANiTV fair' 97 and English authors, writing for an English public, have found them convenient to forget. For these reasons alone it would be idle to expect that an accurate or serious portrait of school-boy life should ever be drawn, but there are others equally powerful that help to obscure the past, and it is the lot of many to come to look back upon it from the troubles and distress of life as a vague but glorious period, or to suppose that the actions which they but dimly remember were prompted by the same feelings which, in similar circumstances, would have actuated them in manhood or in age. Canon Farrar's ' Eric ' is the product of pne of these ideas, * Tom Brown's School-days ' of the other. Eric is a sentimental impossibility, and Tom Brown is merely an average middle-aged Briton, with a better appetite, and a greater interest in football. In a field of this kind, Thackeray's triumph with his little comedy is the more unique. He glosses over nothing, and his boys are no older than their years, but the portrait drawn is not repellent, and if while reading it we regret, we also understand, the follies and the vices of our youth. He watches and comments on the little fortunes of his human H 98 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. ii beings in miniature with a perception which is never at fault, and with a wisdom that is always bland. Come wealth or want, come good or ill, Let young and old accept their part, And bow before the awful Will, And bear it with an honest heart. Who misses, or who wins the prize ? Go lose or conquer as you can : But if you fail or if you rise. Be each, pray God, a gentleman. CHAPTER III PENDENNIS' AND AFTER ' The History of Pendennis,' the work that immediately succeeded ' Vanity Fair/ both from its importance and from its unlikeness to any- thing Thackeray had done before, demands a close inspection. In his shorter efforts, whatever we may think of them, however good or bad they individually may be, the story was always constructed with care, and led for the most part naturally enough to the con- clusion. Even in ' Vanity Fair ' it was essential that Becky should rise before she could fall. Her rise might have been brought about by other means, no doubt, and much of the em- broidery of the novel is unnecessary to the plot. There is little that must have happened or that is inevitable in ' Vanity Fair,' but at least it has a central idea. Pendennis,' on the other hand, lOO THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. may be said with safety to have no story at all. It is so carelessly constructed that the incidents of Fanny and Miss Costigan are practically identical, and the opening scene is so abrupt that it requires, and receives, seventy pages of elucidation. ' Pendennis,' besides, is a satirical work. It is satire all through, and serious satire, and whenever before Thackeray had written satire seriously, his accent had been harsh. But it would be difficult to imagine an urbanity more undisturbed than belongs to the satirist of ' Pendennis,' and there is no kindlier combination of observation and wit in the language, than is contained in the first volume of the novel. In his preface he sets out accurately the object of the book. " It is an attempt to describe one of the gentlemen of our age, one no better nor worse than most educated men " ; and again, " A little more frankness than is customary has been attempted in this story ; with no bad desire on the writer's part, it is hoped, and with no ill consequence to any reader. . . . Truth is best, from whatever chair." It is odd, how- ever, to find an author so gravely unconscious of his own inconsistency. It was just two years "I 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER lOI before that 'Vanity Fair' had been ushered into the world as also a fair representation of society. Two pictures so dissimilar could not both be true, and the author of ' Pendennis,' one would have thought, must have been alive to the shortcomings of his earlier book. But to make any such supposition would be to mis- understand the character of Thackeray. His manner of writing was desultory, and he was always ready to give rein to whatever mood was uppermost. He rarely formed any conception of a book before he had finished it, and never took the trouble to think about the canons of his art. He stumbled on right methods, just as he floundered into mistakes. After ' Pendennis,' he was capable of writing ' The Kickleburys on the Rhine ' ; after ' Esmond,' ' The Wolves and the Lamb ' ; and after * The Newcomes,' of serving that little drama up again in the form of ' Lovel the Widower.' It is no matter of surprise, therefore, that the author of ' Catherine ' should tell us in the preface to ' Pendennis ' that the manners of ruffians and gaol-birds were to him quite unfamiliar, whereas it would be more true to say that * Pendennis ' was his first con- siderable story in which there were not more 102 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. than plenty of them. The nearest approach to a ruffian in the book is John Armstrong Amory Altamont, and he, as if to make the statement in the preface good, is not merely a badly-drawn character, but goes off, like the villain in a fairy tale, in pantomimic smoke. There are other characters, however, that are by no means amiable. Sir Francis Clavering is so despicable in his weakness and wickedness, that it is only by the skill with which he is portrayed that he becomes sufficiently human to serve his purpose in the story ; and it would be hard to find any- thing besides her " sensibility " to recommend Blanche Amory to our affection. But ' Pendennis ' is not made up of these characters ; and from Alcide Mirobolant, the miraculous French cook, to the Prince of Fair- oaks himself, from Madame Fribsby to Laura Bell, there is hardly one of them who does not say or do something for which the reader would wish to shake them by what he is fain to believe are their substantial hands. They are no com- pounds of vices "that come like shadows," no puppets that dance before the booths of Vanity Fair as the showman cries his sermon, but real living men and women, and nothing would sur- ni 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 103 prise us less than to see Major Pendennis eyeing us from a club window as we walked down Pall Mall, or to have to listen after lunch to Lady Clavering's interminable troubles. Even the old apothecary, Arthur's father, looks out from the pages a staid and familiar little figure : — " The old man never spoke about the shop himself, never alluded to it ; called in the medical practitioner of Clavering to attend his family ; sunk the black breeches and stockings altogether; attended markets and sessions, and wore a bottle-green coat and brass buttons with drab gaiters, just as if he had been an English gentleman all his life. He used to stand at his lodge gate, and see the coaches come in, and bow gravely to the guards and coachmen as they touched their hats and drove by. It was he who founded the Clavering book club ; and set up the Samaritan soup and blanket society. It was he who brought the mail, which used to run through Cacklefield before, away from that village and through Clavering. At church he was equally active as a vestryman and wor- shipper. At market, every Thursday, he went from pen to stall ; looked at samples of oats and munched corn ; felt beasts, punched geese 104 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. in the breast, and weighed them with a knowing air ; and did business with the farmers of the Clavering Arms, as well as the oldest frequenter of that house of call. It was now his shame, as it formerly was his pride, to be called doctor, and those who wished to please him always gave him the title of Squire. " Heaven knows where they came from, but a whole range of Pendennis portraits presently hung round the Doctor's oak dining-room ; Lelys and Vandykes he vowed all the portraits to be, and when questioned as to the history of the originals, would vaguely say they were 'ancestors of his.' His little boy believed in them to their fullest extent, and Roger Pen- dennis of Agincourt, Arthur Pendennis of Crecy, General Pendennis of Blenheim and Oudenarde, were as real and actual beings for this young gentleman as — whom shall we say ? — as Robin- son Crusoe, or Peter Wilkins, or the Seven Champions of Christendom, whose histories were in his library," This is satire certainly, but how different in tone from the cruel comments on the shifts of Becky, or the rough jeer that assailed the house- hold of the Pontos. In 'Vanity Fair' the Mar- Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER IO5 quis of Steyne is represented without a single virtue to balance his "thousand crimes." In ' Pendennis ' Thackeray utilized his previous and bald creation to complete a stroke of consum- mate art. Major Pendennis, Arthur's bachelor uncle, we learn in the novel itself, is a man of the world whose emotions arc not easily aroused. The Marquis of Steyne those who had read 'Vanity Fair' knew to be cold and heartless to a degree. " The next day Major Pendennis was going out shooting, about noon, with some of the gentlemen staying at Lord Steyne's house ; and the company, waiting for the carriages, were assembled on the terrace in front of the house, when a fly drove up from the neighbouring station, and a grey-headed, rather shabby old gentleman, jumped out, and asked for Major Pendennis. It was Mr. Bows. He took the Major aside and spoke to him ; most of the gentlemen round about saw that something serious had happened, from the alarmed look of the Major's face. ' Wagg said, ' It's a bailiff come down to nab the Major ' ; but nobody laughed at the pleasantry. I06 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. " ' Hullo ! What's the matter, Pendennis ? ' cried Lord Steyne, with his strident voice. ' Anything wrong ? ' " ' It's — it's — my boy that's deadl said the Major, and burst into a sob — the old man was quite overcome. " ' Not dead, my lord ; but very ill when I left London,' Mr. Bows said, in a low voice. " A britzska came up at this moment as the three men were speaking. The Peer looked at his watch. ' You've twenty minutes to catch the mail train. Jump in, Pendennis ; and drive like h , sir, do you hear?' " The carriage drove off swiftly with Pen- dennis and his companions, and let us trust that the oath will be pardoned to the Marquis of Steyne." The long episode of the Costigans is told with equal truth, and in its charming pendant, the love of the curate for Arthur's mother, the irony is so delicate that we laugh at Arthur before we perceive that we are laughing at ourselves. Arthur Pendennis, the son of the old apothe- cary and the nephew of the Major, is the character round which the various incidents of "I 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 10/ the novel group themselves with a kind of happy ease. He merely slips through the world in an accidental way, but though his adventures are without interest, the character is drawn with such fidelity to life, and his relations with his mother, and half sister, half love, Laura Bell, are so natural and pleasing, that he fills the part of hero to perfection, and if the story is too long, it is not when we are reading about Arthur that we think it so. His career at the University is not distinguished ; he spends his time with acquaintances who can afford to waste theirs, and the result for a poor man is suffi- ciently serious. " The lists came out," says Thackeray, " and a dreadful rumour ran through the University that Pendennis of Boniface was plucked." The element of caricature in this Pendennis of course was not the first to see, and he spends some time as the knight of the rueful countenance at his mother's cottage of Fairoaks ; but his spirits rise with the appear- ance on the scene of Miss Blanche Amory, the step-daughter of Sir Francis Clavering of Clav- ering Hall, and he divides his attention between paying court to her, and patronizing Laura, whom it is his mother's wish that he should I08 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. marry. Neither of these means of passing his time having led to anything, he proceeds to London and the Temple, where he falls in with a steady companion who procures a paper for his essays, and a publisher for his novel. His uncle introduces him to polite society, and, by trading upon a family secret of the Claverings, gets him the prospect of a seat in Parliament and a rich wife. Pendennis finds out, through the treach- ery of his uncle's valet, to what he owes his good fortune, and refuses to advance himself by being a party to such schemes. The engage- ment falls through, and he returns to the woman who has waited for him, and is finally married to Laura. Such is the simple story of Arthur Pendennis ; a journalist, and not a particularly good one ; a gentleman, and not a particularly noble one ; but alive in every mood and feature, his whole body absolutely tingling with life. There has been no such portrait drawn, as Thackeray hinted, but modestly refrained from saying, since Tom Jones. Fielding's present- ment of a youth of his time is as accurate as Thackeray's of his nineteenth-century represent- ative, and about Fielding's novel there plays a breezy air of freshness which is quite foreign to Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER lOQ the more subtle genius of Thackeray, but the character of Arthur Pendennis is more com- phcated than that of Tom Jones, and by con- sequence more difficult to draw. It is the peculiarity of our high state of civilization, that there must be many who, like Pendennis, experience the whole range of passion and sensation, without being able to find for them any adequate expression. Those feelings, which formerly only came to a man after long trouble and thought, that complicated series of emotions and ideas which once belonged only to philoso- phers and poets, have now, by the wide-spread influence of education, become the common property of minds that have no originality or power. To draw such a character without leaving the slightest opening for a charge of inconsistency, was difficult indeed, but Thack- eray never makes a mistake, and the most trivial conversations are so literal, it is hard to believe they did not take place. Pendennis has been detailing to Warrington the talk of a certain young lady, formerly an actress, whom he met at a ball. " ' From the gravity of that woman,' he con- cludes, ' you would have fancied she had been no THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. born in a palace and lived all the seasons of her life in Belgrave Square.' " ' And you, I suppose you took your part in the conversation pretty well, as the descendant of the Earl your father, and the heir of Fair- oaks Castle,' Warrington said. ' Yes, I re- member reading of the festivities which occurred when you came of age. The Countess gave a brilliant tea soiree to the neighbouring nobility ; and the tenantry were regaled in the kitchen with a leg of mutton and a quart of ale. The remains of the banquet were distributed among the poor of the village, and the entrance to the park was illuminated until old John put the candle out on retiring to rest at his usual hour.' " ' My mother is not a countess,' said Pen, ' though she has very good blood in her veins too — but commoner as she is I have never met a peeress who was more than her peer, Mr. George ; and if you will come to Fairoaks Castle you shall judge for yourself of her and of my cousin too.' " This is exactly how a high-spirited boy would have answered the badinage of his companion, and the creation of Arthur Pendennis, with his in 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER III bursts of anger, his enthusiasms, and his pride, was an achievement in itself. But the characters of the women in the book do not come far behind it. Blanche Amory, with her lannes and soupirs, with her sensibility and selfishness, with her elegance and her freaks of temper, with her desire for a grandc passion and her deceit, almost justifies the testimonial which her extremely candid step- father gives of her to the Chevalier Strong. She is an unami- able woman, but has the interest that is common to all the personages of fiction whom it is not unusual to meet. Thackeray speaks of her with an almost unnecessary harshness, and metes out to her at the end a justice that is more rigorous than poetical. He plies her, as was his habit, with every term of endearment, and his manner of treating " dear Blanche " is, though gentler, not entirely dissimilar to the method he adopted when dealing with " darling Becky." For the other two women he had a real and excusable tenderness, and Laura, though slightly sketched, has a bewitching personality. It is a far easier task to draw a good man than a good woman. When we speak of a good man, we think of a being who has the world to conquer. A man, if 112 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. he is to be good, must possess not only great but even contradictory qualities. He must at the same time have both courage and tender- ness, both reverence and strength, and if there is some difficulty in combining these excellences in one character, once that difficulty is sur- mounted the interest of the reader is secure. But the virtues that we love to associate with our ideal of womanhood have none of the attraction of paradox. Her true attitude in regard to matters both spiritual and of this world, is one of fond submission. She was made not to be the equal, but the helpmeet of man. She must rebel no more against her sur- roundings than against her fate. Tenderness is so essential a part of her that it has become pro- verbial ; and her courage is derived, not as man's from a consciousness of power, but from an assured belief in the right government of things, and a desire to bear unflinchingly what- ever may befall. Women who possess these qualities are not colourless in life. Each of our little triumphs brings out a new wonder of admiration, and constant sorrows only serve to prove the variety of their reliant and sustaining love. But in fiction, when we try to chronicle these in 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER II3 similar occasions, we produce in general a same- ness of effect, and Art fails to remember what Nature has so often shown. It required a Shakespeare to create a Desdemona, and there are no flawless women in the pages of Thackeray ; Lady Castlewood is not perfect, Ethel Newcome is fickle, and even Laura and Mrs. Pendennis have their little fits of hardness, jealousy, and pique. But except for these Pendennis' mother and betrothed are as good women as ever passed their lives between the covers of a book. Many are the readers who, like Mr. Merivale, have felt a passion for Laura, and have watched the colour mounting to her cheeks when " Pen " made his absurd proposal, and later her hanging blushing on his arm, " her bright eyes beaming with the light of love." Many are the readers whose eyes have dimmed over the death of Mrs. Pendennis, and who have closed the volume, and looked back and admired the delicate shades in this gentle picture of confiding motherhood. The scene takes place when Warrington, in a grand manner of his own, has just explained that Pen was innocent in his connection with Fanny. 114 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. " As for Helen, she was so delighted, that she started up, and said, ' God bless you — God for ever bless you, Mr. Warrington ; ' and kissed both his hands, and ran up to Pen, and fell into his arms. " ' Yes, dearest mother,' he said, as he held her to him, and with a noble tenderness and emotion, embraced and forgave her. ' I am innocent, and my dear, dear mother has done me a wrong.' " Oh, yes, my child, I have wronged you, thank God, I have wronged you ! ' Helen whispered. * Come away, Arthur — not here — I want to ask my child to forgive me — and — and my God to forgive me ; and to bless you, and love you, my son.' " He led her, tottering, into her room, and closed the door, as the three touched spectators of the reconciliation looked on in pleased silence. Ever after, ever after, the tender accents of that voice faltering sweetly at his ear — the look of the sacred eyes beaming with an affection unutter- able — the quiver of the fond lips smiling mourn- fully — were remembered by the young man. And at his best moments, and at his hours of trial and grief, and at his times of success and Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER II5 well-doing, the mother's face looked down upon him, and blessed him with its gaze of pity and purity, as he saw it in that night when she yet lingered with him "A little time after, it might have been a quarter of an hour, Laura heard Arthur's voice calling from within, ' Laura ! Laura ! ' She rushed into the room instantly, and found the young man still on his knees, and holding his mother's hand. Helen's head had sunk back and was quite pale in the moon. Pen looked round, scared with a ghastly terror. ' Help ! Laura, help ! ' he said, ' she's fainted — she's ' "Laura screamed, and fell by the side of Helen. The shriek brought Warrington and Major Pendennis and the servants to the room." The end of the year which saw the conclusion of ' Pendennis ' was occupied by Thackeray in a curiously characteristic manner. ' Pendennis ' was a picture of society drawn with unusual elaboration and care. It had covered a great deal of ground ; it had dealt with very large issues ; and had included in its range " a wedding and a funeral " ; but it had not omitted to look upon these lighter things which had formed the groundwork of ' The Book of Snobs,' and in its Il6 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. method of dealing with them it had completely given the lie to his earlier manner. But for the author of ' The Kickleburys on the Rhine ' * Pendennis ' might just as well not have been written. If it was necessary to produce a Christ- mas book, there was no necessity why this particular Christmas book should have been written. It has all the faults of ' Mrs. Perkins's Ball ' and * Our Street,' and contains an even graver indiscretion. The character of the Countess is not only an absurdity, but a feeble absurdity. Lady Rockminster in ' Pendennis ' is almost too patently introduced to show that a woman may wear a coronet, and yet not be inane ; but Thackeray at least takes the trouble to draw the character, and the result is not un- pleasing. Lady Knightsbridge in ' The Kickle- burys ' is merely a name, and we are asked to take on trust the excellences of her disposition. The introduction of this lady among the better drawn and pitiful personages of the sketch reduces the satire to a thinness beyond which it is impossible to go. The book was the subject, on its appearance, of an acute, though personal and grandiloquent review. In his ' Essay on Thunder and Small Beer ' Thackeray prints the I" 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 11/ article at length, and though he laughs at the grandiloquence and personality, the criticisms which he was careful to print he is careful to leave unanswered. Indeed they were unanswer- able, as they merely said what was patent to every observer, that the kind of work which might turn a penny, without credit, for an un- known writer, was unsuitable for a distinguished novelist. The writing of ' Esmond ' formed the real occupation of the next two years, but before Thackeray got properly under way with it, he found time to write a burlesque of the historical novel. This, however, though one of the most amazing of his numerous inconsistencies, may be pardoned to the author of Rebecca and Rowena.' It had, unlike many of Punch's Prize NoveHsts,' the advantage of taking for its subject the work of a writer who was no longer a contemporary, and his admiration for Scott prevented its author from degenerating into rudeness. It has plenty of good humour, and is perhaps the best parody in the language. It is interspersed with several ballads, and that of King Canute is so excellent as almost to reconcile us to the wanton attack on King Richard. Athelstane, Rowena, and Sir Il8 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Wilfrid are lively and humorous comments upon their chivalric counterparts in ' Ivanhoe,' and Wamba jests and sings so well as to be fitted for more serious company — The reddest lips that ever were kissed, The brightest eyes that ever have shone, May pray and whisper and we not list. Or look away and never be missed Ere yet ever a month is gone. But the man who could stop his caricature to write verses of that quality was getting past such frivolities. ' The History of Henry Esmond, a colonel in the service of Her Majesty Queen Anne, written by himself,' appeared in three volumes in the year 1852, when Thackeray was forty-one years of age. In several particulars it was an effort of a quite different kind from any he had before attempted. It followed much more nearly than any other of his important books the prescribed form of the novel. It was much less a mere series of adventures ; all its incidents contribute in their degree to shape the character, and to influence the life of Henry Esmond ; and the book is not, as was Thackeray's usual habit, interspersed with detailed studies of personages ni 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER II9 and families that have little or no bearing on the central figure of the story. It is moreover not a satire, but on the contrary a careful attempt to delineate life as it appears to the sentimental and reflective, rather than to the critical faculties of man. The form and attitude are both un- familiar, and the success that awaited the book was not such as to induce Thackeray to return to it, until the closing years of his life, when he began ' Denis Duval.' The author of ' Esmond ' gave proof of a versatility too large to be imme- diately understood by the public. ' Esmond ' would have been a triumph for any writer ; but it was so great a triumph for the author of 'Vanity Fair' that it seemed at first almost out of the course of nature, and not to be under- stood. In ' Pendennis ' the world had seen Thackeray at his best in the manner which he had made his own. ' Esmond ' was quite unlike 'Vanity Fair' and ' Pendennis,' and the public was content to mark the difference, without admiring the versatility which was responsible for it. But ' Esmond ' does not only deserve praise as a humane and discerning criticism, not of society, but ot life ; it is also one of the very 120 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. few completely successful attempts to take the reader back into a historical period. How difficult a task this is can readily be understood when we remember the immense multitude of historical novels, and how many of them do not attempt to do anything more than to show us modern characters moving about in antique costumes, and amidst antiquated surroundings. Mr. Stevenson's ' Catriona,' however good in itself, is in this respect, as Dr. Verrall has told us,^ completely a failure. David Balfour is a sensitive writer of the nineteenth century, con- demned to masquerade as a man of action, with a rapier dangling at his side. Even in Scott the sentiments of the characters, though not essen- tially modern, and though seldom inconsistent, have no genuine antique flavour about them. They seem, except when he is dealing with the great characters of history, not so much to have stepped out of by-gone centuries, as to have stepped easily and naturally into them by virtue of the wide humanity of their author. But Thackeray had so steeped himself in the eighteenth century, that while we are reading ' Esmond ' we seem to be listening to a sadder ^ ' Cambridge Review,' January 25, 1894. Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 121 Addison or to a profounder Steele. The his- torical atmosphere is even more real than that in 'The Memoirs of Barry Lyndon,' for Redmond Barry, with all his humanity, is a monstrosity, and though he belongs to the eighteenth, would have been an unnatural product of any century. How much of this labour, admirably spent for its purpose, was worth expending on such an object is of course another question, Shake- speare never troubled to reproduce the thoughts of the past, but was satisfied, as far as history went, if Caesar behaved as Plutarch tells us he did, or if Macbeth's actions accorded with the legend. He had no idea of making Hamlet reason as a Prince of Denmark would, or of putting into the mouth of Lear sentiments belonging properly to an early Briton. His object was not to show us Romans or Britons, Venetians or Veronese, but to put men in different situations, and to provide, by a variety of incidents, full play for the human heart. And in this he was followed by the other great Elizabethan dramatists. There are no real Romans to be found in the historical plays of Massinger or Dekker ; and few authors are ashamed when they draw Catos to let them talk 122 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. the language of Whig and Tory. But whatever merit there may be in reproducing in a work of fiction the sentiments of by-gone times, that merit among others belongs to the author of ' Esmond.' Thackeray indeed seems in this book to have gone out of his way to create difficulties, and, having created them, to over- come them. It was not enough that Esmond's companions should belong to the eighteenth century, but his author, by allowing him to tell his own story, forbids himself a single opportunity of speaking in his own voice. At first sight also it appears unreasonable that a character intended to be perfect should be forced into the unpleasant position of recounting his own excellences ; but even this difficulty has been partially, though only partially, overcome, and Thackeray, by the happy device of making Esmond speak at once in the first and third persons, has given the book the interest of an autobiography, without laying its hero patently open to the charge of vain -glory. Of the book itself, of its characters, and of the fine and almost spiritual insight in it, it is impossible to speak in terms of too high a praise. To Fielding or to Scott there was HI 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 1 23 nothing difficult in life. In one the life-blood was too warm, in the other the character was too simple and too manly, to appreciate those terrible alternations of emotion, which seem at one moment to convince us of our mortality, at the next to widen and purify the soul. Scott, even when writing of characters long buried, seems to live among them, and to chronicle their careers and endings from the standpoint of life. But in ' Esmond ' Thackeray tells us of the beauty of Beatrix, of the sympathy of Lady Castlewood, of the roystering pleasures of Captain Westbury and Dick Steele, as he would speak to us of things done and " rounded with a sleep." He does not look at death as a state outside of life, but looks at life itself ab extra, and appreciates to the full the irony, that the Esmond who is telling us his sensations in the little graveyard at Ealing had been dead a hundred years. But with all this he was com- pletely out of sympathy with those modern ideas that would, by a kind of hopeless paradox, reduce life to a tiresome farce, and death to its unenviable termination. His nature was far too sympathetic and too human not to have felt the lachryinae rerum, but it was also far too pro- 124 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. found not to have recognized that life is a mystery, and not a puzzle, and saddest when it most nearly approaches the divine. That is why ' Esmond ' is a book at once sorrowful and helpful. It is the more reverent and the more true exposition of the text he had appended to 'Vanity Fair' — Vanitas vanitatiini, omnia vanitas. But a work of fiction, though it may effect the purpose of a sermon or a philosophical treatise, does so by widely different means. We are not told in precise words the conclusions to be drawn from the little comedy or tragedy, but we are shown the play itself. And that we may be sufficiently interested to draw these conclusions, it is necessary that we should be deceived into imagining the actors to be real people, and the characters alive. In this Thack- eray was never more successful than in his masterpiece. Most of the characters in * Pen- dennis ' live, it is true ; but not with the same vigour, or with, if the expression is allowable, as great a determination. Every character in ' Esmond ' treats his life, whatever complexion it may wear to him, with a high and undoubting seriousness. The progress of Jesuitry is as im- portant to Father Holt as the credit of the ni 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 125 victory of Wynendael to General Webb. Plea- sures and wine are as real to Lord Castlevvood as her religion to his wife ; and Henry Esmond is not more deeply impressed with the solemnity of existence than Beatrix with the pride and delight of living. The last character is in many respects the finest in the book, " the one incom- parable woman," for so she has been called, " in prose fiction " ; and " surely never lighted upon the earth a more delightful vision." There is no more striking proof of Thackeray's know- ledge of human nature than the attraction which this character has exercised, and will continue to exercise over his readers. She is not by any means a good woman, yet with what an abundant warmth she fills the solemn pages of * Esmond.' Not since her namesake bandied words with Benedick has any one fluttered so gaily through her imaginary and pleasurable youth. She was created to take captive our delight, and, as Beatrice says, "not till God make men of some other metal than earth " can we fail to sympathize with Esmond's passion for her, or to consider no pursuit too long that might be rewarded by the possession of such a prize. 126 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Her brother Frank has abjured the Protestant religion, and married a foreign countess ; and this is her amazing commentary upon that occasion, with Colonel Esmond as her only- auditor : — " ' I made that onslaught on the priests,' says Miss Beatrix, afterwards, * in order to divert my poor dear mother's anguish about Frank. Frank is as vain as a girl, cousin. Talk of us girls being vain, what are we to you ? It was easy to see that the first woman who chose would make a fool of him, or the first robe — I count a priest and a woman all the same. We are always caballing ; we are not answerable for the fibs we tell ; we are always cajoling and coax- ing, or threatening ; and we are always making mischief, Colonel Esmond — mark my word for that, who know the world, sir, and have to make my way in it. I see as well as possible how Frank's marriage hath been managed. The Count, our papa-in-law, is always away at the coffee-house. The Countess, our mother, is always in the kitchen looking after the dinner. The Countess, our sister, is at the spinet. When my lord comes to say he is going on the campaign, the lovely Clotilda "I 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 12/ bursts into tears, and faints — so ; he catches her in his arms — no, sir, keep your distance, cousin, if you please — she cries on his shoulder, and he says, " Oh, my divine, my adored, my beloved Clotilda, are you sorry to part with me ? " " Oh, my Francisco," says she, " oh my lord ! " and at this very instant mamma and a couple of young brothers, with moustaches and long rapiers, come in from the kitchen, where they have been eating bread and onions. Mark my word, you will have all this woman's rela- tions at Castlewood three months after she has arrived there. The old count and countess, and the young counts and all the little countesses her sisters. Counts ! every one of these wretches says he is a count. Guiscard, that stabbed Mr. Harley, said he was a count ; and I believe he was a barber. All Frenchmen are barbers — Fiddlededee ! don't contradict me — or else dancing-masters, or else priests.' And so she rattled on. " ' Who was it taught yoii to dance. Cousin Beatrix } ' says the Colonel. " She laughed out the air of a minuet, and swept a low curtsey, coming up to the recover with the prettiest little foot in the world pointed 128 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. out. Her mother came in as she was in this attitude ; my lady had been in her cJoset, hav- ing taken poor Frank's conversion in a very serious way ; the madcap girl ran up to her mother, put her arms round her waist, kissed her, tried to make her dance, and said : ' Don't be silly, you kind little mamma, and cry about Frank turning Papist. What a figure he must be, with a white sheet and a candle, walking in a procession barefoot ! ' And she kicked off her little slippers (the wonderfulest little shoes with wonderful tall red heels : Esmond pounced upon one as it fell close beside him), and she put on the drollest little inotie, and marched up and down the room holding Esmond's cane by way of taper. Serious as her mood was, Lady Castlewood could not refrain from laugh- ing ; and as for Esmond, he looked on with that delight with which the sight of this fair creature always inspired him : never had he seen any woman so arch, so brilliant, and so beautiful. " Having finished her march, she put out her foot for her slipper. The Colonel knelt down : ' If you will be Pope, I will turn Papist,' says he ; and her Holiness gave him gracious leave in 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 1 29 to kiss the little stockinged foot before he put the slipper on, "Mamma's feet began to pat on the floor during this operation, and Beatrix, whose bright eyes nothing escaped, saw that little mark of impatience. She ran up and embraced her mother, with her usual cry of, ' Oh, you silly little mamma ; your feet are quite as pretty as mine,' says she : ' they are, cousin, though she hides 'em ; but the shoemaker will tell you that he makes for both off the same last' " ' You are taller than I am, dearest,' says her mother, blushing over her whole sweet face — 'and — and it is your hand, my dear, and not your foot he wants you to give him,' " But with all her dainty caprice, and her charm- ing mocks of affection, Beatrix remains worldly and heartless. If her character be examined with any care, she will be found to be absolutely incapable of an unselfish action. Yet to become the master of this charming shadow, this live piece of delicate imagination, is the ambition of every reader. It is true, we do not love her as she is, but we long to make her subject to an affection, of which, when reciprocated, we feel sure she would be worthy. She is only heartless 130 THACKERAY: A STUDY ^h. because no man has touched her heart, only worldly because she has never felt a great emotion, only selfish because she has found it so easy to conquer, — and she might have worn her beauty humbly if she had known what was contained in the magical issues of love. Such a woman must have made a thoughtless wife to Bishop Tusher, and a bad one to Baron Bernstein ; but had Esmond asked and won her when he came back after Lille, she would have formed the true counterpart to his melancholy, and, as she borrowed strength from his manhood, would have lent new graces to his character. With Rachel, Lady Castlcwood, Esmond was too similarly to be excellently matched. That sweet lady, as she runs through the different notes of her tenderness, seems to be filled with a vague kind of passion and alarm, as if she were fluctuating between the attitudes of prizing life too highly, and valuing it not at all. The resolute Esmond, who nevertheless had won at college the name of Don Dismallo, needed another wife than this ; and his philosophical calm must often have been rudely shaken by the depths of feeling he saw revealed in Lady Castlewood. He becomes almost unmanned "I 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 131 when he writes of her, and his mind seems to have caught a dye from her nature of passionate regret. She is ahvays to him his " dear, dear mistress," and her well-remembered accents in- expressibly affecting ; a pathetically human figure, over whose memory he exhausts the whole vocabulary of grief Mrs. Pendennis' love for Arthur sustained and comforted her son. It was so reserved and trustful, so bracing and so healthy, that it must have contributed to render life more simple for him, and its end more gracious and acceptable. But we are alarmed by the strength of a passion that, like Lady Castlewood's, seems to transgress the limits of mortality. There is no doubt, however, that such women have existed, though no author before Thackeray had applied himself to a careful study of the type, and curiously enough there is no kind of example of it to be found in the pages of Shakespeare. But the mind that could watch the career of Redmond Barry, and less than ten years later conceive and delineate such a character as Lady Castlewood, must have ranged through almost as great a variety of emotions. Henry Esmond, the hero, has been made the 132 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. subject of a good deal of comparatively undis- criminating criticism. Tiiackeray himself, when irritated with the failure of his novel, consoled himself by reflecting that " after all Esmond was a prig " ; and the chance phrase has been caught up and repeated by most of his critics. It is of course impossible to say now-a-days what mean- ing may not be attached to any word in the English language. The employment of terms has become so loose, that it is difficult often to seize upon the precise idea which a word is intended to convey. Mr. Trollope was of opinion that " there was that garb of melancholy over Esmond which always makes a man a prig," But the word, as used by our old authors, is not associ- ated with any such meaning. We find it to contain the notions of solemnity joined with pretence, a certain pomposity, perhaps, which is only half sincere. These qualities cannot be said to exist in Henry Esmond. He neither underrates nor over-values himself, and if he is solemn, it is his sincerity that makes him so. There was some pomposity inseparable from an attempt to chronicle one's own good behaviour, but if it was to be done, it could hardly have been done with more modesty, or with a greater ni 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 1 33 appearance of truth. Pitt Crawley was a prig, but there is no Hkeness between his character and that of Henry Esmond. It is not often, of course, that men intended by nature for divines wear swords at their sides, or that meditative students of Plato win honour on the field ; but there is nothing impossible in such a conjunction. We do not often meet such brave and scholarly gentlemen as Esmond ; we do not often find so high a courage and such powers of reflection united in one person, the capacity both to appreciate and to despise danger ; but the in- frequency of the occurrence should not lead us to misunderstand it. It is only children that object to be presented with perfect characters, because they have not the power to differentiate between an easily assumed appearance of virtue, and that excellence which is only possible to one who knows the nature of good. More mature criticism has the power of distinguishing between two such widely different things, and it is an error of judgment to suppose that the man who drew Henry Esmond and Colonel Newcome was in danger of confounding them. Thackeray, indeed, was never misled by hypocrisy, and in this at least his critical faculty was always sound. 1 34 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. But as a critic he was not acute. He was far too inclined, having decided whether a character was good or bad, eitlier to praise wholly, or to paint a portrait altogether black. It was not that he praised the wrong things, or blamed anything that was not blameworthy ; but he forgot that as there is no one who has not deserved blame, so there is no one who has not merited praise. In the series of lectures on the English humourists, this fault is peculiarly evident. He attacks Swift ; and selects for treatment in Pope only those qualities which were really admirable. Goldsmith's good-nature, and the coarseness of Sterne, are brought out into equal relief. The result is that he tells a half-truth about these writers, and conveys what is in effect an untruth. The lectures are not in any sense critical esti- mates of their subjects ; they are rather a series of cursory expositions of the leading impression they had produced on Thackeray's mind. They were not, however, without a good reason for being written, all the necessary material lying ready to his hand. In preparing to write ' Esmond,' he had amassed a store of inform- ation about their works and their lives, and it Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 135 was perhaps too much to expect that he should not have been awake to so lucrative a method of employing it. But though they contain many sentiments that give ample proof of his sympathy and discernment, they were quite unworthy of the position Thackeray then occupied in the literary world. It is hardly possible to resist smiling when one finds Prior, Gay, and Pope airily disposed of in forty pages, and Swift demolished in a similar number. But the in- adequacy of the treatment becomes ludicrous when in a lecture gravely labelled " Hogarth, Smollett, and Fielding," we find the author of ' Humphry Clinker ' has allotted to him no more than a page and a half. Not that it was easy to treat, in six lectures, of twelve consider- able writers, but the selection of the subject was not imposed upon the critic. And even with the subject selected, many of the writers chosen need not have been dealt with. Hog-arth mig^ht well have been omitted, Gay and Prior have little humour, while Congreve is purely a wit, and Pope pre-eminently a poet. If these were to be included, why not Dryden, Wycherley, and Vanbrugh i* — and a catalogue that compre- hended Swift might also have taken in Ben 136 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Jonson and Shakespeare. It was not the title, however, as has been supposed, that was respon- sible for this discursiveness of treatment, as there are six great English humourists of the eighteenth century, and only six who without a stretch of fancy may be so called. Had Thack- eray confined himself to Addison and Steele, Sterne, Fielding, Smollett, and Goldsmith, he would not only have had more space at his disposal, but he would have been saved from a serious error in classification. He might also, perhaps, have adopted an easier and more critical attitude, and would at least have been spared from finding fault with Swift because he had none of the urbanity that is peculiar to a humourist, and from reading an exaggerated kindliness into the genius of Pope. The portrait of Sterne would have remained unfair, but the critic who appreciated Fielding would have had something more to tell us of the spirit and humour of Smollett, whom he so accurately characterizes as " manly, kindly, honest, and irascible ; worn and battered, but still brave and full of heart." The lectures, as they are, are not, however, uninteresting, though they add nothing to our knowledee of the authors criticized, and "I 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 1 37 obviously cost Thackeray so little trouble, that it is not remarkable they furnish no new index to his mind. They remain as a light and pleasant interlude in his literary biography between ' Esmond ' and ' The Newcomes.' In this latter work, noteworthy as the last of his greater efforts, there are already to be detected signs of a flagging pen. He could no longer be troubled to construct even the semb- lance of a story, and ' The Newcomes ' is even more rambling and discursive than ' The History of Pendennis.' It combines, in a curious degree, all his previous methods. Like ' Vanity Fair,' it is a satire ; like ' Pendennis,' it is humane ; and we meet once more the regretful weariness of ' Esmond.' In ' Vanity Fair ' we were told that the world was a poor place to live in ; in ' Pen- dennis ' we were asked to look with pity on the kindly race of men ; while the mystery that shadows life hangs over every page of ' Esmond.' All these we have in ' The Newcomes,' though its author is willing to sing, with a still higher courage than formerly, the canticle of Nunc Dimittis.^ Life is too mournfully sweet in ^ " But above all, believe it, the sweetest Canticle is, 138 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. ' Esmond ' to be laid down without regret, in ' Vanity Fair ' too bitter to be lived without compunction, but in 'The Newcomes' the woof is shot with so great an admixture of delight and pain, that it is no wonder Colonel Newcome says his " adsum " with a tearful acquiescence. The spirit in which the book is written is most nearly akin to that which animates ' Pendennis,' but there life is worth living, and worth leaving, because it is at once interesting and trivial. In ' The Newcomes ' the same moral is drawn, because in the eyes of the author it has become both happy and sad. Thackeray never wrote a book from an attitude more accurate or truthful. We do not always order our existence with a purpose. The least worldly of us has, like Colonel Newcome, his moments of worldliness ; and the least spiritual, like Ethel, occasional glimpses of the vanity of things. We cannot be content, either always to criticize the game, or always actively to engage in it. Every one fulfils in turn the functions both of player and spectator. In Nunc dimittis ; when a Man hath obtained worthy Ends and Expectations." — Bacon, ' Essays ' : Of Death. "I ' PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 139 ' The Newcomes ' these truths are not made palpable merely by a contrariety of characters ; the tone of the book is saturated with them, and every accent seems to tell of the reality and unreality of things. He is describing the every- day incident of the departure of a passenger ship for India : — " I scarce perceived at the ship's side beckoning an adieu, our dear old friend, when the lady whose husband had bidden me lead her away from the ship, fainted in my arms. Poor soul ! Her too has fate stricken. Ah, pangs of hearts torn asunder, passionate regrets, cruel, cruel partings ! Shall you not end one day ere many years ; when the tears shall be wiped from all eyes, and there shall be neither sorrow nor pain .-* " And so on, and so on ; mingling the earthly and the spiritual, whenever an occasion presents itself, till " Boy " says Our Father. The novel, as Mr. Trollope has truly observed, is more a number of scattered pages from the biography of a family, than a series of related incidents. It begins by telling us all about the Newcomes, who they were and how descended, and having introduced the Colonel as an old man, takes us back to trace his childhood and 140 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. his youth. Thomas Newcome, an old Indian colonel, has returned home with a pension, to spend his declining years with his son. He is anxious that the young man should follow his own inclinations, and though he has set his heart on seeing him married, is indifferent as to what profession he may choose. His son Clive falls in love with his cousin, and the father strains every endeavour to forward the match, but circumstances fall out awkwardly, and Clive makes, at Colonel Newcomc's instigation, a hope- less incsalliance. The book closes leaving Clive a widower and an orphan, and wrapped up, as his father before him, in his boy. All this misery happens naturally enough. Had Ethel Newcome not been ambitious, or the Colonel not over-elated by his prosperity, none of it need have happened. It is not the greatest causes that in life produce the most disastrous effects. These two personages, Colonel and Miss New- come, have given the book its fame, but the canvas is literally crowded with every variety of men and women. Hobson Newcome is a staid and ultra-respectable man of business, while Sir Brian is a type of the sedate and prosperous London merchant. Ridley is a sensitive and Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 141 delicate genius, and Frederic Baynham a jovial specimen of good-nature and bourgeoisie. Lord Kew is as good a portrait as could be drawn of an English aristocrat ; Cliveofa youth of education and imaginative sensibility ; and the Comte de Florae of a human and pleasure-loving foreigner. The dowager Lady Kew is a woman of great age, with no thoughts but those of worldly advancement ; and Leonore, Madame de Florae, a beautiful example of patience and resigna- tion. Rosey is a poor affectionate little thing bewildered by the tyranny of Mrs. Mackenzie ; and Mrs. Hobson Newcome a sufficiently familiar hunter of celebrities ; while Sir Barnes, the hypocritical lecturer on the affections, is well contrasted with the fiery and reckless Lord Highgate. Among this crowd Thackeray wanders on, observing their different actions sometimes aim- lessly, but never without a keen perception of their meaning. There are so many of them, that we only see parts of their careers ; and just as acquaintance after acquaintance slips out of our actual lives, and we hardly pause to ask what has become of them, so these shadowy people cross our vision for a moment, and are gone. 142 THACKERAY : A STUDY ch. " They were alive," says Thackeray, " and I heard their voices, but five minutes since was touched with their grief. And have we parted with them here on a sudden, and without so much as a shake of the hand ? " Ethel Newcome, he condescends to hint to us, was ultimately united to Clive, and it is with a thrill of pleased recognition that we find them masquer- ading together in the background of ' Philip.' But for the most of them, he leaves the skein where he dropped it, and we may spin or tangle it as we will. Clive Newcome, the nominal hero, round whose career and marriage the main incidents of the novel are grouped, forms an interesting addition to Thackeray's commentary on the youth of the nineteenth century. It is difficult not to be reminded of Arthur Pendennis. Both are the descendants of gentle families, moving in a higher society than that of their origin ; both are indolent, though they have fits of intermittent industry ; both are fully alive to the influences of literature and art. One has lost a mother, one a father ; and Mrs. Pendennis' devotion to Arthur is as intense as that of Colonel Newcome for Clive. Both natures find the restraint of a Ill 'TENDENNIS' AND AFTER I43 regular profession intolerably irksome. They have many of the same virtues ; both are gentlemen, and they both comport themselves well in trying situations. But the difference between them is more striking than the similarity. Arthur Pendennis considers Mrs. Pendennis' devotion to him to be little more than his due ; Clive is always profoundly grateful for his father's love. Arthur is capable of serious indiscretions ; he proposes to make an absurd marriage with Miss Costigan, and his treatment of Fanny is so thoughtless as to be almost cruel. The less robust Clive never deviates from the paths of strict propriety. Arthur takes years to find out that the one woman suited to be his mate has been long waiting at his door, and he finally obtains her when it appeared that he had become entangled with Blanche Amory. Clive never swerves from his devotion to Ethel, whom he cannot obtain, and he marries another not from caprice, but out of deference to his father's wishes. Arthur is self-confident, and in no danger of underrating his powers ; Clive is diffident almost to a fault. Arthur attains success ; Clive, failure. Clive shrinks at the 144 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. first touch of misfortune ; Arthur marches buoyantly on, confident that his abihty will ultimately be recognized. Clive is subject to fits of melancholy, and we leave him heart- broken by "unmerited disaster"; Arthur never becomes more than petulant with evil fate, and he enjoys to the full all that the present can give. None can doubt which is the more loveable, or which has the finer character.- Alas ! poor Clive. For a man who hopes to succeed he commits the one fault unpardonable by those who are busied with idle things. He treats his life as a matter of grave importance, and looks out soberly and sadly on the myriad existences about him. Pendennis, more happily dowered, turns his fancy to good account as a journalist ; Clive falls a victim to his own imagination. He, a mere mortal, laid hands on the fire of the Gods, and found too late that it consumed him from within. It is enough to contrast the fates of Clive Newcome and Arthur Pendennis to understand what Thackeray thought of the way of the world, and of the cruel satire of circumstances, which ordain that one who has ideas above his station or capacity will inevitably fall below it. "I 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER I45 In the actual story of the Newcomes, however, Thackeray feared to accumulate the tragedy, and after the death of the Colonel he effected in a few pages the deliverance of Clive ; and we are told fairly plainly that a dea ex macJiind descended in the person of Ethel Newcome. This, which was no violent outrage on probability, affords the desired relief, though it does not render some parts of the former conduct of Ethel any the more comprehensible. She herself is not so dazzling a creation as Beatrix, though far more gentle and winning, and it is difficult to know whether we ought to admire the art which has con- structed for her her similar inconsistencies, or wonder whether such repetitions are to be found in Nature. Partly as a result of her training, and partly from the influence exer- cised over her by the dowager Lady Kew, she is possessed with the idea of making a brilliant marriage. But her intentions are complicated by the affection with which Clive Newcome inspires her. She becomes engaged to Lord Kew, but no sooner has she attained it, than she is almost angry with her triumph. She adopts towards her fiance an attitude of L 146 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. petulant suspicion, which soon ends in the rupture of the engagement. She is imme- diately subjected to the reproaches of Lady Kew, and being herself somewhat piqued at having lost a coronet, consents to encourage a particularly foolish young nobleman called the Marquis of Farintosh. With him also she finally breaks, having her eyes opened to the danger of such alliances by the fate of her sister-in-law, Lady Clara Pulleyn or Newcome. As it was not possible for Thackeray to repeat a third time the same situation, we are not surprised to find that Clive has meanwhile been married to Miss Mackenzie. This is the main outline of her story ; but she fluctuates back and forward from ambition to love, and from love to ambition. If she is fifty times in one mood, she is fifty times in the other. She does not know her own wishes, and in vain tries to rationalize her desires. If Clive had not married Miss Mackenzie, it is doubtful whether she still would not have preferred to him a more aristocratic lover. That there are many girls who would act in this way is not to be denied ; and it gave an added piquancy to her case that Ethel 511 Tendennis' and after 147 Newcome should be so simple and so loveable. But the character, when thus made interesting, becomes untrue. It is not easy to suppose that a girl so womanly could continue for long to act in the manner described. The scene in which she is introduced to the Colonel pre- disposes us in her favour. It is admirably calculated to awaken interest, without cloying it by any detailed description of her charms. " I doubt whether even the designer," says Thackeray, "can make such a portrait of Miss Ethel Newcome as shall satisfy her friends and her own sense of justice. That blush which we have indicated, he cannot render. How are you to copy it with a steel point and a ball of printer's ink ? That kindness which lights up the Colonel's eyes ; gives an expres- sion to the very wrinkles round about them ; shines as a halo round his face, — what artist can paint it .'* The painters of old, when they portrayed sainted personages, were fain to have recourse to compasses and gold-leaf — as if celestial splendour could be represented by Dutch metal ! As our artist cannot come up to this task, the reader will be pleased to let his fancy paint for itself the look of courtesy 148 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. for a woman, admiration for a young beauty^ protection for an innocent child, all of which are expressed upon the Colonel's kind face, as his eyes are set upon Ethel Newcome. " ' Mamma has sent us to bid you welcome to England, uncle,' says Miss Ethel, advancing, and never thinking for a moment of laying aside that fine blush which she brought into the room, and which is her pretty symbol of youth, and modesty, and beauty. " He took a little slim white hand and laid it down on his brown palm, where it looked all the whiter ; he cleared the grizzled mustachio from his mouth, and stooping down he kissed the little white hand with a great deal of grace and dignity. There was no point of resem- blance, and yet a something in the girl's look, voice, and movements, which caused his heart to thrill, and an image out of the past to rise up and salute him. The eyes which had brightened his youth (and which he saw in his dreams and thoughts for faithful years after- wards, as though they looked at him out of heaven) seemed to shine upon him after five- and-thirty years. He remembered such a fair bending neck and clustering hair, such a light Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 149 foot and airy figure, such a slim hand lying in his own and now parted from it with a gap of ten thousand long days between." This is a modest maid, who might well in after life have been dazzled by ambition, and for whom the committal of one serious flirtation was quite a possibility ; but she could hardly, as Thackeray would have us believe, have re- mained in reality the same, and been subject to recurrent attacks of a craving for an alliance only capable of conferring social distinction. " For her," he says in another place, " the world began at night ; when she went in the train of the old Countess from hotel to hotel, and danced waltz after waltz with Prussian and Neapolitan secretaries, with princes' officers of ordonnance — with personages even more lofty very likely — for the Court of the Citizen King was then in its splendour ; and there must surely have been a number of nimble young royal highnesses who would like to dance with such a beauty as Miss Newcome. The Marquis of Farintosh had a share in these polite amusements. His English conversation was not brilliant as yet, although his French was eccentric ; but at the court balls, whether he appeared in his uniform of the ISO THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Scotch Archers, or in his native Glenh'vat tartan, there certainly was not in his own or the public estimation a handsomer young nobleman in Paris that season. It has been said that he was greatly improved in dancing ; and, for a young man of his age, his whiskers were really extraordinarily large and curly. " Miss Newcome, out of consideration for her grandmother's strange antipathy to him, did not inform Lady Kew that a young gentleman by the name of Clive occasionally came to visit the ' Hotel de Florae' " The critic can hardly fail to observe that much of Ethel Newcome's attraction consists in the combination of qualities which are not usually found together. With Colonel Newcome it is different, though we should be far less likely to meet with any- thing approaching him in actual life. But it is the strength of his qualities that is rare, not their existence in one person. Generosity, mag- nanimity, and gusts of noble rage belong often to the same man. Though a magnanimity as great as Colonel Newcome's is seldom seen, if we did see it anywhere, we should almost expect to find along with it the other constituents of Ill ' PENDENNIS' AND AFTER l^I his character. Colonel Newcome is like the giants in the children's books ; they are exactly- like human beings, only larger. They have all the features, and even wear the clothes of humanity, and we are aware of a certain loss in innocence and faith, when we cease to believe in these reasonable monsters. So well in Colonel Newcome is the resemblance preserved, that we feel that even in his best moments we are capable of imitating him. He acts just as we should like to act, and very much as we should act, if we were always able to obey the higher instincts of our nature. He does not pretend to be perfect ; he has little of the reserve and self-control of Esmond ; and he gives way more than once to passionate anger and grief. But his motives never fail to be generous, and the same want of calculation that weakens his judgment gives freer play to his heart. Henry Esmond, with a few alter- ations, might have lived two thousand years ago, and we catch traces in him of the stoic acquiescence, and the pagan feeling for beauty, which belonged to Marius the Epicurean. But Colonel Newcome could hardly have flourished before the beginning of our century. In 152 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. some respects he recalls the knights of the middle ages, but he has lost much of their enthusiasm and certainty. He does not take himself sufficiently seriously to belong to an early civilization, and though as simple and trustful as a child, has no idea of his indi- viduality playing any considerable part in the ordered scheme of things. He is a true product of a later Christianity, as clear of fanaticism as he is innocent of doubt. He is not troubled with much philosophy, but he has enough to suffer bravely and to live like an honest man, and the scene at his death-bed is deservedly one of the most famous in fiction. It is not only that it is told with a kind of haunting pathos, and a tender felicity of phrase, but its dignified tragedy gives consistency and completeness to the rambling incidents of the book. And just as we are unable to judge of a career till it is finished, it is only when we close ' The New- comes ' that we clearly appreciate the accuracy of its criticism of life. We are reminded of the words of Mr. Stevenson : — " The sights and thoughts of my youth pursue me ; and I see like a vision the youth of my father, and of his father, and the whole stream of lives flowing Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 153 down with the sound of laughter and tears. And I admire and bow my head before the romance of destiny." With ' The Newcomes ' off his hands, Thack- eray gave up the next two years to writing occasional verses and papers, and lecturing in different cities. None of these occupations was new. Whenever he had leisure, he was a fre- quent contributor to the magazines, and he con- tinually interspersed his tales with verses and ballads. His claims to rank as a poet have often been considered, and settled with a re- markable unanimity. It is allowed on all sides that the volume of his collected verses contains nothing of high poetic quality, and is distin- guished by none of those powers of contempla- tion and directness which belong to the highest poetry. But it is also admitted that his verses, though never magical, are often charming, and always bear the stamp of their author. The tone, in general, is one of smiling melancholy, as if the laughing and weeping philosophers were to perform their functions at once. His poems would not by themselves have secured for Thackeray a high place in literature, but some of them are not likely to be readily for- 154 THACKERAY : A STUDY ch. gotten. As a poet, his range was neither wide nor particularly deep, but his touch is gentle and true. His attitude is characteristically- shown in the ' Ballad of Bouillabaise,' or in " The story of two hundred years Writ on the parchment of a drum," but it is perhaps seen best in ' The Pen and the Album.' The pen is supposed to be speaking : — " I've helped him to pen many a line for bread, To joke with sorrow aching in his head, And make your laughter when his own heart bled. " I've spoke with men of all degree and sort, Peers of the land, and ladies of the Court. Oh, but I've chronicled a deal of sport, " Feasts that were ate a thousand days ago, Biddings to wine that long hath ceased to flow, Gay meetings with good fellows long laid low. " Summons to bridal, banquet, burial, ball. Tradesman's polite reminder of his small Account due Christmas last — I've answered all." The note is that of Omar Khayyam. But he is not given over to sadness, and occasionally he seems to remember that he ought to be com- forted. Then a merrier mood supervenes, and he can afford to break his jest about the inevit- I" 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 1 55 able Christmas bill. Occasionally he begins a verse in the highest of spirits, but his voice is apt to break. " He, by custom patriarchal, Loved to see the beaker sparkle, And he thought the wine improved Tasted by the lips he loved, By the kindly lips he loved." The added tenderness of the last line fore- shadows the bitterness of regret. Of his prose works, there is none of any im- portance between ' The Rose and the Ring,' published in 1855, and 'The Virginians,' which did not appear till 1858. 'The Rose and the Ring ' is a fairy story for children, but it does not contain much that was peculiar to Thack- eray, and ends, as by nature bound, with the general happiness of every one. But of its kind, as Mr. Lang prettily observes, " it is indispens- able in every child's library, and parents should be urged to purchase it at the first opportunity, as without it no education is complete."^ It is also interesting as throwing additional light on Thackeray's character, and was the outcome of the same feelings that find expression in the ^ ' The Yellow Fairy Book ' : Preface. S56 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. concluding paragraph of ' The Newcomes.' " The poet of Fableland," he says there, " re- wards and punishes absolutely. He splendidly deals out bags of sovereigns, which won't buy anything ; belabours wicked backs with awful blows, which do not hurt ; endows heroines with preternatural beauty, and creates heroes who, if ugly sometimes, yet possess a thousand good qualities, and usually end by being im- mensely rich ; makes the hero and heroine happy at last, and happy ever after. Ah, happy, harmless Fableland, where these things are ! Friendly reader ! may you and the author meet there on some future day ! He hopes so ; as he yet keeps a lingering hold of your hand, and bids you farewell with a kind heart." Here is an author who does not fly to fairy tales for relief from the harshness of the world, but who sees in them, with a fine intuition, a justification for its existence. ' The Virginians,' the sequel to * Esmond,' is one of the longest of Thackeray's books, and the only one which it is almost impossible to read as a whole. The story of ' The Newcomes ' was not constructed with care, but compared with that of ' The Virginians ' it is a model of in 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 1 57 what a plot should be. But it was necessary, if the public was to be amused, to write some- thing new ; and as Thackeray's invention had begun to fail him, there was nothing for it but to revivify, as best he could, the dry bones of a former tale. For this, as there was no one in * Vanity Fair ' whose fortunes were sufficiently interesting, and as Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Pen- dennis had begun to weary us in ' The New- comes,' there was nothing left but to return to the house of Castlewood, and to find there his opportunity. In ' Esmond ' he had lingered round its old grey walls till every stone of them had become familiar, and he must have caught at the idea, when it occurred to him, of peopling them again with a younger generation. The novel, indeed, begins with vivacity enough. Henry Warrington rings the same bell his grandfather had so often rung ; the fountain in the courtyard plashes again ; and the momen- tary appearance of Madame Bernstein adds reality to the illusion. But as the novel pro- ceeds, it loses its connection. We are spirited across from England to America, and from America to England ; people whom we had looked upon as dead come suddenly to life ;. 158 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. and of the brothers it is not clear which interests us most at odd moments, or least in the end. And though it was not inartistic that we should catch a glimpse of Beatrix in her old age, the Baroness Bernstein is far too much in evidence. She is the central figure of 'The Virginians.' Again and again we are invited to mark the results of selfishness and caprice, and the old sinner with her rouge and her cards points a moral too obvious and dull. The chief effect of the character is to destroy much of the illusion of ' Esmond,' but uncalled-for as it is, it is drawn with more care than any other in the book. Henry and George, the Castlewood family, are not colourless, it is true ; but they have little consistency or vigour about them, while Theo and Hetty are vague almost to faintness. With the historical personages, Thackeray is in general more successful, and there are many charming glimpses of the eighteenth-century fribbles and wits. But the attempt to portray the youth of George Washington is not even seriously made. ' The Virginians ' is a book to dip into and to glance at occasionally with profit, but it is too lengthy and too purposeless in 'PENDENNLS' AND AFTER 1 59 to claim attention as a whole. It serves as a good example to show how useless are great faculties of wisdom and discernment, when unallied with a sense of order and proportion. The truth is, all good novels present to us the world in miniature, and the figures, unless we get some hint of a scheme behind them, interest us no more than shadows on a wall. A tale ' full of sound and fury, signifying nothing," is precluded by its nature from giving an accurate representation of life. It was not that Thackeray did not know this, but his pen and brain were weary, and he was becoming in- capable of taking a wide view of the large subjects with which he still endeavoured to grapple. In ' The Four Georges,' a series of lectures delivered some time before, but not published till i860, this fault is beginning to be evident, all the more, perhaps, because it was a topic on which he was constitutionally incapable of being heard to advantage. Had he written the lectures at the time when his interest in life was at its keenest and freshest, he could hardly have done justice to the four Georges. He never saw anything in a king, except a very ordinary l60 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. mortal, dressed out with pomposity and conceit ; but in ' The Four Georges ' he makes no attempt to cope with the difficulties of his task. It was natural that he should not view them as rulers, but he might at least have attempted to present to us a connected idea of their careers. He who would turn the pages of ' The Four Georges ' to learn anything of parliamentary government would only lose his labour for his pains ; but the reader who expected to find there what manner of men they were, who were so greatly responsible for modern England, would commit an equally grave, though more natural mistake. Unlike ' The Virginians,' the lectures are interesting reading, but, like ' The Virginians,' they suffer from their author's never having had a clear idea of what he was engaged in describing. They consist rather in gossip about the habits of the four Georges than in criticism of their policy, or in portraits of the men. Of the other two books of this period, remin- iscent also of his earlier work, there is little to be said. One, ' Lovel the Widower,' was no more than a rehabilitation of a dramatic frag- ment called ' The Wolves and the Lamb,' written Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER l6l in 1854. The plot is almost identical, and in the original it was so farcical and harsh, that it was next door to impossible to make anything of it. But what patience could effect has been done, and ' Lovel the Widower ' is the best of the stories that properly belong to the period of ' Mrs. Perkins's Ball ' and ' The Kickleburys on the Rhine.' But even then it was a poor kind of achievement for the author of ' Pendennis ' and ' The Newcomes.' Mrs. Prior, a pilferer of sugar, and her daughter, a reformed and hypocritical ballet-girl, are not pleasant people to contemplate, and many of the other char- acters, like Lady Baker, are sordid in their self- importance and vulgarity. The kindliness of his later manner, and the interest of his digres- sions, were powerless to construct from these a kindly or interesting story. With his other tale, 'The Adventures of Philip,' they were more successful ; and, in its way, to transform Caroline Gann into the little sister said much for his creative genius. But the novel, which might have been good, is marred all through by having to carry along with it several of the melodramatic characters from the unfortunate ' Shabby Genteel Story.' M 1 62 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. George Brandon was not likely to have turned out better than Dr. Firmin, and the parson who celebrated the mock marriage might have ended his career as Mr. Tufton Hunt ; but when we consider ' Philip ' by itself, these characters are not to be admired. If George Brandon could have existed so could Firmin, but the one is as extravagant as the other, and the surroundings which were natural to both were not worth depicting. Even the good people catch a taint from the atmosphere in which these worthies move, and Arthur Pendennis and Laura have so little of their old charm that we wonder why they should have been dragged from their quiet and cosy corner. But the book is not without a biographical interest, inasmuch as it is merely a rechauffee of many earlier productions. Philip Firmin's adven- tures are not altogether unlike those of Pen- dennis, but he is a loud and noisy person, whose literary efforts must have been astonishingly bald. The Earl of Ringwood is a more violent edition of the Marquis of Steyne, and the publisher in the book is, what one would hardly have thought possible, a caricature of Bungay and Bacon. Charlotte is a mixture of Theo ni 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 163 Lambert and Amelia Sedley, and for Philip's misadventure at the ball we have to go as far back as ' The Memoirs of George Fitzboodle.' In hardly any instance is the repetition an im- provement, and the book, which added nothing to Thackeray's reputation, contains hardly any- thing that was new. It was the last of his imaginative works which he was destined to complete. There remain besides, as the fruit of his declining years, only the unfinished fragment of ' Denis Duval,' and The Roundabout Papers,' which with their fine spirit of humanity and calm, form a fitting close to his life. " A big, fierce, weeping, hungry man," says Carlyle, summing up his view of Thackeray, " not a strong one ; " and the judgment, if inaccurate, is sufficiently luminous to help us to understand him. It has the merit, among others, of suggesting that we should fix our attention rather on the writer than on his writ- ings, for it is Thackeray, and not the work for which he was responsible, that has left so large a mark upon our time. His personality is always to the front, and it is not life so much as 164 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. his view of it which we see in his novels. At bottom he was more a preacher than an artist ; and if we were only to look at his books separately, and to judge of them as works of art, we should form a wrong estimate of his probable influence. In any serious attempt to ascertain his place in literature, we should have to consider not only his novels, but the whole character of their author as it appears to us in them. But this, as far as the works are concerned, is what has been attempted in the foregoing pages, and before proceeding to lay down anything about his character as a whole, and free from the en- cumbrance of being only able to touch on it in- cidentally, while dealing with his tales and novels in chronological succession, it will be convenient to summarize what has been said. Till the publication of ' Barry Lyndon ' he wrote nothing which, by itself, has interest for posterity. The Yellowplush papers and corre- spondence ' Cox's Diary,' ' The Fatal Boots,' and the whole series of satires and novelettes which he produced at that period, were purely ephemeral. A parody so long as ' Catherine,' a tale so sordid as the 'Shabby Genteel Story,' a novelette so ineffective as 'The Great Hoggarty Diamond,' I" 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 165 would by themselves have given no author lasting reputation. And even ' Barry Lyndon,' it must be repeated, though a remarkable production, has few of the qualities of a work of the first excellence. It will be read, perhaps, as long as ' Jonathan Wild,' but it is not to ' Jonathan Wild ' that Fielding owes his fame. ' The Book of Snobs,' and the novelettes dealing with that genus, chiefly appealed to the generation for which they were written, and they will soon cease to have any but a historical interest. Nor are ' The Virginians ' and ' Philip ' likely to fare any better, and nobody who was merely looking for a good novel would trouble himself with them. But when we come to * Vanity Fair,' to * Pen- dennis,' and * The Newcomes,' we raise a more serious question. Here we have books which, at the first sight, might appear to be sufficiently good to stand alone. A great many qualities, however, are necessary for literary immortality, and in some these three novels are notoriously deficient. In the first place, they extend without exception to far too great a length, and though they might hold the reader's interest from monthly number to monthly number, when 1 66 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. published as a whole they are only readable with difficulty. In the second, ' Pendennis ' and ' The Newcomes ' are constructed with so little art, that we should not be surprised if the con- clusion arrived with any chapter, or was never reached at all ; and even in * Vanity Fair,' the fall of Becky, the natural termination of the book, occurs about the middle of the second volume. They seem, both in plot and in method, to be the work of chance, whereas in every really great work of art "the ideal in all its completeness governs the whole process ; and there is not, from the very outset, one arbitrary stroke, one note or touch, that is not instinct with the power of the whole, and prophetic of its fulfilment." ^ The result is, that even with all their merits these defects alone would make us hesitate to predict that any one of them would for its own sake continue to be read, whereas we would turn to ' The Scarlet Letter ' and * Old Mortality,' if Scott and Hawthorne had written nothing else. This happy fate, the power of for ever compelling readers by its own intrinsic excellence, belongs to only one of Thackeray's books, ' The History of Henry Esmond.' ^ Principal Caird : 'The Philosophy of Religion.' Ill 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 167 But even without it, his great works would never have wanted for an audience, and it would be safe to say that he will remain a classic, not on account of any of them, but because of all. The author of ' Pendennis ' can be studied in ' The Newcomes,' and in ' Pendennis ' the author of ' Vanity Fair,' and, even in his minor pro- ductions, the character of Thackeray. None of these works would have made its author a classic, but they are each classical because they were written by him. With all his faults, there has been no such genius engaged in novel- writing since the death of Scott, none with such width of discernment, and so humane an under- standing of life. He has left a very different body of work, it is true ; but it will all repay study, as the production of an author who had much that is vital to say, not only to his own generation, but to those that come after. Hard as the task, from an artistic standpoint, may appear, it will be readily undertaken by multi- tudes as long as our civilization remains approxi- mately the same. A writer who so constantly " knocks directly at the door of our tears," who has so great a command over our modern emotions, may express himself in any form he l68 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. pleases, and yet not forfeit his claim to our attention. In his excellences and defects he remains the prose epitome of our century. The complexity of his character has already been adverted to ; and his infelicities were almost as great as his successes. ' Esmond ' was beyond the reach of Scott, but ' Catherine ' was equally far below it. Lady Castlewood is as spiritual as any of Hawthorne's creations, but Becky Sharp might have been painted by Hogarth ; and ' The Book of Snobs ' is occupied entirely with the exterior of things. If one might borrow terms from philosophy, Thackeray was a dualist. For him there were two worlds ; he was not " pure air and fire," and the " dull elements of earth and water " were also constituents of his being. When we read Fielding, we think of nothing but the body, its clothes and its affections. Man in his pages is the highest of the animals, but still an animal. When we read Shakespeare or Hawthorne, we form no accurate idea what the different people are like, we seem to know them themselves, to be familiar, not with their persons, but with their thoughts. So much is this so, that we are not offended to see Hamlet played on two ni 'PENDENNIS' AND AFTER 169 consecutive nights by different actors, and no one ever wasted a moment on computing the income of Miriam or Zenobia. But for Thack- eray, the exterior of the character had as much attraction as the character itself. His greatest tragedy, that of ' The Newcomes,' is brought about by the loss of money ; and Henry Esmond, who remains for us the pure idea of a melancholy commentator on life, has his face marred by the ravages of small-pox. A similar attitude is noticeable in his treat- ment of greater things. At one moment he seems to be full of the joy of existence, at the next to be reminding us that we must not value it too highly ; and his transitions from the material to the spiritual are almost startlingly abrupt. He loved the world, yet he was always preaching its vanity, and though he constantly adjures us to look beyond, he accentuates, rather than conceals, the bitterness of parting with it. It is for this reason that he is so modern, and, like Tennyson, represents both our weakness and our strength. He does not speak to us from the calm heights of Wordsworth, and he has none of Mr. Arnold's cold decision, for his character was not purely contemplative, and he I/O THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. in was far more akin to the Hebrews than the Greeks. But his voice, though it may be broken with tears, is never without its note of hope and consolation. " Oh the sad old pages," he writes in one of his last papers, " the dull old pages. Oh the cares, the ennui, the squabbles, the repetitions, the old conversations over and over again ! But now and again a kind thought is recalled, and now and again a dear memory. Yet a few chapters more, and then the last, after which behold Finis itself come to an end, and the Infinite begun." Who is there who does not recognize in the writer of that passage a humanity and a rever- ence that are found in conjunction only in the ereatest minds ? CHAPTER IV STYLE AND GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS That it should be considered necessary to write anything on the style of an author, on the turn of his periods, or on the arrangement of his sentences, is one of the curiosities of literary criticism. But we live at a time in which some such criticism is particularly demanded. At first sight it appears almost too clear for demonstration, that the style and the author are one and the same, and that as in the art of speaking in public, if a man has nothing to say he will never learn to say it. But the truth of this axiom has been constantly disputed, and there have been periods in all countries, in which it has been thought that all that was necessary for excellence as a writer, was a power of tormenting the language with suf- ficient grace. But the quality of greatness is in 172 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. itself peculiar, and it follows that great orators and writers, when they express their ideas naturally, use a form and manner not common to common men. Their habits of thinking are the cause of their style, and it is a fallacy that would be obvious if less frequent to suppose that we shall arrive at a similar result by any study of the effect. The fallacy, nevertheless, has obtained credit with many considerable writers. Ever since the time of Euphues, there have been found, at recurrent intervals, various schools of authors, professing the same objects as those who are now content to be known, as if in ridicule of their claims, by the barbarous appellation of" stylists." The study of style by itself labours under two grave disadvantages. In the first place the object of the study, which is a living imitation, is unattainable, and in the second it is bound to produce a nerveless and affected literature. It would almost seem that the students of this art supposed that language was not the natural vehicle of thought, and that it was as difficult for a man to learn to write, as for an infant to learn to speak. The truth is of course quite the other way, and reading does not more easily IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 73 make a full man, than a full man expresses his thoughts. If a man has anything to say, to say it is only difficult if he has confused his mind and cramped his fingers, by studying how it may best be done. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, when there was a singular and healthy absence of writing about writing itself, there was hardly an author who was not the possessor of a blame- less and perspicuous style. Let any one open at hazard any of the introductions to the poetical translations so common then, or any volume on travel or government, and he will find that however inconsiderable the writer, whatever he has got to say he has no difficulty in saying with simplicity and force. Even Johnson, a considerable offender against simplicity, was well aware of its value, and selected the pages of Addison as the model of English prose. It has been commonly said that Johnson thought in Saxon, and wrote in Latin, phraseology. But this is far from a complete explanation, and the elephantine tread of his earlier style is only an exaggeration of the cumbrousness of his ideas, and arose in great part from the necessity of saying something new on social subjects that 174 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. had been fully dealt with before. In the * Lives of the Poets,' where he broke ground comparatively fresh, and on which he had thought much and often, his style more resembles pointed conver- sation than his previous contributions to the ' Rambler.' To take another instance ; Milton, it has been said with obvious truth, is a great master of style, and there are many passages in Milton not free from the charge of straining after effect ; but in the main he writes as he thinks, and where the construction of the lines is remarkable, the thoughts that inform them are generally unique. And this will be found to mark the difference between the style of a great author, and the laboured language of a " stylist." In every book passages must occur where the reader's atten- tion is arrested, and these will be found on re-perusal to contain, either a striking thought, or a series of sentences artificially arranged. The one, if words be used in their proper sense, is style, the other, artifice. Thackeray, as much as any author since Addison or Swift, is a master of style, free, simple, and easy, narrating the simplest things in the simplest m.anner, rising to such heights of grandeur as his mind IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 75 was susceptible of, and moving responsive to every mood of his capacious tenderness. Always his servant, never his master, what he thought it said with so literal an exactness as to make him in one sense the most truthful of writers. If he descends into caricature, he alone is responsible ; if his power of discrimination is lost in abuse it is not his style that has hurried him away. Of such a style, so unobtrusive, so obedient, if a critic were anxious to be paradoxical, he would say it did not exist. But that Thackeray has no style is only true in the sense in which it is the highest compliment that can be paid him. He has no mannerisms which he has made his own, no phrases of which he cannot rid himself, no tricks of arranging his particles or postponing the introduction of his verbs. Even when he indulges in the repetition of a word, and makes Barry Lyndon speak of his " poor dear, dear little boy," or Esmond of his " dear, dear mis- tress," the charm consists in the absence of any studied artifice, in the expression being there by an accidental overflow of affection. Neither is his habit of familiarly addressing the reader a trick of style, it is a mannerism exceedingly characteristic, and more a fault of thought than 1/6 THACKERAY: A STUDY ch. of language. Its frequent occurrence, however irksome, is never unnatural. The pen talks to the reader, because the author is determined to treat him as a companion. It is true, no doubt, that the critical reader would recognize any long quotation from Thackeray as the work of his hand, and so far he has a manner of his own, but every good author has as much as this. The prose of Bacon, and even of Addison, is recognizable, and even where a writer's range is far wider than Thackeray's, there is still in every con- siderable passage the imprint of his hand. There is a literature about the doubtful plays of Shakespeare founded on internal evidence alone. Other authors who have become the devotees of their style could be recognized even if the sense of the passage were altered. There are many passages of Mr. Stevenson's that we would know to be borrowed in whatever context they were found. "At the best of it," says Mr. Stevenson, " there was an icy place about my heart, and life seemed a black business to be at all engaged in. For two souls in particular my pity flowed." And again : " Of a sudden her face appeared in my memory, the way I had IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS I// first seen it, with the parted lips ; at that, weak- ness came in my bosom and strength into my legs." This is a kind of effective writing in which Thackeray never indulges. Where he has a plain statement to make, he makes it plainly, and his unembellished narrative depends on reflection and incident alone. By this means occasionally he is dull, but he never wearies. The attention of his readers may sometimes stray, but their interest is never palled, and he is saved entirely from that tendency which in varying degrees is so fatal to modern prose — to sacrifice even sense and dignity upon the " altar of art." Of the other portion of this chapter, of the general characteristics of Thackeray, it is not so easy to speak. The subject " bristles with commonplace," which though not absolutely correct, and consequently not safely to be ignored, is based, in the main, on a fair esti- mate of the author. All therefore that here can be done is to go over ground, of necessity familiar, and to deal with topics on which the current notions contain an unusual degree of truth. The early part of Thackeray's life, after he N 1/8 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. had settled down to a literary career, was spent amid Bohemian surroundings. A solitary man, left alone with his children, he sought relaxation amid a bachelor society. His university career was short, and never having been a member of a regular profession, his acquaintanceships until a later period were mostly formed among those of similar tastes and occupations. Part of his life he spent in clubs, part in that large district called Bohemia, and part as a solitary student. The environment of a romance writer is of little consequence, because his business has no connection with affairs, but for a novelist it is of the first importance. The author of a novel of manners which professedly depicts society, can hardly be said to be equipped for his task unless he has seen "all sorts and conditions of men," and travels as wide as those of Ulysses would form no useless part of his education. It is the duty of a novelist to see life, and to see it whole. A partial study of a restricted area has its use no doubt, but it is apt to lead to mistakes that the mere student would not be tempted to commit. A man by nature reflective, meditating on the abyss of Bohemianism which he saw around him, might IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1/9 well think Dr. Brand Firmin and his confrhes possible and even likely characters ; to the man of the world, as to the philosopher, they seem so improbably detestable as not to be worth depicting. Thackeray's early life indeed furnished a poor training for the work by which he has become a classic, and it explains much that is wanting in his novels, and much that ought not to have been there. What he saw of Bohemia afforded material for some of his least agreeable sketches, and the influence of his sojourn in club-land is plainly discernible in ' The Book of Snobs,' and even, though there much more happily, in ' Pcn- dennis.' The strange rivalry between Lady Castlewood and Beatrix as objects of Esmond's affection, though worked out with such charms as hardly to displease, is a product of the study. Theoretically there is nothing impossible in the situation, and the reader is content to believe that a man might be in love with both mother and daughter at the same time, but that Esmond should pay his addresses to the one, and ulti- mately marry the other, offends those who are unable to remember such an instance of raptur- ous and methodical affection. l80 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. Some such connection there must be between the circumstances of a novelist and the scenes he makes familiar by the exercise of his art, but in Thackeray's case the connection is unusually close. He depicted what he saw, and where his experience failed him he fell back upon his imagination, only to return to his experience when his imagination was exhausted. He had no notion of supplementing the one by the other, to fill up a preconcerted list of scenes and characters, that it is highly improbable he ever made. If it was possible to do without a plan, he did without it, and if he did not happen to need a character to complete a scene, he rarely troubled his invention. He had seen some doubtful journalists, and there are doubtful journalists in plenty in his books, but he introduces us to no author who is both a scholar and a gentleman. In ' The Newcomes ' we fall upon a large company of artists ; they are all, however, of the class with whom he might have come in contact in his youth. Yet he must have known that there were living many celebrated painters who were socially quite his equals ; nor is there any reason easily discoverable why Ridley, the only artist of ability mentioned in the novel, should have IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS l8l been the offspring of a cook. In his novels of society none of his characters seem to have even a passing acquaintance with any public man of respectable reputation. In his later works the omissions are more remarkable still, for by that time his society was courted by many distinguished by rank, in letters, or in art. Yet in ' Philip * the publisher and the authors, if intended to represent a class, are obvious caricature, and before he wrote * The Virginians ' he must have discovered that a peer is not of necessity either an idiot or a sot. But so startling is his attitude towards some sections of the community, that no ex- amination of the circumstances of the first portion of his active life will serve to explain it. He almost seems to have persisted in certain views less from habit than perversity. ' Esmond ' could not have been written by any one who in taste and sympathies was not in himself an aristocrat, but if one runs over the list of his noble characters not contained in that volume, the names that suggest themselves are those of Lord Bareacres and Lord Crabs, Lord Ring- wood, and the Marquises of Steyne and Far- intosh. The single exceptions that are not 1 82 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. historical, are Lord Kew in ' The Newcomes,' and the slightly-drawn characters of Lady Knights- bridge in ' The Kickleburys on the Rhine/ and Lady Rockminster in ' Pendennis.' His treatment of the clergy is even more extraordinary, and the explanation that a man so reverent would naturally pursue any one who degraded his sacred office with peculiar vehemence, would serve better if Thackeray had been dealing with real and not fictitious person- ages. After all, it is not so much for the opinions he holds that an author is responsible, as for those he actively disseminates, and what an opinion of the English clergy must the reader, who is content to take Thackeray at his word, be compelled to form ! There is a paper on clerical snobs, and the degrading spectacle of Mr. Tufton Hunt. There is Bishop Tusher, of whom it is enough to remark that no worse punishment could be found for Beatrix than to marry her to him. Mr. Sampson plays a large part in ' The Virginians,' and the Rev. C. J. Honeyman wearies the reader of * The New- comes ' with his continual whine. Dr. Portman in ' Pendennis ' is too slight a sketch to be placed in opposition to these, and it was not till he IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 83 came to write ' Denis Duval ' that Thackeray did tardy justice to the profession by the creation of Dr. Barnard. These are serious faults, and care is needed lest undue weight should be given them ; but it must at once be conceded that they afford some ground for the hasty criticism, that they are the product of " a club-window view of life." Catch phrases, however, are apt to mislead ; they owe their popularity to the attraction of facile and effective exaggeration, and they escape criticism the more easily as their mean- ing is seldom precise. It is not perhaps unfair that they should be construed with liberality, and that, where ambiguous, they should be understood in the most favourable sense ; but such leniency tends to perpetuate their exist- ence. In the present instance it is so obvious that Thackeray's view of life was not that of the ordinary spectator at the window of a club, that the originator of the phrase must be sup- posed to have meant something less violent and false. The ordinary member of a club, passing from his window his airy judgment on men and things, is in general a superficial observer, or at best, but " a surface man of theories, true 184 THACKERAY: A STUDY CH. to none." If Thackeray had a characteristic that can be said to be pecuh'arly his own, it was his power of seeing into the interior of a heart, and his habit of analyzing and dissecting the mechanism of our actions and emotions. The author of the phrase under discussion cannot have meant to deny this, and to say that Thackeray had " a club-window view of life " must be understood to mean that he saw life from a club-window, and this, though subject to deductions, contains a large clement of truth. If we leave ' Esmond ' out of account, and put on one side a variety of characters, of whom Colonel Newcome, Mrs. Pendennis, Laura, and Ethel are a few, it will be found to be a suffi- ciently notable characteristic of his work. He brought, in short, his great faculties to bear on an artificially restricted area. His omissions alone would not justify this criticism, no author can be expected to deal with every profession and occupation ; but if he does deal with many of them, the principle of selection should not be arbitrary, and those dealt with should be treated with truth and care. That the villain of a story should belong to any particular class may be, and generally IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 85 is, an accident, and that Arthur Dimmcsdalc ^ should be a clergyman is no libel on the clergy ; but Thackeray must have known that his journalists, his aristocrats, and his chaplains appeal to the public not more as individuals than as types, not more as men who disgrace the class to which they belong than as repre- sentatives of others by supposition similar to themselves. A novelist, moreover, who ostenta- tiously offers to conduct us round Vanity Fair, has no title to miss so many of its important streets ; and a moralist who expects to convince should furnish a fair description of a society upon which he is eager to animadvert ; his auditors must be assured of the authenticity of the text before they can become interested in its exposi- tion. That there are wicked people in the world is unfortunately true, — if it were not so there would be no need for a moralist, — but the pro- portion wickedness bears to virtue is exaggerated in Thackeray's novels quite beyond belief. But it is not only in dealing with the pre- valence of vice that his cynicism is apparent ; an acute critic has pointed out that it is not quite absent even when he is treating of virtue. ^ In 'The Scarlet Letter.' 1 86 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. One can imagine what a shout of joy Diogenes the cynic would have raised if he had satisfied himself that " he had encountered anywhere an honest man doing his duty with decent con- stancy," 1 and the jubilation in which Thackeray indulges over the virtues of Colonel Newcome and Esmond comes dangerously near conveying a reproach to their species. It is true that the turning-point of Esmond's career is occasioned by an act of self-sacrifice seldom equalled, and the magnanimity of the Colonel when assailed by Mrs. Mackenzie is such as almost to be out of the course of nature ; but there are many of their ordinary actions which come in for an ex- cessive measure of laudation, and the innuendo that kindness, simplicity, and affection are no part of our common lives is not to be overlooked. These are the limitations which attach to Thackeray as a novelist and as a moralist, and the one character suffers from each of them as much as the other. The duty of a novelist is primarily that of an observer, but it is not possible to observe without forming conclusions on what has been seen. The duty of a moralist ^ Carlyle on Savage Landor. ' Conversations with ■Carlyle,' Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, K.C.M.G. 1892. IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 87 is primarily that of a commentator, but he can- not properly come to a conclusion unless he has observed. It is necessary to have seen everything before one can either judge or repre- sent the whole. In so far as one's vision is restricted one will fall short of excellence in either capacity. But though this is true, and the provinces of an artist and a moralist are identical, they approach the common ground from different directions. It is the duty of a moralist to point the moral relations in the world ; of an artist to show the world in moral relations. The work of a great artist must be moral if the world is moral ; his business is to survey mankind, and to show a small piece of nature, governed by the same laws which regulate, and subject to the same conditions which determine, a whole so vast that, without his aid, few can understand it. Virtue in his pages may go unrewarded, vice may flourish in high places, and he may have to pay no forfeit to the truth. But if his work is to be artistic, if his object is not to seize violently, and detach from its natural setting, any particular portion of experience ; if his aim, however slight his sketch, however special his subject, is to repre- l88 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. sent a part without prejudice to the whole ; virtue and vice, when exhibited, must arouse in the other actors in his tale, in the chorus in his mimic world, the same sentiments which these qualities invariably excite. His characters, unless perfect or diabolical, and such instances in nature are astonishingly few, must possess the vices corresponding to their virtues, and the excellences corresponding to their defects. A warm-hearted man may be represented as a drunkard, but not as both warm-hearted and cruel ; a brave soldier as committing murder, but not as the perpetrator of a petty theft. Lastly, Virtue and Vice must appear in their ordinary proportion. The literary artist, in this sense, is the interpreter of Nature, though he is no mere copyist, and his individuality is a factor that properly enters into his criticism of life ; but the play of his individuality must not lead him to overstep the limits prescribed for his art. He must neither violate probability, nor mis- represent experience. Judged by this standard 'Vanity Fair' is immoral just because it is inartistic. The por- trayal of the Marquis of Steyne is neither immoral nor inartistic, but the account of his IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 89 reception by the public of ' Vanity Fair ' is both. Mr. Osborne could hardly, at one and the same time, regret his treatment of his son, and carry his resentment towards his son's faithful friend so far beyond the grave. The company brought together in ' Vanity Fair ' is an outrage on the constitution of the world. The multitudinous sermons that Thackeray preaches in the novel do not save it from artistic immorality. They prevent its tendency being practically vicious, but by a method foreign to an artist. This is all the truth to be extracted from the discussion M. Taine has dealt with, at such needless length, and from which he has derived such bewildering conclusions. His famous sen- tence, " The regular presence of a moral intention spoils the novel," if it means more than what has just been admitted, — and when taken with its context it can hardly be supposed to mean nothing more, — is the exact contrary of the facts. A great artist is a great moralist, whether consciously or not ; and it is impossible to suppose that the moral effect produced by Shakespeare's plays or the novels of Scott is the result of simple accident. The incidents of * Othello,' of Lear,' and of ' Old Mortality,' are so I90 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. arranged as to satisfy almost every moral senti- ment which we possess. The regular presence of a moral intention, as a matter of fact, saves and strengthens the novel. It is only by the regular presence of a moral intention that any great work of art is ever produced. It is only by its regular presence that the public is spared the infliction of periodical disquisitions upon the conduct of life. Had ' Vanity Fair ' not been, in this respect, artistically a failure, its readers might have been left to take care of themselves. In ' Pendennis,' where the representation of the world is far more artistic, and consequently far more true, the constant warnings to avoid the indolence of Arthur are received with the good- natured laugh that they provoke. 'The New- comes ' marks a further advance in the proper function of the moralist in art, and ' Esmond ' is as moral a work as any great artist ever wrote, but it is precisely because of the moral idea that pervades it that it is so great an artistic success. Here the showman no longer cries his sermon, and we are left at peace to contemplate, as we turn its pages, the busy scheme in which, at once as passive and active forces, our lives arc interwoven. IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 19I Turningf from the discussion as to how far Thackeray's novels suffer artistically from their frequent moralizing digressions, and looking at his morality itself, it is natural to ask : — What is the value of this message he was so eager to deliver, these lessons he was so anxious to inculcate ? The question admits of no very satisfactory answer. That he was dissatisfied with the constitution of society is abundantly evident, and if his contemporaries were as he has represented them, his counsels would be of good effect. But he so exaggerates the faults he reprehends, he so misrepresents the classes which he professes to reform, that much advice, admirable in itself, vanishes in the air. No one who commits the errors he specially detested is likely to be made better by these sermons at Cornhill. Such a man, if he happens to read Thackeray's novels, is more likely to think that as he is so obviously superior to his type there represented, he must already be nearly perfect of his kind. No gambler who studies the character of Deuceace, no roue who surveys the portrait of Lord Steyne, no foolish youth who laughs at the foolish talk of Lord Farintosh, but is able with justice to 192 THACKERAY : A STUDY CH. repeat, " How much better am I than other men." The result is curious and instructive ; retributive justice has overtaken a great moralist and a great artist who neglected the canons of his art, and it is not in these digressions of which he was fond, and in which the real lover of Thackeray still finds much that is delightful, that the secret of his influence is to be found. His power consists, as has been said, in his exceptional knowledge of character, in his won- derful mastery over the sources of emotion, and in a view of existence that, with its plaintive note rising from the midst of dignity and self- restraint, has reflected and informed the best thought of our time. Carlyle, the other censor of the age, like Thackeray, was no optimist, but it is curious to mark the difference in their respective positions towards a problem by which more than by any other they were both pro- foundly stirred — Carlyle alternately storming against the limitations of our mortal condition, and rejecting with a furious contempt the varying solutions of the riddle : Thackeray going over and over again, with an exquisite felicity of phrase, the line of the Roman poet — " O curas hominum, O quantum est in rebus inane." IV GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS 1 93 yet pointing, with a benign security, to those far-ofif and " shining table-lands " that rebuke, from their silent distance, the fever of our crowded and important life. The world will decide which of these attitudes is the more classic — the more loveable. ADDENDUM Chronological List of Works mentioned in this Essay. Memoirs of C. J. Yellowplush ... Some Passages in the Life of Major Gahagan Stubbs' Calendar ; or, The Fatal Boots . . Catherine : a Story, by Ikey Solomons Esq., Junior Barber Cox ; or. Cox's Diary . . . Epistles to the Literati The Bedford Row Conspiracy ... Going to see a Man hanged Captain Rook and Mr. Pigeon .. An Essay on George Cruikshank The Paris Sketch-Book A Shabby Genteel Story The Second Funeral of Napoleon The Fashionable Authoress The History of Samuel Titmarsh and the Great Hoggarty Diamond ... The Confessions of George Fitzboodle ( Mr. and Mrs. Frank Berry ^ Men's Wives \ The Raven swing V V Dennis Haggarty's Wife J The Irish Sketch-Book Little Travels and Roadside Sketches The History of the next French Revolution 1837-8 1838-9 1839 1839-40 1840 1840 1840 1840 1840 1840 1840 1840 1841 1841 1843 1843 1844 1844 196 ADDENDUM The Luck of Barry Lyndon . 1844 The Legend of the Rhine • 1845 Jeames's Diary • 1845-6 The Journey from Cornhill to Grand Cairc ) 1846 The Book of Snobs ... . 1846-7 Mrs. Perkins's Ball ... • 1847 Travels in London ■ 1847 Punch's Prize Novelists • 1847 Vanity Fair 1847-8 Our Street ... 1848 A Little Dinner at Timmins's ... 1848 Dr. Birch and his Young Friends 1849 Mr. Brown's Letters to a Young Man abou Town ... 1849 The History of Pendennis 1849-50 The Kickleburys on the Rhine 1850 Rebecca and Rowena 1850 Henry Esmond 1852 The English Humourists 1853 The Wolves and the Lamb 1854 John Leech 1854 The Newcomes 1854-5 The Rose and the Ring 1855 The Virginians 1858-9 The Four Georges i860 Lovel the Widower ... i860 The Adventures of Philip on his Way through the World 1861-2 Roundabout Papers ... 1860-3 Denis Duval 1863 R. Clay &■ Sons, Ld., London &■ Bungay / THE LIBRARY UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Santa Barbara STACK COLLECTION THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE STAMPED BELOW. lw-8,'65(F6447s4)9482	Pendennis
In the Bible, who was the wife of Uriah?	Alms for Oblivion: On The Art of The Novel: Lessons From Balzac AND Thackeray, by Henry James Saturday, August 8, 2009 On The Art of The Novel: Lessons From Balzac AND Thackeray, by Henry James James says that Balzac’s faults are faults of execution only; “they never come back to that fault in an artist, in the novelist, that amounts most particularly to a failure of dignity: the absence of saturation with his idea. When saturation fails no other presence really avails; as when, on the other hand, it operates, no failure of method fatally interferes. There is never in Balzac that damning interference which consists of the painter’s not seeing, not possessing his image. “Balzac aime sa Valerie,” says Taine; in his great essay—so much the finest thing ever written on our author [Balzac]—speaking of the way in which the awful little Madame Marneff of “Les Parents Pauvres” is drawn, and of the long rope, for her acting herself out, that her creator’s participation in her reality assures her. He has been contrasting her, as it happens, with Thackeray’s Becky Sharp or rather with Thackeray’s attitude toward Becky, and the marked jealosy of her freedom that Thackeray exhibits from the first..... [The novelist’s love of his or her created characters], "the joy in their communicated and exhibited movement, in their standing on their feet and going of themselves and acting out their characters, was what rendered possible the 'saturation' I speak of.... It was by loving them—as the terms of his subject and the nugget of his mine—that he knew them; it was not by knowing them that he loved. “He at all events robustly loved the sense of another explored, assumed, assimilated identity—enjoyed it as the hand enjoys the glove when the glove ideally fits. My image is loose; for what he [Balzac] liked was absolutely to get into the consitituted consciousness, into all the clothes, gloves, and whatever else, into the very skin and bones, of the habited, featured, colored, articulated form of life that he desired to present. How do we know given persons, for any purpose of demonstration, unless we know their situation for themselves, unless we see it from their point of vision, that is from their point of pressing consciousness or sensation?—without our allowing for which there is no appreciation. Balzac loved his Valérie then as Thackeray did not love his Becky, or his Blanche Amory in Pendennis. But his [Balzac’s] prompting was not to expose her; it could only be, on the contrary—intensely aware as he was of all the length she might go. . .to cover her up and protect her, in the interest of her special genius and freedom. All his impulse was... to give her all her value, just as Thackeray’s attitude was the opposite one, a desire positively to expose and desecrate poor Becky—to follow her up, catch her in the act and bring her to shame. . . “It all comes back, in fine, to that respect for the liberty of the subject which I should be willing to name as the great sign of the [novelist] of the first order. Such a witness to the human comedy fairly holds his breath for fear of arresting or diverting that natural license; the witness who begins to breath so uneasily in the presence that his respiration not only warns off the little prowling or playing creature he is supposed to be studying, but drowns, for our ears, the ingenuous sounds of the animal as well as the general truthful hum of the human scene at large—this demonstrator has no sufficient warrant for his task. And if such an induction as this is largely the moral of our renewed glance at Balzac, there is a lesson of a more essential sort, I think, folded still deeper within—the lesson that there is no convincing art that is not ruinously expensive . . . Many of those who have followed him affect us as doing it on the cheap . . .” Posted by It was very very interesting articles in here, I will definitely return to read more. I am very interested in things that have to do with history. I have a site, I agree with much history (www.factasy.com) especially American civil war category, I think you should take you a look at	i don't know
On the banks of which English river does the city of Colchesterstand?	River Thames \| London Wiki \| Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The River Thames is the second longest river in the United Kingdom and the longest river entirely in England, rising at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flowing into the North Sea at the Thames Estuary. It has a special significance in flowing through London, the capital of the United Kingdom, although London only touches a short part of its course. The river is tidal in London with a rise and fall of 7 metres (23 ft) and becomes non-tidal at Teddington Lock . The catchment area covers a large part of South Eastern and Western England and the river is fed by over 20 tributaries. The river contains over 80 islands, and having both seawater and freshwater stretches supports a variety of wildlife. The river has supported human activity from its source to its mouth for thousands of years providing habitation, water power, food and drink. It has also acted as a major highway both for international trade through the Port of London, and internally along its length and connecting to the British canal system. The river’s strategic position has seen it at the centre of many events and fashions in British history, earning it a description as “Liquid History”. It has been a physical and political boundary over the centuries and generated a range of river crossings. In more recent time the river has become a major leisure area supporting tourism and pleasure outings as well as the sports of rowing, sailing, skiffing, kayaking, and punting. The river has had a special appeal to writers, artists, musicians and film-makers and is well represented in the arts. It is still the subject of various debates about its course, nomenclature and history. Physical and natural aspects The monument at the official source of the Thames. River Thames Flood Barrier The Thames passes by some of the sights of London, including the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye The Thames has a length of 215 miles (346 km). Its usually quoted source is at Thames Head (at grid reference ST980994), about a mile north of the village of Kemble and near the town of Cirencester, in the Cotswolds. However, Seven Springs near Cheltenham, where the river Churn rises, is also sometimes quoted as the Thames' source, as this location is furthest from the mouth both in distance along its course and as the crow flies and adds some 14 miles (22 km) to the length. The springs at Seven Springs also flow throughout the year, while those at Thames Head are only seasonal. The Thames flows through or alongside Ashton Keynes, Cricklade, Lechlade, Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford, Goring-on-Thames, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor, Eton, Staines, Weybridge and Thames Ditton before entering the Greater London area. The present course is the result of several minor redirections of the main channel around Oxford, Abingdon and Maidenhead and more recently the creation of specific cuts to ease navigation. From the outskirts of Greater London, the river passes Hampton Court, Kingston, Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond (with a famous view of the Thames from Richmond Hill), Syon House and Kew before flowing through central London. In central London, the river forms one of the principal axes of the city, from the Palace of Westminster to the Tower of London and was the southern boundary of the mediaeval city, with Southwark on the opposite bank. Once past central London, the river passes between Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs, before flowing through the Thames Barrier, which protects central London from flooding in the event of storm surges. Below the barrier, the river passes Dartford, Tilbury and Gravesend before entering the Thames Estuary near Southend-on-Sea. Catchment area and discharge Edit The river drains a catchment area of 4994\|sqmi or 5924 sqmi if the River Medway is included as a tributary. (Dot & Ian Hart (2001–5). The River Thames — Its geology, geography and vital statistics from source to sea . Retrieved November 1, 2005.) The non-tidal section Locks and weirs on the River Thames The Jubilee River at Slough Weir Brooks, canals and rivers, within an area of convert\|3841, combine to form 38 main tributaries feeding the Thames between its source and Teddington Lock , the tidal limit. Before Teddington Lock was built in 1810-12, the river was tidal as far as Staines. The tributaries include the rivers River Churn, River Leach, River Cole, Wiltshire, River Coln, River Windrush, River Evenlode, River Cherwell, River Ock, River Thame, River Pang, River Kennet, River Loddon, River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Wey and River Mole, Surrey. In addition there are many backwaters and distributaries and some man-made channels such as the Longford River. More recently, an artificial secondary channel to the Thames, known as the Jubilee River, was built between Maidenhead and Windsor for flood relief, being completed in 2002. More than half the rain that falls on this catchment is lost to evaporation and plant transpiration. The remainder provides a water resource that has to be shared between river flows, to support the natural environment and navigation, and the population's needs for water supplies to homes, industry and agriculture. The non-tidal section of the river is managed by the Environment Agency which has the twin responsibilities of managing the flow of water to control flooding, and providing for navigation. The volume and speed of water down the river is managed by adjusting the gates at each of the weirs and at high water levels are usually dissipated over flood plains adjacent to the river. Occasionally flooding is unavoidable, and the Agency issues Flood Warnings. During heavy rainfall the Thames occasionally receives raw sewage discharge due to sanitary sewer overflow. The tidal section Main article: Tideway London Stone at Staines, built in 1285 marked the tidal limit of the Thames and the City of London 's jurisdiction The lower course of the Thames in 1840 Below Teddington Lock (about convert\|55\|mi} upstream of the Thames Estuary) the river is subject to tidal activity from the North Sea. Before the lock was installed the river was tidal as far as Staines. London, capital of Roman Britain, was established on two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill . These provided a firm base for a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames. (Peter Ackroyd London:The Biography Vintage 2001) A river crossing was built at the site of London Bridge. London Bridge is now used as the basis for published tide tables giving the times of high tide. High tide reaches Putney about 30 minutes later than London Bridge, and Teddington about an hour later. The tidal stretch of the river is known as "the Tideway". The principal tributaries on the Tideway include the rivers Brent , Wandle , Effra , Westbourne , Fleet , Ravensbourne (the final part of which is called Deptford Creek ), Lea , Roding, Darent and Ingrebourne . At London, the water is slightly brackish, with sea salt, being a mix of sea and fresh water. This part of the river is managed by the Port of London Authority . The flood threat here comes from high tides and strong winds from the North Sea, and the Thames Barrier was built in the 1980’s to protect London from this risk. Islands Edit Temple Island — the start of the Henley Royal Regatta course The river Thames contains over 80 islands ranging from the large estuarial marshlands of the Isle of Sheppey, Isle of Grain and Canvey Island to small tree-covered islets like Rose Isle in Oxfordshire and Headpile Eyot in Berkshire. Some of the largest inland islands — Formosa Island near Cookham and Andersey Island at Abingdon — were created naturally when the course of the river divided into separate streams, while Desborough Island, Ham Island at Old Windsor and Penton Hook Island were artificially created by lock cuts and navigation channels. Chiswick Eyot] is a familiar landmark on the Boat Race course, while Glover's Island forms the centrepiece of the spectacular view from Richmond Hill . Islands with a historical interest are Magna Carta Island at Runnymede, Fry's Island at Reading and Pharaoh's Islandnear Shepperton. In more recent times Platts Eyot at Hampton was the place where Motor Torpedo Boats were built, Tagg's Island near Molesey was associated with the impresario Fred Karno, and Eel Pie Island at Twickenham was the birthplace of the South East’s R&B music scene. Geological history Edit Lardon Chase The River Thames can first be identified as a discrete drainage line as early as 58 million years ago, in the late Palaeocene Period Thanetian Stage. Until around half a million years ago, the Thames flowed on its existing course through what is now Oxfordshire, before turning to the north east through Hertfordshire and East Anglia and reaching the North Sea near Ipswich. At this time the river system headwaters lay in the English West Midlands and may, at times, have received drainage from the North Wales Berwyn Mountains. Arrival of an ice sheet in the Quaternary Ice Age, about 450,000 years ago, dammed the river in Hertfordshire and caused it to be diverted onto its present course through London. This created a new river route aligned through Berkshire and on into London after which the river rejoined its original course in southern Esse], near the present River Blackwater estuary. Here it entered a substantial freshwater lake in the southern North Sea basin. The overspill of this lake caused the formation of the Dover Straits or Pas-de-Calais gap between Great Britain and France. Subsequent development led to the continuation of the course which the river follows at the present day. At the height of the last ice age around 12000 years ago, Britain was connected to mainland Europe via a large expanse of land known as Doggerland in the southern North Sea basin. At this time, the Thames' course did not continue to Doggerland, but was aligned southwards from the eastern Essex coast where it met the Rhine, the River Meuse and the River Scheldt [1] In addition the Thames is host to some invasive crustaceans including Signal crayfish and Chinese Mitten Crab. On 20 January 2006 a northern 16-18 ft (5 m) bottle-nosed whale was spotted in the Thames and was seen as far upstream as Chelsea. This is extremely unusual because this type of whale is generally found in deep sea waters. Crowds gathered along the riverbanks to witness the extraordinary spectacle. But it soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding. Approximately 12 hours later, the whale was believed to be seen again near Greenwich , possibly heading back to sea. There was a rescue attempt lasting several hours, but it eventually died on a barge. (See Wikipedia page [5] ) Human aspects The River Thames has served several roles in human history, being an economic resource, a water highway, a boundary, a fresh water source, also a source of food and more recently a leisure facility. Human history 19th century painting "Haymaking on the Thames" by John Clayton Adams Wallingford Bridge and St Peter's Church The Thames at Hampton The Thames as it flows through London, with the Isle of Dogs in the centre. There is evidence of human habitation living off the river along its length dating back to Neolithic times. [2] The British Museum has a decorated bowl (3300-2700 BC), found in the River at Hedsor, Buckinghamshire and a considerable amount of material was discovered during the excavations of Dorney Lake. [3] A number of Bronze Age sites and artifacts have been discovered along the banks of the River including settlements at Lechlade, Cookham and Sunbury-on-Thames . Some of the earliest written accounts of the Thames occur in Julius Caesar’s account of his second expedition to Britain in 54BC [4] when the Thames presented a major obstacle and he encountered the Iron Age Belgae/\|Belgic tribes the Catuvellauni and the Atrebates along the river. Under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43 the Romans occupied England and, recognising the River's strategic and economic importance, built fortifications along the Thames valley including a major camp at Dorchester, Oxfordshire. Two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill , provided a firm base for a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames called Londinium where a bridge was built. The next Roman bridge upstream was at Staines (Pontes) to which point boats could be swept up on the rising tide with no need for wind or muscle power. Many of the Thames’ riverside settlements trace their origins back to very early roots and the suffix - “ing” in towns such as Goring and Reading, Berkshire, owe their origins to the Saxons. Recent research suggests that these peoples preceded the Romans rather than replaced them. [5] The river’s long tradition of farming, fishing, milling and trade with other nations started with these peoples and has continued to the present day. Competition for the use of the river created the centuries-old conflict between those who wanted to dam the river to build millraces and fish traps and those who wanted to travel and carry goods on it. Economic prosperity and the foundation of wealthy monasteries by the Anglo-Saxons attracted unwelcome visitors and by around AD 870 the Vikings were sweeping up the Thames on the tide and creating havoc as in their destruction of Chertsey Abbey. Once William I of England had won total control of the strategic Thames Valley he went on to invade the rest of England. He had many castles built, including those at Wallingford, Rochester, Kent, Windsor, Berkshire and most importantly the Tower of London . Many details of Thames activity are recorded in the Domesday book . The following centuries saw the conflict between King and Barons coming to a head in AD 1215 when King John was forced to adhere to the Magna Carta]] on an island in the Thames at Runnymede. This granted them among a host of other things under Clause 23 the right of Navigation. Another major consequence of John’s reign was the completion of the multi-piered London Bridge which acted as a barricade and barrage on the river, affecting the tidal flow upstream and increasing the likelihood of freezing over. In Tudor and Stuart times the Kings and Queens loved the river and built magnificent riverside palaces at Hampton Court , Kew , Richmond on Thames , Whitehall and Greenwich . The 16th and 17th centuries saw the City of London grow with the expansion of world trade. The wharves of the Pool of London were thick with seagoing vessels while naval dockyards were built at Deptford . The Dutch navy even entered the Thames in 1667 in the raid on the Medway. A cold series of winters led to the Thames freezing over above London Bridge, and this led to the first Frost Fair in 1607, complete with a tent city set up on the river itself and offering a number of amusements, including ice bowling. In good conditions barges travelled daily from Oxford to London carrying timber and wool, foodstuffs and livestock, battling with the millers on the way. The stone from the Cotswolds used to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire in 1666 was brought all the way down from Radcot. The Thames provided the major highway between London and Westminster in the 16th and 17th centuries and the clannish guild of watermen ferried Londoners from landing to landing and tolerated no outside interference. In AD 1715 Thomas Doggett was so grateful to a local waterman for his efforts to ferry him home pulling against the tide, that he set up a rowing race for professional watermen known as “ Doggett's Coat and Badge ”. By the 18th century, the Thames was one of the world's busiest waterways, as London became the centre of the vast, mercantile British Empire and progressively over the next century the docks expanded in the Isle of Dogs and beyond. Efforts were made to resolve the navigation conflicts up stream by building locks along the Thames. After temperatures began to rise again, starting in 1814, the river stopped freezing over completely. [6] The building of a new London Bridge in 1825, with fewer pillars than the old, allowed the river to flow more freely and reduced the likelihood of freezing over in cold winters. [7] The Victorian era was an era of imaginative engineering. In the ' Great Stink ' of 1858, pollution in the river reached such proportions that sittings at the House of Commons at Westminster had to be abandoned. A concerted effort to contain the city's sewage by constructing massive sewers on the north and south river embankments followed, under the supervision of engineer Joseph Bazalgette . Meanwhile, similar huge undertakings took place to ensure water supply, with the building of reservoirs and pumping stations on the river to the west of London. The embankments in London house the water supply to homes, plus the sewers, and protect London from flood. The coming of rail transport] added both spectacular and ugly railway bridges to fine range of earlier road bridges but reduced commercial activity on the river. However sporting and leisure use increased with the establishment of regattas such as Henley Royal Regatta and The Boat Race. On 3 September 1878, one of the worst river disasters in England took place, when the crowded pleasure boat {{SS\|Princess Alice collided with the Bywell Castle, killing over 640 people. The growth of road transport and the decline of the Empire, in the years following 1914, reduced the economic prominence of the river. During World War II the protection of the Thames was crucial to the defence of the country. Defences included the Maunsell forts in the estuary and barrage balloons to cope with the threat of German bombers using the distinctive shape of the river to navigate during The Blitz. Although the Port of London remains one of the UK's three main ports, most trade has moved downstream from central London. The decline of manufacturing industry and improved sewage treatment have led to a massive clean-up since the filthy days of the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries, and aquatic life has returned to its formerly 'dead' waters. Alongside the river runs the Thames Path , providing a route for walkers and cyclists. In the early 1980s a massive flood-control device, the Thames Barrier , was opened. It is closed several times a year to prevent water damage to London's low-lying areas upstream (as in the 1928 Thames flood for example). In the late 1990s, the Jubilee River was built, which acts as a flo]] channel for the Thames around Maidenhead and Windsor. [8] Origin of the name Edit Statue of Old Father Thames at St John's Lock The Thames, from Middle English Temese, is derived from the Celtic name for the river, Tamesas (from tamēssa), [9] recorded in Latin as Tamesis and underlying modern Welsh Tafwys "Thames". The name probably meant "dark" and can be compared to other cognates such as \|Irish teimheal and Welsh tywyll "darkness" Proto-Celtic temeslos) and Middle Irish teimen "dark grey", [9] though Richard Coates [10] mentions other theories: Kenneth H. Jackson ref>Template under construction. in F. T. Wainright (ed.), ed. The Problem of the Picts. Nelson. pp. 129–166. </ref> that it is non Indo-European (and of unknown meaning), and Peter Kitson's [11] that it is IE but pre-Celtic, and has a name indicating muddiness from a root tã-, 'melt'. The river's name has always been pronounced with a simple t; the [Middle English spelling was typically Temese and Celtic languages TAmesis. The th lends an air of Ancient Greek to the name and was added during the Renaissance, possibly to reflect or support a belief that the name was derived from River Thyamis in the Epirus (region region of Greece, whence early Celtic tribes were erroneously thought to have migrated. Indirect evidence for the antiquity of the name 'Thames' is provided by a Roman potsherd found at Oxford, bearing the inscription Tamesubugus fecit (Tamesubugus made this). It is believed that Tamesubugus's name was derived from that of the river. [12] The Thames through Oxford is often given the name the River The Isis, although historically, and especially in Victorian era, gazetteers and cartographers insisted that the entire river was correctly named the River Isis from its source until Dorchester, Oxfordshire. Only at this point, where the river meets the River Thame and becomes the "Thame-isis" (subsequently abbreviated to Thames) should it be so-called; Ordnance Survey maps still label the Thames as "River Thames or Isis" until Dorchester. However since the early 20th century, this distinction has been lost in common usage outside Oxford, and some historians suggest the name Isis—although possibly named after the Egyptian mythology goddess of Isis —is nothing more than a contraction of Tamesis, the[Latin] (or pre-Roman Celtic) name for the Thames. Richard Coates suggests that while the river was as a whole called the Thames, part of it, where it was too wide to ford, was called (p)lowonida. This gave the name to a settlement on its banks, which became known as Londinium, from the Indo-European roots pleu- "flow" and -nedi "river" meaning something like the flowing river or the wide flowing unfordable river. [10] For merchant seamen, the Thames has long been just 'The London River'. Londoners often refer to it simply as 'the river', in expressions such as 'south of the river'. [13] The active river Edit One of the many piers for joining sightseeing boat trips. One of the major resources provided by the Thames is drinking water provided by Thames Water whose area of responsibility covers the length of the River Thames. The Thames Water Ring Main is the main distribution mechanism for water in London with one major loop linking the Hampton , Walton-on-Thames, Ashford, Surrey, and Kempton Water Treatment Works to central London. In the past, commercial activities on the Thames included fishing (particularly eel trapping), coppicing willows which provided wood for many purposes including osiers, and running watermills for flour and paper production and metal beating. These activities have disappeared, although there was a proposal to build a hydro plant at Romney Lock to power Windsor Castle. As of January 2008, this scheme appears to have been abandoned. The Thames is popular for riverside housing whether in high rise flats in central London or chalets on the banks and islands up stream. The river has its own residents dwelling on houseboats, typically around Brentford and Tagg's Island Transport and tourism In London there are many sightseeing tours in tourist boats, past the more famous riverside attractions such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London as well as regular riverboat services co-ordinated by London River Services . The upper river Edit Passenger services are operated in summer along the entire non-tidal river from Oxford to Teddington. The two largest operators are Salters Steamers and French Brothers. Salters operate services between Folly Bridge, Oxford and Staines. The entire journey takes 4 days and requires several changes of boat. [14] French Brothers operate passenger services between Maidenhead and Hampton Court. [15] Along the course of the river a number of smaller private companies also offer river trips at Wallingford, Reading and Hampton Court. [16] Many companies also provide boat hire on the river. The leisure navigation and sporting activities on the river have given rise to a number of dependent businesses including boatbuilding, marinas, ships chandlers and salvage services. Police and lifeboats Edit The river is policed by five police forces. The Thames Division is the River Police arm of London’s Metropolitan Police , while Surrey Police, Thames Valley Police, Essex Police and Kent Police have responsibilities on their parts of the river outside the metropolitan area. There is also a London Fire Brigade fire boat on the river. The river claims a number of lives each year. As a result of the Marchioness disaster in 1989 when 51 people died, the UK Government asked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Port of London Authority and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution] (RNLI) to work together to set up a dedicated Search and Rescue service for the tidal River Thames. As a result, there are four lifeboat stations on the river Thames based at Teddington , Chiswick Pier, Tower Lifeboat Station and Gravesend, Kent. [17] Navigation Edit Bray lock, Berkshire Pool of London looking west, from the high-level walkway on Tower Bridge . Click on the picture for a longer description The Thames is navigable from the estuary as far as Lechlade in Gloucestershire. Between the sea and Teddington Lock , the river forms part of the Port of London and navigation is administered by the Port of London Authority . From Teddington Lock to the head of navigation, the navigation authority is the Environment Agency. Both the tidal river through London and the non-tidal river upstream are intensively used for leisure navigation. All craft using the river Thames must be licensed. The river is navigable to large ocean-going ships as far upstream as the Pool of London and London Bridge . Although London's upstream enclosed docks have closed and central London sees only the occasional visiting cruise ship or naval warship, the tidal river remains one of Britain's main ports. Around 60 active terminals cater for shipping of all types including ro-ro ferries, cruise liners and vessels carrying containers, vehicles, timber, grain, paper, Petroleum, petroleum products], liquified petroleum gas, etc. [18] There is a regular traffic of Construction aggregate or waste vessels, operating from wharves in the west of London. The tidal Thames links to the canal network at the River Lea Navigation , the Regent's Canal at Limehouse Basin , and the Grand Union Canal at Brentford. The non-tidal River Thames is divided into reaches by the 45 locks. The locks are manned for a greater part of the day, but can be operated by experienced users out of hours. This part of the Thames links to existing navigations at the River Wey Navigation, the River Kennet and the Oxford Canal. There is no speed limit on the Tideway downstream of Wandsworth Bridge , [19] although boats are not allowed to create undue wash. Upstream of Wandsworth Bridge a speed limit is in force for powered craft to protect the riverbank environment and to provide safe conditions for rowers and other river users. The speed limit of 8 km per hour applies to powered craft on this tidal part and 4.3km per hour on the non-tidal Thames. The Environment Agency has patrol boats (named after tributaries of the Thames) and can enforce the limit strictly since river traffic usually has to pass through a lock at some stage. There are pairs of Navigation transit markers at various points along the non-tidal river that can be used to check speed - a boat travelling legally taking a minute or more to pass between the two markers. History of the management of the river Edit The first commission concerned with the management of the river was the Oxford-Burcot Commission formed in 1605 to make the river navigable between Burcot and Oxford. In 1751 the Thames Navigation Commission was formed to manage the whole non-tidal river down to Staines. The City of London long claimed responsibility for the tidal river. A long running dispute between the City and the The Crown over ownership of the river was not settled until 1857, when the Thames Conservancy was formed to manage the river from Staines downstream. In 1866 the functions of the Thames Navigation Commission were transferred to the Thames Conservancy, which thus had responsibility for the whole river. In 1909 the powers of the Thames Conservancy over the tidal river, below Teddington, were transferred to the Port of London Authority . In 1974 the Thames Conservancy became part of the new Thames Water Authority . When Thames Water was privatised in 1990, its river management functions were transferred to the National Rivers Authority , in 1996 subsumed into the Environment Agency. The river as a boundary Edit Until sufficient crossings were established, the river provided a formidable barrier, with Belgic tribes and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms being defined by which side of the river they were on. When English counties were established their boundaries were partly determined by the Thames. On the Northern bank were the traditional counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex and Essex. On the southern bank were the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, and Kent. However the 214 bridges and 17 tunnels that have been built to date have changed the dynamics and made cross-river development and shared responsibilities more practicable. The 1974 boundary changes moved some of the boundaries away from the river, so that, for example, some of Berkshire became Oxfordshire, some of Buckinghamshire became Berkshire, and some of Middlesex became Surrey. On occasion – for example in rowing – the banks are still referred to by their traditional county names. Crossings Hammerton's Ferry near Richmond. Many of the present road bridges on the river are on the site of earlier fords, ferries and wooden structures. The earliest known major crossings of the Thames by the Romans were at London Bridge and Staines Bridge . At Folly Bridge in Oxford the remains of an original Saxon structure can be seen, and mediaeval stone structures such as [[Newbridge, Oxfordshire and Abingdon Bridge are still in use. Kingston’s growth is believed to stem from its having the only crossing between London Bridge and Staines until the beginning of the 18th century. During the 18th century, many stone and brick road bridges were built from new or to replace existing structures both in London and along the length of the river. These included Putney Bridge , Westminster Bridge , Windsor Bridge and Sonning Bridge. Several central London road bridges were built in the 19th century, most conspicuously Tower Bridge , the only Bascule bridge on the river, designed to allow ocean going ships to pass beneath it. The most recent road bridges are the bypasses at Isis Bridge and Marlow By-pass Bridge and the Motorway bridges, most notably the two on the M25 route Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and M25 Runnymede Bridge. The development of the railway resulted in a spate of bridge building in the 19th century including Blackfriars Railway Bridge and Charing Cross (Hungerford) Railway Bridge in central London, and the spectacular railway bridges by Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Maidenhead Bridge, Gatehampton Railway Bridge and Moulsford Railway Bridge. The world’s first underwater tunnel was the Thames Tunnel by Marc Brunel built in 1843 and used to carry the East London Line . The Tower Subway was the first railway under the Thames, which was followed by all the deep-level tube lines. Road tunnels were built in East London at the end of the 19th century, being the Blackwall Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel , and the latest tunnel was the Dartford Crossing . Many foot crossings were established across the weirs that were built on the non-tidal river, and some of these remained when the locks were built – for example at Benson Lock. Others were replaced by a footbridge when the weir was removed as at Hart's Weir Footbridge. Around the year 2000 AD, several footbridges were added along the Thames, either as part of the Thames Path or in commemoration of the Millennium. These include Temple Footbridge, Bloomers Hole Footbridge, the Hungerford Footbridges and the Millennium Bridge , all of which have distinctive design characteristics. Some ferries still operate on the river. The Woolwich Ferry carries cars and passengers across the river in the Thames Gateway and links the North Circular and South Circular roads. Upstream are smaller pedestrian ferries, for example Hampton Ferry and Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry the last being the only non-permanent crossing that remains on the Thames Path. Sport There are several watersports prevalent on the Thames, with many clubs encouraging participation and organising racing and inter-club competitions. Rowing Main article: Rowing on the River Thames Cambridge cross the finish line ahead of Oxford in the 2007 Boat Race, viewed from Chiswick Bridge The Thames is the historic heartland of sport rowing in the United Kingdom. There are over 200 clubs on the river, and over 8,000 members of thAmateur Rowing Association]] (over 40% of its membership). Most towns and districts of any size on the river have at least one club, but key centres are Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and the stretch of river from Chiswick to Putney . Two rowing events on the River Thames are traditionally part of the wider English sporting calendar: The University Boat Race is rowed between Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club in late March or early April, on the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake in the west of London . Henley Royal Regatta takes place over five days at the start of July in the upstream town of Henley-on-Thames. Besides its sporting significance the regatta is an important date on the English Season (society) alongside events like Royal Ascot and Wimbledon . Other significant or historic rowing events on the Thames include: The Head of the River Race and other head races over the The Championship Course The The Wingfield Sculls for the amateur sculling championship of the Thames and Great Britain Doggett's Coat and Badge for apprentice watermen, one of the oldest sporting events in the world Henley Women's Regatta The Henley Boat Races for the Women's and Lightweight crews of Oxford and Cambridge Universities The Oxford University bumps race known as Eights Week and Torpids Other regattas, head races and bumping races are held along the Thames which are described under Rowing on the River Thames . Sailing Edit Thames Raters at Raven's Ait, Surbiton Sailing is practiced on both the tidal and non-tidal reaches of the river. The highest club upstream is at Oxford. The most popular sailing craft used on the Thames are laser (dinghy), GP14 (dinghy), and Wayfarer (dinghy). One sailing boat unique to the Thames is the Thames A Class Rater (scow) which is sailed around Raven's Ait . Skiffing Skiffing remains popular, particularly in the summer months. Several clubs and regattas may be found in the outer suburbs of west London. Punting Unlike the "pleasure punting" common on the River Cherwell in Oxford and the River Cam in Cambridge, punting on the Thames is competitive and uses narrower craft. Kayaking and canoeing Main article: Kayaking and Canoeing on the River Thames Kayaking and canoeing are popular, with sea kayakers using the tidal stretch for touring. Sheltered water kayakers and canoeists use the non-tidal section for training, racing and trips. Whitewater playboating, and Slalom canoeing paddlers are catered for at weirs like those at Hurley Lock, Sunbury Lock and Boulter's Lock. At Teddington just before the tidal section of the river starts is Royal Canoe Club , said to be the oldest in the world and founded in 1867. Meanders Edit A Thames meander is a long-distance journey over all or part of the Thames by running, swimming or using any of the above means. It is often carried out as an athletic challenge in a competition or for a record attempt. Culture The first Westminster Bridge as painted by Canaletto in 1746. Maidenhead Railway Bridge as Turner saw it in 1844 Monet's Trouée de soleil dans le brouillard, Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog, 1904 Whistler's Nocturne in Blue and Gold: Old Battersea Bridge (c. 1872-1875) St John's lock, near Lechlade. The River Thames in Oxford Visual arts Edit The River Thames has been a subject for artists, great and minor, over the centuries. Four major artists with works based on the Thames are Canaletto, J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, and James McNeil Whistler. The 20th century British artist Stanley Spencer produced many works at Cookham. The river is lined with various pieces on sculpture, but John Kaufman's sculpture The Diver:Regeneration is actally sited in the Thames near Rainham . Literature Edit The Thames is mentioned in many works of literature including novels, diaries and poetry. It is the central theme in three in particular: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, first published in 1889, is a humorous account of a boating holiday on the Thames between Kingston and Oxford. The book was intended initially to be a serious travel guide, with accounts of local history of places along the route, but the humorous elements eventually took over. The landscape and features of the Thames as described by Jerome are virtually unchanged, and enduring humour has meant that it has never been out of print since it was first published. Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend (written in the years 1864–65) describes the river in a grimmer light. It begins with a scavenger and his daughter pulling a dead man from the river near London Bridge, to salvage what the body might have in its pockets, and heads to its conclusion with the deaths of the villains drowned in Shepperton Lock/Plashwater Lock upstream. The workings of the river and the influence of the tides are described with great accuracy. Dickens opens the novel with this sketch of the river, and the people who work on it: In these times of ours, though concerning the exact year there is no need to be precise, a boat of dirty and disreputable appearance, with two figures in it, floated on the Thames, between Southwark Bridge which is of iron, and London Bridge which is of stone, as an autumn evening was closing in. The figures in this boat were those of a strong man with ragged grizzled hair and a sun-browned face, and a girl of nineteen or twenty. The girl rowed, pulling a pair of sculls very easily; the man with the rudder-lines slack in his hands, and his hands loose in his waisteband, kept an eager look-out. Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, written in 1908, is set in the middle to upper reaches of the river. This starts as a tale of gentle anthropomorphic animals "simply messing" about on the water and concludes with the arrogant and anti-social Mr Toad getting his come-uppance on a river barge. The river almost inevitably features in many books set in London . Most of Dickens' other novels include some aspect of the Thames. Oliver Twist finishes in the slums and rookeries along its south bank. The Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle often visit riverside parts as in The Sign of Four. In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the serenity of the contemporary Thames is contrasted with the savagery of the Congo River, and with the wilderness of the Thames as it would have appeared to a Roman soldier posted to Britannia two thousand years before. Conrad also gives a description of the approach to London from the Thames Estuary in his essays Joseph Conrad#On the River Thames\|The Mirror of the Sea (1906). Upriver, Henry James' Portrait of a Lady uses a large riverside mansion on the Thames as one of its key settings. Literary non-fiction works include Samuel Pepys ' diary, in which he recorded many events relating to the Thames including the Fire of London . He was disturbed while writing it in June 1667 by the sound of gunfire as Dutch warships broke through the Royal Navy on the Thames. In poetry, William Wordsworth's sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802/On Westminster Bridge closes with the lines: Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still! T. S. Eliot references makes several references to the Thames in The Fire Sermon, Section III of The Waste Land. Sweet Thames run softly, till I end my song. The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers, Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes cigarette ends Or other testimony of summer nights. and Down Greenwich reach Past the Isle of Dogs The Sweet Thames line is taken from Edmund Spenser’s Prothalamion which presents a more idyllic image: Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes; Whose rutty banke, the which his river hemmes, Was paynted all with variable flowers. And all the meads adornd with daintie gemmes Fit to deck maydens bowres Also writing of the upper reaches is Matthew Arnold in The Scholar Gypsy: Crossing the stripling Thames at Bab-lock-hythe Trailing in the cool stream thy fingers wet As the slow punt swings round Oh born in days when wits were fresh and clear And life ran gaily as the sparkling Thames; Before this strange disease of modern life. Science-fiction novels make liberal use of a futuristic Thames. The utopian News from Nowhere by William Morris is mainly the account of a journey through the Thames valley in a socialist future. The Thames also features prominently in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, as a communications artery for the waterborne Gyptian people of Oxford and the Fens. In The Deptford Mice trilogy by Robin Jarvis, the Thames appears several times. In one book, rat characters swim through it to Deptford . Music Edit The Water Music composed by George Frideric Handel premiered in the summer of 1717 (July 17, 1717) when George I of Great Britain requested a concert on the River Thames. The concert was performed for King George I on his barge and he is said to have enjoyed it so much that he ordered the 50 exhausted musicians to play the suites three times on the trip. The Sex Pistols played a concert on the Queen Elizabeth Riverboat on June 7, 1977, the Queen's Silver Jubilee year, while sailing down the river. Cinema and television Edit A boat chase on the Thames forms the long opening scene of the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough. The offices of MI6, Britain's external spy agency, are right on the river in a building known as Vauxhall Cross. The theme of the Thames being completely drained was used in the Doctor Who episode "The Runaway Bride". This theme was also used in the Hollywood Blockbuster Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), where a huge hole in the riverbed beside Westminster Bridge and the London Eye stranded the items formerly floating on the river. The river was traversed in an episode of Top Gear season 10 episode 5. A birds eye view version can be seen in the main titles of EastEnders . ↑ [1] Rare seahorses breeding in Thames BBC News, 7 April 2008 ↑ P. Needham (1985) Neolithic And Bronze Age Settlement On The Buried Floodplains Of Runnymede Oxford Journal of Archaeology 4 ↑ Lamdin-Whymark, H, 2001 ‘Neolithic activity on the floodplain of the river Thames at Dorney’, Lithics 22, ↑ Gaius Julius Caesar De Bello Gallico ↑ Stephen Oppenheimer The Origins of the British	River Colne
The 'Saro Lerwick' and the 'Short Sunderland' were what type of aircraft?	River Thames \| London Wiki \| Fandom powered by Wikia Edit The River Thames is the second longest river in the United Kingdom and the longest river entirely in England, rising at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flowing into the North Sea at the Thames Estuary. It has a special significance in flowing through London, the capital of the United Kingdom, although London only touches a short part of its course. The river is tidal in London with a rise and fall of 7 metres (23 ft) and becomes non-tidal at Teddington Lock . The catchment area covers a large part of South Eastern and Western England and the river is fed by over 20 tributaries. The river contains over 80 islands, and having both seawater and freshwater stretches supports a variety of wildlife. The river has supported human activity from its source to its mouth for thousands of years providing habitation, water power, food and drink. It has also acted as a major highway both for international trade through the Port of London, and internally along its length and connecting to the British canal system. The river’s strategic position has seen it at the centre of many events and fashions in British history, earning it a description as “Liquid History”. It has been a physical and political boundary over the centuries and generated a range of river crossings. In more recent time the river has become a major leisure area supporting tourism and pleasure outings as well as the sports of rowing, sailing, skiffing, kayaking, and punting. The river has had a special appeal to writers, artists, musicians and film-makers and is well represented in the arts. It is still the subject of various debates about its course, nomenclature and history. Physical and natural aspects The monument at the official source of the Thames. River Thames Flood Barrier The Thames passes by some of the sights of London, including the Houses of Parliament and the London Eye The Thames has a length of 215 miles (346 km). Its usually quoted source is at Thames Head (at grid reference ST980994), about a mile north of the village of Kemble and near the town of Cirencester, in the Cotswolds. However, Seven Springs near Cheltenham, where the river Churn rises, is also sometimes quoted as the Thames' source, as this location is furthest from the mouth both in distance along its course and as the crow flies and adds some 14 miles (22 km) to the length. The springs at Seven Springs also flow throughout the year, while those at Thames Head are only seasonal. The Thames flows through or alongside Ashton Keynes, Cricklade, Lechlade, Oxford, Abingdon, Wallingford, Goring-on-Thames, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor, Eton, Staines, Weybridge and Thames Ditton before entering the Greater London area. The present course is the result of several minor redirections of the main channel around Oxford, Abingdon and Maidenhead and more recently the creation of specific cuts to ease navigation. From the outskirts of Greater London, the river passes Hampton Court, Kingston, Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond (with a famous view of the Thames from Richmond Hill), Syon House and Kew before flowing through central London. In central London, the river forms one of the principal axes of the city, from the Palace of Westminster to the Tower of London and was the southern boundary of the mediaeval city, with Southwark on the opposite bank. Once past central London, the river passes between Greenwich and the Isle of Dogs, before flowing through the Thames Barrier, which protects central London from flooding in the event of storm surges. Below the barrier, the river passes Dartford, Tilbury and Gravesend before entering the Thames Estuary near Southend-on-Sea. Catchment area and discharge Edit The river drains a catchment area of 4994\|sqmi or 5924 sqmi if the River Medway is included as a tributary. (Dot & Ian Hart (2001–5). The River Thames — Its geology, geography and vital statistics from source to sea . Retrieved November 1, 2005.) The non-tidal section Locks and weirs on the River Thames The Jubilee River at Slough Weir Brooks, canals and rivers, within an area of convert\|3841, combine to form 38 main tributaries feeding the Thames between its source and Teddington Lock , the tidal limit. Before Teddington Lock was built in 1810-12, the river was tidal as far as Staines. The tributaries include the rivers River Churn, River Leach, River Cole, Wiltshire, River Coln, River Windrush, River Evenlode, River Cherwell, River Ock, River Thame, River Pang, River Kennet, River Loddon, River Colne, Hertfordshire, River Wey and River Mole, Surrey. In addition there are many backwaters and distributaries and some man-made channels such as the Longford River. More recently, an artificial secondary channel to the Thames, known as the Jubilee River, was built between Maidenhead and Windsor for flood relief, being completed in 2002. More than half the rain that falls on this catchment is lost to evaporation and plant transpiration. The remainder provides a water resource that has to be shared between river flows, to support the natural environment and navigation, and the population's needs for water supplies to homes, industry and agriculture. The non-tidal section of the river is managed by the Environment Agency which has the twin responsibilities of managing the flow of water to control flooding, and providing for navigation. The volume and speed of water down the river is managed by adjusting the gates at each of the weirs and at high water levels are usually dissipated over flood plains adjacent to the river. Occasionally flooding is unavoidable, and the Agency issues Flood Warnings. During heavy rainfall the Thames occasionally receives raw sewage discharge due to sanitary sewer overflow. The tidal section Main article: Tideway London Stone at Staines, built in 1285 marked the tidal limit of the Thames and the City of London 's jurisdiction The lower course of the Thames in 1840 Below Teddington Lock (about convert\|55\|mi} upstream of the Thames Estuary) the river is subject to tidal activity from the North Sea. Before the lock was installed the river was tidal as far as Staines. London, capital of Roman Britain, was established on two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill . These provided a firm base for a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames. (Peter Ackroyd London:The Biography Vintage 2001) A river crossing was built at the site of London Bridge. London Bridge is now used as the basis for published tide tables giving the times of high tide. High tide reaches Putney about 30 minutes later than London Bridge, and Teddington about an hour later. The tidal stretch of the river is known as "the Tideway". The principal tributaries on the Tideway include the rivers Brent , Wandle , Effra , Westbourne , Fleet , Ravensbourne (the final part of which is called Deptford Creek ), Lea , Roding, Darent and Ingrebourne . At London, the water is slightly brackish, with sea salt, being a mix of sea and fresh water. This part of the river is managed by the Port of London Authority . The flood threat here comes from high tides and strong winds from the North Sea, and the Thames Barrier was built in the 1980’s to protect London from this risk. Islands Edit Temple Island — the start of the Henley Royal Regatta course The river Thames contains over 80 islands ranging from the large estuarial marshlands of the Isle of Sheppey, Isle of Grain and Canvey Island to small tree-covered islets like Rose Isle in Oxfordshire and Headpile Eyot in Berkshire. Some of the largest inland islands — Formosa Island near Cookham and Andersey Island at Abingdon — were created naturally when the course of the river divided into separate streams, while Desborough Island, Ham Island at Old Windsor and Penton Hook Island were artificially created by lock cuts and navigation channels. Chiswick Eyot] is a familiar landmark on the Boat Race course, while Glover's Island forms the centrepiece of the spectacular view from Richmond Hill . Islands with a historical interest are Magna Carta Island at Runnymede, Fry's Island at Reading and Pharaoh's Islandnear Shepperton. In more recent times Platts Eyot at Hampton was the place where Motor Torpedo Boats were built, Tagg's Island near Molesey was associated with the impresario Fred Karno, and Eel Pie Island at Twickenham was the birthplace of the South East’s R&B music scene. Geological history Edit Lardon Chase The River Thames can first be identified as a discrete drainage line as early as 58 million years ago, in the late Palaeocene Period Thanetian Stage. Until around half a million years ago, the Thames flowed on its existing course through what is now Oxfordshire, before turning to the north east through Hertfordshire and East Anglia and reaching the North Sea near Ipswich. At this time the river system headwaters lay in the English West Midlands and may, at times, have received drainage from the North Wales Berwyn Mountains. Arrival of an ice sheet in the Quaternary Ice Age, about 450,000 years ago, dammed the river in Hertfordshire and caused it to be diverted onto its present course through London. This created a new river route aligned through Berkshire and on into London after which the river rejoined its original course in southern Esse], near the present River Blackwater estuary. Here it entered a substantial freshwater lake in the southern North Sea basin. The overspill of this lake caused the formation of the Dover Straits or Pas-de-Calais gap between Great Britain and France. Subsequent development led to the continuation of the course which the river follows at the present day. At the height of the last ice age around 12000 years ago, Britain was connected to mainland Europe via a large expanse of land known as Doggerland in the southern North Sea basin. At this time, the Thames' course did not continue to Doggerland, but was aligned southwards from the eastern Essex coast where it met the Rhine, the River Meuse and the River Scheldt [1] In addition the Thames is host to some invasive crustaceans including Signal crayfish and Chinese Mitten Crab. On 20 January 2006 a northern 16-18 ft (5 m) bottle-nosed whale was spotted in the Thames and was seen as far upstream as Chelsea. This is extremely unusual because this type of whale is generally found in deep sea waters. Crowds gathered along the riverbanks to witness the extraordinary spectacle. But it soon became clear there was cause for concern, as the animal came within yards of the banks, almost beaching, and crashed into an empty boat causing slight bleeding. Approximately 12 hours later, the whale was believed to be seen again near Greenwich , possibly heading back to sea. There was a rescue attempt lasting several hours, but it eventually died on a barge. (See Wikipedia page [5] ) Human aspects The River Thames has served several roles in human history, being an economic resource, a water highway, a boundary, a fresh water source, also a source of food and more recently a leisure facility. Human history 19th century painting "Haymaking on the Thames" by John Clayton Adams Wallingford Bridge and St Peter's Church The Thames at Hampton The Thames as it flows through London, with the Isle of Dogs in the centre. There is evidence of human habitation living off the river along its length dating back to Neolithic times. [2] The British Museum has a decorated bowl (3300-2700 BC), found in the River at Hedsor, Buckinghamshire and a considerable amount of material was discovered during the excavations of Dorney Lake. [3] A number of Bronze Age sites and artifacts have been discovered along the banks of the River including settlements at Lechlade, Cookham and Sunbury-on-Thames . Some of the earliest written accounts of the Thames occur in Julius Caesar’s account of his second expedition to Britain in 54BC [4] when the Thames presented a major obstacle and he encountered the Iron Age Belgae/\|Belgic tribes the Catuvellauni and the Atrebates along the river. Under the Emperor Claudius in AD 43 the Romans occupied England and, recognising the River's strategic and economic importance, built fortifications along the Thames valley including a major camp at Dorchester, Oxfordshire. Two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill , provided a firm base for a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames called Londinium where a bridge was built. The next Roman bridge upstream was at Staines (Pontes) to which point boats could be swept up on the rising tide with no need for wind or muscle power. Many of the Thames’ riverside settlements trace their origins back to very early roots and the suffix - “ing” in towns such as Goring and Reading, Berkshire, owe their origins to the Saxons. Recent research suggests that these peoples preceded the Romans rather than replaced them. [5] The river’s long tradition of farming, fishing, milling and trade with other nations started with these peoples and has continued to the present day. Competition for the use of the river created the centuries-old conflict between those who wanted to dam the river to build millraces and fish traps and those who wanted to travel and carry goods on it. Economic prosperity and the foundation of wealthy monasteries by the Anglo-Saxons attracted unwelcome visitors and by around AD 870 the Vikings were sweeping up the Thames on the tide and creating havoc as in their destruction of Chertsey Abbey. Once William I of England had won total control of the strategic Thames Valley he went on to invade the rest of England. He had many castles built, including those at Wallingford, Rochester, Kent, Windsor, Berkshire and most importantly the Tower of London . Many details of Thames activity are recorded in the Domesday book . The following centuries saw the conflict between King and Barons coming to a head in AD 1215 when King John was forced to adhere to the Magna Carta]] on an island in the Thames at Runnymede. This granted them among a host of other things under Clause 23 the right of Navigation. Another major consequence of John’s reign was the completion of the multi-piered London Bridge which acted as a barricade and barrage on the river, affecting the tidal flow upstream and increasing the likelihood of freezing over. In Tudor and Stuart times the Kings and Queens loved the river and built magnificent riverside palaces at Hampton Court , Kew , Richmond on Thames , Whitehall and Greenwich . The 16th and 17th centuries saw the City of London grow with the expansion of world trade. The wharves of the Pool of London were thick with seagoing vessels while naval dockyards were built at Deptford . The Dutch navy even entered the Thames in 1667 in the raid on the Medway. A cold series of winters led to the Thames freezing over above London Bridge, and this led to the first Frost Fair in 1607, complete with a tent city set up on the river itself and offering a number of amusements, including ice bowling. In good conditions barges travelled daily from Oxford to London carrying timber and wool, foodstuffs and livestock, battling with the millers on the way. The stone from the Cotswolds used to rebuild St Paul’s Cathedral after the Great Fire in 1666 was brought all the way down from Radcot. The Thames provided the major highway between London and Westminster in the 16th and 17th centuries and the clannish guild of watermen ferried Londoners from landing to landing and tolerated no outside interference. In AD 1715 Thomas Doggett was so grateful to a local waterman for his efforts to ferry him home pulling against the tide, that he set up a rowing race for professional watermen known as “ Doggett's Coat and Badge ”. By the 18th century, the Thames was one of the world's busiest waterways, as London became the centre of the vast, mercantile British Empire and progressively over the next century the docks expanded in the Isle of Dogs and beyond. Efforts were made to resolve the navigation conflicts up stream by building locks along the Thames. After temperatures began to rise again, starting in 1814, the river stopped freezing over completely. [6] The building of a new London Bridge in 1825, with fewer pillars than the old, allowed the river to flow more freely and reduced the likelihood of freezing over in cold winters. [7] The Victorian era was an era of imaginative engineering. In the ' Great Stink ' of 1858, pollution in the river reached such proportions that sittings at the House of Commons at Westminster had to be abandoned. A concerted effort to contain the city's sewage by constructing massive sewers on the north and south river embankments followed, under the supervision of engineer Joseph Bazalgette . Meanwhile, similar huge undertakings took place to ensure water supply, with the building of reservoirs and pumping stations on the river to the west of London. The embankments in London house the water supply to homes, plus the sewers, and protect London from flood. The coming of rail transport] added both spectacular and ugly railway bridges to fine range of earlier road bridges but reduced commercial activity on the river. However sporting and leisure use increased with the establishment of regattas such as Henley Royal Regatta and The Boat Race. On 3 September 1878, one of the worst river disasters in England took place, when the crowded pleasure boat {{SS\|Princess Alice collided with the Bywell Castle, killing over 640 people. The growth of road transport and the decline of the Empire, in the years following 1914, reduced the economic prominence of the river. During World War II the protection of the Thames was crucial to the defence of the country. Defences included the Maunsell forts in the estuary and barrage balloons to cope with the threat of German bombers using the distinctive shape of the river to navigate during The Blitz. Although the Port of London remains one of the UK's three main ports, most trade has moved downstream from central London. The decline of manufacturing industry and improved sewage treatment have led to a massive clean-up since the filthy days of the late 19th and early- to mid-20th centuries, and aquatic life has returned to its formerly 'dead' waters. Alongside the river runs the Thames Path , providing a route for walkers and cyclists. In the early 1980s a massive flood-control device, the Thames Barrier , was opened. It is closed several times a year to prevent water damage to London's low-lying areas upstream (as in the 1928 Thames flood for example). In the late 1990s, the Jubilee River was built, which acts as a flo]] channel for the Thames around Maidenhead and Windsor. [8] Origin of the name Edit Statue of Old Father Thames at St John's Lock The Thames, from Middle English Temese, is derived from the Celtic name for the river, Tamesas (from tamēssa), [9] recorded in Latin as Tamesis and underlying modern Welsh Tafwys "Thames". The name probably meant "dark" and can be compared to other cognates such as \|Irish teimheal and Welsh tywyll "darkness" Proto-Celtic temeslos) and Middle Irish teimen "dark grey", [9] though Richard Coates [10] mentions other theories: Kenneth H. Jackson ref>Template under construction. in F. T. Wainright (ed.), ed. The Problem of the Picts. Nelson. pp. 129–166. </ref> that it is non Indo-European (and of unknown meaning), and Peter Kitson's [11] that it is IE but pre-Celtic, and has a name indicating muddiness from a root tã-, 'melt'. The river's name has always been pronounced with a simple t; the [Middle English spelling was typically Temese and Celtic languages TAmesis. The th lends an air of Ancient Greek to the name and was added during the Renaissance, possibly to reflect or support a belief that the name was derived from River Thyamis in the Epirus (region region of Greece, whence early Celtic tribes were erroneously thought to have migrated. Indirect evidence for the antiquity of the name 'Thames' is provided by a Roman potsherd found at Oxford, bearing the inscription Tamesubugus fecit (Tamesubugus made this). It is believed that Tamesubugus's name was derived from that of the river. [12] The Thames through Oxford is often given the name the River The Isis, although historically, and especially in Victorian era, gazetteers and cartographers insisted that the entire river was correctly named the River Isis from its source until Dorchester, Oxfordshire. Only at this point, where the river meets the River Thame and becomes the "Thame-isis" (subsequently abbreviated to Thames) should it be so-called; Ordnance Survey maps still label the Thames as "River Thames or Isis" until Dorchester. However since the early 20th century, this distinction has been lost in common usage outside Oxford, and some historians suggest the name Isis—although possibly named after the Egyptian mythology goddess of Isis —is nothing more than a contraction of Tamesis, the[Latin] (or pre-Roman Celtic) name for the Thames. Richard Coates suggests that while the river was as a whole called the Thames, part of it, where it was too wide to ford, was called (p)lowonida. This gave the name to a settlement on its banks, which became known as Londinium, from the Indo-European roots pleu- "flow" and -nedi "river" meaning something like the flowing river or the wide flowing unfordable river. [10] For merchant seamen, the Thames has long been just 'The London River'. Londoners often refer to it simply as 'the river', in expressions such as 'south of the river'. [13] The active river Edit One of the many piers for joining sightseeing boat trips. One of the major resources provided by the Thames is drinking water provided by Thames Water whose area of responsibility covers the length of the River Thames. The Thames Water Ring Main is the main distribution mechanism for water in London with one major loop linking the Hampton , Walton-on-Thames, Ashford, Surrey, and Kempton Water Treatment Works to central London. In the past, commercial activities on the Thames included fishing (particularly eel trapping), coppicing willows which provided wood for many purposes including osiers, and running watermills for flour and paper production and metal beating. These activities have disappeared, although there was a proposal to build a hydro plant at Romney Lock to power Windsor Castle. As of January 2008, this scheme appears to have been abandoned. The Thames is popular for riverside housing whether in high rise flats in central London or chalets on the banks and islands up stream. The river has its own residents dwelling on houseboats, typically around Brentford and Tagg's Island Transport and tourism In London there are many sightseeing tours in tourist boats, past the more famous riverside attractions such as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London as well as regular riverboat services co-ordinated by London River Services . The upper river Edit Passenger services are operated in summer along the entire non-tidal river from Oxford to Teddington. The two largest operators are Salters Steamers and French Brothers. Salters operate services between Folly Bridge, Oxford and Staines. The entire journey takes 4 days and requires several changes of boat. [14] French Brothers operate passenger services between Maidenhead and Hampton Court. [15] Along the course of the river a number of smaller private companies also offer river trips at Wallingford, Reading and Hampton Court. [16] Many companies also provide boat hire on the river. The leisure navigation and sporting activities on the river have given rise to a number of dependent businesses including boatbuilding, marinas, ships chandlers and salvage services. Police and lifeboats Edit The river is policed by five police forces. The Thames Division is the River Police arm of London’s Metropolitan Police , while Surrey Police, Thames Valley Police, Essex Police and Kent Police have responsibilities on their parts of the river outside the metropolitan area. There is also a London Fire Brigade fire boat on the river. The river claims a number of lives each year. As a result of the Marchioness disaster in 1989 when 51 people died, the UK Government asked the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Port of London Authority and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution] (RNLI) to work together to set up a dedicated Search and Rescue service for the tidal River Thames. As a result, there are four lifeboat stations on the river Thames based at Teddington , Chiswick Pier, Tower Lifeboat Station and Gravesend, Kent. [17] Navigation Edit Bray lock, Berkshire Pool of London looking west, from the high-level walkway on Tower Bridge . Click on the picture for a longer description The Thames is navigable from the estuary as far as Lechlade in Gloucestershire. Between the sea and Teddington Lock , the river forms part of the Port of London and navigation is administered by the Port of London Authority . From Teddington Lock to the head of navigation, the navigation authority is the Environment Agency. Both the tidal river through London and the non-tidal river upstream are intensively used for leisure navigation. All craft using the river Thames must be licensed. The river is navigable to large ocean-going ships as far upstream as the Pool of London and London Bridge . Although London's upstream enclosed docks have closed and central London sees only the occasional visiting cruise ship or naval warship, the tidal river remains one of Britain's main ports. Around 60 active terminals cater for shipping of all types including ro-ro ferries, cruise liners and vessels carrying containers, vehicles, timber, grain, paper, Petroleum, petroleum products], liquified petroleum gas, etc. [18] There is a regular traffic of Construction aggregate or waste vessels, operating from wharves in the west of London. The tidal Thames links to the canal network at the River Lea Navigation , the Regent's Canal at Limehouse Basin , and the Grand Union Canal at Brentford. The non-tidal River Thames is divided into reaches by the 45 locks. The locks are manned for a greater part of the day, but can be operated by experienced users out of hours. This part of the Thames links to existing navigations at the River Wey Navigation, the River Kennet and the Oxford Canal. There is no speed limit on the Tideway downstream of Wandsworth Bridge , [19] although boats are not allowed to create undue wash. Upstream of Wandsworth Bridge a speed limit is in force for powered craft to protect the riverbank environment and to provide safe conditions for rowers and other river users. The speed limit of 8 km per hour applies to powered craft on this tidal part and 4.3km per hour on the non-tidal Thames. The Environment Agency has patrol boats (named after tributaries of the Thames) and can enforce the limit strictly since river traffic usually has to pass through a lock at some stage. There are pairs of Navigation transit markers at various points along the non-tidal river that can be used to check speed - a boat travelling legally taking a minute or more to pass between the two markers. History of the management of the river Edit The first commission concerned with the management of the river was the Oxford-Burcot Commission formed in 1605 to make the river navigable between Burcot and Oxford. In 1751 the Thames Navigation Commission was formed to manage the whole non-tidal river down to Staines. The City of London long claimed responsibility for the tidal river. A long running dispute between the City and the The Crown over ownership of the river was not settled until 1857, when the Thames Conservancy was formed to manage the river from Staines downstream. In 1866 the functions of the Thames Navigation Commission were transferred to the Thames Conservancy, which thus had responsibility for the whole river. In 1909 the powers of the Thames Conservancy over the tidal river, below Teddington, were transferred to the Port of London Authority . In 1974 the Thames Conservancy became part of the new Thames Water Authority . When Thames Water was privatised in 1990, its river management functions were transferred to the National Rivers Authority , in 1996 subsumed into the Environment Agency. The river as a boundary Edit Until sufficient crossings were established, the river provided a formidable barrier, with Belgic tribes and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms being defined by which side of the river they were on. When English counties were established their boundaries were partly determined by the Thames. On the Northern bank were the traditional counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex and Essex. On the southern bank were the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, and Kent. However the 214 bridges and 17 tunnels that have been built to date have changed the dynamics and made cross-river development and shared responsibilities more practicable. The 1974 boundary changes moved some of the boundaries away from the river, so that, for example, some of Berkshire became Oxfordshire, some of Buckinghamshire became Berkshire, and some of Middlesex became Surrey. On occasion – for example in rowing – the banks are still referred to by their traditional county names. Crossings Hammerton's Ferry near Richmond. Many of the present road bridges on the river are on the site of earlier fords, ferries and wooden structures. The earliest known major crossings of the Thames by the Romans were at London Bridge and Staines Bridge . At Folly Bridge in Oxford the remains of an original Saxon structure can be seen, and mediaeval stone structures such as [[Newbridge, Oxfordshire and Abingdon Bridge are still in use. Kingston’s growth is believed to stem from its having the only crossing between London Bridge and Staines until the beginning of the 18th century. During the 18th century, many stone and brick road bridges were built from new or to replace existing structures both in London and along the length of the river. These included Putney Bridge , Westminster Bridge , Windsor Bridge and Sonning Bridge. Several central London road bridges were built in the 19th century, most conspicuously Tower Bridge , the only Bascule bridge on the river, designed to allow ocean going ships to pass beneath it. The most recent road bridges are the bypasses at Isis Bridge and Marlow By-pass Bridge and the Motorway bridges, most notably the two on the M25 route Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and M25 Runnymede Bridge. The development of the railway resulted in a spate of bridge building in the 19th century including Blackfriars Railway Bridge and Charing Cross (Hungerford) Railway Bridge in central London, and the spectacular railway bridges by Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Maidenhead Bridge, Gatehampton Railway Bridge and Moulsford Railway Bridge. The world’s first underwater tunnel was the Thames Tunnel by Marc Brunel built in 1843 and used to carry the East London Line . The Tower Subway was the first railway under the Thames, which was followed by all the deep-level tube lines. Road tunnels were built in East London at the end of the 19th century, being the Blackwall Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel , and the latest tunnel was the Dartford Crossing . Many foot crossings were established across the weirs that were built on the non-tidal river, and some of these remained when the locks were built – for example at Benson Lock. Others were replaced by a footbridge when the weir was removed as at Hart's Weir Footbridge. Around the year 2000 AD, several footbridges were added along the Thames, either as part of the Thames Path or in commemoration of the Millennium. These include Temple Footbridge, Bloomers Hole Footbridge, the Hungerford Footbridges and the Millennium Bridge , all of which have distinctive design characteristics. Some ferries still operate on the river. The Woolwich Ferry carries cars and passengers across the river in the Thames Gateway and links the North Circular and South Circular roads. Upstream are smaller pedestrian ferries, for example Hampton Ferry and Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry the last being the only non-permanent crossing that remains on the Thames Path. Sport There are several watersports prevalent on the Thames, with many clubs encouraging participation and organising racing and inter-club competitions. Rowing Main article: Rowing on the River Thames Cambridge cross the finish line ahead of Oxford in the 2007 Boat Race, viewed from Chiswick Bridge The Thames is the historic heartland of sport rowing in the United Kingdom. There are over 200 clubs on the river, and over 8,000 members of thAmateur Rowing Association]] (over 40% of its membership). Most towns and districts of any size on the river have at least one club, but key centres are Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and the stretch of river from Chiswick to Putney . Two rowing events on the River Thames are traditionally part of the wider English sporting calendar: The University Boat Race is rowed between Oxford University Boat Club and the Cambridge University Boat Club in late March or early April, on the Championship Course from Putney to Mortlake in the west of London . Henley Royal Regatta takes place over five days at the start of July in the upstream town of Henley-on-Thames. Besides its sporting significance the regatta is an important date on the English Season (society) alongside events like Royal Ascot and Wimbledon . Other significant or historic rowing events on the Thames include: The Head of the River Race and other head races over the The Championship Course The The Wingfield Sculls for the amateur sculling championship of the Thames and Great Britain Doggett's Coat and Badge for apprentice watermen, one of the oldest sporting events in the world Henley Women's Regatta The Henley Boat Races for the Women's and Lightweight crews of Oxford and Cambridge Universities The Oxford University bumps race known as Eights Week and Torpids Other regattas, head races and bumping races are held along the Thames which are described under Rowing on the River Thames . Sailing Edit Thames Raters at Raven's Ait, Surbiton Sailing is practiced on both the tidal and non-tidal reaches of the river. The highest club upstream is at Oxford. The most popular sailing craft used on the Thames are laser (dinghy), GP14 (dinghy), and Wayfarer (dinghy). One sailing boat unique to the Thames is the Thames A Class Rater (scow) which is sailed around Raven's Ait . Skiffing Skiffing remains popular, particularly in the summer months. Several clubs and regattas may be found in the outer suburbs of west London. Punting Unlike the "pleasure punting" common on the River Cherwell in Oxford and the River Cam in Cambridge, punting on the Thames is competitive and uses narrower craft. Kayaking and canoeing Main article: Kayaking and Canoeing on the River Thames Kayaking and canoeing are popular, with sea kayakers using the tidal stretch for touring. Sheltered water kayakers and canoeists use the non-tidal section for training, racing and trips. Whitewater playboating, and Slalom canoeing paddlers are catered for at weirs like those at Hurley Lock, Sunbury Lock and Boulter's Lock. At Teddington just before the tidal section of the river starts is Royal Canoe Club , said to be the oldest in the world and founded in 1867. Meanders Edit A Thames meander is a long-distance journey over all or part of the Thames by running, swimming or using any of the above means. It is often carried out as an athletic challenge in a competition or for a record attempt. Culture The first Westminster Bridge as painted by Canaletto in 1746. Maidenhead Railway Bridge as Turner saw it in 1844 Monet's Trouée de soleil dans le brouillard, Houses of Parliament, London, Sun Breaking Through the Fog, 1904 Whistler's Nocturne in Blue and Gold: Old Battersea Bridge (c. 1872-1875) St John's lock, near Lechlade. The River Thames in Oxford Visual arts Edit The River Thames has been a subject for artists, great and minor, over the centuries. Four major artists with works based on the Thames are Canaletto, J. M. W. Turner, Claude Monet, and James McNeil Whistler. The 20th century British artist Stanley Spencer produced many works at Cookham. The river is lined with various pieces on sculpture, but John Kaufman's sculpture The Diver:Regeneration is actally sited in the Thames near Rainham . Literature Edit The Thames is mentioned in many works of literature including novels, diaries and poetry. It is the central theme in three in particular: Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome, first published in 1889, is a humorous account of a boating holiday on the Thames between Kingston and Oxford. The book was intended initially to be a serious travel guide, with accounts of local history of places along the route, but the humorous elements eventually took over. The landscape and features of the Thames as described by Jerome are virtually unchanged, and enduring humour has meant that it has never been out of print since it was first published. Charles Dickens Our Mutual Friend (written in the years 1864–65) describes the river in a grimmer light. It begins with a scavenger and his daughter pulling a dead man from the river near London Bridge, to salvage what the body might have in its pockets, and heads to its conclusion with the deaths of the villains drowned in Shepperton Lock/Plashwater Lock upstream. The workings of the river and the influence of the tides are described with great accuracy. Dickens opens the novel with this sketch of the river, and the people who work on it: In these times of ours, though concerning the exact year there is no need to be precise, a boat of dirty and disreputable appearance, with two figures in it, floated on the Thames, between Southwark Bridge which is of iron, and London Bridge which is of stone, as an autumn evening was closing in. The figures in this boat were those of a strong man with ragged grizzled hair and a sun-browned face, and a girl of nineteen or twenty. The girl rowed, pulling a pair of sculls very easily; the man with the rudder-lines slack in his hands, and his hands loose in his waisteband, kept an eager look-out. Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, written in 1908, is set in the middle to upper reaches of the river. This starts as a tale of gentle anthropomorphic animals "simply messing" about on the water and concludes with the arrogant and anti-social Mr Toad getting his come-uppance on a river barge. The river almost inevitably features in many books set in London . Most of Dickens' other novels include some aspect of the Thames. Oliver Twist finishes in the slums and rookeries along its south bank. The Sherlock Holmes stories by Arthur Conan Doyle often visit riverside parts as in The Sign of Four. In Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad, the serenity of the contemporary Thames is contrasted with the savagery of the Congo River, and with the wilderness of the Thames as it would have appeared to a Roman soldier posted to Britannia two thousand years before. Conrad also gives a description of the approach to London from the Thames Estuary in his essays Joseph Conrad#On the River Thames\|The Mirror of the Sea (1906). Upriver, Henry James' Portrait of a Lady uses a large riverside mansion on the Thames as one of its key settings. Literary non-fiction works include Samuel Pepys ' diary, in which he recorded many events relating to the Thames including the Fire of London . He was disturbed while writing it in June 1667 by the sound of gunfire as Dutch warships broke through the Royal Navy on the Thames. In poetry, William Wordsworth's sonnet Composed upon Westminster Bridge, September 3, 1802/On Westminster Bridge closes with the lines: Ne'er saw I, never felt, a calm so deep! The river glideth at his own sweet will: Dear God! the very houses seem asleep; And all that mighty heart is lying still! T. S. Eliot references makes several references to the Thames in The Fire Sermon, Section III of The Waste Land. Sweet Thames run softly, till I end my song. The river bears no empty bottles, sandwich papers, Silk handkerchiefs, cardboard boxes cigarette ends Or other testimony of summer nights. and Down Greenwich reach Past the Isle of Dogs The Sweet Thames line is taken from Edmund Spenser’s Prothalamion which presents a more idyllic image: Along the shoare of silver streaming Themmes; Whose rutty banke, the which his river hemmes, Was paynted all with variable flowers. And all the meads adornd with daintie gemmes Fit to deck maydens bowres Also writing of the upper reaches is Matthew Arnold in The Scholar Gypsy: Crossing the stripling Thames at Bab-lock-hythe Trailing in the cool stream thy fingers wet As the slow punt swings round Oh born in days when wits were fresh and clear And life ran gaily as the sparkling Thames; Before this strange disease of modern life. Science-fiction novels make liberal use of a futuristic Thames. The utopian News from Nowhere by William Morris is mainly the account of a journey through the Thames valley in a socialist future. The Thames also features prominently in Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, as a communications artery for the waterborne Gyptian people of Oxford and the Fens. In The Deptford Mice trilogy by Robin Jarvis, the Thames appears several times. In one book, rat characters swim through it to Deptford . Music Edit The Water Music composed by George Frideric Handel premiered in the summer of 1717 (July 17, 1717) when George I of Great Britain requested a concert on the River Thames. The concert was performed for King George I on his barge and he is said to have enjoyed it so much that he ordered the 50 exhausted musicians to play the suites three times on the trip. The Sex Pistols played a concert on the Queen Elizabeth Riverboat on June 7, 1977, the Queen's Silver Jubilee year, while sailing down the river. Cinema and television Edit A boat chase on the Thames forms the long opening scene of the James Bond film The World Is Not Enough. The offices of MI6, Britain's external spy agency, are right on the river in a building known as Vauxhall Cross. The theme of the Thames being completely drained was used in the Doctor Who episode "The Runaway Bride". This theme was also used in the Hollywood Blockbuster Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer (2007), where a huge hole in the riverbed beside Westminster Bridge and the London Eye stranded the items formerly floating on the river. The river was traversed in an episode of Top Gear season 10 episode 5. A birds eye view version can be seen in the main titles of EastEnders . ↑ [1] Rare seahorses breeding in Thames BBC News, 7 April 2008 ↑ P. Needham (1985) Neolithic And Bronze Age Settlement On The Buried Floodplains Of Runnymede Oxford Journal of Archaeology 4 ↑ Lamdin-Whymark, H, 2001 ‘Neolithic activity on the floodplain of the river Thames at Dorney’, Lithics 22, ↑ Gaius Julius Caesar De Bello Gallico ↑ Stephen Oppenheimer The Origins of the British	i don't know
Which Spanish golferwon the 1994 US Masters tournament?	Open de Espana (Spanish Open Golf Tournament) Updated April 17, 2016. About the Open de Espana: What's in a name? The Open de Espana was called "Spanish Open" for much of its history. Of course, Open de Espana translates to Spanish Open, so why point that out? The English-language title used to be the official name of the tournament; beginning in 1997, tournament organizers (and the European Tour) began using the Spanish. We use "Open de Espana" and "Spanish Open" interchangeably below, so just keep in mind that Open de Espana is the official name. The Open de Espana is part of the European Tour and is usually played in the spring, in April or early May. 2016 Open de Espana Englishman Andrew Johnston recorded his first European Tour victory by one stroke over Joost Luiten. Johnston and Luiten entered the final round tied, but Johnston shot 70 to Luiten's 71. Johnston finished at 1-over 285. This was the first over-par score to win a non-major on the Euro Tour since Ian Woosnam's 1996 Scottish Open win. 2015 Tournament James Morrison won this year's version of the Spanish Open over local hero Miguel Angel Jimenez. continue reading below our video 7 Best Soccer Players in the World Right Now That was despite Jimenez having an ace and a hole-out for eagle during the tournament. Morrison finished at 10-under 278, four shots clear of runner-up Jimenez. It was the second-ever European Tour victory for Morrison. 2014 Open de Espana Miguel Angel Jimenez survived a playoff to win the championship of his home country for the first time. He did so at age 50, too, becoming the first 50-or-over golfer to win on the European Tour. Jimenez, Richard Green and Thomas Pieters all finished at 4-under 284. But Jimenez's par on the first playoff hole was good enough for the win when the other two bogied. Open de Espana Tournament Records: 72 holes: 262 - Mark James, 1988 18 holes: 61 - Wayne Riley, 1988 Open de Espana Golf Courses: The tournament took place at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona in 2014. Presently, the Spanish Open rotates among golf courses in Spain, so there have been many host sites over recent years. At its beginning, the tournament was played annually at Puerta de Hierro in Madrid. Puerta de Hierro was the site dozens of times from 1912 on, but last hosted this event in 1961. Open de Espana Trivia and Notes: The Spanish Open is one of the oldest tournaments in continental Europe, first played in 1912. The first champion was Frenchman Arnaud Massey, winner of the 1907 British Open . The Open de Espana became part of the European Tour schedule in 1972, the first year of that tour's existence. In fact, the Open de Espana was the first tournament played in the first European Tour schedule. Which makes Antonio Garrido not only the 1972 Spanish Open champion, but also the first winner in the European Tour's history. When Arnold Palmer won in 1975, he was 45 years, 221 days old. That is still the tournament record for oldest winner. Padraig Harrington's first European Tour victory and first win on any major pro tour was at the 1996 Spanish Open. The 2013 Spanish Open went to a sudden-death playoff that lasted nine holes before Raphael Jacquelin won. That matched the European Tour record for longest sudden-death playoff, previously established at the 1989 Dutch Open, where Jose Maria Olazabal needed nine extra holes to win. Spaniard Angel de la Torre won five times from 1916 to 1925, the tournament record for most victories. De la Torre won three straight from 1916-18, the only time a golfer has won the Spanish Open three straight years. Eight other golfers have won the Open de Espana three times each: Arnaud Massy, Joaquin Bernardino, Gabriel Gonzalez, Marcelino Morcillo, Mariano Provencio, Max Faulkner, Sebastian Miguel and Seve Ballesteros . In the tournament's years as part of the European Tour schedule, only Neil Coles (1973) has won wire-to-wire. Miguel Angel Jimenez's victory at the 2014 was significant because he was 50 years old. He extended his own European Tour record as oldest tournament winner, plus became the first-ever 50-or-over golfer to win on the European Tour. Open de Espana Winners:	jose maria olazabal
Which Britishaeroplane of World War II was known as a 'Wimpey'?	Open de Espana (Spanish Open Golf Tournament) Updated April 17, 2016. About the Open de Espana: What's in a name? The Open de Espana was called "Spanish Open" for much of its history. Of course, Open de Espana translates to Spanish Open, so why point that out? The English-language title used to be the official name of the tournament; beginning in 1997, tournament organizers (and the European Tour) began using the Spanish. We use "Open de Espana" and "Spanish Open" interchangeably below, so just keep in mind that Open de Espana is the official name. The Open de Espana is part of the European Tour and is usually played in the spring, in April or early May. 2016 Open de Espana Englishman Andrew Johnston recorded his first European Tour victory by one stroke over Joost Luiten. Johnston and Luiten entered the final round tied, but Johnston shot 70 to Luiten's 71. Johnston finished at 1-over 285. This was the first over-par score to win a non-major on the Euro Tour since Ian Woosnam's 1996 Scottish Open win. 2015 Tournament James Morrison won this year's version of the Spanish Open over local hero Miguel Angel Jimenez. continue reading below our video 7 Best Soccer Players in the World Right Now That was despite Jimenez having an ace and a hole-out for eagle during the tournament. Morrison finished at 10-under 278, four shots clear of runner-up Jimenez. It was the second-ever European Tour victory for Morrison. 2014 Open de Espana Miguel Angel Jimenez survived a playoff to win the championship of his home country for the first time. He did so at age 50, too, becoming the first 50-or-over golfer to win on the European Tour. Jimenez, Richard Green and Thomas Pieters all finished at 4-under 284. But Jimenez's par on the first playoff hole was good enough for the win when the other two bogied. Open de Espana Tournament Records: 72 holes: 262 - Mark James, 1988 18 holes: 61 - Wayne Riley, 1988 Open de Espana Golf Courses: The tournament took place at PGA Catalunya Resort in Girona in 2014. Presently, the Spanish Open rotates among golf courses in Spain, so there have been many host sites over recent years. At its beginning, the tournament was played annually at Puerta de Hierro in Madrid. Puerta de Hierro was the site dozens of times from 1912 on, but last hosted this event in 1961. Open de Espana Trivia and Notes: The Spanish Open is one of the oldest tournaments in continental Europe, first played in 1912. The first champion was Frenchman Arnaud Massey, winner of the 1907 British Open . The Open de Espana became part of the European Tour schedule in 1972, the first year of that tour's existence. In fact, the Open de Espana was the first tournament played in the first European Tour schedule. Which makes Antonio Garrido not only the 1972 Spanish Open champion, but also the first winner in the European Tour's history. When Arnold Palmer won in 1975, he was 45 years, 221 days old. That is still the tournament record for oldest winner. Padraig Harrington's first European Tour victory and first win on any major pro tour was at the 1996 Spanish Open. The 2013 Spanish Open went to a sudden-death playoff that lasted nine holes before Raphael Jacquelin won. That matched the European Tour record for longest sudden-death playoff, previously established at the 1989 Dutch Open, where Jose Maria Olazabal needed nine extra holes to win. Spaniard Angel de la Torre won five times from 1916 to 1925, the tournament record for most victories. De la Torre won three straight from 1916-18, the only time a golfer has won the Spanish Open three straight years. Eight other golfers have won the Open de Espana three times each: Arnaud Massy, Joaquin Bernardino, Gabriel Gonzalez, Marcelino Morcillo, Mariano Provencio, Max Faulkner, Sebastian Miguel and Seve Ballesteros . In the tournament's years as part of the European Tour schedule, only Neil Coles (1973) has won wire-to-wire. Miguel Angel Jimenez's victory at the 2014 was significant because he was 50 years old. He extended his own European Tour record as oldest tournament winner, plus became the first-ever 50-or-over golfer to win on the European Tour. Open de Espana Winners:	i don't know
Which artist painted a portrait of Sir Winston Churchill that was later destroyed by Lady Churchill?	Offensive portrait of Churchill destroyed - YouTube Offensive portrait of Churchill destroyed Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. The interactive transcript could not be loaded. Loading... Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Nov 13, 2011 Graham Sutherland (1903-1980) continues to be remembered, above all else, as the artist whose portrait of Sir Winston Churchill so offended the venerable figure that he had it destroyed. It was not that the portrait was wilfully "modern" in style, or even poorly executed. Rather, it was an uncompromisingly honest and forthright portrait of a man, who was after all, in his early 80s, frail and physically exhausted. Yet the portrait was also a sympathetic study that managed to convey the gravitas of the sitter, while at the same time revealing an endearing vulnerability. This reality however collided spectacularly with the image Churchill liked to project of himself; that of the man of action, the no-nonsense, indomitable wartime leader. Given the bold frankness and honesty of the picture, Churchill's reaction to it was perhaps inevitable. In retrospect, the whole "Churchill Portrait Controversy" proved a double-edged sword for Sutherland. On the one hand, it was testament to the potency of his portraiture. But on the other, the painting brought him a great deal of unwanted and unwarranted notoriety, especially in the popular press.	Graham Sutherland
Who succeeded Richard Nixon in 1974 as US President?	Sutherland portrait of Churchill displayed for first time in 20 years \| The Independent Sutherland portrait of Churchill displayed for first time in 20 years Thursday 6 February 2003 00:00 BST Click to follow The Independent Online A portrait of Sir Winston Churchill, painted by Graham Sutherland in preparation for a later work destroyed by the wartime prime minister's wife, is to go on public display for the first time in 20 years. The painting has been lent by a private collector to an exhibition of 120 works by Sutherland – his first important show since a retrospective in 1982. It was produced in the 1950s as a preparatory work for a painting commissioned by the Houses of Parliament to mark Churchill's 80th birthday. The final portrait was to have been kept by Churchill for his lifetime and then hung at Westminster. But he was uneasy at what he described as the "force and candour" of Sutherland's work. The final painting was destroyed by Lady Churchill in what the artist said was an act of vandalism. The preparatory painting is regarded as Churchill's finest surviving portrait. The exhibition runs from 25 February to 2 March at the Fine Arts and Antiques Fair at Olympia in London. More about:	i don't know
Which river was known to the Romans as 'Rhenus'?	Rhenus (Rhine) - Livius Rhenus (Rhine) Rhine (Latin Rhenus): the largest river in northwestern Europe. As the frontier of the Roman empire and (with the Rhône) main transport corridor between the Mediterranean and the North Sea, it played an important role in shaping the history of the old world. The river god Rhenus With a length of 1326 kilometer, the Rhine is one of the longest rivers in Europe. Its sources are in the Swiss Alps, in an area that is connected by the Splügen Pass with Lake Como and Italy. The two mountain streams unite at Reichenau near Chur (ancient Curia). From this confluence, the river flows to the Bodensee, a big lake, 150 kilometers to the north and almost two kilometers lower. From this lake, once known as Lacus Brigantinus, the river turns to the west and thunders over the splendid Schaffhausen cataract. Every second, more than 600 m³ falls down twenty-three meters. At Windisch (Vindonissa), the Rhine is joined by the river Aare (Arurius), and becomes navigable. After reaching Augst ( Colonia Augusta Rauracorum) and Basel, it takes a generally northern course between the Vogeses and the city of Strasbourg (Argentorate) in the west, and the Black Forest in the east. The waterfall at Schaffhausen In Basel, the river's capacity is more than 1040 m³ per second, and this rapidly increases. Among the first contribuaries is the Neckar (Nicer). Near Mainz (Mogontiacum), the river is joined by the Main (Moenus). There was a bridge . After Mainz, the Rhine breaks through the Taunus mountains, and the next big city, Koblenz (Confluentes), is called after the confluence with the Moselle (Mosella), which is the corridor to the Saône, Rhône, and Mediterranean Sea. Map of the Rhine Until Koblenz, the Rhine was streaming through the Roman province of Germania Superior, which had once been a Celtic-speaking country. (In fact, the word "Rhine" or Rên is Celtic and means "stream".) At the Vinxtbach near Remagen (Rigomagus), the river enters Germania Inferior and reaches the northern plains, where new, eastern rivers contribute to the width of the stream: the Sieg, Wupper, Ruhr, and the lovely Lippe (Lipua). On the west bank, people had once been speaking Germanic languages, and on the east bank, they still did, because the Rhine became in the first century CE the frontier ( limes ) between the Roman empire and "free" Germania. At regular intervals, there were forts for the auxiliary troops, and on some places the legions had their fortresses. Their commander resided in Cologne (Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium). The Rhine near Koblenz After the Lippe and the Roman city of Xanten (Colonia Ulpia Vetera), the mighty Rhine, which at this point has a capacity of 2200 m³, turns to the west, and divides into two branches: the large Waal (1540 m³) passes along Nijmegen (Noviomagus) and goes straight to the west, whereas the comparatively small Lower Rhine (660 m³) continues to the northwest. (The land between these branches was, in Antiquity, called "the island of the Batavians" and is now called Betuwe.) The two branches were well known: the Roman poet Virgil calls the Rhine bicornis, "with two horns".note[Virgil, Aeneid 8.727.] After the bifurcation, the Rhine slows down. If the water is high in Mainz, it takes three days to reach the point where the river divides into Waal and Lower Rhine. From here to the sea is another three days, although it is less than half the distance to Mainz. The Rhine at Katwijk In Antiquity, the Lower Rhine was larger than today. In the second decade BCE, the Roman commander Drusus built a dam (moles Drusiana, near modern Herwen ) that pushed more water to the Waal; and he ordered the digging of a canal, the Fossa Drusiana , to connect the river to Lake Flevo. Other branches of the Lower Rhine are the Lek (to the west) and the Vecht (to the north). When the Rhine ultimately reaches the North Sea near Katwijk (ancient Lugdunum ), it is not a very big river anymore. Model of Caesar's bridge across the Rhine The Greeks and Romans hardly knew about the existence of this river until Julius Caesar reached it in 58 BCE and declared that it was the boundary between the Gallic (or Celtic) nations in the west and the Germanic tribes in the east. This is simply untrue: along the Upper Rhine, the Celtic culture continued along the Danube to Bohemia, and further to the north, the Germanic language had already advanced west of the Rhine into what is now Belgium. Yet, Caesar needed a clear demarcation of the war zone, and this is why people still think that the Rhine divided two races. To the Romans, the Germanic tribes were awe-inspiring, and the senators must have been shaken with excitement when Caesar crossed the Rhine in 55 and 53 BCE ( more... ). His expeditions had no military results whatsoever, but they impressed his contemporaries. Later generals also crossed the river. Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa attacked the inhabitants of the east bank and seems to have resettled people from the Taunus area in the Rhine delta: the Batavians. The Ubians received a similar treatment and were the first inhabitants of Cologne. Later, prince Drusus conquered the Lippe area, where towns like Haltern and Anreppen were founded. However, after the Roman commander Quinctilius Varus had been defeated in the Teutoburg Forest , in 9 CE, the Romans gave up their attempt to conquer the east. Corbulo The Rhine started to become a real frontier when Drusus' grandson, the emperor Caligula , visited the Rhineland in 40, and ordered the construction of fortifications in Germania Inferior. In 41, he was succeeded by Claudius , who appears to have ordered more constructions, and made the strategic decision to make this frontier permanent. When general Domitius Corbulo in 47 crossed the river, he was recalled. Corbulo who is also responsible for the Canal of Corbulo ( Fossa Corbulonis ), which still connects the two branches of the Rhine. After this, the Lower Rhine remained the fixed northern frontier of the Roman empire until the early fifth century, although it was sometimes threatened (e.g., during the Batavian revolt in 69-70). Reconstruction of the Mainz 3 warship After 70, during the reign of Vespasian , the Romans started to occupy the east bank of the Middle Rhine south of Mainz. Soldiers of the Eight legion Augusta built a road from Strasbourg through the valley of the Upper Neckar to the sources of the Danube. This was the beginning of the occupation of the Black Forest (often called Agri decumates). It is almost certain that the same legion was part of the forces that the emperor Domitian employed (in 83/85 and 88/89) against the Chatti, who threatened the newly conquered Roman possessions on the east bank of the Rhine. He built a large palisade through the Taunus, to protect the conquered area; later, Hadrian expanded this palisade to the Neckar area; and still later, Antoninus Pius and Caracalla improved these fortifications. Model of Deutz In 260, the Agri decumates were lost to a new tribal federation, the Alamanni. Yet, the Rhine frontier itself remained intact and was to last for another century and a half, although the original wooden fortresses and forts on the west bank were gradually replaced by stronger buildings of natural stone. On the east bank, there were impressive castles that guarded the bridgeheads; an example is the immense bulwark at Divitia (Köln-Deutz), which protected the bridge at Cologne against another federation of Germanic tribes, the Franks. It was only in the first decade of the fifth century that the Rhine frontier was given up. Nehalennia altar, detail (boat) The fact that the Rhine was a boundary had important consequences, because there were thousands of soldiers who needed food. As an indication: in the second century, we find four legions of 5,300 men each along the Rhine: XXX Ulpia Victrix at Xanten, I Minervia at Bonn, XXII Primigenia at Mainz, and VIII Augusta at Strasburg. There were as many auxiliary soldiers - taken together, more than 40,000 soldiers. (At the end of the reign of Augustus , the Roman forces had been twice as strong.) These men needed more grain than the Rhineland could produce, and when the annexation of the valley of the Lippe failed, it had to be imported from the area of the Meuse and Moselle. The demand for food was an enormous economic incentive. The Waal near Nijmegen At the same time, the soldiers spent their money in the towns along the river, which rapidly became important cities and started to import all kinds of other products. In return, the cities produced metal, pelts, and hair (for wigs and catapults), and traded amber, horses, slaves, and silver. The Rhineland, which was connected with the Mediterranean by the Moselle, Saône, and Rhône, urbanized and became an important economic zone. Although the area was taken over by Franks and Alamanni in the early fifth century, the urban infrastructure more or less survived. In the Middle Ages, the corridor of Rhône, Saône, Moselle, and Rhine was again the economic axis of Europe. This page was created in 2004; last modified on 20 January 2016.	Rhine
The Council For Mutual Economic Assistance is known by what acronym?	What Is Gaul in Ancient History? Updated February 19, 2016. Question: What Is Gaul? Answer: The quick answer is ancient France. This is too simplistic, though, since the area that was Gaul extends into what are the modern neighboring countries. Generally, Gaul is considered the home, from about the eighth century B.C., of ancient Celts who spoke a Gallic language. People known as Ligurians had lived there before the Celts migrated from more eastern Europe. Some areas of Gaul had been colonized by the Greeks, especially Massilia, modern Marseilles. The Province(s) of Gallia The Rubicon Border of Cisalpine Gaul When Celtic tribal invaders from the north entered Italy in about 400 B.C., the Romans called them Galli 'Gauls'. They settled amid the other people of northern Italy. Battle of the Allia: In 390, some of these, the Gallic Senones, under Brennus, had gone far enough south in Italy to capture Rome after they won the Battle of the Allia . This loss was long remembered as one of Rome's worst defeats . continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Cisalpine Gaul: Then, in the final quarter of the third century B.C., Rome annexed the area of Italy in which the Gallic Celts had settled. This area was known as 'Gaul on this side of the Alps' Gallia Cisalpina (in Latin), which is generally Anglicized as the less cumbersome 'Cisalpine Gaul'. A Gallic Province: In 82 B.C., the Roman dictator Sulla made Cisalpine Gaul a Roman province. The famous Rubicon River formed its southern border, so when proconsul Julius Caesar precipitated civil war by crossing it, he was leaving provinces over which he, as a pro-magistate, had legitimate military control and bringing armed troops against his own people. Gallia Togata and Transpadana The people of Cisalpine Gaul were not only Celtic Galli, but also Roman settlers -- so many that the area was also known as Gallia togata, named for the signal article of Roman apparel. Another area of Gaul during the late Republic lay on the other side of the Alps. The Gallic area beyond the Po river was called Gallia Transpadana for the Latin name for the Po River, Padua . Provincia ~ Provence When Massilia, a city mentioned above that had been settled by Greeks in about 600 B.C., came under attack by Ligurians and Gallic tribes in 154 B.C., the Romans, concerned about their access to Hispania , came to its assistance. Then they took control of the region from the Mediterranean to Lake Geneva. This area outside Italy, which became a province in 121 B.C., was known as Provincia 'the province' and is now remembered in the French version of the Latin word, Provence . Three years later, Rome established a colony at Narb. The province was renamed Narbonensis provincia, under Augustus , the first Roman emperor. It was also known as Gallia braccata; again, named for the special article of apparel common to the area, braccae 'breeches' (trousers). Narbonensis provincia was important because it gave Rome access to Hispania through the Pyrenees . Tres Galliae - Gallia Comata At the end of the second century B.C., Caesar's uncle Marius put an end to those Cimbri and Teutones who had invaded Gaul. A monument to Marius' 102 B.C. victory was erected at Aquae Sextiae (Aix). About forty years later, Caesar went back, helping the Gauls with more intruders, Germanic tribes and the Celtic Helvetii. Caesar had been awarded Cisalpine and Transalpine Gaul as provinces to govern following his 59 B.C. consulship. We know a great deal about it because he wrote about his military exploits in Gaul in his Bellum Gallicum. The opening of this work is familiar to Latin students. In translation, it says, "All Gaul is divided into three parts." These three parts aren't the already well-known to the Romans, Transalpine Gaul, Cisapline Gaul and Gallia Narbonensis, but areas further from Rome, Aquitania, Celtica and Belgica, with the Rhine as the eastern border. Properly, they are the peoples of the areas, but the names are also applied geographically. Under Augustus, these three together were known as Tres Galliae 'the three Gauls.' The Roman historian Syme says Emperor Claudius and the historian Tacitus (who preferred the term Galliae) refer to them as Gallia comata 'Long-haired Gaul,' long hair being an attribute that was noticeably different from the Romans. By their time the three Gauls had been subdivided into three, slightly different ones encompassing more peoples than those named in Caesar's tribal groupings: Aquitania, Belgica (where the Elder Pliny , who may have early served at Narbonensis, and a Cornelius Tacitus would serve as Procurator), and Gallia Lugdunensis (where emperors Claudius and Caracalla were born). Aquitania Under Augustus, the province of Aquitaine was extended to include 14 more tribes between the Loire and Garonne than just the Aquitani. The area was in the southwest of Gallia comata. Its boundaries were the ocean, the Pyrenees, the Loire, Rhine, and Cevenna range. [Source: Postgate.] Strabo on the Rest of Transalpine Gaul The geographer Strabo describes the remaining two sections of Tres Galliae as consisting of what is left over after Narbonensis and Aquitaine, divided into the Lugdunum section to the upper Rhine and the territory of the Belgae: "Augustus Caesar, however, divided Transalpine Celtica into four parts: the Celtae he designated as belonging to the province of Narbonitis; the Aquitani he designated as the former Caesar had already done, although he added to them fourteen tribes of the peoples who dwell between the Garumna and the Liger Rivers; the rest of the country he divided into two parts: one part he included within the boundaries of Lugdunum as far as the upper districts of the Rhenus, while the other he included within the boundaries of the Belgae." Roman Provinces by Geographic Location Sources: "Gaul" The Concise Oxford Companion to Classical Literature. Ed. M.C. Howatson and Ian Chilvers. Oxford University Press, 1996. "'Imaginary Geography' in Caesar's Bellum Gallicum," by Krebs, Christopher B.; American Journal of Philology, Volume 127, Number 1 (Whole Number 505), Spring 2006, pp. 111-136 "More Narbonensian Senators," by Ronald Syme; Zeitschrift für Papyrologie und Epigraphik Bd. 65, (1986), pp. 1-24 "Provincia" Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography (1854) William Smith, LLD, Ed. "Messalla in Aquitania," by J. P. Postgate; The Classical Review Vol. 17, No. 2 (Mar., 1903), pp. 112-117 "The Patria of Tacitus," by Mary L. Gordon; The Journal of Roman Studies Vol. 26, Part 2 (1936), pp. 145-151 See these resources on Caesar's Gallic War and the Latin AP Exam - Caesar	i don't know
Which principality joined the United Nations in 1993?	Monaco at UN In front of the UN, the red and white flag of Monaco flutters among all the others The Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations wishes to greet you on its website. Informations	Monaco
What name is given to a Medieval war engine used for catapulting stones?	Monaco facts, information, pictures \| Encyclopedia.com articles about Monaco CAPITAL: The seat of government is at Monaco-Ville FLAG: The national flag consists of a red horizontal stripe above a white horizontal stripe. ANTHEM: Hymne Monégasque, beginning "Principauté Monaco, ma patrie" ("Principality of Monaco, my fatherland"). MONETARY UNIT: The euro replaced the French franc as the official currency in 2002. The euro is divided into 100 cents. There are coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 cents and 1 euro and 2 euros. There are notes of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500 euros. €1 = $1.25475 (or $1 = €0.79697) as of 2005. Monégasque coins also circulate; denominations are 10, 20, and 50 centimes, and 1, 2, 5, 10, and 50 francs. Fr1 = $0.184 (or $1 = Fr5.4) as of March 2006. WEIGHTS AND MEASURES: The metric system is the legal standard. HOLIDAYS: New Year's Day, 1 January; St. Dévôte, 27 January; Labor Day, 1 May; Assumption, 15 August; All Saints' Day, 1 November; National Day, 19 November; Immaculate Conception, 8 December; Christmas , 25 December. Movable religious holidays include Easter Monday, Ascension, Pentecost Monday, and Fête-Dieu. TIME: 1 pm = noon GMT. LOCATION, SIZE, AND EXTENT The second-smallest country in Europe and the world after the Vatican, Monaco is situated in the southeastern part of the French department of Alpes-Maritimes. The area, including recent reclamation, is 195 hectares (482 acres), or 1.95 sq km (0.75 sq mi). Comparatively, the area occupied by Monaco is about three times the size of the Mall in Washington, DC. The principality's length is 3.18 km (1.98 mi) e–w, and its width is 1.1 km (0.68 mi) n–s. Bounded on the n, ne, sw, and w by France and on the e and se by the Mediterranean Sea , Monaco has a total border length of 8.5 km (5.3 mi), of which 4.1 km (2.5 mi) is coastline. TOPOGRAPHY There are four main areas (determined more by economic activity than geographic difference): La Condamine, the business district around the port; Monte Carlo, the site of the famous casino, which is at a higher elevation; Monaco-Ville, on a rocky promontory about 60 m (200 ft) above sea level; and Fontvieille, a 22-hectare (54-acre) industrial area of La Condamine that was reclaimed by landfill in the 1960s and 1970s. CLIMATE Winters are mild, with temperatures rarely falling below freezing and with a January average of about 8°c (46°f). Summer heat is tempered by sea breezes; the average maximum in July and August is 26°c (79°f). Rainfall averages about 77 cm (30 in) a year, and some 300 days a year have no precipitation whatsoever. ENVIRONMENT Monaco is noted for its beautiful natural scenery and mild, sunny climate. The principality has sponsored numerous marine conservation efforts. Its own environment is entirely urban. According to UN reports, Monaco's environmental circumstances are very good. The nation has consistently monitored pollution levels in its air and water to ensure the safety of its citizens. One-fifth of the nation's land area (1.95 sq km) and two marine areas are protected by environmental statutes. The government has also instituted a system of air pollution control facilities controlled by the Environmental Service. Citizens are encouraged to use public transportation to limit the amount of gas emissions. Similar techniques have been applied to the protection of Monaco's water supply. Noise levels from industry and transportation are also monitored to ensure safe levels. Monaco also has a sea-farming area which annually produces 800 tons of fish grown in clean water. Monaco is known for its activity in the field of marine sciences. The Oceanographic Museum, formerly directed by Jacques Cousteau, is renowned for its work and exhibits on marine life. According to a 2006 report issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), threatened species included 26 species of marine life. Threatened species included the great white shark, the blue shark, striped dolphin, albacore tuna, and swordfish. POPULATION The population of Monaco in 2005 was estimated by the United Nations (UN) at 33,000, which placed it at number 188 in population among the 193 nations of the world. In 2005, approximately 22% of the population was over 65 years of age, with another 13% of the population under 15 years of age. According to the UN, the annual population rate of change for 2005–10 was expected to be 0.6%, a rate the government viewed as satisfactory. The projected population for the year 2025 was 44,000. The population density was 16,988 per sq km (44,000 per sq mi), making Monaco the most densely populated nation in the world. The UN reported that 100% of the population lived in urban areas in 2005. Most of the people in Monaco are resident foreigners. MIGRATION There is a long waiting list for Monégasque citizenship. A 1992 law allows Monégasque women to confer citizenship on their children. In 2005, the net migration rate was an estimated 7.71 migrants per 1,000 population. In 2000, more than two-thirds of the residents were noncitizens. The government views the migration levels as satisfactory. ETHNIC GROUPS On the evidence of certain place names, the native Monégasques are said to be of Rhaetian stock; they make up only 16% of the population. The foreign residents are a highly cosmopolitan group: 47% are French; 16% are Italian; and various other groups comprise the remaining 21%. RELIGIONS About 90% of the population adheres to Roman Catholicism, which is the official state religion. Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the constitution. Monaco is also part of the diocese of Gibraltar of the Church of England . There are five Catholic churches and one cathedral in the principality, two Protestant churches, and one Jewish synagogue. Though there are a small number of Muslims, there are no mosques. TRANSPORTATION French national roads join Monaco to Nice toward the west, and to Menton and the Italian Riviera toward the east. In 2002 there were 50 km (31 mi) of roadways, all of them paved. There is frequent bus service. The principality itself is served by motorbuses and taxicabs. In 1995 there were 17,000 passenger cars and 4,000 commercial vehicles. The southeastern network of the French national railroad system serves Monaco with about 1.7 km (1 mi) of track. Express trains on the Paris-Marseille-Nice-Ventimiglia line pass through the principality. Monaco is only 10 km (6 mi) from the international airport at Nice and is connected with it by bus and by a helicopter shuttle service. In 2001 (the latest year for which data was available), 77,800 passengers were carried on domestic and international airline flights. The harbor provides access by sea. HISTORY The ruling family of Monaco, the house of Grimaldi, traces its ancestry to Otto Canella (c.1070–1143), who was consul of Genoa in 1133. The family name, Grimaldi, was adapted from the Christian name of Canella's youngest son, Grimaldo. The Genoese built a fort on the site of present-day Monaco in 1215, and the Grimaldi family secured control late in the 13th century. The principality was founded in 1338 by Charles I, during whose reign Menton and Roquebrune were acquired. Claudine became sovereign upon the death of her father, Catalan, in 1457. She ceded her rights to her husband and cousin, Lambert, during whose reign, in 1489, the duke of Savoy recognized the independence of Monaco. The first Monégasque coins were minted in the 16th century. Full recognition of the princely title was obtained by Honoré II in 1641. The last male in the Grimaldi line, Antoine I, died in 1731. His daughter Louise-Hippolyte in 1715 had married Jacques-François-Léonor de Goyon-Matignon, Count of Thorigny, who adopted the name Grimaldi and assumed the Monégasque throne. France annexed the principality in 1793, but independence was reestablished in 1814. The following year, the Treaty of Stupinigi placed Monaco under the protection of the neighboring kingdom of Sardinia . In 1848, the towns of Roquebrune and Menton, which constituted the eastern extremity of Monaco, successfully rebelled and established themselves as a republic. In 1861, a year after the Sardinian cession of Savoy and Nice to France, Roquebrune and Menton also became part of that nation. The economic development of Monaco proceeded rapidly with the opening of the railroad in 1868 and of the gambling casino. Since that time, the principality has become world famous as a tourist and recreation center. Gambling, operated by Société des Bains de Mer, a state controlled group, recorded a 30% increase in gambling receipts in 1998. Real estate and retail sales have also registered strong growth in recent years. As of 2005 Monaco has no unemployment and provides jobs for 25,000 Italian and French commuters. More than half of government revenues, however, come from value-added tax. The rate levied by France is also in effect in Monaco. France has the highest VAT in the European Union and has come under pressure to adjust its rate downward in conformity with the rest of the EU. However, Monaco is not an EU member. Light industry and banking have also become important. Monaco joined the United Nations on 28 May 1993. Monaco is the second-smallest independent state in the world, after the Holy See, and is almost entirely urban. Prince Rainier III, once married to the American actress Grace Kelly, led the country 1949–2005 and is often credited for the country's impressive economic growth. Tourism, banking and other types of financial services augment the economy's former dependence on gambling. Rainier died in early 2005 and in July 2005, Prince Albert II, son of Rainier and Kelly, assumed the throne. The event was somewhat overshadowed by his admission of having a 22-month-old illegitimate child. His illegitimate son will not be able to inherit the throne, although Prince Albert has acknowledged paternity and assumed his financial responsibilities. GOVERNMENT Monaco is a constitutional monarchy ruled, until 2002, by the hereditary princes of the Grimaldi line. Prior to constitutional changes made in 2002, if the reigning prince were to die without leaving a male heir, Monaco, according to treaty, would be incorporated into France. Because Prince Rainier III's son Albert was a 43-year-old bachelor in 2002, without male heirs, and his own health was failing, Rainier changed Monaco's constitution to allow one of his two daughters, Caroline or Stephanie, to inherit the throne and preserve the Grimaldi dynasty. On 7 January 1911, Monaco's first constitution was granted by Prince Albert I. On 29 January 1959, Prince Rainier III temporarily suspended part of the constitution because of a disagreement over the budget with the National Council (Conseil National), and decreed that the functions of that body were to be assumed temporarily by the Council of State (Conseil d'État). In February 1961, the National Council was restored and an economic advisory council established to assist it. A new constitution was promulgated on 17 December 1962. It provides for a unicameral National Council of 18 (now 24) members elected every five years (now 16 by majority vote and 8 by proportional representation); it shares legislative functions with the prince. Executive operations are conducted in the name of the prince by a minister of state (a French citizen) with the assistance of the Council of Government, consisting of three civil servants who are in charge of finances, public works, and internal affairs, respectively. All are appointed by the prince. Women were enfranchised for municipal elections in 1945, and participated in elections for the National Council for the first time in February 1963. Until 2003, suffrage was exercised only by trueborn Monégasques of 21 and over. Naturalized Monégasques were granted voting rights in 2003 and the voting age was reduced to 18. POLITICAL PARTIES Monaco does not have political parties as such, but candidates compete on the basis of various lists. Major political groups have been the National and Democratic Union (Union Nationale et Démocratique—UND), founded in 1962; Communist Action (Action Communale—AC); Évolution Communale (EC); and the Movement of Democratic Union (MUD). In the general election of February 1998, the UND took all 18 seats in the National Council. Elections held on 9 February 2003 were the first under a new electoral law establishing 24 seats in the National Council. A unified opposition list, the Union for Monaco, composed of the National Union for the Future of Monaco and the Rally for the Monégasque Family, took 58.5% of the vote and 21 seats, to the UND's 41.5% and 3 seats. The introduction of proportionality voting enabled the UND to obtain its seats. The next election was scheduled for 2008. LOCAL GOVERNMENT Municipal government is conducted by an elected council ( Conseil Communal) of 15 members, headed by a mayor. The council members are elected by universal suffrage for four-year terms, and the mayor is chosen by the Communal Council. The three communes that made up Monaco before 1917—Monaco-Ville, La Condamine, and Monte Carlo—each had its own mayor from 1911 to 1917. Since that date, they have formed a single commune, together with Fontvieille. Anne Marie Campora became mayor of Monte Carlo in 1991 succeeding Jean-Louis Médecin who had served as mayor since 1971. Georges Marsan was elected mayor of Monte Carlo in 2003. JUDICIAL SYSTEM A justice of the peace tries petty cases. Other courts are the court of first instance, the court of appeal, the court of revision, and the criminal court. The highest judicial authority is vested in the Supreme Court, established as part of the 1962 constitution, which interprets the constitution and sits as the highest court of appeals. It has five full members and two assistant members, named by the prince on the basis of nominations by the National Council and other government bodies. The Code Louis, promulgated by Prince Louis I (d.1701) and based on French legal codes, was formally adopted in 1919. Under the 1962 constitution the prince delegates his authority to the judiciary to render justice in his name. The legal guarantee of a fair and public trial for criminal defendants is respected in practice. Defendants have the right to counsel at public expense if necessary. The constitution provides for freedom of speech, although the penal code prohibits denunciations of the royal family. The constitution differentiates between the rights of nationals and those of noncitizens; of the estimated 32,000 residents in the principality, only about 7,000 are actual Monégasques. Monaco is a member of the United Nations and International Criminal Court. INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION Monaco joined the United Nations on 28 May 1993 and is a member of the ECE and several nonregional specialized agencies, such as the FAO, IAEA, ICAO, IMO, ITU, UNCTAD, UNESCO, WHO, and WIPO. Monaco is also a member of the Council of Europe and the OSCE. The headquarters of the International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB) is located in Monaco. A treaty providing in detail for mutual administrative assistance between France and Monaco became operative on 14 December 1954. Fiscal relations between the two countries are governed by a convention signed on 18 May 1963. France may station troops in Monaco and make use of Monaco's territorial waters. As a result of a customs union with France and French control of Monaco's foreign policy, the principality operates within the European Union. In environmental cooperation, Monaco is part of the Basel Convention; Conventions on Biological Diversity, Whaling, and Air Pollution; Ramsar; CITES; the London Convention; the Montréal Protocol; MARPOL; and the UN Conventions on the Law of the Sea, Climate Change, and Desertification. ECONOMY Monaco depends for its livelihood chiefly on income from tourism, real estate, financial services, and small, high value-added, nonpolluting industry. A substantial part of the principality's revenue from tourist sources comes from the operations of Sea-Bathing Co. (Société des Bains de Mer—SBM), in which the government holds a 69% interest. The SBM operates the gambling casino at Monte Carlo as well as four hotels, 19 restaurants, a cabaret, and the Thermos Margins spa. Its reported profits in 2002 were about $21 million, down from close to $30 million in 2001. The government also retains monopolies in telephone services, postal services and tobacco. A 22-hectare landfill project at Fontvielle increased Monaco's total land area. Land reclamation since Prince Rainier's accession to the throne in 1949 has increased Monaco's territory by 23%. The principality does not publish statistics on its economy and all estimates are rough. The government's annual income was estimated at $586 million for 1997, about 25% derived from tourism. Monaco also serves as a tax haven for foreign non-French residents. In 2000 the OECD published a list of "uncooperative tax havens" that included Monaco. Two years later, Monaco was still on the list, though 31 other jurisdictions had been removed by promising to take corrective actions. Estimate data put together by the United Nations Statistic Division shows that the economy of the principality has been expanding modestly. Similar to other countries in Europe, the GDP growth rate was 2.7% in 2001, falling to 1.9% and 1.4% in 2002 and 2003 respectively, and recuperating again in 2004, at 3%. Unemployment in 1998 was estimated to be around 3.1%. INCOME The US Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) reports that in 2005 Monaco's gross domestic product (GDP) was estimated at $870.0 million. The CIA defines GDP as the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year and computed on the basis of purchasing power parity (PPP) rather than value as measured on the basis of the rate of exchange based on current dollars. The per capita GDP was estimated at $27,000. The annual growth rate of GDP was estimated at 0.9%. The average inflation rate in 2000 was 1.9%. It was estimated that agriculture accounted for 17% of GDP. LABOR There is virtually no unemployment in Monaco, as the Prince guarantees all his subjects lifetime employment. The major employer of the working population is the SBM; others work in industry or in service establishments. As of January 1994 (the latest year for which data was available), the labor force totaled 30,540, of which 4,000 worked in the industrial sector, 2,200 in construction, and 1,500 in the financial sector. Owners and workers are each grouped in syndicates. Less than 10% of the workforce in 2005 was unionized. However, most of these union workers commute from outside the principality. About two-thirds of all employees commute from France and Italy. Unions operate independently of the government and political parties. The rights to strike, organize, and bargain collectively are protected by law, although public government workers may not strike. Labor disruptions are infrequent. The minimum working age is 16, although special restrictions apply until the age of 18. Employers who violate the minimum age laws can be criminally prosecuted. The standard workweek is 39 hours. The minimum wage is the French minimum plus an additional 5% to adjust for travel costs for commuters. In 2005, this wage was equivalent to $9.60 per hour. This provides a family with a decent standard of living, and most workers earn more than the minimum. Health and safety standards are rigorously enforced. INDUSTRY The tourist industry dominates Monaco's economic life, but smallscale industries produce a variety of items for domestic use and for export, contributing 11.6% of business turnover in the mid-1990s. Most industrial plants are located on Fontvieille. About 700 small businesses make pottery and glass objects, paper and cards, jewelry, perfumes, dolls, precision instruments, plastics, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, machine tools, watches, leather items, and radio parts. There are flour mills, dairies, and chocolate and candy plants, as well as textile mills and a small shipyard. The chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics industries consisted of 23 companies with 1,000 employees that generated approximately 45% of the total industrial turnover in the 1990s. Due to territorial constraints, Monaco's industries are forced to expand their facilities upward; some industrial buildings rise as high as 13 stories. A new construction project begun in 2001 was extending the pier used by cruise ships in the main harbor. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Marine sciences have been the focus of scientific inquiry in the principality for several decades. Prince Albert (1848–1922), who reigned in Monaco during the early 1900s, was well-known internationally for his work as an oceanographer, and he inaugurated the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco at Monaco-Ville in 1910. His interest led to the establishment of a focus on oceanography for scientific pursuits in Monaco. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, a famous oceanographer and activist, was involved with Monaco's activities in marine life research. In March 1961, in its first research agreement concluded with a member government, the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the government of Monaco and the Oceanographic Institute in Monaco, undertook to research the effects of radioactivity in the sea. The Oceanographic Institute put at the disposal of the project a number of valuable facilities, including marine-biology laboratories, oceanographic vessels, specialized fishing equipment, and a wide variety of electronic and monitoring equipment. The Scientific Center of Monaco, founded in 1960 at Monte Carlo, conducts pure and applied research in oceanology and the environment. The Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology, founded in 1902 at Monte Carlo, is concerned with prehistory and quaternary geology. DOMESTIC TRADE Domestic trade practices are similar to those in other towns along the French Riviera. Specialty shops deal primarily in tourist souvenirs. The SBM controls most of the amusement facilities and owns most major hotels, sporting clubs, workshops, a printing press, and various retail shops. In the mid-1990s, commerce represented 21% of the economic turnover in Monaco. There is no personal income tax. Business taxes are low, but still account for about 50% of government income. Tourism and related services account for about 25% of revenues. Advertising media include magazines, billboards, and motion pictures. General business hours are from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 2 to 6 pm, Monday–Friday. Banking hours are 9 am to 12 noon and 2 to 4 pm, Monday–Friday. FOREIGN TRADE Statistical information is not available. Foreign trade is included in the statistics for France, with which Monaco has a customs union. France also collects the Monegasque trade duties, and serves as the principality's link to the EU market. In 2003, the US Department of State estimated that Monaco's exports totaled $644 million, while its imports reached $513 million. BALANCE OF PAYMENTS The economy is driven by such foreign currency-earning activities as banking and tourism. Since separate records are not kept of Monaco's foreign trade transactions, payment statistics are not available. The United Nations Statistics Division has looked at the data available in France, and came up with some estimates of the exports and imports of goods and services in Monaco. Thus, exports totaled $299 million in 2004, up from $257 million in 2003 and $219 million in 2002. Imports grew from $205 million in 2002, to $246 million in 2003, and $296 million in 2004. Consequently, Monaco has, year to year, managed to keep a positive, although fragile, resource balance. In 2000, it was estimated that the country's external debt was $18 billion—an impressive figure when compared to the size of the principality. BANKING AND SECURITIES Foreign currency circulates within Monaco under the supervision of the French government. The most important local bank is Crédit Foncier de Monaco, founded in 1922. As of 1994, there were 45 banks operating in Monaco. In 1999, an Monaco's banking industry had approximately 310,000 accounts and employed 1,700 people. The vast majority of customers were nonresidents. Total assets in 1998 were estimated at a little over $44 billion. There is no securities exchange. INSURANCE Branches of French insurance companies provide life, fire, accident, and other forms of insurance. They include: CGRM-Compagnie Générale de Réassurance de Monte Carlo; Concorde; Mutuelle de Marseille Assurances Compagnie Générale de Réassurance; and the Shipowners' Mutual Strike Insurance Association (Bermuda)—all located in Monte Carlo. TAXATION There are no personal income taxes. Indirect taxes include the following: a value-added tax of 19.6% (as of 2005); a service tax on compensation received by Monégasque firms for services rendered in Monaco and France; excise taxes on alcoholic beverages; registration fees; and warranty duties on gold, platinum, and silver jewelry. Monaco is treated as part of France for VAT purposes. There is a tax of up to 33.3% on the profits of businesses that obtain more than 25% of their gross profits from operations outside Monaco. Corporations whose income is derived from royalties, licenses, trademarks, or other industrial or artistic property rights are subject to this tax, whether or not the income arises outside Monaco. Qualifying new companies may be assessed at reduced rates. There are no inheritance or gift taxes between spouses or between parents and children. Between brothers and sisters, the rate is 8%; between uncles or aunts and nephews or nieces, 10%; between other relatives, 13%; and between unrelated persons, 16%. CUSTOMS AND DUTIES By treaty, France and Monaco form a customs union that treats the Monaco coast as part of France. The French customs service collects the duties on cargoes discharged in Monaco and pays a share to the principality. Monaco imposes a duty on all exports to places other than France; the levy applies whether the transfer of goods is actual or fictitious. FOREIGN INVESTMENT Monaco permits foreign businesses to establish their headquarters in its territory; ownership and management must be made a matter of public record. Although both corporations and limited partnerships with shares are allowed, in fact only corporations are in existence. Two persons may form a corporation; the minimum capital must be fully subscribed and at least one-fourth paid up front. Foreign companies may establish subsidiaries in Monaco. Low taxes on company profits are a considerable incentive for locating in Monaco. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT The government strenuously promotes Monaco as a tourist and convention attraction. A government-financed International Convention Center offers large conference rooms, projection equipment, television and radio recording studios, telex communications, and simultaneous translation into five languages. Two major development and reclamation projects were undertaken under Prince Rainier. These are the major landfill and reclamation project at Fontvieille, and the Monte Carlo Bord de Mer. At Fontvieille, the government financed the reclamation of 220,000 sq m (2,368,000 sq ft) of inundated shore, creating a "platform" for residential construction and new port facilities. The Monte Carlo seashore scheme, also government-financed, involved the relocation of railroad tracks underground in order to create a man-made beach, with a boardwalk and other tourist attractions. The beach lies between two other land reclamation projects: the Larvotto, a sports complex financed by SBM, and the Portier, an entertainment complex developed by the government. Near the Larvotto the government has reserved a zone for the construction of residential and tourist accommodations. In the 1980s, Monaco concentrated on the development of business tourism, with the construction of the Monte Carlo Convention Center and the International Conference Center. SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT The social insurance system provides old age, survivorship and disability pensions. It is funded through employee and employer contributions. Sickness and maternity benefits are available to all employed persons with a special program for the self-employed. Workers and their dependents are reimbursed for medical expenses including primary and specialized care, pharmaceuticals, hospitalization, transportation, dental care and appliances. Employers are required to provide workers' compensation through private insurance plans. Unemployment benefits are provided through the French system. There is also a family allowance, a prenatal allowance and an education grant. Women have become increasingly visible in public life, and are well represented in the professions. Equal pay for equal work is prevalent, although women are underrepresented in business. Reports of violence against women are rare, and domestic abuse is a criminal offense. Human rights are respected in Monaco. HEALTH In 2004, Monaco had the third most physicians per capita in the world. There were an estimated 586 physicians per 100,000 people in the country, as well as 1,430 nurses, 107 dentists, and 192 pharmacists per 100,000 people. The entire population has access to safe water and sanitation. As of 2002, the crude birth rate and overall mortality rate were estimated at, respectively, 9.6 and 12.9 per 1,000 people. In 2005, the infant mortality rate was estimated at 5.43 per 1,000 live births. Life expectancy for that year was 79.57. The immunization rates for children under one year of age were as follows: diphtheria, tetanus, and whooping cough, 99%; polio, 99%; measles, 98%; and tuberculosis, 90%. AIDS cases, although present, are not considered a major problem. HOUSING In 2000, there were about 18,396 housing units in the nation. About 31% of the housing stock was built 1915–61; another 26% was built 1968–81. About 21% of the housing stock was built 1982–2000. About 25% of all dwellings are owner occupied. In recent years, the government has stressed the construction of luxury housing. All new construction or alteration of existing buildings requires government approval. EDUCATION Education is offered in Monaco from the preschool to the secondary and technical levels and is compulsory from age 6 to 16. There are five years of primary school and seven years of secondary school. Attendance is 90%, and virtually all adults are literate. In 2003, approximately 5.1% of total government expenditure was allocated to education. In 2001, there were about 2,000 students enrolled in primary schools and 3,000 enrolled in secondary schools. The pupil-teacher ratio at the primary level was estimated at 15 to 1 in 2000; the ratio for secondary school was 8 to 1. In 2003, private schools accounted for about 30% of primary school enrollment and 24.7% of secondary enrollment. The University of Southern Europe was renamed the International University of Monaco in 2002. The university offers degrees in business and business administration. Students may travel abroad for higher education. The adult literacy rate has been estimated at about 99%. In 2003, public expenditure on education was estimated 5.1% of total government expenditures. LIBRARIES AND MUSEUMS The palace archives include the private collections of the princes of Monaco, as well as a collection of money minted since 1640. The Louis Notari Library in Monaco (1909) has a collection of over 285,000 volumes. There is a Princess Grace Irish Library in Monaco featuring 1,500 pieces of Irish folk music and personal papers of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier. The Oceanographic Museum in Monaco-Ville, founded in 1910 by Prince Albert I and previously directed by the noted Jacques-Yves Cousteau, contains a library of 50,000 volumes, an aquarium, and displays of rare marine specimens. In addition to the museum, the Oceanographic Institute conducts research in various marine areas, including the effects of radiation on the sea and its life forms. The Exotic Gardens include thousands of varieties of cacti and tropical plants. The National Museum in Monte Carlo was established 1972. There is a Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology in Monte Carlo and a Wax Museum of the Princes of Monaco. There is a Napoleonic Museum in Monaco-Ville. The Museum of Stamps and Coins opened in 1996 to display the private collection of Prince Rainier. MEDIA Postal and telegraphic services are operated by France, but Monaco issues its own postage stamps. Local telephone service is controlled by Monaco, while France is responsible for international service. In 2002, there were 33,700 mainline phones and 19,300 mobile phones in use nationwide. Radio Monte Carlo and Télé Monte Carlo provide radio and television services and have had broadcast programs since 1954. Radio Monte Carlo's home service is broadcast in French. The system also provides overseas service in 12 foreign languages and is majority owner of the Cyprus-based Radio Monte Carlo relay station, a privately funded religious broadcasting service in 35 languages under the name Trans World Radio. As of 1999, Monaco had 3 AM and 4 FM radio stations and 5 television stations. In 1997, there were 34,000 radios and 25,000 television sets throughout the country. In 2002, there were 16,000 Internet users in the country. Two dailies in Nice, Nice-Matin and L'Espoir, publish special editions for Monaco. International publications are readily available. The Journal de Monaco, an official publication, appears once a week, and the Tribune de Monaco is published biweekly. Freedom of expression is legally guaranteed. However, there is a Penal Code prohibition on public denunciations of the ruling family. Otherwise, the government is said to uphold free speech and a free press. ORGANIZATIONS Monaco is the seat of the International Academy of Tourism, which was founded in 1951 by Prince Rainier III. The academy publishes a quarterly, Revue Technique du Tourisme, and, in several languages, an international dictionary of tourism. The International Hydrographic Bureau, which sponsors international conferences in its field, has its headquarters in Monaco. The following international organizations also have their headquarters in Monaco: International Commission for Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean Sea, International Center for Studies of Human Problems, and the International Commission for Legal-Medical Problems. National youth organizations include the Association of Scouts and Guides of Monaco, the Princess Stephanie Youth Center, and Catholic Youth of Monaco. There are several sports associations in Monaco; the country is home to the International Association of Athletics Federations. Other organizations include the Monégasque Red Cross, Caritas, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, the Society of Monégasque Traditions, the Commission for the Monégasque language (established 1985), and the Union of French Interests. TOURISM, TRAVEL, AND RECREATION Monaco has been famous for attracting wealth and titled tourists since its gambling casino was established at Monte Carlo in 1856. In 2005, gambling accounted for almost 25% of the annual revenue. Among the many attractions are the Louis II Stadium, the many museums and gardens, and the beach. The Monte Carlo opera house was the site of many world premiere performances, including Massenet's Le Jongleur de Notre Dame (1902) and Don Quichotte (1910), Fauré's Pénélope (1913), and Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges (1925). It was also the home of Serge Diaghilev's Russian Ballet (founded in 1911), later known as the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The principality has excellent sports facilities. The Monte Carlo Rally, a world-famous driving championship, ends with a finish line in Monaco. No restriction is placed on the entrance of French nationals into Monaco. A valid passport is required for citizens of other countries who visit. Visas are not required for tourist/business stays of up to 90 days. About 235,000 visitors arrived in Monaco in 2003, about 25% of whom came from Italy. Hotel rooms numbered 2,191 in 2002 with an occupancy rate of 63%. The average length of stay that year was three nights. In 2005, the US Department of State estimated the cost of staying in Monaco at $247 per day. FAMOUS MONEGASQUES Prince Albert (1848–1922), who reigned from 1889 to 1922, was famous as an oceanographer. In 1956, his great-grandson Rainier III (1923–2005), reigning monarch from 1949–2005, married Grace Patricia Kelly (1929–82), a US motion picture actress, whose death on 14 September 1982 following an automobile accident was mourned throughout Monaco. Their son, Prince Albert (b.1958) became Prince Albert II upon his father's death; Princess Caroline (b.1957) and Princess Stéphanie (b.1965) are the daughters of Rainier III and Grace. COUNTRY OVERVIEW LOCATION AND SIZE. Monaco, a small independent hereditary principality in Western Europe, is located on the Mediterranean Sea along the southern coast of France , which is also known as the French Riviera or Côte d'Azur. Monaco is 18 kilometers (11 miles) east of the French city of Nice, near the border with Italy. The second smallest independent state in the world (after Vatican City), and almost entirely urban, it forms an enclave in southeastern France, surrounded on the north, east, and west by the French département (administrative division, or region) of Alpes-Maritimes. The country is only 1.95 square kilometers (0.75 square miles) in area, or about 3 times the size of the Mall in Washington, D.C. The terrain is hilly, rugged, and rocky, but very highly urbanized. The principality, a famous maritime resort, is composed of 4 quartiers (quarters): Monaco-Ville, the capital (an ancient fortified town located on a rocky promontory extending into the Mediterranean); La Condamine (the section along the port); Monte Carlo (the principal residential and resort area); and Fontvieille (a newly constructed industrial park reclaimed from the sea). The name "Monaco," derived from the ancient Greek Monoikos (meaning "of the old town"), is usually associated with the mythical hero, Hercules. POPULATION. The population of Monaco was estimated at 31,693 in July 2000, with an average growth rate of 0.48 percent in the same year. The 2000 birth rate was estimated at 9.94 births per 1,000 population, the death rate at 13.06 deaths per 1,000 population, and the net migration rate was approximately 7.89 immigrants per 1,000 population. With high life expectancy at birth, the Monegasque population is among the oldest populations in the world. The average life expectancy was 74.88 for men and 83 for women in 2000, indicating an overall life expectancy of 78.84. The total fertility rate in 2000 was 1.76 children born per woman. Approximately 15 percent of the population is younger than 15 years of age and 23 percent is age 65 or older. Monaco has also one of the highest population densities in the world, at 16,428 persons per square kilometer (42,549 per square mile). Monegasques represented a mere 16 percent of the population in 2000. Other ethnic groups include the French (47 percent), Italian (16 percent), and other nationalities (21 percent). French is the official language; English, Italian, and Monegasque (a blend of French and Italian) are also widely spoken. The traditional Monegasque language is used by the older people and is taught in the schools. The economy of Monaco offers more than 30,000 jobs. Immigrant labor, especially from France and Italy, is heavily relied upon because the number of jobs available outnumbers the number of citizens in the labor force . Many affluent Americans, as well as French, Britons, Swiss, Belgians, and other Europeans, live in the principality. The prevailing religion is Roman Catholicism, accounting for 95 percent of the population. Roman Catholicism also is the official religion, though freedom of religion is guaranteed by the constitution. Education is free and compulsory for children ages 6 to 16. OVERVIEW OF ECONOMY Renowned as a tax haven for the rich, Monaco is thought to have one of the most affluent and liberal economies in the world, though the government does not publish economic figures or other relevant statistics. A tiny territory with few natural resources—in some places stretching no more than 180 meters (600 feet) inland from the Mediterranean—the Monegasque economy is primarily geared toward tourism, modern manufacturing, finance, and commerce. From the end of the 19th century, the government of Monaco has very actively encouraged economic growth and provided the framework for the development of private enterprise. It has successfully sought to diversify into services and small, high value-added , nonpolluting industries. Low corporate taxes (and no personal income or other direct taxes ) have drawn many foreign "letter box" companies, which operate overseas but have established their head offices nominally in Monaco because of the more favorable tax treatment. These types of companies account for about 50 percent of the $586 million annual government revenue in 1997. The residential real estate market also provides some considerable income for the principality; many wealthy aliens are actively pursuing Monegasque permanent residence and/or citizenship for tax purposes and are in constant need of local property for that matter. Similarly, tourism accounts for close to 25 percent of the principality's annual income, and Monaco has been a major tourist center ever since its famed gambling casino was established in 1856. The tourist industry is still considered the economic foundation of the state. The sale of picturesque postage stamps and tobacco, the banking and insurance sectors, and the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, chemicals, electronic equipment, cosmetics, paper, textiles, and plastic goods are also of economic importance. Customs, postal services, telecommunications, and banking in Monaco are governed by the economic, monetary, and customs union with France and European Union (EU) rules. Although not an EU member, Monaco is closely associated with the economic structures of the EU. Some 1999 estimates placed the per capita gross domestic product ( GDP ) at about US$27,000, one of the highest in the world. The total turnover of the principality rose from the estimated 3.25 billion French francs in 1975 to 21.3 billion in 1988, 25.4 billion in 1989, 29 billion in 1990, 31 billion in 1991, 32.4 billion in 1992, and 33.2 billion in 1993. POLITICS, GOVERNMENT, AND TAXATION Monaco has been governed as a constitutional monarchy since 1911, with the hereditary prince (presently, Prince Rainier III) as the head of state. Unlike other European monarchies, the Monegasque sovereign is the actual, and not symbolic, head of state. In the constitution of 1962, it is clearly stated that the executive power is responsible to the supreme authority of the reigning prince. The succession to the throne passes to the direct descendants of the prince under the principle of primogeniture (inheritance of the first born), with male descendants taking precedence over female descendants of the same degree of kin. The sovereign represents Monaco in its relations with foreign powers and signs and ratifies treaties. In 1956, Rainier III married American film star Grace Kelly, who died in a car crash in 1982. They have 2 daughters and a son, who is the heir apparent to the throne. The executive branch consists of a minister of state (head of government, presently Michel Leveque), who presides over a 4-member cabinet, the Council of Government. The minister is primarily responsible for foreign relations and is traditionally a French citizen appointed by the prince for a 3-year term from among several candidates proposed by the French government. As the prince's representative, the minister also directs the executive services, commands the police, and presides (with voting powers) over the Council of Government. The 3 other members of the Council are locals, responsible for financial and economic affairs, internal affairs, and public works and social affairs, respectively. Monaco is a parliamentary monarchy ruled according to its 1962 constitution, which stipulates that the hereditary prince shares his power with the unicameral National Council. There are 18 members of this legislative body, elected by universal suffrage (by citizens over age 21) for 5-year terms. They usually meet twice annually to vote on the budget and endorse laws proposed by the prince. If the prince dissolves the National Council, new elections must be held within 3 months. Ordinances passed by the National Council are debated in the Council of Government, as are the ministerial decrees signed by the Minister of State. Once approved by the Council, the ordinances are submitted to the prince within 80 days for his approval. Once approved, the ordinances become legally valid. If no opposition is voiced on his behalf within 10 days of receipt, they become enforceable. Legal power is also vested in the monarch, who delegates all legal procedures to the courts dispensing justice in his name. The independence of the judges, however, is guaranteed by the 1962 constitution. Monaco's legal system is closely related to the French system and is designed after the French Napoleonic Code. Local affairs—the administration of the 4 quarters—are directed by the Communal Council, which consists of 15 elected members and is presided over by a mayor. Monaco has its own local political groups that are not a part of the French political system and include the National and Democratic Union (UND), the Campora List, and the Medecin List. The most crucial political issue in Monaco is, understandably, its bilateral relation with France. The geographical situation of Monaco as an enclave within France justifies the traditional customs and monetary union between the 2 countries, which dates back to 1861. Two major treaties in 1918 and 1919 established a reciprocal contractual basis for the relations between the 2 independent states (France recognized Monaco as a sovereign entity and undertook to build its relations on an equal footing with a limited protection over the principality). Under these arrangements, France is obligated to defend the independence and sovereignty of the principality and the integrity of Monegasque territory. In return, the government of Monaco is obligated to exercise its rights only in conformity with French interests. New bilateral agreements were signed in 1945, 1951, and 1963 with the aim of amending the earlier provisions in order to adapt them to the new economic and social conditions. Further changes and amendments arose from the development of European integration and the decision made by France in 1999 to adopt the single European currency, the euro. Although small in size, Monaco actively participates in the United Nations (UN), which it joined in 1993, and maintains a permanent mission to the UN in New York . Monaco also is a member of many other international and intergovernmental organizations. The International Hydrographic Bureau (IHB) is headquartered in the principality. The country has 10 diplomatic missions in Europe and maintains honorary consulates in 106 cities in 45 countries. Sixty-one countries have consulates general, consulates, or honorary consulates in or accredited to Monaco. The government's role in the economy has been traditionally one of active promotion of private enterprise and creating the necessary infrastructure for development. The state and the ruling Grimaldi family personally own considerable real estate assets and equity in the economy. Monaco's tax policies concerning its citizens are among the most liberal ones in the world, as there is no direct taxation for local residents. In 1869, land tax, personal and goods taxes, and the business tax were abolished. Since that time, Monegasque citizens or foreigners residing in the principality have not been subject to any tax on their personal income, whatever its origin. For French citizens moving to the principality after 1962, an exception was introduced in 1963 under pressure from the French government. Under the new arrangement, French nationals who moved their residence to Monaco, or who could not prove 5 years of residence in Monaco before October 1962, were subject to French taxes under the same conditions as if they had their residence in France. Since 1963, companies of any type are required to pay a corporate tax rate of 33.33 percent on profits when at least 25 percent of their turnover comes from operations outside Monegasque territory. A value-added tax (VAT) of 5.5 percent and a real estate added value tax of 20.6 percent were also introduced, along with some special arrangements concerning banking and financial activities and indirect taxes . INFRASTRUCTURE, POWER, AND COMMUNICATIONS Monaco, as a small, highly urbanized enclave in the French territory, is part of the well-developed French infrastructure. Electricity is provided almost entirely by France. There are 1.7 kilometers (1.1 miles) of railroads Communications aData is for 1997 unless otherwise noted. bData is for 1998 unless otherwise noted. cData is for 2000 unless otherwise noted. SOURCE: CIA World Factbook 2001 [Online]. and 50 kilometers (31 miles) of paved roads, including the highway and railroad connecting southern France with Italy along the Mediterranean. There are 2 ports, including a busy merchant harbor and several tourist marinas, although the principality has no merchant fleet of its own. There is also a helicopter shuttle line between the heliport at Fontvieille and the nearby international airport in Nice, France. Telecommunications are incorporated within the French telephone system, and there were 9 radio stations and 5 television stations in 1997, while 4 Internet service providers were offering customers their services in 1999. The access to cellular phones and to the Internet was similar in numbers and quality of service to that of French urban areas. The cable television services were comparable to the highest western European standards. ECONOMIC SECTORS The backbone of the Monegasque economy is formed by high-end tourism and the services related to it, construction and the real estate market, small-scale industrial and consumer products manufacturing (chemicals, food products, plastics, precision instruments, cosmetics, and ceramics), and international trade. Of the 32,691 employed, as estimated in 1999, the private sector was responsible for 29,311 and the public sector for 3,380. Approximately 46 percent of the labor force was in services (other than tourism), 7 percent in banking, 17 percent in tourism and hotels, 12 percent in retail , 7 percent in construction and public works, and 11 percent in industry. No official data as to the distribution of GDP were available. AGRICULTURE There are no arable lands or other agriculturally suited areas in the principality; virtually 100 percent of the Monaco territory is heavily urbanized. Accordingly, there is no commercial agriculture in the country. All foods are imported and some of them are further processed and exported. INDUSTRY Industrial activity, often little known in Monaco, is an area that has undergone considerable development over the past century. From 1906, when the state financed the construction of the first industrial platform in Fontvieille, industrial firms such as the Monaco Brewery and companies involved in flour milling and the manufacture of chocolate began to develop. Currently, the chemical-pharmaceutical-cosmetics manufacturing sector appears to be the most widespread, but companies working in the areas of plastic materials processing and the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment are also present. Other sectors, while not on the same scale as these, are the manufactures of mechanical engineering, packaging, printing, and clothing. Since 1980, nearly 1,859 square meters (20,000 square feet) of new industrial floor-space has been built, mostly on areas reclaimed from the sea. The lack of space has led to the establishment of industrial premises in buildings that rise up to 13 floors. The government of the principality has adopted an industrial policy that operates in favor of the institution of enterprises having a high capital gain factor but that do not create any pollution. Industrial activity occupies about 4,000 members of the workforce. In 1993, they represented approximately 11.6 percent (excluding the construction and public works industry) of the total revenue in the principality. SERVICES The service sector has undergone spectacular growth in recent decades. It produced 49.1 percent of the total revenue of the country in 1993 and included banking, insurance, consulting agencies (technical, commercial, and financial), auxiliary services, and commercial middlemen. Banking and financial activities and business services, including those associated with the establishment of head offices and offices of non-financial companies of international size, are growing in importance in Monaco. The retail sector includes small, privately held stores, luxury boutiques, and international retail chains. Retail contributed approximately 21 percent to the principality's total revenue in 1993. The banking and retail sectors are closely integrated with the French economy through the monetary union between the 2 countries and the local branches of large French and international banks, insurance firms, and stock markets. Despite the increased competition resulting from the liberalization of financial services in the EU, the introduction of the single currency, and the revolution in information technology, the economic relationship between France and Monaco remains strong. Real estate activity plays a very important role in the economy, justifying the principality's extensive research and decision-making process in the field of city planning. TOURISM. Monaco is a popular world luxury resort, attracting affluent tourists to its casino, rich cultural schedule, and pleasant climate. Situated in the heart of the Riviera—the narrow coastal strip extending along the Mediterranean from Hyeres, France, to La Spezia, Italy— it benefits from the proximity of the renowned French resorts of Saint Tropez, Antibes, Cannes , Nice, and Menton. The latter 2 cities are connected by 3 scenic highways, which run through or near the Monaco territory and its chief tourist quarter of Monte Carlo along the sheer cliffs of the Maritime Alps. Both private and business tourism are thriving in the principality, and there are about 2,500 hotel rooms, most of which are in the 4-star category or higher. In 1993, 601,111 rooms were occupied overnight, resulting in an average annual occupation rate of 48.3 percent. For several years, the government has been making considerable efforts to attract more business tourists in order to increase hotel occupation, since occupation by the private clientele is essentially seasonal. Among the points of interest in Monaco are a cathedral, a palace in the medieval and Renaissance styles, and a world-renowned oceanographic museum established in 1910. A major source of revenue is the famous gambling casino. The Monte Carlo Opera and Philharmonic Orchestra offer ballet and music events, and the museums, spas, beaches, flower gardens, marinas, fine dining spots, luxury boutiques, and vistas all contribute to the attractions of the principality. The Monaco Grand Prix and the Rally Monte Carlo are popular annual automobile-racing events. The Societe des Bains de Mer, a company partly owned by the government, operates the casino and most of the hotels, clubs, beaches, and other places of entertainment. There are also notable foreign direct investments in the Monaco tourist industry. INTERNATIONAL TRADE Monaco is a hub of international commerce, importing and exporting products and services from all over the world. It is in full customs integration with France, which collects and rebates Monegasque trade duties . Monaco participates in the EU market system through France. No recent trade statistics for the principality have been made available. MONEY As an integral part of the French monetary and banking system, the country has a balanced budget with revenues of US$518 million and expenditures of US$531 million, including capital expenditures (1995 est.). Recent exchange rates for the euro per US$1 are 1.1 (February 2001), 1.20 (November 2000), 0.99 (January 2000), and 0.94 (1999). French francs (F) were exchanged at a rate of F7.22 (August 1999), 6.16 (1999 average), 5.65 (January 1999), 5.8995 (1998), 5.8367 (1997), 5.1155 (1996), and 4.9915 (1995) per US$1. POVERTY AND WEALTH Living standards in Monaco are high, comparable to those in the most prosperous French urban areas. Since one of the principality's priorities is to attract wealthy individuals from all over the world to acquire real estate and live and spend in the country, the government constantly uses its economic advantages to improve the quality of life and to combine work and leisure. Indeed, many of the world's rich buy property in Monaco to take advantage of Monaco's tax regime, although they seldom abide by the legal requirement to live 6 months of every year in the country, and often hire locals to maintain their Exchange rates: Monaco 32,000 Note: Data are estimates. SOURCE: Handbook of the Nations, 17th,18th, 19th and 20theditions for 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999 data; CIA World Factbook 2001 [Online] for 2000 data. property instead. There are many large local private fortunes in the principality as well and extreme poverty is virtually non-existent. The number of jobs in the country (32,691 in 1999; 29,311 in the private sector) outnumbers its total population (31,693 in 2000), and the majority of the workers, particularly in the lower-paying jobs, commute daily from neighboring France and Italy. Their scale of pay and benefits are commensurable with the ones in France, and the French workforce is reckoned to be among the most privileged in the world. WORKING CONDITIONS Economic prosperity and the proportionally large number of jobs available, along with the government's sensitivity to safety and environmental protection, create favorable working conditions in the principality. The unemployment rate, compared to French and EU standards, is very low at 3.1 percent in 1998. No major labor unrest has been reported recently. COUNTRY HISTORY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 1215. Monaco is founded as a colony of the Italian trade and seafaring city, Genoa . 1297. The Grimmaldi family of Genoa and their supporters establish their rule over Monaco. A thriving economy based on trade develops. 1489. King Charles VIII of France recognizes the independence of Monaco. 1789-1814. During the French Revolution , Monaco is attached to the territory of the French Republic under the name of Fort Hercules. It becomes the chief town of the canton of Alpes-Maritimes. 1815. Monaco is made a protectorate of the Italian Kingdom of Sardinia . 1861. Monaco's sovereignty is recognized by a Franco-Monegasque Treaty. 1863. The Seabath Company is founded, which establishes a casino and several hotels in the quarter of the Spelugues, known as Monte-Carlo since 1866. Economic development is boosted in the late 19th century with a railroad link to France. 1911. Absolute monarchy gives way to the first constitution. 1918. A new treaty with France provides for limited French protection over Monaco. New agreements with France are signed in 1945, 1951, and 1963. 1962. Adoption of the current, more liberal constitution. 1993. Monaco joins the United Nations. 1999. Monaco and France both join the Euro Monetary Zone (EMZ). FUTURE TRENDS The Monegasque economy is closely related to that of the French, and therefore is dependent on the development trends of the EU. The liberalization of commerce, financial, and other services in the EU, the introduction of the single European currency, and the revolution in information technology will gradually increase competition, but the increasing wealth and dynamism of the EU economies will also boost demand for Monaco's unique services. Due to its size, the country is limited in its opportunities for extensive growth, but its strong ties to high-class tourism, services, and modern technology make it unlikely to endure any major negative changes in the near future. It is likely that the principality will preserve its sound economy, particularly in the areas of tourism, services, commerce, and modern manufacturing. The maintenance of its high living standards will continue to attract foreign companies, investment, and affluent tourists and residents in the foreseeable future. DEPENDENCIES Monaco has no territories or colonies. BIBLIOGRAPHY Global Investment Business Center, Inc. Monaco: A Country Study Guide. USA International Business Publications, February 2000. U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. World Factbook 2000. <http://www.odci.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html>. Accessed January 2001. U.S. Department of State. Background Notes: Europe: Monaco. <http://www.state.gov/www/background_notes/eurbgnhp.html> . Accessed January 2001. —Valentin Hadjiyski Monaco-Ville. MONETARY UNIT: French franc (F). One French franc equals 100 centimes. The franc comes in bank notes of 20, 50, 100, 200, and 500-franc denominations. There are coins of 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 francs and 5, 10, 20, and 50 centimes. Monegasque coins, having the same value as the French coins, are also minted and circulated. Monaco is scheduled to switch to the new European currency, the euro, in January 2002. CHIEF EXPORTS: Cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, glassware, precision instruments, fine processed foods, cards and postal stamps, and various re-exported commodities (estimate, no official statistics are published). CHIEF IMPORTS: Energy, automobiles, equipment, and consumer goods (estimate, no official statistics are published). GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: US$870 million (1999 est., no official statistics are published). BALANCE OF TRADE: Exports: US$415,272 (1999 est.). Imports: US$415,272 (1999 est.). [Estimate by Monegasque government sources; no official statistics are published.] Cite this article Official name: Principality of Monaco Area: 1.9 square kilometers (0.7 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Mont Agel (140 meters/459 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern Time zone: 1 p.m. = noon GMT Longest distances: 3.18 kilometers (1.98 miles) from east to west; 1.10 kilometers (0.68 miles) from north to south Land boundaries: 4.4 kilometers (2.7 miles) total boundary length, all with France Coastline: 4.1 kilometers (2.5 miles) Territorial sea limits: 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE An enclave lying entirely within the French department of Alpes-Mari-times, Monaco is the world's second-smallest country; only the Vatican is smaller. The entire principality occupies about three times the area of the Mall in Washington, D.C. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES Monaco has no territories or dependencies. 3 CLIMATE Monaco's winters are mild, with temperatures rarely falling below freezing; January's average temperature is 8°C (46°F). The summer heat is comfortable because of the cooling breezes from the bordering Mediterranean Sea . The average high temperature in July and August is 26°C (79°F). Sea breezes moderate the summer heat. Monaco has a sunny climate, with only about sixty days of rain per year. On average, the sun shines for seven hours a day. Rainfall averages about 77 centimeters (30 inches) per year. 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS There is little geographic variation in this tiny country, but it is often divided into four regions based on economic activities: Monte Carlo is the northern entertainment district, site of the famous casino. La Condamine is the business district on the western side of the country's central bay. South of the bay, Monaco-Ville, the historic old city and site of the principality's lavish palace, is situated on a rocky projection about 60 meters (200 feet) above sea level. Fontvieille to the southwest is an industrial and port area that was developed on reclaimed land. 5 OCEANS AND SEAS The Mediterranean Sea lies to the east and south of Monaco. Coastal Features Monaco's coastline contains several cliffs as well as the Monte Carlo and Larvotto beaches in Monte Carlo. The Port of Monaco is located off the central coast, and the Port of Fontvieille is in the south; the two ports are separated by the small peninsula on which Monaco-Ville is located. 6 INLAND LAKES There are no lakes in Monaco. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS No rivers flow through Monaco. 8 DESERTS There are no deserts in Monaco. 9 FLAT AND ROLLING TERRAIN Much of Monaco is situated on thickly clustered hills. 10 MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES Monaco's terrain includes rugged cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. The surrounding French countryside is mountainous. 11 CANYONS AND CAVES There are caves in the rocky limestone cliffs on Monaco's coast. 12 PLATEAUS AND MONOLITHS There are no plateaus or monoliths in Monaco. 13 MAN-MADE FEATURES The Port of Fontvieille is built on land that was reclaimed from the sea between 1966 and 1973. The project enlarged the principality by 22 hectares (54 acres) and involved moving 7.5 million cubic meters (264.8 cubic feet) of rock and earth. The reclaimed land supports not only the port itself but also an industrial zone and retail and tourist facilities. 14 FURTHER READING Campbell, Siri. Inside Monaco. Glen Ellyn, IL: MCI, 1996. Edwards, Anne. The Grimaldis of Monaco. New York : Morrow, 1992. Hopkins, Adams. Essential French Riviera. Lincolnwood, IL: Passport Books, 1994. Web Sites "Monaco." LonelyPlanet. http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/europe/monaco/ (accessed April 24, 2003). Monte-Carlo Online. http://www.monte-carlo.mc/principalitymonaco/index.html (accessed April 24, 2003). Cite this article Literacy rate: 99% When infighting forced the Grimaldi family to leave the Holy Roman Empire in the late thirteenth century, they fled to a tiny patch of land along the French Mediterranean coast called Monaco. Francois Grimaldi became the first monarch, and his descendants have ruled the country ever since. Now a constitutional monarchy, the government is headed by a Minister of State, who presides over a unicameral, 18-seat National Council. The official language is French, but English and Italian are also widely spoken. Some older residents speak the native language, Montegasque, which is a mixture of French Provençal and Italian Ligurian. Approximately 35,000 people live within the country's single square mile. The famous casinos of capital Monte Carlo, combined with beautiful scenery and a mild climate, have made Monaco a popular destination, and tourism accounts for about 25 percent of its gross national product. Banking is also an important sector of the economy, employing approximately 5 percent of the workforce. Monaco levies no income tax and business taxes are low, making it a haven for individuals and companies, but also a magnet for money laundering and organized crime. English writer Somerset Maugham once called it "a sunny place for shady people." Freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Montagasque constitution, but its penal code prohibits denunciations of the Grimaldi family. The Centre de Presse is the official, state-run distribution point for information and photographs. It also handles press credentials for journalists. Monaco's daily newspaper is the Nice-Matin. Al-though it is published in Nice, France , it dedicates two pages to news coverage in Monaco. It is available online. The Ministry of State publishes a weekly government journal called the Journal de Monaco. It was founded in 1898 and provides information about legislation. There are no FM radio stations in Monaco, but there is one AM station serving the country's 34,000 radios. There are five television stations, 25,000 televisions and two Internet service providers. Bibliography "Country Profile," Worldinformation.com (2002). Available from http://www.worldinformation.com . "Monaco," CIA World Fact Book (2001). Available from http://www.cia.gov . "Monaco," Freedom House (2000). Available from http://www.freedomhouse.org . Nice-Matin. (n.d.). Home Page. Available from http://www.nicematin.fr . "Travel Guide-Europe-Monaco," Americanexpress.ca (2001). Available from www.americanexpress.canada.travel-guides.com . Jenny B. Davis Literacy Rate: 99% The nation of Monaco is a constitutional hereditary monarchy with close ties, by treaty and geography, with France . Monaco is only 1.95 square kilometers in total area with a population of 31,693 Monegasques, according to a 2000 estimate. The country has a literacy rate of 99 percent for the total population, including many well-trained workers from other countries who have come to work in a multitude of professions. Various economic interests (including tourism, technology, banking, and chemicals) have a direct impact on the principality's curriculum. National Education, which is overseen by the government's Councilor for the Interior, is compulsory for all children in Monaco from the ages of 6 to 16. The course syllabi are identical to those used in France; this conforms to the deep relationship Monaco has with France, which extends to issues like trade and military protection. In addition, their curriculum covers the history of Monaco and the native Monegasque language. The three main languages in Monaco are French, Italian, and the indigenous tongue. There are four public schools and two secondary schools in the principality. The secondary and higher education institutions more directly reflect the needs of Monaco's economy. The Lycée Albert I emphasizes secretarial studies and accounting, while the Technical Lycée of Monte Carlo centers on hotel management and hospitality, business, and specialized education. Charles III College and the privately run University of Southern Europe-Monaco (USE-M) offer undergraduate and graduate programs in Business Administration. USE-M has provided special programs for international students to study in Monaco and for students from the Monegasque region to study overseas, such as in the United States . Four other institutions with specialized missions are the Nursing School at the Princess Grace Hospital Complex, the Rainier III Academy of Music, the Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance, and the Municipal School of Plastic Arts. Bibliography The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The World Fact-book 2000. Directorate of Intelligence, 1 January 2000. Available from http://www.cia.gov/ . —Michael W. Young Orientation Identification. Officially known as the Principality of Monaco, or the Principaute de Monaco. Location and Geography. This small country is 0.8 square miles (1.95 square kilometers) in size, or approximately the same size as Central Park in New York City. It is the smallest state in the world after Vatican City. Located on the Mediterranean Sea , Monaco is surrounded by France on three sides. Nice, France, is the nearest large city at a distance of 11 miles (18 kilometers). Monaco is rocky and situated on steep hills that drop off into the Mediterranean. Part of the Côte d'Azur, Monaco's terrain and geography are typical of the northwestern area of the Mediterranean. The climate is mild year-round, with an average low temperature of 47 degrees Fahrenheit (8 degrees Celsius) and an average maximum high of 78 degrees Fahrenheit (26 degrees Celsius). Monaco is divided into four neighborhoods: Monaco-Ville, the old original city, which is on a rocky promontory extending into the sea; La Condamine, along the port; Monte-Carlo, the main resort, residential and tourist area; and Fontvieille, a newly constructed area on land reclaimed from the sea. Demography. Recent surveys place the permanent population of Monaco at about 30,744. Approximately 22 percent are native Monegasque, 35 percent French, 18 percent Italian, and another 25 percent consist of various other nationalities. Roman Catholicism is the main religion, practiced by 95 percent of the population. Linguistic Affiliation. French is the official language, but Italian and English are also spoken frequently. Monegasque, a language derived from both French and Italian, is spoken by native residents of Monaco, although only about 22 percent of the population claims direct Monegasque descent. Symbolism. The Monegasque flag consists of two equal horizontal bands of red and white: red on top, white beneath. The state seal and emblem of the House of Grimaldi is made up of a shield with red and white diamonds flanked by two monks holding swords pointed upward, with a crown draped with red cloth in the background. The monks represent the legend of François Grimaldi, and who supposedly seized control of Monaco by disguising himself as a Franciscan monk, entering the fortress unnoticed during the night. History and Ethnic Relations Emergence of the Nation. The first inhabitants of Monaco were the Ligurians, an ancient Indo-European tribe. Monaco was located near an important coastal path that stretched from Spain through southern France and into Italy. The peoples living in this area were eventually absorbed into the Roman Empire and became part of the province of Maritime Alps. With the fall of the Roman Empire, Monaco and the surrounding coastal areas were perpetually attacked by various invaders, including the Saracens, and the native population fled inland. It was only after the final expulsion of the Saracens in about 1000 c.e., that people returned to living on the coast. Monaco's recorded history began in 1215 when the Ghibellines of Genoa , led by Fulco del Cassello, colonized it after receiving sovereignty over the area from Emperor Henry VI. Attracted by Monaco's strategic location and harbor, the Genoese immediately began to construct a fortress, known as the Rock of Monaco, and a walled city. To attract permanent residents, the Genoese granted land and tax exemptions. As a result, Monaco quickly became an important city and over the next three centuries was frequently contested by rival political factions. In 1297 François Grimaldi, who was originally from a powerful Guelph family in Genoa, and a small army seized control of the Rock of Monaco. Although the Grimaldis were expelled in 1301, they returned thirty years later, and the House of Grimaldi has ruled Monaco uninterrupted (except from 1789 to 1814, when it fell under French rule) since then. Charles Grimaldi, known as Charles I, succeeded in reinstating the House of Grimaldi on 12 September 1331 and is considered the founder of the principality. However, it was not until 1489 that Monaco gained complete autonomy from French control when Lambert Grimaldi convinced King Charles VIII of France to grant the principality its independence. Monaco's sovereignty was officially recognized in 1512 by Louis XII in a signed document that also declared a perpetual alliance with the king of France. In 1524 Monaco was placed under the protection of Spain for political reasons. This caused long-term financial difficulties for Monaco, since the occupying Spanish military force was entirely supported by the Monegasques. In the early 1600s Monaco once again flourished, under the reign of Honoré II, who strengthened his country's alliance with France. Over the next two hundred years Monaco prospered under France's protection. In 1861,with the Treaty of 2 February, Charles III ceded Monaco's authority over the towns of Menton and Roquebrune to France in exchange for total independence from French political influence. However, in July 1919, after the end of World War I, Monaco was placed once again under limited French protection according to the Treaty of Versailles , a relationship that still exists today. National Identity. The native Monegasques are proud of their country's unique history and position in the world. The name Monaco is believed to derive from the word "monoikos" associated both with the ancient Greeks and the Ligurians. The Ligurians settled along the Mediterranean coast, from Spain to Italy, before the age of the Roman Empire. The coastal road used by the Ligurians later came to be known as "The Road of Hercules." In Greek, Hercules was often called "Heracles Monoikos," or "Hercules Along" but it is possible that "monoikos" derives from an older Ligurian word. The Monegasque have managed to maintain their traditions, institutions, and dialect through the centuries despite the influence of their much-larger neighbors. This cultural identity is reflected in many of the local festivals and in Monaco's world prominence, which is disproportionate to the principality's size. However, only a small part of the population, less that 20 percent, can claim direct Monegasque heritage. The majority of the principality's citizens are French or of French descent (47 percent). People of Italian origin make up about 16 percent with the rest of the population consisting of a variety of nationalities. Ethnic Relations. Monaco has close ethnic ties with France and Italy, and nationals of these countries account for more than half of the population. Some one-quarter of the population consists of people from a variety of other nationalities, reflecting a tolerance of different ethnic groups. However, immigration is very limited due to the principality's size, and citizenship is not easy to acquire. Urbanism, Architecture, and the Use of Space The steep, rocky hills and narrow coastline have influenced architecture and urban planning in Monaco. Streets are narrow and steep, and buildings must be constructed into the hills in limited amounts of space. The architecture in general reflects a Mediterranean influence, and local materials, including granite, marble, and terra-cotta tiles, are common. Recent-twentieth-century residential construction included numerous high-rise apartment buildings. Like many Mediterranean communities, Monaco has public squares, and its mild climate is favorable to outdoor living. Many buildings have balconies or terraces that face the sea. Some medieval structures survive in the old fortified city of Monaco-Ville on the Rock, where the royal palace is located. Monaco's most famous building is the Casino in Monte Carlo, built in 1866 and designed by French architect Charles Garnier. Food and Economy Food in Daily Life. Access to fresh, local produce and the sea has led to the development of a local cuisine and appreciation for good food. Monaco has many restaurants, and seafood is featured in many dishes. Daily eating habits reflect a Mediterranean heritage, and both French and Italian influences can be found in the local recipes. Breakfast is very small, but lunch and dinner often have several courses. Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Holidays such as Christmas , Holy Week before Easter , and Carnival before Lent are occasions for special food. Some traditional Monegasque dishes include brandamincium, salt cod pounded with garlic, oil, and cream surrounded by cardoons, edible Mediterranean plants, in white sauce; barba-Giuan, or "Uncle John," stuffed fritters; and fougasses, flat, crunchy biscuits sprinkled with sugared anise seeds and flavored with rum and orange-flower water. Basic Economy. Tourism and related businesses are the main components of the Monegasque economy today. The tourist industry began when the famous casino was opened in Monte Carlo. Banking and financial activities are the second most important part of the economy. The industrial sector is small but significant and includes pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, flour-milling, and food products. Investment in real estate and business services make up the fourth most important sector of the economy. Foreign companies receive special investment incentives that have led many to open offices in the principality. Monaco does not impose an income tax on its residents and consequently has attracted corporate and individual investment. A significant financial services industry has developed as a result. Land Tenure and Property. Due to Monaco's small size, the availability of land and private space has always been limited. Significant economic growth and an increase in population since 1950 have greatly augmented this problem, forcing developers to build multistoried structures very close together. An increase in tourism and the necessity for hotels have put an added strain on available space. Property is expensive both to buy and maintain, but Monaco's real estate business continues to thrive. To create additional space, the Monegasque government has had to find innovative ways to satisfy the demand for construction: the use of land reclaimed from the sea. The most recent of these is the neighborhood of Fontvieille. Commercial Activities. Business related to tourism accounts for the majority of commercial activities. Hotels, restaurants, shops, gambling, and services related to Monaco's port provide both employment and revenue for the principality. The real estate business has also become an important commercial concern since 1970. Major Industries. Industry did not begin to significantly develop until the 1950s, and consists entirely of light industry, with no obvious adverse effects on other parts of the economy or Monegasque society. The first industries, which developed at the beginning of the twentieth century, included a brewery, a chocolate factory, and a flour mill. The chemical, pharmaceutical, parapharmaceutical, and cosmetics industries all developed after World War II and today consist of twenty-three separate businesses—many of which are leaders in their sectors in Europe . Plastics, electronics, printing, textiles, and construction also are significant industries. Trade. Recent figures place the estimated value of Monegasque imports at U.S. $415,300 and exports at approximately the same figure. Monaco does not publish economic figures including gross domestic product, although recent estimates put it at about U.S. $800 million. Exports include a variety of Monegasque products, and imports include agricultural products and manufactured and consumer goods. Some of Monaco's most important exports include: cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, clothing, small electronics, and paper products. Division of Labor. Of the estimated thirty thousand jobs existing in Monaco, two-thirds of them are held by workers commuting from neighboring French or Italian towns along the coast. Seasonal tourist work also accounts for an increase in non-native Monegasque workers to the principality, including workers who have immigrated to Europe from other parts of the world. Women make up slightly less than half the workforce, and recent statistics place unemployment at about 3.2 percent. Social Stratification Classes and Castes. Monaco's high average income and individual wealth, as well as its very small size, make it a country with minimal class distinctions. The principality's status as a tax haven make it an attractive place to establish residence for wealthy people from all over the world. A significant number of residents are from a variety of nationalities, and several are celebrities, helping to make Monaco synonymous with wealth, power and prestige the world over. Symbols of Social Stratification. Overall Monaco has one of the highest standards of living in the world. Differences in social stratification are not immediately obvious. The principality's popularity as an exclusive resort and tax haven has led to the development of a very wealthy social class. Material symbols of wealth such as luxury goods, expensive cars, and exclusive shops are visible everywhere. Monaco's coastal position has also made it a popular port for luxury yachts. The tourist industry necessitates a large workforce, as do Monaco's light industrial concerns, but more than half the people employed in these sectors do not live in Monaco. Political Life Government. Until 1910, the Principality of Monaco was governed by an absolute monarchy. In 1911 Prince Albert I promulgated the first constitution, which was modified in 1917. It was modified again in 1933 by Prince Louis II, and other reforms were made by Prince Rainier III in 1962. Monaco's refusal to impost tax on its residents and international businesses led to a severe crisis with France in 1962. This crisis led to a compromise in which it was agreed that French citizens with less than five years of residence in Monaco would be taxed at French rates and companies doing more than 25 percent of their business outside the principality. Another result of the crisis was the creation of a new, more liberal constitution ad the restoration of the National Council. The constitution provides that executive power is under the authority of the reigning prince. Succession to the throne passes to the direct and legitimate descendants of the prince, with male descendants taking precedence over female. The prince represents Monaco in its foreign relations and signs and ratifies treaties. The prince nominates a Council of Government, consisting of a minister of state and three government councilors, one each for finance and economy, the interior, and public works and social affairs. The Minister of State is a French Citizen, appointed by the prince, and selected for a three-year term a from a group of senior French civil servants selected by the French government. The Minister of State is in charge of foreign relations and, as the prince's representative, directs executive services, the police and the Council of Government. Under the Council of Government's authority is the eighteen-member National Council. Members of the National Council are elected for five years by direct vote based on a system of proportional representation. Eligible voters must be over the age of twenty-one and hold Monegasque citizenship for more than five years. The new constitution of 1962 gave the right to vote to women, established a Supreme Court to guarantee fundamental rights, and abolished the death penalty. Leadership and Political Officials. Local affairs are directed by the Communal Council which administers the principality's four quarters: Monaco-Ville, La Condamine, Monte Carlo, and Fontvieille. The Council of the Crown consists of seven members holding Monégasque nationality who are nominated by the prince. The president and three members are selected by the sovereign: the others are selected by the national Council. Current government officials include: the Chief of State, Prince Rainier III; the Minister of State, Michel Leveque; the Council of Government, ministers for: the Interior, Finance, and Economic Affairs, Public Works and Social Affairs, National Council President, President of the Supreme Court, and the Director of Judicial Services. Social Problems and Control. Due to its small population and unique economic situation, Monaco does not face many of the social problems that larger countries must deal with, such as violent crime and poverty. After going through a period of economic growth and industrial development following World War II, a primary concern is the principality's ability to sustain its economy, attract new investments, and maintain the quality of life for its citizens. Current social problems include managing industrial growth and tourism, environmental concerns, and maintaining the quality of life. Alcoholism and illegal drug abuse are present but not widespread. Monaco has a very low crime rate, in part due to the high number of law enforcement officials in relation to the total population and the high standard of living. Widespread use of security cameras throughout the principality also further discourage open criminal activity. Excluding private security, there are around 400 permanent police officers, 95 percent of whom are French. Legal power belongs to the Sovereign, presently Prince Rainier III, who delegates full exercise of it to the courts and tribunals. The independence of the judges is guaranteed by the constitution. Monaco's legal organization includes all degrees of jurisdiction: a Court of First Instance, a Court of Appeal, a Higher Court of Appeal and a Criminal Court. There are also tribunals with specific competence, such as the Work Tribunal, the Rent Arbitration Commission, and the Higher Arbitration Court, for collective work disputes. The Supreme Court is at the top of the principality's legal organization. Military Activity. Monaco does not have a military, although it does have a small police force. The French government is responsible for Monaco's defense. Social Welfare and Change Programs The government efficiently manages several social welfare and change programs. Some current programs include creating more affordable housing for workers by reclaiming land from the sea for new construction and promotion of Monegasque culture, brought about by a revived interest in the principality's history. Consequently, Monegasque language classes have now been instituted in all elementary schools. The Monegasque government also ensures generous pensions, maternity leave, vacation time, and welfare programs for all citizens. Nongovernmental Organizations and Other Associations Monaco has many nongovernmental organizations and cultural, academic, and professional associations. Among these are the Permanent International Association of Navigation Conventions, the International Committee of Military Medicine and Pharmacy, the Scientific Community for Oceanic Research, the International Music Council, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Sciences. Monaco joined the United Nations in 1993 and is an active participant. Other intergovernmental organizations of which Monaco is a member include Interpol, UNESCO, and WHO. The International Hydrographic Bureau has its headquarters in Monaco. Gender Roles and Statuses Monaco has a Mediterranean, Roman Catholic culture emphasizing the family. Until the second half of the twentieth century, women's roles revolved principally around family and household. Women were not active in politics until the 1960s when they first received the vote. Although fewer women than men are employed outside the home, Monegasque women work in a variety of fields and are politically active. Marriage, Family, and Kinship Not withstanding its status as a cosmopolitan resort, Monegasque society is based on centuries-old traditions. Immediate and extended family are the basic social units. Marriage is considered an important family event and the divorce rate is low, with less than a quarter of marriages ending in divorce. Marriage. Marriage is an important family event, Church weddings, held according to Roman Catholic traditions, are popular. A civil ceremony, held at the city hall, is also required even when a religious ceremony is organized. Some couples choose only to have the civil ceremony. Domestic Unit. The domestic unit consists of immediate family members. Before industrialization after World War II, the domestic unit also included extended family such as grandparents and other elderly relatives. The low divorce rate and general affluence help contribute to a stable average domestic unit in Monaco. Monegasque social activities frequently revolve around family events and gatherings. Inheritance. Inheritance laws are based on those of France. Socialization Infant Care. Monaco provides excellent maternity and infant care. Women are guaranteed several months of maternity leave and there are high quality, low cost day care centers and nurseries available. National health and education programs ensure that Monegasque families have complete early childhood support and care. Child Rearing and Education. A national health service and an excellent public education system provide Monegasque children with high-quality, low-cost education and with health care from infancy through adolescence. Monaco's small size, unique history, and high standard of living have helped the principality avoid many of the child social problems that face larger countries. The traditional Monegasque culture, based on family and kinship ties, has changed with twentieth-century industrialization and growth, but child welfare remains important. Grandparents often help in caring for young children, particularly when both parents work. Education is compulsory from ages of six to sixteen. School curricula are identical to those of France but also include the study of Monegasque history, the institutions of the principality, and the Monegasque language. There are four public primary schools for study up to age fourteen and three specialized high schools: Lycée Albert I, the Technical Lycée of Monte Carlo, and the Charles II College. There are also four private schools through the high school level. Higher Education. Monaco does not have a university, although there are several specialized institutions of higher learning, including the Rainier III Academy of Music and the Nursing School at the Princess Grace Hospital Complex. Monaco's literacy rate is 99 percent. Etiquette Etiquette in Monaco is influenced by the country's unusual blending of roles as an international tax haven, exclusive resort destination in combination with the Monegasque traditions. The Monegasque are proud of the country's history and residents strive to maintain the quality of life that exists there. The principality attracts people from a variety of nationalities who are nevertheless united by a high level of personal wealth. The rules of etiquette are much like those found in France with an emphasis on respect for privacy. The royal family of Monaco, the Grimaldi, frequently attract the attention of the press. Monaco's royal family became a popular subject of tabloid journalism when the American actress Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier III. Discretion and privacy are still emphasized in Monaco. Religion Religious Beliefs. Roman Catholicism is the state religion, although freedom of worship is guaranteed by Article 23 of the Constitution. However, 95 percent of the population claims to be Roman Catholic. Religious Practitioners. Most Monegasque are Roman Catholic and the church plays an important role in Monegasque traditions, particularly on feast days and special holidays. Church attendance is not as high as a century ago and it is difficult to estimate the exact number of practicing Catholics. Rituals and Holy Places. There are several traditional festivals and rituals in Monaco. Saint Devote, the patron saint of Monaco, is venerated in a ritual held on 27 January every year. A torchlight procession, a religious ceremony and blessing mark the day that Saint Dévoe is believed to have arrived in Monaco. Other religious rituals and ceremonies are held during Holy Week before Easter, and on the feast days of Saint Roman, 9 August, Saint John, 23 June and Saint Blaise. Death and the Afterlife. Monegasque beliefs about death and the afterlife are in accordance with the teachings of the Roman Catholic church. Medicine and Health Care Monaco has a government-supported health system that provides high-quality medical care to all its citizens. Life expectancy is placed at 74 years for males and 81 for females. Infant mortality rate is approximately 7 per 1000 births. Monaco's birth-rate exceeds the number of deaths per year. For specialized care of serious care of serious health problems Monaco's residents may seek care in larger medical centers, such as the hospital in Nice. Secular Celebrations National Day, 19 November, celebrates Monaco's independence as a principality. A parade, a thanksgiving Mass held in the cathedral, and special events are organized. Other important celebrations have religious origins. The Feast of Saint Devote, the patron saint of Monaco, is celebrated on 27 January. The festival of Saint John, on 24 June, is another important Monegasque holiday. Religious holidays are celebrated with the closing of businesses, special church services, and traditional customs. The National Committee of Monegasque Traditions, established in 1924, is dedicated to the preservation and revival of Monegasque folk traditions and festivals. The Arts and Humanities Support for the Arts. The Monegasque government actively supports the arts, cultural institutions, and the humanities through a variety of programs and events. The Prince Pierre Foundation was founded to encourage culture in the letters and the arts, by the creation and awarding of prizes. These awards include the Grand Literary Prize, created in 1951; the Prince Rainier III Prize for Musical Composition, founded in 1960; and the International Contemporary Art Prize, awarded for the first time in 1965. The Princess Grace Foundation was established in 1964 with the aim of promoting charitable activities and provides support for the Princess Grace Dance Academy. Recent investments in the arts and humanities include the creation of a Cultural and Exhibition Center, which will contain an auditorium and other performance and event areas on the site of the old Centenary Hall. The Monte Carlo Ballet and the Monte Carlo Opera are world-renowned. The Monte Carlo Ballet gained international fame in the 1920s when the choreographer Sergey Diaghilev was based there with his Ballets Russes. Monaco is also home to the International Circus Festival held every February and the International Fireworks held in July. The Grand Prix de Monaco, a Formula 1 car race held in the streets of Monte Carlo, is one of the principality's most famous cultural events and attracts thousands of spectators. Literature. The Great Literary Prize recognizes outstanding literary works annually. The Princess Grace Irish Library was established recently to hold a collection of over 8,000 volumes related to Irish history, culture and writing, in both Irish and English languages. Graphic Arts. The Prince Pierre Foundation annually awards the International Prize for Art, established in 1965, to recognize outstanding achievement in the visual arts. The Municipal School of Decorative Arts provides education in the visual arts. Performance Arts. The Monte Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra was established in 1863 and found its permanent home in the Garnier Palace in 1879. The Monte Carlo Ballet and the Monte Carlo Opera are internationally acclaimed. Since 1892 the Monte Carlo Opera has occupied Garnier Hall, named after its architect, who also designed the Paris Opera House. Many premier performances have been staged at the Monte Carlo Opera, including Sergei Diaghilev's Ballets Russes in the 1920s. The International Circus Festival is also held annually in Monaco. The State of Physical and Social Sciences Monaco is particularly well known for its activity in the marine science field. The Oceanographic Museum, formerly directed by Jacques Cousteau, is the most famous institution devoted to marine science in the world. The Scientific Community for Oceanic Research is based in Monaco, and numerous other scientific and academic societies also have branch offices in the principality. Monaco's history of supporting oceanic and scientific studies dates to the 1860s when Prince Albert pursued his scientific interests by conducting numerous maritime expeditions. Throughout the twentieth century, Monaco has promoted scientific research. The Prehistory and Speleological Association was formed in 1951 and in 1960 Prince Rainier III inaugurated the Museum of Prehistoric Anthropology. Prince Rainier is also the president of the International Commission for the Scientific Exploration of the Mediterranean. The Scientific Center of Monaco is host to a variety of activities including seismological, meteorological, and radioactivity studies. The Monaco Underwater Reserve, consisting of almost 50 hectares, was established by the Monégasque Association for the Protection of Nature to provide a protected environment for a wide variety of marine life. In 1971 the "Albert I of Monaco" Prize for Oceanography was created to recognize outstanding research. Bibliography Campbell, Siri. Inside Monaco, 2000. Doyle, Stanton, and Ewing, Debra; Kelly, Robert; and Youngblood, Denise, ed. Country Review: Monaco 1998–1999, 1998. The Magic Principality, 1994. Rogatnick, Joseph H. "Little States in a World of Power: A Study of the Conduct of Foreign Affairs by Andorra, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino." Ph.D. dissertation, University of Pennsylvania, 1976. Web Sites Monaco Government Tourist Office. www.monaco.mc United States Department of State, Bureau of European Affairs. "Background Notes, Monaco." www.state.gov —M. Cameron Arnold Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. MLA	i don't know
Who became the first President of Tanzania in 1964?	Julius Nyerere \| president of Tanzania \| Britannica.com president of Tanzania Alternative Titles: Julius Kambarage Nyerere, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere Jawaharlal Nehru Julius Nyerere, in full Julius Kambarage Nyerere, also called Mwalimu (Swahili: “Teacher”) (born March 1922, Butiama, Tanganyika—died October 14, 1999, London , England ), first prime minister of independent Tanganyika (1961), who became the first president of the new state of Tanzania (1964). Nyerere was also the major force behind the Organization of African Unity (OAU; now the African Union ). Julius Nyerere, 1985. William F. Campbell—Time Life Pictures/Getty Images Nyerere was a son of the chief of the small Zanaki ethnic group. He was educated at Tabora Secondary School and Makerere College in Kampala , Uganda . A convert to Roman Catholicism, he taught in several Roman Catholic schools before going to Edinburgh University. He was the first Tanganyikan to study at a British university. He graduated with an M.A. in history and economics in 1952 and returned to Tanganyika to teach. By the time Nyerere entered politics, the old League of Nations mandate that Britain had exercised in Tanganyika had been converted into a United Nations trusteeship, with independence the ultimate goal. Seeking to hasten the process of emancipation, Nyerere joined the Tanganyika African Association, quickly becoming its president in 1953. In 1954 he converted the organization into the politically oriented Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). Under Nyerere’s leadership the organization espoused peaceful change, social equality, and racial harmony and rejected tribalism and all forms of racial and ethnic discrimination . Julius Nyerere. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. In 1955 and 1956 he journeyed to the United Nations in New York City as a petitioner to the Trusteeship Council and the Fourth Committee on trusts and non-self-governing territories. After a debate that ended in his being granted a hearing, he asked for a target date for the independence of Tanganyika. The British administration rejected the demand, but a dialogue was begun that established Nyerere as the preeminent nationalist spokesman for his country. The British administration nominated him a member of the Tanganyikan Legislative Council, but he resigned in 1957 in protest against the slowness of progress toward independence. In elections held in 1958–59, Nyerere and TANU won a large number of seats on the Legislative Council. In a subsequent election in August 1960, his organization managed to win 70 of 71 seats in Tanganyika’s new Legislative Assembly . Progress toward independence owed much to the understanding and mutual trust that developed during the course of negotiations between Nyerere and the British governor, Sir Richard Turnbull. Tanganyika finally gained responsible self-government in September 1960, and Nyerere became chief minister at this time. Tanganyika became independent on December 9, 1961, with Nyerere as its first prime minister. The next month, however, he resigned from this position to devote his time to writing and synthesizing his views of government and of African unity. One of Nyerere’s more important works was a paper called “ Ujamaa—The Basis for African Socialism, ” which later served as the philosophical basis for the Arusha Declaration (1967). When Tanganyika became a republic in 1962, he was elected president, and in 1964 he became president of the United Republic of Tanzania (Tanganyika and Zanzibar). Tanganyika gaining independence, 1961. Stock footage courtesy The WPA Film Library Britannica Stories Scientists Ponder Menopause in Killer Whales Nyerere was reelected president of Tanzania in 1965 and was returned to serve three more successive five-year terms before he resigned as president in 1985 and handed over his office to his successor, Ali Hassan Mwinyi. From independence on Nyerere also headed Tanzania’s only political party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). As outlined in his political program, the Arusha Declaration, Nyerere was committed to the creation of an egalitarian socialist society based on cooperative agriculture in Tanzania. He collectivized village farmlands, carried out mass literacy campaigns, and instituted free and universal education. He also emphasized Tanzania’s need to become economically self-sufficient rather than remain dependent on foreign aid and foreign investment. Nyerere termed his socialist experimentation ujamaa (Swahili: “familyhood”), a name that emphasized the blend of economic cooperation, racial and tribal harmony, and moralistic self-sacrifice that he sought to achieve. Tanzania became a one-party state, though certain democratic opportunities were permitted within that framework. Structures of Government: Fact or Fiction? As a major force behind the modern Pan-African movement and one of the founders in 1963 of the OAU, Nyerere was a key figure in African events in the 1970s. He was a strong advocate of economic and political measures in dealing with the apartheid policies of South Africa . Nyerere was chairman of a group of five frontline African presidents who advocated the overthrow of white supremacy in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), South Africa, and South West Africa/Namibia (now Namibia). Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies Nyerere’s concerns on the domestic front were dominated by economic hardships and by difficulties between Nyerere and Idi Amin of Uganda . In 1972 Nyerere denounced Amin when the latter announced the expulsion of all Asians from Uganda. When Ugandan troops occupied a small border area of Tanzania in 1978, Nyerere pledged to bring about the downfall of Amin, and in 1979 the Tanzanian army invaded Uganda in support of a local movement to overthrow him. Nyerere’s intervention helped to unseat Amin and brought about the return to power in Uganda of Milton Obote in 1980. Though enthusiastically adopted by his countrymen and steadfastly supported by sympathetic western European nations, Nyerere’s socialist policies failed to spur economic development in Tanzania. At the time of his resignation in 1985, Tanzania was still one of the world’s poorest countries, with a per capita income of about U.S. $250. Agriculture remained at the subsistence level, and the country’s industrial and transportation infrastructures were chronically underdeveloped. One-third of the national budget was supplied by foreign aid. Tanzania had one of the highest literacy rates in Africa, however, and the society was both politically stable and notably free of economic inequalities. Nyerere himself remained committed to socialist policies throughout his political career. Julius Nyerere, 1981. Hanos/Liaison Agency Nyerere continued as chairman of the CCM until 1990. Thereafter he assumed the role of elder statesman and was regularly called upon to act as arbiter in international crises such as those in Rwanda and Burundi . Soft-spoken, unpretentious, small of stature, and quick to laugh, Julius Nyerere was widely credited with impressive oratorical skills and unusual powers of political perception. His thoughts, essays, and speeches are collected in his books, Uhuru na Umoja (1967; Freedom and Unity), Uhuru na Ujamaa (1968; Freedom and Socialism), and Uhuru na Maendeleo (1973; Freedom and Development). He also translated two plays by William Shakespeare , The Merchant of Venice and Julius Caesar, into Swahili. More about Julius Nyerere	Julius Nyerere
What is the capital of Lichtenstein?	Tanzania: History Tanzania History Early History In 1959, Dr. L. S. B. Leakey, a British anthropologist, discovered at Olduvai Gorge in NE Tanzania the fossilized remains of what he called Homo habilis, who lived about 1.75 million years ago. Tanzania was later the site of Paleolithic cultures. By the beginning of the first millennium A.D. scattered parts of the country, including the coast, were thinly populated. At this time overseas trade seems to have been carried out between the coast and NE Africa, SW Asia, and India. By about A.D. 900 traders from SW Asia and India had settled on the coast, exchanging cloth, beads, and metal goods for ivory. They also exported small numbers of Africans as slaves. By this time there were also commercial contacts with China, directly and via Sri Vijaya (see under Indonesia ) and India. By about 1200, Kilwa Kisiwani (situated on an island) was a major trade center, handling gold exported from Sofala (on the coast of modern Mozambique) as well as goods (including ivory, beeswax, and animal skins) from the near interior of Tanzania. By about 1000 the migration of Bantu-speakers into the interior of Tanzania from the west and the south was well under way, and the population there had been greatly increased. The Bantu were organized in relatively small political units. Foreign Contacts In 1498, Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, became the first European to visit the Tanzanian coast; in 1502, on his second visit there, he made Kilwa tributary. In 1505, Kilwa was sacked by Francisco d'Almeida, another Portuguese explorer, and by 1506 Portugal controlled most of the coast of E Africa. The Portuguese did not cooperate with the local people, and their impact was mostly negative—trade was disrupted, towns declined, and people migrated from the region. However, Kilwa's trade seems to have grown as a result of contact with the Portuguese. Toward the end of the 16th cent., the Zimba, a group from SE Africa, moved rapidly up the coast, causing considerable damage; in 1587 they sacked Kilwa and killed about 3,000 persons (roughly 40% of its inhabitants). In 1698 the Portuguese were expelled from the E African coast (except for a brief return in 1725) with the help of Arabs from Oman. In the early 18th cent., the Omanis showed some interest in the commerce of E Africa, and this increased after the Bu Said dynasty replaced the Yarubi rulers in 1741. Oman's commercial activity was centered on Zanzibar (and, to a lesser extent, at Mombasa), from which it controlled the overseas trade of E Africa. By the early 19th cent. numerous towns on the Tanzanian coast had been founded or revived; these included Tanga, Pangani, Bagamoyo, Kilwa Kivinje (situated on the mainland near Kilwa Kisiwani), Lindi, and Mikandani. The Caravan Trade Sayyid Said, the great Bu Saidi ruler, took a great interest in E Africa and in 1841 permanently moved his capital from Muscat, in Oman, to Zanzibar. He brought with him many Arabs, who settled in the mainland towns as well as on Zanzibar. About the same time, new caravan routes into the far interior were opened up; the three main lines went from Kilwa and Lindi to the Lake Nyasa region; from Bagamoyo and Mbwamaji (near present-day Dar-es-Salaam) to Tabora, where one branch continued west to Ujiji (and on into modern Congo) and another went north to the Victoria Nyanza region; and from Pangani and Tanga northwest into modern Kenya via Mt. Kilimanjaro. The caravans following the southern route obtained mainly slaves and ivory; along the more northerly routes ivory was the chief commodity purchased. As a result, the Swahili language (a blend of Bantu grammar and a considerable Arabic vocabulary) and culture gained new adherents. In the middle third of the 19th cent. several European missionaries and explorers visited various parts of Tanzania, notably Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tabora, Lake Victoria, and Lake Nyasa. From the 1860s to the early 1880s Mirambo, a Nyamwezi, headed a large state that controlled much of the caravan trade of central and N Tanzania. About the same time Tippu Tib, a Zanzibari, organized large caravans that passed through Tanzania to present-day Zambia and Congo, where ivory and slaves were obtained. Colonialism As the scramble for African territory among the European powers intensified in the 1880s, Carl Peters and other members of the Society for German Colonization signed treaties with Africans (1884–85) in the hinterland of the Tanzanian coast. By an agreement with Great Britain in 1886, Germany established a vague sphere of influence over mainland Tanzania, except for a narrow strip of land along the coast that remained under the suzerainty of the sultan of Zanzibar, who leased it to the Germans. The German East Africa Company (founded 1887) governed the territory, called German East Africa . The company's aggressive conduct resulted in a major resistance movement along the coast by Arabs, Swahili (whose main leaders were Abushiri and Bwana Heri), and other Africans that was only defeated with the help of the German government. A second Anglo-German agreement (1890) added Rwanda, Burundi, and other regions to German East Africa. Because the company had proved to be an ineffective ruler, the German government in 1891 took over the country (which by then included the coast) and declared it a protectorate. However, it was not until 1898, with the death of the Hehe ruler, Mkwawa, who strongly opposed European rule, that the Germans succeeded in controlling the country. During the period 1905 to 1907 the Maji Maji revolt against German rule engulfed most of SE Tanzania; about 75,000 Africans lost their lives as a result of German military campaigns and lack of food. Under the Germans, several new crops (including sisal, cotton, and plantation-grown rubber) were introduced; the production and sale of other commodities (notably coffee, copra, sesame, and peanuts) was encouraged, and railroads were built to Kigoma on Lake Tanganyika and to Moshi. In addition, many new Christian missions, which included rudimentary schools for the Africans, were established. During World War I, British and Belgian troops occupied (1916) most of German East Africa. In the postwar period the League of Nations made Tanganyika a British mandate, and Ruanda-Urundi (later Rwanda and Burundi), a Belgian mandate; the Portuguese gained control of some land in the southeast. The British, especially during the administration (1925–31) of Gov. Sir Donald Cameron, attempted to rule "indirectly" through existing African leaders. However, unlike N Nigeria, where the policy of indirect rule was first developed (see Frederick Lugard ), Tanganyika had few indigenous large-scale political units. Therefore, African leaders had to be established in newly defined constituencies. The effect of British policy, as a result, was to alter considerably the patterns of African life in Tanganyika. After a slow start, the British developed the territory's economy largely along the lines established by the Germans. Increasing numbers of Africans worked for a wage on plantations, especially after 1945, when economic growth began to accelerate. Also after 1945 Africans gradually gained more seats on the territory's legislative council (which had been established in 1926). Independence and Nyerere In 1954, Julius Nyerere and Oscar Kambona transformed the Tanganyika African Association (founded in 1929) into the more politically oriented Tanganyika African National Union (TANU). TANU easily won the general elections of 1958–60, and when Tanganyika became independent on Dec. 9, 1961, Nyerere became its first prime minister. In Dec., 1962, Tanganyika became a republic within the Commonwealth of Nations, and Nyerere was made president. On Apr. 26, 1964, shortly after a leftist revolution in newly independent Zanzibar, Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged; Nyerere became the new country's first president. Abeid Amani Karume, the head of Zanzibar's government and leader of its dominant Afro-Shirazi party (ASP), became Tanzania's first vice president. Although formally united with the mainland, Zanzibar retained considerable independence in internal affairs. In Feb., 1967, Nyerere issued the Arusha Declaration, a major policy statement that called for egalitarianism, socialism, and self-reliance. It promised a decentralized government and a program of rural development called ujamaa ("pulling together") that involved the creation of cooperative farm villages. Factories and plantations were nationalized, and major investments were made in primary schools and health care. While Nyerere put some of the declaration's principles into practice, it was not clear if power in Tanzania was, in fact, being decentralized. TANU was the mainland's sole legal political party and it was tightly controlled by Nyerere. In the early 1970s there was tension (and occasional border clashes) between Tanzania and Uganda, caused mainly by Nyerere's continued support of Uganda's ousted president, A. Milton Obote . However, in 1973, Nyerere and Gen. Idi Amin , Uganda's new head of state, signed an agreement to end hostilities. Tanzania supported various movements against white-minority rule in S Africa, and several of these organizations had offices in Dar-es-Salaam. In 1977, TANU and Zanzibar's ASP merged to form the Party of the Revolution (CCM). A new constitution was adopted the same year. Hostilities with Uganda resumed in 1978 when Ugandan military forces occupied about 700 sq mi (1800 sq km) of N Tanzania and left only after having caused substantial damage. One month later, Tanzanian forces and Ugandan rebels staged a counterinvasion. Tanzania captured the Ugandan capital of Kampala in 1979 and drove Idi Amin from power. This campaign further depleted the country's already scarce economic resources. Tanzania maintained troops in Uganda after its victory and drew criticism from other African nations for its actions. In 1983, negotiations between Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda led to the reopening of the Kenyan border, which had been closed since 1977 after the collapse of the East African Community. Tanzania after Nyerere By the 1980s, it was clear that the economic policies set out by the Arusha Declaration had failed. The economy continued to deteriorate with cycles of alternating floods and droughts, which reduced agricultural production and exports. After Nyerere resigned as promised in 1985, Ali Hassan Mwinyi, president of Zanzibar, became head of the one-party government. He began an economic recovery program involving cuts in government spending, decontrol of prices, and encouragement of foreign investment; modest growth resumed. In 1992 the constitution was amended to allow opposition parties. The 1995 multiparty elections, which were regarded by international observers as seriously flawed, were won by Benjamin William Mkapa , candidate of the ruling CCM. In the 1990s Tanzania was overwhelmed by refugees from the war in neighboring Burundi; by the end of the decade some 300,000 were in Tanzania, and the number subsequently grew. Tanzania began repatriating the refugees in 2002, and closed the last camp in 2009. More than 200,000 Burundian refugees who fled to Tanzania in 1972 also remained prior to 2009; many of these accepted an offer of Tanzania citizenship. Mkapa, who continued to pursue economic reforms, was reelected in 2000, but there were blatant irregularities in the vote in Zanzibar, where the opposition party, which favors greater independence for the island, had been expected to do well. In 2005 the CCM candidate for president, Jakaya Kikwete won the election with 80% of the vote, and the CCM won more than 90% of the seats in parliament, but the voting in Zanzibar was again marred by violence and irregularities. A corruption investigation implicated the prime minister, Edward Lowassa, and two other cabinet members in 2008, leading them to resign in February; Kikwete subsequently re-formed the cabinet. The president was reelected in 2010 with more than 60% of the vote, while on Zanzibar the election was largely peaceful and the CCM candidate narrowly won the island's presidency. The CCM also won three quarters of the seats in parliament. Sections in this article:	i don't know
Cricket Test Matches are played at 'Sahara Park', Newlands, in which city is it?	Sahara Park Newlands cricket stadium, Cape Town Sahara Park Newlands Sahara Park Newlands Sahara Park Newlands, better known as Newlands, is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world. Situated in Cape Town’s scenic southern suburbs, with Table Mountain in the background, the ground can accommodate up to 25 000 people and has hosted many memorable matches over the years. Did you know? Former New Zealand captain, Stephen Fleming, has the highest individual Test score at Newlands, with 262 not out. Sahara Park Newlands cricket stadium traditionally hosts the first Test cricket match in South Africa every year, which starts on January 2. The only exception is when the South African national team is on tour abroad. As there are many holidaymakers in Cape Town during this time of year, attendance at this match is usually very high. The open design of the stadium adds greatly to the atmosphere, and allows a good view, regardless of where your seat is. The stadium also hosts all forms of cricket between October and May each year. The ground features two grass embankments, as well as two stands for public seating, in addition to designated stands for members and dignitaries. Oak trees around the ground, as well as prominent green roofs, create a feeling of serenity. In recent years, the pitch at Newlands has offered something for both batsmen and bowlers – not quite as bouncy as Kingsmead in Durban, but generally not quite as flat as the Wanderers in Johannesburg. As Cape Town gets the bulk of its rain in winter, cricket matches during the summer are generally not affected by weather. And because of the extra daylight hours Cape Town enjoys in summer, play can continue into in the early hours of the evening if need be. Newlands is the home ground of the Cape Cobras franchise, who play in the domestic four-day, limited over and Pro20 competitions. Some of the better-known cricketers to ply their trades here in recent years include Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Graeme Smith and Gary Kirsten. The first Test match at Newlands was between South Africa and England, played during March in 1889. England thumped the hosts by an innings and 202 runs on that day, but South Africa’s track record in Cape Town has improved a lot since then. Travel	Cape Town
"Which company has used the advertising slogan ""Where Do You Want To Go Today?""?"	2016 SA Cricket Fixtures in Cape Town \| ICC Proteas Games & Fixtures at Newlands, Live Sports Matches in the Western Cape SA Cricket Fixtures in Cape Town Check out when the Proteas are playing in the Mother City in the coming season Our boys in green and gold will be bringing the Protea fire to our beautiful city at the beginning of 2016. Be it a test match, a T20 game or an ODI, the Proteas are sure to show the world what kind of mettle our men are made of. With talent, experience and skill in abundance, the squads for these games are set to establish South Africa as the best cricket side in the world. Check out our schedule of dates and times for games at PPC Newlands Cricket Ground during the Proteas’ 2016 season. BUY TICKETS FOR THE 2016 SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET MATCHES South Africa versus England Test Series: Durban: Buy tickets South Africa versus England Test Series: Cape Town: Buy tickets South Africa versus England Test Series: Johannesburg: Buy tickets South Africa versus England Test Series: Centurion: Buy tickets South Africa versus England One Day International: Bloemfontein: Buy tickets South Africa versus England One Day International: Port Elizabeth: Buy tickets South Africa versus England One Day International: Centurion: Buy tickets South Africa versus England One Day International: Johannesburg: Buy tickets South Africa versus England One Day International: Cape Town: Buy tickets 2016 SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET FIXTURES IN CAPE TOWN Date Pensioners & Children R150p/p – R200p/p --- Want your event to gain fame and a following? Our Events Support Programme includes diverse and affordable packages guaranteed to get results. To learn more, please contact [email protected] \| [email protected] or phone +27 (0)21 422 2444. --- Use our events section for an up-to-date overview of happenings in Cape Town. Also, don’t forget to subscribe to our newsletter and if you have a smart phone, add m.capetownmagazine.com to your home screen for quick access on the go! Follow us on Twitter , like us on Facebook , join our Google+ circle, connect with us on LinkedIn , check out our photos on Instagram and follow our Pinterest boards for updates on what’s happening in and around the Mother City! Phone:	i don't know
Which car manufacturer has produced models called 'Bravo' and 'Tempra'?	History of FIAT India and its various cars In 1978 the “Robogate” system was created, the new flexible robotized system for assembling the bodywork. It was the road to innovation and the automation of production. The holding configuration In 1979 the auto sector was set up as an independent company: Fiat Auto S.p.A., which included the brands Fiat, Lancia, Autobianchi, Abarth, Ferrari. The Ferrari brand was acquired at 50% initially, a share that later rose to 87%. In 1984 the company also took over Alfa Romeo (following by Maserati acquisition - a prestigious sports car brand - in 1993). Independent companies Fiat’s numerous operations were set up as independent companies. Alongside Fiat Auto the following companies were founded: Fiat Ferroviaria, Fiat Avio, Fiat Trattori, Fiat Engineering, Comau, Teksid, Magneti Marelli. The Fiat Panda and the Fiat Uno In 1980 a new utilitarian was styled by Giugiaro for Fiat and was called Panda. Two years later the car that would become the emblem of Fiat Auto’s renewal was born: the Fiat Uno. It featured radical innovations in its electronics, choice of materials and the use of a clean engine: the 1000 Fire. The Fiat Tipo Another successful model appeared in 1989: the Tipo, voted “Car of the year” for its cutting-edge technical solutions. Its production marked a conquest of Fiat technology: production by processing stations. The new cars of the 1990s After the debut of the Fiat Tempra in 1990, the 500 came out in 1991. Two years later, in 1993, it was the moment of Fiat Punto (named “Car of the Year” in 1995) and Fiat Coupé, with bodywork designed by Pininfarina and Centro Stile Fiat. Other popular cars With Fiat Ulysse, which came out in 1994, the company made its entry in a sector that was progressively expanding: the SUV. 1995 saw the debut of the Barchetta, the Fiat Bravo and Brava, followed the next year by Fiat Marea and Marea WE, and in 1997 Fiat Palio. Changes at the top and a new registered office In 1996 Giovanni Agnelli became the Honorary President of the Fiat Group and Cesare Romiti took the office of CEO. In 1997 the parent company left its premises in Corso Marconi and moved to the Palazzina Fiat of Lingotto, which in the meantime had been converted into a Trade Fair and Convention Complex. The last born in 1990s and the first born of the new century 1998 was the year of Fiat Seicento, ideal for city driving, and the Multipla, characterised by flexible use and uncommon versatility. Two years later, at the Paris Motor Show, Fiat Doblò was presented: a young car, informal, that also served the functions of a commercial vehicle. Meanwhile, in Brazil, the three world cars were launched: the Palio, Palio Weekend and Siena. In 2001 Fiat Stilo was launched, characterized by a new design, with sophisticated technology and numerous deluxe options; the following year Fiat Multipla, New Fiat Ulysse and Fiat Stilo Multi Wagon were restyled. In 2003 – the year that saw the sad death of Giovanni Agnelli, who had been at the helm of Fiat for almost half a century - the new Punto was marketed (exactly 10 years after the model was first launched) with the innovative 1.3 Multijet 16v, and the new Barchetta was restyled inside and out. In the autumn Fiat reclaimed its leading position in the super-compact segment with the new Panda, immediately awarded the prize '2004 Car of the Year'. The restyling of the logo on Fiat Idea Fiat Idea was the first MPV created by Fiat but also the first car with the task of communicating the brand’s new ‘mission’: Fiat Idea displayed the round logo, renewed and proposed by Centro Stile Fiat to evoke the emblem designed to celebrate the Company’s 100th Anniversary. It was also meant to get across the most significant change in Fiat car design: more attention to high-tech content and intelligent solutions designed to simplify several aspects of daily life in the car. Multijet engines Fuel saving and top performing, this engine proved a real success factor on the new Fiat car models. The new system – born of the evolution of the ‘Common Rail’ principle – is the basis of the new second-generation Fiat engines: the small 1.3 Multijet 16v, the sporty 1.9 Multijet 120 and 150 bhp and the powerful 1.4 90 bhp. Three years of new models The years 2004-2006 were an extremely busy time for the Turin company, which, following a profound change in corporate culture and mentality, focused on a continuous, rapid overhaul of its products, on technological research, on the quality of its designs and on a new, constructive relationship with the customer. During these years, this new philosophy gave rise to a series of new models, and some restyling of older models: from the restyling of the Fiat Idea Model Year, Seicento MY and Stilo MY to the new Multipla and the launch of the Panda 4x4, in 2004; 2005 began with the launch of the new Croma, designed by Giugiaro, the new 600 (celebrating its 50th anniversary), and the Grande Punto - beautiful, solid and exciting. 2006 saw the launch of the New Doblò and Sedici, the 4x4xTUTTI for city and off-road driving, and the official car of the 2006 Olympic Winter Games, while the Panda MY 2007 range was extended and overhauled. The debut of the new logo on the Bravo 2007 began with the launch of the Bravo – preceded by the first ever institutional Fiat blog. Bravo is the first car to sport the new Fiat logo as a tangible sign of the company’s turnaround. The new Bravo is a successful blend of beauty and substance, destined to become a benchmark for the segment. Select your city:	Fiat Automobiles
In which European city would you be if you landed at 'Ruzyne Airport'?	Fiat VIN decoder - Lookup and check Fiat VIN number and get options and specs for free. Search Fiat history, price and car loans. Fiat VIN decoder Free Fiat VIN decoder with options and specs. Search and check Fiat history, price and car loans. Home Fiat This is the Fiat VIN decoder. Every Fiat car has a unique identifier code called a VIN. This number contains vital information about the car, such as its manufacturer, year of production, the plant it was produced in, type of engine, model and more. For instance, if someone wants to buy a car, it is possible to check the VIN number one the online database to ensure that the car was not stolen, damaged or illegally modified. The VIN number has a specific format that is globally recognized. This format was implemented by the ISO institute. Every car manufacturer is obliged to mark all its vehicles in this special format. This online service allows a user to check the validity of the car and get detailed information on almost any VIN number, search for Fiat car parts and check the car’s history. The VIN also allows a user to check the market value of a new or used Fiat. Please enter Fiat VIN number: Decode Please check Fiat car parts catalog for additional information if you're looking for parts to repair your vehicle. You can search Fiat parts by VIN number . It is possible to get market price of new or used Fiat by VIN number. Every buyer must check Fiat car history before getting a car loan or credit. Buying a used car? Do not forget to read about Fiat problems, recalls and complaints . Find all the latest facts, figures and Fiat specs based on year, make and model. Make sure to check VIN number before buying a used car. Please search the VIN number to obtain a Fiat vehicle history report. Features: Free Fiat VIN Number Decoder - Fiat Vehicle History with recalls and complaints - Cost effective Carfax Alternative What is VDS? VDS is a Vehicle Descriptor Section. VDS is used to specify a type of vehicle and may include information about the model, platform, engine and transmission. What is VIN? VIN is a Vehicle Identification Number What is VIS? VIS is a Vehicle Identifier Section What is WMI? WMI is a World Manufacturer Identifier. The first three symbols identify the manufacturer of the car. We recommend	i don't know
Which traditional pudding was named after the wife of George III, she was the patron of the growers of its main ingredient?	Culinary Dictionary - C, Whats Cooking America Culinary Dictionary Linda’s Culinary Dictionary – C A Dictionary of Cooking, Food, and Beverage Terms An outstanding and large culinary dictionary and glossary that includes the definitions and history of cooking, food, and beverage terms. Please click on a letter below to alphabetically search the many food and cooking terms: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U-Y Z cabbage – There are over 70 varieties of cabbage. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, kohlrabi, collards, kale, turnips, and many more are all a member of the cabbage family. These plants are all known botanically as members of the species Brassica oleracea, and they native to the Mediterranean region of Europe History: According to horticultural historians, barbarians were eating the juicy, slightly bulbous leaves of wild cabbage in Asia long before the dawn of recorded history. The Greeks revered the cabbage for its many medicinal properties. Cato, an ancient Roman statesman, circa 200 BCE, advised people to eat plenty of raw cabbage seasoned with vinegar before a banquet at which one plans to “drink deep.” Even the ancient Egyptians advised starting the meal with raw cabbage, including cabbage seeds, to keep one sober. It is an historical fact that the laborers who built the Great Wall in China were fed sauerkraut to prevent scurvy and other debilitating diseases that come from eating only rice. Europeans were devouring stewed cabbage during the cold winter months because it was one of the few staples available when the ground produced little else. cabernet sauvignon (cab-air-nay so-veen-yawn) – One of the finest of red wines. It is associated with the Bordeaux region in France but the grapes are now grown worldwide. caciocavallo cheese (kah-choh-kuh-VAH-loh) – This cheese is said to date back to the 14th century, and believed by some to have originally been made from mare’s milk. Today, Caciocavallo cheese is made from cow’s milk, though its cryptic name literally means “horse cheese” – the Sicilian word “cacio” sharing the same root as casein while “cavallo” means horse. (There’s a theory that the cheese owes its name to the manner in which two bulbs were attached by a string and suspended from a beam “a cavallo” as though astride a horse.) It takes at least eight months to age Caciocavallo cheese properly, achieving a sharper flavor in about two years. Caciocavallo is a good complement to stronger wines, and widely used for grating over pasta. It is a favorite of Sicilian chefs for use with pasta. It Is usually shaped as a large wheel. “Caciovacchino” was a similar product made in times past. Caesar Salad (SEE-zer) – The salad consists of greens (classically romaine lettuce) with a garlic vinaigrette dressing. The Caesar salad was once voted by the International Society of Epicures in Paris as the “greatest recipe to originate from the Americas in fifty years.” History: For a detailed history of the Caesar Salad, check out History of Salads and Salad Dressings cafe noir – French for black coffee (coffee without cream or milk). caffe (kah-FEH) – It is the Italian term for “coffee.” In Italy, the term caffe usually refers to a small cup of espresso coffee. Cajun cuisine (KAY-juhn kwee-ZEEN) – Cajun food is essentially the poor cousin to Creole. Today it tends to be spicier and more robust than Creole, utilizing regionally available resources and less of the foods gained through trade. Some popular Cajun dishes include pork based sausages such as andouille and boudin; various jambalayas and gumbos; coush-coush (a creamed corn dish) and etouffee. The true art of Louisiana seasonings is in the unique blend of herbs and spices that serve to enhance the flavor of vegetables, seafood, meats, poultry and wild game, along with a “Cajun” cook that knows how to blend these spices. History: Learn about the history and recipes of Cajun Cuisine. cake – Cakes are made from various combinations of refined flour, some form of shortening, sweetening, eggs, milk, leavening agent, and flavoring. There are literally thousands of cakes recipes (some are bread-like and some rich and elaborate) and many are centuries old. Cake making is no longer a complicated procedure. Baking utensils and directions have been so perfected and simplified that even the amateur cook may easily become and expert baker. There are five basic types of cake, depending on the substance used for leavening. History: For a detailed History of Cakes . cake flour – Cake flour is very finely ground soft wheat used to make tender, fine-textured cakes. It is bleached with chlorine gas, which, besides whitening the flour, also makes it slightly acidic. This acidity makes cakes set faster and have a finer texture. calamari (kah-lah-MAH-ree) – Calamari are squid. This cephalopod has a long body with swimming fins at the rear, two tentacles, and eight arms. Calamari takes their name from the Latin word “calamus,” which refers to the inky liquid excreted by the squid and used in pastas and sauces. Calas – Calas are fried balls of rice and dough that are eaten covered with powdered sugar, not unlike rice-filled beignets. History: It is said that long ago, on cold mornings in New Orleans, women would walk the streets of the French Quarter selling these warm fried cakes for breakfast. “Calas! Calas, Tout Chaud!” as the Creole women used to shout when they sold them in the French Quarter of New Orleans. California Roll – A California roll is a slender mat-rolled sushi roll containing crab, avocado, and cucumber. Today, in California and Hawaii, sushi reigns supreme, and the most popular sushi today are the California Rolls. Most people in Japan have never heard of the California Roll. Learn how to make California Rolls – American-Style Sushi Rolls . History: During the 1970s in the early stage of the sushi boom in California, most people did not like the thought of raw fish and nori, so a smart unknown California chef created the now famous California Roll. Most people in Japan have never heard of the California Roll. calzone (kahl-ZOH-nay) – An Italian word meaning “a trouser leg.” It is a pizza crust rolled out and topped with all the ingredients of a normal pizza except tomato, then folded over to a half-moon or crescent-shaped turnover. The tomato sauce is sprinkled on top and it then goes into the oven. It is lightly drizzled with olive oil upon its emergence. Camembert cheese (KAM-uhm-behr) – (French) Soft and ripened (tastes much like Brie cheese), but more pointed in flavor and richer in texture. It is made from 100% cow’s milk. The most widely marketed of all French cheeses. It is used for dessert and snacks. History: Marie Fontaine at Camembert in Orne, France first made Camembert cheese in 1791. It is said that Napoleon was served this cheese (which was as yet unnamed) and he then named it Camembert. Canadian bacon – It is a lean, boneless pork loin roast that is smoked. Called back bacon in Canada, Canadian bacon is precooked and can be fried, baked, or added to casseroles or salads. canape (KAN-uh-pay) – A French term that consists of bite-size bits of savory food spread on edible bases (toasted or untoasted bread) and garnished or decorated. They are served as snacks (appetizers) at cocktail and buffet parties. candlenut – Candlenut is the name of a tropical nut used in Malaysian cuisine. It derives its peculiar name from the fact that the oil of the nut is also used to make candles. Candlenuts are available only roasted, whole, or in pieces, because raw they are highly toxic. The function of the candlenut in satays or curries is to flavor and thicken. candy bar – History: At the 1893 Columbian Exposition, a World’s Fair held in Chicago, chocolate-making machinery made in Dresden, Germany, was displayed. Milton S. Hershey, who had made his fortune in caramels, saw the potential for chocolate and installed chocolate machinery in his factory in Lancaster, and produced his first chocolate bars in 1894. Other Americans began mixing in other ingredients to make up new candy bars throughout the end of the 1890’s and the early 1900’s. It was World War I that really brought attention to the candy bar. The U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps commissioned various American chocolate manufacturers to provide 20 to 40 pound blocks of chocolate to be shipped to quartermaster bases. The blocks were chopped up into smaller pieces and distributed to dough boys in Europe. Eventually the task of making smaller pieces was turned back to the manufacturers. As a result, from that time on and through the 1920s, candy bar manufacturers became established throughout the United States, and as many as 40,000 different candy bars appeared on the scene. The Twenties became the decade that among other things was the high point of the candy bar industry. The original candy bar industry had its start on the eastern seaboard in such cities as Philadelphia, Boston, and New York. The industry soon spread to the Midwest, because shipping and raw materials such as sugar, corn syrup, and milk were easily available. Chicago became the seat of the candy bar industry and is even today an important base. candy cane – History: The symbol of the shepherds’ crook is an ancient one, representing the humble shepherds who were the first to worship the newborn Christ. Its counterpart is our candy cane (so old as a symbol that we have nearly forgotten its humble origin). In 1670, the choirmaster at the Cologne Cathedral handed out sugar sticks among his young singers to keep them quiet during the long Living Creche ceremony. In honor of the occasion, he had the candies bent into shepherds’ crooks. In 1847, a German-Swedish immigrant named August Imgard of Wooster, Ohio, decorated a small blue spruce with paper ornaments and candy canes. It was not until the turn of the century that the red and white stripes and peppermint flavors became the norm. The body of the cane is white, representing the life that is pure. The broad red stripe is symbolic of the Lord’s sacrifice for man. In the 1920s, Bob McCormack began making candy canes as special Christmas treats for his children, friends and local shopkeepers in Albany, Georgia. It was a laborious process – pulling, twisting, cutting and bending the candy by hand. It could only be done on a local scale. In the 1950s, Bob’s brother-in-law, Gregory Keller, a Catholic priest, invented a machine to automate candy cane production. Packaging innovations by the younger McCormack made it possible to transport the delicate canes on a scale that transformed Bobs Candies, Inc. into the largest producer of candy canes in the world. Although modern technology has made candy canes accessible and plentiful, they have not lost their purity and simplicity as a traditional holiday food and symbol of the humble roots of Christianity. candy thermometer – A large glass mercury thermometer that measures temperatures from about 40 degrees F. to 400 degrees F. A frame or clip allows it to stand or hang in a pan during cooking. Learn more about Candy Thermometer & Candy Temperatures . cannellini bean (kan-eh-LEE-nee) – A large white Italian kidney bean that’s great in soups and stews. cannoli/cannola (cah-KNOW-lee) – (cannola = singular, cannoli = multiple) – They are sometimes called “Turkish hats.” The cannoli is perhaps the best-known Sicilian pastry and is part of Sicily’s ancient tradition of pastry and dessert making. It is made by stuffing cylinders of fried dough (wafer shells) with a mixture of ricotta or custard, candied fruit, chocolate, and other ingredients. Originally, the pastry was flavored with wine, and in Sicily this is still done. They are traditionally prepared for festivities at Carnival time (though nowadays they are to be found all year round). History: Sicilian cooking is a living history text; the island has been home to Greeks, Romans, Normans, Bourbons, and Arabs over the centuries. Each wave of military conquerors has helped shaped the Sicilian table. According to legend, it is said that cannoli have been invented in the 9th century by the women of a harem in the city of Caltanissetta, Sicily, which got its name from the Arab, Kalt el Nissa, meaning “city or castle of women.” It later became known as a carnival dessert, the “scepter of the Carnival King,” but it is now consumed throughout the year. During carnival time, people gave cannoli to all their friends. canola oil – Canola’s history goes back to the rapeseed plant, but canola and rapeseed are not the same. Because canola and rapeseed have different chemical compositions, the names cannot be used interchangeably. Canola is an oilseed crop, which is grown primarily in regions of Western Canada, with some acreage being planted in Ontario and the Pacific Northwest, north central, and southeast United States. History: Historically, rapeseed was grown for its oil, which was used for lubricants and not for human consumption. Canola was derived from rapeseed in the early 1970’s and has a different chemical composition. Canola was originally a trademark that was registered in 1978 in Canada, but is now considered a generic term. cantaloupe (KAN-tuh-lohp) – A variety of muskmelon. It is found in many shapes and sizes. Because of trade usage, cantaloupe has become the name commonly applied to muskmelons grown in the U.S. History: It is named after the castle of Cantaloupe in the province of Ancona, Italy. capellini (ka-pel-LEE-nee) – In Italian, capellini means, “thin hair.” This is one of the very thin varieties of flat spaghetti. Also called angel hair pasta. capers (KAY-per) – Capers are the unopened green flower buds of the Capparis Spinosa, a wild and cultivated bush grown mainly in the Mediterranean countries, notably southern France, Italy, and Algeria. They are now also grown in California. They range in size from that of a tiny peppercorn (the petite variety from southern France and considered the finest) to some as large as the tip of your little finger (from Italy). They generally come in brine but can also be found salted and sold in bulk. Either way, rinse before using to flush away as much salt as possible. Learn more about Capers . non-pareil capers – These are the French words, which literally mean “without equal.” In relation to capers, they refer to the small pickled capers, which originate from Provence, France. Because they are considered “the best” this variety is named “non-pareil.” capon (KAY-pahn) – A 6 to 8 pound castrated male chicken (an unsexed rooster). More richly flavored than regular chicken and with a denser texture. History: It was under a Roman prohibition that the capon was created. The law prohibited eating any fowl except a hen, and this bird was not to be fattened. A surgeon, looking for a way around this law, transformed a rooster into a capon by the now old and well-known surgical trick. Neither hen nor rooster, the capon was a huge success. It was perfectly safe to eat him because he was “within the law.” caponate (kah-poh-NAH-tah) – A Sicilian vegetable dish made of various ingredients, but usually includes cooked eggplant, celery, capers, anchovies, chile peppers, olives, tomatoes, vinegar, and onions. History: Sailors’ taverns in Sicily were called “caupone,” where the dish was usually made and served with sea biscuits. The dish seems to have gotten its name from this word suggesting the kind of robust food served at a tavern or inn. cappuccino – Coffee made by topping espresso with the creamy foam from steamed milk. A small amount of the steamed milk is also added to the cup. The foam’s surface is sometimes dusted with sweetened cocoa powder, nutmeg or cinnamon. Caprese (kah-PREH-seh) – In the style of Capri. such a sauce is usually made from lightly cooked tomatoes, basil, olive oil, and mozzarella, to use on pastas, meats, fish, or salads. Check out this very easy-to-make Caprese salad: Mozzarella, Tomato and Basil Plate . capsicum (KAP-sih-kuhm) – All peppers are members of the genus Capsicum, and the family Solanaceae, which include tomatoes and eggplant. The name Capsicum comes from the Greek word “kapto” which means, “to bite.” There are 26 species of peppers categorized at present; however there is much discussion and argument involved. Most of these are only found in the wild. Also known as Bell Pepper. caramel (KAR-uh-mul or KAR-uh-mel) – Also called “burnt sugar.” A flavoring made by melting white sugar in a heavy skillet until it colors. It must be stirred constantly over a very low heat to prevent burning. caramelize (KAR-uh-mul-lze, KAR-uh-mel-lze or KAHR-mul-lze) – (1) To heat sugar until it liquefies and becomes a clear caramel syrup ranging in color from golden to dark brown. (2) Heating of meats or vegetables until the natural sugars in them break down and turn light brown (such as caramelizing onions). Sugar will begin to caramelize at 320 degrees F. Generally it occurs between 320 and 360 degrees F. caramelized sugar – To heat sugar to its melting point, at which time it liquefies into a clear caramel syrup. The new flavor it attains works nicely in desserts. Learn how to Caramelizing Sugar (Photo Tutorial). caraway seed – They are the fruit of the “carum carvi” a biennial plant, which grows in northern and central Europe and Asia, and have been cultivated in England and America for its seeds. They are available whole; if desired, grind or pound before using.Caraway seeds can become bitter during long cooking. When preparing soups and stews, add the crushed or whole seeds only 15 minutes before you take the pot off the stove. History: Caraway seeds have been used as a spice for about 5,000 years; there is evidence of its culinary use in the Stone Age. carbonara – Carbonara in Italian means “charcoal” or “coal,” and “alla carbonara” means “in the manner of the coal miners.” In Italy, the names of dishes generally tell us where or with whom they originated: dishes called Bolognese come from Bologna, alla Romana from Rome, Neapolitan from Naples; anything marinara is prepared in the manner of sailors, puttanesca is favored by hookers, and carbonara comes to us from the charcoal makers or wood cutters. A classic Roman dish is Spaghetti alla Carbonara. Most of the ingredients for Spaghetti alla Carbonara could easily be carried by charcoal makers traveling to the forests of the Abruzzi to get wood, and the rest could be bought or “found” along the way. The town now called Aquilonia, was originally named Carbonara during the Samnite and Roman period. Carbonara most likely derived its name from the principal activity of coal mining in the nearby woods. Carbonara was destroyed by the barbarians and rebuilt on its ruins by the Longobard in the 6th century. (1) There are several ideas that one hears from time to time. It is thought that a coal miner’s wife first cooked pasta this way that probably cooked over a coal or charcoal cooking fire, and it was popular among coal miners’ families before it spread to the general public. (2) Another story suggests that the abundant black pepper in Pasta alla Carbonara symbolized the charcoal that inevitably fell from the artisan onto the plate. The other, that the pepper simply camouflaged the flecks of charcoal on the plate. (3) Carbonara Americana was invented as a way to use bacon and eggs bought on the black market from American service personnel during the Second World War. After World War II when the GI’s tasted the original Spaghetti alla Carbonara, they “Americanized” it in the mess halls by tossing in peas, mushrooms, and using American bacon that the Army shipped over. carbohydrates – Carbohydrates are a group of organic compounds that contain carbon in combination with the same proportion of hydrogen and oxygen (as in water). All starches and sugars are carbohydrates. The body receives a large amount of heat and energy from carbohydrate foods. The body changes all carbohydrates into simple sugar and the surplus is stored in the body as fat (and in the liver as glycogen). A large excess of sugar is normally eliminated by the kidneys. The usual “sweet tooth” of people is the result of body hunger for carbohydrates. Children require more carbohydrates than adults because they must satisfy the needs of growing bodies. cardoon (karh-DOON) – The cardoon is a vegetable that is very popular in France, Italy, and Spain. It resembles a large bunch of wide flat celery and is silvery-gray in color. Once the tough outer ribs are removed, cardoon can be boiled, braised, or baked. Cardoon tastes like a cross between an artichoke, celery, and salsify and its season is from midwinter to early spring. carob (KEHR-uhb) – The long, leathery pods from the tropical carob tree contain a sweet, edible pulp (which can be eaten fresh) and a few hard, inedible seeds. After drying, the pulp is roasted and ground into a powder. It is used to flavor baked goods and candies. Both fresh and dried carob pods, as well as carob powder, may be found in health food and specialty food stores. Because carob is sweet and taste vaguely of chocolate, it is often used as a chocolate substitute. Carpaccio (karh-PAH-chee-oh) – Carpaccio is a classic Italian dish of paper-thin slices of raw beef, served with salt, pepper, and olive oil. The term also means very thin slices of meat, fish, and/or vegetables. History: Giuseppe Cipriani, owner of Harry’s Bar in Venice, Italy, invented Carpaccio in 1950s. The dish was named for the 15th century painter Vittore Carpaccio (1450-1526) who was noted for his use of red and black, with some shades of brown in his paintings. There are two theories on why Cipriani invented this dish. They are: (1) Cipriani had to come up with a brand new dish for a large banquet to be held in his restaurant in honor of Carpaccio and inauguration of the exhibition of the artist’s work; (2) A Venetian countess, who was a regular at Harry’s Bar, was forced to go on a very strict diet by her doctor and ordered to forgo all cooked meat. Giuseppe Cipriani made for her a dish of thinly sliced raw beef filet. Because the red of the meat reminded Cipriani of the color often used by the Venetian painter, Carpaccio, he named the dish in his honor. carrot – Carrots are a member of the parsley family and are the roots of the plant. Other root crops are celeriac, parsnip, beets, potatoes, and turnips. Carrots are always in season and can be found with their curly green tops, pre-trimmed for easy use, cut into sticks for use as snacks, or in packages of miniature varieties perfect for school lunches. History: Carrots were in common use during the times of ancient Rome and Greece. They are native to Afghanistan, and early varieties were black, red, and purple and not the familiar orange. It was in Belgium that the carrots was refined and bred to the orange rood in the 1500s. In 1776, Adam Smith in Wealth of Nations refers to them as a crop that changed “cultivation from the spade to the plough.” Carry-Over Cooking or Residual Heat – Have you ever noticed that the internal temperature of foods (such as meats, fish, vegetables, pasta, and eggs) continues to rise after removing it from your stove, grill, or oven? This is called “Carry-Over Cooking.” Your meats, fish, vegetables, pasta, and even eggs will continue to cook after being removed from the heat source. Understanding how this works and using it carefully can greatly improve the quality of your foods you cook. Definition: Carry-over cooking is caused by residual heat transferring from the hotter exterior of the meat to the cooler center. As a general rule, the larger and thicker the cut of meat, and the higher the cooking temperature, the more residual heat will be in the meat, and the more the internal temperature will rise during resting due to carry-over cooking. This means the meat must be removed from the heat at an internal temperature lower than your desired final internal temperature, allowing the residual heat to finish the cooking. When cooking meats and fish, use a thermometer to check your meat’s temperature, and remove it from the heat when it’s 5 to 10 degrees away from where you want it to be when you eat it. When cooking vegetables and eggs, remove from heat source just before you think it is about done. Cashew nut – The cashew is native to American and no is also grown in India and East Africa. The nut hangs below the branch much like an apple. Cassata (kas-ata) – There are two theories on where cassata derives it name from; (1) A term in Arabic, “quas at,” meaning the round bowl in which this sweet was originally made. (2) Other sources say that the word derives from the Latin word caseus (cheese) which would clearly refer to the ricotta cheese, one of the main ingredients needed for making cassata. Cassata is a spectacular Sicilian dessert of ricotta, candied fruit, pistachios, sugar, chocolate, liqueur soaked sponge cake and green pistachio icing. History: Cassata was perfected by a group of nuns in the convents in Palermo, where such great quantities were made at Easter time that in 1575, the diocesan was compelled to prohibit production for fear that the nuns might neglect their religious duties during Holy Week. Cassatella – A miniature versions of cassata, perfectly domed and frosted white with a cherry on top, is said to recall St Agata, the patron saint of Catania, who was martyred by being rolled in hot coals and having her breasts cut off. Catanians, with their intense emotional inner life and love of melodramatic gesture, are proud of their little cakes. The rationale is that if you eat the body of Christ in communion, why not the breasts of a saint. casserole (kasa-rol) – The word casserole is derived from the Old French word casse and the Latin word cattia meaning a “frying pan or saucepan.” As often happens in history, the name of the cooking utensil was used for the dish name. (1) A casserole is an ovenproof or flameproof dish or pan that has a tight lid. It is used to cook meat and vegetables slowly. (2) A casserole is also a stew or ragout consisting of meat and vegetables, which are put in a casserole dish at the same time and cooked by stewing. cassoulet (kas-soo-LAY) – A cassoulet (which was first made in Languedoc in the southwest of France) is a casserole, which consists of different kinds of meat (usually five different kinds), one of which should be pork and another a bird (such as goose, duck, or chicken). The dish also includes white haricot beans, sausage, and garlic. It is covered while cooking and cooked very slowly. ghivetch – The word derives from the Turkish word “guvec” which means a “cooking pot.” It is a casserole of vegetables (such as carrots, potatoes, beans, squash, onions, cauliflower, peppers, etc.), which is simmered in a bouillon. cassolette (kaso-let) – (1) Cassolette means a small dish for food sufficient for one person (a one-portion dish), which is usually made from earthenware. (2) It can also mean a very small case made from fried bread, pastry, egg, and breadcrumbs that are filled with a savory mixture (these are served as snacks or appetizers). catfish – A mostly freshwater fish with long, cat-like whiskers (like feelers) around the mouth. Most catfish are farmed. The U.S. leads all other nations in the consumption of catfish. It is particularly popular in the southern and central states. Catfish have skin that is similar to that of an eel, which is thick, slippery, and strong. A ll catfish should be skinned before cooking. The most common and easiest method to skin a catfish is to nail the head of the dead fish to a board, hold on to its tail, and pull the skin off with pliers. There are 2,000 species of catfish, whose name (probably due to the “whiskers”) first appeared in print in 1612. North America has 28 species of catfish, over a dozen of which are eaten. The most popular edible catfish are the channel catfish, the white catfish, and blue catfish. Of all the catfish grown in the United States, eighty percent comes from Mississippi, where more than 102,000 acres are devoted to catfish farms. Learn more about Catfish . caviar/caviare (KA-vee-ahr) – Caviar is from the Persian word “khav-yar” meaning “cake of strength,” because it was thought that caviar had restorative powers and the power to give one long life. Caviar is from the salted roe (eggs) of several species of sturgeon (it was originally prepared in China from carp eggs). The carp is really a goldfish and is the only fish besides the sturgeon that has gray colored eggs. Up until 1966, any fish roe that could be colored black was called caviar. Then the Food and Drug Administration defined the product, limiting it to sturgeon eggs. It takes up to twenty years for the female sturgeon fish to mature before it produces eggs (called berries). Serving caviar begins with buying. The most important think to look for is that each berry is whole, uncrushed, and well coated with its own glistening fat. The best caviar is generally eaten as is, au natural, on a piece of freshly made thin toast, with or without butter (though the caviar itself should be fat enough not to require butter). It can also be sprinkled lightly with some finely chopped hard-cooked egg, and onions or chives. Beluga (buh-LOO-guhl) -The Russian name for a sturgeon found in the Black and Caspian Seas (they can grow up to 2,000 pounds). It is the largest of the sturgeon family and is considered the finest caviar. The eggs are light to dark gray in color. lumpfish roe – The lumpfish is found mainly in Scandinavian waters, but also in Chesapeake Bay and off the coasts of Greenland and Iceland. It is widely used as a garnish for soups and canap instead of “real” caviar. Available in small jars, the red or black roe can be found at most supermarkets for a very reasonable price. It is usually pasteurized and vacuum packed. Malossol (MAHL-oh-sahl) -The Russian for “little salt” or “lightly salted.” Only eggs in prime condition are prepared and labeled t his way (caviar prepared “malosol” are considered fresh). Oscietre – This is spelled many ways, including “ossetra”, “oestrova”, and ” osietr”. This is the second largest species of sturgeon and is the Russian name for the Caspian Sea sturgeon roe that is dark brown to golden in color with large granules and a delicate skin. salmon roe – The eggs of the Atlantic Salmon. They are large and bright red and they are excellent for garnishing dishes. Sevruga – The smallest eggs of a sturgeon with a fine dark gray (almost black) color. It is considered of lower quality than the Beluga and Osetra caviar. Tobiko – The Japanese name for a flying fish roe. They have very small red eggs with a crunchy texture History: The American caviar industry got started when Henry Schacht, a German immigrant, opened a business catching sturgeon on the Delaware River. He treated his caviar with German salt and exported a great deal of it to Europe. At around the same time, sturgeon was fished from the Columbia River on the west coast, also supplying caviar. American caviar was so plentiful that it was given away at bars for the same reason modern bars give away peanuts – to make patrons thirsty. The sturgeon is a prehistoric dish; fossil remains dating from that time have been found on the Baltic coast and elsewhere. Around 2400 B.C., the ancient Egyptian and Phoenician coastal dwellers knew how to salt and pickle fish and eggs, to last them in times of war, famine, or on long sea voyages. There are some bas-reliefs at the Necropolis near the Sakkara Pyramid that show fisherman catching all kinds of fish, gutting them and removing the eggs. In the Middle Ages. shoals of sturgeon were to be found in the Thames, Seine, Po, and Ebro rivers and the upper stretches of the Danube. At this time, sovereigns of many countries (including Russia, China, Denmark, France, and England) had claimed the rights to sturgeon. Fisherman had to offer the catch to the sovereign. In Russia and Hungary, the sections of rivers considered suitable for fishing the great sturgeon (the Beluga as we know it) were the subject of special royal grants. Under the czar’s benevolence, the Cossacks of the Dnieper, the Don, and the Ural were allowed to fish for one two-week period twice a year (in the spring and fall). Apart from he Cossacks and their families, the banks of the rivers were crowded with rich dealers from Moscow, Leningrad, and parts of Europe. The fresh fish were sold to the highest bidder, who then had the fish killed, prepared the caviar on the spot, and then packed it in barrels filled with ice to be transported. The Cossacks continued to have the right to sturgeon fishing until the Russian Revolution in 1917. To learn more about Caviar, check out Linda Stradley’s web page on Caviar . cayenne pepper (kiy-ann) – The cayenne is one of the most widely used peppers in the world. The cayenne is about 3 to 5 times hotter than the jalapeno, and when ripe, has it’s own distinct, slightly fruity flavor. Heat range is 6-7. ceci bean (CHEH-chee) – See garbanzo bean. celeriac (seh-LER-ay-ak) – Also known as celery knob, celery root, celeri-rave, and turnip-rooted celery. Though known by many names, celeriac or celery root is easily identified where specialty vegetables or root crops (such as turnips and parsnips) are found. A member of the celery family, celery root is a brown-to-beige-colored, rough, gnarled looking vegetable. It hints of celery with an earthy pungency (its aroma is a sure indicator of its membership in the celery family). It is in season from late fall through early spring. Look for as smooth a surface as you can find to aid in peeling. A one-pound weight is preferred. It should be firm with no indication of a soft or spongy center. celery – Celery is ordinarily marketed as the whole stalk, which contains the outer branches and leaves. Sometimes the outer branches are removed and the hearts are sold in bunches. History: The ancient Chinese credited celery with medicinal qualities and used it as a blood purifier. The Romans like to use it to decorate coffins at funerals. The Romans also felt that wearing crowns of celery helped to ward of headaches after a lot of drinking and partying. celery salt – Celery salt is a mixture of fine white salt and ground celery seeds. celery seed – Celery seeds are the fruit of a plant related to the parsley family and are not to be confused with the plant we recognize and serve as a vegetable. They are now grown extensively in France, Holland, India, and the United States. Celery seeds are tiny and brown in color. They taste strongly of the vegetable and are aromatic and slightly bitter. They are sometimes used where celery itself would not be appropriate. cellophane or glass noodles – Also known as bean thread noodles, these are made from mung bean flour. They are usually softened by soaking in hot water for 10 -15 minutes before cooking with other ingredients. ceviche, seviche, cebiche – Often spelled serviche or cebiche, depending on which part of South America it comes from, is seafood prepared in a centuries old method of cooking by contact with the acidic juice of citrus juice instead of heat. It can be eaten as a first course or main dish, depending on what is served with it. The preparation and consumption of ceviche is practically a religion in parts of Mexico, Central, and South America, and it seems as though there are as many varieties of ceviche as people who eat it. Latin American flavors first found a place on Florida menus with South Florida’s “New World Cuisine” in the late 1980’s. This cuisine comes from the diverse cooking styles and tropical ingredients of the Caribbean, Latin America, Central, and South America. History: For a detailed history, check out Ceviche, Seviche, Cebiche . Chablis (shah-blee) – A white wine that is made from chardonnay grapes. chafing dish – The chafing dish is a metal pan, with a water basin, which is heated by an alcohol lamp and used for cooking at the table. Chai tea (chi tee) – Chai is the word used for tea in many parts of the world. It is a fragrant milk tea that is growing more popular in the U.S. The tea originated in India, where those in the cooler regions add spices to their tea (not only for flavoring but to induce heat in the body). It is a centuries-old beverage, which has played an important role in many cultures. It is generally made up of rich black tea, milk, a combination of various spices, and a sweetener. The spices used vary from region to region. The most common are cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and pepper. It ca n be served following a meal or anytime. Though some Americans serve Chai tea chilled or even iced, Bengal custom is to serve Chai tea hot. Check out Linda’s recipe for Chai Tea – Masala Chai – Spiced Milk Tea . chakalaka – A very hot and spicy South African cooked vegetable relish/sauce/salad (in some ways it is like a Mexican salsa) that usually includes tomatoes, garlic, chile peppers, grated carrots, and grated cabbage with beans or diced cauliflower. Preparing chakalaka is very much an individual thing, and depends on what you have available. A traditional dish with the black community that is now popular in the urban areas as well as a side dish at barbecues. chalazae (kuh-LAY-zee) – Ropey strands of egg white which anchor the yolk in place in the center of the thick white. They are neither imperfections nor beginning embryos. The more prominent the chalazae, the fresher the egg. Chalazae do not interfere with the cooking or beating of the white and need not be removed, although some cooks like to strain them from stirred custard. champagne (sham-pain) – Champagne is a sparkling wine. Only wines produced in Champagne, France can legally be called champagne. Otherwise it is called sparkling wine. It is considered the most glamorous of all wines (the name has become synonymous with expensive living). History: Champagne was once called devil wine (vin diable). Not because of what it did to people, but for what it did to its casks. The wine would “blow out the barrels” in the monasteries when warm weather got fermentation well under way. champignon (sham-pee-NYOHN) – French word for an edible mushroom. History: In Greece, around 400 B.C. Hippocrates makes mention of the delicacy of mushrooms that were consumed by the wealthy. The mushroom was thought to possess divine and magical powers. The first written reference to eating mushrooms is the death of a mother and her three children from mushroom poisoning in about 450 B.C. In ancient Rome, the easiest way to get rid of an enemy was to invite him to a disguised mushroom meal using the deadly mushroom from the Borgia family. chanterelle mushrooms (shan-tuh-REHL) – These trumpet-shaped mushrooms flourish in the wilderness areas of the Pacific Northwest and a few places on the east coast. The European and Asian varieties are usually about the size of a thumb. But on the west coast, Chanterelles can be larger than a foot wide and heavier than two pounds. They smell a bit like apricots, have a mild, nutty flavor, and a chewy texture. chapon (shad-PONH) – A small piece from end of French loaf, a slice, or a cube of bread that has been rubbed over with a clove of garlic, first dipped in salt. Placed in bottom of salad bowl before arranging salad. A chapon is often used in vegetable salads and gives an agreeable additional flavor. chardonnay (shar-doe-nay) – Is considered the world’s most popular dry white wine. Chardonnay has become almost synonymous in the mass market with a generic “glass of white wine.” charlotte (SHAR-lot) – Charlotte is a corruption of the Old English word “charlyt” meaning a “dish of custard.” (1) One meaning of a charlotte is a round mold used to make a charlotte dessert. (2) The other meaning is the molded dessert that is composed of a filling surrounded by ladyfingers or bread. Apple Charlotte – It is a golden-crusted dessert made by baking a thick apple compote in a mold lined with buttered bread. History: Named after Queen Charlotte (1744-1818) of England. Wife of George III. It is said that she was an enthusiastic supporter of apple growers. Check out Linda’s History of Charlotte Russe. Charlotte Russe – A cake is which the mold is lined with sponge fingers and custard replaces the apples. It is served cold with cream. History: It is said to have been invented by the French chef Marie Antoine Careme (1784-1833), who named it in honor of his Russian employer Czar Alexander. Charlotte Malakoff – It has a lining of ladyfingers and a center filling of a souffle mixture of cream, butter, sugar, a liqueur, chopped almonds, and whipped cream. It is decorated with strawberries. cold charlottes – They are made in a ladyfinger-lined mold and filled with a Bavarian cream. For frozen charlottes, a frozen soufflor mousse replaces the Bavarian cream. Chasseur Sauce – Chasseur is French for hunter. It is a hunter-style brown sauce consisting of mushrooms, shallots, and white wine (sometimes tomatoes and parsley). It is most often served with game and other meats. History: For a detailed history of Chasseur Sauce, check out Linda Stradley’s History of Sauces . chaud-froid – A French word that mean “hot-cold.” A sauce that is prepared hot but served cold as part of a buffet display. It is usually used as a decorative coating for meats, poultry, and/or seafood. Classically made from bechamel, cream, or aspic. chat/chaat/chatt – The word literally means, “to lick” in Hindu. Chaat belongs to the traditional Hindu cuisine. In India, chaat refers to both a spice blend and a cold, spicy salad-like appetizer or snack that uses the spice blend. It can be made with chopped vegetables or fruits, or both. Indian Chaat is usually vegetarian. Chat is considered a “street-corner food” in India. Today there isn’t a town in India where one would not find some form of Chaat. It is tasty, pungent and really spicy, traditionally eaten from roadside stalls in banana leaves or even newspaper. Different regions of India have their different chats. A supplier of chaat is called a “chaatwallah.” chateaubriand (sha-toh-bree-AHN) – It is a recipe, not a cut of meat. The choice (center section or eye) of the beef tenderloin is generally broiled or grilled and served with a sauce. There is generally sufficient meat for two people and traditionally the fillet is cut at the table. History: It was invented by the chef Montmireil for his employer Francois Rene Visconte de Chateaubriand (1768-1848), French author and statesman (he was said to be an excellent eater but just a fair author). He gave the name to the thickest band best cut from the heavy end of a beef tenderloin. Most state that it was originally served with Berrnaise sauce, but some say the sauce was made with reduced white wine, shallots, demi-glace, butter and lemon juice. It is agreed that the steak was served with chateau potatoes (small olive shaped pieces of potato sauteed until browned). chaurice (shor-REEC) – This is a Creole pork sausage that is a local favorite in Louisiana. The term is similar to the Spanish “chorizo.” History: It is an old local favorite dating back to the 19th Century, but isn’t as easy to find as it once was. It would seem to have come to Louisiana with the Spanish, where it was adapted to local custom and ingredients. chayote (chi-OH-tay) – The chayote is a pear-shaped member of the gourd family. Also called vegetable pear, mirliton (southern United States), choko (Australia and New Zealand). Several varieties of chayote exist, but the commonly available one has thick apple-green skin and generally weighs 1/2 to 1 pound. Thr crisp flesh is mild in flavor, falling somewhere between cucumber and summer squash. It is prominent in the cuisine of Mexico, and today is a mainstay in the cuisines of all of South and Central America, as well as the West Indies, Africa, India, Indonesia, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, it’s grown in the Southwest, in Louisiana and in Florida. Though the chayote can be prepared many ways, it is always cooked, never eaten raw (even if used in salad). Its thick skin is edible, but many cooks prefer to remove it (it can be chewy unless used in a long cooking preparation). The large seed is also edible (many of the vegetable’s proponents insisting that the seed is the best part). History: The chayote is native to Mexico where it was cultivated centuries ago by the Aztecs and the Mayas. cheddar cheese – Cheddar, the most widely imitated cheese in the world. Mature English Farmhouse Cheddar is aged over nine months. Cheddar cheese stands by itself at the end of the meal, as a companion to well-aged Burgundy. It is also marvelous shredded over salads, melted over omelets, served with fruit pies and cobblers, or nibbled with crusty rye bread and a hearty beer. History: It was first made in southwestern England near the Village of Cheddar in Somerset County. cheese – Cheese is a food made from the curds of milk pressed together to form a solid. Through the centuries, cheese has been made from the milk of any milk-producing animal, from the ass to the zebra. Today it is most commonly made from milk of cows, goats, or sheep, with a small fraction from water buffaloes. The differences in cheeses come from the way the curds are drained, cut, flavored, pressed, the bacteria involved, the type and length of curing in caves, cellars, or under refrigeration, and a host of other subtle to severe variations. Generally cheese is grouped into four categories: soft cheese – These include the fresh, unripened cheeses such as cottage, cream, farmer, or pot cheese that need only a starter, perhaps buttermilk, and a few hours before they’re ready to eat. More complex soft cheeses include quickly ripened brie and camembert, as well as those made with added cream, known as double-cremes and triple-cremes; all have thin, white edible rinds with creamy to runny interiors and are ready to eat within a few days or weeks. semi-soft cheese – With this group are cheeses ripened three ways: bacteria- or yeast-ripened mildly flavored cheeses such as Italian fontina and Danish havarti. Also included are blue-veined cheeses such as gorgonzola, Roquefort, and English Stilton that are ripened by the presence of “penicillium” molds. firm cheese – Originally termed “farmhouse cheese” but now mostly made in factories, these cheeses are formed into wheels or blocks, usually with a wax coating to seal out molds and external bacteria. This category includes cheddar, Edam, Gouda, Swiss cheese, Jarlsberg, etc. hese are generally aged a few weeks to more than a year. hard cheese – These are the carefully aged cheeses with grainy textures that are primarily intended for grating. These include Asiago, Parmesan, and Romano. The aging process takes form one year to over seven years. History: Archaeologists have discovered that as far back as 6000 BC cheese had been made from cow’s and goat’s milk and stored in tall jars. Egyptian tomb murals of 2000 BC show butter and cheese being made, and other murals which show milk being stored in skin bags suspended from poles demonstrate a knowledge of dairy husbandry at that time. It is likely that nomadic tribes of Central Asia found animal skin bags a useful way to carry milk on animal backs when on the move. Fermentation of the milk sugars would cause the milk to curdle and the swaying motion would break up the curd to provide a refreshing whey drink. The curds would then be removed, drained and lightly salted to provide a tasty and nourishing high protein food, i.e. a welcome supplement to meat protein. The earliest type was a form of sour milk, which came into being when it was discovered that domesticated animals could be milked. According to legend, cheese was discovered 4,000 years ago when an Arabian merchant journeyed across the desert carrying a supply of milk in a pouch made of a sheep’s stomach. The rennet in the lining of the pouch, combined with the heat of the sun, caused the milk to separate into curd and whey. That night he drank the whey and ate the cheese, and thus, so the story goes, cheese was born. The ancient Sumerians knew cheese four thousand years before the birth of Christ. The ancient Greeks credited Aristaeus, a son of Apollo and Cyrene, with its discovery; it is mentioned in the Old Testament. In the Roman era cheese really came into its own. Cheese making was done with skill and knowledge and reached a high standard. By this time the ripening process had been developed and it was known that various treatments and conditions under storage resulted in different flavors and characteristics. Cheese making, thus, gradually evolved from two main streams. The first was the liquid fermented milks such as yogurt, koumiss and kefir. The second through allowing the milk to acidify to form curds and whey. Whey could then be drained either through perforated earthenware bowls or through woven reed baskets or similar material. The art of cheese making traveled from Asia to Europe and flourished. When the Pilgrims voyaged to America (in 1620), they made sure the Mayflower was stocked with cheese. In 1801, an enterprising cheese maker delivered a mammoth 1,235-pound wheel of cheese to Thomas Jefferson. Intrigued citizens dubbed it the “big cheese,” coining the phrase, which has since come to describe someone of importance. Cheese making quickly grew in the New World, but remained a local farm industry until 1851. In that year, the Jesse Williams in Oneida County, New York built the first United States cheese factory. As the U.S. population increased, so did the appetite for cheese. The industry moved westward, centering on the rich farmlands of Wisconsin, where the American cheese industry really took off. Most Wisconsin farmers believed their survival was tied to cheese. They opened their first cheese factory, Limburger, in 1868. cheese curds – Cheese curds, a uniquely Wisconsin delicacy, are formed as a by-product of the cheese making process. They are little “nubs” of cheese, which if very fresh, squeak when you bite down on them. Unlike aged cheese, curds lose their desirable qualities if refrigerated or if not eaten within a few days. The squeak disappears and they turn dry and salty. Every restaurant or bar in Wisconsin seems to serve them, as they are listed on most appetizer sections of restaurant menus in the state. Learn more about Cheese Curds . cheesecake – Now days there are hundreds of different cheesecake recipes. The ingredients are what make one cheesecake different from another. The most essential ingredient in any cheesecake is cheese (the most commonly used are cream cheese, Neufchatel, cottage cheese, and ricotta.) History: For a detailed history of Cheesecakes, check out History of Cakes . Chef Titles: Executive Chef: The term literally means “the chief” in French. Every kitchen has a chef or executive chef who is responsible for the operations of the entire kitchen. (A commonly misused term in English, not every cook is a chef.) Sous-Chef: This position means “the under chief” in French. This is person is second in command and takes responsibility for the kitchen operations if the chef is absent. Chef de Partie: Also known as a “station chef” or “line cook”, is in charge of a particular area of production. In large kitchens, each station chef might have several cooks and/or assistants. In most kitchens however, the station chef is the only worker in that department. Line cooks are often divided into a hierarchy of their own, starting with “First Cook”, then “Second Cook”, and so on as needed. The Chef de Partie is in charge of any of the following kitchen positions: Sauce chef or saucier: The person responsible for sauteed items and many different sauces. Traditionally, it is the third person in command. This is usually the highest position of all the stations: Boulanger: The bread cook Fish cook or poissonier: The fish cook – all fish and shellfish items and their sauces Friturier: The deep fry cook Grillardin: The grill cook Pantry chef or Garde Manager: The person who prepares cold savory items Boucher Pastry chef or patissier: Is responsible for cold foods, including salads and dressings, cold hors d’oeuvres, and buffet items. Potager: The soup and often stock cook Roast cook or rotisseur: Prepares roasted and braised meats and their gravies, and broils meats and other items to order. A large kitchen may have a separate broiler cook or grillardin (gree-ar-dan) to handle the broiled items. The broiler cook may also prepare deep-fried meats and fish. The Butcher Commis: The common cook under one of the Chef de Partie. This level of cook comprises the bulk of the kitchen staff Tournant (or chef de tournant): The Relief cook. This term describes the cook in the kitchen who provides help to all the different cooks rather than having a specific job. Vegetable cook or entremetier: Prepares vegetables, soups, starches, and eggs. Large kitchens may divide these duties among the vegetable cook, the fry cook, and the soup cook. chenin blanc (shay-naN blaN) – A widely produced white wine. It is often used as a blending wine in generic blends and jug wine. cherimoya (chehr-uh-MOY-ah) – The heart-shaped cherimoya is sometimes referred to as a custard apple, which describes its appearance and texture. The taste, however, is uniquely its own. Cherimoya combines the flavors of pineapple, mango, banana, and papaya into a slightly fermented flavor of the tropics. They are available November through April with the largest supply in February and March. Ripe cherimoyas are dull brownish-green in color and give to pressure when gently squeezed. Eat within a day or two. If fruit is pale green and firm, store at room temperature until slightly soft and then refrigerate, carefully wrapped individually in paper towels, for up to 4 days. Peel fruit with a sharp knife and cut into cubes, discarding the dark black seeds. Add to fruit salads or puree and incorporate into a mousse, custard, or pie filling. Cherries Jubilee – It is a dessert that consists of cherries flamed table side with sugar and Kirsch (cherry brandy) spooned over vanilla ice cream. History: Cherries Jubilee was created by Chef Auguste Escoffier (1847-1935) in honor of Queen Victoria’s Jubilee celebration. There seems to be some conflict as if it was her 1887 Golden Jubilee or her 1897 Diamond Jubilee. Then, as now, the British public delighted in every detail of the Royal Family’s life and everyone know that cherries were the queen’s favorite fruit. The whole nation celebrated at her Golden Jubilee in 1887. The original dish did not call for ice cream at all. Sweet cherries poached in simple syrup that was slightly thickened, were poured into fireproof dishes, and then warmed brandy was added and set on flame at the moment of serving. cherry – There are now 250 different kinds, which vary in color, size, and taste. There are two main groups of cherries, sweet and sour. sweet cherry – It is the larger of the two types and they are firm, heart-shaped sweet cherries. The most popular varieties range from the dark red to the black Bing, to the golden red-blushed Royal Ann. Some varieties are Bing cherry, Rainier cherry, Lambert cherry, and Van cherry. sour cherries or tart cherries – To learn more about Sour, Tart, or “Pie” Cherries . History: Sweet cherries date back to the Stone Age in Asia Minor. They were dispersed throughout prehistoric Europe and brought to America by ship with early settlers in 1629. Cherries are named after the Turkish town of Cerasus (now called Giresun). Cherry stones found in the ancient lake dwellings in Switzerland attest to the prehistoric growth of this fruit. The early Romans cultivated several varieties of cherries. Modern day cherry production in the Northwest began in 1847, when Henderson Lewelling transported nursery stock by ox cart from Iowa to Western Oregon and established orchards. The Bing variety was developed on the Lewelling farm in 1875 from seeds and was named for one of his Chinese workmen. The Lambert started as a cross on the same farm. The Rainier originated from the crossing of the Bing cherry and the Van cherry by Dr. Harold W. Fogle at the Washington State University Research Station in Prosser, Washington. cherry pepper – Also called cherry bombs. They are very thick fleshed and about the size and shape of a small red ripe tomato. They also pack a considerable punch. Heat range is 4 to 6. chervil (CHER-vuhl) – Chervil is a mild-flavored herb and a member of the parsley family. It has dark green curly leaves that have parsley-like flavor with overtones of anise. Chervil is generally used fresh rather than dried, although it is available in dried form. Though most chervil is cultivated for its leaves alone, the root is edible and was, in fact, enjoyed by early Greeks and Romans. It is one of the main classic ingredients in Fines Herbes (along with chives, parsley and tarragon), a finely chopped herb mixture that should be added to cooked foods shortly before serving because their delicate flavor can be diminished when boiled. Chess Pie – Chess pies are a Southern specialty that has a simple filling of eggs, sugar, butter, and a small amount of flour. Some recipes include cornmeal and others are made with vinegar. Flavorings, such as vanilla, lemon juice, or chocolate are also added to vary the basic recipe. History: Check out History of Pies for a detailed history of Chess Pie. chestnut – Known as castagne in Italy. There are many varieties of chestnuts and the trees are common throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. Chestnuts can be roasted, boiled, pureed, preserved, and candied. Choose unblemished shells that show no sign of drying. chestnut flour – Chestnut flour is used primarily in Italian and Hungarian cake and pastry making. The chestnut flour used in Italian cakes and pancakes is made from pulverized raw chestnuts, whereas in Hungary it is made from dried chestnuts. chevre cheese (SHEHV-ruh) – Chevre is the French word for goat and for the fresh goat’s milk cheese. Goat cheeses are not usually aged, so they are fresh and creamy looking with a fairly mild, salty flavor. They are French in origin. This cheese can be molded into any shape. They come plain or coated with herbs and pepper. Used for relishes, appetizers, sauces, and compliments any cheese board. chewing gum – When Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, the Mexican leader of the Alamo attack, was in exile on Staten Island, N.Y, in 1869, he brought with him a large lump of chicle, the elastic sap of the sapodilla tree, which Mayan Indians had been chewing for centuries. He hoped that Thomas Adams, an inventor, could refine the chicle for a rubber substitute. Adams experimented with the stuff, but it remained lifeless. By chance, he saw a little girl buying paraffin a “pretty poor gum” at a drug store. Adams asked the druggist if he would be willing to try a new kind of gum. He said yes. Adams rushed home, soaked and kneaded the chicle into small grayish balls. The druggist sold all of them the next day. With $55, Adams went into business making Adams New York Gum #1 and set the world to chewing and snapping! chianti (ki-AHN-tee) – A classic dry red wine of Tuscany. Often called “pizza wine” as it is often served in wicker-wrapped bottles. Chicago Deep-Dish Pizza – Chicago deep-dish pizza is different from the regular thin crust pizza as it has a thicker crust with more ingredients topping it. It is almost like a casserole on bread crust. History: The origin of this style of pizza is credited to Ike Sewell, who in 1943 created the dish at his bar and grill named Pizzeria Uno. The pizza was so popular that he had to open more pizza restaurants to handle the crowds. Deep-dish pizza may be one of Chicago’s most important contributions to 20th century culture. There are more than 2,000 pizzerias serving this much beloved deep-dish pizza there. For history of the following Chicken Dishes, Check out Linda Stradley’s History of Poultry Dishes . Chicken A’ La King – This is a rich chicken dish that uses lots of cream with pimentos and sherry. It is served either on hot buttered toast, pastry shells, or in a nest of noodles. Chicken Booyah – A super “stick to your ribs” soup-stew made with chicken. While chicken soup is universal and variations of this dish can be found in many cultures world wide, northeastern Wisconsin is the only place in the world where Chicken Booyah is found. It is a favorite at the many festivals, church picnics, bazaars, and any other large gathering in the northeast part of Wisconsin. Restaurants have their own special recipe. Booyah is lovingly called “Belgian Penicillin.” It is believed that the word “Booyah” comes from the word “bouillon.” Chicken Cacciatora – Cacciatore means “hunter’s style.” See cacciatore. This dish developed in central Italy and has many variations. It is considered a country-style dish in which chicken pieces are simmered together with tomatoes and mushrooms. The dish originated in the Renaissance period (1450-1600) when the only people who could afford to enjoy poultry and the sport of hunting were the well to do, This dish developed in central Italy and has many variations. Chicken Divan – A chicken casserole dish with broccoli and mornay or hollandaise sauce. Chicken-Fried Steak – It is also known as Country-Fried Steak and affectionately called “CFS” by Texans. There is no chicken in Chicken-Fried Steak. It is tenderized round steak (a cheap and tough piece of beef) made like fried chicken with a milk gravy made from the drippings left in the pan. Although not official, the dish is considered the state dish of Texas. According to a Texas Restaurant Associate, it is estimated that 800,000 orders of Chicken-Fried Steak are served in Texas every day, not counting any prepared at home. Every city, town, and village in Texas takes prides in their CFS. Some, admittedly, are better than others. Texans have a unique way of rating restaurants that serve CFS. The restaurants are rated by the number of pickup trucks that is parked out in front. Never stop at a one pickup place, as the steak will have been frozen and factory breaded. A two and three pickup restaurant is not much better. A four and five pickup place is a must stop restaurants, as the CFS will be fresh and tender with good sopping gravy. Chicken Kiev (kee-EHV) – Also called Tsiplenokovo Po-Kievski. A boned and flattened chicken breast that is then rolled around a chilled piece of herbed butter. It is then breaded and fried. This poultry dish is also called “Chicken Supreme.” Chicken Marengo – Originally made with crayfish and chicken. Today, the crayfish is usually left out. Chicken Marengo today is chicken cut into pieces, browned in oil, and then cooked slowly with peeled tomatoes, crushed garlic, parsley, white wine and cognac, seasoned with crushed pepper and served with fried eggs on the side (with or without crayfish, also on the side) and toast or croutons, doubling as Dunand’s army bread. Chicken Rochambeau – This Louisiana Creole dish is half a chicken (breast, leg, thigh), which is boned and not skinned. It is grilled, then served as a layered dish – first a slice of baked ham, then the brown Rochambeau sauce (chicken stock and brown sugar), then the chicken is covered with a Bernaise sauce. Antoine’s restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana is famous for this chicken dish. chickpea (chik-peez) – See garbanzo bean. chicory (chick-ory) – An herb of which the roots are dried, ground, and roasted. It is now used to flavor coffee (there is a popular belief that chicory smoothes out coffee). History: For thousands of years, these plants have been cultivated and used in home remedies and a drug of choice for royalty. Queen Elizabeth I of England took chicory broth. In the U.S., chicory is so common on roadsides that it is hard to realize that is not native. Thomas Jefferson had some planted at Monticello in 1774 with the seeds probably coming from Italy. He used it as a ground cover in his fields, as cattle fodder, and as “a tolerable salad for the table.” chiffon cake – It is the first really new development in cake making in many years. It uses vegetable oil in place of conventional shortening. History: For history of Chiffon Cake, check out History of Cakes . chiffonade (shihf-uh-NAHD) – (1) This is a French word, which comes from the word “chiffon” which means, “rag”. In culinary terms, a chiffonade describes a way of cutting herbs and lettuces into thin strips or shreds, which look a bit like rags. (2) Chiffonade is also a dish consisting of a mixture of green vegetables (such as spinach, lettuce, and sorrel) which are shredded or cut finely into ribbons (sometimes melted butter is added). It is used to form a bed for a dish such as egg mayonnaise or as a garnish for soups. chile, chilie, chili pepper – Chile peppers are all members of the capsicum family. There are more than 200 varieties available today. They vary in length from 1/2-inch to 12 inches long with the shortest and smallest peppers being the hottest. Always take caution when handling them (wear rubber gloves when seeding a fresh one). Colors range from yellow to green to red to black. The best antidote for a “chile burn” in the mouth is sugar or hard candy. The heat of chiles comes from a compound called capsaicin. It is located in the “ribs” of the chile. Seeds do contain some heat, but not at the same intensity as the ribs. Chiles are called peppers, but are not related to black pepper. Botanically, they are berries and horticulturally, they are fruits. When fresh, we use them as vegetables. When dried, we use them as spices. Scoville unit is the thermometer of the chile business. Established by Wilbur Scoville, these are the units of heat of a chile’s burn. A habanero is considered 100 times hotter than a jalapeno! Units rank from 0 to 300,000. To learn more about these peppers, check out the web page on Chile Peppers . Chiles Relleno – A Mexican and Southwest dish of stuffed chile peppers. chili – Chili is the stew-like soup made entirely with meat, chiles or chili powder (or both) and according to what region of the country that you live in, it can also include beans. Will Rogers called chili “bowl of blessedness.” History: For a very detailed history of Chili, check out History and Legends of Chili . chimichanga (chim-me-CHAN-gaz) – A burrito prepared with your choice of meat, vegetables, and spices that are rolled up to form a large spring roll, either deep fried or grilled deep-fried, and served on a bed of lettuce with cheese and mild sauce. The chimichanga or “chimi” is the quintessential Tucson, Arizona food item, which has achieved a cult status in that city. The residents of Tucson take their “chimis” very seriously and would prefer to pay more money so as not to be served a smaller one with fewer ingredients. They love the large, gigantic ones. Every restaurant and Mom and Pop eatery has his or her own version of this favorite dish. History: Culinary historians argue about exactly where in Tucson chimichangas were invented. Several restaurants claim the bragging rights of being the first to serve one. The strongest claim comes from Tucson’s El Charro Cake, the oldest Mexican restaurant in Tucson. Family legend says that, Monica Flin, who started the restaurant in 1922, cussed in the kitchen when a burrito flipped into the deep fryer. As young nieces and nephews were in the kitchen with her, she hanged the swear word to chimichanga, the Spanish equivalent of “thingamagig.” Chinese gooseberry – It is now called kiwi fruit and it is a native of China. History: It was introduced into New Zealand in 1906 and has been commercially cultivated there ever since. Since Chinese gooseberry is a rather unenchanting name, they decided to rename the fruit “kiwi.” This name not only identifies New Zealand but also describes the tiny New Zealand Kiwi bird. Chinese parsley – See cilantro. chipotle chile (chih-POHT-lay) – A chipotle pepper is simply a smoked jalapeno pepper. These chilies are usually a dull tan to coffee color and measure approximately 2 to 4 inches in length and about an inch wide. It is sold either dried or canned with adobo sauce. Most of the natural heat of the jalapeno is retained in the process.Chipotle peppers are very hot, and they can easily over power dishes and recipes. Chipotles are available dried whole, powdered, pickled, and canned in Adobo sauce. chitterlings/chitlins (CHIHT-lingz) – Chitterlings are the middle section or small intestines of animals (hot intestines or guts). Chitterlings are the more formal name, but most people call them chitlins. Some people turn up their noses at the mention of chitlins, as they are a food that you either love or hate. Others leave the house while they are cooking, driven away by their earthly odor. The volume sold for New Year’s dinners, with Christmas and Thanksgiving not far behind, attests to chitlins’ popularity in the United States. Learn more about Chitterlings/Chitlins and also a recipe. History: In colonial slave days of the sold South of the United States, December was the time when the hogs were slaughtered. The hams and all the better cuts went to the plantation owners, while the leftovers or garbage (chitterlings) were given to the slaves. Because of the West African traditional of cooking all edible part of plants and animals, these foods helped the slaves survive in the United States. Animal innards have long been treasured foods around the world Scotland has their national dish of haggis (sheep’s stomach stuffed with animal’s minced heart, liver, and lungs); Throughout Europe, tripe (cow or ox stomach) is popular, and French chefs in upscale restaurants serve dishes based on cow’s brains and kidneys. chives – Chives are a member of the onion family. They are used to delicately flavor soups, salads, dips, cheeses, eggs, sauces, and dressings. They make an eye-catching garnish when sprinkled on top of a favorite recipe. Their lavender flowers are an attractive and tasty addition to salads. Chives are almost always used fresh or added to hot foods at the last minute so they retain their flavor. History: Chives have been respected for their culinary versatility for more than 3000 years. In Ancient China, raw chives were prescribed to control internal bleeding. But when chives made their way to Europe, herbalists had a different opinion. They warned that eating the herb raw would induce evil vapors in the brain. Despite the admonishments, chives became everyday sights in European households; bunches of them were hung in houses to ward off evil spirits. Gypsies used chives for their fortune-telling rituals and also hung them from the ceiling to drive away diseases and evil spirits. chocolate (CHAWK-lit or CHAWK-uh-lit; CHAHK-lit or CHAHK-uh-lit) – A delicate tree, cacao, it is only grown in rain forests in the tropics, usually on large plantations, where it must be protected from wind and intense sunlight. The cacao bean is harvested twice a year. bittersweet chocolate – Still dark, but a little sweeter than unsweetened. Bittersweet has become the sophisticated choice of chefs. converture – A term generally used to describe high-quality chocolate used by professional bakers in confectionery and baked products. It has more cocoa butter than regular chocolate. It’s specially formulated for dipping and coating things like truffles. milk chocolate or sweet chocolate – Candy bar chocolate. Chocolate to which whole and/or skim milk powder has been added. Rarely used in cooking because the protein in the added milk solids interferes with the texture of the baked products. semisweet chocolate – Slightly sweetened during processing and most often used in frostings, sauces, fillings, and mousses. They are interchangeable in most recipes. The favorite of most home bakers. German chocolate – Dark, but sweeter than semisweet. German chocolate is the predecessor to bittersweet. It has no connection to Germany; a man named German developed it. unsweetened chocolate – It is also called baking chocolate or plain chocolate. This is the most common type used in baking and is the only true baking chocolate. white chocolate – According to the FDA, “white chocolate” cannot legally be called chocolate because it contains no cocoa powder, a component of chocolate. True chocolate contains pulverized roasted cocoa bean, consisting of cocoa butter and cocoa solids. White chocolate contains no cocoa solids and thus technically is white confectionery coating. Beware–some white confectionery coatings don’t even contain cocoa butter. Even in “real” white chocolate the chocolate flavor is subtle at best, being to real chocolate what white soul is to soul. History: Aztec Indian legend held that cacao seeds had been brought from Paradise and that wisdom and power came from eating the fruit of the cacao tree. Because of a spelling error, probably by English traders long ago, the cacao beans became know as the cocoa beans. The Spanish general, Hernando Cortes, landed in Mexico in 1519. The Aztecs believed he was the reincarnation of one of their lost gods. They honored him by serving him an unusual drink, presented in a cup of pure gold. This unusual drink was called chocolatl by the Aztecs. During his conquest of Mexico, Cortez found the Aztec Indians using cocoa beans in the preparation of the royal drink of the realm, “chocolatl,” meaning warm liquid. In 1519, Emperor Montezuma, who reportedly drank 50 or more portions daily, served chocolate to his Spanish guests in great golden goblets, treating it like a food for the gods. Montezuma’s chocolate was very bitter, and the Spaniards did not find it to their taste. To make the concoction more agreeable to Europeans, Cortez and his countrymen conceived the idea of sweetening it with cane sugar. While they took chocolate back to Spain, the idea found favor and the drink underwent several more changes with newly discovered spices, such as cinnamon and vanilla. Ultimately, someone decided the drink would taste better if served hot. This sweet drink became fashionable and soon there were chocolate houses in all the capitals of Europe. Swiss chocolatier, Daniel Pieter, invented milk chocolate in 1876. Today, the finest chocolate is still made in Switzerland, and the consumption of milk chocolate far out-weights that of plain chocolate. Chocolate was introduced to the United States in 1765 when John Hanan brought cocoa beans from the West Indies into Dorchester, Massachusetts, to refine them with the help of Dr. James Baker. The first chocolate factory in the country was established there in 1780. It was America’s first chocolate mill where they made a blend of quality chocolate called BAKER’S chocolate. chocolate chips – History: In 1939, Nestle created the convenient, ready-to-use chocolate pieces, introducing chocolate chips. In the 1940s, Mrs. Wakefield sold all legal rights to the use of the Toll House trademark to Nestle. In 1983, the Nestle Company lost its exclusive rights to the trademark in federal court. Toll house is now a descriptive term for a cookie. See chocolate chip cookie. chocolate chip cookie – Today the chocolate chip cookie remains a favorite choice among cookie connoisseurs. The term “toll house” has become a part of the American language. History: For the history of Chocolate Chip Cookies, check out History of Cookies . cholent (CHUH-lent) – Cholent is traditional Jewish cuisine served on the Sabbath. Whether the hamin of Sephardic communities, the cholent of Ashkenazic ones, or a fusion of the two, it is still favored by many for Shabbat, particularly on a cold winter day. History: It was born of Orthodox Jewish observance of the Sabbath, when fires could not be kindled. Instead, families would either leave a real low oven going at home or take their pots to the village baker and let the food cook overnight. Some contend that every slow-cooking dish made with beans derives from this Jewish technique. There is no doubt that, in Hungary, it evolved into shalet, one of the national dishes, while the Pilgrims, after spending time with Sephardic Jews in Holland, adopted it prior to sailing to the New World. The substitutions they later had to make for some ingredients resulted in Boston baked beans. The origin of cholent is likely in the pre-Inquisition Sephardic kitchen. From there, it probably traveled to Alsace, where it is believed to have been called chault-lent, Old French for hot and slow. When it was then brought to Germany and Eastern Europe, it took on the basic composition, which characterizes it today. chop – To cut food into irregular pieces. The size is specified if it is critical to the outcome of the recipe. Chop Suey – Chop Suey is the English pronunciation of the Cantonese words tsap seui (tsa-sui in Mandarin), which means, “mixed pieces.” It is a Chinese-American dish consisting of bits of meat or chicken, bean sprouts, onions, mushrooms, etc., cooked in its own juices and served with rice. Most Chinese are not fond of Chop Suey as it is mainly popular with non Chinese-Americans. According to the Chinese-Americans, its presence on a restaurant’s menu is often times a harbinger of bad food to come . It is only served in Chinese restaurants that cater to American customers. History: An American dish that Chinese immigrants in the 1860s, who were untrained as cooks, created out of meat and vegetables fried together in their own juices and served over rice. In the 1860s, a pattern of discrimination emerged that prevented the Chinese from working their own gold mining claims, causing them to take work as laborers and cooks for the Transcontinental Railway. It was this Chinese influence that gave us the totally American Chop Suey, as these dishes were created to feed the workers with what food was on hand. Constrained by the lack of Asian vegetables, and trying to produce a Chinese dish palatable to Westerners, the cook stir-fried whatever vegetables were handy, thus Chop Suey is a mixture of odds and ends of large pieces of vegetables and meat. After World War II, Chop Suey became as American as apple pie to the non-Chinese population. chopsticks – Eating utensils, about eight inches long, rectangular at the top and tapered at the eating ends. Today, chopsticks are used in Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, as well as China, making them the world’s second-most popular method of conveying food to mouth, the most popular being the fingers. Chopsticks are never made of metal because metal may react with the acids found in food and taint its taste. Usually made out of wood, some of the more fancy ones are intricately carved out of bone or ivory. Bamboo is used also. History: It is not known when chopsticks first began to be used, although it is fairly certain that they were invented in China, where they have been traced back at least as far as the 3rd century BC. Knives, with all their associations with war and death, were not brought to the dinner table, as they were in the West. Chinese chopsticks – In China, chopsticks are usually made of bamboo or other wood. Chinese chopsticks were once referred to as chu, meaning, “help in eating.” Today, they are called k’uai-tzu, meaning “something fast.” This phrase is said to have originated among boatmen, who renamed the utensils, originally called chu, which means, “help,” because the word sounded so much like their word for a slow or becalmed ship. This struck them as particularly inappropriate for such an efficient eating tool. The word with which we are all familiar came into being during the 19th century, when traders into Pidgin English translated Chinese words. The word chop means fast, as in the phrase “chop chop!” Japanese chopsticks – The Japanese word for chopsticks, hashi, means “bridge.” Unlike Chinese chopsticks, which are squared-off and blunt at the end, the Japanese utensils are rounded and tapered to a point. It has been suggested that this is in order to facilitate the removal of bones from fish, which makes up a great part of the Japanese diet. chorizo (CHORE-ee-so) – A highly seasoned Mexican sausage that is made with ground pork and hot peppers. It is sold fresh or dried and usually encased in narrow casings, but also sold in bulk in some markets. Mexican chorizo is made with fresh pork, while the Spanish version uses smoked pork. Chorley cake – Chorley cakes are a British pastry made with dried fruit similar to the cakes and buns common in Banbury, Eccles, Coventry, and Clifton. A typical recipe consists of a pie crust (like pastry cut into small rounds) filled with a mixture of dried currants, peel, brown sugar, butter, and spices such as nutmeg. The pastry is folded, and then rolled out until the fruit begins to show through. They are baked, then eaten fresh with butter, or kept for several days. History: It is believed that they were developed to take on trips during medieval times. Each city claimed its own version, differing in spices, fruits, and the use of rum. choux pastry (shoo) – Choux derives from the French work “chou” which means “cabbage.” It was used to describe layered pastry, as the layers were thought to resemble the leaves of cabbage. It is a kind of pastry made from smooth dough consisting of flour, water, salt, butter, eggs, and sometimes sugar. This pastry is used for cream puffs, eclairs, beignets, and other dishes requiring a puff pastry. chow – An American slang term for food. The named is credited to American servicemen for have to stand in line and wait for their food. The word is thought to be from the Chinese word “ch’ao” meaning “to fry or cook” during 1850s when Chinese laborers worked on the Pacific railroads. chowhound – A person who enjoys eating and live to eat. chow line – A line of people waiting for food, as in a cafeteria. chowder (chowda) – Chowder comes from the French word “cauldron,” meaning a cooking kettle. Vegetables or fish stewed in a cauldron thus became know as chowder in English speaking nations (a corruption of the name of the pot or kettle in which they were cooked). History: For a detailed history of Chowder, check out History of Chowder, Clam Chowder/Fish Chowder . Chow Mein – A Chinese-American dish consisting of stewed vegetables and meat with fried noodles. It comes from the Mandarin Chinese words ch’ao mien meaning “fried noodles.” It is thought that this Chinese dish was brought to America by the Chinese laborers and cooks for the Transcontinental Railway in the 1850s. chutney (CHUHT-nee) – The word comes from the Hindustani word chatni, which means “a hot, spicy condiment.” Originally this word referred to a sweet and spicy preserve of fruit, vinegar, sugar, and spices that was used exclusively in Indian cooking. American chutneys are less spicy and very sweet. They are used more as jams or preserves. However, with the advent of “fusion cuisine” and with all culinary terms bandied about rather loosely these days, a chutney can be just about any topping or accompaniment, somewhat sweet, usually made with fruit and used the way we do salsas. History: Chutney became an accepted part of the British culinary scene after the British who lived in India brought it back. cider – Cider is fermented apple juice that is made by pressing the juice from fruit. Although apples are the most common fruit from which cider is made, pears and sweet cherries are often pressed for cider as well. It can be drunk straight or diluted with water. hard cider – Hard cider is a fermented beverage prepared from the juice of apples. The fermentation continues until the sugar is transformed into alcohol. commercial grade cider – Apple juice or cider is usually more refined than ordinary cider. They remove the yeasts and develop to produce hard cider. They are destroyed by a low temperature method without affecting the vitamin content. Apple juice is also put through very fine filters. Of course, they usually add preservatives. fresh or sweet cider – The liquid is fresh cider as long as it remains in its natural state and is not sweetened, preserved, clarified, or otherwise altered. In sweet cider, fermentation is not permitted at all. History: Hard cider made from ripe apples usually contains from 4% to 8% alcohol. Hard cider was a staple of life in the U.S. from the earliest colonial times until the mid-19th century temperance campaigns that resulted in the destruction of thousands of acres of apple orchards. By the turn of the century, hard cider had all but disappeared from the national diet. cilantro (SEE-lan-trow) – Cilantro is the Spanish word for coriander leaves. It is also sometimes called Chinese or Mexican parsley. Technically, coriander refers to the entire plant. It is a member of the carrot family. Chopped fresh leaves are widely used in Mexican and Tex-Mex cooking, where they are combined with chiles and added to salsas, guacamoles, and seasoned rice dishes. Most people either love it or hate it. Taste experts are not sure why, but for some people the smell of fresh coriander is fetid and the taste soapy. In other words, while most people love coriander, for some people, coriander just does not taste good. When purchasing, look for leaves that are tender, aromatic, and very green. If it has no aroma, it will have no flavor. Avoid wilted bunches with yellowing leaves. cinnamon (SIH-nuh-muhn) – It is the aromatic inner bark of the “cinnamonum zeylanicum”, a native tree in Ceylon. History: Cinnamon was considered one of the spices that started world exploration. This common spice was once the cause of much intrigue and bloodshed among traders and growers. The Arabs first introduced it on the world market, but kept the source secrets. They invented fantastic tales of bloodthirsty monsters that roamed the cinnamon country. It was once considered a gift fit for a monarch. In ancient times, it was thought to inspire love, and a love portion was concocted from it. When the Dutch were in control of the world spice market, they burned cinnamon when its price went too low to suit them. Cincinnati Chili – The main differences between Cincinnati and Texas chili is that the Cincinnati Chili calls for some sweet spices and the way you start cooking the meat. The sauce has a thinner consistency that is more like a topping and is mixed with an unusual and secret blend of spices that includes cinnamon, chocolate, or cocoa, allspice, and Worcestershire sauce. Cincinnati Chili is truly the unofficial food of the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, and is the most chili-crazed city in the United States. Cincinnati prides itself on being a true chili capital with over 180 chili parlors. If you choose “the works,” you are eating what they call “Five-Way Chili.” Make sure to pile on the toppings – that is what sets it apart from any other chili dish. To test a restaurant for authenticity, ask for a Four-Way. If they ask you whether you want the bean or onion option, you have a fake Cincinnati Chili as Four-Way comes with onions. History: This chili is unique to the Cincinnati area and was created in 1922 by a Macedonian immigrant, Tom Kiradjieff. He settled in Cincinnati with his brother, John, and opened a small Greek restaurant, called the Empress, only to do a lousy business because nobody there at the time knew anything about Greek food. He then created a chili made with Middle Eastern spices, which could be served in a variety of ways. His “five-way” was a concoction of a mound of spaghetti topped with chili, chopped onion, kidney beans, shredded yellow cheese and served with oyster crackers and a side order of hot dogs topped with more shredded cheese. Check out two different recipes and methods of making Cincinnati Chili: Cincinnati Chili – Version 1- Cincinnati Chili – Version 2 Cioppino (chuh-PEE-noh) – It is a fish stew that is considered San Francisco’s signature dish. It is a descendant of the various regional fish soups and stews of Italian cooking. The best way to make Cioppino, is as you like it. It can by prepared with as many as a dozen kinds of fish and shellfish. It all depends on what the day’s catch is like and what your own personal choice is. The origin of the word is something of a mystery and many historians believe that it is Italian-American for “chip in.” It is also believed that the name comes form a Genoese fish stew called cioppin. Check out Linda’s favorite San Francisco Cioppino recipe. History: This fish stew first became popular on the docks of San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf in the 1930s. It is thought to be the result of Italian fishermen adding something from their day’s catch to the communal stew kettle on the wharf. After World War II, Cioppino migrated to the East Coast. citron (SIHT-ron) – (1) Citron is a semi-tropical citrus fruit like a lemon, but larger and less acidic. It grows as an irregular, open-headed shrub or small tree with large, light green leaves. The flowers are purple on the outside and are followed by large, oblong or ellipsoid fruits. The peel is very thick and is rough and yellow on the outside and white inside. They were originally grown in Europe out of interest for its fragrant fruits, but later, the white pulp was used raw, being served as a salad or with fish. A method of candying the peel was developed and candied peel is now the main Citron product. This plant is never eaten raw but is harvested for usage of its peel. The plant is soaked in a brine solution to extract the oil, which is used in liqueurs. The peel is then candied. This product is used in many baking dishes and desserts. History: This was the first Citrus fruit that was introduced to Europe by the armies of Alexander the Great about 300 BC. It found a suitable home in the Mediterranean region where it has been cultivated from that time to the present. Southern Italy, the island of Corsica and some Greek islands grow nearly all the Citrons. (2) Citron (see-TRAWN) – Citron is also the French word for “lemon.” citronella (sih-truh-NEHL-uh) – It is also known as lemongrass. It is a stiff tropical grass that resembles a large fibrous green onion. It is an essential herb in southeast Asian cooking. It adds a lemony flavor to dishes. citrus fruits – Citrus fruits are native to the southern and southeastern mainland of Asia and the bordering Malayan islands. Their flowers smell sweet and they have five petals that are white and some kinds have purple staining the outer surfaces. The fruits are spherical or egg-shaped and have 8-14 juicy sections containing large, white or greenish seed leaves (cotyledons). These trees are cultivated in orchards or groves and in gardens where the climate and soil are suitable and as greenhouse plants. Florida and California produce an abundant supply of Citrus fruits. Citrus trees require a minimum winter temperature of 45-50 degrees. History: Citrus fruits are native to Southern China and Southeast Asia where they have been cultivated for approximately 4,000 years. In fact, the oldest Oriental literature includes stories about these fruits. The citron was carried to the Middle East sometime between 400 and 600 BC. Arab traders in Asia carried lemons, limes, and oranges to eastern Africa and the Middle East between AD 100 and 700. During the Arab occupation of Spain, citrus fruits arrived in southern Europe. From Europe they were carried to the New World by Christopher Columbus and Portuguese and Spanish explorers and were well known in Florida and Brazil by the 16th century. Superior varieties from Southeast Asia also arrived in Europe with the Portuguese traders in the 16th century. clams – All clams are mollusks that live in the sediments of bays, estuaries, or the ocean floor. Clams are sold in the shell or shucked. There are three major types of clams. soft-shell clams – Known as steamers, manninoses, or squirts. T hey have brittle shells that break easily. hard-shell clams – Known as quahog, littleneck, cherrystone, and hard clam. surf clams – These make up the bulk of the commercial catch. They are used for preparing chowders, clam sauces, and fried clam strips. clarified butter – Clarified butter is butter, which has been slowly heated up in order to separate the white milk solids (which burn at high heat) from the butterfat. The milk solids (which sink to the bottom of the pan) are discarded and the pure butterfat (clarified butter), which remains, is saved for frying and sautng. Chefs clarify butter because it has a higher smoking point and they can then fry or saute in it without it burning. Learn how to make Clarified Butter . clarify – To clear a liquid of all solid particles using a special cooking process.(1) To clarify butter means to melt it and pour off the clear top layer from the milky residue at the bottom of the pan. The resulting clear liquid can be used at a higher cooking temperature and will not go rancid as quickly as unclarified butter. (2) To clarify stock, egg whites and/or eggshells are commonly added and simmered for about 15 minutes. The egg whites attract and trap particles from the liquid. After cooling, strain the mixture through a cloth-lined sieve to remove residue.(3) To clarify rendered fat, add hot water and boil for about 15 minutes. The mixture should then be strained through several layers of cheesecloth and chilled. The resulting layer of fat should be completely clear of residue. clotted cream – Traditionally served with tea and scones in England. It is a 55% minimum milk fat product made by heating unpasturized milk to about 82 degrees C, holding them at this temperature for about an hour and then skimming off the yellow wrinkled cream crust that forms (until the cream separates and floats to the surface). It is also known as Devonshire cream. It will last up to four days if refrigerated in a tightly-sealed container. cloves – The name clove is derived from the Latin word clavus meaning “nail.” Cloves are the fried flower buds of the clove tree belonging to the evergreen family. History: Trade between the Ternate (clove island) and China goes back at least 2500 years. In China, cloves were used for cooking and also to cover bad breath and body odor, any one having an audience with the emperor had to chew cloves to prevent any undesired smell. This spice was jealously fought over by the early growers and traders. They were grown in the Molucca islands for many centuries and then later in Zanaibar. After a cyclone had destroyed the Zanaibar crops, a number of barrels of cloves reached New York that had been stored for 100 years. The cloves were in perfect condition. Club Sandwich – It is a sandwich with cooked chicken breast and bacon, along with juicy ripe tomatoes and crisp lettuce layered between two or three slices of toasted bread with mayonnaise. History: For the history of the Club Sandwich, check out History and Legends of Sandwiches . coagulation – The curdling or clumping of protein (usually eggs) due to the application of heat or acid (such as lemon juice or vinegar) in sauces and custards. In normal environments, the proteins in the egg yolk will begin to coagulate at 160 degrees F. A sauce or custard can be thickened, called coagulation, by adding egg and heating. coat – To cover food completely with a glaze, aspic, mayonnaise, sauce, or icing. Cobb Salad – Typically a Cobb Salad consists of chopped chicken or turkey, bacon, hard cooked eggs, tomatoes, avocado, cheddar cheese, and lettuce. It is served with crumbled blue cheese and vinaigrette dressing. The original recipe for Cobb salad included avocado, celery, tomato, chives, watercress, hard-boiled eggs, chicken, bacon, and Roquefort cheese. History: For the history of the Cobb Salad, check out History of Salads and Salad Dressings . cobbler – (1) An iced drink made of wine or liqueur, sugar, and citrus fruit. Served in a Collins or highball glass garnished with fruit. (2)- Cobblers are an American deep-dish fruit dessert or pie with a thick crust (usually a biscuit crust) and a fruit filling (such as peaches, apples, berries). Some versions are enclosed in the crust, while others have a drop-biscuit or crumb topping. These desserts have been and are still called by various names such as cobbler, tart, pie, torte, pandowdy, grunt, slump, buckles, crisp, croustade, upside-down cakes, bird’s nest pudding or crow’s nest pudding. They are all simple variations of cobblers, and they are all based on seasonal fruits and berries. Whatever fresh ingredients are readily at hand. They are all homemade and simple to make and rely more on taste than fancy pastry preparation. Early settlers were very good at improvising. When they first arrived, they bought their favorite recipes with the. Not finding their favorite ingredients, they used whatever was available. That’s how all these traditional American dishes came about with such unusual names. History: Check out History of Cookies . cooking spray – Aerosol cans sold in grocery stores containing vegetable or olive oil, which can be sprayed in a fine mist. This spray is used for “oiling” cooking pans so food does not stick. One of the benefits of using cooking spray is that fewer calories are added than if the pan is coated in oil. copha – Copha is a solid fat that is derived from the coconut. It is used primarily in recipes where it is melted and combined with other ingredients and left to set. coppa – A hard dry sausage of Italian origin that is prepared by combining meat from the most marbled part of pork necks and shoulders. It is served thinly sliced for antipasto or on sandwiches or pizza. coquille ((kok-eeya) – It is French for a shell (of a snail, oyster, or other shellfish). Coquille St. Jacques (kok-eeya sa zhak) – Coquille is the French word for “shell.” Translated, the name means “Shell of St. James.” Coquilles St. Jacques are scallops cooked in white wine with a little salt, peppercorn, parsley, bay leaf, chopped shallots, and water. A sauce of fish stock, butter, flour, milk, egg yolks, and cream accompanies them. History: In the 12th century, the scallop was around the necks, worn on the robes, and on the hats of pilgrims traveling to the Spanish shrine of St. James the Apostle (St. Jacques in French) in Campostello, Spain. Galicians who would accept passing pilgrims into their homes also hung scallop shells over their doors. The shrine of St James ranked with Rome and the Holy Land as a destination for pilgrims. Pilgrimages were undertaken as a penance for grievous sins such as murder or adultery, to seek help with health problems, or simply as an act of worship. The scallop symbol identified them as harmless pilgrims and allowed them to move unmolested through wars and civil unrest. cordials – A sweet alcoholic beverage made from an infusion of flavoring ingredients and a spirit. Today cordials are usually served at room temperature in small glasses. History: The history of cordials (also called liqueurs) goes all the way back to the 1200s in Europe, when every sort of spice, fruit, flower, and leaves were distilled or infused in alcohol in an attempt to discover cures for diseases, the secret of eternal youth, or a magic portion to turn base metals into gold. Alchemists and monks in monasteries produced these elixirs behind closed doors and guarded the recipes. A single drink might call for over 100 different ingredients (many of which are familiar today). In France, in the 1700s, the character of cordials changed. Their medicinal properties were forgotten and they began to be consumed for pure pleasure following a meal. They were named digestif, a drink to aid digestion. A new cordial was often created to commemorate a victory or other happy occasion. Lighter, sweeter, and more brightly colored than earlier cordials, they were first cousins to the cordials we enjoy today. cordon bleu (kor-dohn-BLUH) – It is French for “blue ribbon” or “cord.” (1) The term is now used to mean “an exceptional cook.” By the eighteenth century, the term Cordon-bleu was applied to anyone who excelled in a particular field. The term became chiefly associated with fine cooks. (2) There is a cooking school in Paris, established in 1895, called the Cordon Bleu. The “Grand Diplome” of the Cordon Bleu Cooking School is the highest credential a chef can have. It is considered to be one of the greatest references a chef can have. (3) The term is also applied to outstanding foods prepared to a very high standard, such as a chicken or veal dish stuffed with cheese and ham. History: There is more than one story on the history of the term. Some claim this association arose after Louis XV bragged to his mistress, Madame du Barry, that only man made great chefs. The lady believed otherwise and invited the king to a small meal prepared by her cuisinie. It was a great success and the king exclaimed, “Who is the new man you have cooking for you? He is as good as any cook in the royal household.” “It’s a woman cook Your Majesty,” Madame du Barry replied, “and I think you should honor her with nothing less than the Cordon-Blue.” A cooking school, called Cordon Bleu, run by Madame de Maintenon, the second wife of Louis XIV, where each young girl, upon her graduation, wore a blue ribbon a an emblem of her culinary accomplishment and expertise. It derives from the sixteenth-century French knight’s order, Ordre du Saint Esprit the most exclusive in France, whose members – royalty included – were called Cordon-bleus after the broad blue ribbons they wore. Nothing was too good for a Cordon-bleu, and the dinners that accompanied their ceremonious meetings were legendary. Courgette – is the French word for zucchini squash. This name is used throughout Europe. coriander (CORE-ee-an-der) – Coriander is related to the parsley family and native to the Mediterranean and the Orient. It represents a seeds, a leaf, and a powder used in cooking. Coriander, the leaf, is also known as cilantro and Chinese parsley. The flavors of the seeds and the leaves bear no resemblance to each other. The tiny (1/8-inch), yellow-tan seeds are lightly ridged. They are mildly fragrant and have an aromatic flavor akin to a combination of lemon, sage, and, caraway. Whole coriander seeds are used in pickling and for special drinks, such as mulled wine. Ground coriander seed is also called cumin. corn – ( 1) The word “corn” is sometimes used to denote grains in general. Corn was the term used for whatever grain was the primary crop in a given place. Therefore, corn in one area might be barley, while in another area it might be wheat. (2) In the U.S., it applies to “maize” or “Indian corn” which was used for food by the earliest natives of the Western Hemisphere. Corn had an important part in early tribal ceremonies and celebrations. corned beef – A beef brisket (a fibrous, tough muscle located in the belly between the animal’s front legs) is considered the meat of choice, though a bottom round can also be used. The meat was preserved in brine using a salt so coarse that it was the size of corn kernels. The traditional corning mix also used saltpeter and spices. Thus, the term “to corn” was coined, and it refers to the process of making the brine for preserving the meat for several weeks. History: Corned beef is of British origin. Corning was a preservation method much used by their military. It was also found well suited to the rigors of colonial life, as few communities had butchers. Although the word “corn” is now used as a verb, it originally was a noun, describing small grains and other, particles. Corned beef was heavily salted and spiced with ingredients in particulate form. Corned beef was originally made with a cut known as “silverside” (part of the round). corn oil – It is made from the germ of the corn kernel. Corn oil is almost tasteless and is excellent for cooking because it can withstand high temperatures without smoking. It is high in polyunsaturated fat and is used to make margarine, salad dressings, and mayonnaise. cornmeal – In Italy, it is known as polenta. Made from ground corn, fresh ground cornmeal is excellent flour for baking. It is similar to semolina in texture. Tortillas and cornbread are two of the most common cornmeal based foods. Cornmeal is versatile enough to be used in both sweet and savory dishes. steel-ground cornmeal – The husk and germ have been almost completely removed from the corn’s hull. Because of this, it can be stored almost indefinitely in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. stone- or water-ground cornmeal – This cornmeal retains some of the corn’s hull and germ. Because of the fat in the germ, it is more perishable, Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four months. corn salad – It is a salad green (not actually corn), having small, white to pale bluish flowers and edible young leaves. Mache leaves are tender, velvety green with either a mild or sweet, nutty flavor. It is also sometimes called mache, field salad, field lettuce, feldsalat, lamb’s tongue, and lamb’s lettuce. It is considered a gourmet green and usually is expensive and hard to find. This plant grows wild in Europe and is used as a forage crop for sheep. It is a pest in wheat and cornfields. Chefs, who love these early spring greens, desire it. Mache is very perishable, so use immediately. Cook it like spinach, or use it in fruit and vegetable dishes. cornstarch – A white, dense, powdery thickener that is finer than flour. It is extracted from the starch (endosperm) of the wheat of corn. It must be dissolved in a cold liquid before it is added to a hot mixture or it will lump. It results in a glazy opaque finish. corn syrup – Also know as syrup glucose. It is produced when starch granules from corn are processed with acids or enzymes. It varies in color from clear white to amber. It is not as sweet as cane sugar and is used a lot in candy making. Baked goods made with corn syrup retain their moisture and stay fresh longer. light corn syrup – It has been clarified to remove all color and cloudiness. dark corn syrup – The more strongly flavored dark corn syrup is a mixture of corn syrup and refiners’ syrup. cottage cheese – Cottage cheese, as we know, is a soft, lumpy cheese, made from drained and pressed milk curds. It is a soft, uncured cheese made from skim milk or from reconstituted concentrated skim milk or nonfat dry milk solids. If the cheese contains 4% or more of fat, it is called creamed cottage cheese. It has also been known, at various times in various places, in various name such as pot cheese, smearcase, bonnyclabber, farmer cheese, sour-milk cheese, and curd cheese. History: For centuries the standard type of cheese was cottage cheese, made by souring milk. The technique of using rennet (a substance taken from the stomach lining of calves) to hard cheese first appeared in Switzerland around the 15th century. Since such cheese could be stored for lengthy periods, it soon became part of the basic food of travelers. The Gaelic term bonnyclabber (bainne clabhair), clabber cheese or clabbered milk dates back to at least 1631, while the name “cottage cheese” only shows up in 1850 or so. In the early part of the 19th century, the name for such cheese was “pot cheese,” which is pretty much synonymous with cottage cheese today. By the 1820s, the German communities of American used the term “smear case” from Schmierkase. Other names are “farmer cheese,” “sour-milk cheese,” and “curd cheese.” cotton candy – Also known as candy flosh, spun sugar, and sugar cotton wool. A fluffy confection that is made from long spun sugar threads. Traditionally made by melting sugar and flossine together in a centrifuge. These resulting strands become long thread that collect on the sides of the centrifuge. History: The inventor of cotton candy is uncertain, as there are two claimants. (1) The city of New Orleans claims that Josef Delarose Lascauz, a dentist, was the inventor of cotton candy and the cotton candy machine and that it was first introduced at the 1830 World’s Fair. (2) Thomas Patton received a patent for the cotton candy machine in 1900 and that cotton candy first appeared in 1900 at the Ringling Bros. Circus. cottonseed oil – A clear yellow oil with almost no taste. It is produced from the seeds of the cotton plant and it is primarily used for commercial margarine and salad dressings. coulis (koo-LEE) – (1) A French culinary term. It is a type of a sauce, usually a thick one, which derives its body (either entirely or in part), from pureed fruits or vegetables. A sauce of cooked down tomatoes can be a tomato coulis as can a puree of strained blackberries. (2) Today coulis also denotes some thick soups made with crayfish, lobster, prawns, and other crustaceans, the word being employed where bisque has formerly been used. History: In old English cookbooks, the word cullis is found but this has fallen into disuse and coulis has taken its place.At one time, coulis were sauces and also the juices, which flowed from roasting meat. Some cooks called liquid purees coulis, but only those prepared with chicken, game, fish, crustaceans, and some vegetables. Country Captain Chicken – A curried chicken dish. The chicken is browned and then stewed in a sauce of tomatoes, onion, garlic, and curry powder. At the end, golden raisins are added. The dish is served over rice sprinkled with toasted almonds. As with all chicken recipes in the South, Country Captain Chicken varies with the cook. Some recipes call for a long cooking time and other use quick-cooking chicken breasts. One thing is always certain about this dish; it is perfumed and slightly spiced with curry. History: For history of the following Country Captain Chicken, Check out Linda Stradley’s History of Poultry Dishes . court bouillon (koor- bwee-YAWN) – It is a French term that means, “short broth.” It is used in place of water when boiling various types of food (mostly used for poaching fish or as a base for fish soups). The broth is made of wine, water, herbs, and spices. It usually is also flavored with onions, celery, carrots and cloves. couscous (KOOS-koos) – It is a French term that comes from the Arabic word kuskus, which in turn evolved from another Arabic word, kaskas, meaning “to pound, to make small.” It is the national dish of Morocco. There are a number of recipes for couscous, which vary from one part of the world to another. It basically is a dish consisting of tiny pellets of crushed durum wheat or rice and salted water. The large-grain couscous has grains about the size of peppercorns, while regular couscous is very similar to Cream of Wheat in size. It has been a staple food in all the Middle East countries and North Africa from the earliest times . It is an Arab dish that was adopted from the Chinese method of steaming rice or other cereal grains over cooking meat. couscousier – This is the traditional pot in which couscous is cooked. It looks like an enormous double boiler with a deep bottom and a perforated top in which the couscous grain is steamed over an aromatic spicy stew. cover charge – A fee levied by restaurante “to cover” the cost of tablecloths, napkins, cutlery, glasses, etc. It has also become the custom for nightclubs, which offer entertainment as well as food and drink, to levy a cover charge of these professional services. crab boil – It is a phrase that describes a mixture of dried herbs and spices that are added to water in which crab, shrimp, or lobster is cooked (it’s strong, pungent and spicy). They come either in a flow-through packet, in dry powdered form, or as a liquid concentrate. The blend is sold packaged in supermarkets or specialty stores. Crab boil includes some or all of the following: whole allspice, bay leaves, hot chiles, cloves, ginger, mustard seeds, and peppercorns. Crab Louie Salad – This famous west coast salad is also called “King of Salads,” and is sometimes written as Crab Louis Salad. Today there are as many versions of this famous salad as there are cooks. History: For history of Crab Louie Salad, check out Linda Stradley’s History of Salads and Salad Dressings . cracklin, cracklings – Also called gratons or grattons by the Cajuns. Cracklings are bits of roasted or deep-fried pork skins. You can make your own, or you may be able to find them at small Mom and Pop grocery stores. History: During slavery, after the slave-owner had rendered his pork fat, the skin was given to the servants. They would then deep-fry this skin and eat then plain or stirred into cornbread batter, and baked delicious cracklin’ bread. cranberry – (Vaccinium macrocarpon) As cranberries bounce when they’re ripe, they are also called bounceberries. Also since their blossom resembles the neck of a sand hill crane, thus another name, “crane-berries.” Gradually, this word became “cranberry,” the name we use today. These berries, blueberries and Concord grapes are North America’s only true native fruits. They are grown in huge, sandy bogs on low, trailing vines across northern North America. Cranberries are usually harvested in September and October. Although, they can be hand-scooped (dry-harvested), most are mechanically harvested while the bogs are flooded. History: The cranberry helped sustain Americans for hundreds of years. Native Americans used cranberries in a variety of foods. They also used it as a medicine to treat arrow wounds and as a dye for rugs and blankets. Ripe berries were mixed with fat and meat to make pemmican. Native Americans taught the Pilgrims how to use cranberries. The Pilgrims considered cranberries such a delicacy that in 1677 the Plymouth colonists sent 10 barrels of them to King Charles II. The tart fruit did not impress him. Cultivation of the cranberry began around 1810. Captain Henry Hall (a veteran of the Revolutionary War), of Dennis, Massachusetts, made an accidental discovery that led to their commercial cultivation. He noticed that the wild cranberries in his bogs grew better when sand blew over them. Captain Hall began transplanting his cranberry vines, fencing them in, and spreading sand on them himself. crawfish (craw-fish) – Sometimes it is also spelled crayfish but the word is always pronounced crawfish. Crawfish resemble tiny lobsters, but are also know in the South as mudbugs because they live in the mud of freshwater bayous. They are more tender than lobster, more delicate than shrimp, and has a unique flavor all its own. These delicious crustaceans are now raised commercially and are an important Louisiana industry. Louisiana is famous for its Cajun cuisine of which crawfish is a traditional element. History: The local Indians are credited with harvesting and consuming crawfish even before the Cajuns arrived. They would bait reeds with venison, stock them in the water, and then pick up the reeds with the crawfish attached to the bait. By using this method, the Indians would catch bushels of crawfish for their consumption. By the 1930s, nets were substituted, and by the 1950s, the crawfish trap was used. Crawfish have become synonymous with the hardy pioneers that settled there after being forced to leave their homes in Nova Scotia, but up until 40 years ago crawfish were used mainly as bait; it took too much effort to remove the meat from the tiny crustacean. crawfish boil – A traditional event or party where friends and family gather to feast on pounds of steaming, boiled crawfish that are highly seasoned with a secret blend of Cajun spices, and served with boiled skin-on potatoes, whole onions, and corn-on-the-cob. In the Spring, whole families will go out fishing on the bayous or crawfish farms in an age-old tradition that thrives to this day. Boiling crawfish is an art and every cook seems to have their own recipe and opinions about what should and should not go into the pot. History: Learn more about the Crawfish Boils and also how to have your own Crawfish Boil. cream – (1) To work one or more foods until smooth and creamy with a spoon or spatula, rubbing the food against the sides of the mixing bowl until of the consistency of cream. See creaming. (2) A rich filling for cakes, eclairs, cream puffs, flans, or fancy tarts. It is somewhat similar to custard filling. (3) The rich, fatty, aggregation of oil globules found in milk. Learn more about the different types of Cream . half and half cream – It is a blending of heavy cream and milk and has about 12% butterfat, 7% milk solids, and 51% water. heavy cream – Also called whipping cream. It contains about 40% butterfat, 5% milk solids, and over 50% water. light cream – It contains about 20% butterfat and 7% milk solids; the rest is water. sour cream – This is cream that has been processed commercially so as to be soured under ideal conditions. It contains about 20% butterfat, 7% milk solids, and the remainder is water. cream cheese – It is a soft, white, smooth, cheese that melts quickly and should not be frozen. It is similar to unripe Neufchatel cheese but has a higher fat content. It is one of the most popular soft cheeses in the United States. creaming – Creaming incorporates air into the butter, margarine, or vegetable shortening to give the cake a light, fine-grained texture. When creaming butter and sugar together, beat sugar gradually into room temperature butter to be sure it is absorbed. If you use an electric mixer to cream, use medium speed. Excessive speed can damage the air bubbles and melt the butter, resulting in a loss of volume and a cake that’s too dense. cream of tartar – Cream of tartar or tartaric acid is a natural component of grapes. Utilizing leftover particles from wine production creates this fine white powder. Crystalline acid deposits form on the inside walls of wine barrels and these deposits are purified and tartaric acid is pulverized into a fine powder. It is also added to baking soda to create baking powder. cream puff – A very light, delicate, hollow pastry puff made from choux pastry. It is usually filled with a sweetened whipped cream or custard. Sometimes they are filled with savory fillings (such as chicken salad). See pate a choux. cream sauce – See bechamel sauce. creme (krehm) – It is the French word for “cream.” (1) It refers to a puree of vegetables. (2) Refers to custard like (such as caramel custard) pudding. (3) It also is the cream-like foam on top of a well-made espresso. (4) A term used to distinguish those liqueurs, usually French that have an unusual amount of sweetness. creme anglaise (krehm ahn-GLEHZ) – Anglaise means “English.” It is French custard, which can be served either, or cold. Also called cream inglese. crema catalana – The Spanish name for creme brulee. See creme brulee. creme brulee (krem broo-LAY) – It is simple custard of nothing more than cream, eggs, sugar, and vanilla that is topped with a caramelized topping. History: The origins of this custard are very much in contention, with the English, Spanish, and French all staking claim . (1) The Spanish have taken credit for this dessert as Crema Catalana since the 18th century. (2) The English claim it originated in the 1860s at Trinity College, Cambridge. It is said that it was born when an English chef accidentally burned custard he had sprinkled with sugar. The chef then passed it off as an original creation calling it burnt cream. It is also called Trinity Cream and Cambridge Burnt Cream. Around the end of the 19th century, the French translation came into vogue. It is thought that Thomas Jefferson, who loved the dish, may have influenced the dish to be called creme brulee. The theory is that Jefferson always referred to this dish by its French name and before long, American and English people were doing the same. Whatever its origins, creme brulee came to the U.S. sometime in the 19th century in New Orleans. It wasn’t until the 1980s that creme brulee gained popularity after being introduced by Chef Alain Sailhac of New York’s Le Cirque restaurant. creme chantilly – It is lightly whipped cream, which has been sweetened with sugar and flavored with vanilla. It is used with many cakes and meringues. History: This cream is named after the city of Chantilly in France was the heavy cream was first produced at a dairy there. creme de cacao – It is a dark, chocolate flavored liqueur created by soaking parts of the cocoa plant in spirit-laced sugar syrup. creme de Menthe – It is the most popular of liqueurs and it tastes of fresh mint. It comes in green and white colors. It is commonly served after dinner. creme fraiche (krem FRESH) – It is a matured, thickened cream that has a slightly tangy, nutty flavor and velvety rich texture. The thickness can range from that of commercial sour cream to almost as solid as room temperature margarine. In France, the cream is unpasteurized and therefore contains the bacteria necessary to thicken it naturally. In America, where all commercial cream is pasteurized, the fermenting agents necessary can be obtained by adding buttermilk or sour cream. To make creme fraiche, combine 1 cup whipping cream and 2 tablespoons buttermilk in a glass container. Cover and let stand at room temperature from 8 to 24 hours, or until very thick. Stir well before covering and refrigerate up to 10 days. It is an ideal addition for sauces or soups because it can be boiled without curdling. It is also delicious spooned over fresh fruit or other desserts such as warm cobblers or puddings. Creole cuisine (CREE-ol) – (1) The word originally described people of mixed French and Spanish blood who migrated from Europe or were born in southeast Louisiana. (2) It is also a local term used in the New Orleans area meaning the finest regionally raised products (such as Creole garlic, Creole tomatoes, etc). (3) Today the term has expanded and now embraces a type of cuisine. Creole cuisine uses more spices than Cajun cuisine and is considered more sophisticated and complex. Cajun cooking is “city cooking.” New Orleans, the capital of Creole cuisine, had established a culinary reputation by early 19th century. History: The Creoles were the European born aristocrats, wooed by the Spanish to establish New Orleans in the 1690’s. Second born sons, who could not own land or titles in their native countries, were offered the opportunity to live and prosper in their family traditions here in the New World. They brought with them not only their wealth and education, but also their chefs and cooks. With these chefs came the knowledge of the grand cuisines of Europe. The influences of classical and regional French, Spanish, German and Italian cooking are readily apparent in Creole cuisine. The terminologies, precepts, sauces, and major dishes carried over, some with more evolution than others, and provided a solid base or foundation for Creole cooking. Creole cooking is based upon French stews and soups, and is influenced by Spanish, African, Native American, and other Anglo Southern groups. The Spanish brought into the cuisine the use of cooked onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. African chefs brought with them the skill of spices and introduced okra. Native foodstuffs, such as crawfish, shrimp, oysters, crabs, and pecans found their way into both Cajun and Creole cuisine. From the Choctaw Indians came the use of file, a powdered herb from sassafras leaves, to thicken gumbo. One factor typically overlooked in the development of Creole-style cooking was that it was food prepared for affluent whites by their black slaves and servants. So often the emergence of a new dish was the result of creative chefs intermingling their cooking experience and heritage with the tastes of their employers. crepe (krayp) – Crepe is French for “pancake” is derived from creper meaning “to crisp.” It is used in referring to the final filled culinary creation and also the “pancake” made from batter. Though the French word has been adopted in the U.S. the crepe is by no means exclusively French. Almost every nationality developed its own version. This culinary delight is almost as old as civilization itself and through the years has been perfected in humble kitchens of the world. A crepe is made from batter comprising beaten eggs, flour, melted butter, a pinch of salt, and a liquid (such as water, milk, or even beer). The batter is poured into a frying pan containing hot oil or butter and fried on both sides until fairly crisp. Crepes Suzettes (krayps soo-ZEHT) – Probably the most famous crepe dish in the world. In a restaurant, a crepe suzette is often prepared in a chafing dish in full view of the guests. They are served hot with a sauce of sugar, orange juice, and liqueur (usually Grand Marnier). Brandy is poured over the crepes and then lit. History: Check out History of Crepes Suzette . crimp – (1) To seal a double crusted pie by pinching the edges together. ( 2) To gash a freshly caught fish on both sides of the body at intervals of about one and one-half inches. The fish is then plunged into ice-cold water for about one hour. This is done to keep the flesh firm and to retain the original flavor. crisp -(1) To make crisp by immersing in cold water or refrigerating. This is used particularly with greens. (2) To crisp foods by heating in the oven. (3) A crisp is fruit topped with a crumbly mixture of butter, sugar, flour and, sometimes, nuts. Other crisp toppings include oatmeal, buttered breadcrumbs, cookie crumbs, graham cracker crumbs, and cake crumbs. croissant (kruh-SAHNT) – Croissant is the French word for “crescent-shaped.” Originally the croissant was made from rich bread dough but is now usually made with dough similar to puff pastry. Layers of dough are separated by butter creating a flaky, moist, richly flavored pastry. They can also be served stuffed. History: It originated in 1686, in Budapest, when the attacking Turks were defeated thanks to the bakers (during their night baking, detected the enemy’s approach and gave the alarm in time). The bakers were granted the privilege of making a special pastry, which they shaped into crescents like the crescent moon on the Turkish flag. They called them “gipfel”. When Marie Antoinette became the Queen of Louis XVI, she brought the recipe with her to France. The French bakers enriched the dough and developed the process of refrigerating the dough after each butter application and of folding and refolding the dough. croquembouche (kroh-kum-boosh) – (French) The word can also be written croque-en-bouche. It derives from the French word croquer meaning to “munch or crunch” or “crisp-in-the-mouth.” The term applies to foods that are glazed with sugar. A croquembouche consists of balls of baked choux pastry (called profiteroles and cream puffs) stacked in a pyramid (cone shape). The pastry is covered with spun caramelized sugar. It is considered the traditional French “wedding cake” and when featured as a wedding centerpiece, it is known as a “piece monte.” It also plays an important role at French baptisms, christenings, and other French gatherings. History: French Chef Antonin Careme (1783-1833) is created with popularizing croquemboche. He was known for the eatable architectural structures he created from the choux pastry puffs. croquette (kro-ket) – Croquette is derived from the French word “croquer” meaning to “crunch or munch.” Ette is a suffix meaning “small.” It literally means “a small crunchy morsel.” Croquettes come in various shapes such as balls, pear-shaped, and barrel-shaped. They are made from a wide variety of ingredients, such as minced meat, fish or poultry, mashed potatoes, rice, tapioca, and semolina. The main ingredient is bound with egg yolk or a mixture of butter, egg, flour, and milk. It is fried in hot oil until golden brown and crispy. crochette – This is the Italian croquette. Its main ingredients are bound with a bechamel sauce. crostini (kroh-STEE-nee) – Crostini means “little toasts” in Italian. Technically, the appetizer is named after the toast that makes up its base. T hey are small slices of bread, usually brushed with olive oil or butter, then toasted. They are then topped with a variety of savory toppings. They are the Italian version of canape. A long thin loaf (such as a baguette bread) will work well. Slice it on a diagonal into half-inch slices. The topping should be spread about a quarter-inch thick. In addition to bread, you can also use polenta squares, cut to the same size and fried for a few minutes, or until crisp and golden, in hot oil. croute (KROOT) – In French the word means “crust.” (1) It is the French culinary name for round or oval pieces of stale bread fried in butter (or any other fat). They are used as a foundation upon which all manner of fish, meat, and vegetables preparations are served either as hors d’ oeuvres, canap,e or for garnishings. (2) Also the name of thin slices of stale crusty bread, toasted or not, which are added to some soups at the time of serving. crouton (KROO-tawn) – The French culinary name for a small piece of bread (usually cube or dice shaped), which has been browned by toasting, baking, or frying. Croutons are used as a garnish or an accompaniment for everything from soup to salads. crown roast – A crown roast is made from either lamb or pork. It is made from the rib chops, using enough ribs (two racks or parts of two), to make a handsome crown. After it is cooked, the tips of the bone are often covered with paper frills. crumpet (KRUHM-pit) – Crumpets are British griddlecakes. A cross between a pancake and an American-style English muffin, the crumpet is a soft yeast-raised bread that is poured into special rings about the size of a small pancake (flat discs about three inches across and an inch or so deep), then baked on a stovetop. They are similar to an English muffin (one side is smooth, the other full of tiny holes) but flatter. You don’t slice a crumpet and it is best toasted. Some, especially in the north of England, call crumpets muffins, while others, particularly in the Midlands call them pikelets (a much thinner and bigger version of a crumpet). History: British history relates to them as teacakes. Crumpets have been known for several centuries, though the origin of the name is obscure. There are records as far back as the 14th century where they are called a crompid cake. Crompid means “curved up” or “bent into a curve”, which is what usually happens to thin cakes baked on a griddle; the word may be linked to crumb, crimp and other words from a common Germanic origin. In the 1930s, the word crumpet became British English slang for a woman regarded as an object of sexual desire. crustacean (krust-ashan) – Crustacean derives from the Latin word “crusta” meaning “crust, shell, or hard surface.” “Cean” is the Latin suffix indicating “belonging to.” The word came to mean a class of animals, mainly sea animals, with hard shells (edible shellfish with shells, such as crabs, crawfish, lobster, langoustine, mussels, scallops, scampi, and shrimp). cube – Cut into small, straight-sided cubes. The size is specified if it is critical to the recipe. Larger cubes are often called chunks.	apple charlotte
Born in 1791, which scientist was assistant to Sir Humphrey Davy at the Royal Institute?	Recipe: Charlotte misu - California Cookbook California Cookbook Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times By Charles Perry \| March 30, 2005 What ever became of charlotte russe? Once upon a time, she was the queen of desserts. It's time to bring back that golden age, when ladyfingers were ladyfingers and desserts did not shrink from simple grandeur. A century and a ... Read more ADVERTISEMENT City Schools Sour Cream Coffeecake Total time: 45 minutes, plus at least 6 hours or overnight chilling \| Serves 8 Note: From Donna Deane and Mary Ellen Rae. Make the espresso sauce while the charlotte is chilling. When making the charlotte, have all of the components except the espresso or coffee ready before you start because as the custard and gelatin set you'll need to work quickly to incorporate the egg whites and whipped cream. 3/4 cup freshly brewed espresso or other strong coffee 2 tablespoons sugar 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water 2 tablespoons whipping cream Step 1Combine all of the ingredients in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn down and simmer for a few minutes until the mixture thickens. Serve warm or at room temperature. May be covered and refrigerated until ready to serve. Makes about 1 cup. Charlotte and assembly 1 (7-ounce) package ladyfingers (savoiardi) 1 cup whipping cream 2/3 cup finely chopped bittersweet chocolate 1/2 to 3/4 cup freshly brewed espresso or strong coffee Bittersweet chocolate curls for garnish Espresso sauce (See related recipe) Step 1Cut 6 ladyfingers in half then make a V shape on one end of each to form a teardrop shape. Arrange the teardrops in the bottom of a 2-quart charlotte mold with the V pointing in to the middle, forming a flower design. Line the sides of the mold with 16 ladyfingers with the sugar side facing out. Step 2Whip the cream with one-fourth cup sugar until stiff. Beat in the vanilla and set aside. Step 3Place the milk in a small saucepan over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, beat the egg yolks and three-fourths cup sugar on medium-high speed until pale yellow, scraping down the sides of bowl as needed, for about 1 1/2 minutes. Step 4Place the egg mixture in a medium saucepan and stir in a little of the hot milk to blend, then stir in remaining milk. Cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens, about 2 1/2 minutes, being careful not to let it lump. Remove from the heat before the mixture starts to boil. Step 5In a small bowl, sprinkle the gelatin over one-fourth cup cold water to soften. Strain the custard through a very fine strainer into a glass bowl and stir in the softened gelatin, stirring until the gelatin has dissolved. Set the bowl in a larger bowl filled with ice and water and continue to stir until it cools and just begins to set. Stir in the amaretto. Step 6Remove the bowl from the ice water. Beat the egg whites to stiff peaks and gently fold into the custard. Fold in the whipped cream. Step 7Spoon one-fourth of the mixture into the bottom of the mold. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of finely chopped chocolate over the top. Add another one-fourth of the custard and sprinkle with more chocolate making four layers of custard and chocolate, ending with chocolate. Chill until set, at least 6 hours or overnight. Step 8To serve, place a plate over the top of the mold and holding it down with the handles, turn the mold over and lift it away. Brush the ladyfingers with the espresso or coffee, repeating several times to saturate the cookies. Sprinkle chocolate curls and remaining chopped chocolate on top. Slice and serve with espresso sauce. Each serving: 526 calories; 11 grams protein; 62 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram fiber; 25 grams fat; 14 grams saturated fat; 248 mg. cholesterol; 119 mg. sodium. Found a problem? Let us know at [email protected] This recipe was featured with: By Charles Perry \| March 30, 2005 What ever became of charlotte russe? Once upon a time, she was the queen of desserts. It's time to bring back that golden age, when ladyfingers were ladyfingers and desserts did not shrink from simple grandeur. A century and a half ago, charlotte russe swept the world and taught it to crave vanilla, spelling an end to centuries of flavoring desserts with rosewater. She remains one of the grandest vehicles for vanilla's alluring flavor. And in case you hadn't noticed, vanilla has become a luxury ingredient again. But she didn't rise by charm alone. A charlotte russe is an impressive thing, a stately ziggurat of a dessert, upholstered with ladyfingers and filled with a pudding as light as a cloud. The classic version is flavored with vanilla and served with fruit, but let's reconceive it for a new century. Let's update it with sophisticated partners such as espresso, bitter chocolate, liqueurs and all the riches of our farmers markets: mulberries, blood oranges, Fuyu persimmons, pluots. Any fruit you like is welcome in a charlotte. Here's the thing: You don't have to be a trained patissier to make a charlotte russe. Queen charlotte is actually quite forgiving. (Keep this quiet.) You can buy the ladyfingers. The only part that involves real cooking is the filling, Bavarian cream -- another dessert that's in unjustified eclipse. The lush Bavarian cream is the part that amazes people. So why not simply serve the Bavarian? Why turn it into a charlotte? Two reasons. The ladyfingers edging the Bavarian make it neater and far easier to unmold, and it's just grander that way. Today, as in the 19th century, charlotte russe is gloriously statuesque, reaching the loftiest heights a Bavarian can without compromising its plush, delicate texture. What makes a charlotte a charlotte is that it's shaped in a distinctive flowerpot mold. The earliest versions, which date from about 200 years ago, were actually baked in this mold. They were nowhere near as glamorous as charlotte russe, though. In place of a luxurious cream filling, their centers were stewed fruit, usually apples. Instead of ladyfingers, stale cake or bread was often used for lining the mold. It's assumed that apple charlotte was named after Queen Charlotte, the wife of George III of England. The royal family took a keen interest in agriculture; the king was known as "Farmer George" and Charlotte was a patron of apple growers. French evolution Charlotte russe was developed from the fruit charlotte by Antonin Careme, the father of French haute cuisine. He originally called it charlotte a la parisienne; the "a la russe" part is assumed to have been tacked on around 1818 to honor the visiting czar of Russia, and possibly with the idea that the white Bavarian cream represented Russia, which the French imagined to be perpetually covered with snow. What was a French chef doing adapting an English dessert? Apart from the fact that Careme had recently worked for the future George IV of England, French chefs had no qualms in those days about cooking English desserts such as "le pouding" and "le plomb-gateau" (plum cake). They just liked to make them fancier. As it happens, Careme had also invented Bavarian cream (named for an aristocratic patron, not for Bavaria). His version was essentially a more substantial version of whipped cream, enriched with custard and stiffened with gelatin. Later in the 19th century, chefs would incorporate beaten egg whites as well, giving it a supernal lightness. In Careme's time, vanilla was still a very rare and expensive ingredient, gathered wild in Mexico. But in 1841, a freed slave named Edmond Albius invented a technique for pollinating vanilla which made it possible to mass-produce it. Vanilla started appearing in ice cream and custard -- and above all in charlotte russe. Charlotte quickly became de rigueur in Europe and America. In "Directions for Cookery" (1851), Philadelphia-based Eliza Leslie remarked that charlotte russe was generally served at large parties, "and it is usual to have two or four of them." At the end of the 1870s, the classic recipe with added egg whites showed up, and after that, there was not only a deluge of recipes but the dish also began appearing on restaurant menus. In the 1890s, even ruffians at lowlife dives (the better sort of lowlife dive, anyway) were said to order what they called "charley ross." The charlotte russe craze continued well into the 1920s, when people were inventing wacky date-nut versions and "angel charlotte russe," flavored with macaroons, almonds, cherries and marshmallows. In the 1950s and 1960s, there were shortcut versions using pudding mix enriched with whipped cream as the filling and wholesome "oat squares" in place of ladyfingers. It was a sign that people no longer thought charlotte russe was something grand enough to work at. Illusion of difficulty In fact, it's really quite an easy recipe. The only challenge is making the custard sauce (creme anglaise), which means heating milk, sugar and eggs to the point that the mixture starts to thicken -- you'll notice that if you stop stirring, it doesn't keep swirling merrily around in the saucepan but slows to a halt. The classic sign that it's done is that the mixture will coat the back of a wooden spoon and not just drip off. This happens well before the boiling point; the custard must not get above 180 degrees or it will curdle. Then you remove it from the heat, add softened gelatin and chill it in the refrigerator, stirring occasionally, or you can speed up the process by stirring it over ice. After that, all you have to do is whip, fold and wait; whip, fold and wait. Beat egg whites (without a speck of egg yolk in them, of course, or they won't beat high) until they form stiff peaks. Fold them carefully into the custard so that the air bubbles become evenly dispersed throughout. This is done by repeatedly scooping the custard up through the whites from the bottom of the bowl, rather than stirring around and around in the usual way. If the gelatin hardens too fast, don't despair. Set the bowl in a larger bowl of hot water and stir until it softens. Then chill until it starts to stiffen again. Once the egg whites are incorporated, chill the mixture until it starts to set. Whip cream and fold it in, and your work is over, except for scooping the Bavarian cream into the charlotte mold. The traditional charlotte russe still is a grand thing, a terrific way to showcase vanilla once again, along with the berries of spring and early summer. To perk up packaged ladyfingers, we brush them with rum after unmolding, and serve each slice with a swirl of rich red strawberry coulis. (Other spirits or liqueurs, as well as fruit syrups, would also revivify packaged ladyfingers nicely.) When you go shopping for ladyfingers, you find yourself in an Italian deli, because ladyfingers are mostly used for tiramisu these days. That gave us an idea: a tiramisu-style charlotte russe. Flavor the Bavarian with amaretto liqueur and layer it with grated bitter chocolate. Drench the ladyfingers just before serving with espresso and finish this plush dessert with a sweet, creamy sauce of espresso and coffee. Call it charlotte misu. Or in ruffian-talk, maybe, Charley Meese. The mold they didn't break You can mold a charlotte in a 2-quart souffle mold, but the ideal utensil is the charlotte mold. It has sloping sides for easy unmolding, and it's 4 inches high -- ladyfinger height. It's usable for other purposes such as custards and aspics. The traditional charlotte mold is made of tinned steel, which has to be thoroughly dried after washing and preferably wiped with an oiled cloth as well. With heavy use, it will eventually have to be re-tinned.	i don't know
Which British city has suburbs called Normanton, California, and New Zealand?	Detailed Map of Australia - Nations Online Project Map Index ___ Detailed Map of Australia Australia is all in one, a country, a big island, and the smallest continent. With an area of 7,617,930 km² it is slightly smaller than continental USA (without Alaska ), it is the sixth largest country in the world with only about 23.8 million inhabitants (in 2015). Map is showing mainland Australia and neighboring countries with international borders, state boundaries, the national capital Canberra, state capitals, major cities and towns, main roads, railroads and international airports . Australia's general geographical features. There are three distinctive physiographic regions, from east to west are the East Australian Highlands, the Interior Lowland Basins also known as Central Lowlands and the Western Plateau. Two thirds of continental Australia consists of the Western Plateau, 2.7 million km² of arid or semi-arid land, about the size of Argentina , covers large parts of Western Australia, South Australia, and the Northern Territory. Much of the Great Western Plateau is almost uninhabited desert in diverse configurations, the spinifex dominated Great Sandy Desert, the rocky Tanami Desert, the gravel-covered Gibson Desert which has also red sand plains and some isolated salt-water lakes, and Australia's biggest desert, the Great Victoria Desert. East of the Gibson Desert lies Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park with Australia's most famous natural icon Uluru , also known as Ayers Rock. South of the Great Victoria Desert and north of the Great Australian Bight lies the Nullarbor Plain a semi-circular, flat and in large parts treeless arid region, nearly twice the size of Cuba . In the northern part of Western Australia located is Kimberley, a region with steep-sided mountain ranges and a tropical monsoon climate, the region was named after the Kimberley diamond fields in South Africa . You are free to use this map for educational purposes, please refer to the Nations Online Project. Bookmark/share this page One World - Nations Online All Countries of the World East of the Western Plateau lie the Central Lowlands, the country's fertile basins with the Great Artesian Basin (GAB), one of the largest artesian groundwater basins in the world and the Murray-Darling Basin which is Australia's largest river systems. Lake Eyre in the Lake Eyre Basin is the terminal point of the great continental drainage system and the largest lake in Australia (on the rare occasions when it is filled). Even if Australia is the flattest continent, there are the Eastern Highlands, also known as the Great Dividing Range. The Eastern Highlands are a vast mountainous region featuring Australia's "Alps". The mountain range separates the narrow fertile eastern coastal plains from the rest of the continent, the Outback. The Eastern Highlands are running along the entire length of the country's eastern seaboard (length: 3,500 km (2,175 mi)). All major cities Australia's are located in this part of the country. Highest point is Mount Kosciuszko, located in the south eastern corner of the country. With an elevation of 2,228 m (7,310 ft) it is Australia's highest mountain. The world's largest reef system the Great Barrier Reef is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The reef is composed of over 2,900 reefs and 900 islets and islands stretching for over 2,600 kilometers (1,600 mi) north-east of the continents eastern seaboard. The Great Barrier Reef covers an area of approximately 344,400 km² (133,000 sq mi). Map of Australia Map shows the location of following Australian cities and towns: Adelaide, Albany, Alice Springs, Alyangula, Andamooka, Ararat, Armidale, Aurukun, AyrIngham, Bairnsdale, Balladonia, Ballarat, Ballina, Balranald, Bamaga, Barcaldine, Barkly Homestead, Barunga, Batchelor, Batemans Bay, Bathurst, Bega, Benalla, Bendigo, Biloela, Birdsville, Blackall, Blackwater, Bordertown, Borroloola, Boulia, Bourke, Bowen, Brewarrina, Brisbane, Broken Hill, Broome, Bunbury, Bundaberg, Burnie, Busselton, Cairns, Canberra, Carnarvon, Ceduna, Central Coast, Charleville, Charters Towers, Clare, Clermont, Cleve, Cloncurry, Cobar, Coffs Harbour, Collarenebri, Collie, Collinsville, Coober Pedy, Cooktown, Corfield, Corrigin, Cowra, Cunnamulla, Dalby, Dalwallinu, Daly River, Darwin, Denham, Deniliquin, Denmark, Derby, Devonport, Dirranbandi, Dongara, Doomadgee, Dubbo, Dysart, Echuca, Elliott, Emerald, Esperance, Exmouth, Fitzroy Crossing, Galiwinku, Gatton, Gayndah, Geelong, George Town, Georgetown, Geraldton, Gilgandra, Gladstone, Glen Innes, Gold Coast, Goondiwindi, Goulburn, Grafton, Greenvale, Griffith, Gunnedah, Gununa, Gympie, Halifax, Halls Creek, Hamilton, Hawker, Hay, Hermannsburg, Hervey Bay, Hobart, Horsham, Hughenden, Innamincka, Innisfail, Inverell, Ivanhoe, Jabiru, Jerramungup, Kadina, Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Kalkarindji, Kalumburu, Kambalda, Karratha, Katanning, Katherine, Katoomba, Kellerberrin, Kempsey, Kingaroy, Kingscote, Kingston SE, Kojonup, Kowanyama, Kulgera, Kununurra, La Grange, Lajamanu, Lake Grace, Lancelin, Launceston, Laverton, Leigh Creek, Leinster, Leonora, Lightning Ridge, Lismore, Lockhart River, Lombadina, Longreach, Mackay, Malbon, Mandurah, Maningrida, Manjimup, Mareeba, Margaret River, Marree, Maryborough, Meekatharra, Melbourne, Merredin, Middlemount, Mildura, Miles, Millicent, Moe, Monto, Moora, Moranbah, Morawa, Moree, Mount Gambier, Mount Barker, Mount Isa, Mount Magnet, Mudgee, Murray Bridge, Naracoorte, Narooma, Narrabri, Narrandera, Narrogin, Newcastle, Newman, Nguiu, Ngukurr, Nhulunbuy, Normanton, Norseman, Northam, Northampton, Nowra, Numbulwar, Nyngan, Oenpelli, Onslow, Oodnadatta, Orange, Ouyen, Pannawonica, Papunya, Paraburdoo, Parkes, Perth, Peterborough, Pine Creek, Pingelly, Port Augusta, Port Douglas, Port Hedland, Port Lincoln, Port Macquarie, Port Pirie, Portland, Proserpine, Queanbeyan, Queenstown, Quilpie, Ravensthorpe, Renmark, Rockhampton, Rockingham, Roebourne, Rollingstone, Roma, Sale, Scone, Shepparton, Singleton, Smithton, Southern Cross, Springsure, St George, St Marys, Stamford, Streaky Bay, Sunshine Coast, Surat, Swan Hill, Sydney, Tambo, Tamworth, Tara, Tarcoola, Taree, Taroom, Telfer, Tennant Creek, Thargomindah, Tom Price, Toowoomba, Townsville, Traralgon, Tumby Bay, Tumut, Tweed Heads, Ulladulla, Ulverstone, Victor Harbor, Wagga Wagga, Walgett, Warburton, Warrnambool, Warwick, Weipa, West Wyalong, White Cliffs, Whyalla, Wilcannia, Wiluna, Windorah, Winton, Wollongong, Wongan Hills, Wonthaggi, Woomera, Woorabinda, Wudinna, Wyndham, Yamba, Yaraka, Yarralin, Yarrie, York, Young, Yuendumu, Yulara. Administrative Regions, the States of and Territories of Australia The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories (abbreviation in parenthesis). States and territories of mainland Australia: New South Wales (NSW), capital: Sydney Northern Territory (NT), capital: Darwin Queensland (QLD), capital: Brisbane South Australia (SA), capital: Adelaide Tasmania (TAS), capital: Hobart Victoria (VIC), capital: Melbourne Western Australia (WA) capital: Perth The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, capital: Canberra , is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia. (see also: Administrative Map of Australia ) Australia shares maritime borders with:	Epsom Derby
Which singer postponed his civil ceremony with long-time partner Kenny Goss in 2006?	Pubs in Derby Postal District : Pubs Galore Abbey, The (Darley Street, DE22 1DX) Coverage: Darley Abbey Alexandra Hotel, The (203 Siddals Road, DE1 2QE) Coverage: Derby Central Alma Inn (Derby Road, DE73 8FE) Coverage: Melbourne Anchor Inn, The (Station Road, DE74 2FR) Coverage: Kegworth Anglers Arms, The (Nottingham Road, DE21 7NN) Coverage: Spondon Annie's Bar & Grill (36 Sadler Gate, DE1 3NR) Coverage: Derby Central Apiary, The (38 Borough Street, DE74 2LA) Coverage: Castle Donington Apna Punjab (Harrington Street, DE23 8NZ) Coverage: Pear Tree Argosy, The (Manor Road, DE22 3HZ) Coverage: Littleover Babington Arms (JD Wetherspoon), The (13 Babington Lane, DE1 1TA) Coverage: Derby Central Bank (Aspen Drive, DE21 7SG) Coverage: Spondon Bar Aura (2 Curzon Street, DE1 1LL) Coverage: Derby Central Bar Indigo (100a Friar Gate, DE1 1EX) Coverage: Derby Central Bar One (1 Newland Street, DE1 1JD) Coverage: Derby Central Bartlewood Lodge (Burnwood Farm Dale Road, DE72 3RY) Coverage: Ockbrook Bedford Arms (2 Bedford Street, DE22 3PB) Coverage: California Beer Barrel, The (273 Osmaston Road, DE23 8LD) Coverage: Derby Central Beer Metropolis (Unit 10, Old Hall Mill Business Park, DE21 5EJ) Coverage: Little Eaton Bell & Castle Inn, The (Burton Road, DE1 1TG) Coverage: Derby Central Bell & Harp (Alfreton Road, DE21 5AE) Coverage: Coxbench Berlins (Becket Street, DE1 1HT) Coverage: Derby Central Bishop Blaise, The (114 Friar Gate, DE1 1EX) Coverage: Derby Central Blacksmiths Lounge (Blacksmiths Yard, Sadler Gate, DE1 3NH) Coverage: Derby Central Blenheim Inn (Main Street, DE65 6LP) Coverage: Etwall Blessington Carriage (17 Chapel Street, DE1 3GU) Coverage: Derby Central Blue Bell Inn, The (53 Church Street, DE73 8EJ) Coverage: Melbourne Blue Boy, The (Wiltshire Road, DE21 6EZ) Coverage: Chaddesden Blue Jay, The (Commercial Park, Raynesway, DE21 7BH) Coverage: Alvaston Blue Peter, The (Shardlow Road, DE24 0JH) Coverage: Alvaston Blue Pool Hotel (Stenson Road, DE23 1HG) Coverage: Sunny Hill Bonnie Prince (166 Swarkestone Road, DE73 5UE) Coverage: Chellaston Boogie Nights (Becket Street, DE1 1HT) Coverage: Derby Central BookCafé, The (21 Corn Street, DE1 1QH) Coverage: Derby Central Boot Inn, The (12 Boot Hill, DE65 6FT) Coverage: Repton Brackens, The (Brackens Lane, DE24 0AQ) Coverage: Alvaston Brannigans (Colyear Street, DE1 1LA) Coverage: Derby Central Brick & Tile, The (Brick Street, DE1 1DU) Coverage: Derby Central Britannia Inn (37 London Road, DE74 2EU) Coverage: Kegworth Broadway, The (Duffield Road, DE22 1JB) Coverage: Allestree Brooklyn Social, The (34-35 Sadler Gate, DE1 3NR) Coverage: Derby Central Brunswick Inn, The (1 Railway Terrace, DE1 2RU) Coverage: Derby Central Bubble Inn, The (Stenson Road, DE73 7HL) Coverage: Stenson Buddha Bar (1 Queen Street, DE1 3DL) Coverage: Derby Central Bull & Bush (Henley Green, DE22 4JG) Coverage: Mackworth Bull & Swan (Grimesgate, DE74 2QD) Coverage: Diseworth Bulls Head Hotel, The (High Street, DE65 6GD) Coverage: Repton Bulls Head, The (1 Wilsthorpe Road, DE72 3EA) Coverage: Breaston Bulls Head, The (Bullshead Row, DE73 8AE) Coverage: Melbourne, Wilson Byron, The (Lower Dale Road, DE23 6WZ) Coverage: Normanton Canal Turn (Station Road, DE21 7NE) Coverage: Spondon Cap & Stocking, The (20 Borough Street, DE74 2FF) Coverage: Kegworth Carnero Lounge (10 St Peters Street, DE1 1SH) Coverage: Derby Central Castle & Falcon, The (East Street, DE1 2AU) Coverage: Derby Central Castle Hotel (Station Road, DE65 5DW) Coverage: Hatton Castle Inn, The (2 High Street, DE74 2PP) Coverage: Castle Donington Castle Rock Tap Room & Kitchen (Airside, East Midlands Airport, DE74 2SA) Coverage: Castle Donington Cavendish Arms, The (London Road, DE72 2HN) Coverage: Shardlow Cavendish Hotel (Upper Dale Road, DE23 8BP) Coverage: Normanton Chequered Flag, The (32 Borough Street, DE74 2LA) Coverage: Castle Donington Chequers Inn (Main Street, DE72 3DX) Coverage: Breaston Chequers Inn, The (27 High Street, DE73 7JH) Coverage: Ticknall Cherry Tree Farm, The (Etwell Road, DE65 6DX) Coverage: Willington Chestnut Tree, The (174 Portland Street, DE23 8PJ) Coverage: Pear Tree Chimneys (Willington Sports Bar), The (Twyford Road, DE65 6PP) Coverage: Willington Chip & Pin (8-10 High Street, DE73 8GJ) Coverage: Melbourne Chiquito (Pride Parkway, DE24 8SQ) Coverage: Pride Park City Bar, The (12 Albert Street, DE1 2DS) Coverage: Derby Central Clock Warehouse, The (London Road, DE72 2GL) Coverage: Shardlow Coach & Horses (Victoria Road, DE72 3PS) Coverage: Draycott Coach & Horses (Mansfield Road, DE1 3RF) Coverage: Little Chester Coach & Horses, The (Church Street, DE21 5BQ) Coverage: Horsley Coach House (Main Street, DE65 6EF) Coverage: Milton Cock & Bull (Sinfin Lane, DE24 9GP) Coverage: Sinfin Coliseum, The (45 London Road, DE1 2NS) Coverage: Derby Central Coopers Arms, The (The Green, DE72 2BJ) Coverage: Weston-On-Trent Corn Exchange, The (Albert Street, DE1 2DS) Coverage: Derby Central Corner Pin, The (Swarkestone Road, DE73 6UA) Coverage: Chellaston Cornishman, The (Holbrook Road, DE24 0LX) Coverage: Alvaston Coronation, The (Baker Street, DE24 8SL) Coverage: Alvaston Cosy Club (Royal Building, Victoria Street, DE1 1ES) Coverage: Derby Central County Hotel (Sinfin Lane, DE24 9GP) Coverage: Sinfin Courtyard, The (Friargate, DE1 1BU) Coverage: Derby Central Coyote Wild (Victoria Street, DE1 1ES) Coverage: Derby Central Crescent Inn, The (Wild Street, DE1 1GP) Coverage: California, New Zealand Crewe & Harpur Arms (The Corner Barrow Lane, DE73 7JA) Coverage: Swarkestone Crompton Tavern (46 Crompton Street, DE1 1NX) Coverage: Derby Central Cross Keys, The (90 Bondgate, DE74 2NR) Coverage: Castle Donington Cross Keys, The (Green Lane, DE72 3SE) Coverage: Ockbrook Crown & Arrows, The (Sinfin Avenue, DE24 9JA) Coverage: Shelton Lock Crown Inn (40 Curzon Street, DE1 1LL) Coverage: Derby Central Crown Inn (100 Nottingham Road, DE21 7NP) Coverage: Spondon Crown, The (1 Chellaston Road, DE24 9AD) Coverage: Allenton Crystal Palace, The (42 Rosehill Street, DE23 8GA) Coverage: Normanton Derby Hero, The (Station Concourse, Railway Terrace, DE1 2SL) Coverage: Derby Central Distillery, The (3 Friargate, DE1 1BU) Coverage: Derby Central Dog & Duck (London Road, DE72 2GR) Coverage: Shardlow Dog & Partridge (51 Bedford Street, DE22 3PB) Coverage: California Douglas Bar, The (206 Normanton Road, DE23 6UX) Coverage: Normanton Dragon, The (1 The Green, DE65 6BP) Coverage: Willington Duke Of Clarence, The (87 Mansfield Road, DE1 3QZ) Coverage: Little Chester Duke Of York (7 Burton Road, DE1 1TG) Coverage: Derby Central Dunkirk Tavern (King Alfred Street, DE22 3QJ) Coverage: Derby Central Durham Ox, The (124 Burton Road, DE1 1TG) Coverage: Derby Central Exeter Arms (Exeter Place, DE1 2EU) Coverage: Derby Central Falstaff Tavern (74 Silver Hill Road, DE23 6UJ) Coverage: Normanton Fat Cat, The (9 Friargate, DE1 1BU) Coverage: Derby Central Ferrers Arms (Sinfin District Centre, DE24 3DS) Coverage: Sinfin Fighting Cocks, The (Sinfin District Centre, DE24 3DS) Coverage: Sinfin Five Lamps (Duffield Road, DE1 3BH) Coverage: Derby Central, Derby North, Darley Fleet Tavern (3 Fleet Street, DE23 8GU) Coverage: Normanton Florence Nightingale (London Road, DE1 2QZ) Coverage: Derby Central Flower Pot, The (25 King Street, DE1 3DZ) Coverage: Derby Central Foresters Arms (Main Street, DE65 5PP) Coverage: Scropton Foresters, The (Barrons Way, DE72 3FY) Coverage: Borrowash Forge Bar (1 - 6 Blacksmiths Yard, Sadlergate, DE1 3PD) Coverage: Derby Central Fox & Hounds, The (Alfreton Road, DE21 5BA) Coverage: Coxbench Friars Bar (121 Friar Gate, DE1 1EX) Coverage: Derby Central Friary, The (Friars Gate, DE1 1FG) Coverage: Derby Central Furnace Inn (Duke Street, DE1 3BX) Coverage: Derby Central, Derby North Gallant Hussar, The (110 Ashbourne Road, DE22 3AG) Coverage: New Zealand Garden City Tavern (Vivian Street, DE1 3RZ) Coverage: Little Chester George Cross, The (12 Boyer Street, DE22 3TH) Coverage: Derby Central George Hotel, The (15 Midland Road, DE1 2SN) Coverage: Derby Central Gisborne Arms, The (17 Franchise Street, DE22 3QY) Coverage: California Golden Eagle, The (55 Agard Street, DE1 1DZ) Coverage: Derby Central Golden Pheasant, The (221 Chellaston Road, DE24 9EE) Coverage: Shelton Lock Grampian, The (2A Cromarty Close, DE24 9NB) Coverage: Sinfin Grandstand, The (Nottingham Road, DE21 6DA) Coverage: Chaddesden Grange Inn, The (1 Malcolm Street, DE23 8LS) Coverage: Normanton Great Northern, The (Station Road, DE3 9FB) Coverage: Mickleover Great Northern, The (19 Junction Street, DE1 1LX) Coverage: California Green Man, The (1 Canal Bridge, DE65 6BQ) Coverage: Willington Greyhound Hotel, The (Village Street, DE23 8DE) Coverage: Normanton Greyhound, The (76 Friar Gate, DE1 1FN) Coverage: Derby Central Half Moon Inn (Burton Road, DE23 6FP) Coverage: Littleover Hardinge Arms (Main Street, DE73 8BX) Coverage: Melbourne, Kings Newton Harpur's (2 Derby Road, DE73 8FE) Coverage: Melbourne Harrington Arms, The (4 Grove Close, DE72 3EY) Coverage: Thulston Harrington, The (London Road, DE24 8QG) Coverage: Alvaston Harvester Moto (M1 Junction 23A Services, DE74 2TN) Coverage: Donnington Park Harvester Pride Park (Roundhouse Road, DE24 8JE) Coverage: Pride Park Haus, The (33 Wardwick, DE1 1HA) Coverage: Derby Central Hawk and Buckle, The (46 Main Street, DE65 6LP) Coverage: Etwall Hepburns Fusion Bar (102 Friar Gate, DE1 1JD) Coverage: Derby Central Hilton Brook (Eggington Road, DE65 5FG) Coverage: Hilton Holly Bush Inn (Main Street, DE65 5AS) Coverage: Church Broughton Holly Bush Inn, The (1 Melbourne Lane, DE73 8AT) Coverage: Breedon-On-The-Hill Hollybrook Tavern (Rykneld Road, DE23 4DJ) Coverage: Littleover Honeycombe, The (Ladybank Road, DE3 0NR) Coverage: Mickleover Hop Gate (Sadler Gate, DE1 3NF) Coverage: Derby Central Horse & Groom (Elms Street, DE1 3HN) Coverage: Derby North, Darley Hotel Ristorante La Gondola (220 Osmaston Road, DE23 8JX) Coverage: Derby Central James Wyatt, The (Keldholme Lane, DE24 0RY) Coverage: Alvaston Jimmy's Bar (St. James Street, DE1 1QT) Coverage: Derby Central John Thompson Inn (Ingleby (Off A514), DE73 7HW) Coverage: Ingleby Joiners Arms (60 Church Road, DE22 5JA) Coverage: Quarndon Jolly Potters (38 Hillside, DE74 2NH) Coverage: Castle Donington Jolly Sailor, The (Main Street, DE74 2RB) Coverage: Hemington Jonty Farmer (Kedleston Road, DE22 1FT) Coverage: West End, Derby West Jorrocks (41 Iron Gate, DE1 3FJ) Coverage: Derby Central Junction Tavern, The (12 Junction Street, DE1 1LX) Coverage: California Kensington Tavern, The (30 Drewry Lane, DE22 3QP) Coverage: Derby Central King's Highway (Kingsway, DE22 3NH) Coverage: California, New Zealand Kingfisher Hotel (Lexington Road, DE21 6UZ) Coverage: Chaddesden Kings Corner (Lime Lane, DE21 4RF) Coverage: Oakwood Kings Head (Main Street, DE65 5GG) Coverage: Hilton Kingsway Hotel (Brackensdale Avenue, DE22 4AF) Coverage: Mackworth Lady In Grey, The (Wilne Lane, DE72 2HA) Coverage: Shardlow Lamb Inn, The (High Street, DE73 8GJ) Coverage: Melbourne Lamb, The (22 Station Road, DE74 2NJ) Coverage: Castle Donington Las Iguanas (21-23 Friar Gate, DE1 1BX) Coverage: Derby Central Last Post, The (1 Uttoxeter Old Road, DE1 1GA) Coverage: Derby Central, New Zealand Lawns Hotel, The (High Street, DE73 6TB) Coverage: Chellaston Liquid Bar (Stuart Hotel) (119 London Road, DE1 2QR) Coverage: Derby Central Little Chester Ale House (4a Chester Green Road, DE1 3SF) Coverage: Little Chester Liversage Arms, The (Nottingham Road, DE1 3QT) Coverage: Derby Central Lodge, The (Grange Road, DE24 0JW) Coverage: Alvaston Lord Napier, The (2 Milton Street, DE22 3NZ) Coverage: California Lord Nelson, The (1 Curzon Street, DE1 1LH) Coverage: Derby Central Loudon Arms, The (4 Loudon Street, DE23 8ER) Coverage: Normanton Lyndhurst Bar (264 Normanton Road, DE23 6WD) Coverage: Normanton Mackworth Hotel (Ashbourne Road, DE22 4LY) Coverage: Mackworth Mafeking, The (129 Porter Road, DE23 6RD) Coverage: Normanton Malin, The (205 Normanton Road, DE23 6US) Coverage: Normanton Malt Shovel Inn, The (Potter Street, DE21 7LH) Coverage: Spondon Malt Shovel Inn, The (The Wharf, DE72 2HG) Coverage: Shardlow Malt, The (14 The Green, DE72 2AA) Coverage: Aston-On-Trent Mansion Wine Bar (6-7 Midland Road, DE1 2SN) Coverage: Derby Central Markeaton (Kedleston Road, DE22 2TF) Coverage: Allestree Masons Arms (2 Edward Street, DE1 3BR) Coverage: Derby Central Masons Arms, The (Etwall Road, DE3 0DL) Coverage: Mickleover Master Locksmith, The (Mansfield Road, DE21 4SY) Coverage: Oakwood Maypole Inn, The (42 Brook Street, DE1 3PH) Coverage: Derby Central McCluskeys (46 Nottingham Road, DE21 7NL) Coverage: Spondon Meadows Inn, The (Chequers Road, DE21 6EN) Coverage: West Meadows Melbourne Bar (113 Normanton Road, DE1 2GG) Coverage: Normanton Merlin, The (1 Orient Way, DE24 8XL) Coverage: Pride Park Merry Widows, The (24 Railway Terrace, DE1 2RU) Coverage: Derby Central Metrobar (Albert Street, DE1 2DS) Coverage: Derby Central Midland Hotel (Midland Road, DE1 2SQ) Coverage: Derby Central Mile, The (Friargate, DE1 1FP) Coverage: Derby Central Mitre Hotel (Osmaston Park Road, DE24 8NG) Coverage: Allenton Mount Pleasant Inn, The (34 Mount Pleasant Road, DE65 6GQ) Coverage: Repton Mr Grundy's Tavern (34 Ashbourne Road, DE22 3AD) Coverage: Derby Central Mundy Arms Hotel, The (Ashbourne Road, DE22 4LZ) Coverage: Mackworth Nadee (130 Heath Road, DE65 6AR) Coverage: Findern Nag's Head, The (4 Diseworth Road, DE74 2PS) Coverage: Castle Donington Nags Head, The (129 Nottingham Road, DE72 3FP) Coverage: Borrowash Nags Head, The (Uttoxeter Road, DE3 9GF) Coverage: Mickleover Navigation Inn (London Road, DE72 2HJ) Coverage: Shardlow Navigation Inn (Risley Lane, DE72 3BP) Coverage: Breaston Navigation Inn (805 London Road, DE24 8UU) Coverage: Osmaston Needles, The (Bembridge Drive, DE24 0UQ) Coverage: Alvaston Neptune, The (10 Osmaston Road, DE1 2HR) Coverage: Derby Central New Bridge Inn, The (Chellaston Road, DE24 9EF) Coverage: Shelton Lock New Inn, The (2 Duffield Road, DE21 5DR) Coverage: Little Eaton New Inn, The (The Wharf, DE72 2HG) Coverage: Shardlow New Inn, The (122 Main Street, DE65 6FB) Coverage: Repton New Zealand Arms (2 Langley Street, DE22 3GL) Coverage: New Zealand Noahs Ark (23 Morledge, DE1 2AW) Coverage: Derby Central Noahs Ark, The (2 Nottingham Road, DE72 3JU) Coverage: Borrowash Nono8 (19 - 23 Wardwick, DE1 1HA) Coverage: Derby Central Norman Arms (Village Street, DE23 8DF) Coverage: Normanton Normanton, The (1-3 Lower Dale Road, DE23 6WY) Coverage: Normanton Oak & Acorn (Danebridge Crescent, DE21 2HT) Coverage: Oakwood Oaklands (Oaklands Avenue, DE23 2QL) Coverage: Littleover Oast House Hotel, The (Sinfin Lane, DE23 8AG) Coverage: Pear Tree Oddfellows Arms, The (Packington Hill, DE74 2DF) Coverage: Kegworth Old Bell, The (Sadler Gate, DE1 3NQ) Coverage: Derby Central Old Crown Inn, The (Cavendish Bridge, Back Lane, DE72 2HL) Coverage: Shardlow Old Talbot (1 Main Street, DE65 5FF) Coverage: Hilton Olde Avesbury (Osmaston Road, DE23 8FP) Coverage: Derby Central Olympic, The (Station Road, DE72 3QB) Coverage: Draycott Otter, The (London Road, DE74 2EY) Coverage: Kegworth Packhorse Inn, The (Pack Horse Road, DE73 8BZ) Coverage: Melbourne Paddock Hotel, The (222 Station Road, DE73 8BQ) Coverage: Melbourne, Kings Newton Paddock, The (391 Mansfield Road, DE21 4AW) Coverage: Oakwood Palfrey, The (7 - 9 Old Blacksmiths Yard, Sadler Gate, DE1 3NF) Coverage: Derby Central Paper Mill, The (6 Abbey Lane, DE22 1DG) Coverage: Darley Abbey Peacock, The (87 Nottingham Road, DE1 3QS) Coverage: Derby Central, Eastgate Pear Tree Inn, The (St Thomas Road, DE23 8RH) Coverage: Pear Tree Peregrine, The (490-492 Nottingham Road, DE21 6PF) Coverage: Chaddesden Pig & Truffle (Victoria Street, DE1 1EQ) Coverage: Derby Central Pitcher & Piano (20 Friar Gate, DE1 1BX) Coverage: Derby Central Plough Inn, The (33 Hall Gate, DE74 2QJ) Coverage: Diseworth Portland Hotel (603 London Road, DE24 8UQ) Coverage: Wilmorton Prince Of Wales, The (7 Chapel Street, DE21 7JP) Coverage: Spondon Quad Cafe Bar (Market Place, DE1 3AS) Coverage: Derby Central Queens Head, The (Alfreton Road, DE21 5DF) Coverage: Little Eaton Queens Head, The (Victoria Avenue, DE72 3RN) Coverage: Ockbrook Ragley Boatstop, The (Sinfin Lane, DE73 7HH) Coverage: Barrow-On-Trent Railway Inn (Station Road, DE65 5DW) Coverage: Hatton Railway Tavern, The (Station Road, DE65 5EH) Coverage: Hatton Ram Inn, The (84 Bridge Street, DE1 3LA) Coverage: Derby Central Rams Barrr (45a Normanton Road, DE1 2GH) Coverage: Normanton Red Cow (St. Edmunds Close, DE22 2DZ) Coverage: Allestree Red Lion (Burton Road, DE65 6FL) Coverage: Repton Red Lion, The (Derby Road, DE73 6SA) Coverage: Chellaston Red Lion, The (24 High Street, DE74 2DA) Coverage: Kegworth Red Zebra Wine Bar (2-3 Queen Street, DE1 3DL) Coverage: Derby Central Revolucion de Cuba (9 The Strand, DE1 1BJ) Coverage: Derby Central Revolution (1 The Strand, DE1 1BJ) Coverage: Derby Central Rhino, The (Max Road, DE21 4GZ) Coverage: Chaddesden Rising Sun, The (1 The Green, DE65 6BP) Coverage: Willington Risley Park (Derby Road, DE72 3SS) Coverage: Risley Robin, The (71 Devonshire Drive, DE3 9HD) Coverage: Mickleover Roebuck (22 Potter Street, DE73 8DW) Coverage: Melbourne Roebuck Inn, The (Amy Street, DE22 3PH) Coverage: California Rose & Crown (Market Street, DE72 3NB) Coverage: Draycott Rose And Crown, The (Swarkestone Road, DE73 5UA) Coverage: Chellaston Roundhouse, The (1196 London Road, DE24 8QF) Coverage: Alvaston Rowditch Inn, The (246 Uttoxeter New Road, DE22 3LL) Coverage: California Royal Crown (15 Cavan Drive, DE21 6TT) Coverage: Chaddesden Royal Oak, The (Green Lane, DE72 3SE) Coverage: Ockbrook Royal Telegraph (73 London Road, DE1 2QS) Coverage: Derby Central Ryans (St. Peters Street, DE1 1SN) Coverage: Derby Central Santanda (17 The Market Place, DE1 3AW) Coverage: Derby Central Seven Stars (97 King Street, DE1 3EE) Coverage: Derby Central, Derby North, Darley Seven Wells (Heage Lane, DE65 6LS) Coverage: Etwall Seymours Bar (4 Cheapside, DE1 1BR) Coverage: Derby Central Shakespeare Inn, The (117 London Road, DE72 2GP) Coverage: Shardlow Shakespeare, The (16 Sadler Gate, DE1 3NF) Coverage: Derby Central Sherwood Forester, The (St Thomas Road, DE23 8RL) Coverage: Normanton Silk Mill Ale & Cider House (19 Full Street, DE1 3AF) Coverage: Derby Central Silver Ghost, The (Field Drive, DE24 0HF) Coverage: Alvaston Sir Francis Burdett (Derby Road, DE73 8DE) Coverage: Melbourne Sir Frederick Roberts (131 Pear Tree Road, DE23 6PZ) Coverage: Normanton Sir Robert Peel (Wellington Street, DE1 2LG) Coverage: Derby Central Sitwell Tavern, The (9 Sitwell Street, DE1 2JT) Coverage: Derby Central Sixteen Bar (Cathedral Quarter Hotel) (16 St.Mary's Gate, DE1 3JR) Coverage: Derby Central Slug & Lettuce, The (Iron Gate, DE1 3FJ) Coverage: Derby Central Smithfield, The (Meadow Road, DE1 2BH) Coverage: Derby Central, Eastgate Smithy's Marina Bar (Shardlow Marina, London Road, DE72 2HJ) Coverage: Shardlow Spinning Wheel, The (96 Wood Road, DE21 4LZ) Coverage: Chaddesden Spread Eagle (28 Main Street, DE65 6LP) Coverage: Etwall Staff Of Life, The (7 High Street, DE73 7JH) Coverage: Ticknall Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon) (32 Iron Gate, DE1 3GP) Coverage: Derby Central Station Hotel, The (Station Road, DE74 2GE) Coverage: Kegworth Station Inn (Midland Road, DE1 2SN) Coverage: Derby Central Steam Cafe, The (Gower Street, DE1 1SB) Coverage: Derby Central Stenson Fields, The (Pilgrims Way, DE24 3JG) Coverage: Sinfin Suds & Soda (119 Friar Gate, DE1 1EX) Coverage: Derby Central Sun Inn, The (1 St. Giles Road, DE23 8SH) Coverage: Normanton Sun Lounge (15A Wardwick, DE1 1HA) Coverage: Derby Central Swan & Salmon Inn (140 Ashbourne Road, DE22 3AG) Coverage: New Zealand Swan Inn, The (49 Main Street, DE65 6EF) Coverage: Milton Tap, The (1 Derwent Street, DE1 2ED) Coverage: Derby Central Tavern, The (123 Nottingham Road, DE1 3QR) Coverage: Derby Central, Eastgate Thomas Leaper (Lloyds No.1) (27 Iron Gate, DE1 3GL) Coverage: Derby Central Three Horseshoes, The (Main Street, DE73 8AN) Coverage: Breedon-On-The-Hill Tiffany Lounge (1 Midland Road, DE1 2SN) Coverage: Derby Central Tiger, The (Cornmarket, DE1 2DG) Coverage: Derby Central Toby Carvery Chaddesden (Nottingham Road, DE21 6LZ) Coverage: Chaddesden Travellers Rest (Derby Road, DE72 3NX) Coverage: Draycott Travellers Rest, The (187 Ashbourne Road, DE22 3AJ) Coverage: New Zealand Tudor Hotel, The (101 Bondgate, DE74 2NR) Coverage: Castle Donington Turks Head (1 Market Street, DE74 2JB) Coverage: Castle Donington Unity Bar (25 Normanton Road, DE1 2GJ) Coverage: Normanton Vernon Arms (21 Locko Road, DE21 7AL) Coverage: Spondon Victoria Inn (12 Midland Place, DE1 2RR) Coverage: Derby Central Victoria, The (2 Cowley Street, DE1 3SN) Coverage: West End, Derby West Victoria, The (Victoria Road, DE72 3NA) Coverage: Draycott Vine Inn (Whittaker Street, DE23 8FB) Coverage: Normanton Vine Inn, The (Uttoxeter Road, DE3 0DA) Coverage: Mickleover Vine, The (22 The Vine Ford Street, DE1 1EE) Coverage: Derby Central Vines, The (51A Sadler Gate, DE1 3NQ) Coverage: Derby Central Vulcan Arms (St Thomas Road, DE23 8RF) Coverage: Normanton Waggon & Horses, The (149 Ashbourne Road, DE22 3FW) Coverage: New Zealand, Derby West Walbrook Inn (115 Walbrook Road, DE23 8SF) Coverage: Normanton Walkabout (9-11 Market Place, DE1 3QE) Coverage: Derby Central Wardwick Tavern, The (15 Wardwick, DE1 1HA) Coverage: Derby Central Waterfall (Railway Terrace, DE1 2RU) Coverage: Derby Central Waterside Inn (3 Mansfield Road, DE1 3QY) Coverage: Derby Central, Little Chester Wheel Inn, The (50 Main Street, DE73 7JZ) Coverage: Ticknall Wheel Inn, The (Main Street, DE65 6AG) Coverage: Findern White Bear (Main Road, DE72 3EQ) Coverage: Thulston White Hart, The (21-23 Derby Road, DE72 2AF) Coverage: Aston-On-Trent White Horse, The (25 Morledge, DE1 2AW) Coverage: Derby Central White Swan, The (Shepherd Street, DE23 6GA) Coverage: Littleover White Swan, The (2 Moor Street, DE21 7EA) Coverage: Spondon White Swan, The (19 Church Street, DE72 3RB) Coverage: Ockbrook White Swan, The (Egginton Road, DE65 5FJ) Coverage: Hilton White Swan, The (Castle Street, DE73 8DY) Coverage: Melbourne William Caxton (25 Underhill Close, DE23 1RH) Coverage: Sunny Hill Willmot Arms (49 Derby Road, DE72 3HA) Coverage: Borrowash Wilmot Arms (Morley Road, DE21 4QU) Coverage: Chaddesden Wilmot Arms (45 Normanton Road, DE1 2GH) Coverage: Normanton	i don't know
In which city is the 'Basin Reserve' Cricket Test Match venue?	History of the Basin Reserve - Cricket Wellington History of the Basin Reserve The Basin Reserve Cricket at the Basin Reserve 1976 New Zealand v India, 1981. The first Test Match after redevelopment Wellington Firebirds v Otago Volts, February 2009 The Basin Reserve hosted its first test match on 24 January 1930 and as at 30 March 2013 had hosted 54 test matches. It has been the venue for four Boxing Day Tests. The oldest first-class ground in the country, it staged its 400th first class game in the 2009-10 season, and its significance has been acknowledged by it being the only sporting ground in New Zealand registered by the Historic Places Trust (as of 1 April 2010). It remains a beautiful international cricket ground with a distinctive name known throughout the cricketing world. When the first settlers arrived in Wellington in 1840 there was a shallow lagoon that was linked to the harbour by a stream in what is known today as Kent & Cambridge Terrace. The plans of the colonists to turn the Basin into an inland anchorage for the city were upset when the 1855 earthquake raised the Te Aro flat by two metres and the lagoon became a swamp. One of the major problems with the disposing of the town allotments of Wellington was that no attention was paid to the selection of reserves for public purposes. In 1857 a group of prominent citizens petitioned the Wellington Provincial Council to set aside the site of the canal and basin at Te Aro as a public park and cricket ground. The petition was granted and the first steps were taken to drain the 9 acres and 3 roods in what is now called the Basin Reserve. Prison labour from Te Aro gaol was used for many years to implement the drainage that was paid for by the subscriptions from the cricketers of Wellington, supplemented by an equal amount from the Provincial Government. In December 1866 a meeting was held at Osgood’s Hotel for those people interested in forming a cricket ground in Wellington. A committee of six, plus three trustees, met a sub-committee of the Board of Works, and the Basin Reserve was leased for three years as a cricket ground at an annual rental of €25. Thus, on 11 December 1866, the Basin Reserve formally became Wellington’s home of cricket. It was another 13 months before the first game was played at the Basin Reserve. On 11 January 1868 the officers and men of HMS Falcon played the Wellington Volunteers. At the instigation of the Caledonian Society, a grandstand was built in 1868 which also housed the ground custodian. Under the direction of a prominent cricketer, John Marchant, who was also the Surveyor-General for New Zealand, the cricketers raised and spent in excess of €200 in the years 1871 and 1872 on improving the ground. On the 30 November 1873 the Basin Reserve played host to the touring Auckland side in Wellington’s first first-class game. The first general meeting of the Wellington Cricket Association was held at the Pier Hotel on 22 October 1875, and thus the first cricket association was formed in New Zealand. The first international cricket match played at the Basin Reserve was against Lillywhite’s All England XI on 5 February 1877. A Deed of Conveyance of the Basin Reserve between the Crown and the Governor-General of New Zealand to the Wellington City Council was approved in 1884 that established that the ground was to be “forever used for the purposes of a cricket and a recreation ground by the inhabitants of Wellington.” As the game developed the resources of the Wellington Cricket Association expanded. A new grandstand was opened on New Year’s Day 1925 at a cost of €16,710. Today this houses the New Zealand Cricket Museum. In 1979-80 the present configuration of an oval shape, the R.A Vance Stand, the eastern bank and the current seating were undertaken. In 2003 the Wellington City Council undertook to restore the William Wakefield Memorial and after public consultation resolved to return as near as possible to its original location inside the ground. Restoration work began on the memorial in May 2006. It was finally relocated in September 2006 and its restoration officially celebrated on 7 October 2006. A new electronic replay scoreboard, named after New Zealand cricket historian Don Neely, was installed at the end of 2007 and was officially opened on 11 January 2008. The ground continues to play host to First Class and Test Match cricket. It is the home of the Wellington Firebirds and continues as the players’ favourite ground in New Zealand. Recent News	Wellington
Which car manufacturer hasproduced models called 'Almiera' and 'Primera'?	International \| Venues \| Basin Reserve, Wellington - SuperSport - Cricket Basin Reserve, Wellington Ends: Vance Stand End, Scoreboard End Home team: Wellington - Win by home side: 14 - Win by visitors: 18 - Win by neutral team: 0 - Win batting 1st: 10 - Win by home side: 9 - Win by visitors: 11 - Win by neutral team: 3 - Win batting 1st: 12 Highest individual score: 299 (Martin Crowe) Highest individual score: 126* (Shoaib Mohammad) Best bowling (inns): 7/23 (Richard Hadlee) Best bowling: 5/17 (Terry Alderman) Best bowling (match): 13/55 (Courtney Walsh) Average S/R: 31.42 267 - PA de Silva (SL) 255* - DJ McGlew (SA) 1st - 276 - CS Dempster/JE Mills (NZ) 2nd - 241 - JG Wright/AH Jones (NZ) 3rd - 467 - AH Jones/MD Crowe (NZ) 4th - 229 - BE Congdon/BF hastings (NZ) 5th - 258 - Salim Malik/Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak) 6th - 256 - DR Martyn/AC Gilchrist (Aus) 7th - 246 - DJ McGlew/ARA Murray (SA) 8th - 137 - DL Vettori/DJ Nash (NZ) 9th - 163* - MC Cowdrey/AC Smith (Eng) 10th - 48 - IDS Smith/EJ Chatfield (NZ) 1st - 152 - GM Turner/BA Edgar (NZ) 2nd - 142 - Aamir Sohail/Inzamam-ul-Haq (Pak) 3rd - 152 - Shoaib Mohammad/Ramiz Raja (Pak) 4th - 80 - MJ Greatbatch/KR Rutherford (NZ) 5th - 108* - MD Crowe/IDS Smith (NZ) 6th - 86 - WB Phillips/SR Waugh (Aus) 7th - 56 - G Miller/VJ Marks (Eng) 8th - 43 - SB Doull/GR Larsen (NZ) 9th - 31 - JV Coney/GK Robertson (NZ) 10th - 33 - LK Germon/DK Morrison (NZ) The Basin Reserve (commonly known as "The Basin"), is a cricket ground in Wellington, New Zealand, used for Test, first-class and one-day cricket. Some argue that its proximity to the city, its Historic Place status and its age make it the most famous cricket ground in New Zealand. The Basin Reserve is the only cricket ground in New Zealand to have Historic Place status (Category II). The ground has been used for events other than cricket, such as concerts, sports events and other social gatherings, but now it is mostly used for cricket, particularly Test matches. Off-field facilities built into the stadium also included the New Zealand Institute of Sport, and a campus for the Wellington School of Cricket, run by the Wellington Cricket Association. Location The Basin Reserve is 2 kilometres south of the Wellington CBD at the foot of Mount Victoria. Government House and the boys' school Wellington College are to the south of the Basin, across the street. At the eastern end of the basin is the Mount Victoria Tunnel, which increased the traffic flow around the Basin Reserve when it was built in 1931. One of the incidental quirks of the Basin is that, as traffic about it flows one way, it is reputedly the largest traffic island in the southern hemisphere. The New Zealand Cricket Museum is located in the Old Grandstand. It houses cricket memorabilia and a reference library. The Basin Reserve is also surrounded by numerous other Wellington landmarks, including Mount Cook Barracks, the National War Memorial, several colleges and high schools, the Caledonian Hotel and the former Dominion Museum. The Basin Reserve is the intersection point for the Wellington suburbs of Mount Cook, Newtown and Mount Victoria. Construction history The area that is now Basin Reserve was originally a lake (known as the Basin Lake), and there were plans to connect it to the sea by a canal to make it an alternative inner city harbour, with major warehouses and factories alongside it. However, the massive 1855 Wairarapa earthquake uplifted the area nearly 1.8 m and turned the lake into a swamp. Due to the colonists' English roots, sport, particularly cricket, was a vital part of the community's way to relax. However, no land had been allocated by the city planners for recreational reserves. Although natural grounds, such as the Te Aro flat, provided a small area for matches, the colonists wanted more recreational land than what they had. The matter became more dire as buildings began to be erected on these flat plains, as flat land was hard to find in the mountainous Wellington. So after the 1855 earthquake, which historians estimate measured 8 on the Richter scale, influential citizens seized the chance in 1857 to suggest that the new land be drained and made into a recreational reserve. The Wellington council accepted the proposal and beginning on February 3, 1863 prisoners from the Mount Cook Gaol began to level and drain the new land. The swamp was drained by September and a fence was placed around the entire area along with hedges. However, massive population influxes from 1863 until 1866 (caused mostly by the Parliament being situated in Wellington) hampered construction on the Basin Reserve as workers were pulled to other areas. After a council meeting on 11 December 1866 the Basin Reserve became Wellington's official cricket ground. No cattle or horses were allowed in the ground and only small hedges and shrubs were allowed to be planted so as not to hamper cricket games. Soon after, on 11 January 1868, the first game of cricket was played, although the ground had numerous stones and thistles on it, which the umpire later apologised for as some players got injured from them. Although it was the opening day, no ceremony or music was played, nor was the opening advertised with banners. Soon after that first event, the Highland Games began being held at the Basin Reserve. The games were organised by the Wellingtonian Caledonian Society, of which their headquarters, The Caledonian Hotel, still stands towards the south of the Basin Reserve. The society offered up prize money which brought many competitors to the region. Due to their success, the society petitioned to have new grandstands built at the western end of the Basin Reserve. They would measure 44 ft by 20 ft and would cost approximately £250–£300. The stands would also hold food stalls and ground keepers. However, for the following years, even up until reportedly 1872, the Basin Reserve grounds were still extremely swampy, with small pools of swamp water and various weeds and shrubs sprouting over the fields. In late 1872, horses were used to level the playing field and this greatly improved the conditions. The pavilion has been a Category II registered Historic Place since 1982, and the entire Basin Reserve has been a registered Historic Area since 1998. Event history The first ever event played on the Basin Reserve was a game of one-day cricket on 11 January 1868 between the Mount Cook Gaol prisoners and their officers and the crew of the HMS Falcon, which was docked in Wellington. However, the game was hampered with injuries from numerous stones and thistles in the grass, which led to the injury of some players. The umpire apologised after the game to the players for the poor conditions of play. After that first event, local societies began organising athletic and sport meetings at the Basin Reserve. These meetings were eventually called the Highland Games and it was their success which led to the construction of the ground's grand stand. The events included athletics, racing, dancing and later wood-chopping and cycling. However, the ground was still swampy in some areas, but was remedied in late 1872. This allowed the first first-class game, Wellington against Auckland, to be played on 30 November 1873, which Wellington won easily. Another first at the Basin Reserve is reputedly what was the first game of rugby in the North Island. The first rugby game held at the Basin Reserve was between the Wellington football team and the crew of HMS Rosario, which the sailors won by a single goal. Before sailing on the 1921-22 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain, the Australian rugby league team stopped in Wellington for an exhibition match at the Basin Reserve. The first Test match played at the ground was between New Zealand and England, beginning on 24 January 1930. One-day international cricket was played at the Basin Reserve until 1999, after which it moved to the larger crowd capacity Westpac Stadium on the other side of Wellington. In what may be a one-off occasion, it returned during the Australian Tour in 2005 following a decision that the pitch at Hamilton's Westpac Park was unfit for cricket. On 13 March 2011, the Basin Reserve was host to "Fill the Basin" a cricket event intended to raise money for the 2011 Canterbury Earthquake. The game was played in front of more than 10,000 people with people sitting between the boundary rope and the fence. This is the biggest crowd at the Basin Reserve in the modern era. Players inolved in the match included Shane Warne, Stephen Fleming, Tana Umaga, Richard Hadlee, Martin Crowe, other famous former New Zealand cricketers, current All Blacks Richie McCaw and Conrad Smith and actors Russell Crowe, Ian McKellen. More than $500,000 was raised towards the relief efforts. In addition to cricket, other sports have also used the Basin Reserve, including rugby union, a rugby league Test match, a football pre-season match and exhibition Australian rules football matches. The Basin Reserve was during the 1950s and 1960s the major football ground in the Wellington area and was the scene of a number of international matches and Chatham Cup finals. As at February 16, 2012 Event Streaming	i don't know
The songs 'If I Loved You' and 'When The Children Are Asleep'are from which 1956 stage musical?	Carousel (1956) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error \| Drama , Musical \| 16 February 1956 (USA) Billy Bigelow has been dead for fifteen years, and now outside the pearly gates, he long waived his right to go back to Earth for a day. But he has heard that there is a problem with his ... See full summary » Director: From $2.99 (SD) on Amazon Video ON DISC a list of 26 titles created 05 Jan 2013 a list of 23 titles created 29 Nov 2013 a list of 43 titles created 13 Jan 2016 a list of 35 titles created 10 months ago a list of 34 titles created 1 month ago Search for " Carousel " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. In the Oklahoma territory at the turn of the twentieth century, two young cowboys vie with an evil ranch hand and a traveling peddler for the hearts of the women they love. Director: Fred Zinnemann On a South Pacific island during World War II, love blooms between a young nurse and a secretive Frenchman who's being courted for a dangerous military mission. Director: Joshua Logan Farm family Frake, with discontented daughter Margy, head for the Iowa State Fair. On the first day, both Margy and brother Wayne meet attractive new flames; so does father's prize hog, ... See full summary » Director: Walter Lang A widow accepts a job as a live-in governess to the King of Siam's children. Director: Walter Lang Harold Hill poses as a boys' band leader to con naive Iowa townsfolk. Director: Morton DaCosta The story of the great sharpshooter Annie Oakley , who rose to fame while dealing with her love/professional rival, Frank Butler. Directors: George Sidney, Busby Berkeley Stars: Betty Hutton, Howard Keel, Louis Calhern Fred and Lilly are a divorced pair of actors who are brought together by Cole Porter who has written a musical version of The Taming of the Shrew. Of course, the couple seem to act a great ... See full summary » Director: George Sidney Matchmaker Dolly Levi travels to Yonkers to find a partner for "half-a-millionaire" Horace Vandergelder, convincing his niece, his niece's intended, and his two clerks to travel to New York City along the way. Director: Gene Kelly In 1850 Oregon, when a backwoodsman brings a wife home to his farm, his six brothers decide that they want to get married too. Director: Stanley Donen An Iowa pajama factory worker falls in love with an affable superintendent who had been hired by the factory's boss to help oppose the workers' demand for a pay rise. Directors: George Abbott, Stanley Donen Stars: Doris Day, John Raitt, Carol Haney In New York, a gambler is challenged to take a cold female missionary to Havana, but they fall for each other, and the bet has a hidden motive to finance a crap game. Director: Joseph L. Mankiewicz Chinese stowaway Mei Li (Miyoshi Umeki) arrives in San Francisco with her father to meet her fiancé, wealthy nightclub owner Sammy Fong (Jack Soo), in an arranged marriage, but the groom ... See full summary » Director: Henry Koster Edit Storyline Billy Bigelow has been dead for fifteen years, and now outside the pearly gates, he long waived his right to go back to Earth for a day. But he has heard that there is a problem with his family, namely his wife Julie Bigelow née Jordan and the child he never met, that problem with which he would now like to head back to Earth to assist in rectifying. Before he is allowed back to Earth, he has to get the OK from the gatekeeper, to who he tells his story... Immediately attracted to each other, he and Julie met when he worked as a carousel barker. Both stated to the other that they did not believe in love or marriage, but they did get married. Because the shrewish carousel owner, Mrs. Mullin, was attracted to Billy herself, and since she believed he was only of use as a barker if he was single to attract the young women to the carousel, she fired him. With no other job skills and unwilling to take just any job, Billy did not provide for Julie but rather lived off Julie's Aunt Nettie. But... Written by Huggo Curtain up...on a wonderful new world of entertainment! See more » Genres: 16 February 1956 (USA) See more » Also Known As: Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel See more » Filming Locations: 4-Track Stereo (35 mm magnetic prints)\| 6-Track Stereo (premiere only)\| 4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System) Color: Did You Know? Trivia This film was originally meant to be filmed in both standard 35mm CinemaScope and CinemaScope 55 (55mm). Early in production it was discovered that both prints could be made from the one negative, and so it was filmed in 55mm CinemaScope only. Standard 35mm CinemaScope prints were made for release, and like The King and I (1956), this film was never shown theatrically in the 55mm format. See more » Goofs As everyone leaves for the clambake in sailboats, we can see, for a full fifteen seconds or so, several men in one of the boats wearing very modern-looking caps and sunglasses. See more » Quotes Billy Bigelow : [impatiently] Well, what'd I do now? Heavenly Friend : Nothing. I just thought you'd wanna know - there's trouble. Billy Bigelow : Huh! Thought you said I didn't do nothin'. See more » Crazy Credits A star hurtles downward and explodes in mid-air; out of this appears the credit "Twentieth-Century Fox presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's 'Carousel'". The other credits all appear in a straightforward fashion. See more » Connections The very finest of Rodgers and Hammerstein! 1 January 2003 \| by hamlet-16 The film of this classic musical is a joy to watch and listen to. The music is undoubtedly the finest Rodgers and Hammerstein score. Of the many fine moments in the film two astounding highlights must be Billy's Soliloquy and the Shirley Jones' and Gordon MacRae's lover's duet "If I loved you". To this is added two great ballet sequences "June is Bustin' out all Over" and Louise's ballet. The film is Rogers and Hammerstein at their most dark and introspective, which may account for the film's relatively lacklustre reception at the time of its initial release but the at the same time explains the ongoing appeal of this truly timeless classic film. It is a fine memorial to both composer and lyricist and to the artistry of Gordon MacRae whose performance of the soliloquy is the benchmark against which all performances are judged. The film was produced in Cinemascope 55 a large film fomat which overcame many of the problems that were inherent in early Cinemascope films (even though the film was actually released only in standard 35mm form ..a bit like a 35mm print of a 70mm film this still results in a far better image) and gives the film its immaculate look.	Carousel
From which island does 'Marsala Wine' come?	Carousel [Prism] - Original Movie Soundtrack \| Songs, Reviews, Credits \| AllMusic Original Movie Soundtrack google+ AllMusic Review by William Ruhlmann Rodgers and Hammerstein were relatively uninvolved in the movie version of their second musical, Carousel, which was the least successful of three adaptations of their shows released within an eight-month period from October 1955 to June 1956. Oklahoma!, which preceded it, and The King and I, which followed, were both blockbusters, while Carousel failed to make back its considerable production cost. The dark-edged story had also been less of a success on Broadway, though still a big hit, and the casting of Shirley Jones and Gordon MacRae (the latter a last-minute replacement for Frank Sinatra, who walked out in a contract dispute), the same pair who had just appeared in Oklahoma!, may have dampened audiences' enthusiasm. The soundtrack album, however, was musically more complete containing songs like "You're a Queer One, Julie Jordan" and "Blow High, Blow Low" that had been cut from the film -- and more popular -- reaching the Top Five and selling a million copies -- than the movie. Jones (some of whose singing may have been dubbed by Marni Nixon) and MacRae perform well, as does the rest of the cast, particularly soprano Claramae Turner ("You'll Never Walk Alone"). Some lyrics have been bowdlerized, and a couple of minor songs are missing, but this is still a good version of the score, especially because of the larger orchestra. Subsequent CD reissues have expanded the album's length, and the 2001 edition is padded out with music from two lengthy ballet sections to bring the running time over 70 minutes. 2001 reissue producers Didier C. Deutsch and Charles L. Granata each contribute liner notes, and they overlap; the two essays should have been edited together. And since they make so much of Sinatra's defection, it would have been nice to have dug up the pre-recordings he made for the soundtrack. Track Listing	i don't know
Which artist who lived from 1445 to 1510 painted 'The Birth Of Venus'?	The Birth of Venus - Sandro Botticelli Fine Art Reproduction The Birth of Venus Sandro Botticelli (1445-1510) Period: Early Renaissance Sandro Botticelli (full name Alessandro di Mariano Filipepe Botticelli) was an Italian artist. Many of his paintings involve philosophical and allegorical meanings. He painted religious and mythological pictures in large scale. Botticelli was fascinated with patterns and often used them when painting different materials and hair. His paintings are a blend between the old decorative Gothic style and the new classical and humanist ideals of Renaissance. Key artwork: The Birth of Venus, 1484 Additional Information Size 50×30 cm (20″W x 12″H), 100×60 cm (40″W x 24″H) Frame Thickness	Sandro Botticelli
The songs 'Sing, Sing, Sing' and 'Sabine Women' are from which 1954 stage musical?	Sandro Botticelli \| artist \| about 1445 - 1510 \| National Gallery, London £ other Make this a monthly donation [{"Amount":5.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-08-19T23:36:01","DonorDisplayName":"Fangbin Liu","DonorLocalAmount":5.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"I like to donate because I love this great museum and the great masterpieces kept in it."},{"Amount":20.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-10T19:31:19","DonorDisplayName":"Kate English","DonorLocalAmount":20.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":5.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"What an amazing institution! This is to say thank you for your daily guided tours and the free activities you run for children."},{"Amount":10.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-06-21T09:56:01","DonorDisplayName":"Jane DALY","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":2.5000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"A national treasure that needs supporting"},{"Amount":5.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-17T08:56:35","DonorDisplayName":"Katja Leyendecker","DonorLocalAmount":5.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":1.2500,"ImageUrl":"http://images.justgiving.com/image/87facb53-ce60-4e05-9c8d-fa830c9c523c.jpg?template=profilesummary","Message":"I had a most wonderful 3 hours in the gallery's 1600s section! Must return!"},{"Amount":2.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-10-25T09:01:14","DonorDisplayName":"Richard Roberts","DonorLocalAmount":2.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.5000,"ImageUrl":"http://images.justgiving.com/image/24d4733d-a317-4e81-8d0c-014c91259172.jpg?template=profilesummary","Message":"I hope this small contribution will allow you to continue your excellent work"},{"Amount":10.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-15T16:27:55","DonorDisplayName":"Janet Scott","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":2.5000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"The wonderful National Gallery deserves all the support it can get."},{"Amount":10.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-08-02T04:18:28","DonorDisplayName":"Suzanne Burke","DonorLocalAmount":10.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"Excellent online information for my students!"},{"Amount":2.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-10-20T16:29:27","DonorDisplayName":"Joshua Beaumont Houghton Boston","DonorLocalAmount":2.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"Thank you for being you!"},{"Amount":20.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-16T20:57:11","DonorDisplayName":"Irina ","DonorLocalAmount":20.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"One of my favourite museums. Hope to visit again."},{"Amount":5.0000,"CurrencyCode":"GBP","DonationDate":"2016-11-22T10:18:24","DonorDisplayName":"","DonorLocalAmount":5.0000,"DonorLocalCurrencyCode":"GBP","EstimatedTaxReclaim":0.0000,"ImageUrl":"https://www.justgiving.com/content/images/graphics/icons/avatars/facebook-avatar.gif","Message":"These beautiful artworks belong to us all. Thank you for being custodians of the national collection"}] Sandro Botticelli Go to artist A-Z At the height of his fame, the Florentine painter and draughtsman Sandro Botticelli was one of the most esteemed artists in Italy. His graceful pictures of the Madonna and Child, his altarpieces and his life-size mythological paintings, such as 'Venus and Mars' , were immensely popular in his lifetime. Detail from Sandro Botticelli, Self-portrait from the Adoration of the Magi © The Art Archive/Galleria degli Uffizi, Florence/Alfredo Dagli Orti The son of a tanner, he was born Alessandro di Mariano Filipepi, but he was given the nickname 'Botticelli' (derived from the word 'botticello' meaning 'small wine cask'). Smart beyond his years, the young Botticelli became easily bored at school. He was known for his sharp wit and his love of practical jokes, and he quickly earned a reputation as a restless, hyperactive and impatient child. Fortunately, his precocious talent was recognised and he was withdrawn from school and sent to work as an apprentice. It is thought that Botticelli first trained with Maso Finiguerra, a goldsmith, before entering the studio of the artist Fra Filippo Lippi . He began his career painting frescoes for Florentine churches and cathedrals, and worked with the painter and engraver Antonio del Pollaiuolo . By 1470, he had his own workshop. To Rome and Back In 1472, Botticelli joined the Compagnia di San Luca, the confraternity of Florentine painters. He also employed Filippino Lippi, his late teacher's son, as his apprentice, and broke convention by completing Filippino's version of 'The Adoration of the Kings' - it was far more usual for an apprentice to finish a painting by his master rather than the other way round. Botticelli's apprenticeship with Fra Filippo gave him excellent contacts. His master had enjoyed the patronage of some of the leading families in Florence, such as the Medici. Botticelli in turn spent almost all his life working for the Medici family and their circle of friends, for whom he painted some of his most ambitious secular paintings such as 'Primavera' (in the Uffizi, Florence). Botticelli's star was in the ascendant. Such was his reputation that, in 1481, he was summoned by the Pope to Rome to help decorate the walls of the recently completed Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. He painted frescoes depicting scenes from the Life of Moses and the Temptations of Christ and was also responsible for a number of papal portraits. The nature of this task demonstrates how highly regarded he was around this time, and it was the only occasion he is known to have worked outside Florence. Mythologies A year later, Botticelli returned to Florence, to continue with the most prolific stage of his career. The period from 1478-90 saw Botticelli at his most creative. This was the period during which he produced his famous mythological works, such as 'The Birth of Venus' (in the Uffizi, Florence) and 'Venus and Mars' . In these he successfully combined a decorative use of line (possibly owing much to his early training as a goldsmith) with elements of the classical tradition, seen in the harmony of his composition and the supple contours of his figures. Religion and Politics During the last 15 years of his life, Botticelli's work appeared to undergo a crisis of style and expression. The 1490s was a turbulent decade - the Medici had been expelled from Florence and Italy's peace disrupted by invasion and plagues. Botticelli rejected the ornamental charm of his earlier works in favour of a more simplistic approach that seemed crude and heavy-handed by contrast. These later paintings, with their deep moral and religious overtones, also suffered a comparison with the sophisticated aesthetic of artists such as Michelangelo and Raphael. According to Vasari in his book 'The Lives of the Artists', in his latter years Botticelli became a follower of the fanatical Dominican friar Savonarola , and the pious sentiment of his later works would seem to suggest some involvement in the religious and political upheavals in Florence at the time. 'Mystic Nativity' is Botticelli's most ambitious painting from this period and reflects this sense of apocalyptic foreboding. Final Years Vasari also suggests that, as his work fell out of favour, Botticelli became melancholic and depressed. He had never married, preferring the company of family and friends. Having always been known for his high spirits and quick wit, the image of Botticelli's final years as a rapid decline into poverty, isolation and mental anguish is a poignant one. After his death, his name all but disappeared until the late 19th century, when a developing appreciation for Florentine arts and culture brought about a renewed interest in his work. Share this artist	i don't know
In which building did Platodo most of his teaching?	Plato - Ancient History - HISTORY.com Google Plato: Early Life and Education Plato was born around 428 B.C., during the final years of the Golden Age of Pericles’ Athens. He was of noble Athenian lineage on both sides. His father Ariston died when he was a child. His mother Perictione remarried the politician Pyrilampes. Plato grew up during the Peloponnesian War (431-404) and came of age around the time of Athens’ final defeat by Sparta and the political chaos that followed. He was educated in philosophy, poetry and gymnastics by distinguished Athenian teachers including the philosopher Cratylus. Did You Know? The section on music in Plato's "Republic" suggests that in an ideal society flutes would be banned in favor of the more dignified lyre, but on his deathbed Plato reportedly summoned a young girl to play her flute for him, tapping out the rhythm with his finger while he breathed his last. The young Plato became a devoted follower of Socrates—indeed, he was one of the youths Socrates was condemned for allegedly corrupting. Plato’s recollections of Socrates’ lived-out philosophy and style of relentless questioning became the basis for his early dialogues, which historians agree offer the most accurate available picture of the elder philosopher, who left no written works of his own. Plato: Travels, the Academy and Later Life Following Socrates’ forced suicide, Plato spent 12 years traveling in southern Italy, Sicily and Egypt, studying with other philosophers including followers of the mystic mathematician Pythagoras. He began a lifelong relationship with the ruling family of Syracuse, who would later seek his advice on reforming their city’s politics. Around 387, the 40-year-old Plato returned to Athens and founded his philosophical school in the grove of the Greek hero Academus, just outside the city walls. In his open-air Academy he delivered lectures to students gathered from throughout the Greek world (nine-tenths of them from outside Athens). Many of Plato’s writings, especially the so-called later dialogues, seem to have originated in his teaching there. In establishing the Academy Plato moved beyond the precepts of Socrates, who never founded a school and questioned the very idea of a teacher’s ability to impart knowledge. Aristotle arrived from northern Greece to join the Academy at age 17, studying and teaching there for the last 20 years of Plato’s life. Plato died in Athens, and was probably buried on the Academy grounds. Plato’s Dialogues With the exception of a set of letters of dubious provenance, all of Plato’s surviving writings are in dialogue form, with the character of Socrates appearing in all but one of them. His 36 dialogues are generally ordered into early, middle and late, though their chronology is determined by style and content rather than specific dates. The early dialogues offer a deep exploration of Socrates’ dialectic method of breaking down and analyzing ideas and presumptions. In the “Euthpyro” Socrates’ endless questioning pushes a religious expert to realize that he has no understanding of what “piety” means. Such analyses pushed his students towards grappling with so-called Platonic forms—the ineffable perfect models (truth, beauty, what a chair should look like) by which people judge objects and experiences. In the middle dialogues Plato’s individual ideas and beliefs, though never advocated outright, emerge from the Socratic form. The “Symposium” is a series of drinking-party speeches on the nature of love, in which Socrates says the best thing to do with romantic desire is to convert it into amicable truth-seeking (an idea termed “Platonic love” by later writers). In the “Meno,” Socrates demonstrates that wisdom is less a matter of learning things than “recollecting” what the soul already knows, in the way that an untaught boy can be led to discover for himself a geometric proof. The monumental “Republic” is a parallel exploration of the soul of a nation and of an individual. In both, Plato finds a three-part hierarchy between rulers, auxiliaries and citizens, and between reason, emotion and desire. Just as reason should reign supreme in the individual, so should a wise ruler control a society. Only those with wisdom (ideally a sort of “philosopher-king”) are able to discern the true nature of things. The experiences of the lower tiers of the state and of the soul are—as Plato’s famous analogy has it—related to true knowledge the way the shadows on the wall of a cave are related to, yet wholly different from, the forms that cast them. Plato’s late dialogues are barely dialogues at all but rather explorations of specific topics. The “Timeaus” explains a cosmology intertwined with geometry, in which perfected three-dimensional shapes—cubes, pyramids, icosahedrons—are the “Platonic solids” out of which the whole universe is made. In the “Laws,” his final dialogue, Plato retreats from the pure theory of the “Republic,” suggesting that experience and history as well as wisdom can inform the running of an ideal state. Plato: Legacy and Influence The Academy flourished for nearly three centuries following Plato’s death, but was destroyed in the sacking of Athens by the Roman general Sulla in 86 B.C. Though continually read in the Byzantine Empire and in the Islamic world, Plato was overshadowed by Aristotle in the Christian west. It was only in the Renaissance that scholars like Petrarch led a revival of Plato’s thought, in particular his explorations of logic and geometry. William Wordsworth, Percy Shelly, and others in the 19th-century Romantic movement found philosophical solace in Plato’s dialogues. 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'Staying Alive' was a sequel to which other film?	Who Your Students Are-Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation - Carnegie Mellon University Who Your Students Are-Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation - Carnegie Mellon University Search Only Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation Submit Carnegie Mellon University Search \| Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation \| > Design & Teach a Course > Design Your Course > Who Your Students Are Recognize Who Your Students Are Students are not only intellectual but also social and emotional beings, and all these dimensions interact to impact learning and performance. To plan an effective course, it is important to consider who our students are, taking into account their: "We may exhibit an admirable command of content, and possess a dazzling variety of pedagogical skills, but without knowing what's going on in our students heads, that knowledge may be presented and that skill exercised in a vacuum of misunderstanding." – Stephen D. Brookfield, The Skillful Teacher (2006) Prior Knowledge "[Students] come to formal education with a range of prior knowledge, skills, beliefs, and concepts that significantly influence what they notice about the environment and how they organize and interpret it. This, in turn, affects their abilities to remember, reason, solve problems, and acquire new knowledge." – Bransford, Brown, and Cocking, How People Learn (2000, p. 10) New knowledge is built on existing knowledge. Thus, when you are planning a class it is important to determine what your students are likely to know coming into your course and (later in the planning process) how well they know it. What your students know. If your course is part of a sequence of courses, it is a good idea to find out what material has been covered in the course preceding it. You can do this by talking to a colleague who has taught the preceding course, or asking for a copy of his/her syllabus, assignments, and/or exams. Pay attention not only to what topics have been covered but the extent to which students have been asked to apply particular skills and knowledge (for example, have they been required simply to identify theories or to do something more sophisticated, such as make predictions on the basis of different theoretical orientations? Have they been required simply to analyze aspects of stagecraft and lighting, or have they used these insights in creating designs of their own?). The extent to which students have been required to actively do something with what they have learned will determine how deeply they know it. You might also talk to colleagues teaching "down-stream" courses (i.e., courses that come later in the sequence than your own) to determine what kinds of skills and knowledge they expect students to have leaving your course. This will help you determine the proper scope and pace of your own course. Another good idea at the course planning stage is to check your students majors on the course roster, or, in the absence of a course roster, ask someone in the department about the kinds of students you are likely to have. If the majority of your students come from within your discipline, it might be reasonable to assume that they have certain kinds of background knowledge, skills and experience. On the other hand, if a large number of students come from outside your discipline, you might have to recalibrate. Finding out about your students majors in advance can also help you think about how to build effectively on their prior knowledge to make the material in your class relevant and engaging. For example, if a number of students in an anthropology class come from the design department, using examples and illustrations that relate to different cultural aesthetics or the use of objects in diverse cultural contexts will help students connect their disciplinary knowledge to the new material they are learning and to see its relevance to their own interests and future work. How well they know it. New knowledge cannot be built effectively on a weak foundation, thus it is important to determine where students prior knowledge is "fragile", i.e., where it contains inaccuracies, naive assumptions, and/or misunderstandings of the contexts and conditions in which to apply particular skills. There are a number of ways to assess students prior knowledge. One easy way is to administer a simple diagnostic pretest during the first week of class. A well-designed pretest can identify areas of robust or weak understanding. If mastery of prerequisite skills is poor across the majority of the students, you may have to adjust the pace or scope of the course accordingly. If a small number of individuals lacks the necessary skills, this information can help you advise them appropriately, perhaps to seek outside tutoring or even, in some cases, to drop the class. Another way to assess students prior knowledge early in the semester is to ask them to draw a concept map illustrating a key topic from your course (e.g., global climate change, Mexican immigration). A quick glance at the concept maps students draw can give you a good sense of how well students currently understand the issue and help you identify misconceptions and inaccuracies. Intellectual Development Knowing how students conceive of knowledge and of the role of teacher and student in learning can be a helpful starting point for designing instruction. Below we consider the stages of intellectual development and their implications for teaching. Stages of intellectual development There are a number of models to describe students’ intellectual development in college (Perry, 1968; Belenky et al, 1986, Baxter-Magolda, 1992). Although they have slightly different emphases, all the models describe a similar progression, described here with vocabulary borrowed from Perry. Dualism: In early stages of intellectual development, students tend to see the world in terms of good-bad, right-wrong, black-white distinctions. Knowledge, to their mind, is unambiguous and clear, and learning a simple matter of information-exchange. Students at this stage believe the teacher’s job is to impart facts and their job is to remember and reproduce them. At this early stage of intellectual development, students may be frustrated when the teacher provides conditional answers (e.g., “It depends on the context”) or introduces more questions rather than giving “the right answer”. Multiplicity: The next stage of intellectual development begins when students realize that experts can disagree and facts can contradict one another. To students at this stage of development, everything becomes a matter of perspective and opinion, with all opinions accorded equal validity. They feel more empowered to think for themselves and question received wisdom, but they are not necessarily able to evaluate different perspectives or marshal evidence to support their own. They may also view instructor evaluations of their work as purely subjective. Relativism: At a more sophisticated stage of development, students begin to recognize the need to support their opinions with evidence. They accept that reasonable people can disagree, but understand that some perspectives have more validity than others and that even the word of authorities should be analyzed critically, not swallowed whole. Like students at the dualistic stage they may have strong views, but these views are grounded in examination and reflection. They begin to perceive the role of the teacher differently: as a knowledgeable guide or conversation partner, not an infallible authority but also not “just another opinion”. Commitment: The last stage in Perry’s model does not involve a jump in intellectual sophistication so much as the application of knowledge gained in the relativism stage. Here, students make choices and decisions in the outside world that are informed by relativistic knowledge. It is important to note that students do not necessarily move through each of these stages in lock-step. Some students might take longer to move out of dualism than others; some might get comfortable at the multiplicity stage and never reach relativism. By the same token, students do not necessarily move through the stages sequentially: when students encounter new intellectual challenges (for example, material that fundamentally shakes their beliefs or assumptions) they may “retreat” to earlier stages temporarily. Baxter-Magolda’s work is sobering in that it suggests that (a) students enter college at a far lower stage of intellectual sophistication than we often believe, and (b) they generally do not progress as far as we might hope. The graph below, based on national data, illustrates where most students are intellectually during the four (or five) years of college. Apparently, while multiplistic thinking increases in college and dualistic thinking decreases, relativistic thinking does not develop to a very significant degree. Adapted from Baxter-Magolda (1992) Implications for teaching Helping students grow intellectually requires balancing the support you provide with the challenges you pose. In other words, it is important to push students out of their comfort zone, but to do so gradually enough so that they do not panic or become discouraged. As Knefelkamp points out, learning is an ego-threatening task (not incidentally, so is teaching). Too much challenge to the ego and students rebel or retreat; too little and they don’t progress: either way they don’t learn. One of our tasks as instructors is to recognize the stage where our students (or most of our students) are and to help bridge the transition to the next stage. For example, students who are solidly at the dualistic stage – perhaps freshmen in an introductory-level class – might simultaneously be taught facts (terms, definitions, theorems, etc.) and presented with situations in which there are conflicting interpretations of facts, so that they are encouraged not simply to accept what they are told, but also to postulate explanations for discrepancies. Students at the multiplicity stage can be asked to identify perspectives and opinions, including their own, but also required to support them with examples, illustrations or data and to evaluate the opinions of others relative to the evidence available. You might want to explain to students how you want them to approach material that does not lend itself to dualistic analysis. For example, in a psychology class you might say: “We will be discussing a number of theories to explain differences in personality and their implications for human behavior. There is not a single “correct” theory; rather, I will expect you to analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each, and to compare and evaluate them in terms of their explanatory power.” You might also choose to explicitly address students’ emotional reaction to material that pushes them outside their comfort zone. For example: “Some of you are used to thinking of learning in terms of right and wrong answers. In this class we will be dealing with many shades of gray, and raising as many questions as we generate answers. This may frustrate you for a while, but it will help you develop more sophisticated ways of conceptualizing problems, so hang in there.” Some instructors actually take the time in class to teach the stages of intellectual development, so that students can become more aware of their own intellectual growth over time. Cultural background How might cultural differences among your students (or between you and your students) affect the course you are planning? While all cultures value learning, the kinds of learning valued in particular cultures, the manner in which learning is believed to best occur, and the ways in which the roles of students and teachers are conceptualized may differ profoundly from culture to culture. When students from different cultures share a classroom – or if you, as the instructor, come from a different culture than your students – it is important to consider how cultural background can affect classroom dynamics and learning. A document created by the Eberly Center and the Intercultural Communication Center called Recognizing and Addressing Cultural Variations in the Classroom can help you as an instructor: understand the types of challenges international students face; explore issues that may affect students in your courses; and offer suggestions based on strategies CMU faculty have successfully employed It is helpful to note that the same strategies that can help facilitate teaching and learning in a multi-cultural classroom serve the interests of all students, regardless of cultural background. Generational Experiences and Expectations Generations have their own cultures, informed by different social trends and world events. Generational differences can influence the habits and expectations students have when they come to college, how they approach learning, and how they conceive of the appropriate roles of teachers and students. Research comparing the Millennial Generation (students graduating high school after 2000) to other generations suggests that the cohort of college students we are now teaching has distinctive characteristics that influence the dynamics of our classrooms and have implications – positive and negative – for teaching. References Baxter-Magolda, M. B. (1992). Knowing and reasoning in college: Gender-related patterns in students' intellectual development. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Belenky, M. F., Clinchy, B. M., Goldberger, N. R., & Tarule, J. M. (1986). Women's ways of knowing: The development of self, voice, and mind. New York: Basic Books. Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L, & Cocking, R., eds. (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Brookfield, S. D. (2006). The skillful teacher: On technique, trust, and responsiveness in the classroom (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Evans, N. J., Forney, D. S., & Guido-DiBrito, F. (1998). Student development in college: Theory, research and practice. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Howe, N., & Strauss, W. (2000). Millennials rising: The next great generation. New York: Vintage Books. Howe, N., & Strauss, W. (2004). Millennials go to college: Strategies for a new generation on campus. Washington, D.C.: American Association of Collegiate Registrars. Perry, W. G., Jr. (1968). Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years: A scheme. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation Eberly: (412) 268-2896 \| Blackboard: (412) 268-9090 © Copyright 2008, 2015, Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence & Educational Innovation, Carnegie Mellon University.	i don't know
What name, from the Latin for tortoise, was given to the Roman battle formation, where shields were used to form a protective shell above attacking soldiers?	Roman Soldier Facts & Worksheets \| Kids Study Resource Worksheets / Social Studies / World History /Roman Soldier Facts & Worksheets Roman Soldier Facts & Worksheets Download This Worksheet This download is exclusively for KidsKonnect Premium members! To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download! This worksheet has a free sample available. Download the sample here » Download This Sample This sample is exclusively for KidsKonnect Basic members! To download this worksheet, click the button below to signup for free (it only takes a minute) and you'll be brought right back to this page to start the download! Already a member? Log in to download. Roman soldiers were the very disciplined, well-trained soldiers of the Roman Army. The Roman Army had as many as 28,000 – 179,200 soldiers and most of those were legionaries. See the fact file below for more information and facts about Roman soldiers. Only men could become Roman soldiers. Women were not allowed to join. In order to become a Roman soldier the men needed to over the age of 20 so that they could join one of the Roman Army legions. The main Roman soldiers were called legionaries and they had to be Roman citizens to join. This didn’t mean they had to live in Rome though – many soldiers joined from across the Roman Empire including Africa, Britain, France, Germany, Spain, the Balkans and the Middle East. Other soldiers were allowed to join the Roman Army and were known as the auxilia. Auxilia soldiers were non-citizens who mainly came from the provinces. They were paid less than the legionaries and didn’t usually wear armour but they were given Roman citizenship at the end of their service – which was a minimum of 25 years in the army. Legionaries also had to serve in the Roman Army for 25 years and they were given a pension of the gift of land to farm once they completed their service. Old soldiers often settled down in old age together in a military town or colonia. During their time in the army, Roman soldiers were not allowed to get married until they completed their service. The legionaries were separated into centuries – units made up of 80 Roman soldiers and 20 other men who remained in the camp to cook and do other chores. Roman Soldier Training Roman soldiers training at Birdoswald Fort, Hadrian’s Wall. The Roman Army were incredibly well trained and organized, performing drills every single day. Tactically, they were also very precise and the organization, leadership and logistics were also practiced often. Roman soldiers needed to be physically fit and strong above all else, and they needed to be able to take instructions and follow them without hesitation or question. Roman soldiers were expected to be able to march about 36km (24 miles) a day, wearing full armor and carrying their weapons and equipment. They need to be able to complete this march in around 5 hours. Soldiers also trained to swim, fight, build bridges, set up camp and cope with any injuries together as a unit. Roman soldiers would practice hand-to-hand combat with wooden swords, spears and shields. These were deliberately much heavier than the weapons and equipment used in real battle to train them to fight through tiredness. Roman soldiers are famous for their discipline in battle and the ability to take orders. They would train in formations and lines that they also used in battle. An organized army is often the most successful. One of the most famous Roman formations was the testudo – which is Latin for “tortoise”. This formation protected the soldiers from attack by interlocking their shields at the front and sides. Soldiers in the back line placed shields over their heads to form a protective shell over the top – protecting them from enemy archers. Some Roman soldiers received specific training for a certain discipline. Some trained to become expert archers, some trained to use onagers – which were giant catapults, some used large crossbows known as ballistas, and the army also had cavalry units called Equites. These were men rich enough to have horses and more expensive weapons to train with. Roman Weapons, Armour and Equipment Reenactment of a Roman legion attack with gladius swords and scutum shields. Wikimedia: Roman legion at attack Roman soldiers wore helmets and body protection in battle and in the early to mid-Republican era the legionaries usually brought their own equipment. The Hastati were the first line of Roman soldiers and they wore breastplates called cuirass and occassionally chainmail, which they called lorica hamata. The second line of soldiers, called principes, were often richer and always wore chainmail, although they also wore cheaper breastplates as well. Both the Hastati and principes used a gladius sword in close combat battle. The sword was short, around 2 feet in length, and was useful for stabbing enemies. Roman soldiers also carried two pila. These were short spears which could be thrown like a javelin. The third line of soldiers were called the Triarii, and they had a two meter long spear – known as a hasta. All legionaries had a large rectangular shield, the scutum, which had rounded corners to fit around the body of the soldier. They were also wide enough to be butted-up against the shield of other soldiers for protection when fighting in formation. Roman Solider Worksheets This bundle includes 10 ready-to-use Roman Solider worksheets that are perfect for students to learn about the Roman Army which had as many as 28,000 – 179,200 soldiers and most of those were legionaries. Throughout the extensive worksheet pack there are multiple lesson resources and quizzes for students to practice their knowledge which can be used within the classroom or homeschooling environment. Roman Solider Prompt Included Roman Soldier worksheets: Roman Soldier Labelling Students are tasked with coloring and labelling the Roman Soldier’s armour and weapons utilising the words provided. Roman Soldier Word Search: Students will tackle this Roman Soldier quiz in the form of a word search which students will complete using the knowledge gained from previous activities and quizzes. Fill in the Blanks Fill in the blanks task to identify the words associated with Roman soldiers. Roman Soldier Crossword Puzzle Crossword filler task focusing on Roman Solider terms. Reading Comprehension Reading comprehension task where students are challenged to read a paragraph on Roman soldiers and answer a number of challenging questions. Roman Soldier Match Write a sentence about the Roman solider based on each letter of the word Soldier. Roman Soldier Anagram Anagram task. Unscrambled the letters to form the correct word referred by the statement. Write your answer on the space provided Roman Soldier Prompt Journal writing task where students have to imagine they are a Roman Soldier. After completing these worksheets students will be able to: Have a clear understanding about the history of the Roman army. Complete a number of quiz and fill in the blank activities to test their knowledge of the subject. Understand why the Roman army and in particular Roman solider’s were such a force. Understand facts and fiction based upon studies. Read a passage of text and answer questions based on the source material. Key reading comprehension task. Create a journal entry and role play as if a Roman soldier. Multiple core literacy skills are worked on and are the foundation of this study worksheet pack. Complete a number of ELA exercises tied to the topic of history and in particular Roman Soldiers. Use With Any Curriculum These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards. Related Resources	Testudo
What was the name of Captain Scott's ship on his last Antarctic voyage?	ARTH 3162: Roman Art and Architecture (2) - Art History 3162 with Canepa at University of Minnesota - Twin Cities - StudyBlue Good to have you back! If you've signed in to StudyBlue with Facebook in the past, please do that again. ARTH 3162: Roman Art and Architecture (2) ARTH 3162: Roman Art and Architecture (2) Kate J. Ceremony celebrating the formal arrival of an emperor or general. Adlocutio Formal speech given by the emperor to his troops. Also refers to the traditional stance (with one arm raised) associated with such a speech. Advertisement ) Apotheosis The occasion when someone (esp. an emperor) becomes a god/goddess after their death. Represented by the person being carried up toward the heavens. Apse Semicircular niche, usually at the end of a hall or basilica. Arcade A series of arches supported by columns or piers. Basilica Hall built to accommodate a crowd of people for civic and administrative purposes. Bay Vertical division of an interior space, such as the space between two columns. Broken Pediment A pediment with a gap at its apex, often filled by a sculpture or other decorative element. Capitolium The main temple for civic worship in Roman towns, usually dedicated to the same gods (Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva) that were venerated on the Capitol in Rome. Canon of Proportions A set of proportions based off mathematical ratios in the human body. (Used by Egyptians) Castrum Walled Roman military camp with gridded rectangular layout. Clerestory A row of windows along the upper part of a wall that allow natural light in. Coffers Recessed panel in a ceiling or dome (Ex. the Pantheon) - Created illusion that dome was more spacious - Made dome lighter/easier to support Damnatio Memoriae A decree of the senate condemning someone's behavior & ordering that all images and documentary references of them be destroyed. (Erasing someone from history) Decursio The ritual circling of a funerary pyre performed by Roman soldiers. Advertisement A painting technique using pigments mixed with hot wax. (Used in Fayum Mummy Portraits) Embolos Colonnaded street lined with shops and monuments. Exedra A large curving space set back in a wall or colonnade. Generally unroofed and larger than an apse. Historiated Column A column adorned with narrative scenes. Intuitive Perspective Objects are placed at an angle to the picture plan, but their linear elements don't converge on one point. Creates an illusion of depth, but the space doesn't seem coherent. Lares Roman gods that protected the house and family. Nymphaeum Triangular space between the springing and center of an arch; One of the wedge shaped blocks forming an arch. Tuscan Order Simplified version of Doric Order Very plain/basic No fluting Undercutting Sculptural technique where material is cut back under the edges so that the remaining form projects strongly forward. - Uses a drill Site of the imperial funeral pyre Initiation Rites (Villa of the Mysteries). 50 BCE, Fresco. Shows initiation into cult of Dionysus - physical/sexual suffering. Dionysus (center) purple robes. Theater mask (left) symbol of Dionysus. Example of 2nd Pompeian Style (3D representations framed by architectural forms) Architectural View from a Bedroom, Mid 1st Century BCE. Villa at Boscoreale, near Pompeii. Example of 2nd Pompeian Style. Multiple perspectives. Warren Cup, 30 BCE/CE. Silver. Homosexual lovemaking - standard, common. Garden Room, Villa of Livia at Prima Porta. Late 1st Century, BCE. Served as Winter Triclinium. Shows richness and fertility of Augustan Era. Head of Odysseus. Tiberius' Villa at Sperlonga. 1st Century BCE. Marble. (Detail from the blinding of Polyphemus) Helenistic Style - Lots of emotion/movement, HUGE scale, viewer could interact more with the statue. Portrait of Tiberius, 13 CE, Marble. Triangular face shape, long neck, prominent forehead Implies a blood relation to Augustus (even though he was only his adopted son) Claudius as Jupiter, 50 BCE. Eagle & Crown = Symbols of Jupiter. Nudity & drapery = Divinity Stylized, young body w/ a more realistic, aged face. Octangonal Room, Domus Aurea (Golden House) of Nero. 64 CE, Rome. (used as a tricilinium) Revolutionary Idea in Architecture. Dome w/ central opening (oculus). Additional opening above oculus let light into the surrounding rooms, creating ambient lighting. The Sebasteion at Aphrodisias, Mid 1st Century CE. Greek name for Latin Augusteum, the cult place of Augusts and his descendents. By building in Aphrodisias, it increases the Julio-Claudian connection with Aphrodite, or Venus. Celebrates Augustus as a hero. Triple story portico w/ sculptural reliefs. Portrait of Vespasian, 75 CE, Marble. Realistic Nod to Verism + sense of wisdom (wrinkles) Twisted Neck (Alexander) Broke from the Julio-Claudian image (esp. Nero) Portrayed himself as a man of the people Successful general Rome, 72-80 CE. Brick, Concrete, and Travertine. Built on site of Domus Aurea (separation from Nero) Largest in Roman Empire (50,000 - 75,000 people.) Series of vaulted platforms - arches intersected at right angles to form groin vaults. Progression of engaged columns: Tuscan (first floor), Ionic (2nd floor), Corinthian (3rd floor), Corinthian Pilasters (Attic) Gladiator games, beast hunts, executions, etc. Menorah Procession/Sack of Jerusalem. From the Arch of Titus, 81 CE, Marble, The Roman Forum. Romans capturing Jewish trophies from Temple of Jerusalem after crushing the Jewish rebellion. Arch of Titus 81 CE, Marble, The Roman Forum. Commemorates the Deification of Titus and his victory over the Jewish Rebellion. Erected by Domitian (his brother & successor) Triumph of Titus, Arch of Titus, Roman Forum, 81 CE. Marble. Titus riding 4-horse chariot (quadriga) Led by Roma and crowned by winged victory. (Portrayal as a victorious general) Domus Augustana 92 CE, Palatine Hill, Rome. Domus Augustana (Center): Palace of Sitting Emperor Formed around 3 Peristyles Domus Tiberiana: Palace of Imperial Successor Domus Flavia (Left): Public Aula Regia, Peristyle, Winter dining room Covered Hippodrome: Similar to Circus Maximus Private garden for Horseback riding Hercules Strangling Serpents, House of the Vettii, Pompeii. 63-79 CE. Pentheus House of the Vettii, Pompeii 69-73 CE. (Triclinium) Pentheus being torn apart by his mother and other women in a Bacchic frenzy. Bacchus caused them to mistake Pentheus for a wild animal because Pentheus had forbidden women from practicing bacchic rituals. Priapus Weighing his Penis, House of the Vettii, Pompeii. 1st Cent. CE. Protective God, located in vestibule (fauces) of home. Lararium, House of the Vettii, Pompeii. 63-79 CE. Shrine to the spirits that protected the family. Ensured health, wealth, and male heirs. Lares = Right and Left. Center = Spirit of the owner of the house Snakes = Fertility Portrait of Husband and Wife, Pompeii, Mid 1st Cent. CE. Wall Painting. Wife holds stylus and tablet Husband holds scroll Markets of Trajan 100-112 CE, Rome. Adjacent to Trajan's Forum. Enclosed in semi-circular structure. Used clerestory to bring in outside light (Similar to Domus Aurea). Behind = Via Biberatica, "Street of Pepper" Aula in the Markets of Trajan. 100-112 CE, Rome. 2-story hall made of 6 groin vaults. Interior lighting provided by gap between main groin vaults and barrel vaults covering the side shops. May have been center for imperial distributions of food/money. Plan of Trajan's Forum Included Temple to divine Trajan, Trajan's column, the Basilica Ulpia, Equestrian Statue of Trajan Reconstruction of the Basilica Ulpia, Trajan's Forum, 113 CE. Huge building, lined with columns on four sides, semicircular apses on either end that mimiced the large exedrae in the forum Column of Trajan, Rome, 113 CE, Marble. Historiated column recording Trajan's campaigns and victories. (Esp. Dacian campaign) Recorded the height of the hill that had been cleared away to build forum. Trajan's ashes were placed in base of column. (first IN the city) Emphasis on routine military activities (mundane) River God, Personification of the Danube. Detail from the Column of Trajan, 113 CE, Rome, Marble. Roman troops crossing the Danube on a bridge of pontoons. Trajan Addressing Troops, Detail from the Column of Trajan, Rome, 113 CE, Marble Dacian Prisoners brough before the Emperor Trajan, Column of Trajan, Rome, 113 CE, marble. Roman soldier presenting Trajan with Dacian prisoners in front of a Roman military camp Testudo formation, Column of Trajan Rome, 113 CE, Marble Roman soldiers attacking a Dacian fortress. Defensive maneuver called Testudo, or "tortoise" - putting shields over heads to form protective barrier. Victory writing on a shield. Column of Trajan, Rome, 113 CE. Marble. One of the few divinities portrayed on the column. Divides the frieze into Trajan's two campaigns in Dacia. The Arch of Trajan, Benevento. 117-120 CE. Dedicated to Trajan because he paid for the construction of the road through Benevento to Brindisi out of his own funds. Victories, river god, and fountain nymph are shown in the spandrels. Victories represent Trajan's triumph over Dacia Seasons are shown to represent the happiness of Trajan's reign throughout the year. "Great Trajanic Frieze," Trajan fighting Dacians. Incorporated into the Arch of Constantine 100-117 CE. Marble. Trajan is shown in military dress, riding into battle. Dacians are shown fleeing, pleading for mercy, and dying. More grandiose/dramatic than Trajan's column. Trajan distributes food to the children of the poor, Arch of Trajan, Benevento, Italy. 117-120 CE Representation of an actual event. Veiled women symbolize the city goddess & other personifications. Pantheon, 125-128 CE, Rome. "All the Gods" Built under Trajan and Hadrian in place of older pantheon dedicated to mars and venus. Portico + dark interior = effect of traditional roman temple. Smooth marble = wealth. Coffers in ceiling of dome. Gradation of materials in thickness/weight from bottom to top. Occulus. March 21 = light hits metal grill above door & illuminates portico. Rome's founding (April 21) = light hits interior doorway. Preparation for emperor, confirmation of power. Plan of Hadrian's Villa, Tivoli, Italy. 118-128 CE. Sprawling complex of numerous structures, lots of outdoor spaces. Lots of water features (Nymphaeum,Euripis, etc). Temple of Venus and Roma, 135 CE. Rome. Two cellae, back-to-back. Peripteral (columns around whole temple, rather than portico) Greek influence, Hadrian helped to design it. Stands on a stylobate, rather than the traditional podium. Hadrian's Mausoleum, 128, Rome. Finished 2 years after Hadrian's death. Connected to vatican by a fortified passageway. Built at the same time as the bridge across the Tiber, which connected the mausoleum to the city. Shape similar to mausoleum of Augustus. Included spaces focused on roman funerary rituals. Antinous, 130-138 CE, Delphi, Marble. Hadrian's lover, deified after death. Idealized portrayals - Hellenistic idea of male beauty. Apotheosis of Antoninus Pius and Faustina, base of the Column of Antoninus Pius, 161 CE, Marble. Shows couple being carried toward heaven. Personification of the Campus Martius (with obelisk) and Roma (shield w/ Romulus and Remus). Decursio, base of the Column of Antoninus Pius, 161 CE, Marble. Decursio = rart of imperial funeral ritual (circling funeral pyre) Marcus Aurelius on Horseback, Rome 164-166 CE. Gilded Bronze. Survived because it was believed to be a statue of Constantine the great. The only complete bronze equestrian statue to survive from antiquity. May have once had a barbarian beneath the hoof of the horse. Hand Gesture = Clemency/addressing crowd. The Triumph of Marcus Aurelius, 176-182 CE, Marble. Originally from his Triumphal Arch. Shows Marcus riding a quadriga and being crowned by a winged victory. Appear to be moving through a triumphal arch. Set within the city of Rome (temple of Jupiter in the background) Antonines 3) Commodus Emperor Addresses his troops, detail from the Column of Marcus Aurelius, Rome. 180-192 CE. Column is modeled after that of Trajan, but carvings are much deeper and focus on brutality of war. (Adlocutio) Troops appear to surround Marcus Aurelius, who is shown from a frontal perspective. Commodus as Hercules, 190 CE. Marble. Overt portrayal as a god, created during his lifetime. He also had the senate declare him a god during his lifetime. Assumed a number of grand titles (including hercules) and named the months of the year after those titles. Viewed as insane and overreaching. Arch of Septimius Severus, Roman Forum, 203 CE. Exaggerated his victory over the Parthians. (Had a greater Parthinian campaign than Augustus) Larger than the arch of Titus. Spandrel of central arch show winged victories holding trophies. Sandrels of side arches show river gods. Four seasons are represented. Harsher, more linear style. Severans Arch of Septimius Severus, Leptis Magna, Libya. 204 CE. Tetrapylon = "Four Gates" Located at intersection of Cardo & Decumanus. Commemorates presence of the emperor. Crowned by a dome (not a groin vault structure) Spandrel = winged victories Pendentives = imperial eagles Triumphal procession of Septimius Severus and his two sons. 203-204 CE. Arch of Septimius Severus, Leptis Magna, Libya. Emperor is shown straight on, even though Chariot and horses are in profile. Bacchus, Hercules, and goddess of fortune are shown on the Chariot (protective gods of Leptis Magna) Uses stacked effect to create depth within the crowd Portrait of Septimius Severus, Julia Domna, Caracalla, and Geta. Encaustic Paint on Wood. 199 CE. From Fayum. Geta's face was intentionally destroyed (Damnatio Memoriae) Eyes of each subject are slighly uneven to add a dynamic element to their faces. Wearing crowns and jewelry Septimius Severus	i don't know
Which Biblical character is the son of Isaac and the twin brother of Jacob?	Esau in the Bible – The Twin Brother of Jacob By Jack Zavada "Instant gratification" is a modern term, but it applied to the Old Testament character Esau, whose shortsightedness led to disastrous consequences in his life. Esau, whose name means "hairy," was the twin brother of Jacob . Since Esau was born first, he was the elder son who inherited the all-important birthright , a Jewish law that made him the major heir in his father Isaac 's will. Once, when the red-haired Esau came home famished from hunting, he found his brother Jacob cooking stew. Esau asked Jacob for some, but Jacob demanded that Esau first sell him his birthright for the stew. Esau made a poor choice, not considering the consequences. He swore to Jacob and exchanged his precious birthright for a mere bowl of stew. Later, when Isaac's eyesight had failed, he sent his son Esau out to hunt for game for a meal, planning to give Esau his blessing later. Isaac's scheming wife Rebekah overheard and quickly prepared meat. Then she put goatskins on her favorite son Jacob's arms and neck, so that when Isaac touched them, he would think it was his hairy son Esau. Jacob thus impersonated Esau, and Isaac blessed him by mistake. When Esau returned and found out what had happened, he became furious. He asked for another blessing, but it was too late. Isaac told his firstborn son he would have to serve Jacob, but would later "throw his yoke from off your neck." ( Genesis 27:40, NIV ) Because of his treachery, Jacob feared Esau would kill him. He fled to his uncle Laban in Paddan Aram. Again going his own way, Esau had married two Hittite women, angering his parents. To try to make amends, he married Mahalath, a cousin, but she was a daughter of Ishmael , the outcast. Twenty years later, Jacob had become a rich man. He went back home but was terrified of meeting Esau, who had become a powerful warrior with an army of 400 men. Jacob sent servants ahead with flocks of animals as gifts for Esau. But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. (Genesis 33:4, NIV) Jacob returned to Canaan and Esau went to Mount Seir. Jacob, whom God renamed Israel, became father of the Jewish nation through his twelve sons . Esau, also named Edom, became father of the Edomites, an enemy of ancient Israel. The Bible does not mention Esau's death. A very confusing verse regarding Esau appears in Romans 9:13: Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” (NIV) Understanding that the name Jacob stood for Israel and Esau stood for the Edomite people helps us decipher what is meant. If we substitute "chose" for "loved" and "did not choose" for "hated," the meaning becomes clearer: Israel God chose, but Edom God did not choose. God chose Abraham and the Jews, from whom the Savior Jesus Christ would come. The Edomites, founded by Esau who sold his birthright, were not the chosen line. Esau's Accomplishments: Esau, a skilled archer, became rich and powerful, father of the Edomite people. Without doubt his greatest accomplishment was forgiving his brother Jacob after Jacob had cheated him out of his birthright and blessing. Esau's Strengths: Esau was strong-willed and a leader of men. He set out on his own and founded a mighty nation in Seir, as detailed in Genesis 36. Esau's Weaknesses: His impulsiveness often led Esau into making bad decisions. He thought only of his momentary need, giving little thought to the future. Life Lessons: Sin always has consequences, even if they are not immediately apparent. Esau rejected the spiritual in favor of his urgent physical needs. Following God is always the wisest choice. Hometown: Canaan. References to Esau in the Bible: Esau's story appears in Genesis 25-36. Other mentions include Malachi 1:2, 3; Romans 9:13; and Hebrews 12:16, 17. Occupation: Key Verses: Genesis 25:23 The LORD said to her (Rebekah), “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” ( NIV ) Genesis 33:10 “No, please!” said Jacob (to Esau). “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably." ( NIV ) (Sources: gotquestions.org ; International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, James Orr, general editor; Bible History: Old Testament, by Alfred Edersheim) New Testament People of the Bible (Index) Jack Zavada, a career writer and contributor for About.com, is host to a Christian website for singles. Never married, Jack feels that the hard-won lessons he has learned may help other Christian singles make sense of their lives. His articles and ebooks offer great hope and encouragement. To contact him or for more information, visit Jack's Bio Page .	Esau
We call this item a 'Mobile Phone', what do Americans call it?	Yacob - definition of Yacob by The Free Dictionary Yacob - definition of Yacob by The Free Dictionary http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Yacob Ja·cob (jā′kəb) In the Bible, the son of Isaac and grandson of Abraham. His 12 sons became the progenitors of the 12 tribes of Israel. [Late Latin Iacōbus, from Greek Iakōb, from Hebrew ya'ăqōb, (God) has protected; see ʕqb in the Appendix of Semitic roots.] Jacob (ˈdʒeɪkəb) n 1. (Bible) Old Testament the son of Isaac, twin brother of Esau, and father of the twelve patriarchs of Israel 2. (Animals) Also called: Jacob sheep any of an ancient breed of sheep having a fleece with dark brown patches and two or four horns [sense 2 in allusion to Genesis 30:40] Ja•cob (ˈdʒeɪ kəb) n. a son of Isaac and Rebekah, younger twin of Esau, and father of the 12 patriarchs. Gen. 24:24–34. ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:	i don't know
Which artist who lived from 1450 to 1516, painted 'The Garden Of Earthly Delights'?	The Garden of Earthly Delights, circa 1500 Giclee Print by Hieronymus Bosch at Art.com Product Details Product Details The Garden of Earthly Delights, c.1500 (oil on panel), Bosch, Hieronymus (c.1450-1516) / Prado, Madrid, Spain / The Bridgeman Art Library This giclée print offers beautiful color accuracy on a high-quality paper (235 gsm) that is a great option for framing with its smooth, acid free surface. Giclée (French for “to spray”) is a printing process where millions of ink droplets are sprayed onto the paper’s surface creating natural color transitions. About the Art Genius, madman, or both, Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516) was a groundbreaking Flemish artist of the late Gothic period whose work continues to influence artists today. Uniquely gifted in his ability to explore the dark rivers of the mind, Bosch released his inner visions on to canvas. Contrary to the paintings of other Flemish painters which convey serenity and reality, Bosch’s work is rife with the macabre, allegorical symbolism and nightmarish images. Exhibiting brilliant colors and exceptional mastery of detail, Bosch’s unforgettable, often disturbing artworks, initially collected by King Phillip II of Spain, were forerunners of Surrealism. Read More Genius, madman, or both, Flemish artist Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516) was uniquely gifted in his ability to explore the dark rivers of the mind and release them onto canvas. Contrary to the paintings of other Flemish painters, which conveyed serenity and reality, Bosch’s “The Garden of Earthly Delights,” his most famous work, is rife with macabre allegorical symbolism and terrifying images of humanity’s fall from grace. Exhibiting brilliant colors and exceptional mastery of detail, Bosch’s disturbingly unforgettable artworks, collected by King Phillip II of Spain, were forerunners of Surrealism, and still powerfully influence artists today. Item# 11724720A	Hieronymus Bosch
Who wrote 'The Good Soldier' in 1915?	The Garden of Earthly Delights, c.1504 Art Print by Hieronymus Bosch at Art.com We apologize for the inconvenience Need help? Chat now High-quality printing gives this fine art print its vivid and sharp appearance. Produced on medium weight cover stock, this art reproduction is coated with a silken finish that protects the inks and creates an elegant look. The versatile art print strikes a balance between quality and affordability. More about this product 36" x 24" Art Print Product no longer available We apologize for the inconvenience Product Details Product Details High-quality printing gives this fine art print its vivid and sharp appearance. Produced on medium weight cover stock, this art reproduction is coated with a silken finish that protects the inks and creates an elegant look. The versatile art print strikes a balance between quality and affordability. About the Art Genius, madman, or both, Hieronymus Bosch (1450–1516) was a groundbreaking Flemish artist of the late Gothic period whose work continues to influence artists today. Uniquely gifted in his ability to explore the dark rivers of the mind, Bosch released his inner visions on to canvas. Contrary to the paintings of other Flemish painters which convey serenity and reality, Bosch’s work is rife with the macabre, allegorical symbolism and nightmarish images. Exhibiting brilliant colors and exceptional mastery of detail, Bosch’s unforgettable, often disturbing artworks, initially collected by King Phillip II of Spain, were forerunners of Surrealism. Read More	i don't know
To which family of birds does the 'Bittern' belong?	The RSPB: Browse bird families: Bitterns and herons Browse bird families Image: Graham Catley Herons are small to very large. All have long legs with particularly long toes, useful when wading on soft mud or standing on floating vegetation. Their wings are broad and rounded, often markedly bowed in flight, and they all have long or very long, sinuous necks and dagger-shaped bills. Herons catch fish and other aquatic creatures by grabbing them in the bill rather than spearing. Many species nest in trees, often in mixed colonies, while bitterns are much more secretive and nest in dense reeds. There are many other species worldwide.	The Heron
Which comedian married his partner Kevin McGee in a civil ceremony in 2006?	American Bittern, Identification, All About Birds - Cornell Lab of Ornithology Typical Voice Size & Shape American Bitterns are medium-sized herons with thick, compact bodies. They have shorter legs and thicker necks than typical herons and a slightly hunched posture. The daggerlike bill is long, straight, and sharply pointed. The wings are broad but the wingtips are somewhat pointed. Color Pattern American Bitterns are mostly warm brown, buff, and white. They are strongly streaked, especially on the neck, and they can be very hard to see against marsh vegetation. In flight the dark outer wings contrast sharply with the brown of the rest of the bird. Behavior Bitterns are stealth predators and typically stand motionless as they wait for prey to approach, or stalk it with barely perceptible motions. They adopt a classic pose when alarmed, with the beak pointing straight up, helping this streaky bird blend in with its reedy background. They tend to forage alone. Habitat Look for American Bitterns in shallow freshwater marshes, typically toward the margins and among reeds and other vegetation; they are rarely out in the open.	i don't know
Which British city has thoroughfares called Saltmarket, Candleriggs, and Trongate?	Merchant City - Old Glasgow Sights Glasgow's Merchant City is a district centred around the mediaeval old town, which is now a vibrant part of the modern city. Synchronised drawings of Merchant City clock towers, all with blue and gold faces The old city of Glasgow was some way east of the present city centre, and was situated around Glasgow Cross and the Cathedral. The map below is a Victorian representation of the secular part of the town in 1547, created from original records by Sir James Marwick who was Town Clerk of Glasgow from 1873 to 1903. The religous sector of the old city is featured in my Glasgow Cathedral Precinct page. Map of Central Glasgow as it would have appeared in 1547 Glasgow Cross in pre-Reformation times was known as Mercat Cross. Argyle Street and Trongate are shown in the map as "St Tenus Gait or Tronegait". "Gait" is an old Scots word meaning "the way to". St Tenus Well was situated at the western end of St Tenus Gait at what is now St Enoch Square. The eastern end of Tronegait, at the Mercat Cross, was the site of the "Trone" or "Tron", which was a beam used for weighing goods brought to market. Saltmarket, where the fish curers operated was known at this time as "Walkergait". The trade carried out by the waulkers was cloth bleaching. "Stockwellgait" was known earlier as "Fishergait". The residents and workers in the vicinity got their water supplies from a "stock" or wooden well which gave its name to the street. There were 4 streams in the area flowing into the Clyde. The western stream is shown in the map as "Burn called Glasgw". It flowed along the line of West Nile Street, Union Street and Jamaica Street. The eastern stream is the Moledinar Burn flowing from the north, which was joined by the "Burn called Poldrait" and the "Burn called Camlawchty" (Camlachie Burn) from the east before reaching the Clyde. Tolbooth Steeple At Glasgow Cross, the old heart of the city, stands the Tolbooth steeple. The tower is now a traffic island in the middle of High Street, and is all that remains of the Tolbooth which was built in 1627 to house Glasgow's council chamber and administrative headquarters. The old building, which was attached to the tower, was demolished after the First World War. The outline of the missing part can still be spotted by the difference in stone colour on the sides of the tower. The engraving above depicts the Trongate as it would have looked in the 1700's. It shows the five-storey Tolbooth adjacent to the tower, which is now all that survives of the old structure. Over the centuries there have been a number of different Tolbooths at Mercat Cross where all goods brought into the burgh had to be presented for the payment of dues, either in money or in kind. The merchandise would have been weighed with a "tron", which is a heavy beam or balance associated with the most ancient system of weights used in Scotland, derived from the Old French "trone" for scales. Most of the trade of the burgh was carried out at weekly markets, but there was an annual fair in early July, with markets and entertainments lasting for eight days. The Glasgow Fair is still celebrated as a holiday in the city. Early twentieth century view of High Street from Tolbooth at Glasgow Cross Tron Steeple The Tron steeple is a familiar landmark on the south side of the Trongate, west of Glasgow Cross. A church dedicated to the Virgin Mary had been built on this site in 1484. It was reconstructed as the Collegiate Church of St Mary and St Anne in 1540. The location is shown on the 1547 map as "St Mary's Church and Cemetery". After the Reformation the church fell into a state of dilapidation but was restored in 1592 when John Bell was appointed its first Protestant minister. The steeple was added in 1637 and survived the blaze that destroyed the church on 8th February 1793. The church was rebuilt in 1793 / 1794 to the designs of James Adam as a separate structure which is now incorporated within the Tron Theatre complex. In 2004 the Glasgow Building Preservation Trust assigned their interest to the Tron Theatre, which is situated in Parnie Street, immediately behind the tower. The present day theatre complex with its trendy bars and restaurant has modern extensions added to the old church. The elaborate sandstone wall, shown in the above drawing to the left of the tower at the corner of Chisholm Street, is actually just a screen for an airshaft ventilating the Central low-level railway line. The shops to the right of the tower are typical of the mid-Victorian architecture in the area. The engraving above shows a view of the Tron Steeple, looking west down Trongate towards Argyle Street in the distance. The view of the Trongate below, looking east towards Glasgow Cross, shows the Tron Steeple to the right. Victorian view of Trongate Early twentieth century sketch of Trongate One of the most unusual sights to be seen in the Briggait is the Merchants' Steeple which was incorporated within the city's Fish Market when it was extended in 1886. It has an even more incongruous look when viewed from above! Aerial view of Merchants' Steeple Clyde Street façade of former Fish Market with a glimpse of the summit of the Merchants' Steeple The Merchants' House, shown below, was designed by Sir William Bruce, who had been appointed as the "Surveyor General of the King's Works in Scotland" after the Resoration of King Charles II. Work commenced in 1651 and completed in 1659, with the tower being added a few years later in 1665. The main hall on the upper level was one of the largest in the city, being eighty feet long and thirty feet wide. Engraving of Merchants' House and steeple The Merchants' House was demolished in 1817, but the steeple was retained after the Merchants �came to the resolution of transferring to the citizens generally the proprietorship of its spire�. The engraving below shows a view of the Briggait some time after the old Merchants' House was demolished and replaced with tenement blocks. These were in turn demolished to make way for the extension of the Fish Market in 1886, which incorporated the old tower and spire. Engraving of Merchants' Steeple and surrounding houses after demolition of the Merchants' House Trades Hall The beautiful Trades Hall of Glasgow was built in 1794 to Robert Adam's unique interpretation of the neo-classical. The portico is raised above the ground floor central entrance, which in turn is topped with a well proportioned dome. The outer bays are 19th century additions, but take nothing away from the overall balance of the design. Engraving of Trades Hall and Glassford Street Engraving of Trades Hall before addition of side wings Much of the development of the Merchant City is attributed to the Carswell brothers, James and William who came to Glasgow from Ayrshire in 1790. The obituary to James Carswell in the Glasgow Herald of 25th February 1856, summarised the brothers� contribution to the development of the area. After they commenced business as wrights and builders, one of their first projects was clearing the site of George Street, which at that time was a cornfield with only a footpath. Other streets which they developed were Candleriggs, Albion Street, Cochrane Street, Miller Street and Richmond Street. They were credited with building �a better class of tenements� to accommodate the city�s rapidly expanding population. They were largest firm of wrights in the city and were very innovative in their use of iron pillars, fronts and facings in their buildings, as shown in my my Commercial Glasgow page. Hutcheson's Hall In addition to the Royal Exchange in Queen Street, David Hamilton was responsible for Hutcheson's Hall in Ingram Street. It was erected between 1803 and 1805 to replace the earlier Hutcheson' s Hospital which had been named after its 17th century benefactors. The building has unique styling with each layer borrowing from various traditions, before it is crowned with a sharp steeple. Original statues of the Hutcheson brothers can be seen in niches outside the main hall, which is situated above the exhibition space and shop, which are at street level. The excellent display gallery was added in 1999 and is a must to be visited when passing. The remainder of the building is used as office space for the National Trust for Scotland, which promotes the preservation of places of historic interest throughout Scotland. Engraving of Hutcheson's Hall, Ingram Street The original Hutchesons' Hospital was located on the Trongate. The institution was founded in 1839 and the building was completed in 1650. It provided accommodation for infirm and elderly tradesmen and a school for 12 orphan boys. The Hospital was demolished in the late 18th century and replaced by David Hamilton's Hutcheson's Hall in Ingram Street. Hutchesons' Grammar School was situated in Gorbals on the other side of the river and is featured in the Hutchesontown page of this website. Hutcheson's Hospital, Trongate Stained glass image of Hutcheson's Hospital at Hutcheson's Hall John Street Church The Merchant city has seen a resurrection in recent years, with old buildings being converted into flats, pubs and other commercial premises. The former John Street Church is now a pub/ diner, which regularly re-invents itself with a new name. It was built in 1860 by David Hamilton's former chief draughtsman, J. T. Rochead. By coincidence his other building in the same area, the Bank of Scotland at the corner of George Square and St Vincent Place, has also been converted into a public house, the Counting House. John Street Church was originally built for a congregation of the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland, but it is by no means typical of the ecclesiastical architecture of Glasgow! The huge Ionic columns and the glazed areas between them dominate its neo-classical design. John Thomas Rochead (left) was born in Edinburgh in 1814, and was responsible for works such as the Wallace monument in Stirling and the building that was to become BBC Scotland's headquarters in Queen Margaret Drive. When you remember that David Hamilton's Hutcheson's Hall was completed in 1805, and the Royal Exchange in 1832, and that his star pupil, J.T. Rochead, worked into the 1870's, you can see what effect Hamilton had on Glasgow architecture before the time of Thomson and Mackintosh. Copper Dome, Glassford Street The restoration of old buildings in the Merchant City involves rediscovering lost skills and using traditional materials which would have been commonplace 100 years ago. The shiny copper dome (above) being finished for a renovated red sandstone office block, will eventually revert to the familiar green colour of the surrounding copper domes and cupolas. Ramshorn Kirk, Ingram Street St David's Church, later known as Ramshorn Kirk, is situated in Ingram Street. It had been without a congregation for a long while before being purchased by Strathclyde University in 1983 for �20,000. This may seem like a good deal for the university, but the cost of converting the church into a lecture theatre was in excess of �350,000. Likewise the city churches which have been converted into theme pubs have generally been acquired for nominal sums, but the huge expense of conversion and renovation has to be considered by any potential developer. The church dates from 1826, built in Gothic Revival style by an English architect, Thomas Rickman, whose plans featured the large central tower which dominates the structure. Engraving of Assembly Rooms, Ingram Street This view down the north side of Ingram Street shows the spires of Hutcheson's Hospital and St David's church in the distance. On the left of the picture you can see the Assembly and Concert Rooms which were erected in 1796 to the designs of Robert and James Adam. The side wings, which you can clearly see in this view, were added in 1807 by Henry Holland to match the original building. The Assembly rooms were built on the north side of Ingram Street behind the General Post Office in George Square. Owing to the expansion of the Post Office, the building was demolished in 1892, but all was not lost. You can still visit the huge central entrance at Glasgow Green, where it has been re-erected as the McLennan Arch (below). McLennan Arch, Glasgow Green The McLennan Arch was originally the centrepiece of the fa�ade of Robert and James Adams� Assembly Rooms, erected in Ingram Street in 1796. James McLennan provided the funds for the Arch to be moved to the London Road entrance of Glasgow Green at Monteith Row in 1894. It was moved again to the bottom of Charlotte Street in 1922, before being re-erected in its present site in 1991. The central portal of the monument was formed from a large Venetian window with an arched top, which was situated above the main entrance of the Assembly Rooms. The entrance was flanked by two pairs of Ionic columns, enclosing the side doors. The carvings on the sculptural panels depict Apollo playing his lyre and the Three Graces dancing to the rhythm of a tamborine. Engraving of Assembly Rooms, 1797 This view of the Assembly Rooms dates from 1797 when it was newly built and the side wings had yet to be added. You can clearly see the outline of the McLennan Arch as depicted in my drawing. The early 19th century buildings featured in the later engraving are absent from this earlier view of Ingram Street. Elevation of original Assembly Rooms featuring the McLennan Arch McLennan Arch when situated at Monteith Row (from 1894 to 1922) Pencil sketch of McLennan Arch Engraving of the Post Office in George Square, which occupies the site of the demolished Assembly Rooms High Court The courthouse for the High Court of Judiciary, one of the supreme courts of Scotland, is situated in the Saltmarket, facing the McLennan Arch at the entrance to Glasgow Green. It was completed in 1814, a year after the death of its architect, William Stark, who also designed St George's Tron Church in the city centre. The historically accurate Greek Doric portico has none of the additional adornments of David Hamilton's Royal Exchange or Alexander Thomson's churches, which are also modelled in the classical Greek style. Behind the portico, an atrium leads to two full height courtrooms. Ancillary accommodation is provided in the 2-storey side wings, one of which contained a caretaker's flat until 1976. Such is the level of business provided by the criminal fraternity that a new extension with additional courtrooms was constructed in 1997 behind the original building. It was carefully designed to be of similar height to the old building and was constructed with matching coloured sandstone. The provision of this extra accommodation allowed a full refurbishment of the original courthouse to go ahead in 1999/2000. Engraving showing the High Court with the Merchants' Steeple in the background City & County Buildings The former Glasgow Sheriff Court in Wilson Street was originally built as part of the City and County Buildings and Merchant's House in 1844. The block was extended all the way back to Ingram Street later in the century. The erection of the City Chambers in George Square in 1888 led to a change of use for the County Buildings, housing Glasgow Sheriff Court for the next 100 years or so. The competition winning neo-classical design by the Glasgow based partnership of William Clarke & George Bell features an elevated portico at Wilson Street sitting on a decorated plinth with a frieze of classical figures at street level. With its current refurbishment, the enormous façades were retained around a new interior structure which has a mixed residential/ commercial use. Unfortunately the modernistic glazed frame sticking out from the top of the block presents an eysore to passing visitors. The planning authority should have insisted that the new structure was kept within the height of the classical façade thus preserving the integrity of the original exterior design. Part of frieze facing Wilson Street St Andrew's Church St Andrew's Church situated in St Andrew's Square, off the Saltmarket is one of the oldest churches in Glasgow, dating from 1756. Allan Dreghorn's design was fashionable in its day, featuring a large classical portico supported by Corinthian columns. The thoughtful and elegant composition is topped with a graceful very slender steeple. Savings Bank of Glasgow In 1895 J.J Burnet added a single storey banking hall to the front of the Glasgow Savings Bank, which had been erected 30 years earlier to his father's plans. Burnet (left) had studied at the �cole des Beaux Arts in Paris and was a member of the Soci�t� Centrale des Architectes Francais. His Baroque inspired design for the banking hall features a disproportionately large dome, which adds to the attraction of this flamboyant little building. A statue of St Mungo, Glasgow's patron saint occupies a little niche above the front door. The bank was vacated in 1999, and remained unoccupied until the summer of 2002 when Giorgio Armani temporarily occupied the premises as a fashion showroom. It was then occupied by the Jigsaw fashion chain. With Gianni Versace's showroom on the other side of the road, the Merchant City became a much more fashionable part of town! This was the branch that I used, and I found that the beautiful banking hall compensated for some of the pain of paying my bills. The banking hall is now a sales area which can be visited again by lovers of achitecture as well as dedicated followers of fashion. The French Beaux-Arts style can be seen elsewhere in Glasgow in the beautiful libraries designed by James. R. Rhind who had practised in Montreal, Quebec at the end of the nineteenth century. Exhibition drawing of extension to Savings Bank of Glasgow, 1895 Interior of Savings Bank of Glasgow, 1895 Sketch of entrance to Savings Bank of Glasgow, c.1913 St Andrew's R.C. Cathedral, Clyde Street St Andrew's Roman Catholic Cathedral opened on Sunday 22nd December 1816 as a simple chapel, some 60 years before the restoration of the Scottish hierarchy. It was built at a time when Glasgow's industrial expansion was attracting many Catholic workers from Ireland and parts of the Scottish Highlands. These incomers to the city raised �13,000 to create a familiar place of worship on the southern edge of the old town on the banks of the Clyde. James Gillespie Graham designed the chapel in a conservative style that anticipated the Gothic revival of later in the century. There is a definite pre-Reformation air about the place both inside and out. The main features of the façade to Clyde Street are the substantial buttresses placed either side of the central entrance. Extract from Glasgow Herald 23rd December 1816, concerning the first mass to be celebrated in the new church. There is a statue of St Andrew standing in a niche above the cathedral, where the fisherman saint is seen facing the River Clyde, gazing heavenwards. Drawing of statue above St Andrew's Cathedral, Clyde Street Previous Roman Catholic places of worship in the Merchant City area had been destroyed by angry mobs in protest against the proposed repeal of anti-Catholic legislation. Extract from the People's History of Glasgow, 1899 The force for change for this religious intolerance in Glasgow came from the other side of the Atlantic, where the American Revolution of 1776-1783 was taking place at the same time as the anti-Catholic riots in the city. The American Constitution took effect in 1789, with the First Amendment establishing the right of freedom of religion along with other fundamental rights now regarded as commonplace. In the parts of North America still under British control there was great uncertainty about the future status of the colonies, particularly in Quebec which had a large French speaking Roman Catholic population. With the Constitution Act of 1791, the British Government extended the right of freedom of religion to the colonists of all of Canada, many of whom had arrived from the United States after the dramatic events of the American Revolution. With the establishment of these new liberties, Scottish immigration to North America from the pockets of Catholicism left in the Highlands became a much more attractive proposition than the alternative of moving to the hostile big cities nearer home. From 1791, the businessmen of Glasgow, seeing the economic disadvantages of religous prejudice in their homeland, decided to tolerate an open Roman Catholic presence in the city. Extract from Statistical Account of Scotland , 1835, concerning the Roman Catholic presence in Glasgow The above article was written a decade before the Great Famine in Ireland (1845-1852), which resulted in the large scale immigration to Glasgow of many of Ireland's destitute families of many faiths. This caused a large increase in the city's Roman Catholic population. Prior to the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829, the church had been forbidden by law to set up a diocesan system. The Scottish Roman Catholic hierarchy was eventually restored by Pope Pius IX in January 1878 shortly before his death. The process was briefly delayed until 4 March 1878 when his successor, Pope Leo XIII, signed the necessary documents. The office of Archbishop of Glasgow which had disappeared in 1603 with the death of James Beaton (who had been exiled in France since 1560) was then re-established. Archbishop Charles Eyre (1817-1902), Administrator Apostolic of the Western District (left), became the first custodian of the restored see. The erection of a cathedral chapter followed in 1884, and in 1889 the old chapel obtained the status of a cathedral. The internal renovation which followed was the work of Pugin & Pugin who designed the intricately decorated altars and sanctuary screens between 1889 and 1904. By then the archdiocese consisted of 27 churches and 97 clergy. In April 2011 St Andrew's Cathedral re-opened after a �4.5 million makeover, which also involved the creation of a cloistered garden. The coat of arms of Archbishop Eyre can be found in the garden. Views of the renovated interior of St Andrew's Metropolitan Cathedral, Glasgow Engraving of St Andrew's Cathedral from 1822, shortly after it opened Early photograph of of St Andrew's Cathedral, Glasgow Glasgow's original mediaeval cathedral, which was dedicated to the city's patron saint, St Mungo, is situated in an elevated site at the top of High Street. The cathedral and the surrounding monastic communities were forfeited at the Reformation and the Cathedral eventually became a Presbyterian place of worship, the High Kirk of Glasgow. Although it is no longer a Cathedral in the episcopal sense, the old title has been revived and it is now more commonly referred to as Glasgow Cathedral. To find out more about the ancient diocese, cathedral and the surrounding buildings you should visit my Cathedral Precinct page.	Glasgow
In which European countryis 'Bourgas International Airport'?	The Trongate In 1774 The Trongate In 1774 A FITTING addition to this volume has been found in the sketch of the Trongate and the Cross taken in 1774 by James Brown, merchant in Glasgow. (1) This sketch portrays the true centre of Glasgow and the headquarters of those old merchants who owned so many of these hundred old houses. We must attempt some description of it. But the pen has dropped from the hand that could have done justice to it. To John Buchanan this was familiar, almost holy ground. He knew every land and doss and wynd : he knew who had built, and who owned them : he knew who rented the shops, and who lived in the flats above : and he would have wakened them with a loving hand, and set all the busy life of 1774 once more astir. Had St. Mungo had any thought of founding a great city, he would not have settled in the out-of-the-way rocky glen of the Molendinar. The little Cathedral town that grew up round the missionary's grave could hardly have outgrown Dunblane or at most St. Andrew's : and to this day the stranger who from the opposite bank looks down on the church of St. Mungo, standing alone in its quiet graveyard, with rough vacant ground right and left, would not guess that he was looking on the Ile de la citÃ© of a greater city than the Paris of Mirabeau and Danton. The natural centre of the district was here, at the crossing of its two main roads, the road across Clyde and the road along Clyde, with the river close by, and the level strath around. To this point the Cross naturally slipped down from its old site on the Bell of the Brae : round this the population gathered : here our old merchants pitched their headquarters : and it would have seemed in 1774 less likely that they should ever shift to the swamps and cabbage gardens of the Cow Lone than it seems now that Peden's prophecy should come true, and the Cross of Glasgow be one day set up on Drumo'er Hill. (2) The view will be readily recognized by the two steeples, the Tontine, and our old friend King William. But it looks more like a market place than a street : there is so little wheeled traffic or arrangement for it. There are no foot pavements : the people straggle or stand in groups all over : a sergeant is drilling his men : old women sit on creepies beside their cramis or their creels : and the street is encumbered by Bailie Auchincloss the cooper's wares, and by a huge well, one of M'Ure's "16 public wells which serves the city day and night as need requires." Meantime an unlucky cavalier is performing a pas seul near King William : one little cart is discharging sacks : the one huge caravan of an extinct species may be James Yates' "Newcastle wagon" starting on his three weeks' journey with Glasgow lawns and checks for the London market : in the one post chaise, it may be, are two Western lairds who have just left the "Saracen's Head" for home, or two Virginia Dons hurrying to meet their ship, just reported at Port-Glasgow or the Tail of the Bank, with tobacco from the James or the Potomac and the latest news of the Rebels. Besides the steeples the Tontine and King William, five of James Brown's buildings are still standing: the tall block with the club skews west of the Tontine, and four on the opposite side of the street, viz., the one on the right hand corner of the sketch, and the three beyond King Street. The westmost of these three, the one at the corner of King Street, was MacNair's land (the property of the famous Robert MacNair of Jeanfield, and in which was the office of the Glasgow Mercury). The eastmost of the three, shown as three stories high, has since grown two stories higher. Beyond these three, two low buildings clinging to the Tron Steeple choke the Trongate, as the Edinburgh Luckenbooths used to choke the Lawnmarket. There had been many such strictures on our main artery, which had been removed by the patient pressure of the Magistrates : these two were only finally cut away in our own day. In them were Alston's silk shop and Shearer's cloth shop : the projecting sign may be meant for a fleecy sheep over Shearer's door. Behind them was the General Session House, in which Dr. Chalmers spent many an hour, organizing his campaign of Christian philanthrophy, reasoning, exhorting, breathing into plump elders something of his own fire. On the left of the sketch, at the south-west corner of Candleriggs, the building with the porch projecting into the street is the Guard House or Main Guard. There were no Barracks, it must be remembered, in those days, and the soldiers were billeted : there was no Police Act, and the citizens did the watching : and so a Guard House was necessary as the military and civic headquarters. Its site was several times changed. It had been moved in 1756 to Trongate from the Weel Close in Saltmarket : in 1787 it was removed to the west side of Candleriggs, above the Herb Market : and the tall tenement now standing was built on its site by Bailie Maclehose, grandfather of the late James Hozier of Mauldslie. The first tall tenement east of Candleriggs is Donald's land, in which Sir John Moore was born, in a small back room on the first floor. This land was rebuilt in 1855, and now forms the drapery shop of Donald & Sellar, no connections, we believe, of the original Donald. Beyond this will be seen the "Tontine Piazza." There was no Tontine about this well known building when James Brown sketched it, and there is neither Tontine nor Piazza now. It was built in 1736 by the town on ground which was bought from John Graham of Dugaldston, and which seems to have been the site of the dwelling house and office of George Huchesone, founder of the Hospital. On the first floor it contained the Town Hall at the east end, and the Assembly Room at the west end, each occupying five windows to the Trongate - small rooms to our eyes, but a great improvement on the old Town Hall in the Tolbooth and the old dancing quarters in the Bridgegate : on the street floor, behind a Piazza more spacious than usual, were various apartments. In 1781 the Glasgow Tontine Society was formed, and built behind this Town Hall or Piazza Building, a Hotel, and a Coffee Room or News Room with a new Assembly Room above it. The Society acquired at the same time the Piazza property, excepting the Town Hall : they carved their Hotel's best front parlours out of the old Assembly Room : they gutted the street floor, gouffed out the heavy mid-gable, and supported it by coupled columns (which are still standing, though they now support nothing), and extended the original Piazza, right to the back wall of the original structure. The new buildings and the old were cleverly dovetailed together, and the whole block formed for many a day both the commercial and the social headquarters of Glasgow. In 1861 the Tontine fell in to Mrs. Douglas of Orbiston. She died in 1862, and in 1864 her trustees sold the property for £7,000 to Sir James Watson and seven other good citizens, who had formed themselves into a self-denying syndicate. Their object was to do for the city something of the work since taken up by the city itself. They were to buy up and reconstruct property in and round the dreadful old Tontine doss : they were to share the risk and trouble; but they foreswore all profit. The syndicate afterwards transferred to the Improvement Trust the whole of their purchases, at prime cost, far less than their then value. How these good citizens were treated, what pains were taken to frighten others from doing the town a like service, will not soon be forgotten. The city, who thus re-entered on their old Piazza property, have converted the whole into a great drapery warehouse - Town Hall and Coffee Room, old and new Assembly Rooms, Hotel and all. The old arches of the Piazza are now shopwindows, and the space behind, the shelter of our old merchants in rough weather, the happy hunting field of recruiting sergeants, the salle da pas perdus of many a poor soul out of place and out of luck, is filled up with counters and show cases. (3) Beyond the Piazza building, at the very heart of Glasgow, is dimly seen the Tolbooth. This famous building has disappeared, all but the steeple. (4) It was but 66 feet by 25, but it may interest us (on whom public offices and prisons measure their claims by the acre and the £100,000) to know that in those simple days of our commonwealth, the Tolbooth accommodated both the Government and the Opposition : for below were the offices of the Town Clerk, Collector, and other officials, the Council Room, (5) and the Justiciary Court, and above was the prison. The Tolbooth Steeple played an important part in the jurisprudence of the period. Its High Street face was cheerfully garnished with spikes for the heads of traitors and other first-class misdemeanants. Commoner criminals were hung against its Trongate face. A scaffold was raised for them to the height of the first floor, facing appropriately down the Gallowgate, and the prisoner was brought out from the Tolbooth by a little window door, which, in these good old times, was as constantly open as the Temple of Janus. Below this, on the level of the street, a low half door (6) led direct to the prison, by a turnpike stair in the steeple. It was by this stair that Francis Osbaldiston and his mysterious guide made their way to the unfortunate Owen. A sentry used afterwards to be posted just to the west of the entrance door, no doubt as a check on the successors of the faithless Dougal Cratur. West of this sentry's box a great outside stair led to the first floor of the Tolbooth. It was known as the "broad stair," and its breadth, after Drumclog, saved some of Clavers' men from the Covenanters' bullets. This stair - an addition to the original plan - was first built with a single flight landing at the west end of the Tolbooth. Afterwards, when double stairs had set in, it was rebuilt with two flights, landing in the middle of the building. Above the landing was the inscription:- HAEC DOMUS ODIT AMAT PUNIT CONSERVAT HONORAT NEQUITIAM PACEM CRIMINA JURA PROBOS. On the landing lewd fellows and females of the baser sort did penance, with their iniquities placarded on their breast. And here, on each 4th of June, for fifty years and more, the Provost and Magistrates stood in state for King George's birth-day, drank his majesty's health, and threw the empty glasses to the loyal crowd below. Some old folk must still remember these grand doings. But for our sakes who have never known any jour de l'an but the Derby day, it would have been well if James Brown had sketched the antiquated scene at the "broad stairs." The same spot was long the daily witness of a scene still stranger to our eyes. It was at its best in 1774. We wish James Brown had given it to us. In front of the Piazza and the Tolbooth, a part of the street was marked off by a row of low stone pillars, exactly in line with the outer or south side of King William, and was paved with flat slabs or "plane stanes." The space so marked off and paved was "the Exchange." To this point daily, as the Tolbooth chimes rang out the hour of 'Change, (7) the traders of the place might have been seen gathering from the Trongate or Gallowgate, High Street or Saltmarket. Conspicuous among them are some who wear scarlet cloaks. (8) The others respectfully make way for these, who pass between the low pillars of the Exchange, and pace the plane stanes with their heads as high as Haman. These are the Virginia Dons, the Tobacco Lords, the Glassfords and Cunninghames and the rest of them, who divide among them the great Virginia tobacco trade that is more to Glasgow than any single trade has ever since been. The others, the manufacturers and smaller traders of the place, do not venture inside the sacred enclosure. What business they have amongst themselves they transact as best they may amidst the jostling of passers-by, on the rough causeway of the street. If they wish to have dealings with one of the scarlet cloaks, they take their stand humbly outside the pillars, and wait to catch the great man's eye. We smile at all this, and wonder how such things could have been. Yet these old Dons were worthy of more consideration than either they or those who stood at their beck imagined. They found Glasgow what it had long been, a place of trade, but a place of trade on the scale of Berwick or Dunbar or Aberbrothick, and they left it fairly started in the race to outstrip every other Scotch, almost every other British port. This Virginia trade was not a thing of petty dues. The merchants of the out-of-the-way Scotch town drove the merchants of Liverpool and Bristol and London, not from the Scotch market only, but almost from the English market and the Continental. In 1774, when James Brown sketched the Trongate, more than half of all the Virginia trade was in Glasgow hands. Next year the colonies revolted, and the Virginia trade was ruined, and it seemed as if Glasgow must be ruined too. But the true resources of a people are in themselves. Glasgow had caught the mercantile spirit, she kept the start that these old tobacco lords gave her, and she owes it in some sort to them that she is at once the centre of such widespread commerce and the seat of such vast and varied industry. Four young men have the credit of having specially helped to make the Virginia trade what it was, and so to make Glasgow what it is: John Glassford, William Cunningham, Alexander Speirs, and James Ritchie. (9) Of these four, John Glassford was the foremost. Even now, after a hundred years, he stands out from the dim crowd, a conspicuous and splendid figure. In his own Virginia business he owned and sailed a fleet of 25 ships, he traded for half a million in the year, he supplied the English market, and contracted with the French Government. But his Virginia business was only one of his undertakings. He founded the Cudbear works, well known afterwards as "M'Intosh's secret works." He was chief partner of the Glasgow Tanwork Co., perhaps the largest business of its kind then in existence. He was a partner in Provost Ingram's Pollockshaws field, the earliest of our printworks. He was a foremost and a leading partner, first of the Glasgow Arms Bank, and then of the Thistle bank. And these were not all his ventures. Truly a great merchant - probably, for his opportunities, the greatest merchant Glasgow has ever had. As little was his style of living like the Glasgow of his day. When still a young man he feued Whitehill, and with its stately mansion, and its 30 walled-in acres of garden and park sloping south to the Carntyne Lone, he made it the finest villa that Glasgow had seen. It had one drawback. There was no Duke Street then, and the only way into Glasgow was the up and down and roundabout route by the Drygate and High Street. This would never do for John Glassford. So a strip was bought, and a private road was formed, right across the Gallowmuir from the Carntyne Lone to the Gallowgate, and then the Whitehill coach drove straight to the Glassford counting-house in the Trongate. Later on, as his fortunes rose, he had for his town house the famous Shawfield Mansion, and for his country seat, the ancient patrimony of the Grahames of Dugaldston. From the remains that can be traced and the traditions that still linger at Dugaldston, we can see the magnificence of the man. (10) He planted and he laid out, he built a great mansion, and in the grounds a smaller house for banquets, he surrounded a garden of eight acres with a massy wall, he dammed up two lakes, he walled in a deer park, he drove four horses in his carriage, he patronised the arts, he lived high, and he married high, a Baronet's daughter and then an Earl's, he bought more land, he entailed, and he died, having done his best to found a family that should keep his name alive. But it all came to nothing. The Cunninghames, the Speirs, and the Ritchies are still conspicuous among our landed gentry. But the Glassfords are gone. (11) Their heirs are seeking to found a new fortune on the other side of the globe, and Dugaldston has passed to a great merchant of our own day, enriched by trade to distant markets that John Glassford probably never heard of, but yet helped to open up. (1) James Brown, one of the Browns of Broadstone near Beith, was born at Beith in 1749, and died in Glasgow in 1808. He married Jane Euing, daughter of William Euing, Deacon Convener in 1774 (the year of the sketch), and grandfather of the late James Smith of Jordanhill and the late William Euing, men alike upright kindly and accomplished. James Brown and Jane Euing had (besides Francis, who married Elizabeth Smith, sister of John Smith of Crutherland, LL.D., and left one child, Mary, wife of Alexander MacDuff of Bonhard) two sons, well known and worthy citizens. I. ROBERT BROWN of Fairlie, who was noted for sharing his cousin James Smith's passion for yachting and his cousin William Euing's passion for music. He married Anne Rainy, sister of the late Professor Harry Rainy, and left one son, George, the esteemed Free Church minister of Pau, and one daughter, Anne, widow of the Rev. C. C. Mackintosh of Dunoon. He died at Fairlie in 1873, aged 84. II. WILLIAM BROWN, late of Kilmardinny, who by his wife Jane, daughter of Charles Wilsone, M.D., had two sons, James (married first Agnes, daughter of Andrew Ranken, and second Mary, daughter of R. A. Oswald) and Charles Wilsone (married first Ellen, daughter of Walter Buchanan of Shandon, M. P., second Annie, daughter of Michael Rowand of Linthouse, third Patience, widow of Henry Swinfen of Swinfen). Mr. Brown, who was born 5th December 1792, still, in his 86th year, preserves all his faculties, including a quick and accurate memory of old times in Glasgow. He is himself a link with these. He is the oldest of our past Deans of Guild, the last left of the old Pre-Reform self-electing Town Council, and probably the last survivor of that famous band of elders and deacons with whom Dr. Chalmers fought his great fight with pauperism. If the Browns are a long lived race, they may trace this to the old Deacon Convener's wife, Isabella Reid, aunt to Senex. She lived herself to be 82 (nothing for a Reid) : we all remember her grandson William Euing's tall figure, unbent by 86 years : and under "Whitehill" will be found a note of the great age of her Jordanhill grandchildren and of their mother Isabella Euing, a centenarian whom even Sir George Lewis would have owned as genuine. (2) Dramo'er Hill (said to be so called became "randie gangrel bodies" were here drummed out of the town) is at the far end of Anderston or Cranstonhill. The recent name of "Peden's Cross" is an allusion to the old prophecy. (3) We have given the ordinary account of the origin of this Piazza building. But there is some confusion about it, which an unemployed antiquary might redd up. The actual Assembly Room seems to have been built not about 1736 by the town, but about 1760 by subscriptions from the dancing public. The subscribers afterwards joined the town in the transfer to the Tontine Society, apparently on the understanding that the Society should build a new Assembly Room; and the Society over the Tontine Coffee Room built the Tontine Assembly Room. These two Rooms, much thought of in their day, still survive intact, having been swallowed whole by the Tontine Drapery House. Assembly Room No. II. was in its turn superseded by Assembly Room No. III., now the Athenaeum in Ingram Street. This also was built by a Tontine Society. Tontines were a favourite form of speculation with our grandfathers. But they are much too slow for a race that has not patience for long whist. In Stirling's Library is a MS. book (one of many gifts from the late James Bogle) headed "Assembly Book - Robert Bogle's Accounts from Feby. 1758 to April 1763." This gives a list of the original subscribers to Assembly Room No. I. The subscriptions run from Ten Guineas (with which Sir John Maxwell heads the list) to One. Only four give Twenty Guineas - William M'Dowall, Daniel Campbell of Shawfield, General Campbell, and James Milliken, Esq. Robert Bogle's Accounts, however, end with a balance on hand of £9, 00s. 4d.," after all payments, "for building Assembly Room, and for finishing and furnishing same." The sums paid to the different tradesmen are given - Widow Cross, undertaker for mason work; Thos. Clayton, for plaister and stocco work; Dreghorn & Bogle for wright work, &c. The whole came to only £1502, 16s. 4d. But both the day's wage and the day's darg were on a very different scale in those days from ours. As late as 1777, Gibson, a trustworthy writer, says the average Glasgow mechanic had 7s. a week, and lived comfortably on it. His menu was certainly simple - porridge with milk or small beer for breakfast and supper, herrings and potatoes for dinner. Gibson tells us apoplexy was rare in those days. Small blame to it. Among Robert Bogle's payments is £15 to Mungo Nasmyth, carver of the famous Tontine Faces, clever copies of classical masks. During the reconstruction of the Tontine, these Faces mysteriously disappeared. But they are still to the fore, and we take the opportunity to put on record exactly where they now are. They form keystones in the arched windows in the court front of Fraser, Sons & Co.'s place in Buchanan Street. There are thirteen of these windows, four in the west and nine in the south elevation, and there were only ten windows at the Tontine. The ten heads in the four windows in the west and the six westmost windows in the south elevation are our old friends : the heads in the other three windows are modern. (4) The steeple was very near disappearing too. Its destruction was formally considered by the Town Council, and it was only by 15 to 9 that they did finally, on 4th May, 1814, "resolve that the old steeple at the Cross be preserved, supported, and repaired." This was after the Tolbooth itself had been taken down. It had been sold in 1812 to James Cleland, LL.D., for £8,000. The town's sale of the Tolbooth to Dr. Cleland reserved the right of an entry through his new tenement to the Town Hall, which had been reserved in the town's sale of the Piazza building to the Tontine Society. (5) This Tolbooth Council Room was adorned with those Royal Portraits from King James downwards, that still look down on us from the Corporation walls, and the Conscript Fathers sat round the "fine large Oval Table" that now does duty at lunch-time at the Circuit Court when the Lords come round. The Tolbooth was built in 1626, on the site of an older "Praetorium." (6) This postern has been amplified into the existing through-gang to the High Street. The turnpike stair still exists in what dilapidated state. At each landing built-up doors mark the old entrance from it to the prison. (7) A fixed hour for 'Change was only resumed in our own day after having entirely dropped out of use. The convenient arrangement was in full force a hundred years ago. with musical accompaniment. But hark ! the music bells are ringing At Glasgow Cross. Merchants and manufact'rers there Negotiating. M'Ure vaunts the "curious sett of chymes and tuneable bells" at the Tolbooth. Glasgow was famous in this line:- Glasgow for bells, Falkirk for beans and pease, Edinbro' for ______ and thieves. (8) Some of these famous cloaks must surely exist in the hands of their wearers' representatives. If so, the owners would give some innocent pleasure by letting a specimen or two be seen in the Kelvingrove Museum. From an old picture of the Trongate in Professor Cowan's possession, they seem to have been very like the extinct pattern of our College gowns, with small capes and hanging sleeves. It is strange that there seems to be no history of the curious fashion of these cloaks, when and whence they came, by whom and by what right they were worn, nor even when and how they disappeared. (9) Their success was due to themselves, for the four had not £10,000 among them. But none of them 'rose from the ranks.' John Glassford was son to James Glassford, a Magistrate in Paisley. William Cunninghame was second son to Alexander Cunninghame of Brighouse in Ayrshire, to which property he succeeded through the death of his elder brother, the Rev. John Cunninghame. Alexander Speirs was son to John Speirs, merchant in Edinburgh, and. Isabel Tweedie, only daughter of John Tweedie, Provost of Peebles. Of the four, James Ritchie was the only native of Glasgow. He was son to John Ritchie of Craigton, and represented a family who were well established Burgesses here at least two centuries ago. Paisley is noted rather for the shrewdness and caution, than for the ambition of her sons. But we owe to her in our own day, a merchant as conspicuous for ability and daring as John Glassford himself. (10) The mansion house was burnt down many years ago. It seems to have had 100 feet of front, with two tall wings at right angles. One of these is still standing, and contains the ample old wine cellar. The banqueting house bears also the ominous name of the "Gaming House." It is a very solid structure, and stands above a capacious ice house. One stretch of the massy garden wall is pierced with flues, and there are appearances as if flues had been carried under the adjoining border to heat the soil. The curious "Roundle," with its picturesque wall of pine, is said to have been the ring for exercising horses. The whole thing is very striking when we consider the general poverty of Scotland at the time. The truth is that this Virginia trade was in few hands, and during the short time that it was at its height (say from 1750 to the American War) large fortunes were made rapidly. There was nothing like it in this respect till the rapid development of the iron trade in the years following the Hot Blast. (11) But John Glassford alone, of the four, is commemorated in our street nomenclature. Glassford Street is called after him, having been formed on the site of the Shawfield Mansion and its great garden. This was John Glassford's favourite residence, and he died here on 27th August 1783. He had bought it from William MacDowall of Castle-Semple, in 1760, for 1700 guineas. His son, Henry Glassford, sold it in 1792 to William Horn, Builder, for £9,850. There were 15,000 square yards. What would they fetch now? The house stood exactly in the middle of Glassford Street, facing Trongate, and a little back from the street with a gravelled court in front. William MacDowall added two wings built forward to the line of Trongate, and reserved these in his sale to John Glassford. The eastmost of these is still standing at the corner of Glassford Street. For a fuller account of this, the most famous of Glasgow town houses, see J. B.'s most interesting paper in "Glasgow Past and Present", p 176. AUGUST, 1878	i don't know
Francis bacon caught a chill which killed him, whilst he was demonstrating what?	The strange case of Sir Francis Bacon and the frozen chicken \| The Haunted Palace The strange case of Sir Francis Bacon and the frozen chicken One of the strangest ghost stories that I have ever come across involves Sir Francis Bacon, empirical scientist and a frozen chicken. Sir Francis Bacon, “The Queen’s Bastard”* Sir Francis Bacon, by Paul van Somer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Sir Francis Bacon (1st Viscount of St Albans), philosopher, jurist, statesman, author and scientist was born on 22 January 1561 at York House in London. At the age of twelve, Bacon was sent to study at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1579 he took up a residence in law at Gray’s Inn. Famous as a liberal-minded reformer he openly opposed feudal privileges and religious persecution. He was a favourite with Queen Elizabeth I as well as being a close advisor of the Earl of Essex. He also flourished under the reign of James I, under whom he was granted a knighthood in 1603. In 1618 he was appointed Lord Chancellor but his success did not last and three years later, after falling into debt, he was accused of twenty-three separate counts of corruption and thrown out of office. With the end of his public career, Sir Francis Bacon turned to the other great passion in his life, the philosophy of science. He believed that science should be used as tool for the betterment of humanity and espoused a new approach, one based on tangible proof achieved through experimentation, gathering of data and analysis. Alas his dedication to his beliefs eventually led to an experiment which effectively caused his death on the 9 April 1626 at the age of 65. Bacon and the first frozen chicken In the early part of 1626, Sir Francis Bacon whilst out in his carriage fell into an argument with his companion Dr Winterbourne. The cause of the disagreement was Dr Winterbourne’s scepticism over Bacon’s hypothesis that fresh meat could be preserved if frozen. In order to prove his theory he ordered his coachman to buy a chicken from the nearest source. According to John Aubrey in his book “Brief Lives”, “They alighted out of the coach, and went into a poor woman’s house at the bottom of Highgate Hill, and bought a hen, and made the woman gut it, and then stuffed the body with snow, and my lord did help to do it himself. After the chicken had been partially plucked, Bacon placed the chicken in a bag, packed some more snow around it and buried the carcass. Unfortunately according to Aubrey, Bacon caught a severe chill and was so ill he was unable make the distance to his own lodgings and instead was taken “to the Earl of Arundel’s house at Highgate, where they put him into a good bed warmed with a pan, but it was a damp bed that had not been laid-in about a year before, which gave him such a cold that in two or three days, as I remember Mr Hobbes told me, he died of suffocation.” Death by chicken: Fact or fiction It is difficult to tell how reliable Aubrey’s sources were. The main problem with his account is the time of the year. If Aubrey’s report is correct then London would have been suffering from snowy conditions in April 1626. According to contemporary evidence there is no record of snow in London at that time. This is not to say that Bacon did not conduct an experiment with a frozen chicken or that it wasn’t an experiment with refrigeration that led to Bacon’s illness. It could be that either two separate incidences were confused or that the illness that Bacon picked up earlier that year was a lingering one or even more likely that Bacon on returning to analysis the results of his experiment caught a chill in the damp, cold weather. In fact Bacon himself confirms the cause of his illness. In a letter written to his absent friend, Lord Arundel, he apologises for being a burden on his household and admits that it was whilst concluding an experiment in refrigeration that he caught a chill, “My very good Lord,—I was likely to have had the fortune of Caius Plinius the elder, who lost his life by trying an experiment about the burning of Mount Vesuvius; for I was also desirous to try an experiment or two touching the conservation and induration of bodies. As for the experiment itself, it succeeded excellently well; but in the journey between London and Highgate, I was taken with such a fit of casting as I know not whether it were the Stone, or some surfeit or cold, or indeed a touch of them all three” Whatever the truth behind the story, the death of Sir Francis Bacon will always be linked with that of a frozen chicken, “Against cold meats was he insured? For frozen chickens he procured — brought on the illness he endured, and never was this Bacon cured.”** The hauntings of Pond Square In a bizarre twist to the story, Pond Square, believed to be the site of Bacon’s experiment, has developed a reputation for being haunted, not by Sir Francis Bacon as you would expect but by a ghostly chicken. Numerous sightings have been reported in the leafy suburb of Highgate (in 1864 the pond itself was filled in) during the winter months, and at least twenty of these were made in the twentieth century, most during the Second World War. In December 1943, Aircraftman Terence Long was crossing the pond late one night, when he heard noises of what sounded like horses’ hooves and a carriage behind him. Turning around he was stunned to see something which looked like a half plucked, shivering chicken shrieking wildly and running around in circles until it eventually disappeared. Shocked he then met an Air Raid Precautions fireman to whom he recounted his visitation. The fireman told him that the bird was regularly seen in the area and that one ARP had chased it, hoping to catch it for dinner until it ran into a brick wall and disappeared. Chicken Run; Parks & Lord; Dreamworks Pictures Again during the Second World War, a Mrs J. Greenhill, a resident of the area, confirmed that she had seen the ghostly chicken on a number of occasions, describing it as a “large whitish bird”. In the 1960s a motorist who had broken down, reported seeing a half plucked bird in a state of distress, squawking and running in circles. Going towards it, concerned that it was injured, he was startled when it suddenly vanished into thin air. The last confirmed sighting of the poultry ghost was in 1970. The couple whilst kissing were rudely interrupted when a bird dropped out of the air next to them. They stated that the bird was squawking and running in circles and disappeared shortly afterwards. Recently the sightings of the ghostly chicken have virtually ceased. Maybe the bird, distressed at its unorthodox demise has finally accepted its place in scientific history and come to terms with the circumstances of its death. Notes	Refrigeration
Which unsweetened biscuit was invented by the founder of the Royal Mineral Hospital and takes its namefrom him and the city in which he invented it?	The strange case of Sir Francis Bacon and the frozen chicken \| The Haunted Palace The strange case of Sir Francis Bacon and the frozen chicken One of the strangest ghost stories that I have ever come across involves Sir Francis Bacon, empirical scientist and a frozen chicken. Sir Francis Bacon, “The Queen’s Bastard”* Sir Francis Bacon, by Paul van Somer [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons Sir Francis Bacon (1st Viscount of St Albans), philosopher, jurist, statesman, author and scientist was born on 22 January 1561 at York House in London. At the age of twelve, Bacon was sent to study at Trinity College, Cambridge. In 1579 he took up a residence in law at Gray’s Inn. Famous as a liberal-minded reformer he openly opposed feudal privileges and religious persecution. He was a favourite with Queen Elizabeth I as well as being a close advisor of the Earl of Essex. He also flourished under the reign of James I, under whom he was granted a knighthood in 1603. In 1618 he was appointed Lord Chancellor but his success did not last and three years later, after falling into debt, he was accused of twenty-three separate counts of corruption and thrown out of office. With the end of his public career, Sir Francis Bacon turned to the other great passion in his life, the philosophy of science. He believed that science should be used as tool for the betterment of humanity and espoused a new approach, one based on tangible proof achieved through experimentation, gathering of data and analysis. Alas his dedication to his beliefs eventually led to an experiment which effectively caused his death on the 9 April 1626 at the age of 65. Bacon and the first frozen chicken In the early part of 1626, Sir Francis Bacon whilst out in his carriage fell into an argument with his companion Dr Winterbourne. The cause of the disagreement was Dr Winterbourne’s scepticism over Bacon’s hypothesis that fresh meat could be preserved if frozen. In order to prove his theory he ordered his coachman to buy a chicken from the nearest source. According to John Aubrey in his book “Brief Lives”, “They alighted out of the coach, and went into a poor woman’s house at the bottom of Highgate Hill, and bought a hen, and made the woman gut it, and then stuffed the body with snow, and my lord did help to do it himself. After the chicken had been partially plucked, Bacon placed the chicken in a bag, packed some more snow around it and buried the carcass. Unfortunately according to Aubrey, Bacon caught a severe chill and was so ill he was unable make the distance to his own lodgings and instead was taken “to the Earl of Arundel’s house at Highgate, where they put him into a good bed warmed with a pan, but it was a damp bed that had not been laid-in about a year before, which gave him such a cold that in two or three days, as I remember Mr Hobbes told me, he died of suffocation.” Death by chicken: Fact or fiction It is difficult to tell how reliable Aubrey’s sources were. The main problem with his account is the time of the year. If Aubrey’s report is correct then London would have been suffering from snowy conditions in April 1626. According to contemporary evidence there is no record of snow in London at that time. This is not to say that Bacon did not conduct an experiment with a frozen chicken or that it wasn’t an experiment with refrigeration that led to Bacon’s illness. It could be that either two separate incidences were confused or that the illness that Bacon picked up earlier that year was a lingering one or even more likely that Bacon on returning to analysis the results of his experiment caught a chill in the damp, cold weather. In fact Bacon himself confirms the cause of his illness. In a letter written to his absent friend, Lord Arundel, he apologises for being a burden on his household and admits that it was whilst concluding an experiment in refrigeration that he caught a chill, “My very good Lord,—I was likely to have had the fortune of Caius Plinius the elder, who lost his life by trying an experiment about the burning of Mount Vesuvius; for I was also desirous to try an experiment or two touching the conservation and induration of bodies. As for the experiment itself, it succeeded excellently well; but in the journey between London and Highgate, I was taken with such a fit of casting as I know not whether it were the Stone, or some surfeit or cold, or indeed a touch of them all three” Whatever the truth behind the story, the death of Sir Francis Bacon will always be linked with that of a frozen chicken, “Against cold meats was he insured? For frozen chickens he procured — brought on the illness he endured, and never was this Bacon cured.”** The hauntings of Pond Square In a bizarre twist to the story, Pond Square, believed to be the site of Bacon’s experiment, has developed a reputation for being haunted, not by Sir Francis Bacon as you would expect but by a ghostly chicken. Numerous sightings have been reported in the leafy suburb of Highgate (in 1864 the pond itself was filled in) during the winter months, and at least twenty of these were made in the twentieth century, most during the Second World War. In December 1943, Aircraftman Terence Long was crossing the pond late one night, when he heard noises of what sounded like horses’ hooves and a carriage behind him. Turning around he was stunned to see something which looked like a half plucked, shivering chicken shrieking wildly and running around in circles until it eventually disappeared. Shocked he then met an Air Raid Precautions fireman to whom he recounted his visitation. The fireman told him that the bird was regularly seen in the area and that one ARP had chased it, hoping to catch it for dinner until it ran into a brick wall and disappeared. Chicken Run; Parks & Lord; Dreamworks Pictures Again during the Second World War, a Mrs J. Greenhill, a resident of the area, confirmed that she had seen the ghostly chicken on a number of occasions, describing it as a “large whitish bird”. In the 1960s a motorist who had broken down, reported seeing a half plucked bird in a state of distress, squawking and running in circles. Going towards it, concerned that it was injured, he was startled when it suddenly vanished into thin air. The last confirmed sighting of the poultry ghost was in 1970. The couple whilst kissing were rudely interrupted when a bird dropped out of the air next to them. They stated that the bird was squawking and running in circles and disappeared shortly afterwards. Recently the sightings of the ghostly chicken have virtually ceased. Maybe the bird, distressed at its unorthodox demise has finally accepted its place in scientific history and come to terms with the circumstances of its death. Notes	i don't know
In the Bible, what was the name of Abraham's wife?	Abraham -- Polygamists in the Bible - Biblical Polygamy . com </script> Faithful friend of God and father of the Hebrew nation "Father of the faithful" 3 Wives - Sarah, Hagar and Keturah "Now Sarai Abram's wife bare him no children: and she had an handmaid, an Egyptian, whose name was Hagar." Genesis 16:1 "And Sarai Abram's wife took Hagar her maid the Egyptian, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife." Genesis 16:3 "Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah." Genesis 25:1	List of Eureka characters
In World War I, what did the Allies call the defence linethat was known as the 'Siegfried Line' to the Germans?	Sarah, Sarai, Sara - All the Women of the Bible - Bible Gateway Sarah, Sarai, Sara The Woman Who Became Mother of Nations Scripture References— Genesis 11:29-31; 12:5-17; 16:1-8; 17:15-21; 18; 20:2-18; 21:1-12; 23:1-19; 24:36, 37; 25:10, 12; 49:31; Isaiah 51:2; Romans 4:19; 9:9; Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6 Name Meaning—Among the classified names of the Bible are those known as sacramental names, and are so-called because they were names given by God Himself, or under His inspiration in association with a particular promise, covenant or declaration of His, as to the character, destiny or mission of those distinctly named. Thus a sacramental name became a sign and seal of an established covenant between God and the recipient of such a name. Two Bible characters bearing sacramental names are Abraham and Sarah, both of which signify the gracious purposes and promises of God. The wife of the patriarch was originally known as Sarai, meaning “princely” or “a princess.” Elsdon C. Smith suggests it may signify “contentious” or “quarrelsome,” but was changed, not accidentally, or by the whim of the bearer, but by God Himself that it might be a sign of His purpose, into Sarah, implying the princess, a princess or princesses, the source of nations and kings. Sarah or “chieftainness,” the feminine of Sar, meaning a “captain” or “commander” is repeatedly used in this sense as a common noun as, for instance, by Isaiah who renders it “queen” ( Isaiah 49:23 ). It has been observed that among ancient Jews there was a sort of a cabalistic translation that “the Hebrew letter yod signifies the creative power of God in nature, while the letter hay symbolizes the state of grace—that state into which Sarah had entered after receiving the covenanted promises.” The promise of ancestorship of many nations came with the change of the name of Sarai to Sarah. “I will bless her and she shall become nations.” She was thus associated with her husband in the great blessing of the covenant whose name was also changed from Abram to Abraham. The former, original name means a “high, or honored father,” the latter, “a father of many nations.” The Apocrypha speaks of Abraham as “a great father of a multitude of nations” ( Ecclesiasticus 44:19-21 ). The root idea of Sarah means “to rule,” and fits the personality of the bearer. It was a name intended as a seal of the promise given to Abraham, “kings of peoples shall be of her.” Paul has an allegorical reference to Sarah as one who typified the gospel dispensation, “Jerusalem which is above ... which is the mother of us all” ( Galatians 4:26 ). Thus, Sarah was to be the princess, not only “because she was to be the ancestress of a great nation literally, of many nations spiritually, but also because the rank and power were to be possessed by her descendants, or rather because the people descended from her were to be ruled over by a regal dynasty, by a succession of kings of their own race and lineage, is derived from her.” In the genealogy of the descendants of Esau, Sarah’s grandson we read, “These are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before there reigned any king over the children of Israel.” The line of kings descended from Sarah terminated in God’s Anointed One, the Messiah, whose “kingdom is not of this world.” The sacramental name of Sarah, therefore, also symbolizes the spiritual seed, the whole multitude of believers of all nations who are “kings and priests unto God.” Then the personal application of the changed name must not be forgotten. Called Sarah by God and the Angels ( Genesis 17:15; 18:9 ), she exhibited the traits of a princess, “wielding a sceptre by the magic of which she could lord it over men’s hearts after her own will, even bring kings to her feet. If she came into the world with a will of her own as her dowry, nature further assisted her in developing it by the great beauty of her face and the grace of her stature. By these gifts she made her wish a command and disarmed opposition.” Both in bearing and character she illustrated the significance of her name. Through the long, long years of the quiet and stedfast devotion of Abraham to Sarah, peace reigned in the matrimonial tent more because of Abraham’s gentleness, kindness and forbearance, even though he lived so long with the more expressive and possessive ways of Sarah. Twice over in the kjv of the New Testament she is referred to as Sara, but the asv uniformly gives us Sarah ( Hebrews 11:11; 1 Peter 3:6 ). Family Connections—Sarah came from Ur of the Chaldees, Babylonia, and her former name Sarai, “princely,” identifies her as coming from an honored family. She was the daughter of Terah and was therefore half-sister to Abram, her senior by ten years ( Genesis 17:17 ), whom she married in the Ur of the Chaldees. While Abram and Sarai had the same father, they had different mothers ( Genesis 20:12 ). Marriages between near relatives were countenanced in those days and were sometimes common for religious reasons ( Genesis 24:3, 4; 28:1, 2 ), but not marriages between those actually by the same mother. Sarai was well past middle life and childless when with Abram she left her own country and with him went out “not knowing whither they went” ( Genesis 11:29, 30 ). There are various ways of looking at this remarkable woman who through a long span of life was the faithful wife of a prophet known as “The Friend of God.” Her Uniqueness Strange though it may sound and seem, the first Jew was a Gentile, for Abraham who came from beyond the Euphrates was the first man to be called a Hebrew, “Abram the Hebrew” ( Genesis 14:13 ). The word Hebrew itself means, “the immigrant,” and was no doubt the usual designation among the Canaanites. As his wife, Sarah was the first Hebrewess—the joint fountainhead of the great Jewish race ( Genesis 11:29-31; Isaiah 51:2 ). Abraham has been fitly called, “The fountainhead of the Hebrew hero life,” and Sarah is the heroine of such life. She remains the first unquestionably historical woman of the Hebrews, and their first mother. She is, therefore, one of the most important female figures in the world’s history, as the natural source of the Jewish people, through whom the nations of the earth were to be blessed. Only two women are named in the illustrious roll of those conspicuous for their faith: Sarah is the first, and Rahab the second ( Hebrews 11:11, 31 ), both of whom lived by faith and died in faith ( Hebrews 11:13 ). Sarah or Sara have always been popular female names both among Jews and Gentiles. Her Beauty The testimony of the Bible is that Sarah was unusually beautiful ( Genesis 12:11, 14 ). The lines of Keats were true of her— A thing of beauty is a joy for ever: Its loveliness increases; it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams ... Hebrew folklore has kept alive stories of her remarkable beauty and ranks her next to the most perfect woman the world has known, Eve, “the mother of all living.” Sarah seems to have had beauty that grew more attractive with the passing years. “Of the things that are unfavourable to the preservation of beauty, the Orientals count travel as one that is most baneful, even fatal to it,” says Gustav Gottheil. “Yet when Sarah arrived, after a long journey through dusty deserts and under a scorching sun, at the frontiers of Egypt, she was more beautiful than ever, and this explains the curious speech of Abraham to his wife at that juncture: ‘Now I know that thou art a woman beautiful to look at.’ Did he not know that before? Not so convincingly, explains the rabbi, as after he had seen that even travel had left no touch on her countenance.” Isaiah says that, “Beauty is a fading flower” ( Isaiah 28:1 ), and a song of old has the stanza— Beauty is but skin deep, And ugly to the bone. Beauty soon fades away, But ugly holds its own. But with Sarah it was different, for even when she was 90 years of age she was so lovely that Abraham feared that kings would fall in love with her bewitching beauty—which Pharaoh and Abimelech did, as our next glimpse of her proves. As one of the most beautful women who ever lived we can imagine that wherever she journeyed the admiring eyes of all were cast upon her. “Grave is all beauty,” and Sarah’s renowned loveliness certainly brought its trouble. Her Peril When famine drove Abraham and Sarah into the land of Egypt, and they felt that hostile kings might take them prisoners, Abraham came up with the abject, base proposal that if taken prisoners then his wife should represent herself as his sister. Fear of death unmanned him and led him to risk the dishonor of his wife and thereby save his own neck. She dearly loved her husband, and his life was too precious to her to make her think of the shame she might incur. Sarah was utterly wrong in yielding to her husband’s plot. How nobler she would have been had she stoutly refused Abraham saying, “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” But she called her husband “lord,” and evidently he was lord of her conscience. Abraham felt that if oriental despots knew that Sarah and he were married they would slay him and add the lovely woman to their harem. Married to a conspicuous beauty caused Abraham to be afraid, and he resorted to a falsehood to save his life. If taken, Sarah was not to say that she was his wife but his sister. This pretense was not an outright lie, but a half-truth, seeing that she was his half-sister. They were children of the same father, but not the same mother. It seems hard to believe that such a good man could deliver his lovely wife over to a heathen monarch, but he did, and Sarah entered Pharaoh’s harem. But God protected her by sending plagues upon the monarch. Pharaoh sent her back to her own husband, untouched. The same unworthy plan was carried out when Abimelech, king of the Philistines, admiring her bewitching beauty had her taken to his harem. But again God interfered and commanded the king to restore Sarah to Abraham, seeing she was his wife. Threatened with violent death, Abimelech obeyed, but severely rebuked Abraham for his deceit ( Genesis 12:10-20; 20 ). Years later Isaac, the son of Abraham and Sarah, used this same form of deception ( Genesis 26:6-13 , see href="/id/42314245-4242-3341-2D30-3838372D3345">Rebekah ). God expressed His displeasure with Abraham and his wife because of their ill-conceived plot. As the Righteous One, He could not condone such trickery. Had He not called them out from their country for a specific mission? And was He not able to protect and preserve them from harm and danger in a strange land? Was not the halflie told on two occasions an indication of the lack of faith in God’s overshadowing care and power to fulfill His promise? Abraham’s lofty soul suffered an eclipse of the virtue of faith for which he was renowned when he adopted such a plan of deception, exposing his wife to great peril, and also thwarting of the divine plan for and through Sarah. (Compare Hagar.) Abraham’s deception was followed by an attempt to ease an offense, and the patriarch was more blameworthy than Sarah who should have resisted the dangerous plan of exposing herself for the sexual gratification of other men. A lie that is half a truth Is ever the worst of lies. A half-truth is always a lie. While it was true that Sarah was Abraham’s sister, the assertion was in reality a falsehood. After the severe rebuke from Pharaoh for their deception, they should have learned their lesson, but to commit the same sin again a few years later, and further imperil God’s plan to make of them a great nation, leaves Abraham and Sarah without excuse. How slow we are to learn from our past failures? Her Sorrow The one great grief of Abraham and Sarah was that through their long life together they had no children. To a Hebrew woman, barrenness was looked upon as a gnawing grief, and sometimes regarded as a sign of divine disfavor. Childless, even when back in Babylonia ( Genesis 11:30; 16:1-8 ), Sarah remained so until at 90 years of age God miraculously fulfilled His promise and made her the mother of the son of promise. Through the long years, “side by side with the prosperity, beat for beat with the pulse of Abraham’s joy, there throbs in Sarah’s heart a pulse of pain ... There is as yet no heir.” The constant grief of barrenness caused Sarah to become “The Woman Who Made a Great Mistake.” In spite of the fact that, along with her husband, she had received the divine promise, that from her nations would spring, the possibility of ever becoming a mother died in her heart. Such a cross as barrenness inflamed and intensified her pride, and forced her to find a way out of this embarrassment to her husband. “Sarah sacrificed herself on the cruelest altar on which any woman ever laid herself down; but the cords of the sacrifice were all the time the cords of a suicidal pride: till the sacrifice was both a great sin in the sight of God, a fatal injury to herself, to her husband, and to innocent generations yet unborn.” Sarah revealed the sad defect of her qualities when she said to Abraham, “Take Hagar my maid, and let not the promises of God fail through me. Through her I can continue your hereditary line.” But all poor Hagar could do was to produce an Ishmael. It was only through Sarah that the promised seed could come. Although it might have been a custom of the time for a man with a barren wife to take a concubine in order that he might have an heir, Abraham, as a God-fearing man, should have stoutly refused to go along with the unworthy scheme, which in the end produced jealousy and tragedy. “Abram hearkened to the voice of Sarai,” but the voice was the fatal siren of Satan who sought to destroy the royal, promised seed ( Genesis 3:15 ). As one modern writer expresses it— Little did Sarai think when she persuaded Abram to take Hagar, that she was originating a rivalry which has run in the keenest animosity through the ages, and which oceans of blood have not quenched. In our cameo of Hagar (which see) we sought to show all that followed the blunder of Sarah, when she intervened in God’s plan and chose her way to continue her husband’s posterity. Her Joy In His forgiving love and mercy God appeared to Abram when he was 99 years old, and assured him that his long barren wife, although now 90 years old, would conceive. To confirm His promise God changed the name of Abram to Abraham, and of Sarai to Sarah ( Genesis 17; 18 ). At such a revelation of God’s purpose, “Abraham fell upon his face and laughed.” Although he marveled at the performance of the naturally impossible, Abraham yet believed, and his laughter was the joy of a man of faith. Laughter is sometimes mad ( Ecclesiastes 2:2 ) but that of Abraham was highly rational. He rejoiced in the thought that Isaac should be born, and perhaps at that time he had a vision of the Messiah. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day” ( John 8:56 ). As for Sarah, what was her reaction when she overheard the Lord say to her husband, “Sarah thy wife shall have a son”? The record says, “Sarah laughed within herself,” but hers was the laugh of doubt. Yet when her son was born he was named Isaac, which means “laughter”—a memorial of her sin ( Genesis 18:13 ), and of her husband’s joy ( 17:17 ). Sarah’s joy knew no bounds, “God hath made me to laugh” ( 21:6; 24:36 ). She had laughter before, but God was not the author of her laugh of doubt. The joy of Sarah in the birth of Isaac reminds us of “the great joy” proclaimed by the angels who made known to the shepherds the birth of Christ who came of the line of Isaac ( Luke 2:10; Romans 4:18-21 ). Paul reminds us that it was by faith that Sarah conceived beyond nature ( Hebrews 11:11 ). It was not only in itself a miracle wrought by faith, but also in earnest of something far greater, even the Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Her Longevity Sarah is the only woman whose specific age is stated in Scripture. A girl’s approximate age is given us in the gospels. The only daughter of Jairus whom Jesus raised from the dead was “about 12 years of age” ( Luke 8:42 ). Sarah called herself old when she was 87 ( Genesis 18:12 ), but she was 127 years of age when she died. Abraham had reached the patriarchal age of 175 when God called him home. Godliness has always been favorable to longevity. The “good old age” ( Genesis 15:15 ) was a signal proof of the faithfulness of the Lord. When the Countess of Huntingdon came to die she said, “My work is done, and I have nothing to do but to go to my Father.” Surely the same contentment was experienced both by Sarah and Abraham who were not satiated with life, but satisfied with it. Abraham lived for another 38 years after Sarah’s death before his God-given task was completed. The day came, then, for Sarah to leave the world in which she had sojourned so long, and hers is the first grave to be mentioned in Scripture. Although Abraham and Sarah were nomads living in their tent in a desert land, the aged patriarch wanted a more permanent resting place for his beloved wife than the shifting sand of the desert. Here vultures and beasts of prey would wait to gorge themselves off the dead, leaving behind nothing but white bones. Breaking with the ancient custom of the desert burial, Abraham purchased a cave at Machpelah as a sepulcher for his dear Sarah, and when Abraham himself came to die his sons “buried him beside Sarah.” Thus, in death, symbolically, they were unseparated as they had been through their long and eventful life together. When Cornelia, the mother of Caius and Tiberius Gracchus, whom she called her “jewels” died, on her monument was inscribed, “Cornelia, the mother of Gracchi.” Had a monument been erected for the noble woman we have been considering, the simple inscription in enduring marble would have been sufficient— Here lies	i don't know
Baku is the capital of which country?	Baku - The capital of Azerbaijan - Baku Home » Baku » Baku - The capital of Azerbaijan Baku - The capital of Azerbaijan Baku - the capital of Azerbaijan, the largest city in the Caucasus and one of the most beautiful cities in the world is compared with Naples, San Francisco and other big cities of the world. The city is situated on the southern coast of the Absheron Peninsula and is the largest port in the Caucasus. According to one version, the name Azerbaijan comes from the Persian language "Badkube" - "wind blow", probably because of strong winds, hence "Baku - the city of winds", according to another version, Baku means - a city on the hill. The name Azerbaijan is found in written sources from the IX century. But the historical sources indicate that the settlements on the place of the city appeared long time ago. They tell about the area, notable with "flames rising from underwater rocks". These "eternal" fires appeared in spots of natural gas yield. The evidences of the ancient age of the city are rock carvings left by primitive people on the walls of caves in Absheron and Gobustan (12 thousand years ago), as well as various archaeological finds, rock inscription left by Augustus, Gaius Octavius, narrating of military camps, set in this area in the I century BC. Considering all given above, we can establish that the city of Baku is more than 5,5 thousand years old. Throughout its history the city has endured a lot - several times he was completely burned and looted, but revived again. Today Baku is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. In the capital of Azerbaijan , are spoken three languages: Azeri, Turkish and Russian. In Baku you can feel the fusion of eras and cultures and meet the architectural monuments of various international schools of architecture. In Baku resides over half of the whole country’s population (more than two million inhabitants). Here concentrated the oldest oil fields, the famous Oil Stones of deep base, powerful crane vessels, modern floating rigs. Baku is also a cultural center of Azerbaijan. Here was opened the first National Theatre, the first library and appeared in print the first newspaper. In the modern city is also well developed the entertainment industry: 7 theaters, 11 universities, 30 museums, a philharmonic society, libraries and cinemas, restaurants and nightclubs.	Azerbaijan
What was the name of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton's ship?	Azerbaijan - Lonely Planet Azerbaijan Community Welcome to Azerbaijan Selling itself as the 'Land of Fire', Azerbaijan (Azərbaycan) is a tangle of contradictions and contrasts. Neither Europe nor Asia, it's a nexus of ancient historical empires, but also a ‘new’ nation rapidly transforming itself with a super-charged gust of petro-spending... Read More Top experiences in Azerbaijan	i don't know
The Australianscall it a 'Glory Box', what do the British call it?	Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms - Australian National Dictionary Centre - ANU Australian National Dictionary Centre Research School of Humanities & the Arts ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences Search Australian National Dictionary Centre Search query Home » Australian words » Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms This section contains a selection of Australian words, their meanings, and their etymologies. All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z acca Michael Davie in 'Going from A to Z forever' (an article on the 2nd edition of the Oxford English Dictionary), Age, Saturday Extra, 1 April 1989, writes of his visit to the dictionary section of Oxford University Press: Before I left, Weiner [one of the two editors of the OED] said he remembered how baffled he had been the first time he heard an Australian talk about the 'arvo'. Australians used the -o suffix a lot, he reflected. Arvo, smoko, garbo, journo. But not all -o words were Australian, said Simpson [the other of the two editors]: eg 'aggro' and 'cheapo'. I asked if they were familiar with the Oz usage 'acco', meaning 'academic'. They liked that. I hoped, after I left, they would enter it on one of their little slips and add it to their gigantic compost heap - a candidate for admission to the next edition. We trust that Edmund Weiner and John Simpson did not take a citation, since the Australian abbreviation of academic is not acco but acca (sometimes spelt acker). The abbreviation first appears in Meanjin (Melbourne, 1977), where Canberra historian Ken Inglis has an article titled 'Accas and Ockers: Australia's New Dictionaries'. The editor of Meanjin, Jim Davidson, adds a footnote: 'acca (slightly derogatory) 1, noun An academic rather than an intellectual, particularly adept at manipulating trendiologies, usually with full scholarly apparatus. Hence 2, noun A particularly sterile piece of academic writing.' The evidence has become less frequent in recent years. 1993 Age (Melbourne) 24 December: The way such festivals bring together writers, publishers and accas, making them all accountable to the reader - the audience - gives them real value. acid: to put the acid on To exert a pressure that is difficult to resist; to exert such pressure on (a person, etc.), to pressure (someone) for a favour etc.; to be successful in the exertion of such pressure. This idiom is derived from acid test which is a test for gold or other precious metal, usually using nitric acid. Acid test is also used figuratively to refer to a severe or conclusive test. The Australian idiom emerged in the early 20th century and is still heard today. 1903 Sydney Stock and Station Journal 9 October: In the class for ponies under 13 hands there was a condition that the riders should be under ten years of age. When the stewards 'put the acid on' the riders it was found that only one exhibit in a very big field carried a boy who was not over ten years old. 2015 Australian (Sydney) 6 February: One option would be to skip the spill motion and go directly to a call for candidates for the leadership. It would put the acid on putative challengers and catch them out if they are not ready. Aerial ping-pong A jocular (and frequently derisive) name for Australian Rules Football (or Aussie Rules as it is popularly called). The term derives from the fact that the play in this game is characterised by frequent exchanges of long and high kicks. The term is used largely by people from States in which Rugby League and not Aussie Rules is the major football code. This interstate and code rivalry is often found in evidence for the term, including the early evidence from the 1940s. 1947 West Australian (Perth) 22 April: In 1941 he enlisted in the A.I.F. and joined a unit which fostered rugby football. Renfrey did not join in the &oq;mud bath&cq; and did not play 'aerial ping-pong', as the rugby exponents in the army termed the Australian game, until 1946. 1973 J. Dunn, How to Play Football: Sydneysiders like to call Australian Rules 'aerial ping-pong'. A team from Sydney was admitted to the national competition in 1982, and one from Brisbane was admitted in 1987. These teams are based in traditional Rugby League areas, yet have drawn very large crowds, and have been very successful. While the term is perhaps not as common as it once was there is still evidence from more recent years. 2010 Newcastle Herald 23 September: Without a shadow of a doubt the aerial ping pong boys have league beaten when it comes to WAGs. At the Brownlow Medal night the likes of Chris Judd's fiancee Rebecca Twigley and Gary Ablett's girlfriend Lauren Phillips certainly scrub up well. akubra A shallow-crowned wide-brimmed hat, especially one made from felted rabbit fur. It is a significant feature of rural Australia, of politicians (especially urban-based politicians) travelling in the outback, and of expatriates who wish to emphasis their Australianness. Now a proprietary name, our earliest evidence comes from an advertisement. 1920 Northern Star (Lismore) 4 November: Made in Australia! Yes, the smartest hat that's made in our own country may be seen in our hat department ... The makes include 'Sovereign', 'Vebistra', 'Akubra', 'Peerless', 'Beaucaire'. ambit The definition of the limits of an industrial dispute. In later use chiefly as ambit claim. In Australian English an ambit claim is one typically made by employees which sets the boundaries of an industrial dispute. The term is a specific use of ambit meaning 'extent, compass'. First recorded in the 1920s. 1923 Mercury (Hobart) 21 March: In the Commonwealth Arbitration Court .. Mr Justice Powers to-day delivered judgment on the point. He said that the ambit of the dispute before the Court was confined to constructional work, but that the Court could and would deal with claims for maintenance work. 2006 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May: Telstra's ambit claim was for exclusive access on the ground that it was taking all the commercial risk involving the not-inconsiderable expenditure of $3.5bn. ambo An ambulance officer. This is an abbreviation that follows a very common Australian pattern of word formation, with –o added to the abbreviated form. Other examples include: arvo (afternoon), Salvo (Salvation army officer), dermo (dermatologist), and gyno (gynaecologist). The -o form is often found at the ending of Australian nicknames, as in Johno, Jacko, and Robbo. Ambo was first recorded in the 1980s. 1986 Sydney Morning Herald 1 February: Even though I was a nurse before I became an ambo, at first I thought, can I handle this? ant's pants Something extremely impressive; the best of its kind. Ant's pants is an Australian variant of the originally US forms bee's knees and cat's whiskers with the same meaning. The term is first recorded in the 1930s. 1933 Brisbane Courier 12 May: These Men's Pull-overs of ours. They're the Ant's Pants for Value. 2015 T. Parsons Return to Moondilla: 'Liz is busting to see you', Pat said. 'She thinks you're the ant's pants.' Anzac An Australian soldier. Anzac denotes the virtues of courage and determination displayed by the First World War Australian soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915. Anzac was formed from the initial letters of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Australian soldiers are also called 'diggers' because so much of the original Anzacs’ time was spent digging trenches. First recorded 1915. 1915 Camperdown Chronicle 2 December: Lord Kitchener told the 'Anzacs' at the Dardanelles how much the King appreciated their splendid services, and added that they had done even better than the King expected. Anzac biscuit A sweet biscuit typically containing rolled oats and golden syrup. While variations on this classic recipe exist, its simplicity is its hallmark. The association with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps goes back to 1917 when the recipe was first recorded. The biscuits are also known simply as Anzacs. The following quotations show the evolution of the recipe: 1917 War Chest Cookery Book (Australian Comforts Fund): Anzac Biscuits. 4oz. sugar, 4ozs. butter, 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup flour, 1 cup rice flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon mixed spice. Beat butter and sugar to cream, add eggs well beaten, lastly flour, rice flour baking powder, cinnamon and spice. Mix to stiff paste, roll and cut into biscuits. Bake a nice light brown in moderate oven. When cold jam together and ice. 1926 Argus (Melbourne) 16 June: 'Often Helped' .. asks for a recipe for Anzac biscuits ... Two breakfast-cupfuls of John Bull oats, half a cupful sugar, one scant cupful plain flour, half a cupful melted butter. Mix one table-spoonful golden syrup, two table-spoonfuls boiling water, and one teaspoon-ful bicarbonate of soda, until they froth, then add the melted butter. Mix in dry ingredients and drop in spoonfuls on greased tray. Bake in a slow oven. apples: she’s apples Everything is fine, all is well. Australian English often uses the feminine pronoun she where standard English would use it. For example, instead of 'it’ll be right' Australians say ‘she’ll be right’. She's apples was originally rhyming slang - apple and spice or apple and rice for 'nice'. The phrase has now lost all connection with its rhyming slang origin. First recorded in the 1920s the term can still be heard today. 1929 H. MacQuarrie We and Baby: 'She'll be apples!' (Dick's jargon for 'all right'.) 2008 West Australian (Perth) 26 April: After a successful tour and a newly released DVD, she's apples with the ubiquitous Paul Kelly. arvo Afternoon, as in see you Saturday arvo. It is often used in the phrase this arvo, which is sometimes shortened to sarvo: meet you after the game, sarvo. Arvo is an example of a special feature of Australian English, the habit of adding -o to an abbreviated word. Other such words are bizzo ‘business’ and journo ‘journalist’. First recorded in the 1920s and still going strong today. 2008 Australian (Sydney) 10 July: Former Baywatch beach decoration and Playboy bunny Pamela Anderson plans to visit a Gold Coast KFC outlet this arvo to protest against the company's treatment of chooks. Arthur: not know whether you are Arthur or Martha To be in a state of confusion, as in this comment in an Australian state parliament—‘The Leader of the Opposition does not know whether he is Arthur or Martha, Hekyll or Jekyll, coming or going’. The phrase was first recorded in the 1940s. In recent years it has also been used with reference to questions of gender identity, and in this sense it has been exported to other countries. 1948 Truth (Sydney) 14 March: Players were all over the place like Brown's cows, and most didn't know whether they were Arthur or Martha. 2010 West Australian (Perth) 3 November: Years ago, I teamed my work outfits (Kookai tube skirts, fang-collared blouses) with my dad's ties, only to be informed by my manager I looked as though I wasn't sure if I was Arthur or Martha. Aussie Australia; Australian. The abbreviation Aussie is a typical example of the way Australians abbreviate words and then add the -ie (or -y) suffix. Other common examples includes budgie (a budgerigar), rellie (a relative), and tradie (a tradesperson). The word is used as a noun to refer to the country and to a person born or residing in the country, and as an adjective denoting something relating to Australia. Aussie is also used as an abbreviation for 'Australian English' and the 'Australian dollar'. The earliest evidence for Aussie occurs in the context of the First World War. 1915 G.F. Moberly Experiences 'Dinki Di' R.R.C. Nurse (1933): A farewell dance for the boys going home to 'Aussie' tomorrow. 1916 G.F. Moberly Experiences 'Dinki Di' R.R.C. Nurse (1933): One of our Aussie officers. 1917 Forbes Advocate 25 September: 'Hold on Eliza, where did you get that favor?' 'From an Aussie!' Australia Why is Australia called Australia? From the early sixteenth century, European philosophers and mapmakers assumed a great southern continent existed south of Asia. They called this hypothetical place Terra Australis, Latin for 'southern land'. The first European contact with Australia was in the early seventeenth century, when Dutch explorers touched on parts of the Australian continent. As a result of their explorations, that part of the mainland lying west of the meridian which passes through Torres Strait was named Nova Hollandia (Latin for 'New Holland'). In April 1770 Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour reached the southern land. Cook entered the word Astralia (misspelt thus) in his journal the following August. However he did so only in reference to an earlier seeker of the southern land, the Portuguese-born navigator Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, who in 1606 had named the New Hebrides Austrialis de Spiritu Santo. Cook says: The Islands discover'd by Quiros call'd by him Astralia del Espiritu Santo lays in this parallel but how far to the East is hard to say. Cook himself called the new continent New Holland, a name that acknowledges the early Dutch exploration; the eastern coast he claimed for Britain and called New South Wales. The first written record of Australia (an anglicised form of Terra Australis) as a name for the known continent did not occur until 1794. George Shaw in his Zoology of New Holland refers to: the vast Island or rather Continent of Australia, Australasia, or New Holland, which has so lately attracted... particular attention. It was Matthew Flinders, English navigator (and the first person to circumnavigate and map Australia's coastline), who first expressed a strong preference for the name Australia. He gave his reasons in 1805: It is necessary, however, to geographical propriety, that the whole body of land should be designated under one general name; on this account, and under the circumstances of the discovery of the different parts, it seems best to refer back to the original Terra Australis, or Australia; which being descriptive of its situation, having antiquity to recommend it, and no reference to either of the two claiming nations, is perhaps the least objectionable that could have been chosen; for it is little to apprehended, that any considerable body of land, in a more southern situation, will be hereafter discovered. To these geographical, historical and political reasons for preferring the name, he adds in his 1814 account of his voyages that Australia is 'agreeable to the ear, and an assimilation to the names of the other great portions of the earth'. Australia was championed too by Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1810, who was aware of Flinders' preference and popularised the name by using it in official dispatches to London. He writes in 1817 of: the Continent of Australia, which I hope will be the Name given to this country in future, instead of the very erroneous and misapplied name, hitherto given it, of 'New Holland', which properly speaking only applies to a part of this immense Continent. With Macquarie's kickstart Australia eventually proved to be the popular choice. Although the name New Holland continued alongside it for some time, by 1861 William Westgarth noted that 'the old term New Holland may now be regarded as supplanted by that happier and fitter one of Australia'. banana bender A Queenslander. The term derives from the joking notion (as perceived from the southern states of Australia) that Queenslanders spend their time putting bends into bananas. An article from 15 July 1937 in the Queenslander provides a forerunner to the term when a man is asked by the Queen what his occupation is: "I'm a banana-bender". Further to enlighten her Majesty he explained that bananas grew straight on the trees, and so just before they ripened, his was the job to mount the ladder, and with a specialised twist of the wrist, put into the fruit the Grecian bend that was half its charm. The association of bananas with Queensland ('banana land') is based on the extensive banana-growing industry in tropical Queensland. The Queensland border has been called the Banana curtain and Brisbane has been called Banana city. Banana bender, in reference to a Queenslander, is first recorded in 1940 and is till commonly heard. 1964 D. Lockwood Up the Track: We are so close to Queensland that I think we should hop over the border. What do you say to a quick look at the banana-benders? 2011 Northern Star (Lismore) 11 July: Should the Matilda's [sic] have won last night or the Netball Diamonds see off New Zealand, Anna Bligh will doubtless claim it was due to the preponderance of banana benders in the squads or at the very least the result of a Gold Coast holiday during their formative years. bandicoot Soon after white settlement in 1788 the word bandicoot (the name for the Indian mammal Bandicota indica) was applied to several Australian mammals having long pointed heads and bearing some resemblance to their Indian namesake. In 1799 David Collins writes of the 'bones of small animals, such as opossums ... and bandicoots'. From 1830s the word bandicoot has been used in various distinctively Australian phrases as an emblem of deprivation or desolation. In 1837 H. Watson in Lecture on South Australia writes: 'The land here is generally good; there is a small proportion that is actually good for nothing; to use a colonial phrase, "a bandicoot (an animal between a rat and a rabbit) would starve upon it".' Typical examples include: as miserable as a bandicoot as poor as a bandicoot as bald as a bandicoot as blind as a bandicoot as hungry as a bandicoot Probably from the perception of the bandicoot's burrowing habits, a new Australian verb to bandicoot arose towards the end of the nineteenth century. It means 'to remove potatoes from the ground, leaving the tops undisturbed'. Usually this activity is surreptitious. 1896 Bulletin 12 December: I must 'bandicoot' spuds from the cockies - Or go on the track! 1899 Bulletin 2 December: 'Bandicooting'.. is a well-known term all over Western Vic. potato-land. The bandicooter goes at night to a field of ripe potatoes and carefully extracts the tubers from the roots without disturbing the tops. bandicoot: miserable as a bandicoot Extremely unhappy. Bandicoots are small marsupials with long faces, and have been given a role in Australian English in similes that suggest unhappiness or some kind of deprivation (see above). The expression miserable as a bandicoot was first recorded in the 1820s. 1828 Sydney Gazette 11 January: On her arrival here she found him living with another woman by whom he had several children, and from whom he was necessarily obliged to part, not, however, without very candidly forewarning his wife, the present complainant, that he would make her as miserable as a bandicoot. 2005 R. Siemon The Eccentric Mr Wienholt: I am as miserable as a bandicoot having to sneak home like this. banksia man The large woody cone of several Banksia species, originally as a character in children's stories. Banksia is the name of an Australian genus of shrubs and trees with about 60 species. It was named after the botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who was on the Endeavour with James Cook on his voyage of discovery in 1770. After flowering, many banksias form thick woody cones, often in strange shapes. It was on such grotesque shapes that May Gibbs modelled her banksia men in Snugglepot and Cuddlepie of 1918: 'She could see the glistening, wicked eyes of Mrs. Snake and the bushy heads of the bad Banksia men'. 1927 K.S. Prichard Bid me to Love: Louise: .. See what I've got in my pocket for you ... Bill: (diving into a pocket of her coat and pulling out a banksia cone) A banksia man. Oh Mum! 1979 E. Smith Saddle in the Kitchen: Hell was under the well near the cow paddock, deep and murky and peopled by gnarled and knobby banksia men who lurked there waiting for the unguarded to fall in. barbecue stopper A topic of great public interest, especially a political one. The term derives from the notion that a topic is so interesting that it could halt proceedings at a barbecue - and anything that could interrupt an Aussie barbecue would have to be very significant indeed! The term was coined by Australian prime minister John Howard in 2001 in the context of balancing work pressures with family responsibilities. Barbecue stopper is now used in a wide range of contexts. For an earlier discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from August 2007. 2007 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 11 March: Controlled crying is a guaranteed barbecue stopper among Australian parents, more divisive than the old breast-versus-bottle feeding debate. 2015 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 1 April: Planning and zoning looms as a barbecue stopper in leafy suburbs, where many residents and traders will defend to the last breath their quiet enjoyment and captive markets. Barcoo The name of the Barcoo River in western Queensland has been used since the 1870s as a shorthand reference for the hardships, privations, and living conditions of the outback. Poor diets were common in remote areas, with little access to fresh vegetables or fruit, and as a result diseases caused by dietary deficiencies, such Barcoo rot—a form of scurvy characterised by chronic sores—were common. Katharine Susannah Prichard writes in 1946: ‘They were nothing to the torture he endured when barcoo rot attacked him. The great sores festered on his back, hands and legs: his lips split and were raw and bleeding’. Rachel Henning, in a letter to her sister in 1864, makes fun of her Irish servants’ fear of scurvy, for which they eat pigweed, ‘rather a nasty wild plant, but supposed to be exceedingly wholesome, either chopped up with vinegar or boiled’. Another illness probably caused by poor diet was Barcoo sickness (also called Barcoo vomit, Barcoo spew, or just Barcoo), a condition characterised by vomiting. ‘Barcoo was rife among the kiddies and station-hands; vomiting attacks lasting for days laid each low in turn’. Happily, Barcoo can also denote more positive aspects of outback life: a makeshift resourcefulness - a Barcoo dog is a rattle for herding sheep, which can be as simple as a tin can and a stick – or rough and ready behaviour: ‘The parrot’s language would have shamed a Barcoo bullocky’. Barcoo can also typify the laconic bush wit. Patsy Adam Smith relates the following story: ‘I see you’ve learnt the Barcoo Salute’, said a Buln Buln Shire Councillor to the Duke of Edinburgh. ‘What’s that?’ said His Royal Highness, waving his hand again to brush the flies off his face. ‘That’s it’, said the man from the bush. barrack for To give support or encouragement to (a person, team, etc.), usually by shouting names, slogans or exhortations. Some claim barrack comes from Australian pidgin to poke borak at 'to deride', but its origin is probably from Northern Irish barrack 'to brag; to be boastful'. By itself barrack meant 'to jeer' (and still does in British English), but the form barrack for transformed the jeering into cheering in Australian English. First recorded in the 1880s. 1889 Maitland Mercury 24 August: Old dad was in his glory there - it gave the old man joy To fight a passage thro' the crowd and barrack for his boy. 1971 D. Williamson Don's Party: I take it you'll be barracking for Labor tonight? 2011 Gympie Times 28 January: He thought it was about time to take the pledge and officially become Australian as he had barracked for our cricket team since 1955. barrier rise The opening of the starting gates to begin a horserace. In horseracing the barrier is a starting gate at the racecourse. The word barrier is found in a number of horseracing terms in Australian English including barrier blanket (a heavy blanket placed over the flanks of a racehorse to calm it when entering a barrier stall at the start of a race), barrier trial (a practice race for young, inexperienced, or resuming racehorses), and barrier rogue (a racehorse that regularly misbehaves when being placed into a starting gate). Barrier rise is first recorded in the 1890s. For a more detailed discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from October 2010. 1895 Argus (Melbourne) 11 March: Mr W. R. Wilson's colt Merman, who, like Hova, was comparatively friendless at barrier rise. 2011 Shepparton News 27 June: The talented Norman-trained trotter Tsonga, also driven by Jack, speared across the face of the field at barrier rise from outside the front row in the mobile - and from then was never headed. battler The word battler has been in the English language for a long time. The word is a borrowing from French in the Middle English period, and meant, literally, 'a person who battles or fights', and figuratively 'a person who fights against the odds or does not give up easily'. The corresponding English word was feohtan which gives us modern English 'to fight'. English also borrowed the word war from the French in the twelfth century; it's the same word as modern French guerre. But the word battler, at the end of the nineteenth century, starts to acquire some distinctively Australian connotations. For this reason, it gets a guernsey in the Australian National Dictionary. 1. It describes the person with few natural advantages, who works doggedly and with little reward, who struggles for a livelihood (and who displays courage in so doing). Our first citation for this, not surprisingly, comes from Henry Lawson in While the Billy Boils (1896): 'I sat on him pretty hard for his pretensions, and paid him out for all the patronage he'd worked off on me .. and told him never to pretend to me again he was a battler'. In 1941 Kylie Tennant writes: 'She was a battler, Snow admitted; impudent, hardy, cool, and she could take a "knock-back" as though it didn't matter, and come up to meet the next blow'. In this tradition, K. Smith writes in 1965: 'Everybody in Australia has his position. Roughly speaking, there are three kinds of people in this country: the rich, the middle class and the battlers'. In the 21st century the term has been used in various political contests as this quotation in the Australian from 1 July 2006 demonstrates: 'The Prime Minister, who has built his success on an appeal to Australia's battlers, is about to meet thousands more of them in his northern Sydney seat of Bennelong'. 2. It has also been used of an unemployed or irregularly employed person. a: (in the country): a swagman or itinerant worker. This sense is first recorded in the Bulletin in 1898: 'I found patch after patch destroyed. Almost everyone I met blamed the unfortunate "battler", and I put it down to some of the Sydney "talent" until ... I caught two Chows vigorously destroying melon-vines'. Again in the Bulletin in 1906 we find: 'They were old, white-bearded, travel-stained battlers of the track'. The word is not much used in this sense now, but in 1982 Page & Ingpen in Aussie Battlers write: 'The average Australian's image of a battler does seem to be that of a Henry Lawson character: a bushie of the colonial era, complete with quart pot and swag, down on his luck but still resourceful and cheerful'. b: (in an urban context): an unemployed person who lives by opportunism. Frank Hardy in Tales of Billy Yorker (1965) writes: 'Any Footscray battler could get a few quid off Murphy, just for the asking'. S. Weller, Bastards I have met (1976) writes: `He was a battler, into all the lurks about the place and just one jump ahead of the coppers all the time'. 3. A person who frequents racecourses in search of a living, esp. from punting. The word is used in Australia with this sense from the end of the nineteenth century. Cornelius Crowe in his Australian Slang Dictionary (1895) gives: ' Battlers broken-down backers of horses still sticking to the game'. In 1925 A. Wright in The Boy from Bullarah notes: 'He betook himself with his few remaining shillings to the home of the battler - Randwick [a racecourse in Sydney]'. 4. A prostitute. In 1898 we find in the Bulletin: 'A bludger is about the lowest grade of human thing, and is a brothel bully ... A battler is the feminine'. C.W. Chandler in Darkest Adelaide (c. 1907) writes: 'Prostitution though most terrible and degrading in any shape or form reaches its most forbidding form when married women are found out battling for cash'. And further: `I told him I would not mind taking on a tart myself - an extra good battler preferred'. Meanings 2. 3. and 4 have now disappeared from Australian English, and it is meaning 1 which has become enshrined in the language, especially in the phrase little Aussie battler. This is still the person of the Henry Lawson tradition, who, 'with few natural advantages, works doggedly and with little reward, struggles for a livelihood (and displays courage in so doing)'. But perhaps the battler of contemporary Australia is more likely to be paying down a large mortgage rather than working hard to put food on the table! berley Berley is ground-bait scattered by an angler in the water to attract fish to a line or lure. Anglers use a variety of baits for berley, such as bread, or fish heads and guts. Poultry mash and tinned cat food make more unusual berleying material, although this pales beside a Bulletin article in 1936 suggesting 'a kerosene-tinful of rabbit carcasses boiled to a pulp' as the best berley for Murray cod. Berley first appears in 1852 as a verb - to berley is to scatter ground-bait. The writer observes that the locals are baiting a fishing spot (‘burley-ing’) with burnt fish. The first evidence for the noun occurs in the 1860s. The origin of the word is unknown. big note To display or boast of one's wealth; to exaggerate one's own importance, achievements, etc. The term is first recorded in the 1920s. In the 1950s a big note man (later called a big noter) was a person who handled or bet large sums of money - big notes. In pre-decimal currency days the larger the denomination, the bigger the banknote. Big-noting arose from the connection between flashing large sums of money about and showing off. 1941 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 February: There was no suggestion that Coates had the revolver for any sinister purpose. He had admitted producing it to 'big note' himself in the eyes of the young woman and her parents. 2012 D. Foster Man of Letters: He's never been one to big-note himself. bikie A member of a gang of motorcyclists. Bikie follows a very common pattern in Australian English by incorporating the -ie (or -y) suffix. This suffix works as an informal marker in the language. In early use bikie often referred to any member of a motorcycle (motorbike) gang or club - often associated with youth culture. In more recent times the term is often associated with gangs of motorcylists operating on the fringes of legality. Bikie is first recorded in the 1960s. For a more detailied discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from March 2014. 1967 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxii: Bikie, a member of a gang or a club of people interested in motor bikes. 2015 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 28 May: We need to stop romanticising the notion that bikies are basically good blokes in leather vests. Some bikies procure, distribute and sell drugs through their 'associates', who in turn sell them to kids. bilby The bilby is either of two Australian bandicoots, especially the rabbit-eared bandicoot Macrotis lagotis, a burrowing marsupial of woodlands and plains of drier parts of mainland Australia. The word is a borrowing from Yuwaalaraay (an Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales) and neighbouring languages. The bilby is also known as dalgyte in Western Australia and pinky in South Australia. Since the early 1990s there have been attempts to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby. At Easter it is now possible to buy chocolate bilbies. Bilby is first recorded in the 1870s. 1877 Riverine Grazier (Hay) 6 June: There is also all over this part of the country a small animal which burrows in the ground like a rabbit: it is called a bilby, and is found everywhere, almost, up here, in great numbers. 2015 Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs) 10 April: Mining activity can also cause direct and indirect disturbance to sites inhabited by bilbies. billabong An arm of a river, made by water flowing from the main stream (usually only in time of flood) to form a backwater, blind creek, anabranch, or, when the water level falls, a pool or lagoon (often of considerable extent); the dry bed of such a formation. Billabongs are often formed when floodwaters recede. The word comes from the south-western New South Wales Aboriginal language Wiradjuri: bila ‘river’ + bang (a suffix probably indicating a continuation in time or space, or functioning as an intensifier), the combination signifying a watercourse that runs only after rain. First recorded in the 1830s. 1861 Burke & Wills Exploring Expedition: At the end of a very long waterhole, it breaks into billibongs, which continue splitting into sandy channels until they are all lost in the earthy soil. 2015 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 13 May: It will soon offer more activities including fishing at a nearby billabong once the area is declared croc-free. billy A vessel for the boiling of water, making of tea, etc., over an open fire; a cylindrical container, usually of tin, enamel ware, or aluminium, fitted with a lid and a wire handle. It comes from the Scottish dialect word billy-pot meaning ‘cooking utensil’. Possibly reinforced by bouilli tin (recorded 1858 in Australia and 1852 in New Zealand, with variant bully tin recorded in New Zealand in 1849 but not until 1920 in Australia), an empty tin that had contained preserved boeuf bouilli 'bully beef', used as a container for cooking. It is not, as popularly thought, related to the Aboriginal word billabong. Billy is first recorded in the 1840s. 1859 W. Burrows Adventures of a Mounted Trooper in the Australain Constabulary: A 'billy' is a tin vessel, something between a saucepan and a kettle, always black outside from being constantly on the fire, and looking brown inside from the quantity of tea that is generally to be seen in it. 2005 Australian (Sydney) 12 November: The green ants, we learn later, are a form of bush medicine that others choose to consume by boiling the nest in a billy and drinking the strained and distilled contents. billycart A child’s four-wheeled go-cart. Billycart is a shortened form of the Australian term billy-goat cart which dates back to the 1860s. In earlier times the term applied to a small cart, often two-wheeled, that was pulled by a goat. These billycarts were used for such purposes as home deliveries, and they were also used in races. The term was then applied to any homemade go-cart. Billycart is recorded in the first decade of the 20th century. 1952 J.R. Tyrrell Old Books: As boys, Fred and I delivered books round Sydney in a billycart. 1991 T. Winton Cloudstreet: Bits of busted billycarts and boxes litter the place beneath the sagging clothesline. bindi-eye Any of several plants bearing barbed fruits, especially herbs of the widespread genus Calotis; the fruit of these plants. Bindi-eye is oftened shortened to bindi, and can be spelt in several ways including bindy-eye and bindii. The word is from the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal languages of northern New South Wales. Bindi-eye is usually considered a weed when found in one's lawn. Many a child's play has been painfully interrupted by the sharp barbs of the plant which have a habit of sticking into the sole of one's foot. Bindy-eye is first recorded in the 1890s. 1894 Queenslander (Brisbane) 11 August: Fancy him after working a mob of sheep through a patch of Bathurst Burr, or doing a day's work in a paddock where the grass seed was bad and bindy-eyes thick. 2015 Australian (Sydney) 3 January: You know it's summer when the frangipani flower in their happy colours, when the eucalypt blossom provides a feast for the rosellas - and when the bindi-eyes in your lawn punish you for going barefoot. bingle A fight or skirmish; a collision. Bingle is perhaps from Cornish dialect bing 'a thump or blow'. Most other words derived from Cornish dialect in Australian English were originally related to mining, including fossick. The word is frequently used to refer to a car collision. Bingle is first recorded in the 1940s. 1966 R. Carr Surfie: There was this clang of metal on metal and both cars lurched over to the shoulder and we nearly went for a bingle. 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 12 April: In fact some of Hughesy and Kate's listeners are laughing so hard they have to pull over in their cars or risk having a bingle on the way back from work. bitser A mongrel. A dog (or other animal) which is made up of a bit of this and a bit of that. This meaning is common today, but when bitser first appeared in the 1920s it referred to any contraption or vehicle that was made of spare parts, or had odd bits and pieces added. Bitser is an abbreviation of ‘bits and pieces’, and in the mongrel sense is first recorded in the early 1930s. 1934 Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 May: 'Well, what kind of dog is it?' he asked. The small girl pondered. 'I think he must be a bit of everything. My friends call him a "bitzer"', she replied. 2005 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 27 November: We had lots of cats and dogs. My favourite was a bitser named Sheila. black stump The black stump of Australian legend first appears in the late 19th century, and is an imaginary marker at the limits of settlement. Anywhere beyond the black stump is beyond civilisation, deep in the outback, whereas something this side of the black stump belongs to the known world. Although the towns of Blackall, Coolah and Merriwagga each claim to possess the original black stump, a single stump is unlikely to be the origin of this term. It is more probable that the burnt and blackened tree stumps, ubiquitous in the outback, and used as markers when giving directions to travellers is the origin - this sense of black stump is recorded from 1831. 1898 Launceston Examiner 5 November: The mistake in the past has been the piecemeal and patchwork nature of our public works policy. Tracks have been made, commencing nowhere and ending the same, roads have been constructed haphazard, bridges have been built that had no roads leading either to or from them, railways have terminated at the proverbial black stump. 1967 J. Wynnum I'm Jack, all Right: It's way back o' Bourke. Beyond the Black Stump. Not shown on the petrol station maps, even. 2003 Sydney Morning Herald 29 July: Our own wine writer, Huon Hooke, doesn't know the wine but suspects it comes from a region between Bandywallop and the Black Stump. Blind Freddy A very unperceptive person; such a person as a type. This term often appears in the phrase even blind Freddy could see that. Although the term may not derive from an actual person, early commentators associate it with a blind Sydney character or characters. Australian lexicographer Sidney Baker wrote in 1966 that 'Legend has it that there was a blind hawker in Sydney in the 1920s, named Freddy, whose blindness did not prevent his moving freely about the central city area'. Other commentators suggest a character who frequented various Sydney sporting venues in the first decades of the 20th century could be the original Freddy. The term itself is first recorded in 1911. 1911 Sydney Sportsman 19 July: Billy Farnsworth and [Chris] McKivatt seem to suit one another down to the ground as a pair of halves, but then Blind Freddie couldn't help taking Chris's passes. 2013 S. Scourfield As the River Runs: Blind Freddie could see Emerald Gorge is a natural dam site. blood: your blood’s worth bottling You’re a really valuable person! You’re a loyal friend! This is one of the many Australianisms, along with terms such as ‘digger’, ‘Anzac’ and ‘Aussie’, that arose during or immediately proceeding the First World War. It applied to a person of great heart, who displayed courage, loyalty, and mateship. It is now used in many contexts - ‘Those firefighters—their blood’s worth bottling!’ blouse To defeat (a competitor) by a very small margin; to win narrowly. This verb derives from the noun blouse meaning 'the silk jacket worn by a jockey'. As the origin of this word would indicate, much of the evidence is from the sport of horseracing. First recorded in the 1980s. For a detailed discussion of blouse see our Word of the Month article from November 2009. 2001 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 22 June: Four years ago at this ground - Mark Taylor's last one-day appearance for Australia - England smashed 4-253 to blouse Australia on a typically good batting strip. 2015 Kalgoorlie Miner 2 March: The Meryl Hayley-trained speedster, chasing four wins in a line, was bloused in a thrilling finish by Cut Snake with a further head to third placegetter, Danreign. bludger This word is a survival of British slang bludger, meaning 'a prostitute's pimp'. The word is ultimately a shortening of bludgeoner. A bludgeoner (not surprisingly) was a person who carried a bludgeon 'a short stout stick or club'. It appears in a mid-nineteenth century English slang dictionary as a term for 'a low thief, who does not hesitate to use violence'. By the 1880s the 'prostitute's pimp' sense of bludger is found in Australian sources. In the Sydney Slang Dictionary of 1882 bludgers are defined as 'plunderers in company with prostitutes'. Cornelius Crowe, in his Australian Slang Dictionary (1895), defines a bludger as 'a thief who will use his bludgeon and lives on the gains of immoral women'. Thus bludger came to mean 'one who lives on the earnings of a prostitute'. It retained this meaning until the mid-20th century. Thus Dorothy Hewett in her play Bobbin Up (1959) writes: 'But what about libel?' 'There's a name for a man who lives off women!' 'Can't you get pinched for calling a man a bludger?' But this meaning is now obsolete. From the early twentieth century it moved out to be a more general term of abuse, especially as applied to a person who appears to live off the efforts of others (as a pimp lives on the earnings of a prostitute). It was then used to refer to a person engaged in non-manual labour - a white-collar worker. This sense appears as early as 1910, but its typical use is represented by this passage from D. Whitington's Treasure Upon Earth (1957): '"Bludgers" he dubbed them early, because in his language anyone who did not work with his hands at a laboring job was a bludger'. And so it came to mean 'an idler, one who makes little effort'. In the war newspaper Ack Ack News in 1942 we find: 'Who said our sappers are bludgers?' By 1950, it could be used of animals which didn't perform up to standard. J. Cleary in Just let me be writes: 'Everything I backed ran like a no-hoper. Four certs I had, and the bludgers were so far back the ambulance nearly had to bring 'em home'. And thence to 'a person who does not make a fair contribution to a cost, enterprise etc.; a cadger'. D. Niland writes in The Shiralee (1955): 'Put the nips into me for tea and sugar and tobacco in his usual style. The biggest bludger in the country'. In 1971 J. O'Grady writes: 'When it comes to your turn, return the "shout". Otherwise the word will spread that you are a "bludger", and there is no worse thing to be'. The term dole bludger (i.e. 'one who exploits the system of unemployment benefits by avoiding gainful employment') made its first appearance in 1970s. An early example from the Bulletin encapsulates the derogatory tone: 'A genuine dole bludger, a particularly literate young man ... explained that he wasn't bothering to look for work any more because he was sick and tired of being treated like a chattel' (1976). From the following year we have a citation indicating a reaction to the use of the term: Cattleman (Rockhampton) 'Young people are being forced from their country homes because of a lack of work opportunities and the only response from these so-called political protectors is to label them as dole bludgers'. Throughout the history of the word, most bludgers appear to have been male. The term bludgeress made a brief appearance in the first decade of this century - 'Latterly, bludgers, so the police say, are marrying bludgeresses' (1908 Truth 27 September) - but it was shortlived. bluey The word bluey in Australian English has a variety of meanings. The most common is the swag (i.e. the collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling, usually on foot, in the bush) so called because the outer covering of the swag was traditionally a blue blanket (which is also called a bluey). The earliest evidence for bluey as a swag is from 1878 where the bluey is humped as it was by the itinerant bush worker tramping the wallaby track in the works of writers such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. This image (an Australian stereotype) is epitomised in the following 1899 quotation for bluey: There's the everlasting swaggie with his bluey on his back who is striking out for sunset on the Never-never track. W.T. Goodge, Hits! Skits! and Jingles The association of the swaggie and his bluey continues in more recent evidence for the term: A swaggie suddenly appeared out of the bush, unshaven, with wild, haunted eyes, his bluey and billycan on his back. G. Cross, George and Widda-Woman (1981) That bluey is later transferred to luggage in general, is perhaps not surprising in an urban society which romanticises its 'bush' tradition: Where's yer bluey? No luggage? J. Duffy, Outside Pub (1963) In Tasmania, a bluey or Tasmanian bluey is: a rough overcoat of blue-grey woollen, to be worn by those doing outdoor work during inclement weather. Canberra Times (19 Nov. 1982). The word has been used to denote another item of clothing - denim working trousers or overalls - but the citation evidence indicates (the last citation being 1950) that this usage is no longer current. More familiar is the use of bluey to describe a summons, especially for a traffic offence (originally printed on blue paper): Imagine my shock upon returning to a bluey at the end of the day. Choice (2 April 1986) Perhaps the most Australian use of bluey is the curious use of it to describe a red-headed person (first recorded in 1906): 1936 A.B. Paterson, Shearer's Colt: 'Bluey', as the crowd called him, had found another winner. (All red-haired men are called 'Bluey' in Australia for some reason or other.) 1978 R.H. Conquest, Dusty Distances: I found out later that he was a native of New South Wales, called ' Bluey because of his red hair - typical Australian logic. A more literal use of bluey in Australian English is its application to fauna whose names begin with blue and which is predominantly blue in colour: 1961 Bulletin 31 May: We call them blue martins...Ornithologists refer to them as some species of wood swallow... They're all 'blueys' to us. bodgie There are two senses of the word bodgie in Australian English, both probably deriving from an earlier (now obsolete) word bodger. The obsolete bodger probably derives from British dialect bodge 'to work clumsily'. In Australian English in the 1940s and 1950s bodger meant: 'Something (or occasionally someone) which is fake, false, or worthless'. The noun was also used adjectivally. Typical uses: 1950 F. Hardy, Power without Glory: This entailed the addition of as many more 'bodger' votes as possible. 1954 Coast to Coast 1953-54: Well, we stuck together all through the war - we was in under bodger names. 1966 S. Baker, The Australian Language: An earlier underworld and Army use of bodger for something faked, worthless or shoddy. For example, a faked receipt or false name.. is a bodger; so is a shoddy piece of material sold by a door-to-door hawker. The word bodger was altered to bodgie, and this is now the standard form: 1975 Latch & Hitchings, Mr X: To avoid any suspicions in case they were picked up by the Transport Regulation Board, it was decided.. to take a 'bodgy' receipt for the tyres with them. 1978 O. White, Silent Reach: This heap is hot - else why did they give it a one-coat spray job over the original white duco and fix it with bodgie number plates? 1984 Canberra Times 27 August: Allegations .. of branch-stacking and the use of hundreds of 'bodgie' members in the electorate. In the 1950s another sense of bodgie arose. The word was used to describe a male youth, distinguished by his conformity to certain fashions of dress and larrikin behaviour; analogous to the British 'teddy boy': 1950 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 7 May: The bizarre uniform of the 'bodgey' - belted velvet cord jacket, bright blue sports coat without a tie, brown trousers narrowed at the ankle, shaggy Cornel Wilde haircut. 1951 Sydney Morning Herald 1 February: What with 'bodgies' growing their hair long and getting around in satin shirts, and 'weegies' [see widgie] cutting their hair short and wearing jeans, confusion seems to be be arising about the sex of some Australian adolescents. This sense of bodgie seems to be an abbreviation of the word bodger with the addition of the -ie (-y) suffix. One explanation for the development of the teenage larrikin sense was offered in the Age (Melbourne) in 1983: Mr Hewett says his research indicates that the term 'bodgie' arose around the Darlinghurst area in Sydney. It was just after the end of World War II and rationing had caused a flourishing black market in American-made cloth. 'People used to try and pass off inferior cloth as American-made when in fact it was not: so it was called "bodgie",' he says. 'When some of the young guys started talking with American accents to big-note themselves they were called "bodgies".' This sense of bodgie belongs primarily to the 1950s, but bodgie in the sense 'fake, false, inferior, worthless' is alive and flourishing in Australian English. bogan An uncultured and unsophisticated person; a boorish and uncouth person. The early evidence is largely confined to teenage slang. Some lexicographers have suspected that the term may derive from the Bogan River and district in western New South Wales, but this is far from certain, and it seems more likely to be an unrelated coinage. The term became widespread after it was used in the late 1980s by the fictitious schoolgirl 'Kylie Mole' in the television series The Comedy Company. In the Daily Telegraph (29 November 1988), in an article headed 'Same name a real bogan', a genuine schoolgirl named Kylie Mole 'reckons it really sux' " [i.e., finds it horrible] to have the same name as the television character. In Dolly Magazine, October 1988, 'The Dictionary According To Kylie [Mole]' has the following Kyliesque definition: bogan 'a person that you just don't bother with. Someone who wears their socks the wrong way or has the same number of holes in both legs of their stockings. A complete loser'. The earliest evidence we have been able to find for the term is in the surfing magazine Tracks September 1985: 'So what if I have a mohawk and wear Dr Martens (boots for all you uninformed bogans)?' In more recent years the term bogan has become more widely used and is often found in contexts that are neither derogatory or negative. The term has also generated a number of other terms including bogan chick, boganhood, and cashed-up bogan (CUB). 2002 Age (Melbourne) 16 July: Campbell, 25, did not grow up as a bogan chick. She had a quiet, middle-class upbringing in Box Hill, attending a private girls' school. 2006 Canberra Times 9 August: We enjoy drinking, pig-shooting, wear check flannelette shirts and have no common sense or good taste ... Our geographic reach is flexible; residents of Taree and like communities, for example, may readily qualify for Boganhood, usually with little or no burdensome paperwork. 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 7 December: Douglas' volley sparked a semantic debate about the use of 'bogan', with Palmer and others claiming the once-pejorative term had become more jocular. Inclusive. Affectionate, even ... 'We're all bogans. I'm a bogan because I'm overweight.' His titular party head seconded that, claiming quickly to have 'spent most of [his] life as a bogan'. 'All I can say is I like chips', Mr Palmer demurred. 'I wear Ugg boots and I go four-wheel-driving.' 2015 Sunday Times (Perth) 25 January: WA's mining boom has given rise to a new kind of bogan - the CUB, or cashed-up bogan. For further discussions of bogan see our Word of the Month article from Novemeber 2008, and a 2015 article 'Bogan: from Obscurity to Australia's most productive Word' in our newsletter Ozwords. bogey To swim or bathe. Bogey is a borrowing from the Aboriginal Sydney Language. The earliest records show the term being used in the pidgin English of Aborigines: 1788 Historical Records of New South Wales II: I have bathed, or have been bathing... Bogie d'oway. These were Colby's words on coming out of the water. 1830 R. Dawson, Present State of Australia: 'Top bit, massa, bogy,' (bathe) and he threw himself into the water. By the 1840s it was naturalised in Australian English: 1841 Historical Records of Australia: I suppose you want your Boat, Sir; Yes, said Mr Dixon; well, said Crabb I suppose we must bogey for it. Yes, said Mr Dixon, any two of ye that can swim. In Australian English a noun meaning 'a swim or bathe; a bath' was formed from the verb: 1847 A. Harris, Settlers and Convicts: In the cool of the evening had a 'bogie' (bathe) in the river. 1869 W.M. Howell, Diggings and Bush: Florence was much amused the other evening by her enquiring if she (Flory) was going down to the water to have a 'bogey'. Flory was much puzzled till she found out that a 'bogey', in colonial phraseology, meant a bath. 1924 Bulletin: A boar was discovered by two of us having a bogey in a 16,000-yard tank about five miles from the river. 1981 G. Mackenzie, Aurukun Diary: A bogey is the Queensland outback word for a bath or bathe. A bogey hole is a 'swimming or bathing hole'. The verb is rare now in Australian English. For an earlier discussion of bogey see our Word of the Month article from February 2010. bombora A wave that forms over a submerged offshore reef or rock, sometimes (in very calm weather or at high tide) merely swelling but in other conditions breaking heavily and producing a dangerous stretch of broken water. The word is now commonly used for the reef or rock itself. 1994 P. Horrobin Guide to Favourite Australian Fish (ed. 7): Like most inshore saltwater predators, Salmon hunt around rocky headlands, offshore islands and bomboras [etc.]. Bombora probably derives from the Aboriginal Sydney Language where it may have referred specifically to the current off Dobroyd Head, Port Jackson. The term is mostly used in New South Wales, where there are numerous bomboras along the coast, often close to cliffs. The term was first recorded in 1871 and is now used frequently in surfing and fishing contexts with its abbreviation bommie and bommy being common: 'After a day of oily, overhead bommie waves, we decided to head to the pub’ (2001 Tracks August). Bondi tram: shoot through like a Bondi tram Used allusively to refer to a hasty departure or speedy action. Bondi is the Sydney suburb renowned worldwide for its surf beach. The phrase (first recorded in 1943) probably derives from the fact that two trams typically left the city for Bondi together, the first an express tram which would ‘shoot through’ from Darlinghurst to Bondi Junction. Trams last ran on the line in 1960, but the phrase has remained a part of Australian English. 2014 Wimmera Mail Times (Horsham) 14 April: The book is aimed at young adults and the young at heart ... 'It took off like a Bondi tram', she said. bonzer Bonzer is an adjective meaning 'surpassingly good, splendid, great'. The word is also used as a noun meaning ‘something (or someone) that excites admiration by being surpassingly good of its kind’, and as an adverb meaning 'beautifully, splendidly'. Bonzer is possibly an alteration of the now obsolete Australian word bonster (with the same meaning) which perhaps ultimately derives from British dialect bouncer 'anything very large of its kind'. Bonzer may also be influenced by French bon ‘good’ and US bonanza. In the early records the spelling bonzer alternates with bonser, bonza, and bonzor. The adjective, noun, and adverb are all recorded from the early years of the 20th century: (noun) 1903 Morning Post (Cairns) 5 June: The little pony outlaw is wonderfully fast at disposing of his mounts. Yuong Jack Hansen undertook to sit him but failed at every attempt. Jack states he got a 'bonza on the napper', at one time when thrown. (adjective) 1904 Argus (Melbourne) 23 July: The python is shedding his skin ... 'I say, Bill, ain't his noo skin bonza?' (adverb) 1914 B. Cable By Blow and Kiss: Came back grinning widely, with the assurance that it [sc. the rain] was coming down 'Bonzer'. boofhead A fool or simpleton; a stupid person; an uncouth person. Boofhead derives from buffle-headed 'having a head like a buffalo' (OED) and bufflehead 'a fool, blockhead, stupid fellow' (OED). Bufflehead has disappeared from standard English, but survives in its Australian form boofhead. It was popularised by the use of boofhead as the name of a dimwitted comic strip character invented by R.B. Clark and introduced in the Sydney Daily Mail in May 1941. For an earlier discussion of the word see our Word of the Month article from December 2009. 1943 Australian Women's Weekly (Sydney) 16 January: Many a time when his round head nodded wisely in accord with the sergeant's explanations, the sergeant was tempted to think: 'I don't believe the boof-head knows what I'm talking about.' 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 23 April: For those who think we should follow the Kiwis in taxation, feel free to move there. We get their boofheads so they can have ours. boomerang Boomerang is an Australian word which has moved into International English. The word was borrowed from an Aboriginal language in the early years of European settlement, but the exact language is still uncertain. Early evidence suggests it was borrowed from a language in, or just south of, the Sydney region. While the spelling boomerang is now standard, in the early period the word was given a variety of spellings: bomerang, bommerang, bomring, boomereng, boomering, bumerang [etc]. The Australian Aboriginal boomerang is a crescent-shaped wooden implement used as a missile or club, in hunting or warfare, and for recreational purposes. The best-known type of boomerang, used primarily for recreation, can be made to circle in flight and return to the thrower. Although boomerang-like objects were known in other parts of the world, the earliest examples and the greatest diversity of design is found in Australia. A specimen of a preserved boomerang has been found at Wyrie Swamp in South Australia and is dated at 10,000 years old. Boomerangs were not known throughout the entirety of Australia, being absent from the west of South Australia, the north Kimberley region of Western Australia, north-east Arnhem Land, and Tasmania. In some regions boomerangs are decorated with designs that are either painted or cut into the wood. Very early in Australian English the term boomerang was used in transferred and figurative senses, especially with reference to something which returns to or recoils upon its author. These senses are now part of International English, but it is interesting to look at the earliest Australian evidence for the process of transfer and figurative use: 1846 Boston Daily Advertiser 5 May: Like the strange missile which the Australian throws, Your verbal boomerang slaps you on the nose. 1894 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 July: The argument that there should be profitable industrial prison-labour is a boomerang with a wicked recoil. 1911 Pastoralists' Review 15 March: Labour-Socialist legislation is boomerang legislation, and it generally comes back and hits those it was not intended for. By the 1850s boomerang had also developed as a verb in Australian English, meaning 'to hit (someone or something) with a boomerang; to throw (something) in the manner of a boomerang'. By the 1890s the verbal sense developed another meaning: 'to return in the manner of a boomerang; to recoil (upon the author); to ricochet'. The earliest evidence for this sense occurs in the Brisbane Worker newspaper from 16 May 1891: Australia's a big country And Freedom's on the wallaby Oh don't you hear her Cooee, She's just begun to boomerang She'll knock the tyrants silly. On 13 November 1979 the Canberra Times reported that 'Greg Chappell's decision to send England in appeared to have boomeranged'. These verbal senses of boomerang have also moved into International English. For a further discussion of boomerang see the article 'Boomerang, Boomerang, Thou Spirit of Australia!' in our Ozwords newsletter. bottle: the full bottle Knowledgeable, an expert—‘Does Robbo know anything about paving? Yeah mate, he’s the full bottle.’ The probable source of the phrase is the 19th century British term no bottle ‘no good’ (which in turn is probably an abbreviation of rhyming slang no bottle and glass ‘no class’). In Australia the full bottle came to mean ‘very good’, and then ‘very good at, knowledgeable about (something)’. It is often used in the negative - not the full bottle means ‘not good (at something)’ or ‘not fully informed’. The phrase is first recorded in the 1940s. 1946 West Australian (Perth) 12 January: The B.M. went to ensure that the provost on duty was a full bottle on the art of saluting full generals. 2005 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 8 December: Given that her cousins are real-life princesses, Makim should be the full bottle on the art of pouring and drinking tea like a lady. bottom of the harbour A tax avoidance scheme. In the late 1970s a large number of bottom of the harbour schemes were operating in corporate Australia. The schemes involved buying a company with a large tax liability, converting the assets to cash, and then ‘hiding’ the company by, for example, selling it to a fictitious buyer. Thus the company (and often its records) vanished completely - figuratively sent to the ‘bottom of the harbour’ (originally Sydney Harbour) - with an unpaid tax bill. The term is usually used attributively. 1983 Sydney Morning Herald 13 August: The Federal Government's introduction of the Taxation (Unpaid Company Tax) Act last year is expected to recoup about $250 million in unpaid tax from the bottom-of-the-harbour participants. 2006 A. Hyland Diamond Dove: The feller in the dock was some fabulous creature - part lawyer, part farmer - who'd been caught in a bottom-of-the-harbour tax avoidance scheme. boundary rider An employee responsible for maintaining the (outer) fences on a station, or a publicly owned vermin-proof fence. This sense of boundary rider is recorded from the 1860s but in more recent years, as a result of changes in technology and modes of transport, this occupation has become relatively rare. Since the 1980s the term has been used of a boundary umpire in Australian Rules Football, a cricketer in a fielding position near the boundary, and a roving reporter at a sporting game. For a more detailed discussion of the original sense of boundary rider and the later sporting senses see our Word of the Month article from December 2010. 1885 Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne) 30 September: The duties of a boundary rider for the most part consist in riding round the fences every day, seeing that they are all in good order, blocking up any panels that may be broken, putting out strangers (that is stock that have strayed on to the run), and, in fact, doing all that may pertain to keeping his master's stock on his own land, and everybody's else out of it. 2012 K. McGinnis Tracking North: Mechanisation had finally reached the open-range country. There were no more pumpers or boundary riders. Bradbury: do a Bradbury Be the unlikely winner of an event; to win an event coming from well behind. The phrase comes from the name of Steven Bradbury, who won a gold medal in speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics after his opponents fell. For a detailed discussion of this phrase see our blog 'Doing a Bradbury: an Aussie term born in the Winter Olympics' (which includes a video of Bradbury's famous win), and our Word of the Month article from August 2008. 2002 Sydney Morning Herald 19 February: Maybe Doing a Bradbury will become a common saying in Australian sport[:] To succeed only because everyone else fell over. The Socceroos need some of that luck. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 10 July: Someone would one day do a 'Bradbury' and finish third or fourth in the Brownlow Medal yet be crowned the winner. branch stacking The practice of improperly increasing the membership of a local branch of a political party in order to ensure the preselection of a particular candidate. The term is a specific use of branch meaning 'a local division of a political party'. While the practice described by branch stacking has been around for a very long time, the word itself is first recorded in the 1960s. 1968 Sydney Morning Herald 6 November: Banks and Blaxland electorates adjoin each other and what the people lodging the appeals are saying is that extensive branch 'stacking' has been going on. 2002 Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong) 7 October: Labor will fight branch stacking by forcing all members to be on the electoral roll before taking part in a preselection vote. bride’s nightie: off like a bride’s nightie Leaving immediately; making a hasty departure; at full speed. It is likely that this expression was first used in horseracing to refer to a horse that moved very quickly out of the starting gates. The phrase plays on two different meanings of the verb be off: ‘be removed’ and ‘move quickly'. First recorded in the 1960s. 1969 C. Bray Blossom: 'Come on youse blokes!' he shouted. 'We're off like a bride's nightie!' 2005 Canberra Times 18 March: The irony is of course that their CEO is the least loyal person in the company. First sign of a better offer and they are off like a bride's nightie. bring a plate An invitation to bring a plate of food to share at a social gathering or fundraiser. There are many stories of new arrivals in Australia being bamboozled by the instruction to bring a plate. As the locals know, a plate alone will not do. In earlier days the request was often ladies a plate, sometimes followed by gentlemen a donation. First recorded in the 1920s. 1951 Sunshine Advocate 22 March: Mrs Gum has kindly offered her home on Saturday, 14th of April for a social evening. Ladies bring a plate. 2013 Northern Star (Lismore) 16 July: A visit in from our Tasmanian friends. 1 pm start of play. Please bring a plate. All welcome. brumby A wild horse. The story of wild horses in the Australian landscape was vividly brought to life in Banjo Paterson's 1890 poem 'The Man from Snowy River': 'There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around/ That the colt from old Regret had got away,/ And had joined the wild bush horses.' These 'wild bush horses' have been known as brumbies in Australia since the early 1870s. The origin for this term is still disputed. E.M. Curr in Australian Race (1887) gives booramby meaning 'wild' in the language of the Pitjara (or Pidjara or Bidjara) people of the region at the headwaters of the Warrego and Nogoa Rivers in south-western Queensland. This is in the general location of the earliest evidence, but the language evidence has not been subsequently confirmed. This origin was popularised by Paterson in an introduction to his poem 'Brumby's run' printed in 1894. A common suggestion is that brumby derives from the proper name Brumby . This theory was also noted by E.E. Morris in Austral English in 1898: 'A different origin was, however, given by an old resident of New South Wales, to a lady of the name Brumby, viz. "that in the early days of that colony, a Lieutenant Brumby, who was on the staff of one of the Governors, imported some very good horses, and that some of their descendants being allowed to run wild became the ancestors of the wild horses of New South Wales and Queensland". Over the years, various Messrs Brumby have been postulated as the origin. More recently, Dymphna Lonergan suggested that the word comes from Irish word bromaigh, the plural form of the word for a young horse, or colt. For a more detailed discussion concerning the origin of the term brumby see the article 'Wild Horses Running Wild' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1871 Maitland Mercury 10 October: A fine grazing block, lightly timbered, and for which the lessee would expect to draw a thousand pounds for his goodwill, without a hoof upon it, by a singular species of transition is suddenly metamorphosed into a mass of scrub, only fit for a mob of 'Brumbies'. 2010 K. McGinnis Wildhorse Creek: The country's rotten with brumbies. Buckley’s chance A forlorn hope; no prospect whatever. Often abbreviated to Buckley’s. One explanation for the origin of the term is that it comes from the name of the convict William Buckley, who escaped from Port Phillip in 1803 and lived for 32 years with Aboriginal people in southern Victoria. A second explanation links the phrase to the Melbourne firm of Buckley and Nunn (established in 1851), suggesting that a pun developed on the 'Nunn' part of the firm's name (with 'none') and that this gave rise to the formulation 'there are just two chances, Buckley's and none'. This second explanation appears to have arisen after the original phrase was established. For an earlier discussion about the origin of the term buckley's chance see the article 'Buckley's' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1887 Melbourne Punch 22 September: In our sporting columns, in the Fitzroy team appears the name of Bracken. It should have been Buckley. Olympus explains that he altered it because he didn't want the Fitzroy men to have 'Buckley's chance'. 2015 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 7 March: If I lose this job I've got Buckley's chance of getting another one. budgie smugglers A pair of close-fitting male swimming briefs made of stretch fabric. The Australian term is probably a variation of the international English grape smugglers for such a garment. Budgie smugglers is one of the numerous Australian words for this particular garment (others include bathers, cossies, speedos, swimmers, and togs). Budgie is a shortening of budgerigar - from Kamilaroi (an Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland), and designates a small green and yellow parrot which has become a popular caged bird. The term is a jocular allusion to the appearance of the garment. Budgie smugglers is first recorded in the late 1990s. For a more detailed discussion of the word see our Word of the Month article from December 2013 . 2002 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 23 November: Nothing stands between you and a continent made entirely of icebergs except the Southern Ocean. That, and a thin pair of Speedos so figure-hugging you can see every goosebump - flimsy togs that are known not-all-that-affectionately by us Brown boys as budgie smugglers! 2015 Sydney Morning Herald 30 March: Property types joined with investment bankers on Sunday when they swapped suits for budgie smugglers to raise more than $600,000 and awareness for cerebral palsy. bulldust A kind of fine powdery dirt or dust, often found in inland Australia. Roads or tracks covered with bulldust may be a hazard for livestock and vehicles, which can become bogged in it. It is probably called bulldust because it resembles the soil trampled by cattle in stockyards. The word can also be used as a polite way of saying bullshit. Both senses of the word are first recorded in the 1920s. 1929 Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide) 7 December: Motoring across Lake Eyre ... This 'bull' dust might be about two feet deep, and cakes on the surface, so that it is hard to penetrate. 1954 J. Cleary Climate of Courage: 'I'm seventy-five per cent Irish', said Mick. 'You're seventy-five per cent bulldust, too', said Joe. 2011 M Groves Outback Life: When a stretch of loose bulldust appeared too daunting, Joe would gun the engine down and go at a speed that didn't give us time to bog down. bull’s roar: not within a bull’s roar Nowhere near - 'The club’s not within a bull’s roar of winning the premiership this season.' A roaring bull can be heard over a great distance, so that to be not within a bull’s roar is to be a considerable distance away. The phrase is sometimes used without the negative - to be within a bull’s roar means that you are not too far away. A much finer unit of measurement is expressed by the similar Australian phrase within a bee’s dick. The phrase is first recorded in the 1930s. 1936 Chronicle (Adelaide) 3 September: He knew that the horse, trainer and rider were O.K., and felt that the danger lay in interference. I told him that nothing would get within a 'bull's roar' of Agricolo to interfere with him, and such was the case. 2005 West Australian (Perth) 18 April: Again, through no fault of the sometimes-too-helpful McGuire, no recent contestant has come within a bull's roar of winning a serious amount of cash. bung Incapacitated, exhausted, broken (as in 'the telly’s bung'). It comes from bang meaning ‘dead’ in the Yagara Aboriginal language of the Brisbane region. It found its way into 19th-century Australian pidgin, where the phrase to go bung meant ‘to die’. The term is often found in this phrasal form where it now has several meanings: 'to be financially bankrupt, to come to nought; to fail, to collapse, to break down'. These figurative senses of bung emerged in the late 19th century. 1885 Australasian Printers' Keepsake: He was importuned to desist, as his musical talent had 'gone bung' probably from over-indulgence in confectionery. 2006 Australian (Sydney) 27 April: Sydney boy Scott Reed was the name on every recruiter's list, but he has been taken to hospital with a bung ankle. bunyip An amphibious monster supposed to inhabit inland waterways. Descriptions of it vary greatly. Some give it a frightful human head and an animal body. Many descriptions emphasise its threat to humans and its loud booming at night. It inhabits inland rivers, swamps, and billabongs. The word comes from the Aboriginal Wathaurong language of Victoria. Bunyip is first recorded in the 1840s. For a more detailed discussion of this word see the article 'There's a Bunyip Close behind us and he's Treading on my Tail' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1845 Sydney Morning Herald 12 July: On the bone being shown to an intelligent black, he at once recognised it as belonging to the 'Bunyip', which he declared he had seen. 2015 Southern Highland News (Bowral): Everyone knows bunyips live in the Wingecarribee Swamp, problem is, there are quite a few different theories about this elusive animal and it all seems to turn on how much grog visitors to the swamp have had before they hear the distinctive roar. burl: give it a burl Venture an attempt; give something a try. This is an Australian alteration of the standard English phrase give it a whirl. Burl is from the English dialect (especially Scottish and northern English) verb birl ‘spin’ or ‘whirl’ and the corresponding noun 'a rapid twist or turn'. Give it a burl is first recorded in the early years of the 20th century. 1978 Mullally & Sexton Libra and Capricorn: Should be some fish out there I say. We'll give it a burl, eh? 2006 Mercury (Hobart) 13 January: I've never been on a boat cruise. We wanted to give it a burl and see how it went. We'd do it again. bush week: what do you think this is, bush week? Do you think I’m stupid? An indignant response to someone who is taking you for a fool - 'You’re going to charge me how much? What do you think this is, bush week?' Bush week is a time when people from the country come to a city, originally when bush produce etc. was displayed; and it is also a celebration in a town or city of bush produce, activities, etc. These senses of bush week go back to the early 20th century. The phrase originally implied the notion that people from the country are easily fooled by the more sophisticated city slickers. The speaker resents being mistaken for a country bumpkin. The phrase is first recorded in the 1940s. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer: I get smart alecks like you trying to put one over on me every minute of the day. What do you think this is? Bush Week? 2012 J. Murray Goodbye Lullaby: They had already been warned about the breastfeeding business ... 'Whaddya think this is?' said the proprietor as she glared at them all. 'Bloody Bush Week or something? Beat it, you two!'. Canberra bashing The act or process of criticising the Australian Government and its bureaucracy. Canberra, the capital of Australia, has been used allusively to refer to the Australian Government and its bureaucracy since the 1920s. The term Canberra bashing emerged in the 1970s, and is also applied in criticisms of the city itself. For a more detailed discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from February 2013. 1976 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 19 February: Even Federal Liberal MPs from Tasmania feel that their electoral standing is increased by regular outbursts of 'Canberra bashing'. 2014 Canberra Times 28 November: While Canberra bashing has always been a national sport, it is fair to say it has rarely, if ever, been played so artfully and with such dedication as in the past two to three years. Politicians on both sides have shown a willingness to put the boot into a national capital. captain's pick (In a political context) a decision made by a party leader etc. without consultation with colleagues. This term also takes the form captain's call. Captain's pick is derived from sporting contexts in which a team captain has the discretion to choose members of the team. The political sense emerged in Australian English in 2013. For a more detailed discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from January 2014. 2013 Daily Telegraph (Sydney): Ms Peris, who as of yesterday was yet to join the Labor party, is set to become the first indigenous ALP representative in federal parliament with an assured top place on the NT Senate ticket in what Ms Gillard described as a 'captain's pick'. 2015 Australian (Sydney) 5 August: What Abbott's stubbornness missed, however, was that it was the public and his own MPs more than the media or Labor who were disgusted by his intransigence in refusing to remove his captain's pick Speaker. cark To die; to break down; to fail. Also spelt kark, and often taking the form cark it. The word is probably a figurative use of an earlier Australian sense of cark meaning 'the caw of a crow', which is imitative. First recorded in the 1970s. 1977 R. Beilby Gunner: 'That wog ya roughed up - well, he karked.' Sa'ad dead! 1996 H.G. Nelson Petrol, Bait, Ammo and Ice: The offside rule has carked it, and good on the refs. 2001 Manly Daily 19 January: The resulting play is five stories from the morgue, monologues by people who have recently carked it and have 'woken up' in the morgue. chardonnay socialist A derogatory term for a person who espouses left-wing views but enjoys an affluent lifestyle. It is modelled on the originally British term, champagne socialist, which has a similar meaning. The term chardonnay socialist appeared in the 1980s, not long after the grape variety Chardonnay became very popular with Australian wine drinkers. 1987 D. Williamson Emerald City: I'm going to keep charting their perturbations .. those Chardonnay socialists of Melbourne aren't going to stop me. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 14 May: Maybe if these rorts are dispensed with, instead of getting failed businessmen, unionists who couldn't get work elsewhere and lawyers who are nothing more than chardonnay socialists and see life as an MP a cosy way to feather their nests, we'll see people in Parliament who have a genuine wish to do something for this country. checkout chick A checkout operator at a supermarket. This term usually refers to female checkout operators (hence chick, an informal word for a young woman), but with changes in the gender makeup of the supermarket workforce the term is occasionlly applied to males. Checkout chick is first recorded in the 1970s. For a more detailed discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from May 2014. 1976 Canberra Times 16 June: The checkout chick is too busy taking money to tell you how to operate your cut-price, multi-purpose, plastic encased kitchen magician. 2014 Geelong Advertiser 19 July: This gormless dude started arguing with the checkout chick and held up a line of about 30 people. chook A domestic fowl; a chicken. Chook comes from British dialect chuck(y) 'a chicken; a fowl' which is a variant of chick. Chook is the common term for the live bird, although chook raffles, held in Australian clubs and pubs, have ready-to-cook chooks as prizes. The term has also been transferred to refer to other birds, and often in the form old chook it can refer to a woman. See our Word of the Month articles 'chook run' and 'chook lit' for further uses of chook. First recorded as chuckey in 1855. 1880 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 July: A man was found in the cow-shed of Government House ... Was he looking after the housemaid or the 100 little chookies? 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 25 November: We have chooks at our farm in Bena, an hour and a half out of town. chook: may your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down A jocular curse. This expression recalls an earlier time when many Australians kept chooks (domestic chickens) in the backyard and the dunny was a separate outhouse. A similar comic exaggeration is seen in the phrase he couldn’t train a choko vine over a country dunny - a comment on a person’s incompetence. First recorded in the 1970s. 1993 Advertiser (Adelaide) 9 June: Maybe when Mr Keating has finished educating the judiciary, he might have a go at the politicians and bureaucrats, starting with arithmetic. Although I must say this is a very cunning, contrived piece of legislation, if that is what they set out to do. May their chooks turn into emus and kick their dunnies down. chunder To vomit. Also used as noun ‘vomit’. Chunder possibly comes from a once-popular cartoon character, 'Chunder Loo of Akim Foo', drawn by Norman Lindsay for a series of boot polish advertisements in the early 1900s. It is possible that 'Chunder Loo' became rhyming slang for spew. Chunder, however, is the only form to be recorded. The earliest evidence is associated with Australian troops in action to the north of Australia during the Second World War. 1950 N. Shute A Town like Alice: The way these bloody Nips go on. Makes you chunda. 2003 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 9 April: Back at least 20 years - to a land where women glow and men chunder. Clayton's Something that is largely illusory or exists in name only; a poor substitute or imitation. This word derives from the proprietary name of a soft drink, sold in a bottle that looked like a whisky bottle, and marketed from 1980 as 'the drink you have when you're not having a drink'. For a more detailed discussion of the word see our blog 'The evolution of a word - the case of Clayton's'. 1982 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 28 March: So who's the press secretary working out of the NSW Parliament whose press-gallery nickname is Clayton .. because he's the press secretary you're having, when you're not having a press secretary? 2008 A. Pung Growing up Asian in Australia: My bikini top is crammed so full of rubbery 'chicken fillets' I'd probably bounce if you threw me. These Clayton's breasts jiggle realistically when I jump up and down on the spot. cleanskin An unbranded animal. In the pastoral industry an animal that has not been branded with a mark identifying the owner can easily be stolen or lost. The word is first recorded in the 1860s. There are several transferred and figurative senses of cleanskin that evolved from the orgininal sense. In the first decade of the 20th century cleanskin began to be used to describe 'an Aboriginal person who has not passed through an initiation rite'. Also from this period on cleanskin was used figuratively of 'a person who has no criminal record; a person new to (a situation or activity) and lacking experience'. From the 1980s cleanskin was also used of 'a bottle of wine without a label that identifies the maker, sold at a price cheaper than comparable labelled bottles; the wine in such a bottle'. 1868 Sydney Morning Herald 11 November: These are branded by the owners of such herds, who know all the while that they do not belong to them, on the assumption that they have the best right to these 'clean skins', and that, after all, they are more likely to be their property than that of anyone else. 1998 M. Keenan The Horses too are Gone: In the rangelands an unbranded calf becomes a cleanskin and cleanskins belong to the first person capable of planting a brand on the rump. cobber A friend, a companion. Also used as a form of address (g’day cobber!). The word probably derives from the Yiddish word chaber 'comrade'. A Yiddish source may seem unlikely, but there are several terms in Australian English that are likely to be derived from Yiddish, including doover (‘thingummyjig’), shicer (‘unproductive or worthless mining claim or mine’), and shickered ('drunk’). It is likely that these terms, as well as cobber, found their way into London slang (especially from the Jewish population living in the East End), and from there, via British migrants, into Australian English. It is sometimes suggested that cobber derives from British dialect. The English Dialect Dictionary lists the word cob 'to take a liking to any one; to "cotton" to', but the evidence is from only one Suffolk source, and the dictionary adds: 'Not known to our other correspondents'. This Suffolk word is sometimes proposed as the origin of cobber, but its dialect evidence is very limited. Cobber, now somewhat dated, is rarely used by young Australians. First recorded in the 1890s. 1929 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 June: 'He was my cobber' - an expressive blend Of 'mate' and 'pal', more definite than 'brother' And somewhat less perfunctory than 'friend'. 2014 Advocate (Burnie) 12 August: Our service was restored at about 11.15pm during July 31, so good onya cobbers for a job well done. cocky A small-scale farmer; (in later use often applied to) a substantial landowner or to the rural interest generally. In Australia there are a number of cockies including cow cockies, cane cockies and wheat cockies. Cocky arose in the 1870s and is an abbreviation of cockatoo farmer. This was then a disparaging term for small-scale farmers, probably because of their habit of using a small area of land for a short time and then moving on, in the perceived manner of cockatoos feeding. 1899 Australian Magazine (Sydney) March: 'Cockie' was a contemptuous title by which the big farmers distinguished themselves from the little. 2006 Stock and Land (Melbourne) 4 May: Removing the stereotypical image of farmers being whinging cockies is also important. convict A person sentenced in the British Isles to a term of penal servitude in an Australian Colony. The foundations of European settlement in Australia are based on the transportation of tens of thousands of prisoners from the British Isles. The word is a specific use of convict 'a condemned criminal serving a sentence of penal servitude' (OED). While in America convict is still used to refer to a prisoner, in Australia it is now largely historical. For a further discussion of this word see our blog 'A long lost convict: Australia's "C-word"?' And for a discussion of words associated with Australia's convicts see the article 'Botany Bay Argot' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1788 Historic Records of Australia (1914): The convicts on both sides are distributed in huts. 1849 G.F. Angas Description of the Barossa Range: No convicts are transported to this place, for South Australia is not a penal colony. cooee Originally a call used by an Aboriginal person to communicate (with someone) at a distance; later adopted by settlers and now widely used as a signal, especially in the bush; a name given to the call. The iconic call of the Australian bush comes from the Aboriginal Sydney language word gawi or guwi meaning 'come here'. Cooee is recorded from the early years of European settlement in Sydney. It is often found in the phrase within cooee meaning 'within earshot; within reach, near'. 1827 P. Cunningham Two Years in New South Wales: In calling to each other at a distance, the natives make use of the word Coo-ee, as we do the word Hollo, prolonging the sound of the coo, and closing that of the ee with a shrill jerk. 1956 E. Lambert Watermen: If I ever see you within coo-ee of my boat again, I'll drown you. 2006 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 15 March: These Games are no longer some village competition with a hometown audience that you can please with a cooee and a wobbleboard. coolibah The term coolibah is best known from the opening lines of Banjo Paterson's 1895 lyrics for the song Waltzing Matilda: Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong Under the shade of a coolibah tree... The word is a borrowing from Yuwaaliyaay (and neighbouring languages), an Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales. In the earlier period it was was spelt in various ways, including coolabah, coolobar, and coolybah. It is term for any of several eucalypts, especially the blue-leaved Eucalyptus microtheca found across central and northern Australia, a fibrous-barked tree yielding a durable timber and occurring in seasonally flooded areas. Coolibah is first recorded in the 1870s. 1876 Sydney Morning Herald 9 August: The country consists of open plains, with myall and coolabah. 1995 Australian (Sydney) 16 September: With its dead coolibah trees, sun-bleached cattle bones and screeching galahs, Howard Blackburn's back paddock could be anywhere in Australia's drought-ravaged grazing lands. crook Bad, unpleasant or unsatisfactory: Things were crook on the land in the seventies. Crook means bad in a general sense, and also in more specific senses too: unwell or injured (a crook knee), and dishonest or illegal (he was accused of crook dealings). It is an abbreviation of crooked ‘dishonestly come by; made, obtained, or sold in a way that is not straightforward’. All senses are recorded from the 1890s. 1913 A. Pratt Wolaroi's Cup: Most stables .. are crook some of the time, but none are crook all of the time. 1936 F. Clune Roaming Round the Darling: My cobber, here, used to sing in opera. He's a pretty crook singer, but he'll sing for you. 2014 Advertiser (Adelaide) 31 May: I was feeling crook at the Ipswich races and over the weekend. I went to the GP on Monday and before I knew it I was in emergency and then off to Brisbane. cup of tea, a Bex, and a good lie down Used to indicate the need for a rest in order to settle down, solve a problem, etc.; a panacea. The phrase (now often with some variations) was originally the title of a a revue at the Phillip Street Theatre in Sydney 1965. The cuppa, the Bex (an analgesic in powder form) and the lie down were supposed to be the suburban housewife’s solution to problems such as depression, anxiety, isolation and boredom. 1971 Sydney Morning Herald 13 May: 'A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a nice lie down' used to be regarded as a bit of a joke. Not anymore. Drug hungry women gulp their share of $200 million headache powders, tranquillisers and sleeping pills every year - to solve every problem from what they'll cook for dinner to that vague headache. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 23 January: Catholic Church officials once thought child-sex abuse victims just needed a 'cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down' to get over crimes committed against them by paedophile clergy. currency lad or lass A native-born Australian. These terms are now obsolete. In the early days of the Australian colony English gold pieces were called sterling, but there were also ‘inferior’ coins from many countries. These were called currency. The ‘sterling’ British-born immigrants used the word currency to belittle the native-born Australians, but the Australians soon used it of themselves with pride. First recorded in the 1820s. 1824 Australian (Sydney) 18 November: Let the currency lads and lasses turn Arcadian shepherds and shepherdesses if they choose. 1840 Port Phillip Gazette: The answer of the simple Currency Lass will suit our purpose, who, when asked if she would like to visit England, said, no! there are so many thieves there!! dag An unfashionable person; a person lacking style or character; a socially awkward adolescent, a 'nerd'. These senses of dag derive from an earlier Australian sense of dag meaning 'a "character", someone eccentric but entertainingly so'. Ultimately all these senses of dag are probably derived from the British dialect (especially in children's speech) sense of dag meaning a 'feat of skill', 'a daring feat among boys', and the phrase to have a dag at meaning 'to have a shot at'. The Australian senses of dag may have also been influenecd by the word wag (a habitual joker), and other Australian senses of dag referring to sheep (see rattle your dags below). Dag referring to an unfashionable person etc. is recorded from the 1960s. 1983 Sydney Morning Herald 24 September: Has it helped them feel more relaxed with the boys in their PD group. 'Well, most of them are dags', Julie laughs, 'but at least they're easier to talk to'. 2011 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 11 July: Christian, while your budget may appear to be reasonable .. your dress sense is nothing less than appalling. Never ever wear a striped suit, a striped shirt and a striped tie together - just dreadful ... You look like a real dag. dag: rattle your dags Hurry up, get a move on. Dags are clumps of matted wool and dung which hang around a sheep’s rear end. When a daggy sheep runs, the dried dags knock together to make a rattling sound. The word dag (originally daglock) was a British dialect word that was borrowed into mainstream Australian English in the 1870s. The phrase is first recorded in the 1980s. 1984 S. Thorne Battler: C'mon Mum, rattle yer dags - the old girls are hungry! 2010 Countryman (Perth) 11 February: Rattle yer dags, woolclassers, time's running out to re-register yourselves with the Australian Wool Exchange. dak To pull down or remove the trousers from (a person) as a joke or punishment. Dak derives from another Australian term daks meaning 'a pair of trousers'. The term is first recorded from the early 1990s but is probably much older than that. For a more detailed discussion of dak see our Word of the Month article from July 2009. 1994 Age (Melbourne) 24 July: We played footy together, but his recognition was going on to play for Footscray; I was the little fella so mine was getting dakked every pie night. 2007 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 4 October: The former Fitzroy and Brisbane footballer has 'Fitzroy RIP 1996' tattooed on his right buttock. His family didn't know about it until he was dacked during a game this year. damper A simple kind of bread, traditionally unleavened and baked in the ashes of an outdoor fire. This word is specific use of British damper meaning ‘something that takes the edge off the appetite’, and probably with some influence from damp down '(of a fire or furnace) to cover or fill it with small coal, ashes, or coke, so as to check combustion and prevent its going out, when not required for some time'. Because it was the most common form of bread for bush workers in the nineteenth century, to earn your damper means to be worth your pay. First recorded in the 1820s. 1825 Howe's Weekly Commercial Express (Sydney) 23 May: There is at this moment many a poor settler up the country, buried in the bush .. eating salt pork and dampers with an occasional feast of kangaroo. 2013 S. Bisley Stillways: We made damper out of flour and water, squeezed it around green sticks to cook over the coals. dawn service A commemorative ceremony held at dawn on Anzac Day. Anzac Day, April 25, is a national public holiday in Australia commemorating all those who have served and died in war. It is the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops in 1915. While commemorative services have been held on April 25 since 1916, the term dawn service is not recorded until the 1920s. 1971 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 May: Ahead of us, already drunk in preparation for an Anzac Sunday, three old mates, Les, Norm and Billy, a rolled flag between them, zigzag toward the Dawn Service. 2015 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 11 January: Cruise Express's Legends of the Mediterranean package will cruise the waters off the Turkish coast at dawn on April 25 and the official dawn service ashore will be broadcast on the ship. didgeridoo The didgeridoo is a wind instrument that was originally found only in Arnhem Land in northern Australia. It is a long, wooden, tubular instrument that produces a low-pitched, resonant sound with complex, rhythmic patterns but little tonal variation. In popular understanding many Australians probably believe that this is an Aboriginal word. Indeed, the 1988 edition of the Australian National Dictionary attributed it to the Yolngu language of northern Queensland. Subsequent research has cast doubt on this etymology, and in 1990 the following statement was made in Australian Aboriginal Words in English: 'Although it has been suggested that this must be a borrowing from an Australian language it is not one. The name probably evolved from white people's ad hoc imitation of the sound of the instrument'. This argument is supported by two of the earliest pieces of evidence for the term: 1918 Richmond Guardian (Melbourne): 'At Darwin the nigger crew is making merry with the Diridgery doo and the eternal ya-ya-ya ye-ye-ye cry'. 1919 Smith's Weekly (Sydney): 'The Northern Territory aborigines have an infernal - allegedly musical - instrument composed of two feet of hollow bamboo. It produces but one sound - 'didjerry, didjerry, didjerry -' and so on ad infinitum. digger An Australian soldier. The term was applied during the First World War to Australian and New Zealand soldiers because so much of their time was spent digging trenches. An earlier Australian sense of digger was ‘a miner digging for gold ’. Billy Hughes, prime minister during the First World War, was known as the Little Digger. First recorded in this sense 1916. 1918 Aussie: Australian Soldiers' Magazine February: About the origin of this word 'Digger' ... It came to France when the sandgropers gave up digging on the goldfields of W.A. and carried on with it on the battlefields. 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 26 January: Australia's special-forces troops .. dominate the military division of the 2015 Australia Day Honours. They include a major who planned an 'unprecedented operation' to capture a rogue Afghan sergeant who murdered three Australian diggers. dinkum Reliable; genuine; honest; true. This word is a shortening of fair dinkum which comes from British dialect. The compound fair dinkum 'fair dealing which is just and equitable' is recorded from Lincolnshire in 1881, and is the equivalent of West Yorkshire fair doos fair dealing. The adjective is first recorded in Australia from the 1890s. For a more detailed discussion of dinkum see the article 'The Story of Dinkum' on our blog. 1910 Sunday Times (Perth) 6 March: I'll tell you, sir, what happened, and I tell the dinkum truth. 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 29 July: The electorate is better educated than ever before, people are more financially successful and they see through the paradox that governments promise more and more but can achieve less. The starting point is to make the debate more dinkum. dinner: done like a dinner Comprehensively outwitted or defeated - ‘Collingwood was done like a dinner in the grand final’. The phrase was first recorded in 1847. The origin is uncertain, but a common variation is ‘done like a dog’s dinner’, which implies a meal devoured with enthusiasm, and the bowl licked clean. This may give a clue to the source of the phrase. If you are done like a dinner, you are completely and efficiently demolished. 1853 T.F. Bride Letters from Victorian Pioneers: The horse swam for a quarter of a mile down the river with the cart after him .. the driver, who remained till then on his seat on the hurdle up to his neck in water, calling out to me 'he was done like a dinner'. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 14 November: Keep going the way they are and they will be done like a dinner for many elections to come. dob To inform upon (someone); to incriminate (someone). The ethic of standing by one’s mates means that many Australians take a dim view of dobbing. The word is probably related to British dialect dob meaning 'to put down an article heavily or clumsily; to throw down', and 'to throw stones etc. at a mark' (often used to describe throwing and hitting in games of marbles). Dob is first recorded in the 1950s. For a more detailed discussion of this term see the article 'The Story of Dob' on our blog. 1955 Overland v.: He came to me and dobbed in one of the carpenters for talking. 2013 S. Bisley Stillways: He used to sell single cigarettes to kids, and although it was common knowledge, he had never been busted and no one ever dobbed on him. dolly’s wax: full up to dolly’s wax ‘Would you like more dessert?’ ‘No, I’m full up to dolly’s wax.’ This rather old-fashioned phrase means that you have eaten enough. It refers to the time before plastics were widely used, when children’s dolls had wax heads attached to cloth bodies. This example illustrates the way the origins of words and phrases can be lost with changes in technology. The expression has several variants including fed up to dolly's wax, and its meaning does not always denote being 'full' with food. First recorded in the early 20th century. 1943 Australasian (Melbourne) 10 July: There are books on this and books on that about past, present, and future international relations all deadly dull ... And I am fed up to dolly's wax with them. 2012 C. Tiffany Mateship with Birds: Every night after tea &dd; Edna asked Harry if he'd had enough to eat. 'I'm full up to Dolly's wax', Harry would say, patting his neck. donkey vote (In a preferential system of voting) a vote recorded by allocating preferences according to the order in which candidates' names appear on the ballot paper; such votes viewed collectively. Voters who merely number the candidates in the order they are listed on the ballot paper (without regard for the merits of the candidates) are casting a donkey vote - that is, a stupid vote. First recorded in the early mid-20th century. 1955 Sydney Morning Herald 9 December: In previous Senate elections about 2 per cent. of voters have voted straight across the ballot paper without knowing which parties they were voting for. In South Australia this vote - the 'donkey vote' - will go to the Anti-Communists. 2001 Manly Daily 20 October: Although happy to top the ballot in Warringah, Greens candidate Keelah Lam said the only donkey votes in Warringah would come from people with no interest in politics. Dorothy Dixer (Dorothy Dix) A parliamentary question asked of a Minister by a member of the party in government to give the Minister the opportunity to deliver a prepared reply. It comes from Dorothy Dix, the pen-name of Elizabeth Gilmer (1870-1951), an American journalist who wrote a famous personal advice column which was syndicated in Australia. Her column came to seem a little too contrived, as if she was writing the questions as well as the answers. First recorded in the 1930s. For a discussion about the use of Dorothy Dixer in rhyming slang see the article 'Dorothies and Michelles' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1934 Canberra Times 27 July: There were many questions on trade and finance matters. One of those came from Mr Hutchin, and there were cries of 'Dorothy Dix' when he asked it ... When a Minister is anxious to make some information available, or to answer some outside criticism, he will often get a private member to ask a question on the subject. 2003 Australian (Sydney) 28 May: Like everyone else, Kevin Rudd was spellbound when diminutive Liberal MP Sophie Panopolous rose to ask a dorothy dixer. And it was not her husky voice or hair or makeup that stopped traffic, but the rows and rows of pearls .. dangling beneath her neck. 'Condolence motion to the oysters', barked Rudd. dreamtime (In traditional Aboriginal belief) a collection of events beyond living memory that shaped the physical, spiritual, and moral world; the era in which these occurred; an Aboriginal person's consciousness of the enduring nature of the era. The term also takes the form dreaming. Dreamtime is a translation of alcheringa - a word from the Arrernte Aboriginal language of the Alice Springs region in central Australia. The term is first recorded in the 1890s. 1963 D. Attenborough Quest Under Capricorn: Although the Dreamtime was in the past, it is also co-existent with the present, and a man, by performing the rituals, can become one with his 'dreaming' and experience eternity. It is to seek this mystical union that the men enact the ceremonies. 2015 Advertiser (Adelaide) 26 January: Australia, old as the dreamtime, From your sun-warmed dust I grew, The molecules that make me, All have been part of you. drongo A fool, a simpleton, an idiot. There is also a bird called a drongo. The spangled drongo is found in northern and eastern Australia, as well as in the islands to the north of Australia, and further north to India and China. It is called a drongo because that is the name of a bird from the same family in northern Madagascar. The spangled drongo is not a stupid bird. It is not a galah. One book describes it thus: 'The spangled drongo catches insects in the air, chasing them in aerobatic flight'. There is one odd story about the drongo, however: unlike most migratory birds, it appears to migrate to colder regions in winter. Some have suggested that this is the origin of the association of 'stupidity' with the term drongo. But this seems most unlikely. So what is the true story? There was an Australian racehorse called Drongo during the early 1920s. It seems likely that he was named after the bird called the 'drongo'. He wasn't a an absolute no-hoper of a racehorse: he ran second in a VRC Derby and St Leger, third in the AJC St Leger, and fifth in the 1924 Sydney Cup. He often came very close to winning major races, but in 37 starts he never won a race. In 1924 a writer in the Melbourne Argus comments: 'Drongo is sure to be a very hard horse to beat. He is improving with every run'. But he never did win. Soon after the horse's retirement it seems that racegoers started to apply the term to horses that were having similarly unlucky careers. Soon after the term became more negative, and was applied also to people who were not so much 'unlucky' as 'hopeless cases', 'no-hopers', and thereafter 'fools'. In the 1940s it was applied to recruits in the Royal Australian Air Force. It has become part of general Australian slang. Buzz Kennedy, writing in The Australian newspaper in 1977, defines a drongo thus: A drongo is a simpleton but a complicated one: he is a simpleton [of the] sort who not only falls over his feet but does so at Government House; who asks his future mother-in-law to pass-the-magic-word salt the first time the girl asks him home.... In an emergency he runs heroically in the wrong direction. If he were Superman he would get locked in the telephone box. He never wins. So he is a drongo. The origin of the term was revived at Flemington in 1977 when a Drongo Handicap was held. Only apprentice jockeys were allowed to ride. The horses entered were not allowed to have won a race in the previous twelve months. 1941 Somers Sun 2 July: When you are called Drongo, ignore it. 2013 A. Goode Through the Farm Gate: I can't believe my drongo of a father is asking such ridiculous questions. drop bear A jocular name for an imaginary animal similar in appearance to a koala, with very sharp jaws and teeth, that is said to devour tourists etc. after dropping down on them from trees. The term is often associated with the fooling of gullible international tourists, and has accordingly been used this way in television advertisements. There are suggestions that the term drop bear emerged in the Second World War period (see 1982 quotation below) but the first record is from the 1980s. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on a Dustbin: The 'drop bears' are creatures of a tall story - they were invented during World War II for the benefit of gullible American servicemen. It is alleged that 'drop bears' are a dangerous kind of koala and that they drop out of trees on the heads and shoulders of bush walkers and hug them to death. 2014 Townsville Bulletin 7 November: Participants are advised to choose their start time carefully to ensure they are finished before it gets dark and the drop bears come out at 6.30pm. drover’s dog: like a drover’s dog Drover’s dog has been used since the 1850s in various similes, usually uncomplimentary - a head like a drover’s dog (big and ugly), all prick and ribs like a drover’s dog (lean and hungry), and leaking like a drover’s dog (as in ‘the NSW Cabinet is leaking like a drover’s dog!’). It can also mean a nonentity, as when a politician commented in 1983 that ‘a drover’s dog could lead the Labor Party to victory’. 1978 J. Colbert The Ranch: The other Harry has got a head like a drover's dog and always wears a hat. 2001 B. Courtenay: We'd heard Nancy say he'd come back like a drover's dog all prick and ribs. ducks on the pond Look out - female approaching! A warning cry from a male as a signal to other men that a woman is approaching a traditionally all-male environment. It is a reminder that the men should modify their language and behaviour to avoid giving offence. It was first used in shearing sheds, but is now heard in other places, especially in a pub. While the first written evidence comes from the early 1980s the phrase probably goes back several decades earlier. 1982 P. Adam-Smith When We Rode the Rails: I remember well enough years ago hearing them yell 'Ducks on the Pond!' when a sheila hove in sight but that was more to warn a man to watch his tongue. 2005 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 22 May: The pathetic and increasingly unwatched Footy Show on Channel Nine whipped up another 'ducks on the pond' furore over the proposal to include the outspoken Rebecca Wilson on their panel. Fatty Vautin and Peter Sterling reportedly held angry meetings with their producer declaring they would not speak to Wilson if she was hired. dunny A toilet. The dunny was originally any outside toilet. In cities and towns the pan-type dunny was emptied by the dunny man, who came round regularly with his dunny cart. Dunny can now be used for any toilet. The word comes from British dialect dunnekin meaning an 'earth closet, (outside) privy' from dung + ken 'house'. First recorded in the 1930s but dunnekin is attested in Australian sources from the 1840s. 1957 Overland x: We used ter have a snake in the dunny - lav., sir. 2000 Tracks January: The scourge of the summer festival-goer has to be the crusty dunnies. earbash To subject (a person) to a torrent of words; to talk at great length to; to harangue. While not a physical beating of the ears, most people can sympathise with a person who has sustained a long taking to (an ear-bashing) by a boring or obnoxious windbag (an earbasher). The verb is first recorded from the 1940s, and possibly comes from Australian military slang of the Second World War period. 1943 Argus (Melbourne) 27 November: I’ve been 'bashed' as the DI’s (drill instructors) call it, on the parade ground, 'ear bashed' by ADI (aerodrome defence instructors) lectures, and have sweated ... and sometimes trembled ... over the fearsome obstacles on the Bivouac Assault Course. 2013 M. Lucashenko Mullumbimby: This valley’s full of people that want to earbash ya. economic rationalism A government’s free-market approach to economic management. This approach is typically reflected in the adoption of privatisation, deregulation, ‘user pays’, and low public spending. Most Australians are surprised to discover that this is an Australian term. The corresponding term in Britain is Thatcherism, and in the United States Reaganomics. First recorded from the 1970s. 1979 Patience & Head From Whitlam to Fraser: The second strand of Labor thinking on agricultural policy can be described as economic rationalism. The ALP contains many influential spokesmen who advocate disengagement of governments from existing agricultural assistance measures .. and the encouragement of a pattern of agricultural production that is more in tune with market opportunities. 2014 Age (Melbourne) 14 November: The ideals of higher education are being compromised by economic rationalism. emu bob The act or process of picking up litter; a group of people doing this; the act or process of searching an area of ground for something. This term developed out of an earlier verbal form (recorded in the 1920s), emu-bob, meaning 'to pick up pieces of timber, roots, etc., after clearing or burning'. By the 1940s the verb had developed a more specific sense: 'to pick up litter'. By the 1970s the verbal form had developed into the noun. The term is used with allusion to an emu bending its neck toward the ground in search of food. 1978 Canberra Times 13 October: What a vision splendid is Mr Sim's - a nation-wide 'emu bob' of dole-bludgers, singing no doubt as they retrieve the excreta of civilisation. 2008 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 10 November: Maybe the Government could give the prisoners something useful to do and do emu bobs. esky A portable insulated container in which food and drink are kept cool. A common sight at barbecues, beaches, parks, and camping grounds in the summer months. Esky is from a proprietary name of a portable insulated container, earlier an ice chest, and also earlier called Eskimo. First recorded from the 1950s. 1952 Sydney Morning Herald 2 December: Take your 'refrigerator' to the picnic or tour. The Esky Auto Box keeps drinks and food cold and fresh wherever you go. Will fit in the boot of any car. 2001 T. Winton Dirt Music: They have a folding table and esky out here on the sand beside the fire. factory A prison for the confinement of female convicts. Also known as a female factory. The first such factory was established in 1804 at Parramatta in New South Wales. It was a place of punishment, a labour and marriage agency for the colony, and a profit-making textiles factory where women made convict clothing and blankets. There were eight other factories in the Australian convict settlements. 1806 Sydney Gazette 13 July: Catharine Eyres .. ordered to the Factory at Parramatta for the term of six months. 1832 Colonial Times (Hobart) 21 August: The lass I adore, the lass for me, Is a lass in the Female Factory. fair go A reasonable chance, a fair deal: small business didn’t get a fair go in the last budget. Australia often sees itself as an egalitarian society, the land of the fair go, where all citizens have a right to fair treatment. It is often used as an exclamation: fair go Kev, give the kids a turn! Sometimes it expresses disbelief: fair go—the tooth fairy? For further discussion of this term see the article 'Australia - the land of the fair go' on our blog. 1891 Brisbane Courier 25 March: The reason the shearers disappeared is that a large number of warrants have been issued for their arrest ... Both men turned pale, but struggled, calling out, 'Read the warrants to us first'. Inspector Ahern said, 'You can hear them later', and the police seized the prisoners. Both appealed to Mr. Ranking, crying out, 'Do you call this a fair go, Mr. Ranking?' 2011 Townsville Bulletin 27 August: Voting for same-sex marriage is a vote for equality, and a vote for a fair go for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Australians. fairy bread Slices of bread cut into triangles, buttered and sprinkled with tiny, coloured sugar balls called ‘hundreds and thousands’. Fairy bread is frequently served at children’s parties in Australia. The name possibly comes from the poem ‘Fairy Bread’ in Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verse, published in 1885. First recorded from the 1920s. 1929 Mercury (Hobart) 25 April: The children will start their party with fairy bread and butter and 100's and 1,000's, and cakes, tarts, and home-made cakes. 2001 U. Dubosarsky Fairy Bread: The morning of the party, Becky and her mother were in the kitchen making fairy bread. Her baby brother sat on the floor eating the bits that fell off the table. fair suck of the sauce bottle Steady on, be reasonable. This is one of several variations on the Australian exclamation ‘fair go’. It expresses a keen sense of injustice - 'fair suck of the sauce bottle, mate, I’m only asking for a loan till payday!' The phrase was probably originally used with reference to sauce bottle meaning 'a bottle of alcoholic liquor'. In 2006 Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd famously used a variant of the phrase: 'fair shake of the sauce bottle'. Sometimes ‘saveloy’ or ‘sav’ is substituted for ‘sauce bottle’. The phrase ‘fair crack of the whip’ has the same meaning. Fair suck of the sauce bottle is first recorded in the 1970s. For a further discussion of the origin of the phrase see the article 'Folk Etymology in Australian English' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1986 Canberra Times 4 July: Come on NRMA, fair suck of the sauce bottle. 2006 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 13 May: In the never-ending search for justice and a fair suck of the sauce bottle, the Payneful Truth asks this week why Peter Costello's Federal Budget again ignored footy fans and let the price of a beer at the MCG stay at a ridiculous $5.20 for 425ml. feral As elsewhere, in Australia feral describes a domesticated animal that has gone wild. But in Australia the adjective has another meaning '(especially of a person) wild, uncontrolled; unconventional; outside the conventional bounds of society; dirty, scruffy. Feral is also used as a noun to mean 'a person living outside the conventional bounds of society; a wild or uncontrolled person. The Australian senses of the adjective and noun are first recorded in the 1980s. (adj.) 1986 Sun (Melbourne) 27 October: The last of the so-called 'feral' women who kept vigil outside Parliament House for two weeks packed up and went home yesterday ... The women clashed with media crews and politicians in a series of well-documented incidents ... They were quite happy with the 'feral' tag. 'I really like it, in fact', one woman said. 'Untamed, not domesticated - that's what it means to us.' (n.) 1995 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 7 January: A haven for alternative lifestylers, Sydney yuppies and scruffy 'ferals', Byron Bay's main beach is one of the major reasons people are drawn to this town every summer. (adj.) 2012 Northern Daily Leader (Tamworth) 4 June: They are feral lowdown scum and should be portrayed as such. They have invaded people's homes and maliciously destroyed victims' property. firie A firefighter. Firie follows a common pattern in Australian informal English whereby a word is abbreviated (in this case firefighter or fireman) and the -ie (or -y) suffix is added. Other examples include barbie (a barbecue), Chrissy (Christmas), and rellie (a relative). Firie is recorded from the 1980s. 1998 Manly Daily 16 October: It turned out someone, who also lives around the Warringah Mall area, had called the firies after thinking a shop was alight. 2014 Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) 5 November: The firies came close to saving the home but it does have some extensive damage. flash as a rat with a gold tooth Ostentatious, showy and a bit too flashily dressed. This phrase is usually used of a man, and implies that although he may be well-dressed and well-groomed, there is also something a bit dodgy about him. In spite of a superficial smartness, he is not to be trusted. In spite of the gold tooth, he is still a rat. First recorded in the 1970s. 1978 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 27 August: Eddie is the ultimate lurk-man ... Eddie is as flash as a rat with a gold tooth. 2006 D. McNab Dodger: What brought him unstuck were his brazen schemes and lavish lifestyle. He was as flash as a rat with a gold tooth. flat out like a lizard drinking Extremely busy, at top speed. This is word play on two different meanings of the standard English ‘flat out’. The literal sense is to lie fully stretched out (like a lizard), and the figurative sense means as fast as possible. The phrase also alludes to the rapid tongue-movement of a drinking lizard. It is sometimes shortened, as in ‘we’re flat out like a lizard trying to meet the deadline’. First recorded in the 1930s. 1952 Meanjin: I've been flat out like a lizard since eight o'clock this morning. 2006 Townsville Bulletin 3 January: Dr Low was the only orthopaedic surgeon working in Townsville over the break and according to hospital sources was flat out like a lizard drinking. fossick To search or rummage for something. In the Cornish dialect, fossick means ‘to obtain by asking, to ferret out’. Cornish miners probably brought the term to Australia in the 1850s and used it to describe their search for gold. Australia inherited a number of mining terms from the Cornish, but they remain very specialised, and fossick is the only one to move out into the wider speech community. 1871 Emigrant's Wife II: I goes over to where he had thrown it, and takes out my knife and stoops down to fossick among it. 2011 L. Heidke Claudia's Big Break: 'Okay, we get the picture', said Sophie as she fossicked around in her enormous bag in search of boarding passes. Fremantle doctor A cool sea breeze which brings relief on a hot summer’s day. A wind blowing inland late in the day is a welcome feature of the climate in Western Australia’s south-west. Like Fremantle, many towns have given it a local name. Albany, Geraldton, Esperance, Eucla and Perth all have their doctor. The term derives from the figurative application of doctor in the West Indies to 'a cool sea breeze which usually prevails during part of the day in summer', and in South Africa to 'a strong, blustery south-east wind prevailing at the Cape', from doctor 'any agent that gives or preserves health'. Fremantle doctor is recorded from the 1870s. 1873 Herald (Fremantle) 4 January: Three or four days of a fierce westerly wind, succeeded by a strong, cool sea breeze - known up the country as the Fremantle doctor. 2002 Canberra Times 26 December: The only thing that has really taken me aback .. has been Brett Lee. At Perth, with the Fremantle Doctor up his arse, he was seriously quick. furphy A rumour or false report; an absurd story. Furphy comes from the name of a firm, J. Furphy & Sons Pty. Ltd., who operated a foundry at Shepparton, Victoria, and manufactured water carts - the name Furphy appeared on these carts. The term probably originated at the Broadmeadows army camp in Melbourne as a transfer from the name of the carts to the typical gossip of soldiers at sites serviced by these carts during the period of the First World War. Furphy is first recorded in 1915. 1915 J. Treloar Anzac Diary 3 February: Today’s 'furphy', for never a day goes by without at least one being created, was about lights being prohibited in camp on account of the possibility of German airship raid. Some of the troops do not suffer from lack of imagination. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 22 September: In the age of instant gratification, rampant consumerism and materialism, men and women are being sold a series of furphies about love. galah The word galah comes from Yuwaalaraay and related Aboriginal languages of northern New South Wales. In early records it is variously spelt as galar, gillar, gulah, etc. The word is first recorded in the 1850s. The bird referred to is the grey-backed, pink-breasted cockatoo Eolophus roseicapillus, occurring in all parts of Australia except the extreme north-east and south-west. It is also known as the red-breasted cockatoo and rose-breasted cockatoo. Some early settlers used the galah as food. In 1902 the Truth newspaper reports: 'The sunburnt residents of at that God-forsaken outpost of civilisation were subsisting on stewed galah and curried crow'. Some writers report that galah pie was a popular outback dish. The galah, which usually appears in a large flock, has a raucous call, and it was perhaps this trait which produced the term galah session for a period allocated for private conversation, especially between women on isolated stations, over an outback radio network. F. Flynn in Northern Gateway (1963) writes: 'The women's radio hour, held regularly night and morning and referred to everywhere as the 'Galah Session'. It is a special time set aside for lonely station women to chat on whatever subject they like'. More generally, a galah session is 'a long chat' - A. Garve, Boomerang (1969): 'For hours the three men chatted... It was Dawes who said at last, "I reckon this galah session's gone on long enough".' Very commonly in Australian English galah is used to refer to a fool or idiot. This figurative sense is recorded from the 1930s, and derives from the perceived stupidity of the bird. The following quotations give an indication of how the term is used: 1951 E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves: 'Yair, and I got better ideas than some of the galahs that give us our orders'. 1960 R.S. Porteous Cattleman: 'The bloke on the other end of the line is only some useless galah tryin' to sell a new brand of dip'. 1971 J. O'Grady Aussie Etiket: 'You would be the greatest bloody galah this side of the rabbit-proof fence'. From this sense arise a number of colloquial idioms. To be mad as a gumtree full of galahs is to be completely crazy. To make a proper galah of oneself is to make a complete fool of oneself. A pack of galahs is a group of contemptibly idiotic people. g'day An abberviation of good day, a familiar greeting, used frequently and at any hour. While the word is recorded from the 1880s, it came to international prominence in the 1980s through a series of tourism advertisements where Australian actor and comedian Paul Hogan invited people from around the world to visit Australia and say g'day. 1889 C. Praed Romance of the Station: He pulled up, nodding to Alec’s 'Good-day, Tillidge', and replying in a short, morose manner, running his words one into the other, as a bushman does, 'G’d-day, sir'. 2000 J. Harms Memoirs of a Mug Punter: I made it to the table where the prime minister was wielding his pen. He looked up. 'G'day', he said. He didn't recognise me. geek In International English geek means 'a person who is socially inept or boringly conventional or studious'. The sense comes from the United States, where it originally referred to an assistant at a sideshow whose purpose was to appear an object of disgust or derision. The American word appears to be a variant of geck, a Scottish word (from Dutch) meaning 'a gesture of derision; an expression of scorn or contempt'. In more recent times the word has been increasingly applied to a person who is obsessed with computers and computer technology. In Australia, however, there is another meaning of the word geek. It means 'a look', and usually appears in the phrase to have (or take) a geek at. It is also used as a verb. This Australian sense derives from British dialect (Scottish and Northern England) keek meaning 'to look, to peep'. The Australian form geek appears as a verb in Cornish meaning 'to peep, peer, spy', and this is likely to be the same word as the northern keek. The lateness of the word in Australian English, however, suggests a borrowing from the northern dialects rather than from Cornish. Both Australian senses of the noun and verb are recorded from the early 20th century. 1954 T.A.G. Hungerford Sowers of Wind: There's a circus down by the dance-hall, a Jap show ... What about having a geek at that? 2012 Newcastle Herald 16 January: There’s vintage bikes ... The cafe has gained a steady stream of regulars for coffee, breakfast, lunch or a geek at the bikes. gilgai Gilgai is a word which describes a terrain of low relief on a plain of heavy clay soil, characterised by the presence of hollows, rims, and mounds, as formed by alternating periods of expansion during wet weather and contraction (with deep cracking) during hot, dry weather. This type of terrain is described as gilgaed. A single hole is known as a gilgai, or gilgai hole. Such holes are also known as crabholes, dead-men's graves, or melon holes. The word comes from Wiradjuri (an Aboriginal language once spoken over a vast area from southern New South Wales to northern Victoria) and Gamilaraay (an Aboriginal language spoken over a vast area of east-central New South Wales and extending into southern Queensland) gilgaay 'waterhole'. Gilgai if recorded from the 1860s. 1881 W.E. Abbott Notes of a Journey on the Darling: At the blackfellows' tanks the clay excavated is still seen beside the waterholes, while in the gilgies there is no appearance of any embankment, the ground all round being perfectly level. 2005 H.S. Kent What do you do with them on Sundays?: With all the rain that had been about, most of the gilgais would be full, which meant that we’d be drinking fresh water. glory box A box in which a woman accumulates items in preparation for marriage; the collection itself. In other countries it is called a hope chest or bottom drawer. Glory box is probably related to British dialect glory hole 'a place for storing odds and ends’. The term is first recorded in 1900. 1905 Brisbane Courier 10 October: A grand chance for hotel and boarding-house keepers, private householders, and all young ladies collecting for the glory box. 2000 Canberra Times 24 June: I remember girls I knew growing up in Newcastle who had glory boxes the size of rooms ... They were focused entirely on the fantasy of the day and it almost didn't matter who the groom was. goog: full as a goog Extremely drunk; replete with food; extremely full, packed. In Australian English a goog is an egg. It is an abbreviation of the British dialect word goggy 'a child's name for an egg', retained in Scotland as goggie. The phrase is a variation of an earlier British phrase in the same sense: full as a tick, recorded from the late 17th century. Other Australian combinations include full as a boot, full as a Bourke Street tram, and full as a pommy complaint box. Full as a goog is recorded from the 1930s. 1944 Sydney Morning Herald 17 June: The evidence of Detective Lambert, a security officer with Detective Fraser, is that defendant was 'as full as a goog'. 2011 Hawkesbury Gazette (Windsor) 30 March: I was full as a goog after my main and would have exploded if I'd attempted a dessert. goon Cask wine. This word is frequently found in the compound goon bag 'a wine cask, specifically the bag containing the wine’. The word is possibly a transferred use of the Australian English word goom ‘methylated spirits as an alcoholic drink’. Goom itself may derive from a south-east Queensland Aboriginal word (from Gabi-gabi, Waga-waga, and Gureng-gureng) meaning ‘water, alcohol’. The form goon may also have been influenced by an altered pronunciation of flagon. Australia There is evidence for this term from the early 1980s. For more about wine terms in Australian English see the article 'Wine in Australian English' on our blog. 1997 J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco: None of the wine he reviewed ever cost more than ten bucks a bottle. (In fact very few even came within cooee of that, mostly tapering off at five or six bucks per four litre 'goon'.) 2001 Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 28 October: Teenagers call it 'goon'. It is cheap and nasty white wine - for $10 you can get four or five litres of the stuff at any pub or bottle shop. green ban A prohibition on demolition or construction projects on sites deemed to be of historical, cultural or environmental significance, especially one imposed by a trade union. The term arose by analogy with black ban (a prohibition, especially as imposed by a trade union, that prevents work from proceeding), with the colour green being associated with the environmental lobby. Although green ban is used elsewhere, the term was recorded first in Australia in 1973. 1973 P. Thomas Taming the Concrete Jungle: A unionist coined a happy phrase for such bans to save natural bush and park. 'They're not black bans', he said; 'they're green bans.' 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 13 October: We should be punching alarm buttons and throwing ballast off our sinking ship - dead weights like the debt, as well as our crippling weekend penalty rates, huge government handouts and green bans on everything from new uranium mines to coal-seam gas exploration. grey nomad A retired person who travels extensively within Australia, especially by campervan, caravan or motor home. The grey nomad is a product of the baby boomer generation. The term is recorded from the 1990s. For a further discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from September 2007. 1995 Australian (Sydney) 2 December: Another rapidly growing population is the 'grey nomads' who travel from resort to resort in caravans or recreational vehicles. 2012 S. Williams Welcome to the Outback: Along with hordes of grey nomads, I spend a day checking out the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. guernsey Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands. The name is used attributively to designate things found in or associated with Guernsey. Thus the term Guernsey cow for an animal of a breed of usually brown and white dairy cattle that originated in Guernsey. In the early nineteenth century the term Guernsey shirt arose for 'a close-fitting woollen sweater, especially one worn by sailors'. During the gold rushes in Australia in the mid nineteenth century, in a specialisation of this sense, the term guernsey was used to describe a kind of shirt worn by goldminers: 1852 F. Lancelot Australia as it Is: The usual male attire is a pair of common slop trowsers, a blue guernsey ... a broad-brimmed cabbage-tree hat. In a further specialisation in Australian English, the term guernsey has been used since the 1860s to refer to a football jumper, especially as worn by a player of Australian Rules football: 1868 Geelong Advertiser 21 September: Ample evidence of a desperate struggle was afforded by the style in which they limped off the ground, some covered with nothing in the shape of a guernsey but rags, and some wanting even these. From the football meaning there arose in the early 20th century the phrase to get a guernsey or be given a guernsey, meaning to win selection for a sporting team. In a widening of this sense, the phrase came to mean 'to win selection, recognition, approbation', and is commonly used in non-sporting contexts: 1957 D. Whitington Treasure upon Earth: The executive won't give me a guernsey for the Senate. 2014 Border Mail (Albury & Wodonga): The diverse range includes some films that ordinarily would be unlikely to get a guernsey outside our capital cities. happy as Larry Extremely happy. The origin of this phrase is unknown, but is perhaps an arbitrary partial rhyming reduplication with 'happy'. The phrase is used elsewhere but recorded earliest in New Zealand and Australia. The earliest non-Australasian evidence is Irish. Irish English has larry 'fool' from Irish learaire 'lounger, loafer', but there is no clear link to the phrase. The Dictionary of New Zealand English suggests a Scottish origin (from the Clydesdale area) larrie meaning 'joking, jesting, gibing'. The phrase is first recorded in Australian evidence from the 1880s. 1896 Alexandra & Yea Standard 10 January: The guests one and all appeared as happy as Larry, and they sang and danced - and danced and sang - with a vim that did our heart good to look upon. 2013 S. Thorne Bonzer: I put my disappointment away in a drawer, and pulling on my happy-as-Larry face, toddled down towards them. happy little Vegemite A cheerful person; a satisfied person. The phrase comes from a 1950s advertising jingle for the yeast-based spread Vegemite. The jingle began: ‘We're happy little vegemites, as bright as bright can be we, We all enjoy our vegemite for breakfast, lunch, and tea'. For a further discussion of Vegemite and to view the advertisement see the article 'A History of Vegemite' on our blog. 1981 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 April: Expatriate Australians living in Italy have to pay dearly to be 'happy little Vegemites'. 2012 D. Fordham Dream Keeper: We have to remember what Mummy told us, happy thoughts make for happy little Vegemites. hard word An importunate request (especially of a monetary or sexual nature). This term is often found in the phrase to put the hard word on: to make demands (especially monetary or sexual) on (someone). The term is from British dialect where it had various meanings including 'abuse, scandal, marriage proposal, refusal'. The Australian usage is recorded from the early 20th century. 1915 Cairns Post 29 July: Constable Geary appears to be a fine big affable member of the force, and as next Saturday is pay day, it is to be hoped he will not put the 'hard word' on too many of us. 2014 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 1 March: It was at the Australian Open tennis in January when I first put the hard word on Seven Network commercial director Bruce McWilliam to have lunch with me on the record. Harold Holt: to do a Harold Holt To escape; to make a rapid departure. To do a Harold Holt is rhyming slang for bolt. The phrase is from the name of former Australian prime minister Harold Holt who disappeared, presumed drowned, while swiming at Portsea, Victoria, in 1967. As with other rhyming slang terms the rhyming element is often omitted, hence we sometimes see the forms to do a Harold and to do a Harry. The phrase is recorded from the 1980s. For a further discussion of this term see the article 'Harold Holt does a Harry' on our blog. 1990 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 25 February: Instead she does a Harold Holt early next morning, booking herself on a flight to Paris with Ivan's American Express card. 2013 Canberra Times 7 February: When I was younger and single I would never partake in goodbyes, I would always do a Harold Holt in the middle of night and by-pass the whole awkwardness in the morning. hills hoist The hills hoist is a rotary clothes line fitted with a hoist that is operated by a crown and pinion winding mechanism. In Australia Lance Hill is commonly thought to have invented the rotary clothes hoist, but he adapted the existing design in 1946 by including his own winding mechanism. The name hills hoist is used generically in Australia for any rotary clothes line. As a symbol, the hills hoist has both positive and negative connotations in Australian culture. As a positive symbol it featured in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics: ‘The cultural symbols of our backyard suburbia—the Hills Hoist and the lawn mower—are so respectably well entrenched that they featured at the Olympics.’ (Australian 7 October 2000). As a negative symbol it stands for the dreary sameness and ordinariness of Australian suburbia. In an interview in the Sun-Herald in 2007 Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everage explains what would have been the Dame’s fate if she had not met Barry: ‘I would still be in a suburban house, I might even be dead ... I would have been up to my wrists in grey water with peas and mutton fat floating in it. I would have been staring through chipped venetian blinds at rusted Hills hoists and broken plastic toys. I would be locked into the rather sad Valium-infested life of so many women’. hip-pocket nerve An imaginary nerve that reacts whenever demands are made on one's money (especially in contexts such as government proposals to increase taxes). The term is from hip-pocket 'a trouser pocket that traditionally contains a wallet'. Hip-pocket nerve is recorded from the 1940s. 1959 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 5 July: The hip-pocket nerve is the most sensitive nerve in the body; and, maybe, when industry feels financial loss over an ailment, there'll be some high-powered research into its causation. 2014 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 8 September: Australia's modern prosperity is now being hit by a national income squeeze as our terms of trade slide from their highest level for more than a century. This is showing up, for example, in falling real wages that inevitably will grate the hip-pocket nerve of voters. hoon A lout or an exhibitionist, especially a young male who drives dangerously or at reckless speed. The origin of the word is unknown. Suggestions for its origin include: an alteration of Australian English hooer 'a prostitute, a general term of abuse'; an alteration of Australian English poon 'a simpleton or fool'; a contraction of hooligan; and the Scottish word hune 'a loiterer, a drone, a lazy, silly person'. From the 1930s hoon referred to a lout or exhibitionist, and from the 1950s it also referred to a pimp. The current sense referring to a reckless driver only emerged in the 1980s. For further discussion of this term see the article 'A Hoon by any other Name' in our Ozwords newsletter, and for a discussion of the term hoon operation see our Word of the Month article from July 2015. 1988 Age (Melbourne) 14 March: You get all sorts of abuse on late-night studies around in the inner suburbs ... Particularly when you're standing out on the road, hoons drive past with bare bums hanging out of the window fairly frequently. 2005 S. Dooley Big Twitch: It was into this habitat, at about 11.30pm, that I drove, having passed more than forty kilometres of .. hoons in souped-up cars cruising the highway in packs. Hughie Hughie is the rain god, and the appeal send it down Hughie is a request for a heavy fall of rain - the phrase is first recorded in 1912. Since the 1950s surfers have also implored the god's name in a request for good waves. Theories about the origin of the word Hughie range from alterations of the names Jupiter, Zeus, or Yahweh, to the classical Greek huei ‘it is raining’. For a further discussion about this term and its possible origins see the article 'Send Her Down Who-ie?' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1922 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 April: At the end of the dry, when the first few showers fall, 'Send it down, Hughie!' is the heartfelt exclamation of every eager bush-watcher. 1979 Tracks November: I’m just writing to have a bitch to Huey about one of the worst winter flat spells in memory since I’ve been surfing. 2014 Outback June: And so, on behalf of south-west Queensland, Hughie, please send her down. ice block A confection of flavoured and frozen water. Almost a necessity on hot summer days in Australia. The ice block is sometimes called an icy pole in Australian English - a popular brand of this confection. The term is recorded from the 1930s. 1933 Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) 11 December: While walking across a street a boy had an ice block struck from his hand by a flash of lightning. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 11 January: 'Not Icy Pole. An iceblock. You call them iceblocks', I reply. 'You call them iceblocks because they are iceblocks.' illywhacker A small-time confidence trickster. The word is probably formed from illy (with the same meaning) which is likely an alteration of the Australian word spieler meaning 'a person who engages in sharp practice; a swindler, originally a card sharper'. To whack the illy (to act as a confidence trickster) and illywhacker are first recorded in Kylie Tennant's The Battlers (1941): An illy-wacker is someone who is putting a confidence trick over, selling imitation diamond pins, new-style patent razors or infallible 'tonics'... 'living on the cockies' by such devices, and following the shows because money always flows freest at show time. A man who 'wacks the illy' can be almost anything, but two of these particular illy-wackers were equipped with a dart game. Illywhacker was becoming obsolescent in Australian English, but it was given new life when Peter Carey used it as the title of his 1985 novel. In that novel, we find the following passage: What's an illywhacker?'... 'A spieler.. a trickster. A quandong. A ripperty man. A con-man. For further discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from June 2008. iron lung: wouldn’t work in an iron lung Extremely lazy. The phrase derives from the artificial respirator that kept polio patients alive by ‘breathing’ for them in the days when up to ten thousand people annually were affected by poliomyelitis ('infantile paralysis’) in Australia. When vaccinations became routine in the mid-1950s, the fear of polio diminished. The phrase is recorded from the 1970s. 1971 F. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah: Even the most primitive societies protect, succor and shelter the aged, but not so the affluent society with the principle of he that cannot work neither shall he eat (except Silver Tails who wouldn't work in an iron lung). 2013 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 16 June: Once upon a time, about 50 years ago, we in Australia were literate, well-mannered, well-dressed, hard-working and fairly happy. Now, we are illiterate, ill-mannered, wouldn't work in an iron lung, among the worst-dressed in the world, and overall, not very happy people. What happened, I wonder? jackeroo The word jackeroo was originally a Queensland term (recorded from 1840) referring to a white man who lived beyond the bounds of close settlement. Later, a jackeroo was 'a young man (frequently English and of independent means) seeking to gain experience by working in a supernumerary capacity on a sheep or cattle station'. A jackeroo is now 'a person working on such a station with a view to acquiring the practical experience and management skills desirable in a station owner or manager'. The word can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to work as a jackeroo'. The term jilleroo is sometimes used for a female jackeroo. In 1895 A. Meston in Geographic History of Queensland proposed an Aboriginal origin for the term: Another word used throughout Australia is jackeroo, the term for a 'newchum', or recent arrival, who is acquiring his first colonial experience on a sheep or cattle station. It gas a good-natured, somewhat sarcastic meaning, free from all offensive significance. It is generally used for young fellows during their first year or two of station life. The origin of the word is now given for the first time. It dates back to 1838, the year the German missionaries arrived on the Brisbane River, and was the name bestowed upon them by the aboriginals. The Brisbane blacks spoke a dialect called 'Churrabool', in which the word 'jackeroo' or 'tchaceroo' was the name of the pied crow shrike, Stripera graculina, one of the noisiest and most garrulous birds in Australia. The blacks said the white men (the missionaries) were always talking, a gabbling race, and so they called them 'jackeroo', equivalent to our word 'gabblers'. The etymology proposed by Meston appears to be without foundation. There is no confirmatory evidence of a bird name tchaceroo in the Brisbane language, or of anything like this being applied to missionaries. Is it possible that the term has an English origin? The personal name Jack is often used in contexts of manual work (e.g. a device for lifting heavy objects) and appears in such idioms as a jack of all trades. This perhaps fits the later meanings of jackeroo, but unfortunately it does not explain the original Queensland meaning. In 1875 Campbell & Wilks in The Early Settlement of Queensland write: A black fellow.. warned me.. that their intention was first to spear all the commandants, then to fence up the roads and stop the drays from travelling, and to starve the 'jackeroos' (strangers). The jury is still out on this term. Is it possible that it is a Queensland Aboriginal term not for 'crow shrike' but for 'stranger'? 1869 Queenslander (Brisbane) 1 May: He seemed to think that a cove who comes into the bush as a jackeroo has nothing else to do but sit down and order the men about; but when the overseer was about he was quite another fellow and he was as quiet as a mouse. 2012 M. Hercock Desert Droving: A word of recall here about jackeroos. They were the privileged class of learner, who ate at the homestead with the manager, not with us ringers. Jacky Howe A (navy or black) sleeveless singlet cut nearly to the waist under the arms to give freedom of movement. The Jacky Howe is worn especially by shearers and other rural workers. It was named after the style of singlet worn by shearer John Robert (‘Jacky’) Howe who established a world shearing record by hand-shearing 321 sheep in 7 hours and 40 minutes at Alice Downs, Queensland, in the 1890s. His world record stood until 1950 when it was broken by a shearer using a machine. Jacky Howe is first recorded in 1900. 1925 Cairns Post 24 March: You know, Mr Editor, those Jacky Howes are cool and comfortable, are they not? 2011 M. Thornton Jackaroo: In his Jackie Howe, his biceps bulge, the size of footballs. jumbuck Jumbuck is an Australian word for a 'sheep'. It is best known from Banjo Paterson's use of it in Waltzing Matilda. Two of the earliest appearances of the term show Aborigines using it in pidgin English: 1824 Methodist Missionary Society Records: To two Brothers of mine, these monsters exposed several pieces of human flesh, exclaiming as they smacked their lips and stroked their breasts, 'boodjerry patta! murry boodjerry - fat as jimbuck!!' i.e. good food, very good, fat as mutton. 1842 Port Phillip Patriot 19 July: The villains laughed at and mocked us, roaring out 'plenty sheepy', 'plenty jumbuck', (another name of theirs for sheep). The origin of the word is not known. It may possibly be from an Aboriginal language, or it may be an Aboriginal alteration of an English phrase such as jump up. Some suggested etymologies are very fanciful indeed. In 1896 a writer in the Bulletin suggested: The word 'jumbuck' for sheep appears originally as jimba, jombock, dambock, and dumbog. In each case it meant the white mist preceding a shower, to which a flock of sheep bore a strong resemblance. It seemed the only thing the aboriginal imagination could compare it to. Whatever the case, jumbuck was a prominent word in the pidgin used by early settlers and Aborigines to communicate with one another, and was thence borrowed into many Australian Aboriginal languages as the name for the introduced animal, the sheep. For a further discussion of jumbuck, including its possible origin in Malay, see a previous 'Mailbag' article in our newsletter Ozwords. 1847 Argus (Melbourne) 22 October: Shearing is the great card of the season, and no settler being the owner of jumbucks can give a straight answer upon any other, than this all absorbing topic. 1981 P. Barton Bastards I have Known: My favourite was a little grey mare that ... knew more about handling sheep than most sheep dogs. She sensed the first day I was on her that I was a novice with the jumbucks. kangaroo Any of the larger marsupials of the chiefly Australian family Macropodidae, with short forelimbs, a tail developed for support and balance, long feet and powerful hind limbs, enabling a swift, bounding motion. Perhaps the most well-known Australian English word, kangaroo comes from the Guugu Yimithirr Aboriginal language of far north Queensland. For a more detailed discussion of kangaroo, and the many words deriving from it, see our article 'Kangaroo: the international and regional word' on the Oxford Dictionaries blog, and the article 'Kangaroo: A First Australian' in our newsletter Ozwords. king-hit A sudden, damaging blow; a knock-out punch; an unfair punch. This term is recorded from the late 19th century. In more recent years the term has been mentioned in relation to 'one-punch' assaults in Australian cities. These assaults are usually carried out by intoxicated young men in the vicinity of nightclub and hotel venues. This type of assault often takes the form of a single unprovoked and unexpected hit to the victim's head, sometimes resulting in serious head injuries or death. In this context there have been calls to replace the term king-hit with 'coward punch'. King-hit is also used as a verb. 1898 Evening News (Sydney) 2 September: He would not hit a man on the cheek. He would give him the 'King hit' - on the point - which would knock him out. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 26 January: There is no trace of a fair go in a king hit or coward punch, as it should be known. koori The word koori is now well established in Australian English, but it continues to cause confusion and misunderstanding. Many Aborigines dislike the terms 'Aborigine' and 'Aboriginal' since these terms have been foisted on them, and they carry a lot of negative cultural baggage. Not surprisingly, they have looked for alternative words, and instead of 'Aborigine' many prefer to use the word for a 'person' from a local language. In order to understand the history of the word koori we need to bear in mind the fact that when the Europeans arrived here there were about 250 languages spoken in Australia. Way back in the past, they were no doubt related, but most of them were as different from one another as English is different from Italian or Hindi. Some languages of south-east Australia (parts of New South Wales and Victoria) had a word - coorie, kory, kuri, kooli, koole - which meant 'person' or 'people'. In the 1960s, in the form koori, it came to be used by Aborigines of these areas to mean 'Aboriginal people' or 'Aboriginal person'. It was a means of identification. But because of the wide variety of Aboriginal languages and cultures, koori has not gained Australia-wide acceptance, being confined to most of New South Wales and to Victoria. Other terms are preferred in other regions: Murri over most of south and central Queensland, Bama in north Queensland, Nunga in southern South Australia, Nyoongah around Perth, Mulba in the Pilbara region, Wongi in the Kalgoorlie region, Yamitji in the Murchison River region, Yolngu in Arnhem Land, Anangu in central Australia, and Yuin on the south coast of New South Wales. For a while Tasmanian Aborigines called themselves koories, and then Tasmanian koories to distinguish themselves from the mainland koories. Recently, we have gathered evidence for the term muttonbird koories, a reference to the importance of muttonbirding to their traditional way of life, especially on the islands off the Tasmanian coast. More recently, the tribal or language term Palawa is increasingly being used. kylie Most people associate the term kylie with the female personal name (as in Kylie Minogue). In Western Australia, however, it is a term for what is known elsewhere as a 'boomerang'. The word came into Australian English from Noongar, an Aboriginal language spoken over a large extent of south-western Western Australia, including present-day Perth, Albany, and Esperance. The word also occurs in other western and central Australian languages. The word first appears in English in G.F. Moore's Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia (published in 1884, but referring to an 1835 diary entry): I am sorry that nasty word 'boomerang' has been suffered to supercede the proper name. Boomerang is a corruption used at Sydney by the white people, but not the native word, which is tur-ra-ma; but 'kiley' is the name here. While early writers use various spellings (as with Moore's kiley), in the twentieth century the spelling kylie is standard. The female personal name Kylie may be based on this word. lairy Flashily dressed; showy; socially unacceptable. The term is a transferred use of British slang lairy (or leery) meaning 'knowing, conceited'. Our first evidence for the term comes from September 1898 when the Melbourne journal, Tocsin, described someone thus: Height, about 5' 6 1/2in.; style 'lairy'. Shop made suit, tight fit and cheap. Flower in slouched hat, well over eyes. 'Silk' rag around neck. The precise spelling of lairy was not immediately apparent, and for many years the variants leary and leery were common. These appear now to have faded away. Despite the uncertainty of its spelling, lairy nonetheless quickly became a standard term in Australian English, and, from the early twentieth century, writers felt able to use it without the need for quotation marks. In 1907 for example C.W. Chandler wrote in Darkest Adelaide: Sitting on the seat with him was a nice specimen of the Australian larrikin. Not so leery, perhaps, as his prototypes of Melbourne and Sydney, but a choice specimen of his class nevertheless. The popularity of the adjective lairy quickly spawned a noun and a verb to match. The noun lair, meaning 'one who displays vulgarity, esp. in dress or behaviour; a show-off; a larrikin' was in use by the 1920s as in C.E. Sayers, Jumping Double: A hit behind the ear from one of those back street lairs. And it remains in use today, often in the collocation mug lair, applied to someone supposed to be both stupid and vulgar, as in the description published in the Australian in August 1982 of a particular Carlton half-forward flanker as 'a mug lair and a show pony'. The verb lair is most frequently used as a verb phrase in combination with up to mean 'behave in the manner of a lair', and has produced another adjectival use as in G. Savage, The House Tibet (1989): At Legal Aid I got landed with this callous bitch all laired up with these big shoulder pads and earrings like baby crocodiles. By the 1950s the verb had produced a new extended form, lairise, with an identical meaning. In 1960 for example the Northern Territory News commented: All they seem to think of these days is lairizing around in ten-gallon hats, flash, colored shirts, gabardine riding breeches and polished riding boots chasing a bit of fluff. And in 1987 the Australian, in its description of a football match, said: Certain players ... instead of doing the percentage things ... turned it into a bit of show-off time and started lairising. lamington A square of sponge cake coated in chocolate icing and desiccated coconut. The origin of this term has been hotly debated. The cake is popularly associated with the name of Charles Wallace Baillie, Baron Lamington (1860-1940), Governor of Queensland (1895-1901), and although the dates of the earliest recipes line up with the governership, the attribution does not appear until the 1970s. The early New Zealand evidence has a variety of spellings including leamington and lemmington, which may point to a different origin. For a further discussion about the possible origins of this term see the article 'Lords and Lamingtons' on our blog. 1924 Argus (Melbourne) 3 September: The icing may be poured over the lamingtons, but it is simpler to dip the cake into the icing. 2006 West Australian (Perth) 24 May: They jostle for space with tarts and pies and panini and sour-dough rolls and giant cupcakes and biodynamic everything ... And you look at it and say to yourself, 'God, I could murder a lamington'. larrikin A person who acts with apparently careless disregard for social or political conventions; a person who is unsophisticated but likeable and good-hearted, 'a rough diamond'; a joker. This well-known Australian term is recorded from the 1890s, but originally the term was quite pejorative. From the 1860s into the early 20th century a larrikin was 'a young urban rough, especially a member of a street gang; a hooligan'. The term comes from British dialect larrikin 'a mischievous or frolicsome youth', ultimately a form of larking (about) 'indulging in mischievous fun', also attested in British dialect as larack about. For a more detailed discussion about larrikins in Australian history see the article 'The Leary Larrikin' in our newsletter Ozwords. 1891 Truth (Sydney) 15 March: Jackeroos .. are such fun, and vary, from the sensible one, in a fair way for promotion, to the larrikin, who will either sling station life or hump the swag. 1997 T. Ferguson Left, Right and Centre: They appealed to the irreverence of the Australian spirit, the larrikin in us all. lay-by A system of payment whereby a purchaser puts a deposit on an article which is then reserved by the retailer until the full price is paid. The retailer lays the article by until payment is complete. The lay-by system first appeared in the early 20th century. By the mid-20th century, shops extolled customers to ‘Lay-by now!’ but the introduction of credit cards in the 1970s has slowly changed buying patterns. Lay-by is also used as a verb. 1918 Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) 20 April: In the leading business establishments of Sydney a system of purchase, called the 'lay by' has been introduced ... It is said that the storerooms of most of the drapery establishments in Sydney are filled to their utmost capacity with things being bought on the 'lay by' system. 2013 Australian (Sydney) 1 October: He was hopeful of a rebound in spending on toys in the lead-up to Christmas, after a poor mid-year sales period when parents traditionally begin buying toys on lay-by ahead of the festive season. life wasn’t meant to be easy A catchphrase popularised by Malcolm Fraser (Prime Minister 1975–83) and later attributed by him to the British playwright George Bernard Shaw. Fraser first used the phrase in his 1971 Alfred Deakin Lecture. The phrase is now used as a stock response to complaints or whinges of any kind - 'I have to take the kids to soccer training every night this week'. 'Well, life wasn’t meant to be easy!' Shaw’s full quotation (from his 1921 work Back to Methuselah) is 'life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful’. 1985 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 4 June: Life wasn’t meant to be easy for Labor Governments. 2013 Age (Melbourne) 19 January: Follow your instincts and impulses. Forget that masochistic 'no pain, no gain; life wasn't meant to be easy' rot. light on the hill The phrase is used allusively to refer to the ideals of the Australian Labor Party. In 1949 Prime Minister Ben Chifley spoke of the Labor goal of social justice as 'the light on the hill, which we aim to reach by working for the betterment of mankind'. Since then the light on the hill has become a catchphrase in Australian politics, used to evoke traditional Labor values. 1967 R.G. Menzies Afternoon Light: The Socialist objective, his 'light on the hill', must not be blotted out or obscured in this way. 2013 Australian (Sydney) 18 November: Labor remains .. the party of labour. Trapped in its myths, it invests itself with a historic mission of leading 'working people' to the 'light on the hill': a light whose glare now serves mainly to hide corrupt deals and tarnished ideals. little Aussie battler In Australia a battler is a person who struggles for a livelihood, and who displays great determination in so doing. This sense is first recorded in 1896 in a Henry Lawson story. Such a person is now often described as a little Aussie battler, a phrase first recorded in the 1970s. 1974 Australian Women's Weekly (Sydney) 19 June: Known far and wide as 'the little Aussie battler', Ernie Sigley battles on regardless with his undoubted talent and the team of regulars on his entertaining show. 2003 Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong) 19 February: He was the little Aussie battler who pushed his mower from suburb to suburb when his van was repossessed because he had too many freeloaders on the books. mad as a cut snake Very angry; crazy; eccentric. The phrase also takes the form mad as a snake. The different senses of the phrase derive from the fact that ‘mad’ has two main senses - ‘crazy’ and ‘angry’. The ‘crazy’ sense is illustrated by ‘that bloke wearing a teapot on his head is as mad as a cut snake’, and the angry sense is illustrated by ‘be careful of the boss this afternoon, he’s as mad as a cut snake’. There are similar phrases in Australian English including mad as a meat axe and mad as a gumtree full of galahs. Mad as a (cut) snake is first recorded in 1900. 1900 Queensland Times (Ipswich) 12 June: A man named John Molloy was brought up at the Police Court &dd; on suspicion of being of unsound mind ... Molloy was taken to Ipswich, examined (I am informed) by a medical man, and discharged. Some surprise has been expressed at this course, for, according to all accounts, the man was, to use a colloquial expression, 'as mad as a snake'. 2013 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 10 March: At the time his colleagues accused him of being as mad as a cut snake. magic pudding An endlessly renewable resource. The term comes from a famous Australian children's book, Norman Lindsay's The Magic Pudding (1918), in which the pudding renews itself as soon as slices are cut out of it. Magic pudding is often found in political contexts, the first recording of it is when it was used by the then Australian treasurer Paul Keating (see quotation below). 1985 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 5 July: Mr Keating had warned throughout the tax debate that there was no 'magic pudding' to provide tax cuts for all. 2013 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 8 March: The key here is what the money is spent on, with infrastructure projects holding out the prospect of being a magic pudding that can create jobs, increase productivity and improve state government revenue. mallee bull: fit as a mallee bull Very strong and healthy. A mallee bull is one that lives in mallee country - poor, dry country where small scrubby eucalypt trees called mallee grow. Any creature that survives in such difficult conditions would have to be tough and fit. The word mallee come from the Victorian Aboriginal language Woiwurrung, but is also found in other indigenous languages of Victoria, South Australia, and southern New South Wales. The first evidence for the phrase is from 1879 where it appears in the form strong as a mallee bull. 1966 R.A.N. News (Sydney) 27 May: The patient is now fit as a malee bull. 2011 M. Groves Outback Life: He was as fit as a Mallee bull and drop-dead gorgeous! manchester Household linen, and the department of a shop where such goods are sold. The term is an elliptical and transferred use of Manchester wares or Manchester goods 'cotton goods of the kind manufactured in Manchester' in Lancashire in England. The city of Manchester in northern England was the centre of the English cotton industry in the 1700s and 1800s. London sales assistants are reputed to be quite baffled by Australian customers enquiring where in the store to find manchester. The word is recorded from the 1840s. 1935 Australian Woman's Mirror (Sydney) 2 July: Thrifty Housewives should not delay to choose from these Manchester Values. 2005 Age (Melbourne) 19 February: My partner and I can't agree on the bath mat ... Please help, as I don't want bathroom manchester to tear us apart. mate This word is used in various ways in Australian English as it is in other Englishes. It can refer to a close friend or acquaintance, but can also be used ironically. It is most most frequently used as a mode of address implying equality and goodwill. For a very detailed discussion about the word mate in Australian English see 'The Story of Mate' on our blog. matilda The collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling, usually on foot, in the bush; especially the blanket-wrapped roll carried, usually on the back or across the shoulders, by an itinerant worker; a swag. This iconic name for a swag is best know from the title of the song 'Waltzing Matilda'. The term is a transferred but unexplained use of the female name. Matilda is recorded from the 1880s. For a further discussion of the term and its possible German origins see the article 'Chasing our Unofficial National Anthem: Who Was Matilda? Why did she Waltz?' in our newsletter Ozwords. 1905 Sydney Morning Herald 27 May: Many a swagman adds a dog to his outfit, and the animal ranks much higher in his affections than 'Matilda', which, it might be explained, is swagmanese for swag. 1996 W. Anderson Warrigal's Way: Lugging my matilda, I walked down Normanby Road towards the Port, Port Melbourne. Melba: do a Melba Used allusively of a person who retires but returns to their profession, especially one who makes repeated 'farewell' performances or comebacks. The phrase refers to Australian operatic soprano Dame Nellie Melba (Helen Porter Mitchell) 1861–1931, whose stage name derived from her birthplace, Melbourne. She announced her retirement in 1924, but gave ‘farewell’ performances at Covent Garden in 1926, in Sydney, Melbourne, and Geelong in 1928, and then sang in England over the next two years. The phrase is recorded from the 1940s. 1959 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 11 January: Gladys Moncrieff .. has no intention of doing a Melba on us. 2012 Australian (Sydney) 17 November: Unless he does a Melba, this means the 2010 novel Nemesis will stand as his 31st and last work of fiction. motza A large sum of money, especially as won in gambling; a fortune; a great amount. There is also a transferred sense meaning 'a certainty'. Motza can be spelt in various forms including motsa, motser, and motzer. The word is probably derived from the Yiddish word matse meaning '(unleavened) bread'. Motza is recorded from the early 20th century. 1911 Sunday Times (Perth) 1 January: He just managed to squeeze home on the post, much to the delight of the bookmakers, who were 'up against' Darjeeling for what the sporting fraternity would term a 'motzer'. 2012 Australian (Sydney) 17 November: Unless he does a Melba, this means the 2010 novel Nemesis will stand as his 31st and last work of fiction. moz: put the moz on To exert a malign influence upon (a person), to jinx. Moz is an abbreviated form of mozzle, which is derived from the Hebrew word mazzal meaning 'luck'. It probably came into Australian English via German Yiddish speakers. Put the moz on is recorded from the 1920s. 1963 H. Porter The Watcher on a Cast-Iron Balcony: Mother is wishing Miss Brewer some female ill, is putting the mozz on her. 2001 H. Menzies Ducks Crossing: As the tide goes up and down the oysters grow and three years later Bob's your uncle, you've got yourself a motza selling to the fish market in Sydney. mozzie A mosquito. Mozzie (also spelt mossie) follows a very common pattern in Australian English whereby a word is abbreviated and the -ie (or -y) suffix is added. This suffix works as an informal marker in the language. Mozzie is now used elsewhere but is originally and chiefly Australian. The word is recorded from the early 20th century. 1916 Punch (Melbourne) 6 April: Here in Victoria we go right along, cursing, the 'mossies', fighting them every night, losing good sleep through them, and yet never attempting to use the nets. 2006 A. Hyland Diamond Dove: Jack reckoned Bickie could smell water the way a mozzie can smell blood. mullet: like a stunned mullet Dazed, stupefied; uncomprehending; unconscious. The phrase alludes to the goggle-eyed stare (and sometimes gaping mouth) of a fish that has been recently caught and made unconscious. A person typically looks like a stunned mullet as the result of a sudden shock or surprise. The phrase is recorded from 1918. 1918 Examiner (Launceston) 11 January: We finally dug into shell holes in the dark opposite the Boche trenches, and waited there like 'stunned mullets' for three hours with the Huns shelling us. 2001 W. Dodson The Sharp End: I eventually managed to get him handcuffed and searched while my team-mates sat on their haunches and watched like a pair of stunned mullets. muster The gathering together of (frequently widely dispersed) livestock in one place for the purpose of branding, counting, etc.; a round-up of stock. This sense of muster is transferred from a chiefly miliatry use of the word where it meant 'an act of calling together soldiers, sailors, prisoners, etc.; an assembling of people for inspection, exercises, etc. ... a roll-call'. In Australia this military sense was applied specifically to a routine assembly of convicts in order to ascertain that they were all present. Also in the colonial period muster referred to a census of the whole population (of the colony, of a district, etc.). The transferred sense to lifestock is recorded from the 1830s. 1852 G.C. Mundy Our Antipodes: The riding after cattle in the bush, for the purpose of driving them in or collecting them for muster, is very hard and sometimes dangerous work. 2013 Gympie Times 16 March: This week he took Craig Warhurst on a muster to show how much help a good dog can be to a property owner. nasho Compulsory military training, as introduced under the National Service Act of 1951. It is also a name for a person who underwent National Service under the Act. The word nasho is an abbreviation of national with an added -o, a common feature of Australian word formation—compare garbo (‘garbage collector’), journo (‘journalist’), and milko (‘milk man’). In the past nasho was seen as a derogatory term within the permanent military force. The term was first recorded in 1953, but it is especially associated with those national servicemen who fought in Vietnam. 1973 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 January: Some 'nashos' have shown outstanding zeal by signing on with the Regular Army. 1980 C. James, Unreliable Memoirs: National Service was designed to turn boys into men and make the Yellow Peril think twice about moving south. It was universally known as Nasho. Ned Kelly: as game as Ned Kelly Fearless in the face of odds; foolhardy. The phrase derives from the name of Australia's most famous bushranger, who was hanged for his crimes in 1880. Opinion on Kelly has remained divided, his critics seeing him as the worst type of colonial thug, while others have represented him as a champion of the underdog, a brave opponent of heartless authority, and a staunch Australian nationalist. A number of terms and phrases derived from the name Ned Kelly are found in Australian English and are discussed in a 2009 article 'Who's Robbing this Coach? Ned Kelly and Australian English' in our newsletter Ozwords. For a discussion of the term Ned Kelly beard see our Word of the Month article from March 2015. And for a further discussion of as game as Ned Kelly see our blog . The phrase is first recorded in the 1920s. 1936 Sydney Morning Herald 8 January: When the police asked what had been done with the man's money, Sloane said, 'You had better find out. You can take me and put me in for two years if you like. I'm no squib; I'm as "game" as "Ned" Kelly. I went to the war when I was 15'. 1997 D. Ireland, The Chosen: The other kids loved him, he was never vicious or cowardly and so brave that he was game as Ned Kelly and had a heart like Phar Lap's. 2012 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 1 August: How bonza is Leisel Jones to be fifth fastest 100m breaststroker in the world, proving the critics wrong. She's as game as Ned Kelly, that girl. neenish tart A small sweet pastry case filled with mock cream, and sometimes including jam, topped with brown and white or pink and white icing. While the origin for this term is unknown the spelling variants neinich, nenische, and nenish suggest that it may derive from a Germanic language. The earliest evidence takes the form neenish cake and dates to 1895. The early evidence also reveals that there have been various recipes for this tart over the years. 1902 Sydney Mail 10 December: Neenish Tarts ... On the top of the whole spread the thinnest layer possible of icing made with the white of an egg and icing sugar sufficient to form a thick paste. With coffee, colour one half a pale yellow, and the other half a deep brown. Ice the tarts carefully, having the top of each half dark, and the other half light, the division being exactly in the centre. Care must be taken that the two colours do not run into each other. 2011 S. McCullough, The Meaning of Existence: By the time the gig rolled around, about half my face had peeled. I looked like a living, breathing Neenish Tart. Noah A shark. The word is derived from rhyming slang Noah's ark, but as is common with many rhyming slang terms the rhyming final element is often omitted. Other examples of rhyming slang in Australian English include: Al Capone 'phone', Barry Crocker 'a shocker', billy lid 'kid', meat pie 'a try (in rugby)', and mystery bag 'snag (a sausage)'. For a more detailed discussion of rhyming slang in Australian English see the article 'Does Australian Slang still Rhyme?' in our newsletter Ozwords. Noah's ark can be found from the late 19th century in Australian English as a rhyming slang term for 'nark', meaning an informer. The shark sense is first recorded from the 1930s. 1936 Western Argus (Kalgoorlie) 12 May: They were about 70 yards from the shore and noticed a 12 ft. shark swimming about. As the 'Noah's Ark' seemed to avoid bait thrown on a line, they decided to experiment with fracteur. 1979 B. Humphries, Bazza Comes Into his Own: A lotta them beaches in Oz are full of Noahs. 1995 T. McGowan, Crew: 'Noahs love surf carnivals', Jason said. no worries No bother, no trouble; an assurance that all is fine. This colloquial version of the phrase ‘not to worry’ is very common in Australia, and also occurs in other forms such as ‘no worries, mate’, ‘no wuckers’, and ‘nurries’. It implies that everything will come right, or be taken care of, and that we should all be relaxed —‘Will you help me do my homework, Dad? It’s due tomorrow!’ ‘No worries, son’. First recorded in the 1960s. 1978 Westerly i: Thanks very much. No worries, she said, making space for my gear on the back seat. 2000 R. Smith, Cold Beer and Crocodiles: I thanked him for the tip. 'No worries.' ocker An uncouth, uncultivated, or aggressively boorish Australian male, stereotypically Australian in speech and manner; a typical or average Australian male. Ocker is also used as an adjective meaning characteristically Australian; uncouth, uncultured, or aggressively boorish in a stereotypically Australian manner. In Australia ocker has been used as a nickname and familiar form of address for a man since the early 20th century. Originally the nickname was applied to a person named Oscar, but its application widened through the 20th century as this quotation demonstrates: Traveller, arriving late at the airport to find the flight fully booked, was told by the cheerful airline worker: 'Sorry, ocker, the Fokker's chocker'. (Northern Territory News, 25 August 1982) But we need to turn the 1960s for the more derogatory use of ocker. And we need to turn to the world of Australian television. In the Mavis Bramston Show (1963-68) Ron Frazer (1924-83) played the character Ocker. Gerry Wilkes in Exploring Australian English, writes: The talented comedian Ron Frazer appeared in a series of TV sketches from which I retain a mental picture of him leaning on a bar, speaking with a broad Australian accent, probably wearing shorts and thongs, and periodically sinking a glass of beer. As that character was called 'Ocker', ocker became the name of the type. Soon after this, the word was used as a derisive nickname for a person who exploits an exaggerated Australian nationalism. Thus in King's Cross Whisper, 1969, we find: Sir Ocker Fairfax, leader of the famous Foot and Mouth Jumping Brigade, received his gong for devising Operation Skippy. Ocker is usually applied to men but there is evidence for the feminine forms ockerette and ockerina from the 1970s. Ocker is still commonly heard in Australian English although the word bogan is now more common in some contexts. oil Information or news. This is a figurative use of oil as the substance essential to the running of a machine, and it was first recorded during the First World War. 1916 Anzac Records Gazette (Alexandria, Egypt), 4 March: An acquaintance greets you with ... ‘What’s the oil’. 1941 K.S. Prichard Moon of Desire: Like to come down to the saddling paddock… If there’s any oil about for the next race, we may as well have it. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask: He put his plate down, as if the subject had ruined his appetite, parked his elbows on the table and gave me the oil. Oil is often found in the terms dinkum oil and good oil, both also occurring in the context of the First World War. In wartime the camps and trenches were rife with rumour, and the soldiers’ thirst for accurate information is reflected in these terms. Dinkum is an Australianism meaning ‘reliable’ or ‘genuine', and dinkum oil means ‘reliable information’ or ‘an accurate report’. For more information about dinkum oil and other words from the Gallipoli campaign, see our blog Anzac: Words from Gallipoli . 1915 Argus (Melbourne) 9 June: Gallipoli… Our lads commenced to pinch themselves to make sure they were really under fire. They had been disappointed so often that now they could hardly believe they had the real thing. I heard one man say, ‘Saida the dinkum oil at last; no more furpheys;’ and that was the feeling all round. 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 14 July: What you write about your life in your autobiography is a little like what you say when under oath. When you call that autobiography This is My Life it is a further affirmation that what I am telling you is the dinkum oil. The good oil means ‘reliable, and therefore welcome, information’. 1918 Gippsland Times (Sale) 20 May: I have never left my unit since I joined, only a ten days' Blighty leave. Next leave will consist of 14 days. It will soon be four years for me, and I can give you the good oil—Australia will do me! 2010 J. Elias Sin Bin: It wouldn't have been too hard to get the good oil from his New South Wales colleagues. Bennett, however, didn't say a word to me about anything aside from football. on the sheep’s back A phrase used to allude to wool as the source of Australia’s national prosperity. The notion is often expressed as riding on the sheep’s back, and sometimes as living off the sheep’s back. For much of Australia’s recent history wool has been the basis of the national economy and the country’s major export. The first wool exports from Australia to Britain began in the 1820s, and the industry boomed throughout the 19th century and beyond. Despite setbacks such as drought, world war, and depression, wool continued its traditional dominance until the mid-20th century. 1924 Sydney Morning Herald 30 July: Australia, said Mr Dunbabin, might be on the sheep's back to-day, but in its infancy it was for some time on the whale's back. It was whale oil, whale bone, sealskins, and seal oil that provided the first important export staples of Australia. 1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai: We were reminded by politicians and editors, and of course at school, ad nauseum, that Australia ‘lives off the sheep’s back’. 2014 Weekly Times (Melbourne) 16 July 84/1 So Australia may still be riding on the sheep's back, but clearly it's what's under the fleece that is gaining more and more attention. on the wallaby The word wallaby (used to describe many smaller marsupials of the family Macropididae) is a borrowing into English from the Sydney Aboriginal language. It first appears in written form in 1793. The term wallaby track is first used to describe the path worn by a wallaby: 1846 J.L. Stokes Discoveries in Australia: In some parts of the tall scrub were wallaby tracks. By the late 1840s the term had been transferred to the route followed by a person who journeys through the country, especially in search of seasonal work. It often occurs in the phrase on the wallaby track and in in the abbreviated form on the wallaby: 1849 Stephen's Adelaide Miscellany: The police themselves are usually well-treated in the bush.. they make a 'round' through the district, and get a meal at every hut, and one man from every said hut (besides those mobs on the 'wallaby track') stops for a night at the police-station in return. 1893 J.A. Barry Steve Brown's Bunyip: I'm on the wallaby, looking for shearing, and, worse luck, haven't got no gold. 1932 J. Truran Green Mallee: South Australia was still a long way off; too far for sore feet that were not used to the wallaby-track. 2000 C. Walker Buried Country: Harry, Wilga says 'was more or less a drifter'. He left Sydney, went on the wallaby again. The phrase on the wallaby is also commonly found in a transferred and figurative sense meaning 'on the move' or 'on the road': 1918 7th Field Artillery Brigade Yandoo: Next morning, the Brigade was on the 'wallaby'. 2005 Cairns Post 18 August: As a local in my 60s, managing on a pension, last year I set off on my life's dream of going 'on the wallaby' around Australia. Oz Australia. The word Oz reproduces in writing the pronunciation of an abbreviation of Aussie, Australia, or Australian. The first evidence appears as Oss in 1908, and this form is likely to rhyme with boss. Overwhelmingly the later evidence is for the Oz spelling, with the final sound pronounced as ‘z’. (Occasionally the word is written as Aus, but pronounced the same way as Oz.) It is possible that the form Oz was influenced by The Wizard of Oz, a film that gained worldwide popularity following its release in 1939. The first record of Oz meaning ‘Australia’ appears not long after this in 1944, in the context of a wartime troop newsletter: 1944 Barging About: Organ of the 43rd Australian Landing Craft Co. 1 September: All the tribes of Oz did gather together. 1971 B. Humphries Bazza Pulls It Off: If they guess I’m from Oz the shit will really hit the fan! 2001 Outback August: We both hope to return to Oz shortly. Oz is also used as an adjective, meaning ‘Australian’, and this is recorded from the early 1970s. 1972 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 June: The Oz habit of shaking hands while looking away at an angle of ninety degrees. 2005 Sydney Morning Herald 22 July (Metro Supplement): The vocals veer from fast-paced raps to more introspective spoken word, the Oz accent adding a distinct flavour. pavlova A meringue dessert with a soft centre, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926 to great acclaim. The pavlova (also formerly called pavlova cake) is claimed as a national dessert by both countries, and there has been much discussion about where it was invented. It is clear that the term pavlova is first recorded in New Zealand in 1927, but in this instance it refers to a moulded, multi-layered jelly dessert. The first New Zealand reference to the more familiar meringue dessert occurs in a 1933 cookery book. The first Australian reference to the classic dish occurs two years later. The shape and appearance of the pavlova may originally have been intended to suggest a ballerina’s tutu. 1935 Advocate (Burnie) 14 September: There are several different varieties of Pavlova cake. The most elaborate consists of alternate layers of meringue, marshmallow, whipped cream and fruit filling, piled high to make the most luxurious party dish. 2004 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 11 November: His signature dish is an emu egg pavlova. If the Kiwis can claim the first evidence for pavlova, Australia can claim the first evidence of the common abbreviation pav, first recorded in 1966. 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 21 December: Swap the Christmas pud for a great big festive trifle stuffed with fresh fruit and jelly or a pav oozing with cream and raspberries. pineapple: to get the rough end of the pineapple To get a raw deal, or to receive unfair or inequitable treatment. The force of the phrase derives partly from the fact that either end of a pineapple is ‘rough’, although the end with the prickly leaves is very rough indeed. This expression is recorded first in 1959, and the early evidence is for the form to get the wrong end of the pineapple. From the 1970s onwards the ‘rough end’ takes over from the ‘wrong end’ as the more common form of the expression. The equivalent American saying is ‘to get the fuzzy end of the lollypop’. 1961 R. Lawler Piccadilly Bushman: He’ll know what I mean when I talk of getting the wrong end of the pineapple. 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 23 October: We welcomed the byelection so we could send you the message: we don't support a government that is giving us the rough end of the pineapple. plonk Wine, or fortified wine, of poor quality; more generally, wine or alcohol of any kind. It is possible that this word has its origin with Australian soldiers serving in France in the First World War. Plonk is likely to be an altered form of the French word ‘blanc’ in vin blanc, ‘white wine’. Soldiers may have pronounced this as van blonk, further transforming it into plonk. Evidence of the period records other similar names used by soldiers for wine based on the French vin blanc: point blank, von blink, plink, plink-plonk, and plinkety-plonk. The Australian word plonk has now spread to other Englishes. It is first recorded in 1919, and is now often used of cheap or poor quality wine. 1927 News (Adelaide) 8 December: ‘Give us a definition of “plonk”?’ asked Mr McMillan. ‘Yes, I can do that’, replied the obliging Mr Collins. ‘It is a cheap wine produced in Mr Crosby's district.’ 1992 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 5 July 30/1 My local plonk shop where I am caught browsing through the Australian white wine section by one of the counter-jumpers. 2007 A. Agar Queensland Ringer: It is not plonk. It is good red South Australian wine. For more on words related to wine drinking, see our blog ‘ Wine in Australian English ’. pokies Poker machines. Pokies are coin or card-operated. The punter presses a button or pulls a lever to spin the wheel, and the machine pays out, if you’re lucky, according to the combination of symbols that appear on the wheel. Known elsewhere as slot machines, fruit machines, or one-armed bandits, pokies are commonplace in Australian pubs and clubs, and a substantial revenue raiser. The first State in Australia to legalise this form of gambling was New South Wales in 1956. The term pokies is first recorded in 1964. 1965 I. Hamilton Persecutor: I always know how much I lose on the pokies. 2007 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 27 March: The Prince Alfred Hotel in Church St, Richmond, is on the market, and some fear it may be turned into a pokies venue. But if the new owners try to get pokies in they will have a huge fight on their hands. pom A British person, especially one from England. (Originally applied to an immigrant from the British Isles.) The word pom has its origin in wordplay. An early, derisory term for an immigrant in Australia was the rhyming slang jimmygrant (sometimes written as Jimmy Grant), recorded in 1844. Jimmygrant was further abbreviated in the 1870s to jimmy: 1878 Australian Town & Country Journal (Sydney) 6 July: The country was worth living in, not like it is now, overstocked with ‘jimmies’—a lot of useless trash. By 1912 another rhyming slang term for ‘immigrant’ had appeared: pomegranate (also written as pommygranate and Pommy Grant). In the same year the first evidence for two abbreviations of pomegranate—pom and pommy—can also be found. Pomegranate (along with its variants) and jimmygrant coexisted for some time: 1912 Truth (Sydney) 22 December: Now they call ’em ‘Pomegranates’ and the Jimmygrants don’t like it. 1916 W.C. Watson The Memoirs of a Ship’s Fireman: As I hailed from the Old Dart, I of course, in their estimation, was an immigrant, hence the curl up of the lip. But ‘pommygrant’ or ‘jimmygrant’, they always had a helping hand for me. Eventually the term pomegranate replaced jimmygrant, and later was itself replaced by the abbreviations pom and pommy: 1920 H.J. Rumsey Pommies (Introduction): The title that I have selected for the book: ‘The Pommies’ is now a common name for recent arrivals from Britain. During the last few weeks, I have scores of times heard the Prince of Wales affectionately described as a ‘dear little pommy’. 1923 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 July: It was a Pommy bloke wot put me wise. I was in Snotty Padger’s bar one day ’Avin’ a quiet couple wiv the flies When Pom. lobs in. 1984 B. Dixon Searching for Aboriginal Languages: The weatherbeaten, red faces of the cattlemen sitting on stools around the bar all slowly swivelled and surveyed me. ‘Pommy!’ ejaculated one of them. I was made to feel that no one had ever asked for a gin and tonic in that pub before. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 29 July: The birth of a future King of England is nice for the Poms and Anglophiles but it has no relevance on who will be a future president of the republic of Australia. There are a number of incorrect theories about the origin of pom. The most common suggests it is an acronym for Prisoner of Mother England, variously described as being stamped on convict clothing or scratched on the walls of prison cells by convicts. There is no evidence whatever to support this notion. Today the use of pom and pommy to refer to an English person is common and widespread. These words can be used with good humour or in a derogatory way, but at the core they still imply a degree of ‘us and them’ mentality. The term whingeing pom, first recorded in 1962, embodies this. It refers to an English person, especially a migrant, who is regarded as a habitual complainer. 1967 Canberra Times 31 March: Many English people are castigated as ‘whinging Poms’, and it behoves Mr Crawford to pack his bags and go if life in Australia is so distasteful. 2014 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 20 September (Home Supplement): He became an Australian citizen in his second year. ‘I decided early on I would never be a whingeing Pom and we were convinced that living here was brilliant’, he says. pork chop: to carry on like a pork chop To behave foolishly, to make a fuss, to complain, or to rant. This expression is often thought to allude to the spluttering noise of a pork chop that is being fried. However it is probably a variant of the older expression like a pork chop in a synagogue, meaning something that is unpopular, unlikely, or rare (with reference to the Jewish prohibition of the eating of pork). To carry on like a pork chop is first recorded in 1975. 2002 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 10 November: The Australian sports public are a forgiving lot. Ask Lleyton Hewitt. Or Shane Warne. Here are a couple of champions who, on several occasions, have carried on like pork chops. 2003 E. Vercoe Keep Your Hair On: She's a beautiful woman, your mother, but by God can she carry on like a pork chop about nothing. possum: stir the possum To excite interest or controversy; to liven things up. This phrase is first recorded in 1888, and probably developed as the obverse of the phrase to play possum meaning ‘to pretend to be asleep or unconscious when threatened’ (in imitation of an opossum’s supposed behaviour). 1949 R. Park Poor Man’s Orange: A mission was like a tonic. It stirred the ’possum in the people, and for months afterwards they could still feel the enthusiasm. 2006 Advertiser (Adelaide) 11 November: Professor Seddon said his talk was deliberately designed to ‘stir the possum’ and generate discussion. prawn A fool; also used as a general term of abuse. It is a figurative use of the word prawn, an edible crustacean (high on Australia’s list of favourite foods). The Australian sense of ‘fool’ is first recorded in 1893. 1944 L. Glassop We were the Rats: What an odious prawn this Anderson is, I thought. 2013 S. Thorne Bonzer: I would have loved her to put in a day now and then at the new tuckshop… But she wouldn't, because she thought the woman who ran it was a ‘prawn’. The term raw prawn, recorded from 1940, is based on this. It means 'an act of deception; a "swiftie"; an unfair action or circumstance, a rough deal’. It derives from the notion of something that is difficult to swallow. 1954 Queensland Guardian (Brisbane) 20 January: Snow says he thinks that this is the raw prawn. We do all the work, the mob behind Menzies gets all the dough. 2012 Sydney Morning Herald 10 March (News Review Section): I can't find one person who expects to get a parental leave scheme that provides full pay. If there's something we hate more than blatant, vote-grabbing profligacy, it's when someone tries to sell us a raw prawn. Today raw prawn is most often heard in the idiom to come the raw prawn, meaning 'to attempt to deceive, or treat like a fool; to misrepresent a situation’. It is typically used in negative constructions, especially as don't come the raw prawn with me (‘don’t try to treat me like a fool’). It is first recorded in 1942. 1973 Woman's Day (Sydney) 26 March: `Don't come the raw prawn with me, mate,' he said. `I can get it back home at Woollies for that price.' 2000 B. Lunney Gone Bush: ‘Don't come the raw prawn with me. Look at those mudflats out there’, I said to him. I was only fourteen years old at the time and remembered thinking, he's having a go at me and must think I'm a dope. public servant A person employed by a government authority; a member of a State or Territory public service, or the Australian Public Service. It is the Australian term for the standard English civil servant. Public servant has its origin in Australia’s history as a penal colony. Unease about the word convict led to the creation of euphemistic terms, including government man and public servant (both recorded from 1797). The convict public servant was assigned to public labour. 1799 D. Collins An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales (1802) vol. II: Such of the .. public servants as might have taken to concealments on shore for the purpose of avoiding their work, or making their escape from the colony. By 1812 public servant was used to refer to any government worker, whether free or convict, and two centuries later it is still the standard Australian term for a public service employee. 1832 Colonial Times (Hobart) 25 April: Mr Henry Melville certainly cannot boast of being in receipt of a handsome salary, as a public servant. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 28 October: Cairns could become the Canberra of the north under a plan to force public servants to move from the national capital to the tropics. See our blog ‘The convict origins of “public servant”’ for a discussion of the term. Queenslander A resident of Queensland; a person born in Queensland. Queensland was constituted as a separate colony in 1859, having previously formed part of New South Wales. The first evidence of Queenslander to describe a resident of the new colony occurs later that year. 1878 J.H. Nicholson Opal Fever: No violence! Let us remember we are gentlemen and Queenslanders. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 December: Just as well we Queenslanders are a non-parochial lot, always considerate of the feelings of southerners. A transferred sense of Queenslander appeared in the 1980s. It refers to a house of a style built in Queensland from the 1870s onwards, timber-built and typically set high on stumps, with exterior weatherboards and corrugated iron roof, a wraparound verandah, and good ventilation. The design maximises air movement in humid conditions. 1990 R. Fitzgerald Busy in the Fog: Isn't our house grand? It's an old Queenslander. 2013 S. Thorne Bonzer: A typical weatherboard ‘Queenslander’, it was built for the climate—up on stumps for the air to circulate underneath, with verandahs and lots of louvres. quokka A small, short-tailed wallaby, Setonix brachyurus, of south-western Western Australia, including Rottnest and Bald Islands. (These islands are free of quokka predators such as foxes and cats.) Quokka was first recorded in 1855, and comes from Noongar, an Aboriginal language of this area. Quokkas are the size of a cat, and have long greyish-brown fur and rounded ears. 1968 V. Serventy Southern Walkabout: It is the famous quokka, one of the pademelon wallabies, which creates most interest. It was this wallaby, mistaken by Dutch visitor Vlaming for a large rodent, which led to the island’s name, Rottnest or ‘Rat’s Nest’. 2004 Australian Geographic July: Beneath the trees live various marsupials, including WA's largest mainland population of quokka and the honey possum or noolbenger. quoll Any of several marsupials of the genus Dasyuris of Australia and New Guinea. Quolls are cat-sized marsupials with long tails, pointed snouts, brown fur, and distinctive white spots. They are nocturnal and hunt insects, birds and small mammals. The word quoll derives from Guugu Yimithirr, an Aboriginal language of north-eastern Queensland. Joseph Banks, botanist with James Cook’s voyage of discovery in 1768-71, recorded it in his Endeavour journal in 1770, when the Endeavour was beached for repairs on the site of present-day Cooktown. However quoll was not the name that European settlers used; native cat was the common term for this animal until the mid 19th century. From the 1960s the word quoll began to replace native cat, and today quoll is the dominant term. 1770 J. Banks Endeavour Journal: Another [quadruped] was calld by the natives Je-Quoll. 1987 Wildlife Australia (Autumn issue): It is only in recent years that distinctive native names have been proposed to replace the ‘tainted’ European ones. Quoll for native cat, for example. 2013 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 13 May: Ms Leonard has hand-reared three kangaroos, a wombat and two quolls. razoo A non-existent coin of trivial value. Razoo, first recorded in 1919, is used in negative contexts only, especially as to not have a razoo, and to not have a brass razoo 'to have nothing; to be penniless'. The origin of the word is unknown, although it is perhaps a corruption of the French coin called a sou. The form brass razoo appears later in 1927. The brass of brass razoo is likely influenced by the standard English brass farthing, which is also used in negative contexts with a similar meaning (‘she hasn’t got a brass farthing’). For an earlier discussion of the possibility that the form brass razoo is a euphemism for arse razoo (from arse raspberry ‘a fart’) see the article ‘Brass Razoo: is it but a breath of wind?’ on page 6 of our Ozwords newsletter. 1965 R.H. Conquest Horses in Kitchen: My main worry was that when I did leave hospital… I wouldn’t have a razoo to my name. 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 14 April: I am trapped in limbo and have not earned a brass razoo in six months. razor gang A parliamentary committee established to examine ways of reducing public expenditure. The term razor gang derives from the name of a violent street gang in Sydney in 1927 who were armed with razors. The parliamentary sense may be a transfer from the 1960s British Railway slang (an extended use of the literal razor gang) ‘a team of investigators seeking ways of improving economy and productivity’. In Australia in 1981 razor gang became the popular term to refer to the Committee for Review of Commonwealth Functions, chaired by Treasurer Phillip Lynch, which was charged with cutting government spending. Today razor gang is used of any similar committee or organisation that seeks to drastically cut expenditure. 1981 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 May: Canberra reports said that Sir Phillip Lynch’s ‘Razor Gang’ had recommended an overall staff cut in the Federal public service of 2 percent. 2012 Gold Coast Bulletin 15 June: The Newman Government's razor gang has seized the $1.3 million that was allocated by the previous Labor government for the Burleigh police beat to plump up its Budget bottom line. right: you right? Often heard as a question from a salesperson to a customer, this is the Australian equivalent of the standard query are you being served? It may sound offhand to non-Australian ears, but although informal, it is not a sign of disrespect. It is a shortened form of are you all right? First recorded in 1974. 1985 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July: Cedric Felspar .. was lost in thought in .. David Jones .. when a salesgirl crept upon him from behind and whined: ‘You right?’ 2013 Age (Melbourne) 13 January: When sales assistants ask ‘Are you right?’, I have answered: ‘No, I'm left of centre.’ What's wrong with ‘May I help you’? rogaining A sporting event similar to orienteering, in which teams compete over a course that requires at least twelve hours to complete. The word rogaine probably derives from the first names of the founders of the sport: Ro(d), Gai(l), and Ne(il) Phillips. The earliest evidence of rogaining is found in 1979. 1982 N. & R. Phillips Rogaining: Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation in which teams of two to five members visit as many checkpoints as possible in an allocated period. Teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass in terrain that varies from open farmland to thick, hilly forest. A central base camp provides hot meals throughout the event and teams may return there at any time to eat, rest or sleep. 2013 Milton-Ulladulla Times 25 June: Elleisha has also .. survived overnight bush rogaines, running through the bush at Kangaroo Valley as first aid officer for her team on a 24-hour trek. rooned: we'll all be rooned We will all be ruined. An expression of pessimism. Rooned is an Irish pronunciation of ‘ruined’, used in the refrain of the poem ‘Said Hanrahan’, published in 1921 by John O’Brien, the pen name of P.J. Hartigan. Hanrahan, a farmer, is a lugubrious and pessimistic doomsayer. Whatever the weather, he predicts disaster: ‘We’ll all be rooned,’ said Hanrahan, ‘before the year is out’. The expression is now used to mock pessimists, and is first recorded in the same year the poem was published. 1927 Gundagai Independent 1 August: There are plenty of Hanrahans about—‘We'll all be rooned’, they croon, ‘if rain don't come this month’. 2008 Canberra Times 26 January (Opinion Supplement): We may have become a nation in 1901 but in 107 years since we have gradually severed constitutional, legal and procedural links to the English crown and government apparatus. Each has been accompanied by cries of ‘We'll all be rooned!’ rort To scam, misuse, or to treat fraudulently. This significant Australian word derives from wrought, an archaic past participle of the verb to work. Wrought means ‘worked into shape or condition’ and we see it today in the term wrought iron. Indeed the Australian rort is sometimes spelled wrought in early evidence (see the 1938 example below). The verb rort first appears in 1919. 1938 Argus (Melbourne) 26 March (Supplement): ‘Now me’, he went on, ‘I was edjicated in Woolloomooloo, in Sydney. That's were I learnt wroughting’. ‘But what is this wroughting?’ I asked. He wrinkled his forehead thoughtfully. ‘It's a bit ’ard to explain it’, he said. ‘What it really comes to is that you sells something that isn't no use, to people what doesn't want it, for good, ’ard cash.’ 2006 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 28 September: Carlton were found to have rorted the salary cap. Rort is also used as a noun, meaning ‘a trick, a fraud, a dishonest practice’, and is first recorded in 1926. For a further discussion of the origin of rort, see our Word of the Month article . 1936 J. Devanny Sugar Heaven: The cockies are supposed to pay this retention money into the bank and we are supposed to draw interest on it but normally they don’t pay it in. They keep the use of it through the season and we draw the bare amount at the end of the cut. It’s the greatest rort ever. 2000 R. Hoser Taxi: Canberra, the public service capital of Australia, is without doubt the rort capital as well. sanger A sandwich. Sanger is an alteration of the word sandwich. Sango appeared as a term for sandwich in the 1940s, but by the 1960s, sanger took over to describe this staple of Australian cuisine. Sangers come in all shapes and sizes for all occasions—there are gourmet sangers, steak sangers, veggie sangers, cucumber sangers, and even double banger sangers. 1968 D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches: Meals consisted of piles of sangers, made by the pub cook, and brought out at odd intervals. 2003 J. Birmingham Dopeland: The club sanger is the only reason I stay here. schmick Smart, stylish; excellent. Schmick (sometimes shmick) is a relatively recent addition to Australian English. The form smick is found once in the written record in the 1970s, and may be a blend of the words smart and slick. From the late 1990s onwards smick is modified to schmick on the model of various Yiddish words borrowed into English. Schmick is now often heard in Australian English. For a discussion of the origin of schmick, and the term schmick-up that has developed from it, see our Word of the Month article. 1999 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 28 July: The view over the river and Story Bridge will be pretty schmick. 2009 J. Welch Choir Man: I .. was decked out in a lovely new navy-blue suit… When I walked out onstage feeling rather schmick, I got a nod of acknowledgement from the very handsome artistic director, Richard Bonynge. School of the Air A government-funded educational program that uses a two-way radio communication system (and, more recently, internet technology) to enable children in remote areas to participate in ‘classroom’ activities for part of each day. Developed to supplement correspondence education, the School of the Air was pioneered in Australia in 1951. It remains the most important means of education for children who have no access to school. 1960 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 February: Queensland’s first School of the Air, operating one hour daily from the Cloncurry flying-doctor base, got away to a bad start. 2009 E. McHugh Birdsville: I'm happy about School of the Air being over… Now they're off to school and in a classroom again they can come home to me and I'm just Mum instead of being their cranky teacher. screamer (In Australian Rules football) a spectacular overhead mark. Australian Rules is a team game in which the ball is moved by running, kicking, and handballing. A mark is the act of cleanly catching a ball that has been kicked a distance of more than 15 metres, and the mark allows the catcher to take an unimpeded kick of the ball. A screamer is a mark that results from an especially high and spectacular leap for the ball. It is a specific use of the standard English screamer meaning ‘an outstanding specimen’. The Australian Rules screamer is first recorded in 1953. 1989 Age (Melbourne) 24 July: 'Leaping Al' Lynch played an inspired game... kicking six goals and .. sitting on a pack of four players .. to pull down a screamer. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 30 March: Six minutes in he threw himself onto a pack in the goalsquare and took a screamer. A second sense of screamer is recorded in Australian English from 1959. It functions in various compound terms with words for measures of alcoholic drink, indicating a person who has a low tolerance of alcohol, or who becomes drunk easily or quickly. Two-pot screamer is the most common of these, but you can also find two-pint, two-middy, and two-schooner screamers. 1972 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 June: Sefton said she’d become a two middy screamer. He said when she had a few drinks she began to shout and tried to dominate the conversation. 2004 Canberra Times 12 December (Magazine Section): In the days when I was a two-pot screamer (as opposed to now when I'm a two-pot sleeper), I could be guaranteed to reveal bits of me which oughtn't to be revealed to anyone. seachange A significant change of lifestyle, especially one achieved by moving from the city to a seaside town. It derives from SeaChange (1998–2000), the name of a popular Australian television series in which the principal character moves from the city to a small coastal town. The name of the series itself alludes to the standard English meaning of sea-change ‘a profound or notable transformation’, which has its origin in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest: ‘Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change, Into something rich and strange.’ The Australian meaning is first recorded in 1998, and has generated the verb to seachange, and the name seachanger to describe people who choose a seachange. A later term modelled on seachange is tree change, referring to a significant change in lifestyle with a move from the city to a rural district. 2003 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 1 December: Sea change investors cause prices to triple. People fleeing Sydney to NSW coastal areas for a ‘sea change’ have forced land prices up by as much as three times in three years. 2006 Australian Gourmet Traveller April: One of Melbourne's best pub restaurants .. has appointed a ‘certified Francophile’ to replace Tim Saffery, who is sea-changing to the New South Wales south coast. secret business In traditional Aboriginal culture, ceremony and ritual that is open only to a particular group. The word business in this term is from Aboriginal English, and means ‘traditional Aboriginal lore and ritual’, and is recorded from 1907. Secret business is first recorded much later in 1986, and from it have developed terms with a more specific reference: secret men’s business, for ceremony and ritual that is open only to men, and secret women’s business, for ceremony and ritual that is open only to women. 1997 West Australian (Perth) 9 July: People might refuse to give evidence if it meant revealing secret business. 2001 A. McMillan An Intruder's Guide to East Arnhem Land: In the morning the men went off to a nearby ceremonial site for Ngarra bunggul or, if you like, secret men's business. 2014 Cairns Post 24 February: It's really hard with my daughters, a lot of it is secret women's business. The women had more sacred areas than men and it's up to my partner, my sisters and my mum to teach them. From the late 1990s the terms are transferred into standard Australian English where they are used, often jokingly, in non-Aboriginal contexts. 1997 New Idea (Melbourne) 29 November: Kingswood driving is secret men's business—just like pushing a shopping trolley straight is secret womens' business. shag: like a shag on a rock An emblem of isolation, deprivation, and exposure. It is first recorded in 1845. A shag is a name for any of several species of Australian cormorant, commonly found in coastal and inland waters, where they are often seen perched alone on a rock—the behaviour that gave rise to the expression. In Australian English any isolated person can be described as being like a shag on a rock—for example, a political leader with few supporters, or a person without friends at a party. Sometimes found in the formulation as lonely (or miserable) as a shag on a rock. 1864 Sydney Morning Herald 8 July: He heard Lant say he would be revenged on Mr Orr; he would scab his sheep, and leave him as miserable as a shag on a rock. 2001 B. Courtenay Four Fires 501 Tommy doesn't want the poor bloke to be standing there like a shag on a rock. sheila A girl or woman. This word first appeared in Australian English in 1832 with the spelling shelah. It was initially used in Australia to refer to a woman of Irish origin, but from the late 19th century onwards it became a general term for a woman or girl. It probably derives from the generic use of the (originally Irish) proper name Sheila. For a full discussion of its likely origin in the old celebration Shelah’s Day, celebrated the day after St Patrick’s Day, see our blog ‘Shelah’s Day and the origin of sheila’ from March 2016. For a different, but nevertheless Irish, view of the origin of the term, see an earlier discussion in our Ozwords article ‘Who is Sheila?’ from December 2001. 1930 L.W. Lower Here’s Luck: ‘Sheilas!’ gasped Woggo as the girls clambered out of the car. 1992 J. Davis In our Town: That's my sister. What a sheila. Every bloke in Northam wants to date her. shower: I didn’t come down in the last shower I’m not stupid, don’t try and put one over me! This is a response to someone who is taking you for a fool, and indicates that you have more experience or shrewdness than you have been given credit for. It is now used elsewhere, but it is recorded earliest in Australia, and its use is chiefly Australian. First evidence is from 1883. 1904 Northern Miner (Charters Towers) 22 September: At least I thought it would be accepted that I didn't come down in the last shower. 2015 Star Observer (Sydney) September: I didn’t verbalise it with my mother until she was dying… So I told her, just before she died, and she looked at me and said, ‘Michael, I didn’t come down in the last shower. You’ve been bringing Johan to Sunday dinner for the last 30 years, do you think I was blind?' sickie A day's sick leave, especially as taken without sufficient medical reason. Sickie is an abbreviation of the term sick leave, and illustrates a distinctive feature of Australian English — the addition of -ie or -y to abbreviated words or phrases. Other examples include: firie ‘firefighter’, surfie ‘surfer’, and Tassie ‘Tasmania’. Sickie is first recorded in 1953, and is often found in the phrase to chuck a sickie, meaning ‘to take a day’s sick leave from work’ (often with the implication that the person is not really ill). 1962 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 March: I don’t feel a bit like work today… I think I’ll take a sickie. 2003 Canberra Times 21 June: The age old practice of ‘chucking a sickie’ in the Australian Public Service is costing the taxpayer at least $295 million a year. skip An Australian, especially one of British descent. Also as skippy. The term is the creation of non-British Australian migrants, especially children, who needed a term to counter the insulting terms directed at them by Australians of British descent. First recorded in 1982, it derives from the children’s television series Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo (1966-68). 1988 K. Lette Girls' Night Out: The Skips at school had teased her about being Greek. 2000 Geelong Advertiser 3 December: You listening to me ya skippy dickhead? Skippy has a later meaning, ‘kangaroo meat’, first recorded in the early 1990s and derived from the same source. For a discussion of this sense see our Word of the Month article from October 2013. sledge Of a fielder in a game of cricket, to attempt to break the concentration of a person batting by abuse or needling. Sledge is first recorded in the mid-1970s in a cricketing context. It derives from the word sledgehammer, used figuratively to designate an unsubtle form of verbal abuse. Later it became used more widely in a variety of contexts, sporting and otherwise, in the sense ‘to criticise, ridicule, attack’. For a discussion of the theory that it derives from the name of the singer Percy Sledge, see our blog ‘Percy Sledge and cricket’ from April 2015. 1980 Sydney Morning Herald 16 October: Crude language is forbidden. This edict should put an end to the disgraceful practice of ‘sledging’ opponents, an abomination that has become rampant in the game over the last few years. 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 7 June: And The Australian is certainly selective about which women it worries about: it was hardly outraged over the sustained sledging of Julia Gillard. sleepout A verandah, porch, or outbuilding that is used for sleeping accommodation. The word first appears in 1915. Sleepouts are often used when hot weather encouraged people to sleep in a sheltered area that might receive cooling night breezes. Sometimes a sleepout may be a porch or verandah that is enclosed with windows or walls, eventually becoming a permanent extra bedroom. 1959 L. Rose Country of the Dead: He looked up through the gauze wire serving as the outer wall of the sleep-out, across the dry river flat. 2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 28 October (Etc Section): It still has an authentic country feel with wide shady verandas, a wood-burning fireplace for frosty nights, two double bedrooms with high wrought-iron beds and, much to the children's delight, a sleepout they were all to share on our visit. snag A sausage. Also snagger. In Australia and elsewhere snag has a number of meanings, including ‘a submerged tree stump’, ‘an unexpected drawback’, and more recently as an acronym for sensitive new age guy’. But in Australia a snag is also one of several words for ‘sausage’ (others include snarler and snork). It is first recorded in 1937, and probably comes from British (mainly Scots) dialect snag meaning ‘a morsel, a light meal’. Snag has generated another, rhyming slang, term for the humble sausage: the aptly named mystery bag. 1943 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 December: Waiting only to bolt a couple of cold ‘snags’ Ted got out his bike. 1991 Age (Melbourne) 24 December (Supplement): Bangers, snags, call them what you will, the once-humble sausage has moved up into the gourmet class. sorry In traditional Aboriginal culture, of or relating to death and mourning. In Aboriginal English the adjective sorry is recorded in this sense from the 1940s. Later compounds based on sorry include sorry business, ritual and ceremony associated with death, and sorry camp, a mourning camp. 1997 S. Dingo Dingo: the Story of Our Mob: When Polly passed away, none of the children had been permitted to go to the sorry ceremony, the funeral, no children at all. 1999 Canberra Times 11 December (Panorama): An Aboriginal boy tells us about going with his family by car to Yarrie for sorry business. In the wider Australian community sorry is found in the annual Sorry Day, first held on 26 May 1998, a public expression of regret for the treatment of the stolen generations, those Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their parents by white authorities. It is also, for the Indigenous community, a day of mourning. 2001 Adelaidean June: For the fourth year in a row, Sorry Day has been marked at Adelaide University with a formal ceremony. spit the dummy This has two meanings in Australian English: to give up (contesting or participating), and to lose one’s temper or composure. The phrase is recorded first in the1980s. It is usually used of an adult with the implication is that the behaviour described is childish, like a baby spitting out its dummy in a tantrum and refusing to be pacified. 1992 Sydney Morning Herald 2 November: With most games, of course, I'd simply spit the dummy, hit the switch and give up. 2005 Age (Melbourne) 27 November: There was a lingering doubt: would host Russell Crowe spit the dummy and biff someone with a trophy? spunk A sexually attractive person. Australians also use the meanings for this term that exist in standard English: 1 courage and determination. 2 semen. But in Australia spunk is most commonly used to refer to a person of either sex who is regarded as sexually attractive. It is first recorded in the 1970s and is derived from spunky ‘full of spirit; brave, plucky’, although it may be influenced by spunk ‘semen’. A term based on the Australian spunk is spunk rat, which means the same thing, but can also mean ‘a sexually promiscuous person’. 1979 Carey & Lette Puberty Blues: It was Darren Peters—the top surfing spunk of sixth form. 2004 Australian (Sydney) 12 June (Magazine): Physical attractiveness is multi-dimensional: after all, one person's spunkrat is another person's .. er, rat. squatter A squatter is a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building. But in early nineteenth-century Australia a squatter (first recorded 1825) was also a person who occupied Crown land without legal title. From the 1840s it began to refer to any person who grazed livestock on a large scale, without reference to the title by which the land was held; and the term squatter also referred to such a person as being of an elevated socio-economic status. Squatters became wealthy and powerful, and the term squattocracy (recorded in 1841) alludes to their aristocratic pretensions. 1867 ‘A Colonist’ Life’s Work As It Is: No men have made wealth faster in this colony than ‘squatters’; that is, in plain English, sheep and cattle owners. 1984 W.W. Ammon et al. Working Lives: He had class that manager, squattocracy class, and only others of squatter ilk were encouraged to fraternise with him. stolen generation The Aboriginal people who were removed from their families as children (especially between the 1900s and the 1960s) and placed in institutions or fostered by white families. Also stolen generations. The term was first recorded in 1982. 2002 Koori Mail 20 February: I hope this film will be a turning point in Australians’ awareness of the complex and painful issues surrounding the Stolen generations. 2006 Mercury (Hobart) 22 November: Pioneering laws to offer compensation to Tasmanian Aborigines forcibly removed from their families as part of the Stolen Generation were passed yesterday by the Tasmanian House of Assembly. stoush Fighting; violence; a brawl or fight. Probably from British dialect (Scots) stashie, stushie (and variants) ‘an uproar; a commotion, disturbance, quarrel’. Stoush is used as a noun and a verb (‘to strike or thrash; to fight or struggle’) from the late 19th century. 1935 J.P. McKinney Crucible: ‘The jacks were tailing me up.’ ‘What was the matter’, John asked. ‘Just a bit of stoush’, said Roberts. ‘Two of them bailed me up for my pass. I dropped them and beat it for the bush.’ 1994 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 19 July: Australia's leading fund managers are lining up for a stoush with one of the industry's leading researchers over its proposal to develop a rating system. Stoush was also used to refer to military engagement during the First World War, and later the phrase the big stoush was used of the war itself. 1932 Western Mail (Perth) 25 August: I was on board the troopship Nestor when that steamer went over to the big stoush in 1915. For a discussion of the phrase the big stoush, see our Word of the Month for April 2015. straight to the poolroom A catchphrase used to express the great value of a gift, prize, object, etc. The idiom comes from the 1997 film The Castle in which the main character, Darryl Kerrigan (played by Michael Caton), says of gifts such as ‘a samurai-sword letter opener’ that ‘this is going straight to the poolroom’, suggesting it is so wonderful that it should be preserved as a trophy. First recorded in 1998. 2000 Sunday Mail (Adelaide) 21 May: Bravo! The great man signed a football for me and when I get home it's going straight to the pool room. stubby A short, squat beer bottle, especially one with a capacity of 375 ml. The bottle is stubby (short and thick) in comparison with the tall and slender 750 ml beer bottle. First recorded in 1965. The term stubby holder appears a few years later, to describe a casing made of an insulating material, in which a stubby is held (and kept cold) while the contents are being drunk. The expression a stubby short of a sixpack, recorded from the late 1990s, means ‘very stupid; insane’. It is an Australian variation of a common international idiom, typically represented by a sandwich short of a picnic. It combines the Australian stubby with the borrowed American sixpack (a pack of six cans of beer), demonstrating how readily Australian English naturalises Americanisms. 1966 J. Iggulden Summer’s Tales: Drinking beer from small, cold stubbies. 2005 Townsville Bulletin 12 November: The fact the affable brindle bitzer is a stubbie short of six pack might explain why one day he took on a stingray. No dog in his right mind would tackle a stingray, especially one at home in its own watery environment. such is life An expression of resignation; a philosophical acceptance of the bad things that happen in life. First recorded in 1896. This is a commonplace, but given significance in Australia because these words are popularly understood to be the last uttered by the bushranger Ned Kelly on the gallows in 1880. The expression was further popularised by its use as the title for Joseph Furphy’s famous novel about rural Australia (1903). Some claim that Kelly’s last words were in fact ‘Ah well, I suppose it has come to this’— not quite as memorable. For a discussion of such is life and other terms associated with Ned Kelly, see the article ‘Who’s Robbing this Coach? Ned Kelly and Australian English’ in our Ozwords newsletter from April 2009. 1918 W. Hay The Escape of the Notorious Sir William Heans: The tragic distresses of portions of our lives ... make at worst a pleasant interest for the young of future ages. Such is life! 2006 Sydney Morning Herald 1 July: It's the first time in my life that I've been sacked but such is life. My pride has been a bit dented. swag In early use, the collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling, usually on foot, in the bush; especially the blanket-wrapped roll carried on the back or across the shoulders by an itinerant worker. In later use, such a collection of possessions carried by a worker on a rural station, a camper, or a traveller to the city from a country area; a bed-roll. First recorded in 1836. The Australian sense of swag is a transferred use of swag from British thieves’ slang ‘a thief's plunder or booty’. The transfer of meaning (from the booty itself to the the booty and its container) is recorded by convict James Hardy Vaux in 1812 and published in his Memoirs in 1819. For more on this see the article ‘James Hardy Vaux: Pioneer Australian Lexicographer’ (page 6) in our Ozwords newsletter from April 2008. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 August: Did you ever take 'the wallaby' along some dreary track With that hideous malformation, called a swag, upon your back. 2006 R. Ellis Boats in the Desert: He slid out of it like a banana losing its peel. He began rummaging among his swag looking for something, and as he did so, I saw a brown snake slithering away from Jim's swag as fast as it could go. The verb to swag meaning 'to carry one's swag' appears in the 1850s, and the compound swagman (a person who carries a swag; an itinerant worker, especially one in search of employment, who carries a swag; a vagrant) appears in the 1860s. 1996 B. Simpson Packhorse Drover: I remember clearly the sad procession of down-at-heel swagmen, many of them returned soldiers, who called at our place in the hope of getting a job or a handout. For a discussion of other terms associated with swagmen, see the article ‘The Jolly Swagman’ on pages 6-7 of our Ozwords newsletter, October 2007. tall poppy A person who is conspicuously successful, especially one who attracts envious notice or hostility. It is often said that Australians have a tendency to cut tall poppies down to size by denigrating them. It may have its origin in an obsolete 17th-century sense of the word poppy, meaning ‘a conspicuous or prominent person or thing, frequently with implication of likely humiliation’. This meaning of poppy is likely to refer to the Roman historian Livy’s account of Tarquinius Superbus, who silently showed how to deal with potential enemies by striking off the heads of the tallest poppies in his garden with a stick. The Australian tall poppy is first recorded in 1871, and tall poppy syndrome, the practice of denigrating prominent or successful people, is recorded from 1983. 1894 Oakleigh Leader (Melbourne) 29 December: He would avert direct taxation on wealth by retrenching all the low paid civil servants, while carefully protecting the tall poppies who have very little to do. 2005 Sydney Morning Herald 12 March: How do colleagues know when I am having a go at Shane Warne?… They can see my fingers moving on the keyboard. Look, I try not to do it all the time, honest! But sometimes the compulsion just overwhelms me, as a hideous case of Tall Poppy Syndrome grabs me by the throat and, fair dinkum, makes me do it. tart A girlfriend or sweetheart; also applied generally to a girl or woman, implying admiration. This Australian sense of tart is recorded from 1892 through to the 1970s, but has now fallen out of use. It is likely to be an abbreviation of jam tart, itself probably rhyming slang for sweetheart. 1937 A.W. Upfield Mr Jelly’s Business: I’m in love with a tart. Her name’s Lucy Jelly. She is the loveliest girl within a thousand miles of Burracoppin. 1972 D. Sheahan Songs From The Canefields: If you fell in love and got on with a tart—’Twas happy she’d be to go out in a cart—And after the wedding she’d chatter for hours Of sight and scenes that she saw at the Towers. Today a woman is likely to take offence if you call her a tart, since the two current meanings for a female tart are both derogatory: 1. a promiscuous woman or prostitute, and 2. an offensive slang term for a girl or woman. It wasn't always the case. For the best part of the last hundred years, calling a woman a tart in Standard English was not necessarily an insult, and both the positive and negative meanings of tart overlap for much of this time. However the use of tart to mean a girlfriend or sweetheart is unique to Australian English. things are crook in Tallarook A rhyming catchphrase used to indicate that things are bad or unpleasant. Its use often prompts a similar response from a listener, such as ‘but things are dead at Birkenhead’.Tallarook is the name of a small town in northern Victoria, and crook is used in the Australian sense ‘bad; inferior; unpleasant; unsatisfactory’. Things are crook in Tallarook is one of several similar phrases based on rhyming reduplication, including ‘there’s no work at Bourke’, ‘got the arse at Bulli Pass’, ‘no lucre at Echuca’, and ‘everything’s wrong at Wollongong’. They are sometimes thought to be associated with the Great Depression of the 1930s, when massive unemployment meant that many people travelled long distances looking for work. However, things are crook in Tallarook is not recorded until the early 1940s. 1988 H. Reade You’ll Die Laughing: How stiff can you get? No tube, no jack, no spare, no car, no bike, no ’phone, no hearse and no bloody undertaker! Things are crook in Tallarook. 2005 Newcastle Herald 26 February (Weekender Section): ‘Things are crook in Tallarook’ was a well-worn exclamation from World War II diggers when they found themselves in a sticky situation. tickets: to have tickets on yourself To have an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or value; to be conceited. The evidence for this phrase dates from 1904. It became popular around the time of the First World War, and increasingly so into the 1920s and 30s. The original meaning of the word ticket is uncertain, but it probably refers to betting tickets (a person is so confident in their ability that they would bet on himself or herself). Other suggestions have included raffle tickets, price tags (especially the kind that used to be displayed on the outfit of mannequins in shop windows), or prize ribbons awarded at agricultural shows. 1945 Townsville Daily Bulletin 28 November: Entered a haughty lady with enough rings on her fingers to open a jeweller's shop. One glance convinced me she had ‘tickets on herself’, and in her own mind believed she was superior to the others in the compartment. 2001 Australian (Sydney) 26 September: Freeman is often portrayed as a shy, humble athlete, but she professed the opposite to be true. ‘I think I have always had the overwhelming audacity to believe I could win. I always had tickets on myself, I just didn't speak about it publicly’, she said. trackie daks Tracksuit trousers. Trackie is a colloquial term for tracksuit, chiefly used in Australia and Britain and recorded from the 1980s. The word daks began as a proprietary name (trademarked in the 1930s) for a brand of trousers. In Australia daks became used as a generic term for trousers from the 1960s. The two words appear in the compound trackie daks in 1993 and, whether you love them or deride them as daggy, they are Australia’s favourite leisure wear. 1997 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 7 August: Scott Blackwell pops on his trackie daks to write a dag's guide to the Ekka. 2001 Australian (Sydney) 12 May: I like to think she eases herself into some comfy old trackie daks. troppo: go troppo To become mentally disturbed; to go crazy or wild. Troppo is formed by the abbreviation of tropic and the addition of –o, and it demonstrates a common Australian way of altering words. The phrase to go troppo was first used by Australian troops in the Pacific during the Second World War, and arose from the idea that long exposure to tropical conditions affected your sanity. It is now used in various contexts. 1945 G. Powell Two Steps To Tokyo: I might have wondered at what stage I had reached in the process of going ‘troppo’. It was a common saying with us that a man was beginning to go ‘troppo’ when he started talking to the lizards. 1994 M. Colman In A League Of Their Own: This was in the middle of the Whitlam government's darkest days and the crowd has gone absolutely troppo when Gough's walked out. true blue Very genuine, very loyal; expressing Australian values; Australian. This derives from a British English sense of true blue, recorded from the 17th century with the meaning ‘faithful, staunch, unwavering in one's commitments or principles; extremely loyal’. Later it also came to mean ‘staunchly conservative’ in a political sense. In Australia true blue expressed a completely different political ideal; the earliest records of the Australian sense date from the 1890s and mean ‘loyal to workers and union values’. 1897 Worker (Sydney) 18 September: Reports from the sheds are cheering, both reps. and men being of the sort called ‘true blue’. This sense is overtaken in the last decades of the 20th century by a more general use of true blue to refer to something or someone that expresses Australian values, or is very genuine or loyal. 2006 Townsville Bulletin 6 January: The two married after dating for two years. Both were barely 20, she Canadian, he true blue Aussie. Although true blue is not exclusively Australian, it is of special interest in Australia, and used here without the connotations of conservatism that are usually present elsewhere. For an earlier, detailed discussion of the history of the term from medieval times, see the article ‘How True Blue is True Blue?’ (page 5) in our Ozwords newsletter from October 1996. turps: on the turps Drinking heavily. Turps is an abbreviation of turpentine, and is recorded in Australian English from the 1860s with the meaning ‘alcoholic liquor’. It alludes to the use of spirits such as turps and methylated spirits by down-and-out alcoholics. In the earliest uses of the phrase on the turps the alcohol referred to is a spirit such as gin or rum, but more recently it has referred to any kind of alcoholic drink, especially beer. 1968 D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches: He’s a bastard when he gets on the turps. 2006 Australian (Sydney) 14 June: Drinking coffee after a night on the turps might do more than help you sober up—it could also slash your risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver. two-up A gambling game in which two coins are tossed in the air and bets laid as to whether both will fall heads or tails uppermost. It is first recorded in 1855. The two coins, traditionally pre-decimal currency pennies, are placed tails up on a flat board called the kip. The ring-keeper (the person in charge of the two-up ring) calls come in spinner, and the spinner tosses the coins. Two-up was popular with Australian soldiers during the First World War, and has become associated with the Anzacs. The game is traditionally played on Anzac Day, 25 April, in hotels and RSL clubs. For further discussion of two-up, see the article ‘The Language of Two Up’ in our Ozwords newletter from October 2010. 1893 Western Champion (Barcaldine) 27 June: The men were amusing themselves on the ‘off-day’ by playing cards, &c., one group playing ‘two-up’. 2007 Canberra Times 26 April: Ms Brill joined about 100 people yesterday at the club's outdoor two-up ring to watch punters empty their wallets and pint glasses during the traditional Anzac game. uey A U-turn. Uey is formed by abbreviating U-turn and adding –y on the end, a common Australian way of altering words. It is often found in the phrases to chuck a uey or to do a uey, meaning ‘to carry out a U-turn’. The earliest evidence of the term is found in 1973. 1975 Australian Women’s Weekly 2 July: My father remarked nervously that we were going the wrong way. ‘Sir’, replied the driver, ‘I will shortly make a turn. I am not in the habit of chucking a U-ey.’ 2006 A. Hyland Diamond Dove 205 He did a casual u-ie in the driveway and headed south. ugg boot A flat-soled boot made from sheepskin with the wool on the inside. The term is of unknown origin, but is perhaps originally an alteration of ugly boot. Ugg boots (also spelled ugh boots and ug boots) are Australia’s favourite footwear for comfort or cold weather. The early evidence for the term, from the late 1960s, suggests they first became popular with surfers. The name Ugh-boots was registered as a proprietary name for a type of footwear in 1971 by the Shane Clothing Company, but in 2006 ugg boot (and its variants) was removed from the Australian register of trademarks. It is now a generic term for this type of boot in Australia. For a discussion of this and other footwear terms, see our blog ‘Footwear in Australian English’ from May 2015. 1986 Woman's Day (Sydney) 15 December: You can wash your ug boots in the washing machine with a good wool wash. 2003 Sydney Morning Herald 29 November: Is it just us, or has 2003 been the year of the ocker? Everywhere you look, there are ugh boots, thongs and mullet haircuts. ute Abbreviation of utility, a small truck with a two-door cab that looks like a sedan, and a tray (with permanent sides) that is part of the body. The word ute is first recorded in 1943. Utes are used for carrying light loads and are a familiar sight on Australian roads, both rural and urban. Many towns have an annual gathering of utes for competitive display, sometimes called a ute muster, with prizes awarded in categories such as ‘best street ute’ and ‘best feral ute’. 1955 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 February: Charley, caught well out in the blacksoil country in his utility .. glanced over his shoulder—the back of the ute was loaded with hailstones! 1994 Age (Melbourne) 26 June: No country road anywhere on this continent is ever entirely free of hoons in utes travelling faster than they ought to. verandah over the toy shop A man's large protruding belly; a ‘beer gut’. This phrase is a jocular allusion to toy shop in the sense ‘sexual wares’ (with reference to the male genitals). In standard English a verandah is ‘a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor’, but in Australia it also refers to the same kind of open-sided roofed structure over a shop or commercial building. The verandah is a significant architectural feature in Australia, and although Australian shops now rarely have such verandahs, the phrase verandah over the toy shop is still current. It is first recorded in 1987. Variants include verandah over the tool shed. 1991 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 10 September: Santa training courses start in October—so pull out that red suit with the fur trimmings, and get accustomed to sticky fingers and wet patches on your knee. A small veranda over the toy shop probably wouldn't hurt either. 2009 J. Castrission Crossing the Ditch: He was looking slimmer and fitter than ever before. Normally, his cheeks had a decent puff in them and his veranda over the toy shop would have no trouble resting on the table edge. vegemite: happy little vegemite, Vegemite kid Vegemite is a concentrated yeast extract used as a spread. It was registered as a trademark in 1923, and became one of Australia’s favourite spreads for toast and sandwiches. The phrase happy little vegemite means ‘a cheerful or satisfied person', and is recorded from 1954. The phrase derives from an advertising campaign in the same year that included the jingle: ‘We're happy little Vegemites As bright as bright can be. We all enjoy our Vegemite For breakfast, lunch, and tea.’ (See the video on our blog ‘A History of Vegemite’ .) 2001 B. Courtenay Four Fires: So the Owens Valley CFA weren't always happy little Vegemites. The 1980s saw another term adopted into Australian English from a Vegemite advertising campaign. Ads included the line ‘I’ll always be a Vegemite kid’, and Vegemite kid came to mean not only 'a child who eats Vegemite', but 'a typical Australian'. 1996 Sydney Morning Herald 19 June: Jane Campion? She's an Aussie. Neil Finn? A true-blue Vegemite kid. Mel Gibson? He fought at Gallipoli, didn't he?… That was just a movie? Oh, close enough. waltzing Matilda: to waltz Matilda To carry a swag; to travel the road. A matilda is a swag, the roll or bundle of possessions carried by an itinerant worker or swagman. The word waltz in to waltz Matilda is a jocular or ironic way to refer to the hard slog of carrying your possessions as you travel on foot, although waltz may possibly influenced by a German colloquial term, auf die Walze gehen, which means ‘to go a-wandering; to go on one's travels’. The term to waltz Matilda is first recorded in the late 1880s, and is likely to have had a fairly short life, if it hadn’t been for the poet Banjo Patterson. In 1895 he penned the lyrics to the song about a swagman that became Australia’s famous national song, ‘Waltzing Matilda’. The song became strongly associated with national identity, and has cemented the term waltzing Matilda in the Australian imagination – although it is a fair bet that not all of us know exactly what it means! 1908 Cairns Morning Post 8 April: The population still increases, every coach to Quartz Hill bringing a full complement of passengers who ‘waltz matilda’ the 60 odd miles to the new El Dorado. 1945 J. Devanny Bird of Paradise: Nowadays they waltz Matilda on bikes. For an earlier discussion of to waltz Matilda see the article ‘Chasing Our Unofficial National Anthem: Who Was Matilda? Why Did She Waltz?' (page 2) in the May 1999 issue of our Ozwords newsletter. wide brown land Australia. The phrase originates in the poem ‘My Country’ (originally titled ‘Core of My Heart’) by homesick poet Dorothea Mackellar, a young Australian living in England. It was published in the London Spectator in 1908, and then widely in Australian newspapers. The poem contrasted her experience of the green, orderly English countryside with the extremes of Australian geography and climate. Wide brown land is from the much-quoted second stanza: I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Her beauty and her terror – The wide brown land for me! Following the poem’s publication, the phrase wide brown land began to be used from the 1930s to refer to Australia. 1966 J. Smith Ornament of Grace: A nice myth to be dusted off every Anzac Day, about bronzed heroes of the wide brown land. 1999 T. Astley Drylands: Out there all over the wide brown land, was a new generation of kids with telly niblets shoved into their mental gobs from the moment they could sit up in a playpen. widgie The female counterpart of a bodgie . Bodgies and widgies had their heyday as a youth subculture in 1950s Australia, and widgies, like bodgies, were readily identified by their style of clothing. In the Sydney Morning Herald, 11 February 1955, there occurs an interesting description of the 1950s widgie: Constable Waldon said: 'A widgie, as she is known to me, is generally dressed in a very tight blouse, mostly without sleeves, and generally with a deep, plunging front. The blouse closely conforms to the lines of the body. In addition, she usually has a form-fitting skirt, which is very tight, especially around the knees. The skirt flares out a little below the knees and generally has a split either at the side or at the rear to enable her to walk. A widgie wears a short-cropped haircut.' Judge Curlewis said the detective's description of a widgie was the best he had heard in a Court. Widgie (often spelt weegie in early occurrences) is first recorded in 1950. It is of unknown origin, although suggested origins have included a blend of woman (or women) and bodgie, an allusion to their wedge-shaped hairstyles, or an arbitrary rhyming reduplication on bodgie. The phenomenon of bodgies and widgies peaked in the 1950s. In the 1960s they were replaced by new subcultures such as the sharpies, rockers, mods, and surfies. 1996 Condon & Lawson Smashed: Breezy McCarthy, good-time girl, fast girl, slut, was a sort of widgie, if that word from the fifties still has any meaning. wigwam: a wigwam for a goose’s bridle Something absurd or preposterous; used as a snubbing or dismissive reply to an unwanted question. It might be used to answer an inquisitive child who asks ‘What’s in the bag?’ The original English idiom was a whim-wham for a goose’s bridle. Whim-wham meaning 'an ornament' or ‘a trinket’ disappeared from the language in the nineteenth century and survived only in this phrase. In Australia the meaningless whim-wham was altered to the more familiar wigwam (and sometimes to wing-wong). The Australian idiom is first recorded in 1917. 1947 Sydney Morning Herald 12 March: ‘Where you going?’ he called. ‘To get a wigwam for a goose's bridle’, yelled Smiley insolently, recalling one of the sayings of Granny McKinley, the oldest inhabitant. 2004 Mercury (Hobart) 19 June: And when your dad was busy in the shed and you repeatedly asked ‘What's that dad?’ there were all those variants on ‘A wigwam for a goose's bridle’. wobbly: to chuck a wobbly To lose one's self-control in a fit of nerves, panic, temper, annoyance, or the like. To chuck a wobbly is a variant of the Standard English idiom to throw a wobbly, where wobbly means ‘a fit of temper or panic’. In Australian English chuck in the sense of ‘throw’ or ‘stage’ is used in other expressions with the same meaning, such as chuck a mental and chuck a mickey. Chuck a wobbly is first recorded in 1986. In 1992 it appears in the record of a parliamentary debate in the Australian Senate, when one senator chastises another: ‘Stop chucking a wobbly, Senator Ray. Behave yourself. You will have a heart attack.’ 2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 7 January: If one more cot-case trendy brands us as bogan yobbos, we'll chuck a wobbly. wog A microbe or germ, a ‘bug’; an illness such as influenza or gastroenteritis. This wog is not the offensive word used in Australia to mean a migrant from southern Europe, and in Britain to mean a non-white migrant. This Australian wog originally meant ‘an insect or grub’, and referred especially to a predatory or disagreeable one. It then came to mean a germ or illness, and is first recorded in this sense in 1931. 1937 Cairns Post 19 July: This is the season, according to the experience of recent years, for the influenza ‘wog’ to become active, and this year is no exception to the rule. 2006 Newcastle Herald 1 June: I have had this wog for a while, and I was pretty crook when I woke up this morning, so I arranged replacement drivers for my team at Newcastle and then came to the hospital. Woop Woop A remote and supposedly backward rural town or district. It is one of several imaginary names Australians use to refer to a typical place in the outback, including Oodnagalahbi, Bullamakanka, and Bandywallop. As with Woop Woop, they allude to remoteness, a lack of sophistication, or both. Woop Woop is a jocular formation that is probably influenced by the use of reduplication in Aboriginal languages to indicate plurality or intensity. A number of real Australian placenames, such as Wagga Wagga, are examples of reduplication. The first evidence for Woop Woop occurs in the 1890s. 1940 Rip (Port Phillip) 29 October: If I go to the dance on Thursday, I’ll have to walk from Woop-Woop. 1993 R. Fitzgerald Eleven Deadly Sins: It is preferable to refer to one's opponent as ‘the honourable member for Woopwoop’ rather than as ‘that idiot scumbag’. wowser A person who is publicly censorious of others and the pleasures they seek; a person whose own behaviour is puritanical or prudish; a killjoy. Wowser, still current in Australian usage, is recorded from 1900. Its origin is uncertain. It may be from British dialect wow ‘to howl or bark as a dog; to wail’ and ‘to whine; to grumble, make complaint’, but it is possibly a coinage of John Norton, who was the editor of the Sydney newspaper Truth from 1891–1916. He claimed to have invented it, saying ‘I first gave it public utterance in the [Sydney] City Council, when I applied it to Alderman Waterhouse, whom I referred to as ... the white, woolly, weary, watery, word-wasting wowser from Waverley’. Certainly the earliest evidence for wowser is found in Truth. Wowser is a productive term that has given rise to words such as wowserish, wowserdom, and wowserism – all of which can be found in use today. 1906 Truth (Sydney) 25 March: A wowser cannot walk through the Art Gallery without being shocked by seeing the picture of some well-proportioned goddess. 1989 Sun (Melbourne) 14 March: And there are plenty of wowsers who believe Dr Ruth should be censored and any talk of sex confined strictly to the bedroom. For an earlier discussion of the history of wowser see the article ‘Wow for Wowser!’ (page 7) in our Ozwords newsletter from May 1997. X-ray Used to designate a style of Aboriginal painting that originated in Western Arnhem Land (Northern Territory). The style is characterised by the depiction of internal as well as external organs of the subject, as if the artist is seeing it with X-ray vision. The first evidence of the term is found in the early 1940s. 1978 R. Edwards Aboriginal Art in Australia: The famous X-ray paintings have their home in the west. In them, the artist portrays not only the external features of the animal, human or spirit being he is painting, but also the spinal column, heart, lungs and other internal organs. It is a conventional way of showing that there is more to a living thing than external appearances. 1999 M. Mahood Crocodile Dreaming: Two big sea turtles and a dugong, X-ray style. yabby Any of several freshwater crayfish valued as food, especially the common species Cherax destructor that is native to south-eastern Australia. Fishing for yabbies is often a favourite childhood memory for Australians who lived near a dam or creek. A piece of string lowered into the water, with a bit of fresh meat tied to it for the yabby to latch on to, is the traditional fishing method. Yabbies are good to eat (a number of species can now be found on restaurant menus) and are also used as fishing bait. The word yabby is a borrowing from the Wemba Wemba language of Victoria. The earliest evidence of it dates from the 1840s, and it has generated a number of compound terms such as yabby farming, yabby net, and yabby trap. 1889 Bathurst Free Press 14 March: Luscious Murray cod, with succulent ‘yabbies’ and tempting fruit. 1999 Australian Gold, Gem &Treasure Magazine December: About a kilometre from our camp was a dam brimming over with large yabbies so each night Imy would set a couple of yabby nets he happened to have, baited with some Meaty Bites, and the next morning we would feast on toasted yabby sandwiches. A second sense of yabby occurs chiefly in Queensland, recorded from 1952. It refers to any of several small burrowing shrimp-like marine crustaceans that are commonly used for bait. Anglers often use a mechanical device called a yabby pump to extract these crustaceans from the sand or mud flats. 1994 P. Horrobin Guide to Favourite Australian Fish (ed. 7): Inside temperate estuaries, there are two small shrimps which are first class baits for a variety of fish. These are the ‘yabbies’ or ‘nippers’. There are many species of freshwater crayfish in Australia and many different names for them, such as lobby, marron, and crawchie. For a discussion of these and other terms for Australian freshwater crayfish, see our blog ‘The problem with yabbies’ from February 2013. yakka Work, strenuous labour. The word is used especially in the phrase hard yakka. Yakka first occurs in the 1840s as a verb meaning ‘to work’, and it derives from yaga meaning ‘work’ in the Yagara language of the Brisbane region. Yakka found its way into nineteenth-century Australian pidgin, and then passed into Australian English. Spelling variants such as yakker and yacker are also found. 1892 Bulletin (Sydney) 19 November: The stevedore must yacker for the bit he gets to eat. 2004 Townsville Bulletin 14 July: We marched out through the thigh-deep mud carrying wallaby jacks, jungle matting lent by the army and railway sleepers. It was hard yakka. yidaki A didgeridoo. Yidaki is a borrowing from the Yolgnu languages of north-eastern Arnhem Land (Northern Territory). The instrument was originally used only in Arnhem Land, but became commonly known in Australia as the didgeridoo (not an Aboriginal word, but an imitation of the sound by non-Aboriginal people). The Yolgnu word for the instrument has become widely known in recent decades, and was popularised by the music group Yothu Yindi, formed in 1986, whose members were Yolgnu speakers. 1988 Sydney Morning Herald 12 November: The rock and roll starts. It's a thick sound, made more bass-y by the addition of the yidaki but Bakamana Yunupingu has a strong, appealing voice. 2000 Koori Mail (Lismore) 20 September: With the sound of the yidaki (didgeridoo) echoing off nearby high-rise buildings and apartments, a gathering of Sydney's Aboriginal community celebrates the mid-point of the Budyari ‘Proper Way’ Festival. yowie An ape-like monster supposed to inhabit parts of eastern Australia. The yowie is Australia’s equivalent of the Himalayan yeti, or the American bigfoot or sasquatch. Yowie may come from the word yuwi ‘dream spirit’ in the Yuwaalaraay language of northern New South Wales. However, another possiblity is that yowie is an alteration of the word yahoo, a name given by Aboriginal people to an evil spirit. Yowie is first recorded in the 1970s. 1980 M. McAdoo If Only I’d Listened: ’E’d be about six foot easy tall, broad, an’ a sort of brownish fur lookin’ stuff all over ’im, an’ standing up like a man… We didn’t know what the name of it was then, but .. a lot of people’ve been seein’ them around the eastern parts, an’ they’re known as the ‘Yowie’. zac A sixpence. It is probably derived from the Scottish dialect word saxpence. Zac is first recorded in Australian English in the 1890s. Later it is also used to mean ‘a trifling sum of money’, as in the phrase not worth a zac. Australians no longer use pounds, shillings and pence since decimal currency was introduced in 1966, but we have long memories. Despite the fact that there have not been zacs in our wallets for fifty years, the word zac, and the notion that it is not worth a great deal, can still be found in Australian usage. 1945 Australian Week-End Book: The only one who’d backed it had been his wife who’d had a zac each way. 2006 Age (Melbourne) 29 August: ‘When I started this .. I divested myself of anything I owned’, he said. ‘I'm not worth a zac.’	bottom drawer
In World War I, the British soldiers were nicknamed 'Tommies', what name was given to Frenchsoldiers?	Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms - Australian National Dictionary Centre - ANU Australian National Dictionary Centre Research School of Humanities & the Arts ANU College of Arts & Social Sciences Search Australian National Dictionary Centre Search query Home » Australian words » Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms Meanings and origins of Australian words and idioms This section contains a selection of Australian words, their meanings, and their etymologies. All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z acca Michael Davie in 'Going from A to Z forever' (an article on the 2nd edition of the Oxford English Dictionary), Age, Saturday Extra, 1 April 1989, writes of his visit to the dictionary section of Oxford University Press: Before I left, Weiner [one of the two editors of the OED] said he remembered how baffled he had been the first time he heard an Australian talk about the 'arvo'. Australians used the -o suffix a lot, he reflected. Arvo, smoko, garbo, journo. But not all -o words were Australian, said Simpson [the other of the two editors]: eg 'aggro' and 'cheapo'. I asked if they were familiar with the Oz usage 'acco', meaning 'academic'. They liked that. I hoped, after I left, they would enter it on one of their little slips and add it to their gigantic compost heap - a candidate for admission to the next edition. We trust that Edmund Weiner and John Simpson did not take a citation, since the Australian abbreviation of academic is not acco but acca (sometimes spelt acker). The abbreviation first appears in Meanjin (Melbourne, 1977), where Canberra historian Ken Inglis has an article titled 'Accas and Ockers: Australia's New Dictionaries'. The editor of Meanjin, Jim Davidson, adds a footnote: 'acca (slightly derogatory) 1, noun An academic rather than an intellectual, particularly adept at manipulating trendiologies, usually with full scholarly apparatus. Hence 2, noun A particularly sterile piece of academic writing.' The evidence has become less frequent in recent years. 1993 Age (Melbourne) 24 December: The way such festivals bring together writers, publishers and accas, making them all accountable to the reader - the audience - gives them real value. acid: to put the acid on To exert a pressure that is difficult to resist; to exert such pressure on (a person, etc.), to pressure (someone) for a favour etc.; to be successful in the exertion of such pressure. This idiom is derived from acid test which is a test for gold or other precious metal, usually using nitric acid. Acid test is also used figuratively to refer to a severe or conclusive test. The Australian idiom emerged in the early 20th century and is still heard today. 1903 Sydney Stock and Station Journal 9 October: In the class for ponies under 13 hands there was a condition that the riders should be under ten years of age. When the stewards 'put the acid on' the riders it was found that only one exhibit in a very big field carried a boy who was not over ten years old. 2015 Australian (Sydney) 6 February: One option would be to skip the spill motion and go directly to a call for candidates for the leadership. It would put the acid on putative challengers and catch them out if they are not ready. Aerial ping-pong A jocular (and frequently derisive) name for Australian Rules Football (or Aussie Rules as it is popularly called). The term derives from the fact that the play in this game is characterised by frequent exchanges of long and high kicks. The term is used largely by people from States in which Rugby League and not Aussie Rules is the major football code. This interstate and code rivalry is often found in evidence for the term, including the early evidence from the 1940s. 1947 West Australian (Perth) 22 April: In 1941 he enlisted in the A.I.F. and joined a unit which fostered rugby football. Renfrey did not join in the &oq;mud bath&cq; and did not play 'aerial ping-pong', as the rugby exponents in the army termed the Australian game, until 1946. 1973 J. Dunn, How to Play Football: Sydneysiders like to call Australian Rules 'aerial ping-pong'. A team from Sydney was admitted to the national competition in 1982, and one from Brisbane was admitted in 1987. These teams are based in traditional Rugby League areas, yet have drawn very large crowds, and have been very successful. While the term is perhaps not as common as it once was there is still evidence from more recent years. 2010 Newcastle Herald 23 September: Without a shadow of a doubt the aerial ping pong boys have league beaten when it comes to WAGs. At the Brownlow Medal night the likes of Chris Judd's fiancee Rebecca Twigley and Gary Ablett's girlfriend Lauren Phillips certainly scrub up well. akubra A shallow-crowned wide-brimmed hat, especially one made from felted rabbit fur. It is a significant feature of rural Australia, of politicians (especially urban-based politicians) travelling in the outback, and of expatriates who wish to emphasis their Australianness. Now a proprietary name, our earliest evidence comes from an advertisement. 1920 Northern Star (Lismore) 4 November: Made in Australia! Yes, the smartest hat that's made in our own country may be seen in our hat department ... The makes include 'Sovereign', 'Vebistra', 'Akubra', 'Peerless', 'Beaucaire'. ambit The definition of the limits of an industrial dispute. In later use chiefly as ambit claim. In Australian English an ambit claim is one typically made by employees which sets the boundaries of an industrial dispute. The term is a specific use of ambit meaning 'extent, compass'. First recorded in the 1920s. 1923 Mercury (Hobart) 21 March: In the Commonwealth Arbitration Court .. Mr Justice Powers to-day delivered judgment on the point. He said that the ambit of the dispute before the Court was confined to constructional work, but that the Court could and would deal with claims for maintenance work. 2006 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 May: Telstra's ambit claim was for exclusive access on the ground that it was taking all the commercial risk involving the not-inconsiderable expenditure of $3.5bn. ambo An ambulance officer. This is an abbreviation that follows a very common Australian pattern of word formation, with –o added to the abbreviated form. Other examples include: arvo (afternoon), Salvo (Salvation army officer), dermo (dermatologist), and gyno (gynaecologist). The -o form is often found at the ending of Australian nicknames, as in Johno, Jacko, and Robbo. Ambo was first recorded in the 1980s. 1986 Sydney Morning Herald 1 February: Even though I was a nurse before I became an ambo, at first I thought, can I handle this? ant's pants Something extremely impressive; the best of its kind. Ant's pants is an Australian variant of the originally US forms bee's knees and cat's whiskers with the same meaning. The term is first recorded in the 1930s. 1933 Brisbane Courier 12 May: These Men's Pull-overs of ours. They're the Ant's Pants for Value. 2015 T. Parsons Return to Moondilla: 'Liz is busting to see you', Pat said. 'She thinks you're the ant's pants.' Anzac An Australian soldier. Anzac denotes the virtues of courage and determination displayed by the First World War Australian soldiers at Gallipoli in 1915. Anzac was formed from the initial letters of Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. Australian soldiers are also called 'diggers' because so much of the original Anzacs’ time was spent digging trenches. First recorded 1915. 1915 Camperdown Chronicle 2 December: Lord Kitchener told the 'Anzacs' at the Dardanelles how much the King appreciated their splendid services, and added that they had done even better than the King expected. Anzac biscuit A sweet biscuit typically containing rolled oats and golden syrup. While variations on this classic recipe exist, its simplicity is its hallmark. The association with the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps goes back to 1917 when the recipe was first recorded. The biscuits are also known simply as Anzacs. The following quotations show the evolution of the recipe: 1917 War Chest Cookery Book (Australian Comforts Fund): Anzac Biscuits. 4oz. sugar, 4ozs. butter, 2 eggs, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, 1 cup flour, 1 cup rice flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 teaspoon mixed spice. Beat butter and sugar to cream, add eggs well beaten, lastly flour, rice flour baking powder, cinnamon and spice. Mix to stiff paste, roll and cut into biscuits. Bake a nice light brown in moderate oven. When cold jam together and ice. 1926 Argus (Melbourne) 16 June: 'Often Helped' .. asks for a recipe for Anzac biscuits ... Two breakfast-cupfuls of John Bull oats, half a cupful sugar, one scant cupful plain flour, half a cupful melted butter. Mix one table-spoonful golden syrup, two table-spoonfuls boiling water, and one teaspoon-ful bicarbonate of soda, until they froth, then add the melted butter. Mix in dry ingredients and drop in spoonfuls on greased tray. Bake in a slow oven. apples: she’s apples Everything is fine, all is well. Australian English often uses the feminine pronoun she where standard English would use it. For example, instead of 'it’ll be right' Australians say ‘she’ll be right’. She's apples was originally rhyming slang - apple and spice or apple and rice for 'nice'. The phrase has now lost all connection with its rhyming slang origin. First recorded in the 1920s the term can still be heard today. 1929 H. MacQuarrie We and Baby: 'She'll be apples!' (Dick's jargon for 'all right'.) 2008 West Australian (Perth) 26 April: After a successful tour and a newly released DVD, she's apples with the ubiquitous Paul Kelly. arvo Afternoon, as in see you Saturday arvo. It is often used in the phrase this arvo, which is sometimes shortened to sarvo: meet you after the game, sarvo. Arvo is an example of a special feature of Australian English, the habit of adding -o to an abbreviated word. Other such words are bizzo ‘business’ and journo ‘journalist’. First recorded in the 1920s and still going strong today. 2008 Australian (Sydney) 10 July: Former Baywatch beach decoration and Playboy bunny Pamela Anderson plans to visit a Gold Coast KFC outlet this arvo to protest against the company's treatment of chooks. Arthur: not know whether you are Arthur or Martha To be in a state of confusion, as in this comment in an Australian state parliament—‘The Leader of the Opposition does not know whether he is Arthur or Martha, Hekyll or Jekyll, coming or going’. The phrase was first recorded in the 1940s. In recent years it has also been used with reference to questions of gender identity, and in this sense it has been exported to other countries. 1948 Truth (Sydney) 14 March: Players were all over the place like Brown's cows, and most didn't know whether they were Arthur or Martha. 2010 West Australian (Perth) 3 November: Years ago, I teamed my work outfits (Kookai tube skirts, fang-collared blouses) with my dad's ties, only to be informed by my manager I looked as though I wasn't sure if I was Arthur or Martha. Aussie Australia; Australian. The abbreviation Aussie is a typical example of the way Australians abbreviate words and then add the -ie (or -y) suffix. Other common examples includes budgie (a budgerigar), rellie (a relative), and tradie (a tradesperson). The word is used as a noun to refer to the country and to a person born or residing in the country, and as an adjective denoting something relating to Australia. Aussie is also used as an abbreviation for 'Australian English' and the 'Australian dollar'. The earliest evidence for Aussie occurs in the context of the First World War. 1915 G.F. Moberly Experiences 'Dinki Di' R.R.C. Nurse (1933): A farewell dance for the boys going home to 'Aussie' tomorrow. 1916 G.F. Moberly Experiences 'Dinki Di' R.R.C. Nurse (1933): One of our Aussie officers. 1917 Forbes Advocate 25 September: 'Hold on Eliza, where did you get that favor?' 'From an Aussie!' Australia Why is Australia called Australia? From the early sixteenth century, European philosophers and mapmakers assumed a great southern continent existed south of Asia. They called this hypothetical place Terra Australis, Latin for 'southern land'. The first European contact with Australia was in the early seventeenth century, when Dutch explorers touched on parts of the Australian continent. As a result of their explorations, that part of the mainland lying west of the meridian which passes through Torres Strait was named Nova Hollandia (Latin for 'New Holland'). In April 1770 Captain James Cook and the crew of the Endeavour reached the southern land. Cook entered the word Astralia (misspelt thus) in his journal the following August. However he did so only in reference to an earlier seeker of the southern land, the Portuguese-born navigator Pedro Fernandez de Quiros, who in 1606 had named the New Hebrides Austrialis de Spiritu Santo. Cook says: The Islands discover'd by Quiros call'd by him Astralia del Espiritu Santo lays in this parallel but how far to the East is hard to say. Cook himself called the new continent New Holland, a name that acknowledges the early Dutch exploration; the eastern coast he claimed for Britain and called New South Wales. The first written record of Australia (an anglicised form of Terra Australis) as a name for the known continent did not occur until 1794. George Shaw in his Zoology of New Holland refers to: the vast Island or rather Continent of Australia, Australasia, or New Holland, which has so lately attracted... particular attention. It was Matthew Flinders, English navigator (and the first person to circumnavigate and map Australia's coastline), who first expressed a strong preference for the name Australia. He gave his reasons in 1805: It is necessary, however, to geographical propriety, that the whole body of land should be designated under one general name; on this account, and under the circumstances of the discovery of the different parts, it seems best to refer back to the original Terra Australis, or Australia; which being descriptive of its situation, having antiquity to recommend it, and no reference to either of the two claiming nations, is perhaps the least objectionable that could have been chosen; for it is little to apprehended, that any considerable body of land, in a more southern situation, will be hereafter discovered. To these geographical, historical and political reasons for preferring the name, he adds in his 1814 account of his voyages that Australia is 'agreeable to the ear, and an assimilation to the names of the other great portions of the earth'. Australia was championed too by Lachlan Macquarie, Governor of New South Wales from 1810, who was aware of Flinders' preference and popularised the name by using it in official dispatches to London. He writes in 1817 of: the Continent of Australia, which I hope will be the Name given to this country in future, instead of the very erroneous and misapplied name, hitherto given it, of 'New Holland', which properly speaking only applies to a part of this immense Continent. With Macquarie's kickstart Australia eventually proved to be the popular choice. Although the name New Holland continued alongside it for some time, by 1861 William Westgarth noted that 'the old term New Holland may now be regarded as supplanted by that happier and fitter one of Australia'. banana bender A Queenslander. The term derives from the joking notion (as perceived from the southern states of Australia) that Queenslanders spend their time putting bends into bananas. An article from 15 July 1937 in the Queenslander provides a forerunner to the term when a man is asked by the Queen what his occupation is: "I'm a banana-bender". Further to enlighten her Majesty he explained that bananas grew straight on the trees, and so just before they ripened, his was the job to mount the ladder, and with a specialised twist of the wrist, put into the fruit the Grecian bend that was half its charm. The association of bananas with Queensland ('banana land') is based on the extensive banana-growing industry in tropical Queensland. The Queensland border has been called the Banana curtain and Brisbane has been called Banana city. Banana bender, in reference to a Queenslander, is first recorded in 1940 and is till commonly heard. 1964 D. Lockwood Up the Track: We are so close to Queensland that I think we should hop over the border. What do you say to a quick look at the banana-benders? 2011 Northern Star (Lismore) 11 July: Should the Matilda's [sic] have won last night or the Netball Diamonds see off New Zealand, Anna Bligh will doubtless claim it was due to the preponderance of banana benders in the squads or at the very least the result of a Gold Coast holiday during their formative years. bandicoot Soon after white settlement in 1788 the word bandicoot (the name for the Indian mammal Bandicota indica) was applied to several Australian mammals having long pointed heads and bearing some resemblance to their Indian namesake. In 1799 David Collins writes of the 'bones of small animals, such as opossums ... and bandicoots'. From 1830s the word bandicoot has been used in various distinctively Australian phrases as an emblem of deprivation or desolation. In 1837 H. Watson in Lecture on South Australia writes: 'The land here is generally good; there is a small proportion that is actually good for nothing; to use a colonial phrase, "a bandicoot (an animal between a rat and a rabbit) would starve upon it".' Typical examples include: as miserable as a bandicoot as poor as a bandicoot as bald as a bandicoot as blind as a bandicoot as hungry as a bandicoot Probably from the perception of the bandicoot's burrowing habits, a new Australian verb to bandicoot arose towards the end of the nineteenth century. It means 'to remove potatoes from the ground, leaving the tops undisturbed'. Usually this activity is surreptitious. 1896 Bulletin 12 December: I must 'bandicoot' spuds from the cockies - Or go on the track! 1899 Bulletin 2 December: 'Bandicooting'.. is a well-known term all over Western Vic. potato-land. The bandicooter goes at night to a field of ripe potatoes and carefully extracts the tubers from the roots without disturbing the tops. bandicoot: miserable as a bandicoot Extremely unhappy. Bandicoots are small marsupials with long faces, and have been given a role in Australian English in similes that suggest unhappiness or some kind of deprivation (see above). The expression miserable as a bandicoot was first recorded in the 1820s. 1828 Sydney Gazette 11 January: On her arrival here she found him living with another woman by whom he had several children, and from whom he was necessarily obliged to part, not, however, without very candidly forewarning his wife, the present complainant, that he would make her as miserable as a bandicoot. 2005 R. Siemon The Eccentric Mr Wienholt: I am as miserable as a bandicoot having to sneak home like this. banksia man The large woody cone of several Banksia species, originally as a character in children's stories. Banksia is the name of an Australian genus of shrubs and trees with about 60 species. It was named after the botanist Sir Joseph Banks, who was on the Endeavour with James Cook on his voyage of discovery in 1770. After flowering, many banksias form thick woody cones, often in strange shapes. It was on such grotesque shapes that May Gibbs modelled her banksia men in Snugglepot and Cuddlepie of 1918: 'She could see the glistening, wicked eyes of Mrs. Snake and the bushy heads of the bad Banksia men'. 1927 K.S. Prichard Bid me to Love: Louise: .. See what I've got in my pocket for you ... Bill: (diving into a pocket of her coat and pulling out a banksia cone) A banksia man. Oh Mum! 1979 E. Smith Saddle in the Kitchen: Hell was under the well near the cow paddock, deep and murky and peopled by gnarled and knobby banksia men who lurked there waiting for the unguarded to fall in. barbecue stopper A topic of great public interest, especially a political one. The term derives from the notion that a topic is so interesting that it could halt proceedings at a barbecue - and anything that could interrupt an Aussie barbecue would have to be very significant indeed! The term was coined by Australian prime minister John Howard in 2001 in the context of balancing work pressures with family responsibilities. Barbecue stopper is now used in a wide range of contexts. For an earlier discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from August 2007. 2007 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 11 March: Controlled crying is a guaranteed barbecue stopper among Australian parents, more divisive than the old breast-versus-bottle feeding debate. 2015 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 1 April: Planning and zoning looms as a barbecue stopper in leafy suburbs, where many residents and traders will defend to the last breath their quiet enjoyment and captive markets. Barcoo The name of the Barcoo River in western Queensland has been used since the 1870s as a shorthand reference for the hardships, privations, and living conditions of the outback. Poor diets were common in remote areas, with little access to fresh vegetables or fruit, and as a result diseases caused by dietary deficiencies, such Barcoo rot—a form of scurvy characterised by chronic sores—were common. Katharine Susannah Prichard writes in 1946: ‘They were nothing to the torture he endured when barcoo rot attacked him. The great sores festered on his back, hands and legs: his lips split and were raw and bleeding’. Rachel Henning, in a letter to her sister in 1864, makes fun of her Irish servants’ fear of scurvy, for which they eat pigweed, ‘rather a nasty wild plant, but supposed to be exceedingly wholesome, either chopped up with vinegar or boiled’. Another illness probably caused by poor diet was Barcoo sickness (also called Barcoo vomit, Barcoo spew, or just Barcoo), a condition characterised by vomiting. ‘Barcoo was rife among the kiddies and station-hands; vomiting attacks lasting for days laid each low in turn’. Happily, Barcoo can also denote more positive aspects of outback life: a makeshift resourcefulness - a Barcoo dog is a rattle for herding sheep, which can be as simple as a tin can and a stick – or rough and ready behaviour: ‘The parrot’s language would have shamed a Barcoo bullocky’. Barcoo can also typify the laconic bush wit. Patsy Adam Smith relates the following story: ‘I see you’ve learnt the Barcoo Salute’, said a Buln Buln Shire Councillor to the Duke of Edinburgh. ‘What’s that?’ said His Royal Highness, waving his hand again to brush the flies off his face. ‘That’s it’, said the man from the bush. barrack for To give support or encouragement to (a person, team, etc.), usually by shouting names, slogans or exhortations. Some claim barrack comes from Australian pidgin to poke borak at 'to deride', but its origin is probably from Northern Irish barrack 'to brag; to be boastful'. By itself barrack meant 'to jeer' (and still does in British English), but the form barrack for transformed the jeering into cheering in Australian English. First recorded in the 1880s. 1889 Maitland Mercury 24 August: Old dad was in his glory there - it gave the old man joy To fight a passage thro' the crowd and barrack for his boy. 1971 D. Williamson Don's Party: I take it you'll be barracking for Labor tonight? 2011 Gympie Times 28 January: He thought it was about time to take the pledge and officially become Australian as he had barracked for our cricket team since 1955. barrier rise The opening of the starting gates to begin a horserace. In horseracing the barrier is a starting gate at the racecourse. The word barrier is found in a number of horseracing terms in Australian English including barrier blanket (a heavy blanket placed over the flanks of a racehorse to calm it when entering a barrier stall at the start of a race), barrier trial (a practice race for young, inexperienced, or resuming racehorses), and barrier rogue (a racehorse that regularly misbehaves when being placed into a starting gate). Barrier rise is first recorded in the 1890s. For a more detailed discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from October 2010. 1895 Argus (Melbourne) 11 March: Mr W. R. Wilson's colt Merman, who, like Hova, was comparatively friendless at barrier rise. 2011 Shepparton News 27 June: The talented Norman-trained trotter Tsonga, also driven by Jack, speared across the face of the field at barrier rise from outside the front row in the mobile - and from then was never headed. battler The word battler has been in the English language for a long time. The word is a borrowing from French in the Middle English period, and meant, literally, 'a person who battles or fights', and figuratively 'a person who fights against the odds or does not give up easily'. The corresponding English word was feohtan which gives us modern English 'to fight'. English also borrowed the word war from the French in the twelfth century; it's the same word as modern French guerre. But the word battler, at the end of the nineteenth century, starts to acquire some distinctively Australian connotations. For this reason, it gets a guernsey in the Australian National Dictionary. 1. It describes the person with few natural advantages, who works doggedly and with little reward, who struggles for a livelihood (and who displays courage in so doing). Our first citation for this, not surprisingly, comes from Henry Lawson in While the Billy Boils (1896): 'I sat on him pretty hard for his pretensions, and paid him out for all the patronage he'd worked off on me .. and told him never to pretend to me again he was a battler'. In 1941 Kylie Tennant writes: 'She was a battler, Snow admitted; impudent, hardy, cool, and she could take a "knock-back" as though it didn't matter, and come up to meet the next blow'. In this tradition, K. Smith writes in 1965: 'Everybody in Australia has his position. Roughly speaking, there are three kinds of people in this country: the rich, the middle class and the battlers'. In the 21st century the term has been used in various political contests as this quotation in the Australian from 1 July 2006 demonstrates: 'The Prime Minister, who has built his success on an appeal to Australia's battlers, is about to meet thousands more of them in his northern Sydney seat of Bennelong'. 2. It has also been used of an unemployed or irregularly employed person. a: (in the country): a swagman or itinerant worker. This sense is first recorded in the Bulletin in 1898: 'I found patch after patch destroyed. Almost everyone I met blamed the unfortunate "battler", and I put it down to some of the Sydney "talent" until ... I caught two Chows vigorously destroying melon-vines'. Again in the Bulletin in 1906 we find: 'They were old, white-bearded, travel-stained battlers of the track'. The word is not much used in this sense now, but in 1982 Page & Ingpen in Aussie Battlers write: 'The average Australian's image of a battler does seem to be that of a Henry Lawson character: a bushie of the colonial era, complete with quart pot and swag, down on his luck but still resourceful and cheerful'. b: (in an urban context): an unemployed person who lives by opportunism. Frank Hardy in Tales of Billy Yorker (1965) writes: 'Any Footscray battler could get a few quid off Murphy, just for the asking'. S. Weller, Bastards I have met (1976) writes: `He was a battler, into all the lurks about the place and just one jump ahead of the coppers all the time'. 3. A person who frequents racecourses in search of a living, esp. from punting. The word is used in Australia with this sense from the end of the nineteenth century. Cornelius Crowe in his Australian Slang Dictionary (1895) gives: ' Battlers broken-down backers of horses still sticking to the game'. In 1925 A. Wright in The Boy from Bullarah notes: 'He betook himself with his few remaining shillings to the home of the battler - Randwick [a racecourse in Sydney]'. 4. A prostitute. In 1898 we find in the Bulletin: 'A bludger is about the lowest grade of human thing, and is a brothel bully ... A battler is the feminine'. C.W. Chandler in Darkest Adelaide (c. 1907) writes: 'Prostitution though most terrible and degrading in any shape or form reaches its most forbidding form when married women are found out battling for cash'. And further: `I told him I would not mind taking on a tart myself - an extra good battler preferred'. Meanings 2. 3. and 4 have now disappeared from Australian English, and it is meaning 1 which has become enshrined in the language, especially in the phrase little Aussie battler. This is still the person of the Henry Lawson tradition, who, 'with few natural advantages, works doggedly and with little reward, struggles for a livelihood (and displays courage in so doing)'. But perhaps the battler of contemporary Australia is more likely to be paying down a large mortgage rather than working hard to put food on the table! berley Berley is ground-bait scattered by an angler in the water to attract fish to a line or lure. Anglers use a variety of baits for berley, such as bread, or fish heads and guts. Poultry mash and tinned cat food make more unusual berleying material, although this pales beside a Bulletin article in 1936 suggesting 'a kerosene-tinful of rabbit carcasses boiled to a pulp' as the best berley for Murray cod. Berley first appears in 1852 as a verb - to berley is to scatter ground-bait. The writer observes that the locals are baiting a fishing spot (‘burley-ing’) with burnt fish. The first evidence for the noun occurs in the 1860s. The origin of the word is unknown. big note To display or boast of one's wealth; to exaggerate one's own importance, achievements, etc. The term is first recorded in the 1920s. In the 1950s a big note man (later called a big noter) was a person who handled or bet large sums of money - big notes. In pre-decimal currency days the larger the denomination, the bigger the banknote. Big-noting arose from the connection between flashing large sums of money about and showing off. 1941 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 February: There was no suggestion that Coates had the revolver for any sinister purpose. He had admitted producing it to 'big note' himself in the eyes of the young woman and her parents. 2012 D. Foster Man of Letters: He's never been one to big-note himself. bikie A member of a gang of motorcyclists. Bikie follows a very common pattern in Australian English by incorporating the -ie (or -y) suffix. This suffix works as an informal marker in the language. In early use bikie often referred to any member of a motorcycle (motorbike) gang or club - often associated with youth culture. In more recent times the term is often associated with gangs of motorcylists operating on the fringes of legality. Bikie is first recorded in the 1960s. For a more detailied discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from March 2014. 1967 Kings Cross Whisper (Sydney) xxxii: Bikie, a member of a gang or a club of people interested in motor bikes. 2015 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 28 May: We need to stop romanticising the notion that bikies are basically good blokes in leather vests. Some bikies procure, distribute and sell drugs through their 'associates', who in turn sell them to kids. bilby The bilby is either of two Australian bandicoots, especially the rabbit-eared bandicoot Macrotis lagotis, a burrowing marsupial of woodlands and plains of drier parts of mainland Australia. The word is a borrowing from Yuwaalaraay (an Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales) and neighbouring languages. The bilby is also known as dalgyte in Western Australia and pinky in South Australia. Since the early 1990s there have been attempts to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby. At Easter it is now possible to buy chocolate bilbies. Bilby is first recorded in the 1870s. 1877 Riverine Grazier (Hay) 6 June: There is also all over this part of the country a small animal which burrows in the ground like a rabbit: it is called a bilby, and is found everywhere, almost, up here, in great numbers. 2015 Centralian Advocate (Alice Springs) 10 April: Mining activity can also cause direct and indirect disturbance to sites inhabited by bilbies. billabong An arm of a river, made by water flowing from the main stream (usually only in time of flood) to form a backwater, blind creek, anabranch, or, when the water level falls, a pool or lagoon (often of considerable extent); the dry bed of such a formation. Billabongs are often formed when floodwaters recede. The word comes from the south-western New South Wales Aboriginal language Wiradjuri: bila ‘river’ + bang (a suffix probably indicating a continuation in time or space, or functioning as an intensifier), the combination signifying a watercourse that runs only after rain. First recorded in the 1830s. 1861 Burke & Wills Exploring Expedition: At the end of a very long waterhole, it breaks into billibongs, which continue splitting into sandy channels until they are all lost in the earthy soil. 2015 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 13 May: It will soon offer more activities including fishing at a nearby billabong once the area is declared croc-free. billy A vessel for the boiling of water, making of tea, etc., over an open fire; a cylindrical container, usually of tin, enamel ware, or aluminium, fitted with a lid and a wire handle. It comes from the Scottish dialect word billy-pot meaning ‘cooking utensil’. Possibly reinforced by bouilli tin (recorded 1858 in Australia and 1852 in New Zealand, with variant bully tin recorded in New Zealand in 1849 but not until 1920 in Australia), an empty tin that had contained preserved boeuf bouilli 'bully beef', used as a container for cooking. It is not, as popularly thought, related to the Aboriginal word billabong. Billy is first recorded in the 1840s. 1859 W. Burrows Adventures of a Mounted Trooper in the Australain Constabulary: A 'billy' is a tin vessel, something between a saucepan and a kettle, always black outside from being constantly on the fire, and looking brown inside from the quantity of tea that is generally to be seen in it. 2005 Australian (Sydney) 12 November: The green ants, we learn later, are a form of bush medicine that others choose to consume by boiling the nest in a billy and drinking the strained and distilled contents. billycart A child’s four-wheeled go-cart. Billycart is a shortened form of the Australian term billy-goat cart which dates back to the 1860s. In earlier times the term applied to a small cart, often two-wheeled, that was pulled by a goat. These billycarts were used for such purposes as home deliveries, and they were also used in races. The term was then applied to any homemade go-cart. Billycart is recorded in the first decade of the 20th century. 1952 J.R. Tyrrell Old Books: As boys, Fred and I delivered books round Sydney in a billycart. 1991 T. Winton Cloudstreet: Bits of busted billycarts and boxes litter the place beneath the sagging clothesline. bindi-eye Any of several plants bearing barbed fruits, especially herbs of the widespread genus Calotis; the fruit of these plants. Bindi-eye is oftened shortened to bindi, and can be spelt in several ways including bindy-eye and bindii. The word is from the Gamilaraay and Yuwaalaraay Aboriginal languages of northern New South Wales. Bindi-eye is usually considered a weed when found in one's lawn. Many a child's play has been painfully interrupted by the sharp barbs of the plant which have a habit of sticking into the sole of one's foot. Bindy-eye is first recorded in the 1890s. 1894 Queenslander (Brisbane) 11 August: Fancy him after working a mob of sheep through a patch of Bathurst Burr, or doing a day's work in a paddock where the grass seed was bad and bindy-eyes thick. 2015 Australian (Sydney) 3 January: You know it's summer when the frangipani flower in their happy colours, when the eucalypt blossom provides a feast for the rosellas - and when the bindi-eyes in your lawn punish you for going barefoot. bingle A fight or skirmish; a collision. Bingle is perhaps from Cornish dialect bing 'a thump or blow'. Most other words derived from Cornish dialect in Australian English were originally related to mining, including fossick. The word is frequently used to refer to a car collision. Bingle is first recorded in the 1940s. 1966 R. Carr Surfie: There was this clang of metal on metal and both cars lurched over to the shoulder and we nearly went for a bingle. 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 12 April: In fact some of Hughesy and Kate's listeners are laughing so hard they have to pull over in their cars or risk having a bingle on the way back from work. bitser A mongrel. A dog (or other animal) which is made up of a bit of this and a bit of that. This meaning is common today, but when bitser first appeared in the 1920s it referred to any contraption or vehicle that was made of spare parts, or had odd bits and pieces added. Bitser is an abbreviation of ‘bits and pieces’, and in the mongrel sense is first recorded in the early 1930s. 1934 Advertiser (Adelaide) 14 May: 'Well, what kind of dog is it?' he asked. The small girl pondered. 'I think he must be a bit of everything. My friends call him a "bitzer"', she replied. 2005 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 27 November: We had lots of cats and dogs. My favourite was a bitser named Sheila. black stump The black stump of Australian legend first appears in the late 19th century, and is an imaginary marker at the limits of settlement. Anywhere beyond the black stump is beyond civilisation, deep in the outback, whereas something this side of the black stump belongs to the known world. Although the towns of Blackall, Coolah and Merriwagga each claim to possess the original black stump, a single stump is unlikely to be the origin of this term. It is more probable that the burnt and blackened tree stumps, ubiquitous in the outback, and used as markers when giving directions to travellers is the origin - this sense of black stump is recorded from 1831. 1898 Launceston Examiner 5 November: The mistake in the past has been the piecemeal and patchwork nature of our public works policy. Tracks have been made, commencing nowhere and ending the same, roads have been constructed haphazard, bridges have been built that had no roads leading either to or from them, railways have terminated at the proverbial black stump. 1967 J. Wynnum I'm Jack, all Right: It's way back o' Bourke. Beyond the Black Stump. Not shown on the petrol station maps, even. 2003 Sydney Morning Herald 29 July: Our own wine writer, Huon Hooke, doesn't know the wine but suspects it comes from a region between Bandywallop and the Black Stump. Blind Freddy A very unperceptive person; such a person as a type. This term often appears in the phrase even blind Freddy could see that. Although the term may not derive from an actual person, early commentators associate it with a blind Sydney character or characters. Australian lexicographer Sidney Baker wrote in 1966 that 'Legend has it that there was a blind hawker in Sydney in the 1920s, named Freddy, whose blindness did not prevent his moving freely about the central city area'. Other commentators suggest a character who frequented various Sydney sporting venues in the first decades of the 20th century could be the original Freddy. The term itself is first recorded in 1911. 1911 Sydney Sportsman 19 July: Billy Farnsworth and [Chris] McKivatt seem to suit one another down to the ground as a pair of halves, but then Blind Freddie couldn't help taking Chris's passes. 2013 S. Scourfield As the River Runs: Blind Freddie could see Emerald Gorge is a natural dam site. blood: your blood’s worth bottling You’re a really valuable person! You’re a loyal friend! This is one of the many Australianisms, along with terms such as ‘digger’, ‘Anzac’ and ‘Aussie’, that arose during or immediately proceeding the First World War. It applied to a person of great heart, who displayed courage, loyalty, and mateship. It is now used in many contexts - ‘Those firefighters—their blood’s worth bottling!’ blouse To defeat (a competitor) by a very small margin; to win narrowly. This verb derives from the noun blouse meaning 'the silk jacket worn by a jockey'. As the origin of this word would indicate, much of the evidence is from the sport of horseracing. First recorded in the 1980s. For a detailed discussion of blouse see our Word of the Month article from November 2009. 2001 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 22 June: Four years ago at this ground - Mark Taylor's last one-day appearance for Australia - England smashed 4-253 to blouse Australia on a typically good batting strip. 2015 Kalgoorlie Miner 2 March: The Meryl Hayley-trained speedster, chasing four wins in a line, was bloused in a thrilling finish by Cut Snake with a further head to third placegetter, Danreign. bludger This word is a survival of British slang bludger, meaning 'a prostitute's pimp'. The word is ultimately a shortening of bludgeoner. A bludgeoner (not surprisingly) was a person who carried a bludgeon 'a short stout stick or club'. It appears in a mid-nineteenth century English slang dictionary as a term for 'a low thief, who does not hesitate to use violence'. By the 1880s the 'prostitute's pimp' sense of bludger is found in Australian sources. In the Sydney Slang Dictionary of 1882 bludgers are defined as 'plunderers in company with prostitutes'. Cornelius Crowe, in his Australian Slang Dictionary (1895), defines a bludger as 'a thief who will use his bludgeon and lives on the gains of immoral women'. Thus bludger came to mean 'one who lives on the earnings of a prostitute'. It retained this meaning until the mid-20th century. Thus Dorothy Hewett in her play Bobbin Up (1959) writes: 'But what about libel?' 'There's a name for a man who lives off women!' 'Can't you get pinched for calling a man a bludger?' But this meaning is now obsolete. From the early twentieth century it moved out to be a more general term of abuse, especially as applied to a person who appears to live off the efforts of others (as a pimp lives on the earnings of a prostitute). It was then used to refer to a person engaged in non-manual labour - a white-collar worker. This sense appears as early as 1910, but its typical use is represented by this passage from D. Whitington's Treasure Upon Earth (1957): '"Bludgers" he dubbed them early, because in his language anyone who did not work with his hands at a laboring job was a bludger'. And so it came to mean 'an idler, one who makes little effort'. In the war newspaper Ack Ack News in 1942 we find: 'Who said our sappers are bludgers?' By 1950, it could be used of animals which didn't perform up to standard. J. Cleary in Just let me be writes: 'Everything I backed ran like a no-hoper. Four certs I had, and the bludgers were so far back the ambulance nearly had to bring 'em home'. And thence to 'a person who does not make a fair contribution to a cost, enterprise etc.; a cadger'. D. Niland writes in The Shiralee (1955): 'Put the nips into me for tea and sugar and tobacco in his usual style. The biggest bludger in the country'. In 1971 J. O'Grady writes: 'When it comes to your turn, return the "shout". Otherwise the word will spread that you are a "bludger", and there is no worse thing to be'. The term dole bludger (i.e. 'one who exploits the system of unemployment benefits by avoiding gainful employment') made its first appearance in 1970s. An early example from the Bulletin encapsulates the derogatory tone: 'A genuine dole bludger, a particularly literate young man ... explained that he wasn't bothering to look for work any more because he was sick and tired of being treated like a chattel' (1976). From the following year we have a citation indicating a reaction to the use of the term: Cattleman (Rockhampton) 'Young people are being forced from their country homes because of a lack of work opportunities and the only response from these so-called political protectors is to label them as dole bludgers'. Throughout the history of the word, most bludgers appear to have been male. The term bludgeress made a brief appearance in the first decade of this century - 'Latterly, bludgers, so the police say, are marrying bludgeresses' (1908 Truth 27 September) - but it was shortlived. bluey The word bluey in Australian English has a variety of meanings. The most common is the swag (i.e. the collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling, usually on foot, in the bush) so called because the outer covering of the swag was traditionally a blue blanket (which is also called a bluey). The earliest evidence for bluey as a swag is from 1878 where the bluey is humped as it was by the itinerant bush worker tramping the wallaby track in the works of writers such as Henry Lawson and Banjo Paterson. This image (an Australian stereotype) is epitomised in the following 1899 quotation for bluey: There's the everlasting swaggie with his bluey on his back who is striking out for sunset on the Never-never track. W.T. Goodge, Hits! Skits! and Jingles The association of the swaggie and his bluey continues in more recent evidence for the term: A swaggie suddenly appeared out of the bush, unshaven, with wild, haunted eyes, his bluey and billycan on his back. G. Cross, George and Widda-Woman (1981) That bluey is later transferred to luggage in general, is perhaps not surprising in an urban society which romanticises its 'bush' tradition: Where's yer bluey? No luggage? J. Duffy, Outside Pub (1963) In Tasmania, a bluey or Tasmanian bluey is: a rough overcoat of blue-grey woollen, to be worn by those doing outdoor work during inclement weather. Canberra Times (19 Nov. 1982). The word has been used to denote another item of clothing - denim working trousers or overalls - but the citation evidence indicates (the last citation being 1950) that this usage is no longer current. More familiar is the use of bluey to describe a summons, especially for a traffic offence (originally printed on blue paper): Imagine my shock upon returning to a bluey at the end of the day. Choice (2 April 1986) Perhaps the most Australian use of bluey is the curious use of it to describe a red-headed person (first recorded in 1906): 1936 A.B. Paterson, Shearer's Colt: 'Bluey', as the crowd called him, had found another winner. (All red-haired men are called 'Bluey' in Australia for some reason or other.) 1978 R.H. Conquest, Dusty Distances: I found out later that he was a native of New South Wales, called ' Bluey because of his red hair - typical Australian logic. A more literal use of bluey in Australian English is its application to fauna whose names begin with blue and which is predominantly blue in colour: 1961 Bulletin 31 May: We call them blue martins...Ornithologists refer to them as some species of wood swallow... They're all 'blueys' to us. bodgie There are two senses of the word bodgie in Australian English, both probably deriving from an earlier (now obsolete) word bodger. The obsolete bodger probably derives from British dialect bodge 'to work clumsily'. In Australian English in the 1940s and 1950s bodger meant: 'Something (or occasionally someone) which is fake, false, or worthless'. The noun was also used adjectivally. Typical uses: 1950 F. Hardy, Power without Glory: This entailed the addition of as many more 'bodger' votes as possible. 1954 Coast to Coast 1953-54: Well, we stuck together all through the war - we was in under bodger names. 1966 S. Baker, The Australian Language: An earlier underworld and Army use of bodger for something faked, worthless or shoddy. For example, a faked receipt or false name.. is a bodger; so is a shoddy piece of material sold by a door-to-door hawker. The word bodger was altered to bodgie, and this is now the standard form: 1975 Latch & Hitchings, Mr X: To avoid any suspicions in case they were picked up by the Transport Regulation Board, it was decided.. to take a 'bodgy' receipt for the tyres with them. 1978 O. White, Silent Reach: This heap is hot - else why did they give it a one-coat spray job over the original white duco and fix it with bodgie number plates? 1984 Canberra Times 27 August: Allegations .. of branch-stacking and the use of hundreds of 'bodgie' members in the electorate. In the 1950s another sense of bodgie arose. The word was used to describe a male youth, distinguished by his conformity to certain fashions of dress and larrikin behaviour; analogous to the British 'teddy boy': 1950 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 7 May: The bizarre uniform of the 'bodgey' - belted velvet cord jacket, bright blue sports coat without a tie, brown trousers narrowed at the ankle, shaggy Cornel Wilde haircut. 1951 Sydney Morning Herald 1 February: What with 'bodgies' growing their hair long and getting around in satin shirts, and 'weegies' [see widgie] cutting their hair short and wearing jeans, confusion seems to be be arising about the sex of some Australian adolescents. This sense of bodgie seems to be an abbreviation of the word bodger with the addition of the -ie (-y) suffix. One explanation for the development of the teenage larrikin sense was offered in the Age (Melbourne) in 1983: Mr Hewett says his research indicates that the term 'bodgie' arose around the Darlinghurst area in Sydney. It was just after the end of World War II and rationing had caused a flourishing black market in American-made cloth. 'People used to try and pass off inferior cloth as American-made when in fact it was not: so it was called "bodgie",' he says. 'When some of the young guys started talking with American accents to big-note themselves they were called "bodgies".' This sense of bodgie belongs primarily to the 1950s, but bodgie in the sense 'fake, false, inferior, worthless' is alive and flourishing in Australian English. bogan An uncultured and unsophisticated person; a boorish and uncouth person. The early evidence is largely confined to teenage slang. Some lexicographers have suspected that the term may derive from the Bogan River and district in western New South Wales, but this is far from certain, and it seems more likely to be an unrelated coinage. The term became widespread after it was used in the late 1980s by the fictitious schoolgirl 'Kylie Mole' in the television series The Comedy Company. In the Daily Telegraph (29 November 1988), in an article headed 'Same name a real bogan', a genuine schoolgirl named Kylie Mole 'reckons it really sux' " [i.e., finds it horrible] to have the same name as the television character. In Dolly Magazine, October 1988, 'The Dictionary According To Kylie [Mole]' has the following Kyliesque definition: bogan 'a person that you just don't bother with. Someone who wears their socks the wrong way or has the same number of holes in both legs of their stockings. A complete loser'. The earliest evidence we have been able to find for the term is in the surfing magazine Tracks September 1985: 'So what if I have a mohawk and wear Dr Martens (boots for all you uninformed bogans)?' In more recent years the term bogan has become more widely used and is often found in contexts that are neither derogatory or negative. The term has also generated a number of other terms including bogan chick, boganhood, and cashed-up bogan (CUB). 2002 Age (Melbourne) 16 July: Campbell, 25, did not grow up as a bogan chick. She had a quiet, middle-class upbringing in Box Hill, attending a private girls' school. 2006 Canberra Times 9 August: We enjoy drinking, pig-shooting, wear check flannelette shirts and have no common sense or good taste ... Our geographic reach is flexible; residents of Taree and like communities, for example, may readily qualify for Boganhood, usually with little or no burdensome paperwork. 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 7 December: Douglas' volley sparked a semantic debate about the use of 'bogan', with Palmer and others claiming the once-pejorative term had become more jocular. Inclusive. Affectionate, even ... 'We're all bogans. I'm a bogan because I'm overweight.' His titular party head seconded that, claiming quickly to have 'spent most of [his] life as a bogan'. 'All I can say is I like chips', Mr Palmer demurred. 'I wear Ugg boots and I go four-wheel-driving.' 2015 Sunday Times (Perth) 25 January: WA's mining boom has given rise to a new kind of bogan - the CUB, or cashed-up bogan. For further discussions of bogan see our Word of the Month article from Novemeber 2008, and a 2015 article 'Bogan: from Obscurity to Australia's most productive Word' in our newsletter Ozwords. bogey To swim or bathe. Bogey is a borrowing from the Aboriginal Sydney Language. The earliest records show the term being used in the pidgin English of Aborigines: 1788 Historical Records of New South Wales II: I have bathed, or have been bathing... Bogie d'oway. These were Colby's words on coming out of the water. 1830 R. Dawson, Present State of Australia: 'Top bit, massa, bogy,' (bathe) and he threw himself into the water. By the 1840s it was naturalised in Australian English: 1841 Historical Records of Australia: I suppose you want your Boat, Sir; Yes, said Mr Dixon; well, said Crabb I suppose we must bogey for it. Yes, said Mr Dixon, any two of ye that can swim. In Australian English a noun meaning 'a swim or bathe; a bath' was formed from the verb: 1847 A. Harris, Settlers and Convicts: In the cool of the evening had a 'bogie' (bathe) in the river. 1869 W.M. Howell, Diggings and Bush: Florence was much amused the other evening by her enquiring if she (Flory) was going down to the water to have a 'bogey'. Flory was much puzzled till she found out that a 'bogey', in colonial phraseology, meant a bath. 1924 Bulletin: A boar was discovered by two of us having a bogey in a 16,000-yard tank about five miles from the river. 1981 G. Mackenzie, Aurukun Diary: A bogey is the Queensland outback word for a bath or bathe. A bogey hole is a 'swimming or bathing hole'. The verb is rare now in Australian English. For an earlier discussion of bogey see our Word of the Month article from February 2010. bombora A wave that forms over a submerged offshore reef or rock, sometimes (in very calm weather or at high tide) merely swelling but in other conditions breaking heavily and producing a dangerous stretch of broken water. The word is now commonly used for the reef or rock itself. 1994 P. Horrobin Guide to Favourite Australian Fish (ed. 7): Like most inshore saltwater predators, Salmon hunt around rocky headlands, offshore islands and bomboras [etc.]. Bombora probably derives from the Aboriginal Sydney Language where it may have referred specifically to the current off Dobroyd Head, Port Jackson. The term is mostly used in New South Wales, where there are numerous bomboras along the coast, often close to cliffs. The term was first recorded in 1871 and is now used frequently in surfing and fishing contexts with its abbreviation bommie and bommy being common: 'After a day of oily, overhead bommie waves, we decided to head to the pub’ (2001 Tracks August). Bondi tram: shoot through like a Bondi tram Used allusively to refer to a hasty departure or speedy action. Bondi is the Sydney suburb renowned worldwide for its surf beach. The phrase (first recorded in 1943) probably derives from the fact that two trams typically left the city for Bondi together, the first an express tram which would ‘shoot through’ from Darlinghurst to Bondi Junction. Trams last ran on the line in 1960, but the phrase has remained a part of Australian English. 2014 Wimmera Mail Times (Horsham) 14 April: The book is aimed at young adults and the young at heart ... 'It took off like a Bondi tram', she said. bonzer Bonzer is an adjective meaning 'surpassingly good, splendid, great'. The word is also used as a noun meaning ‘something (or someone) that excites admiration by being surpassingly good of its kind’, and as an adverb meaning 'beautifully, splendidly'. Bonzer is possibly an alteration of the now obsolete Australian word bonster (with the same meaning) which perhaps ultimately derives from British dialect bouncer 'anything very large of its kind'. Bonzer may also be influenced by French bon ‘good’ and US bonanza. In the early records the spelling bonzer alternates with bonser, bonza, and bonzor. The adjective, noun, and adverb are all recorded from the early years of the 20th century: (noun) 1903 Morning Post (Cairns) 5 June: The little pony outlaw is wonderfully fast at disposing of his mounts. Yuong Jack Hansen undertook to sit him but failed at every attempt. Jack states he got a 'bonza on the napper', at one time when thrown. (adjective) 1904 Argus (Melbourne) 23 July: The python is shedding his skin ... 'I say, Bill, ain't his noo skin bonza?' (adverb) 1914 B. Cable By Blow and Kiss: Came back grinning widely, with the assurance that it [sc. the rain] was coming down 'Bonzer'. boofhead A fool or simpleton; a stupid person; an uncouth person. Boofhead derives from buffle-headed 'having a head like a buffalo' (OED) and bufflehead 'a fool, blockhead, stupid fellow' (OED). Bufflehead has disappeared from standard English, but survives in its Australian form boofhead. It was popularised by the use of boofhead as the name of a dimwitted comic strip character invented by R.B. Clark and introduced in the Sydney Daily Mail in May 1941. For an earlier discussion of the word see our Word of the Month article from December 2009. 1943 Australian Women's Weekly (Sydney) 16 January: Many a time when his round head nodded wisely in accord with the sergeant's explanations, the sergeant was tempted to think: 'I don't believe the boof-head knows what I'm talking about.' 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 23 April: For those who think we should follow the Kiwis in taxation, feel free to move there. We get their boofheads so they can have ours. boomerang Boomerang is an Australian word which has moved into International English. The word was borrowed from an Aboriginal language in the early years of European settlement, but the exact language is still uncertain. Early evidence suggests it was borrowed from a language in, or just south of, the Sydney region. While the spelling boomerang is now standard, in the early period the word was given a variety of spellings: bomerang, bommerang, bomring, boomereng, boomering, bumerang [etc]. The Australian Aboriginal boomerang is a crescent-shaped wooden implement used as a missile or club, in hunting or warfare, and for recreational purposes. The best-known type of boomerang, used primarily for recreation, can be made to circle in flight and return to the thrower. Although boomerang-like objects were known in other parts of the world, the earliest examples and the greatest diversity of design is found in Australia. A specimen of a preserved boomerang has been found at Wyrie Swamp in South Australia and is dated at 10,000 years old. Boomerangs were not known throughout the entirety of Australia, being absent from the west of South Australia, the north Kimberley region of Western Australia, north-east Arnhem Land, and Tasmania. In some regions boomerangs are decorated with designs that are either painted or cut into the wood. Very early in Australian English the term boomerang was used in transferred and figurative senses, especially with reference to something which returns to or recoils upon its author. These senses are now part of International English, but it is interesting to look at the earliest Australian evidence for the process of transfer and figurative use: 1846 Boston Daily Advertiser 5 May: Like the strange missile which the Australian throws, Your verbal boomerang slaps you on the nose. 1894 Bulletin (Sydney) 7 July: The argument that there should be profitable industrial prison-labour is a boomerang with a wicked recoil. 1911 Pastoralists' Review 15 March: Labour-Socialist legislation is boomerang legislation, and it generally comes back and hits those it was not intended for. By the 1850s boomerang had also developed as a verb in Australian English, meaning 'to hit (someone or something) with a boomerang; to throw (something) in the manner of a boomerang'. By the 1890s the verbal sense developed another meaning: 'to return in the manner of a boomerang; to recoil (upon the author); to ricochet'. The earliest evidence for this sense occurs in the Brisbane Worker newspaper from 16 May 1891: Australia's a big country And Freedom's on the wallaby Oh don't you hear her Cooee, She's just begun to boomerang She'll knock the tyrants silly. On 13 November 1979 the Canberra Times reported that 'Greg Chappell's decision to send England in appeared to have boomeranged'. These verbal senses of boomerang have also moved into International English. For a further discussion of boomerang see the article 'Boomerang, Boomerang, Thou Spirit of Australia!' in our Ozwords newsletter. bottle: the full bottle Knowledgeable, an expert—‘Does Robbo know anything about paving? Yeah mate, he’s the full bottle.’ The probable source of the phrase is the 19th century British term no bottle ‘no good’ (which in turn is probably an abbreviation of rhyming slang no bottle and glass ‘no class’). In Australia the full bottle came to mean ‘very good’, and then ‘very good at, knowledgeable about (something)’. It is often used in the negative - not the full bottle means ‘not good (at something)’ or ‘not fully informed’. The phrase is first recorded in the 1940s. 1946 West Australian (Perth) 12 January: The B.M. went to ensure that the provost on duty was a full bottle on the art of saluting full generals. 2005 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 8 December: Given that her cousins are real-life princesses, Makim should be the full bottle on the art of pouring and drinking tea like a lady. bottom of the harbour A tax avoidance scheme. In the late 1970s a large number of bottom of the harbour schemes were operating in corporate Australia. The schemes involved buying a company with a large tax liability, converting the assets to cash, and then ‘hiding’ the company by, for example, selling it to a fictitious buyer. Thus the company (and often its records) vanished completely - figuratively sent to the ‘bottom of the harbour’ (originally Sydney Harbour) - with an unpaid tax bill. The term is usually used attributively. 1983 Sydney Morning Herald 13 August: The Federal Government's introduction of the Taxation (Unpaid Company Tax) Act last year is expected to recoup about $250 million in unpaid tax from the bottom-of-the-harbour participants. 2006 A. Hyland Diamond Dove: The feller in the dock was some fabulous creature - part lawyer, part farmer - who'd been caught in a bottom-of-the-harbour tax avoidance scheme. boundary rider An employee responsible for maintaining the (outer) fences on a station, or a publicly owned vermin-proof fence. This sense of boundary rider is recorded from the 1860s but in more recent years, as a result of changes in technology and modes of transport, this occupation has become relatively rare. Since the 1980s the term has been used of a boundary umpire in Australian Rules Football, a cricketer in a fielding position near the boundary, and a roving reporter at a sporting game. For a more detailed discussion of the original sense of boundary rider and the later sporting senses see our Word of the Month article from December 2010. 1885 Illustrated Australian News (Melbourne) 30 September: The duties of a boundary rider for the most part consist in riding round the fences every day, seeing that they are all in good order, blocking up any panels that may be broken, putting out strangers (that is stock that have strayed on to the run), and, in fact, doing all that may pertain to keeping his master's stock on his own land, and everybody's else out of it. 2012 K. McGinnis Tracking North: Mechanisation had finally reached the open-range country. There were no more pumpers or boundary riders. Bradbury: do a Bradbury Be the unlikely winner of an event; to win an event coming from well behind. The phrase comes from the name of Steven Bradbury, who won a gold medal in speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics after his opponents fell. For a detailed discussion of this phrase see our blog 'Doing a Bradbury: an Aussie term born in the Winter Olympics' (which includes a video of Bradbury's famous win), and our Word of the Month article from August 2008. 2002 Sydney Morning Herald 19 February: Maybe Doing a Bradbury will become a common saying in Australian sport[:] To succeed only because everyone else fell over. The Socceroos need some of that luck. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 10 July: Someone would one day do a 'Bradbury' and finish third or fourth in the Brownlow Medal yet be crowned the winner. branch stacking The practice of improperly increasing the membership of a local branch of a political party in order to ensure the preselection of a particular candidate. The term is a specific use of branch meaning 'a local division of a political party'. While the practice described by branch stacking has been around for a very long time, the word itself is first recorded in the 1960s. 1968 Sydney Morning Herald 6 November: Banks and Blaxland electorates adjoin each other and what the people lodging the appeals are saying is that extensive branch 'stacking' has been going on. 2002 Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong) 7 October: Labor will fight branch stacking by forcing all members to be on the electoral roll before taking part in a preselection vote. bride’s nightie: off like a bride’s nightie Leaving immediately; making a hasty departure; at full speed. It is likely that this expression was first used in horseracing to refer to a horse that moved very quickly out of the starting gates. The phrase plays on two different meanings of the verb be off: ‘be removed’ and ‘move quickly'. First recorded in the 1960s. 1969 C. Bray Blossom: 'Come on youse blokes!' he shouted. 'We're off like a bride's nightie!' 2005 Canberra Times 18 March: The irony is of course that their CEO is the least loyal person in the company. First sign of a better offer and they are off like a bride's nightie. bring a plate An invitation to bring a plate of food to share at a social gathering or fundraiser. There are many stories of new arrivals in Australia being bamboozled by the instruction to bring a plate. As the locals know, a plate alone will not do. In earlier days the request was often ladies a plate, sometimes followed by gentlemen a donation. First recorded in the 1920s. 1951 Sunshine Advocate 22 March: Mrs Gum has kindly offered her home on Saturday, 14th of April for a social evening. Ladies bring a plate. 2013 Northern Star (Lismore) 16 July: A visit in from our Tasmanian friends. 1 pm start of play. Please bring a plate. All welcome. brumby A wild horse. The story of wild horses in the Australian landscape was vividly brought to life in Banjo Paterson's 1890 poem 'The Man from Snowy River': 'There was movement at the station, for the word had passed around/ That the colt from old Regret had got away,/ And had joined the wild bush horses.' These 'wild bush horses' have been known as brumbies in Australia since the early 1870s. The origin for this term is still disputed. E.M. Curr in Australian Race (1887) gives booramby meaning 'wild' in the language of the Pitjara (or Pidjara or Bidjara) people of the region at the headwaters of the Warrego and Nogoa Rivers in south-western Queensland. This is in the general location of the earliest evidence, but the language evidence has not been subsequently confirmed. This origin was popularised by Paterson in an introduction to his poem 'Brumby's run' printed in 1894. A common suggestion is that brumby derives from the proper name Brumby . This theory was also noted by E.E. Morris in Austral English in 1898: 'A different origin was, however, given by an old resident of New South Wales, to a lady of the name Brumby, viz. "that in the early days of that colony, a Lieutenant Brumby, who was on the staff of one of the Governors, imported some very good horses, and that some of their descendants being allowed to run wild became the ancestors of the wild horses of New South Wales and Queensland". Over the years, various Messrs Brumby have been postulated as the origin. More recently, Dymphna Lonergan suggested that the word comes from Irish word bromaigh, the plural form of the word for a young horse, or colt. For a more detailed discussion concerning the origin of the term brumby see the article 'Wild Horses Running Wild' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1871 Maitland Mercury 10 October: A fine grazing block, lightly timbered, and for which the lessee would expect to draw a thousand pounds for his goodwill, without a hoof upon it, by a singular species of transition is suddenly metamorphosed into a mass of scrub, only fit for a mob of 'Brumbies'. 2010 K. McGinnis Wildhorse Creek: The country's rotten with brumbies. Buckley’s chance A forlorn hope; no prospect whatever. Often abbreviated to Buckley’s. One explanation for the origin of the term is that it comes from the name of the convict William Buckley, who escaped from Port Phillip in 1803 and lived for 32 years with Aboriginal people in southern Victoria. A second explanation links the phrase to the Melbourne firm of Buckley and Nunn (established in 1851), suggesting that a pun developed on the 'Nunn' part of the firm's name (with 'none') and that this gave rise to the formulation 'there are just two chances, Buckley's and none'. This second explanation appears to have arisen after the original phrase was established. For an earlier discussion about the origin of the term buckley's chance see the article 'Buckley's' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1887 Melbourne Punch 22 September: In our sporting columns, in the Fitzroy team appears the name of Bracken. It should have been Buckley. Olympus explains that he altered it because he didn't want the Fitzroy men to have 'Buckley's chance'. 2015 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 7 March: If I lose this job I've got Buckley's chance of getting another one. budgie smugglers A pair of close-fitting male swimming briefs made of stretch fabric. The Australian term is probably a variation of the international English grape smugglers for such a garment. Budgie smugglers is one of the numerous Australian words for this particular garment (others include bathers, cossies, speedos, swimmers, and togs). Budgie is a shortening of budgerigar - from Kamilaroi (an Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland), and designates a small green and yellow parrot which has become a popular caged bird. The term is a jocular allusion to the appearance of the garment. Budgie smugglers is first recorded in the late 1990s. For a more detailed discussion of the word see our Word of the Month article from December 2013 . 2002 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 23 November: Nothing stands between you and a continent made entirely of icebergs except the Southern Ocean. That, and a thin pair of Speedos so figure-hugging you can see every goosebump - flimsy togs that are known not-all-that-affectionately by us Brown boys as budgie smugglers! 2015 Sydney Morning Herald 30 March: Property types joined with investment bankers on Sunday when they swapped suits for budgie smugglers to raise more than $600,000 and awareness for cerebral palsy. bulldust A kind of fine powdery dirt or dust, often found in inland Australia. Roads or tracks covered with bulldust may be a hazard for livestock and vehicles, which can become bogged in it. It is probably called bulldust because it resembles the soil trampled by cattle in stockyards. The word can also be used as a polite way of saying bullshit. Both senses of the word are first recorded in the 1920s. 1929 Register News-Pictorial (Adelaide) 7 December: Motoring across Lake Eyre ... This 'bull' dust might be about two feet deep, and cakes on the surface, so that it is hard to penetrate. 1954 J. Cleary Climate of Courage: 'I'm seventy-five per cent Irish', said Mick. 'You're seventy-five per cent bulldust, too', said Joe. 2011 M Groves Outback Life: When a stretch of loose bulldust appeared too daunting, Joe would gun the engine down and go at a speed that didn't give us time to bog down. bull’s roar: not within a bull’s roar Nowhere near - 'The club’s not within a bull’s roar of winning the premiership this season.' A roaring bull can be heard over a great distance, so that to be not within a bull’s roar is to be a considerable distance away. The phrase is sometimes used without the negative - to be within a bull’s roar means that you are not too far away. A much finer unit of measurement is expressed by the similar Australian phrase within a bee’s dick. The phrase is first recorded in the 1930s. 1936 Chronicle (Adelaide) 3 September: He knew that the horse, trainer and rider were O.K., and felt that the danger lay in interference. I told him that nothing would get within a 'bull's roar' of Agricolo to interfere with him, and such was the case. 2005 West Australian (Perth) 18 April: Again, through no fault of the sometimes-too-helpful McGuire, no recent contestant has come within a bull's roar of winning a serious amount of cash. bung Incapacitated, exhausted, broken (as in 'the telly’s bung'). It comes from bang meaning ‘dead’ in the Yagara Aboriginal language of the Brisbane region. It found its way into 19th-century Australian pidgin, where the phrase to go bung meant ‘to die’. The term is often found in this phrasal form where it now has several meanings: 'to be financially bankrupt, to come to nought; to fail, to collapse, to break down'. These figurative senses of bung emerged in the late 19th century. 1885 Australasian Printers' Keepsake: He was importuned to desist, as his musical talent had 'gone bung' probably from over-indulgence in confectionery. 2006 Australian (Sydney) 27 April: Sydney boy Scott Reed was the name on every recruiter's list, but he has been taken to hospital with a bung ankle. bunyip An amphibious monster supposed to inhabit inland waterways. Descriptions of it vary greatly. Some give it a frightful human head and an animal body. Many descriptions emphasise its threat to humans and its loud booming at night. It inhabits inland rivers, swamps, and billabongs. The word comes from the Aboriginal Wathaurong language of Victoria. Bunyip is first recorded in the 1840s. For a more detailed discussion of this word see the article 'There's a Bunyip Close behind us and he's Treading on my Tail' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1845 Sydney Morning Herald 12 July: On the bone being shown to an intelligent black, he at once recognised it as belonging to the 'Bunyip', which he declared he had seen. 2015 Southern Highland News (Bowral): Everyone knows bunyips live in the Wingecarribee Swamp, problem is, there are quite a few different theories about this elusive animal and it all seems to turn on how much grog visitors to the swamp have had before they hear the distinctive roar. burl: give it a burl Venture an attempt; give something a try. This is an Australian alteration of the standard English phrase give it a whirl. Burl is from the English dialect (especially Scottish and northern English) verb birl ‘spin’ or ‘whirl’ and the corresponding noun 'a rapid twist or turn'. Give it a burl is first recorded in the early years of the 20th century. 1978 Mullally & Sexton Libra and Capricorn: Should be some fish out there I say. We'll give it a burl, eh? 2006 Mercury (Hobart) 13 January: I've never been on a boat cruise. We wanted to give it a burl and see how it went. We'd do it again. bush week: what do you think this is, bush week? Do you think I’m stupid? An indignant response to someone who is taking you for a fool - 'You’re going to charge me how much? What do you think this is, bush week?' Bush week is a time when people from the country come to a city, originally when bush produce etc. was displayed; and it is also a celebration in a town or city of bush produce, activities, etc. These senses of bush week go back to the early 20th century. The phrase originally implied the notion that people from the country are easily fooled by the more sophisticated city slickers. The speaker resents being mistaken for a country bumpkin. The phrase is first recorded in the 1940s. 1949 L. Glassop Lucky Palmer: I get smart alecks like you trying to put one over on me every minute of the day. What do you think this is? Bush Week? 2012 J. Murray Goodbye Lullaby: They had already been warned about the breastfeeding business ... 'Whaddya think this is?' said the proprietor as she glared at them all. 'Bloody Bush Week or something? Beat it, you two!'. Canberra bashing The act or process of criticising the Australian Government and its bureaucracy. Canberra, the capital of Australia, has been used allusively to refer to the Australian Government and its bureaucracy since the 1920s. The term Canberra bashing emerged in the 1970s, and is also applied in criticisms of the city itself. For a more detailed discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from February 2013. 1976 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 19 February: Even Federal Liberal MPs from Tasmania feel that their electoral standing is increased by regular outbursts of 'Canberra bashing'. 2014 Canberra Times 28 November: While Canberra bashing has always been a national sport, it is fair to say it has rarely, if ever, been played so artfully and with such dedication as in the past two to three years. Politicians on both sides have shown a willingness to put the boot into a national capital. captain's pick (In a political context) a decision made by a party leader etc. without consultation with colleagues. This term also takes the form captain's call. Captain's pick is derived from sporting contexts in which a team captain has the discretion to choose members of the team. The political sense emerged in Australian English in 2013. For a more detailed discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from January 2014. 2013 Daily Telegraph (Sydney): Ms Peris, who as of yesterday was yet to join the Labor party, is set to become the first indigenous ALP representative in federal parliament with an assured top place on the NT Senate ticket in what Ms Gillard described as a 'captain's pick'. 2015 Australian (Sydney) 5 August: What Abbott's stubbornness missed, however, was that it was the public and his own MPs more than the media or Labor who were disgusted by his intransigence in refusing to remove his captain's pick Speaker. cark To die; to break down; to fail. Also spelt kark, and often taking the form cark it. The word is probably a figurative use of an earlier Australian sense of cark meaning 'the caw of a crow', which is imitative. First recorded in the 1970s. 1977 R. Beilby Gunner: 'That wog ya roughed up - well, he karked.' Sa'ad dead! 1996 H.G. Nelson Petrol, Bait, Ammo and Ice: The offside rule has carked it, and good on the refs. 2001 Manly Daily 19 January: The resulting play is five stories from the morgue, monologues by people who have recently carked it and have 'woken up' in the morgue. chardonnay socialist A derogatory term for a person who espouses left-wing views but enjoys an affluent lifestyle. It is modelled on the originally British term, champagne socialist, which has a similar meaning. The term chardonnay socialist appeared in the 1980s, not long after the grape variety Chardonnay became very popular with Australian wine drinkers. 1987 D. Williamson Emerald City: I'm going to keep charting their perturbations .. those Chardonnay socialists of Melbourne aren't going to stop me. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 14 May: Maybe if these rorts are dispensed with, instead of getting failed businessmen, unionists who couldn't get work elsewhere and lawyers who are nothing more than chardonnay socialists and see life as an MP a cosy way to feather their nests, we'll see people in Parliament who have a genuine wish to do something for this country. checkout chick A checkout operator at a supermarket. This term usually refers to female checkout operators (hence chick, an informal word for a young woman), but with changes in the gender makeup of the supermarket workforce the term is occasionlly applied to males. Checkout chick is first recorded in the 1970s. For a more detailed discussion of the term see our Word of the Month article from May 2014. 1976 Canberra Times 16 June: The checkout chick is too busy taking money to tell you how to operate your cut-price, multi-purpose, plastic encased kitchen magician. 2014 Geelong Advertiser 19 July: This gormless dude started arguing with the checkout chick and held up a line of about 30 people. chook A domestic fowl; a chicken. Chook comes from British dialect chuck(y) 'a chicken; a fowl' which is a variant of chick. Chook is the common term for the live bird, although chook raffles, held in Australian clubs and pubs, have ready-to-cook chooks as prizes. The term has also been transferred to refer to other birds, and often in the form old chook it can refer to a woman. See our Word of the Month articles 'chook run' and 'chook lit' for further uses of chook. First recorded as chuckey in 1855. 1880 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 July: A man was found in the cow-shed of Government House ... Was he looking after the housemaid or the 100 little chookies? 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 25 November: We have chooks at our farm in Bena, an hour and a half out of town. chook: may your chooks turn into emus and kick your dunny down A jocular curse. This expression recalls an earlier time when many Australians kept chooks (domestic chickens) in the backyard and the dunny was a separate outhouse. A similar comic exaggeration is seen in the phrase he couldn’t train a choko vine over a country dunny - a comment on a person’s incompetence. First recorded in the 1970s. 1993 Advertiser (Adelaide) 9 June: Maybe when Mr Keating has finished educating the judiciary, he might have a go at the politicians and bureaucrats, starting with arithmetic. Although I must say this is a very cunning, contrived piece of legislation, if that is what they set out to do. May their chooks turn into emus and kick their dunnies down. chunder To vomit. Also used as noun ‘vomit’. Chunder possibly comes from a once-popular cartoon character, 'Chunder Loo of Akim Foo', drawn by Norman Lindsay for a series of boot polish advertisements in the early 1900s. It is possible that 'Chunder Loo' became rhyming slang for spew. Chunder, however, is the only form to be recorded. The earliest evidence is associated with Australian troops in action to the north of Australia during the Second World War. 1950 N. Shute A Town like Alice: The way these bloody Nips go on. Makes you chunda. 2003 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 9 April: Back at least 20 years - to a land where women glow and men chunder. Clayton's Something that is largely illusory or exists in name only; a poor substitute or imitation. This word derives from the proprietary name of a soft drink, sold in a bottle that looked like a whisky bottle, and marketed from 1980 as 'the drink you have when you're not having a drink'. For a more detailed discussion of the word see our blog 'The evolution of a word - the case of Clayton's'. 1982 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 28 March: So who's the press secretary working out of the NSW Parliament whose press-gallery nickname is Clayton .. because he's the press secretary you're having, when you're not having a press secretary? 2008 A. Pung Growing up Asian in Australia: My bikini top is crammed so full of rubbery 'chicken fillets' I'd probably bounce if you threw me. These Clayton's breasts jiggle realistically when I jump up and down on the spot. cleanskin An unbranded animal. In the pastoral industry an animal that has not been branded with a mark identifying the owner can easily be stolen or lost. The word is first recorded in the 1860s. There are several transferred and figurative senses of cleanskin that evolved from the orgininal sense. In the first decade of the 20th century cleanskin began to be used to describe 'an Aboriginal person who has not passed through an initiation rite'. Also from this period on cleanskin was used figuratively of 'a person who has no criminal record; a person new to (a situation or activity) and lacking experience'. From the 1980s cleanskin was also used of 'a bottle of wine without a label that identifies the maker, sold at a price cheaper than comparable labelled bottles; the wine in such a bottle'. 1868 Sydney Morning Herald 11 November: These are branded by the owners of such herds, who know all the while that they do not belong to them, on the assumption that they have the best right to these 'clean skins', and that, after all, they are more likely to be their property than that of anyone else. 1998 M. Keenan The Horses too are Gone: In the rangelands an unbranded calf becomes a cleanskin and cleanskins belong to the first person capable of planting a brand on the rump. cobber A friend, a companion. Also used as a form of address (g’day cobber!). The word probably derives from the Yiddish word chaber 'comrade'. A Yiddish source may seem unlikely, but there are several terms in Australian English that are likely to be derived from Yiddish, including doover (‘thingummyjig’), shicer (‘unproductive or worthless mining claim or mine’), and shickered ('drunk’). It is likely that these terms, as well as cobber, found their way into London slang (especially from the Jewish population living in the East End), and from there, via British migrants, into Australian English. It is sometimes suggested that cobber derives from British dialect. The English Dialect Dictionary lists the word cob 'to take a liking to any one; to "cotton" to', but the evidence is from only one Suffolk source, and the dictionary adds: 'Not known to our other correspondents'. This Suffolk word is sometimes proposed as the origin of cobber, but its dialect evidence is very limited. Cobber, now somewhat dated, is rarely used by young Australians. First recorded in the 1890s. 1929 Bulletin (Sydney) 26 June: 'He was my cobber' - an expressive blend Of 'mate' and 'pal', more definite than 'brother' And somewhat less perfunctory than 'friend'. 2014 Advocate (Burnie) 12 August: Our service was restored at about 11.15pm during July 31, so good onya cobbers for a job well done. cocky A small-scale farmer; (in later use often applied to) a substantial landowner or to the rural interest generally. In Australia there are a number of cockies including cow cockies, cane cockies and wheat cockies. Cocky arose in the 1870s and is an abbreviation of cockatoo farmer. This was then a disparaging term for small-scale farmers, probably because of their habit of using a small area of land for a short time and then moving on, in the perceived manner of cockatoos feeding. 1899 Australian Magazine (Sydney) March: 'Cockie' was a contemptuous title by which the big farmers distinguished themselves from the little. 2006 Stock and Land (Melbourne) 4 May: Removing the stereotypical image of farmers being whinging cockies is also important. convict A person sentenced in the British Isles to a term of penal servitude in an Australian Colony. The foundations of European settlement in Australia are based on the transportation of tens of thousands of prisoners from the British Isles. The word is a specific use of convict 'a condemned criminal serving a sentence of penal servitude' (OED). While in America convict is still used to refer to a prisoner, in Australia it is now largely historical. For a further discussion of this word see our blog 'A long lost convict: Australia's "C-word"?' And for a discussion of words associated with Australia's convicts see the article 'Botany Bay Argot' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1788 Historic Records of Australia (1914): The convicts on both sides are distributed in huts. 1849 G.F. Angas Description of the Barossa Range: No convicts are transported to this place, for South Australia is not a penal colony. cooee Originally a call used by an Aboriginal person to communicate (with someone) at a distance; later adopted by settlers and now widely used as a signal, especially in the bush; a name given to the call. The iconic call of the Australian bush comes from the Aboriginal Sydney language word gawi or guwi meaning 'come here'. Cooee is recorded from the early years of European settlement in Sydney. It is often found in the phrase within cooee meaning 'within earshot; within reach, near'. 1827 P. Cunningham Two Years in New South Wales: In calling to each other at a distance, the natives make use of the word Coo-ee, as we do the word Hollo, prolonging the sound of the coo, and closing that of the ee with a shrill jerk. 1956 E. Lambert Watermen: If I ever see you within coo-ee of my boat again, I'll drown you. 2006 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 15 March: These Games are no longer some village competition with a hometown audience that you can please with a cooee and a wobbleboard. coolibah The term coolibah is best known from the opening lines of Banjo Paterson's 1895 lyrics for the song Waltzing Matilda: Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong Under the shade of a coolibah tree... The word is a borrowing from Yuwaaliyaay (and neighbouring languages), an Aboriginal language of northern New South Wales. In the earlier period it was was spelt in various ways, including coolabah, coolobar, and coolybah. It is term for any of several eucalypts, especially the blue-leaved Eucalyptus microtheca found across central and northern Australia, a fibrous-barked tree yielding a durable timber and occurring in seasonally flooded areas. Coolibah is first recorded in the 1870s. 1876 Sydney Morning Herald 9 August: The country consists of open plains, with myall and coolabah. 1995 Australian (Sydney) 16 September: With its dead coolibah trees, sun-bleached cattle bones and screeching galahs, Howard Blackburn's back paddock could be anywhere in Australia's drought-ravaged grazing lands. crook Bad, unpleasant or unsatisfactory: Things were crook on the land in the seventies. Crook means bad in a general sense, and also in more specific senses too: unwell or injured (a crook knee), and dishonest or illegal (he was accused of crook dealings). It is an abbreviation of crooked ‘dishonestly come by; made, obtained, or sold in a way that is not straightforward’. All senses are recorded from the 1890s. 1913 A. Pratt Wolaroi's Cup: Most stables .. are crook some of the time, but none are crook all of the time. 1936 F. Clune Roaming Round the Darling: My cobber, here, used to sing in opera. He's a pretty crook singer, but he'll sing for you. 2014 Advertiser (Adelaide) 31 May: I was feeling crook at the Ipswich races and over the weekend. I went to the GP on Monday and before I knew it I was in emergency and then off to Brisbane. cup of tea, a Bex, and a good lie down Used to indicate the need for a rest in order to settle down, solve a problem, etc.; a panacea. The phrase (now often with some variations) was originally the title of a a revue at the Phillip Street Theatre in Sydney 1965. The cuppa, the Bex (an analgesic in powder form) and the lie down were supposed to be the suburban housewife’s solution to problems such as depression, anxiety, isolation and boredom. 1971 Sydney Morning Herald 13 May: 'A Cup of Tea, a Bex and a nice lie down' used to be regarded as a bit of a joke. Not anymore. Drug hungry women gulp their share of $200 million headache powders, tranquillisers and sleeping pills every year - to solve every problem from what they'll cook for dinner to that vague headache. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 23 January: Catholic Church officials once thought child-sex abuse victims just needed a 'cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down' to get over crimes committed against them by paedophile clergy. currency lad or lass A native-born Australian. These terms are now obsolete. In the early days of the Australian colony English gold pieces were called sterling, but there were also ‘inferior’ coins from many countries. These were called currency. The ‘sterling’ British-born immigrants used the word currency to belittle the native-born Australians, but the Australians soon used it of themselves with pride. First recorded in the 1820s. 1824 Australian (Sydney) 18 November: Let the currency lads and lasses turn Arcadian shepherds and shepherdesses if they choose. 1840 Port Phillip Gazette: The answer of the simple Currency Lass will suit our purpose, who, when asked if she would like to visit England, said, no! there are so many thieves there!! dag An unfashionable person; a person lacking style or character; a socially awkward adolescent, a 'nerd'. These senses of dag derive from an earlier Australian sense of dag meaning 'a "character", someone eccentric but entertainingly so'. Ultimately all these senses of dag are probably derived from the British dialect (especially in children's speech) sense of dag meaning a 'feat of skill', 'a daring feat among boys', and the phrase to have a dag at meaning 'to have a shot at'. The Australian senses of dag may have also been influenecd by the word wag (a habitual joker), and other Australian senses of dag referring to sheep (see rattle your dags below). Dag referring to an unfashionable person etc. is recorded from the 1960s. 1983 Sydney Morning Herald 24 September: Has it helped them feel more relaxed with the boys in their PD group. 'Well, most of them are dags', Julie laughs, 'but at least they're easier to talk to'. 2011 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 11 July: Christian, while your budget may appear to be reasonable .. your dress sense is nothing less than appalling. Never ever wear a striped suit, a striped shirt and a striped tie together - just dreadful ... You look like a real dag. dag: rattle your dags Hurry up, get a move on. Dags are clumps of matted wool and dung which hang around a sheep’s rear end. When a daggy sheep runs, the dried dags knock together to make a rattling sound. The word dag (originally daglock) was a British dialect word that was borrowed into mainstream Australian English in the 1870s. The phrase is first recorded in the 1980s. 1984 S. Thorne Battler: C'mon Mum, rattle yer dags - the old girls are hungry! 2010 Countryman (Perth) 11 February: Rattle yer dags, woolclassers, time's running out to re-register yourselves with the Australian Wool Exchange. dak To pull down or remove the trousers from (a person) as a joke or punishment. Dak derives from another Australian term daks meaning 'a pair of trousers'. The term is first recorded from the early 1990s but is probably much older than that. For a more detailed discussion of dak see our Word of the Month article from July 2009. 1994 Age (Melbourne) 24 July: We played footy together, but his recognition was going on to play for Footscray; I was the little fella so mine was getting dakked every pie night. 2007 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 4 October: The former Fitzroy and Brisbane footballer has 'Fitzroy RIP 1996' tattooed on his right buttock. His family didn't know about it until he was dacked during a game this year. damper A simple kind of bread, traditionally unleavened and baked in the ashes of an outdoor fire. This word is specific use of British damper meaning ‘something that takes the edge off the appetite’, and probably with some influence from damp down '(of a fire or furnace) to cover or fill it with small coal, ashes, or coke, so as to check combustion and prevent its going out, when not required for some time'. Because it was the most common form of bread for bush workers in the nineteenth century, to earn your damper means to be worth your pay. First recorded in the 1820s. 1825 Howe's Weekly Commercial Express (Sydney) 23 May: There is at this moment many a poor settler up the country, buried in the bush .. eating salt pork and dampers with an occasional feast of kangaroo. 2013 S. Bisley Stillways: We made damper out of flour and water, squeezed it around green sticks to cook over the coals. dawn service A commemorative ceremony held at dawn on Anzac Day. Anzac Day, April 25, is a national public holiday in Australia commemorating all those who have served and died in war. It is the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) troops in 1915. While commemorative services have been held on April 25 since 1916, the term dawn service is not recorded until the 1920s. 1971 Bulletin (Sydney) 8 May: Ahead of us, already drunk in preparation for an Anzac Sunday, three old mates, Les, Norm and Billy, a rolled flag between them, zigzag toward the Dawn Service. 2015 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 11 January: Cruise Express's Legends of the Mediterranean package will cruise the waters off the Turkish coast at dawn on April 25 and the official dawn service ashore will be broadcast on the ship. didgeridoo The didgeridoo is a wind instrument that was originally found only in Arnhem Land in northern Australia. It is a long, wooden, tubular instrument that produces a low-pitched, resonant sound with complex, rhythmic patterns but little tonal variation. In popular understanding many Australians probably believe that this is an Aboriginal word. Indeed, the 1988 edition of the Australian National Dictionary attributed it to the Yolngu language of northern Queensland. Subsequent research has cast doubt on this etymology, and in 1990 the following statement was made in Australian Aboriginal Words in English: 'Although it has been suggested that this must be a borrowing from an Australian language it is not one. The name probably evolved from white people's ad hoc imitation of the sound of the instrument'. This argument is supported by two of the earliest pieces of evidence for the term: 1918 Richmond Guardian (Melbourne): 'At Darwin the nigger crew is making merry with the Diridgery doo and the eternal ya-ya-ya ye-ye-ye cry'. 1919 Smith's Weekly (Sydney): 'The Northern Territory aborigines have an infernal - allegedly musical - instrument composed of two feet of hollow bamboo. It produces but one sound - 'didjerry, didjerry, didjerry -' and so on ad infinitum. digger An Australian soldier. The term was applied during the First World War to Australian and New Zealand soldiers because so much of their time was spent digging trenches. An earlier Australian sense of digger was ‘a miner digging for gold ’. Billy Hughes, prime minister during the First World War, was known as the Little Digger. First recorded in this sense 1916. 1918 Aussie: Australian Soldiers' Magazine February: About the origin of this word 'Digger' ... It came to France when the sandgropers gave up digging on the goldfields of W.A. and carried on with it on the battlefields. 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 26 January: Australia's special-forces troops .. dominate the military division of the 2015 Australia Day Honours. They include a major who planned an 'unprecedented operation' to capture a rogue Afghan sergeant who murdered three Australian diggers. dinkum Reliable; genuine; honest; true. This word is a shortening of fair dinkum which comes from British dialect. The compound fair dinkum 'fair dealing which is just and equitable' is recorded from Lincolnshire in 1881, and is the equivalent of West Yorkshire fair doos fair dealing. The adjective is first recorded in Australia from the 1890s. For a more detailed discussion of dinkum see the article 'The Story of Dinkum' on our blog. 1910 Sunday Times (Perth) 6 March: I'll tell you, sir, what happened, and I tell the dinkum truth. 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 29 July: The electorate is better educated than ever before, people are more financially successful and they see through the paradox that governments promise more and more but can achieve less. The starting point is to make the debate more dinkum. dinner: done like a dinner Comprehensively outwitted or defeated - ‘Collingwood was done like a dinner in the grand final’. The phrase was first recorded in 1847. The origin is uncertain, but a common variation is ‘done like a dog’s dinner’, which implies a meal devoured with enthusiasm, and the bowl licked clean. This may give a clue to the source of the phrase. If you are done like a dinner, you are completely and efficiently demolished. 1853 T.F. Bride Letters from Victorian Pioneers: The horse swam for a quarter of a mile down the river with the cart after him .. the driver, who remained till then on his seat on the hurdle up to his neck in water, calling out to me 'he was done like a dinner'. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 14 November: Keep going the way they are and they will be done like a dinner for many elections to come. dob To inform upon (someone); to incriminate (someone). The ethic of standing by one’s mates means that many Australians take a dim view of dobbing. The word is probably related to British dialect dob meaning 'to put down an article heavily or clumsily; to throw down', and 'to throw stones etc. at a mark' (often used to describe throwing and hitting in games of marbles). Dob is first recorded in the 1950s. For a more detailed discussion of this term see the article 'The Story of Dob' on our blog. 1955 Overland v.: He came to me and dobbed in one of the carpenters for talking. 2013 S. Bisley Stillways: He used to sell single cigarettes to kids, and although it was common knowledge, he had never been busted and no one ever dobbed on him. dolly’s wax: full up to dolly’s wax ‘Would you like more dessert?’ ‘No, I’m full up to dolly’s wax.’ This rather old-fashioned phrase means that you have eaten enough. It refers to the time before plastics were widely used, when children’s dolls had wax heads attached to cloth bodies. This example illustrates the way the origins of words and phrases can be lost with changes in technology. The expression has several variants including fed up to dolly's wax, and its meaning does not always denote being 'full' with food. First recorded in the early 20th century. 1943 Australasian (Melbourne) 10 July: There are books on this and books on that about past, present, and future international relations all deadly dull ... And I am fed up to dolly's wax with them. 2012 C. Tiffany Mateship with Birds: Every night after tea &dd; Edna asked Harry if he'd had enough to eat. 'I'm full up to Dolly's wax', Harry would say, patting his neck. donkey vote (In a preferential system of voting) a vote recorded by allocating preferences according to the order in which candidates' names appear on the ballot paper; such votes viewed collectively. Voters who merely number the candidates in the order they are listed on the ballot paper (without regard for the merits of the candidates) are casting a donkey vote - that is, a stupid vote. First recorded in the early mid-20th century. 1955 Sydney Morning Herald 9 December: In previous Senate elections about 2 per cent. of voters have voted straight across the ballot paper without knowing which parties they were voting for. In South Australia this vote - the 'donkey vote' - will go to the Anti-Communists. 2001 Manly Daily 20 October: Although happy to top the ballot in Warringah, Greens candidate Keelah Lam said the only donkey votes in Warringah would come from people with no interest in politics. Dorothy Dixer (Dorothy Dix) A parliamentary question asked of a Minister by a member of the party in government to give the Minister the opportunity to deliver a prepared reply. It comes from Dorothy Dix, the pen-name of Elizabeth Gilmer (1870-1951), an American journalist who wrote a famous personal advice column which was syndicated in Australia. Her column came to seem a little too contrived, as if she was writing the questions as well as the answers. First recorded in the 1930s. For a discussion about the use of Dorothy Dixer in rhyming slang see the article 'Dorothies and Michelles' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1934 Canberra Times 27 July: There were many questions on trade and finance matters. One of those came from Mr Hutchin, and there were cries of 'Dorothy Dix' when he asked it ... When a Minister is anxious to make some information available, or to answer some outside criticism, he will often get a private member to ask a question on the subject. 2003 Australian (Sydney) 28 May: Like everyone else, Kevin Rudd was spellbound when diminutive Liberal MP Sophie Panopolous rose to ask a dorothy dixer. And it was not her husky voice or hair or makeup that stopped traffic, but the rows and rows of pearls .. dangling beneath her neck. 'Condolence motion to the oysters', barked Rudd. dreamtime (In traditional Aboriginal belief) a collection of events beyond living memory that shaped the physical, spiritual, and moral world; the era in which these occurred; an Aboriginal person's consciousness of the enduring nature of the era. The term also takes the form dreaming. Dreamtime is a translation of alcheringa - a word from the Arrernte Aboriginal language of the Alice Springs region in central Australia. The term is first recorded in the 1890s. 1963 D. Attenborough Quest Under Capricorn: Although the Dreamtime was in the past, it is also co-existent with the present, and a man, by performing the rituals, can become one with his 'dreaming' and experience eternity. It is to seek this mystical union that the men enact the ceremonies. 2015 Advertiser (Adelaide) 26 January: Australia, old as the dreamtime, From your sun-warmed dust I grew, The molecules that make me, All have been part of you. drongo A fool, a simpleton, an idiot. There is also a bird called a drongo. The spangled drongo is found in northern and eastern Australia, as well as in the islands to the north of Australia, and further north to India and China. It is called a drongo because that is the name of a bird from the same family in northern Madagascar. The spangled drongo is not a stupid bird. It is not a galah. One book describes it thus: 'The spangled drongo catches insects in the air, chasing them in aerobatic flight'. There is one odd story about the drongo, however: unlike most migratory birds, it appears to migrate to colder regions in winter. Some have suggested that this is the origin of the association of 'stupidity' with the term drongo. But this seems most unlikely. So what is the true story? There was an Australian racehorse called Drongo during the early 1920s. It seems likely that he was named after the bird called the 'drongo'. He wasn't a an absolute no-hoper of a racehorse: he ran second in a VRC Derby and St Leger, third in the AJC St Leger, and fifth in the 1924 Sydney Cup. He often came very close to winning major races, but in 37 starts he never won a race. In 1924 a writer in the Melbourne Argus comments: 'Drongo is sure to be a very hard horse to beat. He is improving with every run'. But he never did win. Soon after the horse's retirement it seems that racegoers started to apply the term to horses that were having similarly unlucky careers. Soon after the term became more negative, and was applied also to people who were not so much 'unlucky' as 'hopeless cases', 'no-hopers', and thereafter 'fools'. In the 1940s it was applied to recruits in the Royal Australian Air Force. It has become part of general Australian slang. Buzz Kennedy, writing in The Australian newspaper in 1977, defines a drongo thus: A drongo is a simpleton but a complicated one: he is a simpleton [of the] sort who not only falls over his feet but does so at Government House; who asks his future mother-in-law to pass-the-magic-word salt the first time the girl asks him home.... In an emergency he runs heroically in the wrong direction. If he were Superman he would get locked in the telephone box. He never wins. So he is a drongo. The origin of the term was revived at Flemington in 1977 when a Drongo Handicap was held. Only apprentice jockeys were allowed to ride. The horses entered were not allowed to have won a race in the previous twelve months. 1941 Somers Sun 2 July: When you are called Drongo, ignore it. 2013 A. Goode Through the Farm Gate: I can't believe my drongo of a father is asking such ridiculous questions. drop bear A jocular name for an imaginary animal similar in appearance to a koala, with very sharp jaws and teeth, that is said to devour tourists etc. after dropping down on them from trees. The term is often associated with the fooling of gullible international tourists, and has accordingly been used this way in television advertisements. There are suggestions that the term drop bear emerged in the Second World War period (see 1982 quotation below) but the first record is from the 1980s. 1982 N. Keesing Lily on a Dustbin: The 'drop bears' are creatures of a tall story - they were invented during World War II for the benefit of gullible American servicemen. It is alleged that 'drop bears' are a dangerous kind of koala and that they drop out of trees on the heads and shoulders of bush walkers and hug them to death. 2014 Townsville Bulletin 7 November: Participants are advised to choose their start time carefully to ensure they are finished before it gets dark and the drop bears come out at 6.30pm. drover’s dog: like a drover’s dog Drover’s dog has been used since the 1850s in various similes, usually uncomplimentary - a head like a drover’s dog (big and ugly), all prick and ribs like a drover’s dog (lean and hungry), and leaking like a drover’s dog (as in ‘the NSW Cabinet is leaking like a drover’s dog!’). It can also mean a nonentity, as when a politician commented in 1983 that ‘a drover’s dog could lead the Labor Party to victory’. 1978 J. Colbert The Ranch: The other Harry has got a head like a drover's dog and always wears a hat. 2001 B. Courtenay: We'd heard Nancy say he'd come back like a drover's dog all prick and ribs. ducks on the pond Look out - female approaching! A warning cry from a male as a signal to other men that a woman is approaching a traditionally all-male environment. It is a reminder that the men should modify their language and behaviour to avoid giving offence. It was first used in shearing sheds, but is now heard in other places, especially in a pub. While the first written evidence comes from the early 1980s the phrase probably goes back several decades earlier. 1982 P. Adam-Smith When We Rode the Rails: I remember well enough years ago hearing them yell 'Ducks on the Pond!' when a sheila hove in sight but that was more to warn a man to watch his tongue. 2005 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 22 May: The pathetic and increasingly unwatched Footy Show on Channel Nine whipped up another 'ducks on the pond' furore over the proposal to include the outspoken Rebecca Wilson on their panel. Fatty Vautin and Peter Sterling reportedly held angry meetings with their producer declaring they would not speak to Wilson if she was hired. dunny A toilet. The dunny was originally any outside toilet. In cities and towns the pan-type dunny was emptied by the dunny man, who came round regularly with his dunny cart. Dunny can now be used for any toilet. The word comes from British dialect dunnekin meaning an 'earth closet, (outside) privy' from dung + ken 'house'. First recorded in the 1930s but dunnekin is attested in Australian sources from the 1840s. 1957 Overland x: We used ter have a snake in the dunny - lav., sir. 2000 Tracks January: The scourge of the summer festival-goer has to be the crusty dunnies. earbash To subject (a person) to a torrent of words; to talk at great length to; to harangue. While not a physical beating of the ears, most people can sympathise with a person who has sustained a long taking to (an ear-bashing) by a boring or obnoxious windbag (an earbasher). The verb is first recorded from the 1940s, and possibly comes from Australian military slang of the Second World War period. 1943 Argus (Melbourne) 27 November: I’ve been 'bashed' as the DI’s (drill instructors) call it, on the parade ground, 'ear bashed' by ADI (aerodrome defence instructors) lectures, and have sweated ... and sometimes trembled ... over the fearsome obstacles on the Bivouac Assault Course. 2013 M. Lucashenko Mullumbimby: This valley’s full of people that want to earbash ya. economic rationalism A government’s free-market approach to economic management. This approach is typically reflected in the adoption of privatisation, deregulation, ‘user pays’, and low public spending. Most Australians are surprised to discover that this is an Australian term. The corresponding term in Britain is Thatcherism, and in the United States Reaganomics. First recorded from the 1970s. 1979 Patience & Head From Whitlam to Fraser: The second strand of Labor thinking on agricultural policy can be described as economic rationalism. The ALP contains many influential spokesmen who advocate disengagement of governments from existing agricultural assistance measures .. and the encouragement of a pattern of agricultural production that is more in tune with market opportunities. 2014 Age (Melbourne) 14 November: The ideals of higher education are being compromised by economic rationalism. emu bob The act or process of picking up litter; a group of people doing this; the act or process of searching an area of ground for something. This term developed out of an earlier verbal form (recorded in the 1920s), emu-bob, meaning 'to pick up pieces of timber, roots, etc., after clearing or burning'. By the 1940s the verb had developed a more specific sense: 'to pick up litter'. By the 1970s the verbal form had developed into the noun. The term is used with allusion to an emu bending its neck toward the ground in search of food. 1978 Canberra Times 13 October: What a vision splendid is Mr Sim's - a nation-wide 'emu bob' of dole-bludgers, singing no doubt as they retrieve the excreta of civilisation. 2008 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 10 November: Maybe the Government could give the prisoners something useful to do and do emu bobs. esky A portable insulated container in which food and drink are kept cool. A common sight at barbecues, beaches, parks, and camping grounds in the summer months. Esky is from a proprietary name of a portable insulated container, earlier an ice chest, and also earlier called Eskimo. First recorded from the 1950s. 1952 Sydney Morning Herald 2 December: Take your 'refrigerator' to the picnic or tour. The Esky Auto Box keeps drinks and food cold and fresh wherever you go. Will fit in the boot of any car. 2001 T. Winton Dirt Music: They have a folding table and esky out here on the sand beside the fire. factory A prison for the confinement of female convicts. Also known as a female factory. The first such factory was established in 1804 at Parramatta in New South Wales. It was a place of punishment, a labour and marriage agency for the colony, and a profit-making textiles factory where women made convict clothing and blankets. There were eight other factories in the Australian convict settlements. 1806 Sydney Gazette 13 July: Catharine Eyres .. ordered to the Factory at Parramatta for the term of six months. 1832 Colonial Times (Hobart) 21 August: The lass I adore, the lass for me, Is a lass in the Female Factory. fair go A reasonable chance, a fair deal: small business didn’t get a fair go in the last budget. Australia often sees itself as an egalitarian society, the land of the fair go, where all citizens have a right to fair treatment. It is often used as an exclamation: fair go Kev, give the kids a turn! Sometimes it expresses disbelief: fair go—the tooth fairy? For further discussion of this term see the article 'Australia - the land of the fair go' on our blog. 1891 Brisbane Courier 25 March: The reason the shearers disappeared is that a large number of warrants have been issued for their arrest ... Both men turned pale, but struggled, calling out, 'Read the warrants to us first'. Inspector Ahern said, 'You can hear them later', and the police seized the prisoners. Both appealed to Mr. Ranking, crying out, 'Do you call this a fair go, Mr. Ranking?' 2011 Townsville Bulletin 27 August: Voting for same-sex marriage is a vote for equality, and a vote for a fair go for all lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Australians. fairy bread Slices of bread cut into triangles, buttered and sprinkled with tiny, coloured sugar balls called ‘hundreds and thousands’. Fairy bread is frequently served at children’s parties in Australia. The name possibly comes from the poem ‘Fairy Bread’ in Robert Louis Stevenson’s A Child’s Garden of Verse, published in 1885. First recorded from the 1920s. 1929 Mercury (Hobart) 25 April: The children will start their party with fairy bread and butter and 100's and 1,000's, and cakes, tarts, and home-made cakes. 2001 U. Dubosarsky Fairy Bread: The morning of the party, Becky and her mother were in the kitchen making fairy bread. Her baby brother sat on the floor eating the bits that fell off the table. fair suck of the sauce bottle Steady on, be reasonable. This is one of several variations on the Australian exclamation ‘fair go’. It expresses a keen sense of injustice - 'fair suck of the sauce bottle, mate, I’m only asking for a loan till payday!' The phrase was probably originally used with reference to sauce bottle meaning 'a bottle of alcoholic liquor'. In 2006 Australian opposition leader Kevin Rudd famously used a variant of the phrase: 'fair shake of the sauce bottle'. Sometimes ‘saveloy’ or ‘sav’ is substituted for ‘sauce bottle’. The phrase ‘fair crack of the whip’ has the same meaning. Fair suck of the sauce bottle is first recorded in the 1970s. For a further discussion of the origin of the phrase see the article 'Folk Etymology in Australian English' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1986 Canberra Times 4 July: Come on NRMA, fair suck of the sauce bottle. 2006 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 13 May: In the never-ending search for justice and a fair suck of the sauce bottle, the Payneful Truth asks this week why Peter Costello's Federal Budget again ignored footy fans and let the price of a beer at the MCG stay at a ridiculous $5.20 for 425ml. feral As elsewhere, in Australia feral describes a domesticated animal that has gone wild. But in Australia the adjective has another meaning '(especially of a person) wild, uncontrolled; unconventional; outside the conventional bounds of society; dirty, scruffy. Feral is also used as a noun to mean 'a person living outside the conventional bounds of society; a wild or uncontrolled person. The Australian senses of the adjective and noun are first recorded in the 1980s. (adj.) 1986 Sun (Melbourne) 27 October: The last of the so-called 'feral' women who kept vigil outside Parliament House for two weeks packed up and went home yesterday ... The women clashed with media crews and politicians in a series of well-documented incidents ... They were quite happy with the 'feral' tag. 'I really like it, in fact', one woman said. 'Untamed, not domesticated - that's what it means to us.' (n.) 1995 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 7 January: A haven for alternative lifestylers, Sydney yuppies and scruffy 'ferals', Byron Bay's main beach is one of the major reasons people are drawn to this town every summer. (adj.) 2012 Northern Daily Leader (Tamworth) 4 June: They are feral lowdown scum and should be portrayed as such. They have invaded people's homes and maliciously destroyed victims' property. firie A firefighter. Firie follows a common pattern in Australian informal English whereby a word is abbreviated (in this case firefighter or fireman) and the -ie (or -y) suffix is added. Other examples include barbie (a barbecue), Chrissy (Christmas), and rellie (a relative). Firie is recorded from the 1980s. 1998 Manly Daily 16 October: It turned out someone, who also lives around the Warringah Mall area, had called the firies after thinking a shop was alight. 2014 Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) 5 November: The firies came close to saving the home but it does have some extensive damage. flash as a rat with a gold tooth Ostentatious, showy and a bit too flashily dressed. This phrase is usually used of a man, and implies that although he may be well-dressed and well-groomed, there is also something a bit dodgy about him. In spite of a superficial smartness, he is not to be trusted. In spite of the gold tooth, he is still a rat. First recorded in the 1970s. 1978 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 27 August: Eddie is the ultimate lurk-man ... Eddie is as flash as a rat with a gold tooth. 2006 D. McNab Dodger: What brought him unstuck were his brazen schemes and lavish lifestyle. He was as flash as a rat with a gold tooth. flat out like a lizard drinking Extremely busy, at top speed. This is word play on two different meanings of the standard English ‘flat out’. The literal sense is to lie fully stretched out (like a lizard), and the figurative sense means as fast as possible. The phrase also alludes to the rapid tongue-movement of a drinking lizard. It is sometimes shortened, as in ‘we’re flat out like a lizard trying to meet the deadline’. First recorded in the 1930s. 1952 Meanjin: I've been flat out like a lizard since eight o'clock this morning. 2006 Townsville Bulletin 3 January: Dr Low was the only orthopaedic surgeon working in Townsville over the break and according to hospital sources was flat out like a lizard drinking. fossick To search or rummage for something. In the Cornish dialect, fossick means ‘to obtain by asking, to ferret out’. Cornish miners probably brought the term to Australia in the 1850s and used it to describe their search for gold. Australia inherited a number of mining terms from the Cornish, but they remain very specialised, and fossick is the only one to move out into the wider speech community. 1871 Emigrant's Wife II: I goes over to where he had thrown it, and takes out my knife and stoops down to fossick among it. 2011 L. Heidke Claudia's Big Break: 'Okay, we get the picture', said Sophie as she fossicked around in her enormous bag in search of boarding passes. Fremantle doctor A cool sea breeze which brings relief on a hot summer’s day. A wind blowing inland late in the day is a welcome feature of the climate in Western Australia’s south-west. Like Fremantle, many towns have given it a local name. Albany, Geraldton, Esperance, Eucla and Perth all have their doctor. The term derives from the figurative application of doctor in the West Indies to 'a cool sea breeze which usually prevails during part of the day in summer', and in South Africa to 'a strong, blustery south-east wind prevailing at the Cape', from doctor 'any agent that gives or preserves health'. Fremantle doctor is recorded from the 1870s. 1873 Herald (Fremantle) 4 January: Three or four days of a fierce westerly wind, succeeded by a strong, cool sea breeze - known up the country as the Fremantle doctor. 2002 Canberra Times 26 December: The only thing that has really taken me aback .. has been Brett Lee. At Perth, with the Fremantle Doctor up his arse, he was seriously quick. furphy A rumour or false report; an absurd story. Furphy comes from the name of a firm, J. Furphy & Sons Pty. Ltd., who operated a foundry at Shepparton, Victoria, and manufactured water carts - the name Furphy appeared on these carts. The term probably originated at the Broadmeadows army camp in Melbourne as a transfer from the name of the carts to the typical gossip of soldiers at sites serviced by these carts during the period of the First World War. Furphy is first recorded in 1915. 1915 J. Treloar Anzac Diary 3 February: Today’s 'furphy', for never a day goes by without at least one being created, was about lights being prohibited in camp on account of the possibility of German airship raid. Some of the troops do not suffer from lack of imagination. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 22 September: In the age of instant gratification, rampant consumerism and materialism, men and women are being sold a series of furphies about love. galah The word galah comes from Yuwaalaraay and related Aboriginal languages of northern New South Wales. In early records it is variously spelt as galar, gillar, gulah, etc. The word is first recorded in the 1850s. The bird referred to is the grey-backed, pink-breasted cockatoo Eolophus roseicapillus, occurring in all parts of Australia except the extreme north-east and south-west. It is also known as the red-breasted cockatoo and rose-breasted cockatoo. Some early settlers used the galah as food. In 1902 the Truth newspaper reports: 'The sunburnt residents of at that God-forsaken outpost of civilisation were subsisting on stewed galah and curried crow'. Some writers report that galah pie was a popular outback dish. The galah, which usually appears in a large flock, has a raucous call, and it was perhaps this trait which produced the term galah session for a period allocated for private conversation, especially between women on isolated stations, over an outback radio network. F. Flynn in Northern Gateway (1963) writes: 'The women's radio hour, held regularly night and morning and referred to everywhere as the 'Galah Session'. It is a special time set aside for lonely station women to chat on whatever subject they like'. More generally, a galah session is 'a long chat' - A. Garve, Boomerang (1969): 'For hours the three men chatted... It was Dawes who said at last, "I reckon this galah session's gone on long enough".' Very commonly in Australian English galah is used to refer to a fool or idiot. This figurative sense is recorded from the 1930s, and derives from the perceived stupidity of the bird. The following quotations give an indication of how the term is used: 1951 E. Lambert Twenty Thousand Thieves: 'Yair, and I got better ideas than some of the galahs that give us our orders'. 1960 R.S. Porteous Cattleman: 'The bloke on the other end of the line is only some useless galah tryin' to sell a new brand of dip'. 1971 J. O'Grady Aussie Etiket: 'You would be the greatest bloody galah this side of the rabbit-proof fence'. From this sense arise a number of colloquial idioms. To be mad as a gumtree full of galahs is to be completely crazy. To make a proper galah of oneself is to make a complete fool of oneself. A pack of galahs is a group of contemptibly idiotic people. g'day An abberviation of good day, a familiar greeting, used frequently and at any hour. While the word is recorded from the 1880s, it came to international prominence in the 1980s through a series of tourism advertisements where Australian actor and comedian Paul Hogan invited people from around the world to visit Australia and say g'day. 1889 C. Praed Romance of the Station: He pulled up, nodding to Alec’s 'Good-day, Tillidge', and replying in a short, morose manner, running his words one into the other, as a bushman does, 'G’d-day, sir'. 2000 J. Harms Memoirs of a Mug Punter: I made it to the table where the prime minister was wielding his pen. He looked up. 'G'day', he said. He didn't recognise me. geek In International English geek means 'a person who is socially inept or boringly conventional or studious'. The sense comes from the United States, where it originally referred to an assistant at a sideshow whose purpose was to appear an object of disgust or derision. The American word appears to be a variant of geck, a Scottish word (from Dutch) meaning 'a gesture of derision; an expression of scorn or contempt'. In more recent times the word has been increasingly applied to a person who is obsessed with computers and computer technology. In Australia, however, there is another meaning of the word geek. It means 'a look', and usually appears in the phrase to have (or take) a geek at. It is also used as a verb. This Australian sense derives from British dialect (Scottish and Northern England) keek meaning 'to look, to peep'. The Australian form geek appears as a verb in Cornish meaning 'to peep, peer, spy', and this is likely to be the same word as the northern keek. The lateness of the word in Australian English, however, suggests a borrowing from the northern dialects rather than from Cornish. Both Australian senses of the noun and verb are recorded from the early 20th century. 1954 T.A.G. Hungerford Sowers of Wind: There's a circus down by the dance-hall, a Jap show ... What about having a geek at that? 2012 Newcastle Herald 16 January: There’s vintage bikes ... The cafe has gained a steady stream of regulars for coffee, breakfast, lunch or a geek at the bikes. gilgai Gilgai is a word which describes a terrain of low relief on a plain of heavy clay soil, characterised by the presence of hollows, rims, and mounds, as formed by alternating periods of expansion during wet weather and contraction (with deep cracking) during hot, dry weather. This type of terrain is described as gilgaed. A single hole is known as a gilgai, or gilgai hole. Such holes are also known as crabholes, dead-men's graves, or melon holes. The word comes from Wiradjuri (an Aboriginal language once spoken over a vast area from southern New South Wales to northern Victoria) and Gamilaraay (an Aboriginal language spoken over a vast area of east-central New South Wales and extending into southern Queensland) gilgaay 'waterhole'. Gilgai if recorded from the 1860s. 1881 W.E. Abbott Notes of a Journey on the Darling: At the blackfellows' tanks the clay excavated is still seen beside the waterholes, while in the gilgies there is no appearance of any embankment, the ground all round being perfectly level. 2005 H.S. Kent What do you do with them on Sundays?: With all the rain that had been about, most of the gilgais would be full, which meant that we’d be drinking fresh water. glory box A box in which a woman accumulates items in preparation for marriage; the collection itself. In other countries it is called a hope chest or bottom drawer. Glory box is probably related to British dialect glory hole 'a place for storing odds and ends’. The term is first recorded in 1900. 1905 Brisbane Courier 10 October: A grand chance for hotel and boarding-house keepers, private householders, and all young ladies collecting for the glory box. 2000 Canberra Times 24 June: I remember girls I knew growing up in Newcastle who had glory boxes the size of rooms ... They were focused entirely on the fantasy of the day and it almost didn't matter who the groom was. goog: full as a goog Extremely drunk; replete with food; extremely full, packed. In Australian English a goog is an egg. It is an abbreviation of the British dialect word goggy 'a child's name for an egg', retained in Scotland as goggie. The phrase is a variation of an earlier British phrase in the same sense: full as a tick, recorded from the late 17th century. Other Australian combinations include full as a boot, full as a Bourke Street tram, and full as a pommy complaint box. Full as a goog is recorded from the 1930s. 1944 Sydney Morning Herald 17 June: The evidence of Detective Lambert, a security officer with Detective Fraser, is that defendant was 'as full as a goog'. 2011 Hawkesbury Gazette (Windsor) 30 March: I was full as a goog after my main and would have exploded if I'd attempted a dessert. goon Cask wine. This word is frequently found in the compound goon bag 'a wine cask, specifically the bag containing the wine’. The word is possibly a transferred use of the Australian English word goom ‘methylated spirits as an alcoholic drink’. Goom itself may derive from a south-east Queensland Aboriginal word (from Gabi-gabi, Waga-waga, and Gureng-gureng) meaning ‘water, alcohol’. The form goon may also have been influenced by an altered pronunciation of flagon. Australia There is evidence for this term from the early 1980s. For more about wine terms in Australian English see the article 'Wine in Australian English' on our blog. 1997 J. Birmingham Tasmanian Babes Fiasco: None of the wine he reviewed ever cost more than ten bucks a bottle. (In fact very few even came within cooee of that, mostly tapering off at five or six bucks per four litre 'goon'.) 2001 Sunday Mail (Brisbane) 28 October: Teenagers call it 'goon'. It is cheap and nasty white wine - for $10 you can get four or five litres of the stuff at any pub or bottle shop. green ban A prohibition on demolition or construction projects on sites deemed to be of historical, cultural or environmental significance, especially one imposed by a trade union. The term arose by analogy with black ban (a prohibition, especially as imposed by a trade union, that prevents work from proceeding), with the colour green being associated with the environmental lobby. Although green ban is used elsewhere, the term was recorded first in Australia in 1973. 1973 P. Thomas Taming the Concrete Jungle: A unionist coined a happy phrase for such bans to save natural bush and park. 'They're not black bans', he said; 'they're green bans.' 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 13 October: We should be punching alarm buttons and throwing ballast off our sinking ship - dead weights like the debt, as well as our crippling weekend penalty rates, huge government handouts and green bans on everything from new uranium mines to coal-seam gas exploration. grey nomad A retired person who travels extensively within Australia, especially by campervan, caravan or motor home. The grey nomad is a product of the baby boomer generation. The term is recorded from the 1990s. For a further discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from September 2007. 1995 Australian (Sydney) 2 December: Another rapidly growing population is the 'grey nomads' who travel from resort to resort in caravans or recreational vehicles. 2012 S. Williams Welcome to the Outback: Along with hordes of grey nomads, I spend a day checking out the Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame. guernsey Guernsey is the second largest of the Channel Islands. The name is used attributively to designate things found in or associated with Guernsey. Thus the term Guernsey cow for an animal of a breed of usually brown and white dairy cattle that originated in Guernsey. In the early nineteenth century the term Guernsey shirt arose for 'a close-fitting woollen sweater, especially one worn by sailors'. During the gold rushes in Australia in the mid nineteenth century, in a specialisation of this sense, the term guernsey was used to describe a kind of shirt worn by goldminers: 1852 F. Lancelot Australia as it Is: The usual male attire is a pair of common slop trowsers, a blue guernsey ... a broad-brimmed cabbage-tree hat. In a further specialisation in Australian English, the term guernsey has been used since the 1860s to refer to a football jumper, especially as worn by a player of Australian Rules football: 1868 Geelong Advertiser 21 September: Ample evidence of a desperate struggle was afforded by the style in which they limped off the ground, some covered with nothing in the shape of a guernsey but rags, and some wanting even these. From the football meaning there arose in the early 20th century the phrase to get a guernsey or be given a guernsey, meaning to win selection for a sporting team. In a widening of this sense, the phrase came to mean 'to win selection, recognition, approbation', and is commonly used in non-sporting contexts: 1957 D. Whitington Treasure upon Earth: The executive won't give me a guernsey for the Senate. 2014 Border Mail (Albury & Wodonga): The diverse range includes some films that ordinarily would be unlikely to get a guernsey outside our capital cities. happy as Larry Extremely happy. The origin of this phrase is unknown, but is perhaps an arbitrary partial rhyming reduplication with 'happy'. The phrase is used elsewhere but recorded earliest in New Zealand and Australia. The earliest non-Australasian evidence is Irish. Irish English has larry 'fool' from Irish learaire 'lounger, loafer', but there is no clear link to the phrase. The Dictionary of New Zealand English suggests a Scottish origin (from the Clydesdale area) larrie meaning 'joking, jesting, gibing'. The phrase is first recorded in Australian evidence from the 1880s. 1896 Alexandra & Yea Standard 10 January: The guests one and all appeared as happy as Larry, and they sang and danced - and danced and sang - with a vim that did our heart good to look upon. 2013 S. Thorne Bonzer: I put my disappointment away in a drawer, and pulling on my happy-as-Larry face, toddled down towards them. happy little Vegemite A cheerful person; a satisfied person. The phrase comes from a 1950s advertising jingle for the yeast-based spread Vegemite. The jingle began: ‘We're happy little vegemites, as bright as bright can be we, We all enjoy our vegemite for breakfast, lunch, and tea'. For a further discussion of Vegemite and to view the advertisement see the article 'A History of Vegemite' on our blog. 1981 Bulletin (Sydney) 14 April: Expatriate Australians living in Italy have to pay dearly to be 'happy little Vegemites'. 2012 D. Fordham Dream Keeper: We have to remember what Mummy told us, happy thoughts make for happy little Vegemites. hard word An importunate request (especially of a monetary or sexual nature). This term is often found in the phrase to put the hard word on: to make demands (especially monetary or sexual) on (someone). The term is from British dialect where it had various meanings including 'abuse, scandal, marriage proposal, refusal'. The Australian usage is recorded from the early 20th century. 1915 Cairns Post 29 July: Constable Geary appears to be a fine big affable member of the force, and as next Saturday is pay day, it is to be hoped he will not put the 'hard word' on too many of us. 2014 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 1 March: It was at the Australian Open tennis in January when I first put the hard word on Seven Network commercial director Bruce McWilliam to have lunch with me on the record. Harold Holt: to do a Harold Holt To escape; to make a rapid departure. To do a Harold Holt is rhyming slang for bolt. The phrase is from the name of former Australian prime minister Harold Holt who disappeared, presumed drowned, while swiming at Portsea, Victoria, in 1967. As with other rhyming slang terms the rhyming element is often omitted, hence we sometimes see the forms to do a Harold and to do a Harry. The phrase is recorded from the 1980s. For a further discussion of this term see the article 'Harold Holt does a Harry' on our blog. 1990 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 25 February: Instead she does a Harold Holt early next morning, booking herself on a flight to Paris with Ivan's American Express card. 2013 Canberra Times 7 February: When I was younger and single I would never partake in goodbyes, I would always do a Harold Holt in the middle of night and by-pass the whole awkwardness in the morning. hills hoist The hills hoist is a rotary clothes line fitted with a hoist that is operated by a crown and pinion winding mechanism. In Australia Lance Hill is commonly thought to have invented the rotary clothes hoist, but he adapted the existing design in 1946 by including his own winding mechanism. The name hills hoist is used generically in Australia for any rotary clothes line. As a symbol, the hills hoist has both positive and negative connotations in Australian culture. As a positive symbol it featured in the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics: ‘The cultural symbols of our backyard suburbia—the Hills Hoist and the lawn mower—are so respectably well entrenched that they featured at the Olympics.’ (Australian 7 October 2000). As a negative symbol it stands for the dreary sameness and ordinariness of Australian suburbia. In an interview in the Sun-Herald in 2007 Barry Humphries as Dame Edna Everage explains what would have been the Dame’s fate if she had not met Barry: ‘I would still be in a suburban house, I might even be dead ... I would have been up to my wrists in grey water with peas and mutton fat floating in it. I would have been staring through chipped venetian blinds at rusted Hills hoists and broken plastic toys. I would be locked into the rather sad Valium-infested life of so many women’. hip-pocket nerve An imaginary nerve that reacts whenever demands are made on one's money (especially in contexts such as government proposals to increase taxes). The term is from hip-pocket 'a trouser pocket that traditionally contains a wallet'. Hip-pocket nerve is recorded from the 1940s. 1959 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 5 July: The hip-pocket nerve is the most sensitive nerve in the body; and, maybe, when industry feels financial loss over an ailment, there'll be some high-powered research into its causation. 2014 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 8 September: Australia's modern prosperity is now being hit by a national income squeeze as our terms of trade slide from their highest level for more than a century. This is showing up, for example, in falling real wages that inevitably will grate the hip-pocket nerve of voters. hoon A lout or an exhibitionist, especially a young male who drives dangerously or at reckless speed. The origin of the word is unknown. Suggestions for its origin include: an alteration of Australian English hooer 'a prostitute, a general term of abuse'; an alteration of Australian English poon 'a simpleton or fool'; a contraction of hooligan; and the Scottish word hune 'a loiterer, a drone, a lazy, silly person'. From the 1930s hoon referred to a lout or exhibitionist, and from the 1950s it also referred to a pimp. The current sense referring to a reckless driver only emerged in the 1980s. For further discussion of this term see the article 'A Hoon by any other Name' in our Ozwords newsletter, and for a discussion of the term hoon operation see our Word of the Month article from July 2015. 1988 Age (Melbourne) 14 March: You get all sorts of abuse on late-night studies around in the inner suburbs ... Particularly when you're standing out on the road, hoons drive past with bare bums hanging out of the window fairly frequently. 2005 S. Dooley Big Twitch: It was into this habitat, at about 11.30pm, that I drove, having passed more than forty kilometres of .. hoons in souped-up cars cruising the highway in packs. Hughie Hughie is the rain god, and the appeal send it down Hughie is a request for a heavy fall of rain - the phrase is first recorded in 1912. Since the 1950s surfers have also implored the god's name in a request for good waves. Theories about the origin of the word Hughie range from alterations of the names Jupiter, Zeus, or Yahweh, to the classical Greek huei ‘it is raining’. For a further discussion about this term and its possible origins see the article 'Send Her Down Who-ie?' in our Ozwords newsletter. 1922 Bulletin (Sydney) 6 April: At the end of the dry, when the first few showers fall, 'Send it down, Hughie!' is the heartfelt exclamation of every eager bush-watcher. 1979 Tracks November: I’m just writing to have a bitch to Huey about one of the worst winter flat spells in memory since I’ve been surfing. 2014 Outback June: And so, on behalf of south-west Queensland, Hughie, please send her down. ice block A confection of flavoured and frozen water. Almost a necessity on hot summer days in Australia. The ice block is sometimes called an icy pole in Australian English - a popular brand of this confection. The term is recorded from the 1930s. 1933 Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton) 11 December: While walking across a street a boy had an ice block struck from his hand by a flash of lightning. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 11 January: 'Not Icy Pole. An iceblock. You call them iceblocks', I reply. 'You call them iceblocks because they are iceblocks.' illywhacker A small-time confidence trickster. The word is probably formed from illy (with the same meaning) which is likely an alteration of the Australian word spieler meaning 'a person who engages in sharp practice; a swindler, originally a card sharper'. To whack the illy (to act as a confidence trickster) and illywhacker are first recorded in Kylie Tennant's The Battlers (1941): An illy-wacker is someone who is putting a confidence trick over, selling imitation diamond pins, new-style patent razors or infallible 'tonics'... 'living on the cockies' by such devices, and following the shows because money always flows freest at show time. A man who 'wacks the illy' can be almost anything, but two of these particular illy-wackers were equipped with a dart game. Illywhacker was becoming obsolescent in Australian English, but it was given new life when Peter Carey used it as the title of his 1985 novel. In that novel, we find the following passage: What's an illywhacker?'... 'A spieler.. a trickster. A quandong. A ripperty man. A con-man. For further discussion of this term see our Word of the Month article from June 2008. iron lung: wouldn’t work in an iron lung Extremely lazy. The phrase derives from the artificial respirator that kept polio patients alive by ‘breathing’ for them in the days when up to ten thousand people annually were affected by poliomyelitis ('infantile paralysis’) in Australia. When vaccinations became routine in the mid-1950s, the fear of polio diminished. The phrase is recorded from the 1970s. 1971 F. Hardy Outcasts of Foolgarah: Even the most primitive societies protect, succor and shelter the aged, but not so the affluent society with the principle of he that cannot work neither shall he eat (except Silver Tails who wouldn't work in an iron lung). 2013 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 16 June: Once upon a time, about 50 years ago, we in Australia were literate, well-mannered, well-dressed, hard-working and fairly happy. Now, we are illiterate, ill-mannered, wouldn't work in an iron lung, among the worst-dressed in the world, and overall, not very happy people. What happened, I wonder? jackeroo The word jackeroo was originally a Queensland term (recorded from 1840) referring to a white man who lived beyond the bounds of close settlement. Later, a jackeroo was 'a young man (frequently English and of independent means) seeking to gain experience by working in a supernumerary capacity on a sheep or cattle station'. A jackeroo is now 'a person working on such a station with a view to acquiring the practical experience and management skills desirable in a station owner or manager'. The word can also be used as a verb, meaning 'to work as a jackeroo'. The term jilleroo is sometimes used for a female jackeroo. In 1895 A. Meston in Geographic History of Queensland proposed an Aboriginal origin for the term: Another word used throughout Australia is jackeroo, the term for a 'newchum', or recent arrival, who is acquiring his first colonial experience on a sheep or cattle station. It gas a good-natured, somewhat sarcastic meaning, free from all offensive significance. It is generally used for young fellows during their first year or two of station life. The origin of the word is now given for the first time. It dates back to 1838, the year the German missionaries arrived on the Brisbane River, and was the name bestowed upon them by the aboriginals. The Brisbane blacks spoke a dialect called 'Churrabool', in which the word 'jackeroo' or 'tchaceroo' was the name of the pied crow shrike, Stripera graculina, one of the noisiest and most garrulous birds in Australia. The blacks said the white men (the missionaries) were always talking, a gabbling race, and so they called them 'jackeroo', equivalent to our word 'gabblers'. The etymology proposed by Meston appears to be without foundation. There is no confirmatory evidence of a bird name tchaceroo in the Brisbane language, or of anything like this being applied to missionaries. Is it possible that the term has an English origin? The personal name Jack is often used in contexts of manual work (e.g. a device for lifting heavy objects) and appears in such idioms as a jack of all trades. This perhaps fits the later meanings of jackeroo, but unfortunately it does not explain the original Queensland meaning. In 1875 Campbell & Wilks in The Early Settlement of Queensland write: A black fellow.. warned me.. that their intention was first to spear all the commandants, then to fence up the roads and stop the drays from travelling, and to starve the 'jackeroos' (strangers). The jury is still out on this term. Is it possible that it is a Queensland Aboriginal term not for 'crow shrike' but for 'stranger'? 1869 Queenslander (Brisbane) 1 May: He seemed to think that a cove who comes into the bush as a jackeroo has nothing else to do but sit down and order the men about; but when the overseer was about he was quite another fellow and he was as quiet as a mouse. 2012 M. Hercock Desert Droving: A word of recall here about jackeroos. They were the privileged class of learner, who ate at the homestead with the manager, not with us ringers. Jacky Howe A (navy or black) sleeveless singlet cut nearly to the waist under the arms to give freedom of movement. The Jacky Howe is worn especially by shearers and other rural workers. It was named after the style of singlet worn by shearer John Robert (‘Jacky’) Howe who established a world shearing record by hand-shearing 321 sheep in 7 hours and 40 minutes at Alice Downs, Queensland, in the 1890s. His world record stood until 1950 when it was broken by a shearer using a machine. Jacky Howe is first recorded in 1900. 1925 Cairns Post 24 March: You know, Mr Editor, those Jacky Howes are cool and comfortable, are they not? 2011 M. Thornton Jackaroo: In his Jackie Howe, his biceps bulge, the size of footballs. jumbuck Jumbuck is an Australian word for a 'sheep'. It is best known from Banjo Paterson's use of it in Waltzing Matilda. Two of the earliest appearances of the term show Aborigines using it in pidgin English: 1824 Methodist Missionary Society Records: To two Brothers of mine, these monsters exposed several pieces of human flesh, exclaiming as they smacked their lips and stroked their breasts, 'boodjerry patta! murry boodjerry - fat as jimbuck!!' i.e. good food, very good, fat as mutton. 1842 Port Phillip Patriot 19 July: The villains laughed at and mocked us, roaring out 'plenty sheepy', 'plenty jumbuck', (another name of theirs for sheep). The origin of the word is not known. It may possibly be from an Aboriginal language, or it may be an Aboriginal alteration of an English phrase such as jump up. Some suggested etymologies are very fanciful indeed. In 1896 a writer in the Bulletin suggested: The word 'jumbuck' for sheep appears originally as jimba, jombock, dambock, and dumbog. In each case it meant the white mist preceding a shower, to which a flock of sheep bore a strong resemblance. It seemed the only thing the aboriginal imagination could compare it to. Whatever the case, jumbuck was a prominent word in the pidgin used by early settlers and Aborigines to communicate with one another, and was thence borrowed into many Australian Aboriginal languages as the name for the introduced animal, the sheep. For a further discussion of jumbuck, including its possible origin in Malay, see a previous 'Mailbag' article in our newsletter Ozwords. 1847 Argus (Melbourne) 22 October: Shearing is the great card of the season, and no settler being the owner of jumbucks can give a straight answer upon any other, than this all absorbing topic. 1981 P. Barton Bastards I have Known: My favourite was a little grey mare that ... knew more about handling sheep than most sheep dogs. She sensed the first day I was on her that I was a novice with the jumbucks. kangaroo Any of the larger marsupials of the chiefly Australian family Macropodidae, with short forelimbs, a tail developed for support and balance, long feet and powerful hind limbs, enabling a swift, bounding motion. Perhaps the most well-known Australian English word, kangaroo comes from the Guugu Yimithirr Aboriginal language of far north Queensland. For a more detailed discussion of kangaroo, and the many words deriving from it, see our article 'Kangaroo: the international and regional word' on the Oxford Dictionaries blog, and the article 'Kangaroo: A First Australian' in our newsletter Ozwords. king-hit A sudden, damaging blow; a knock-out punch; an unfair punch. This term is recorded from the late 19th century. In more recent years the term has been mentioned in relation to 'one-punch' assaults in Australian cities. These assaults are usually carried out by intoxicated young men in the vicinity of nightclub and hotel venues. This type of assault often takes the form of a single unprovoked and unexpected hit to the victim's head, sometimes resulting in serious head injuries or death. In this context there have been calls to replace the term king-hit with 'coward punch'. King-hit is also used as a verb. 1898 Evening News (Sydney) 2 September: He would not hit a man on the cheek. He would give him the 'King hit' - on the point - which would knock him out. 2014 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 26 January: There is no trace of a fair go in a king hit or coward punch, as it should be known. koori The word koori is now well established in Australian English, but it continues to cause confusion and misunderstanding. Many Aborigines dislike the terms 'Aborigine' and 'Aboriginal' since these terms have been foisted on them, and they carry a lot of negative cultural baggage. Not surprisingly, they have looked for alternative words, and instead of 'Aborigine' many prefer to use the word for a 'person' from a local language. In order to understand the history of the word koori we need to bear in mind the fact that when the Europeans arrived here there were about 250 languages spoken in Australia. Way back in the past, they were no doubt related, but most of them were as different from one another as English is different from Italian or Hindi. Some languages of south-east Australia (parts of New South Wales and Victoria) had a word - coorie, kory, kuri, kooli, koole - which meant 'person' or 'people'. In the 1960s, in the form koori, it came to be used by Aborigines of these areas to mean 'Aboriginal people' or 'Aboriginal person'. It was a means of identification. But because of the wide variety of Aboriginal languages and cultures, koori has not gained Australia-wide acceptance, being confined to most of New South Wales and to Victoria. Other terms are preferred in other regions: Murri over most of south and central Queensland, Bama in north Queensland, Nunga in southern South Australia, Nyoongah around Perth, Mulba in the Pilbara region, Wongi in the Kalgoorlie region, Yamitji in the Murchison River region, Yolngu in Arnhem Land, Anangu in central Australia, and Yuin on the south coast of New South Wales. For a while Tasmanian Aborigines called themselves koories, and then Tasmanian koories to distinguish themselves from the mainland koories. Recently, we have gathered evidence for the term muttonbird koories, a reference to the importance of muttonbirding to their traditional way of life, especially on the islands off the Tasmanian coast. More recently, the tribal or language term Palawa is increasingly being used. kylie Most people associate the term kylie with the female personal name (as in Kylie Minogue). In Western Australia, however, it is a term for what is known elsewhere as a 'boomerang'. The word came into Australian English from Noongar, an Aboriginal language spoken over a large extent of south-western Western Australia, including present-day Perth, Albany, and Esperance. The word also occurs in other western and central Australian languages. The word first appears in English in G.F. Moore's Diary of Ten Years Eventful Life of an Early Settler in Western Australia (published in 1884, but referring to an 1835 diary entry): I am sorry that nasty word 'boomerang' has been suffered to supercede the proper name. Boomerang is a corruption used at Sydney by the white people, but not the native word, which is tur-ra-ma; but 'kiley' is the name here. While early writers use various spellings (as with Moore's kiley), in the twentieth century the spelling kylie is standard. The female personal name Kylie may be based on this word. lairy Flashily dressed; showy; socially unacceptable. The term is a transferred use of British slang lairy (or leery) meaning 'knowing, conceited'. Our first evidence for the term comes from September 1898 when the Melbourne journal, Tocsin, described someone thus: Height, about 5' 6 1/2in.; style 'lairy'. Shop made suit, tight fit and cheap. Flower in slouched hat, well over eyes. 'Silk' rag around neck. The precise spelling of lairy was not immediately apparent, and for many years the variants leary and leery were common. These appear now to have faded away. Despite the uncertainty of its spelling, lairy nonetheless quickly became a standard term in Australian English, and, from the early twentieth century, writers felt able to use it without the need for quotation marks. In 1907 for example C.W. Chandler wrote in Darkest Adelaide: Sitting on the seat with him was a nice specimen of the Australian larrikin. Not so leery, perhaps, as his prototypes of Melbourne and Sydney, but a choice specimen of his class nevertheless. The popularity of the adjective lairy quickly spawned a noun and a verb to match. The noun lair, meaning 'one who displays vulgarity, esp. in dress or behaviour; a show-off; a larrikin' was in use by the 1920s as in C.E. Sayers, Jumping Double: A hit behind the ear from one of those back street lairs. And it remains in use today, often in the collocation mug lair, applied to someone supposed to be both stupid and vulgar, as in the description published in the Australian in August 1982 of a particular Carlton half-forward flanker as 'a mug lair and a show pony'. The verb lair is most frequently used as a verb phrase in combination with up to mean 'behave in the manner of a lair', and has produced another adjectival use as in G. Savage, The House Tibet (1989): At Legal Aid I got landed with this callous bitch all laired up with these big shoulder pads and earrings like baby crocodiles. By the 1950s the verb had produced a new extended form, lairise, with an identical meaning. In 1960 for example the Northern Territory News commented: All they seem to think of these days is lairizing around in ten-gallon hats, flash, colored shirts, gabardine riding breeches and polished riding boots chasing a bit of fluff. And in 1987 the Australian, in its description of a football match, said: Certain players ... instead of doing the percentage things ... turned it into a bit of show-off time and started lairising. lamington A square of sponge cake coated in chocolate icing and desiccated coconut. The origin of this term has been hotly debated. The cake is popularly associated with the name of Charles Wallace Baillie, Baron Lamington (1860-1940), Governor of Queensland (1895-1901), and although the dates of the earliest recipes line up with the governership, the attribution does not appear until the 1970s. The early New Zealand evidence has a variety of spellings including leamington and lemmington, which may point to a different origin. For a further discussion about the possible origins of this term see the article 'Lords and Lamingtons' on our blog. 1924 Argus (Melbourne) 3 September: The icing may be poured over the lamingtons, but it is simpler to dip the cake into the icing. 2006 West Australian (Perth) 24 May: They jostle for space with tarts and pies and panini and sour-dough rolls and giant cupcakes and biodynamic everything ... And you look at it and say to yourself, 'God, I could murder a lamington'. larrikin A person who acts with apparently careless disregard for social or political conventions; a person who is unsophisticated but likeable and good-hearted, 'a rough diamond'; a joker. This well-known Australian term is recorded from the 1890s, but originally the term was quite pejorative. From the 1860s into the early 20th century a larrikin was 'a young urban rough, especially a member of a street gang; a hooligan'. The term comes from British dialect larrikin 'a mischievous or frolicsome youth', ultimately a form of larking (about) 'indulging in mischievous fun', also attested in British dialect as larack about. For a more detailed discussion about larrikins in Australian history see the article 'The Leary Larrikin' in our newsletter Ozwords. 1891 Truth (Sydney) 15 March: Jackeroos .. are such fun, and vary, from the sensible one, in a fair way for promotion, to the larrikin, who will either sling station life or hump the swag. 1997 T. Ferguson Left, Right and Centre: They appealed to the irreverence of the Australian spirit, the larrikin in us all. lay-by A system of payment whereby a purchaser puts a deposit on an article which is then reserved by the retailer until the full price is paid. The retailer lays the article by until payment is complete. The lay-by system first appeared in the early 20th century. By the mid-20th century, shops extolled customers to ‘Lay-by now!’ but the introduction of credit cards in the 1970s has slowly changed buying patterns. Lay-by is also used as a verb. 1918 Barrier Miner (Broken Hill) 20 April: In the leading business establishments of Sydney a system of purchase, called the 'lay by' has been introduced ... It is said that the storerooms of most of the drapery establishments in Sydney are filled to their utmost capacity with things being bought on the 'lay by' system. 2013 Australian (Sydney) 1 October: He was hopeful of a rebound in spending on toys in the lead-up to Christmas, after a poor mid-year sales period when parents traditionally begin buying toys on lay-by ahead of the festive season. life wasn’t meant to be easy A catchphrase popularised by Malcolm Fraser (Prime Minister 1975–83) and later attributed by him to the British playwright George Bernard Shaw. Fraser first used the phrase in his 1971 Alfred Deakin Lecture. The phrase is now used as a stock response to complaints or whinges of any kind - 'I have to take the kids to soccer training every night this week'. 'Well, life wasn’t meant to be easy!' Shaw’s full quotation (from his 1921 work Back to Methuselah) is 'life is not meant to be easy, my child; but take courage: it can be delightful’. 1985 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 4 June: Life wasn’t meant to be easy for Labor Governments. 2013 Age (Melbourne) 19 January: Follow your instincts and impulses. Forget that masochistic 'no pain, no gain; life wasn't meant to be easy' rot. light on the hill The phrase is used allusively to refer to the ideals of the Australian Labor Party. In 1949 Prime Minister Ben Chifley spoke of the Labor goal of social justice as 'the light on the hill, which we aim to reach by working for the betterment of mankind'. Since then the light on the hill has become a catchphrase in Australian politics, used to evoke traditional Labor values. 1967 R.G. Menzies Afternoon Light: The Socialist objective, his 'light on the hill', must not be blotted out or obscured in this way. 2013 Australian (Sydney) 18 November: Labor remains .. the party of labour. Trapped in its myths, it invests itself with a historic mission of leading 'working people' to the 'light on the hill': a light whose glare now serves mainly to hide corrupt deals and tarnished ideals. little Aussie battler In Australia a battler is a person who struggles for a livelihood, and who displays great determination in so doing. This sense is first recorded in 1896 in a Henry Lawson story. Such a person is now often described as a little Aussie battler, a phrase first recorded in the 1970s. 1974 Australian Women's Weekly (Sydney) 19 June: Known far and wide as 'the little Aussie battler', Ernie Sigley battles on regardless with his undoubted talent and the team of regulars on his entertaining show. 2003 Illawarra Mercury (Wollongong) 19 February: He was the little Aussie battler who pushed his mower from suburb to suburb when his van was repossessed because he had too many freeloaders on the books. mad as a cut snake Very angry; crazy; eccentric. The phrase also takes the form mad as a snake. The different senses of the phrase derive from the fact that ‘mad’ has two main senses - ‘crazy’ and ‘angry’. The ‘crazy’ sense is illustrated by ‘that bloke wearing a teapot on his head is as mad as a cut snake’, and the angry sense is illustrated by ‘be careful of the boss this afternoon, he’s as mad as a cut snake’. There are similar phrases in Australian English including mad as a meat axe and mad as a gumtree full of galahs. Mad as a (cut) snake is first recorded in 1900. 1900 Queensland Times (Ipswich) 12 June: A man named John Molloy was brought up at the Police Court &dd; on suspicion of being of unsound mind ... Molloy was taken to Ipswich, examined (I am informed) by a medical man, and discharged. Some surprise has been expressed at this course, for, according to all accounts, the man was, to use a colloquial expression, 'as mad as a snake'. 2013 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 10 March: At the time his colleagues accused him of being as mad as a cut snake. magic pudding An endlessly renewable resource. The term comes from a famous Australian children's book, Norman Lindsay's The Magic Pudding (1918), in which the pudding renews itself as soon as slices are cut out of it. Magic pudding is often found in political contexts, the first recording of it is when it was used by the then Australian treasurer Paul Keating (see quotation below). 1985 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 5 July: Mr Keating had warned throughout the tax debate that there was no 'magic pudding' to provide tax cuts for all. 2013 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 8 March: The key here is what the money is spent on, with infrastructure projects holding out the prospect of being a magic pudding that can create jobs, increase productivity and improve state government revenue. mallee bull: fit as a mallee bull Very strong and healthy. A mallee bull is one that lives in mallee country - poor, dry country where small scrubby eucalypt trees called mallee grow. Any creature that survives in such difficult conditions would have to be tough and fit. The word mallee come from the Victorian Aboriginal language Woiwurrung, but is also found in other indigenous languages of Victoria, South Australia, and southern New South Wales. The first evidence for the phrase is from 1879 where it appears in the form strong as a mallee bull. 1966 R.A.N. News (Sydney) 27 May: The patient is now fit as a malee bull. 2011 M. Groves Outback Life: He was as fit as a Mallee bull and drop-dead gorgeous! manchester Household linen, and the department of a shop where such goods are sold. The term is an elliptical and transferred use of Manchester wares or Manchester goods 'cotton goods of the kind manufactured in Manchester' in Lancashire in England. The city of Manchester in northern England was the centre of the English cotton industry in the 1700s and 1800s. London sales assistants are reputed to be quite baffled by Australian customers enquiring where in the store to find manchester. The word is recorded from the 1840s. 1935 Australian Woman's Mirror (Sydney) 2 July: Thrifty Housewives should not delay to choose from these Manchester Values. 2005 Age (Melbourne) 19 February: My partner and I can't agree on the bath mat ... Please help, as I don't want bathroom manchester to tear us apart. mate This word is used in various ways in Australian English as it is in other Englishes. It can refer to a close friend or acquaintance, but can also be used ironically. It is most most frequently used as a mode of address implying equality and goodwill. For a very detailed discussion about the word mate in Australian English see 'The Story of Mate' on our blog. matilda The collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling, usually on foot, in the bush; especially the blanket-wrapped roll carried, usually on the back or across the shoulders, by an itinerant worker; a swag. This iconic name for a swag is best know from the title of the song 'Waltzing Matilda'. The term is a transferred but unexplained use of the female name. Matilda is recorded from the 1880s. For a further discussion of the term and its possible German origins see the article 'Chasing our Unofficial National Anthem: Who Was Matilda? Why did she Waltz?' in our newsletter Ozwords. 1905 Sydney Morning Herald 27 May: Many a swagman adds a dog to his outfit, and the animal ranks much higher in his affections than 'Matilda', which, it might be explained, is swagmanese for swag. 1996 W. Anderson Warrigal's Way: Lugging my matilda, I walked down Normanby Road towards the Port, Port Melbourne. Melba: do a Melba Used allusively of a person who retires but returns to their profession, especially one who makes repeated 'farewell' performances or comebacks. The phrase refers to Australian operatic soprano Dame Nellie Melba (Helen Porter Mitchell) 1861–1931, whose stage name derived from her birthplace, Melbourne. She announced her retirement in 1924, but gave ‘farewell’ performances at Covent Garden in 1926, in Sydney, Melbourne, and Geelong in 1928, and then sang in England over the next two years. The phrase is recorded from the 1940s. 1959 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 11 January: Gladys Moncrieff .. has no intention of doing a Melba on us. 2012 Australian (Sydney) 17 November: Unless he does a Melba, this means the 2010 novel Nemesis will stand as his 31st and last work of fiction. motza A large sum of money, especially as won in gambling; a fortune; a great amount. There is also a transferred sense meaning 'a certainty'. Motza can be spelt in various forms including motsa, motser, and motzer. The word is probably derived from the Yiddish word matse meaning '(unleavened) bread'. Motza is recorded from the early 20th century. 1911 Sunday Times (Perth) 1 January: He just managed to squeeze home on the post, much to the delight of the bookmakers, who were 'up against' Darjeeling for what the sporting fraternity would term a 'motzer'. 2012 Australian (Sydney) 17 November: Unless he does a Melba, this means the 2010 novel Nemesis will stand as his 31st and last work of fiction. moz: put the moz on To exert a malign influence upon (a person), to jinx. Moz is an abbreviated form of mozzle, which is derived from the Hebrew word mazzal meaning 'luck'. It probably came into Australian English via German Yiddish speakers. Put the moz on is recorded from the 1920s. 1963 H. Porter The Watcher on a Cast-Iron Balcony: Mother is wishing Miss Brewer some female ill, is putting the mozz on her. 2001 H. Menzies Ducks Crossing: As the tide goes up and down the oysters grow and three years later Bob's your uncle, you've got yourself a motza selling to the fish market in Sydney. mozzie A mosquito. Mozzie (also spelt mossie) follows a very common pattern in Australian English whereby a word is abbreviated and the -ie (or -y) suffix is added. This suffix works as an informal marker in the language. Mozzie is now used elsewhere but is originally and chiefly Australian. The word is recorded from the early 20th century. 1916 Punch (Melbourne) 6 April: Here in Victoria we go right along, cursing, the 'mossies', fighting them every night, losing good sleep through them, and yet never attempting to use the nets. 2006 A. Hyland Diamond Dove: Jack reckoned Bickie could smell water the way a mozzie can smell blood. mullet: like a stunned mullet Dazed, stupefied; uncomprehending; unconscious. The phrase alludes to the goggle-eyed stare (and sometimes gaping mouth) of a fish that has been recently caught and made unconscious. A person typically looks like a stunned mullet as the result of a sudden shock or surprise. The phrase is recorded from 1918. 1918 Examiner (Launceston) 11 January: We finally dug into shell holes in the dark opposite the Boche trenches, and waited there like 'stunned mullets' for three hours with the Huns shelling us. 2001 W. Dodson The Sharp End: I eventually managed to get him handcuffed and searched while my team-mates sat on their haunches and watched like a pair of stunned mullets. muster The gathering together of (frequently widely dispersed) livestock in one place for the purpose of branding, counting, etc.; a round-up of stock. This sense of muster is transferred from a chiefly miliatry use of the word where it meant 'an act of calling together soldiers, sailors, prisoners, etc.; an assembling of people for inspection, exercises, etc. ... a roll-call'. In Australia this military sense was applied specifically to a routine assembly of convicts in order to ascertain that they were all present. Also in the colonial period muster referred to a census of the whole population (of the colony, of a district, etc.). The transferred sense to lifestock is recorded from the 1830s. 1852 G.C. Mundy Our Antipodes: The riding after cattle in the bush, for the purpose of driving them in or collecting them for muster, is very hard and sometimes dangerous work. 2013 Gympie Times 16 March: This week he took Craig Warhurst on a muster to show how much help a good dog can be to a property owner. nasho Compulsory military training, as introduced under the National Service Act of 1951. It is also a name for a person who underwent National Service under the Act. The word nasho is an abbreviation of national with an added -o, a common feature of Australian word formation—compare garbo (‘garbage collector’), journo (‘journalist’), and milko (‘milk man’). In the past nasho was seen as a derogatory term within the permanent military force. The term was first recorded in 1953, but it is especially associated with those national servicemen who fought in Vietnam. 1973 Bulletin (Sydney) 27 January: Some 'nashos' have shown outstanding zeal by signing on with the Regular Army. 1980 C. James, Unreliable Memoirs: National Service was designed to turn boys into men and make the Yellow Peril think twice about moving south. It was universally known as Nasho. Ned Kelly: as game as Ned Kelly Fearless in the face of odds; foolhardy. The phrase derives from the name of Australia's most famous bushranger, who was hanged for his crimes in 1880. Opinion on Kelly has remained divided, his critics seeing him as the worst type of colonial thug, while others have represented him as a champion of the underdog, a brave opponent of heartless authority, and a staunch Australian nationalist. A number of terms and phrases derived from the name Ned Kelly are found in Australian English and are discussed in a 2009 article 'Who's Robbing this Coach? Ned Kelly and Australian English' in our newsletter Ozwords. For a discussion of the term Ned Kelly beard see our Word of the Month article from March 2015. And for a further discussion of as game as Ned Kelly see our blog . The phrase is first recorded in the 1920s. 1936 Sydney Morning Herald 8 January: When the police asked what had been done with the man's money, Sloane said, 'You had better find out. You can take me and put me in for two years if you like. I'm no squib; I'm as "game" as "Ned" Kelly. I went to the war when I was 15'. 1997 D. Ireland, The Chosen: The other kids loved him, he was never vicious or cowardly and so brave that he was game as Ned Kelly and had a heart like Phar Lap's. 2012 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 1 August: How bonza is Leisel Jones to be fifth fastest 100m breaststroker in the world, proving the critics wrong. She's as game as Ned Kelly, that girl. neenish tart A small sweet pastry case filled with mock cream, and sometimes including jam, topped with brown and white or pink and white icing. While the origin for this term is unknown the spelling variants neinich, nenische, and nenish suggest that it may derive from a Germanic language. The earliest evidence takes the form neenish cake and dates to 1895. The early evidence also reveals that there have been various recipes for this tart over the years. 1902 Sydney Mail 10 December: Neenish Tarts ... On the top of the whole spread the thinnest layer possible of icing made with the white of an egg and icing sugar sufficient to form a thick paste. With coffee, colour one half a pale yellow, and the other half a deep brown. Ice the tarts carefully, having the top of each half dark, and the other half light, the division being exactly in the centre. Care must be taken that the two colours do not run into each other. 2011 S. McCullough, The Meaning of Existence: By the time the gig rolled around, about half my face had peeled. I looked like a living, breathing Neenish Tart. Noah A shark. The word is derived from rhyming slang Noah's ark, but as is common with many rhyming slang terms the rhyming final element is often omitted. Other examples of rhyming slang in Australian English include: Al Capone 'phone', Barry Crocker 'a shocker', billy lid 'kid', meat pie 'a try (in rugby)', and mystery bag 'snag (a sausage)'. For a more detailed discussion of rhyming slang in Australian English see the article 'Does Australian Slang still Rhyme?' in our newsletter Ozwords. Noah's ark can be found from the late 19th century in Australian English as a rhyming slang term for 'nark', meaning an informer. The shark sense is first recorded from the 1930s. 1936 Western Argus (Kalgoorlie) 12 May: They were about 70 yards from the shore and noticed a 12 ft. shark swimming about. As the 'Noah's Ark' seemed to avoid bait thrown on a line, they decided to experiment with fracteur. 1979 B. Humphries, Bazza Comes Into his Own: A lotta them beaches in Oz are full of Noahs. 1995 T. McGowan, Crew: 'Noahs love surf carnivals', Jason said. no worries No bother, no trouble; an assurance that all is fine. This colloquial version of the phrase ‘not to worry’ is very common in Australia, and also occurs in other forms such as ‘no worries, mate’, ‘no wuckers’, and ‘nurries’. It implies that everything will come right, or be taken care of, and that we should all be relaxed —‘Will you help me do my homework, Dad? It’s due tomorrow!’ ‘No worries, son’. First recorded in the 1960s. 1978 Westerly i: Thanks very much. No worries, she said, making space for my gear on the back seat. 2000 R. Smith, Cold Beer and Crocodiles: I thanked him for the tip. 'No worries.' ocker An uncouth, uncultivated, or aggressively boorish Australian male, stereotypically Australian in speech and manner; a typical or average Australian male. Ocker is also used as an adjective meaning characteristically Australian; uncouth, uncultured, or aggressively boorish in a stereotypically Australian manner. In Australia ocker has been used as a nickname and familiar form of address for a man since the early 20th century. Originally the nickname was applied to a person named Oscar, but its application widened through the 20th century as this quotation demonstrates: Traveller, arriving late at the airport to find the flight fully booked, was told by the cheerful airline worker: 'Sorry, ocker, the Fokker's chocker'. (Northern Territory News, 25 August 1982) But we need to turn the 1960s for the more derogatory use of ocker. And we need to turn to the world of Australian television. In the Mavis Bramston Show (1963-68) Ron Frazer (1924-83) played the character Ocker. Gerry Wilkes in Exploring Australian English, writes: The talented comedian Ron Frazer appeared in a series of TV sketches from which I retain a mental picture of him leaning on a bar, speaking with a broad Australian accent, probably wearing shorts and thongs, and periodically sinking a glass of beer. As that character was called 'Ocker', ocker became the name of the type. Soon after this, the word was used as a derisive nickname for a person who exploits an exaggerated Australian nationalism. Thus in King's Cross Whisper, 1969, we find: Sir Ocker Fairfax, leader of the famous Foot and Mouth Jumping Brigade, received his gong for devising Operation Skippy. Ocker is usually applied to men but there is evidence for the feminine forms ockerette and ockerina from the 1970s. Ocker is still commonly heard in Australian English although the word bogan is now more common in some contexts. oil Information or news. This is a figurative use of oil as the substance essential to the running of a machine, and it was first recorded during the First World War. 1916 Anzac Records Gazette (Alexandria, Egypt), 4 March: An acquaintance greets you with ... ‘What’s the oil’. 1941 K.S. Prichard Moon of Desire: Like to come down to the saddling paddock… If there’s any oil about for the next race, we may as well have it. 2000 S. Maloney Big Ask: He put his plate down, as if the subject had ruined his appetite, parked his elbows on the table and gave me the oil. Oil is often found in the terms dinkum oil and good oil, both also occurring in the context of the First World War. In wartime the camps and trenches were rife with rumour, and the soldiers’ thirst for accurate information is reflected in these terms. Dinkum is an Australianism meaning ‘reliable’ or ‘genuine', and dinkum oil means ‘reliable information’ or ‘an accurate report’. For more information about dinkum oil and other words from the Gallipoli campaign, see our blog Anzac: Words from Gallipoli . 1915 Argus (Melbourne) 9 June: Gallipoli… Our lads commenced to pinch themselves to make sure they were really under fire. They had been disappointed so often that now they could hardly believe they had the real thing. I heard one man say, ‘Saida the dinkum oil at last; no more furpheys;’ and that was the feeling all round. 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 14 July: What you write about your life in your autobiography is a little like what you say when under oath. When you call that autobiography This is My Life it is a further affirmation that what I am telling you is the dinkum oil. The good oil means ‘reliable, and therefore welcome, information’. 1918 Gippsland Times (Sale) 20 May: I have never left my unit since I joined, only a ten days' Blighty leave. Next leave will consist of 14 days. It will soon be four years for me, and I can give you the good oil—Australia will do me! 2010 J. Elias Sin Bin: It wouldn't have been too hard to get the good oil from his New South Wales colleagues. Bennett, however, didn't say a word to me about anything aside from football. on the sheep’s back A phrase used to allude to wool as the source of Australia’s national prosperity. The notion is often expressed as riding on the sheep’s back, and sometimes as living off the sheep’s back. For much of Australia’s recent history wool has been the basis of the national economy and the country’s major export. The first wool exports from Australia to Britain began in the 1820s, and the industry boomed throughout the 19th century and beyond. Despite setbacks such as drought, world war, and depression, wool continued its traditional dominance until the mid-20th century. 1924 Sydney Morning Herald 30 July: Australia, said Mr Dunbabin, might be on the sheep's back to-day, but in its infancy it was for some time on the whale's back. It was whale oil, whale bone, sealskins, and seal oil that provided the first important export staples of Australia. 1965 G. McInnes Road to Gundagai: We were reminded by politicians and editors, and of course at school, ad nauseum, that Australia ‘lives off the sheep’s back’. 2014 Weekly Times (Melbourne) 16 July 84/1 So Australia may still be riding on the sheep's back, but clearly it's what's under the fleece that is gaining more and more attention. on the wallaby The word wallaby (used to describe many smaller marsupials of the family Macropididae) is a borrowing into English from the Sydney Aboriginal language. It first appears in written form in 1793. The term wallaby track is first used to describe the path worn by a wallaby: 1846 J.L. Stokes Discoveries in Australia: In some parts of the tall scrub were wallaby tracks. By the late 1840s the term had been transferred to the route followed by a person who journeys through the country, especially in search of seasonal work. It often occurs in the phrase on the wallaby track and in in the abbreviated form on the wallaby: 1849 Stephen's Adelaide Miscellany: The police themselves are usually well-treated in the bush.. they make a 'round' through the district, and get a meal at every hut, and one man from every said hut (besides those mobs on the 'wallaby track') stops for a night at the police-station in return. 1893 J.A. Barry Steve Brown's Bunyip: I'm on the wallaby, looking for shearing, and, worse luck, haven't got no gold. 1932 J. Truran Green Mallee: South Australia was still a long way off; too far for sore feet that were not used to the wallaby-track. 2000 C. Walker Buried Country: Harry, Wilga says 'was more or less a drifter'. He left Sydney, went on the wallaby again. The phrase on the wallaby is also commonly found in a transferred and figurative sense meaning 'on the move' or 'on the road': 1918 7th Field Artillery Brigade Yandoo: Next morning, the Brigade was on the 'wallaby'. 2005 Cairns Post 18 August: As a local in my 60s, managing on a pension, last year I set off on my life's dream of going 'on the wallaby' around Australia. Oz Australia. The word Oz reproduces in writing the pronunciation of an abbreviation of Aussie, Australia, or Australian. The first evidence appears as Oss in 1908, and this form is likely to rhyme with boss. Overwhelmingly the later evidence is for the Oz spelling, with the final sound pronounced as ‘z’. (Occasionally the word is written as Aus, but pronounced the same way as Oz.) It is possible that the form Oz was influenced by The Wizard of Oz, a film that gained worldwide popularity following its release in 1939. The first record of Oz meaning ‘Australia’ appears not long after this in 1944, in the context of a wartime troop newsletter: 1944 Barging About: Organ of the 43rd Australian Landing Craft Co. 1 September: All the tribes of Oz did gather together. 1971 B. Humphries Bazza Pulls It Off: If they guess I’m from Oz the shit will really hit the fan! 2001 Outback August: We both hope to return to Oz shortly. Oz is also used as an adjective, meaning ‘Australian’, and this is recorded from the early 1970s. 1972 Bulletin (Sydney) 10 June: The Oz habit of shaking hands while looking away at an angle of ninety degrees. 2005 Sydney Morning Herald 22 July (Metro Supplement): The vocals veer from fast-paced raps to more introspective spoken word, the Oz accent adding a distinct flavour. pavlova A meringue dessert with a soft centre, topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit. It was named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926 to great acclaim. The pavlova (also formerly called pavlova cake) is claimed as a national dessert by both countries, and there has been much discussion about where it was invented. It is clear that the term pavlova is first recorded in New Zealand in 1927, but in this instance it refers to a moulded, multi-layered jelly dessert. The first New Zealand reference to the more familiar meringue dessert occurs in a 1933 cookery book. The first Australian reference to the classic dish occurs two years later. The shape and appearance of the pavlova may originally have been intended to suggest a ballerina’s tutu. 1935 Advocate (Burnie) 14 September: There are several different varieties of Pavlova cake. The most elaborate consists of alternate layers of meringue, marshmallow, whipped cream and fruit filling, piled high to make the most luxurious party dish. 2004 Northern Territory News (Darwin) 11 November: His signature dish is an emu egg pavlova. If the Kiwis can claim the first evidence for pavlova, Australia can claim the first evidence of the common abbreviation pav, first recorded in 1966. 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 21 December: Swap the Christmas pud for a great big festive trifle stuffed with fresh fruit and jelly or a pav oozing with cream and raspberries. pineapple: to get the rough end of the pineapple To get a raw deal, or to receive unfair or inequitable treatment. The force of the phrase derives partly from the fact that either end of a pineapple is ‘rough’, although the end with the prickly leaves is very rough indeed. This expression is recorded first in 1959, and the early evidence is for the form to get the wrong end of the pineapple. From the 1970s onwards the ‘rough end’ takes over from the ‘wrong end’ as the more common form of the expression. The equivalent American saying is ‘to get the fuzzy end of the lollypop’. 1961 R. Lawler Piccadilly Bushman: He’ll know what I mean when I talk of getting the wrong end of the pineapple. 2013 Sydney Morning Herald 23 October: We welcomed the byelection so we could send you the message: we don't support a government that is giving us the rough end of the pineapple. plonk Wine, or fortified wine, of poor quality; more generally, wine or alcohol of any kind. It is possible that this word has its origin with Australian soldiers serving in France in the First World War. Plonk is likely to be an altered form of the French word ‘blanc’ in vin blanc, ‘white wine’. Soldiers may have pronounced this as van blonk, further transforming it into plonk. Evidence of the period records other similar names used by soldiers for wine based on the French vin blanc: point blank, von blink, plink, plink-plonk, and plinkety-plonk. The Australian word plonk has now spread to other Englishes. It is first recorded in 1919, and is now often used of cheap or poor quality wine. 1927 News (Adelaide) 8 December: ‘Give us a definition of “plonk”?’ asked Mr McMillan. ‘Yes, I can do that’, replied the obliging Mr Collins. ‘It is a cheap wine produced in Mr Crosby's district.’ 1992 Sun-Herald (Sydney) 5 July 30/1 My local plonk shop where I am caught browsing through the Australian white wine section by one of the counter-jumpers. 2007 A. Agar Queensland Ringer: It is not plonk. It is good red South Australian wine. For more on words related to wine drinking, see our blog ‘ Wine in Australian English ’. pokies Poker machines. Pokies are coin or card-operated. The punter presses a button or pulls a lever to spin the wheel, and the machine pays out, if you’re lucky, according to the combination of symbols that appear on the wheel. Known elsewhere as slot machines, fruit machines, or one-armed bandits, pokies are commonplace in Australian pubs and clubs, and a substantial revenue raiser. The first State in Australia to legalise this form of gambling was New South Wales in 1956. The term pokies is first recorded in 1964. 1965 I. Hamilton Persecutor: I always know how much I lose on the pokies. 2007 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 27 March: The Prince Alfred Hotel in Church St, Richmond, is on the market, and some fear it may be turned into a pokies venue. But if the new owners try to get pokies in they will have a huge fight on their hands. pom A British person, especially one from England. (Originally applied to an immigrant from the British Isles.) The word pom has its origin in wordplay. An early, derisory term for an immigrant in Australia was the rhyming slang jimmygrant (sometimes written as Jimmy Grant), recorded in 1844. Jimmygrant was further abbreviated in the 1870s to jimmy: 1878 Australian Town & Country Journal (Sydney) 6 July: The country was worth living in, not like it is now, overstocked with ‘jimmies’—a lot of useless trash. By 1912 another rhyming slang term for ‘immigrant’ had appeared: pomegranate (also written as pommygranate and Pommy Grant). In the same year the first evidence for two abbreviations of pomegranate—pom and pommy—can also be found. Pomegranate (along with its variants) and jimmygrant coexisted for some time: 1912 Truth (Sydney) 22 December: Now they call ’em ‘Pomegranates’ and the Jimmygrants don’t like it. 1916 W.C. Watson The Memoirs of a Ship’s Fireman: As I hailed from the Old Dart, I of course, in their estimation, was an immigrant, hence the curl up of the lip. But ‘pommygrant’ or ‘jimmygrant’, they always had a helping hand for me. Eventually the term pomegranate replaced jimmygrant, and later was itself replaced by the abbreviations pom and pommy: 1920 H.J. Rumsey Pommies (Introduction): The title that I have selected for the book: ‘The Pommies’ is now a common name for recent arrivals from Britain. During the last few weeks, I have scores of times heard the Prince of Wales affectionately described as a ‘dear little pommy’. 1923 Bulletin (Sydney) 12 July: It was a Pommy bloke wot put me wise. I was in Snotty Padger’s bar one day ’Avin’ a quiet couple wiv the flies When Pom. lobs in. 1984 B. Dixon Searching for Aboriginal Languages: The weatherbeaten, red faces of the cattlemen sitting on stools around the bar all slowly swivelled and surveyed me. ‘Pommy!’ ejaculated one of them. I was made to feel that no one had ever asked for a gin and tonic in that pub before. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 29 July: The birth of a future King of England is nice for the Poms and Anglophiles but it has no relevance on who will be a future president of the republic of Australia. There are a number of incorrect theories about the origin of pom. The most common suggests it is an acronym for Prisoner of Mother England, variously described as being stamped on convict clothing or scratched on the walls of prison cells by convicts. There is no evidence whatever to support this notion. Today the use of pom and pommy to refer to an English person is common and widespread. These words can be used with good humour or in a derogatory way, but at the core they still imply a degree of ‘us and them’ mentality. The term whingeing pom, first recorded in 1962, embodies this. It refers to an English person, especially a migrant, who is regarded as a habitual complainer. 1967 Canberra Times 31 March: Many English people are castigated as ‘whinging Poms’, and it behoves Mr Crawford to pack his bags and go if life in Australia is so distasteful. 2014 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 20 September (Home Supplement): He became an Australian citizen in his second year. ‘I decided early on I would never be a whingeing Pom and we were convinced that living here was brilliant’, he says. pork chop: to carry on like a pork chop To behave foolishly, to make a fuss, to complain, or to rant. This expression is often thought to allude to the spluttering noise of a pork chop that is being fried. However it is probably a variant of the older expression like a pork chop in a synagogue, meaning something that is unpopular, unlikely, or rare (with reference to the Jewish prohibition of the eating of pork). To carry on like a pork chop is first recorded in 1975. 2002 Sunday Telegraph (Sydney) 10 November: The Australian sports public are a forgiving lot. Ask Lleyton Hewitt. Or Shane Warne. Here are a couple of champions who, on several occasions, have carried on like pork chops. 2003 E. Vercoe Keep Your Hair On: She's a beautiful woman, your mother, but by God can she carry on like a pork chop about nothing. possum: stir the possum To excite interest or controversy; to liven things up. This phrase is first recorded in 1888, and probably developed as the obverse of the phrase to play possum meaning ‘to pretend to be asleep or unconscious when threatened’ (in imitation of an opossum’s supposed behaviour). 1949 R. Park Poor Man’s Orange: A mission was like a tonic. It stirred the ’possum in the people, and for months afterwards they could still feel the enthusiasm. 2006 Advertiser (Adelaide) 11 November: Professor Seddon said his talk was deliberately designed to ‘stir the possum’ and generate discussion. prawn A fool; also used as a general term of abuse. It is a figurative use of the word prawn, an edible crustacean (high on Australia’s list of favourite foods). The Australian sense of ‘fool’ is first recorded in 1893. 1944 L. Glassop We were the Rats: What an odious prawn this Anderson is, I thought. 2013 S. Thorne Bonzer: I would have loved her to put in a day now and then at the new tuckshop… But she wouldn't, because she thought the woman who ran it was a ‘prawn’. The term raw prawn, recorded from 1940, is based on this. It means 'an act of deception; a "swiftie"; an unfair action or circumstance, a rough deal’. It derives from the notion of something that is difficult to swallow. 1954 Queensland Guardian (Brisbane) 20 January: Snow says he thinks that this is the raw prawn. We do all the work, the mob behind Menzies gets all the dough. 2012 Sydney Morning Herald 10 March (News Review Section): I can't find one person who expects to get a parental leave scheme that provides full pay. If there's something we hate more than blatant, vote-grabbing profligacy, it's when someone tries to sell us a raw prawn. Today raw prawn is most often heard in the idiom to come the raw prawn, meaning 'to attempt to deceive, or treat like a fool; to misrepresent a situation’. It is typically used in negative constructions, especially as don't come the raw prawn with me (‘don’t try to treat me like a fool’). It is first recorded in 1942. 1973 Woman's Day (Sydney) 26 March: `Don't come the raw prawn with me, mate,' he said. `I can get it back home at Woollies for that price.' 2000 B. Lunney Gone Bush: ‘Don't come the raw prawn with me. Look at those mudflats out there’, I said to him. I was only fourteen years old at the time and remembered thinking, he's having a go at me and must think I'm a dope. public servant A person employed by a government authority; a member of a State or Territory public service, or the Australian Public Service. It is the Australian term for the standard English civil servant. Public servant has its origin in Australia’s history as a penal colony. Unease about the word convict led to the creation of euphemistic terms, including government man and public servant (both recorded from 1797). The convict public servant was assigned to public labour. 1799 D. Collins An Account of the English Colony in New South Wales (1802) vol. II: Such of the .. public servants as might have taken to concealments on shore for the purpose of avoiding their work, or making their escape from the colony. By 1812 public servant was used to refer to any government worker, whether free or convict, and two centuries later it is still the standard Australian term for a public service employee. 1832 Colonial Times (Hobart) 25 April: Mr Henry Melville certainly cannot boast of being in receipt of a handsome salary, as a public servant. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 28 October: Cairns could become the Canberra of the north under a plan to force public servants to move from the national capital to the tropics. See our blog ‘The convict origins of “public servant”’ for a discussion of the term. Queenslander A resident of Queensland; a person born in Queensland. Queensland was constituted as a separate colony in 1859, having previously formed part of New South Wales. The first evidence of Queenslander to describe a resident of the new colony occurs later that year. 1878 J.H. Nicholson Opal Fever: No violence! Let us remember we are gentlemen and Queenslanders. 2013 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 18 December: Just as well we Queenslanders are a non-parochial lot, always considerate of the feelings of southerners. A transferred sense of Queenslander appeared in the 1980s. It refers to a house of a style built in Queensland from the 1870s onwards, timber-built and typically set high on stumps, with exterior weatherboards and corrugated iron roof, a wraparound verandah, and good ventilation. The design maximises air movement in humid conditions. 1990 R. Fitzgerald Busy in the Fog: Isn't our house grand? It's an old Queenslander. 2013 S. Thorne Bonzer: A typical weatherboard ‘Queenslander’, it was built for the climate—up on stumps for the air to circulate underneath, with verandahs and lots of louvres. quokka A small, short-tailed wallaby, Setonix brachyurus, of south-western Western Australia, including Rottnest and Bald Islands. (These islands are free of quokka predators such as foxes and cats.) Quokka was first recorded in 1855, and comes from Noongar, an Aboriginal language of this area. Quokkas are the size of a cat, and have long greyish-brown fur and rounded ears. 1968 V. Serventy Southern Walkabout: It is the famous quokka, one of the pademelon wallabies, which creates most interest. It was this wallaby, mistaken by Dutch visitor Vlaming for a large rodent, which led to the island’s name, Rottnest or ‘Rat’s Nest’. 2004 Australian Geographic July: Beneath the trees live various marsupials, including WA's largest mainland population of quokka and the honey possum or noolbenger. quoll Any of several marsupials of the genus Dasyuris of Australia and New Guinea. Quolls are cat-sized marsupials with long tails, pointed snouts, brown fur, and distinctive white spots. They are nocturnal and hunt insects, birds and small mammals. The word quoll derives from Guugu Yimithirr, an Aboriginal language of north-eastern Queensland. Joseph Banks, botanist with James Cook’s voyage of discovery in 1768-71, recorded it in his Endeavour journal in 1770, when the Endeavour was beached for repairs on the site of present-day Cooktown. However quoll was not the name that European settlers used; native cat was the common term for this animal until the mid 19th century. From the 1960s the word quoll began to replace native cat, and today quoll is the dominant term. 1770 J. Banks Endeavour Journal: Another [quadruped] was calld by the natives Je-Quoll. 1987 Wildlife Australia (Autumn issue): It is only in recent years that distinctive native names have been proposed to replace the ‘tainted’ European ones. Quoll for native cat, for example. 2013 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 13 May: Ms Leonard has hand-reared three kangaroos, a wombat and two quolls. razoo A non-existent coin of trivial value. Razoo, first recorded in 1919, is used in negative contexts only, especially as to not have a razoo, and to not have a brass razoo 'to have nothing; to be penniless'. The origin of the word is unknown, although it is perhaps a corruption of the French coin called a sou. The form brass razoo appears later in 1927. The brass of brass razoo is likely influenced by the standard English brass farthing, which is also used in negative contexts with a similar meaning (‘she hasn’t got a brass farthing’). For an earlier discussion of the possibility that the form brass razoo is a euphemism for arse razoo (from arse raspberry ‘a fart’) see the article ‘Brass Razoo: is it but a breath of wind?’ on page 6 of our Ozwords newsletter. 1965 R.H. Conquest Horses in Kitchen: My main worry was that when I did leave hospital… I wouldn’t have a razoo to my name. 2015 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 14 April: I am trapped in limbo and have not earned a brass razoo in six months. razor gang A parliamentary committee established to examine ways of reducing public expenditure. The term razor gang derives from the name of a violent street gang in Sydney in 1927 who were armed with razors. The parliamentary sense may be a transfer from the 1960s British Railway slang (an extended use of the literal razor gang) ‘a team of investigators seeking ways of improving economy and productivity’. In Australia in 1981 razor gang became the popular term to refer to the Committee for Review of Commonwealth Functions, chaired by Treasurer Phillip Lynch, which was charged with cutting government spending. Today razor gang is used of any similar committee or organisation that seeks to drastically cut expenditure. 1981 Bulletin (Sydney) 5 May: Canberra reports said that Sir Phillip Lynch’s ‘Razor Gang’ had recommended an overall staff cut in the Federal public service of 2 percent. 2012 Gold Coast Bulletin 15 June: The Newman Government's razor gang has seized the $1.3 million that was allocated by the previous Labor government for the Burleigh police beat to plump up its Budget bottom line. right: you right? Often heard as a question from a salesperson to a customer, this is the Australian equivalent of the standard query are you being served? It may sound offhand to non-Australian ears, but although informal, it is not a sign of disrespect. It is a shortened form of are you all right? First recorded in 1974. 1985 Bulletin (Sydney) 16 July: Cedric Felspar .. was lost in thought in .. David Jones .. when a salesgirl crept upon him from behind and whined: ‘You right?’ 2013 Age (Melbourne) 13 January: When sales assistants ask ‘Are you right?’, I have answered: ‘No, I'm left of centre.’ What's wrong with ‘May I help you’? rogaining A sporting event similar to orienteering, in which teams compete over a course that requires at least twelve hours to complete. The word rogaine probably derives from the first names of the founders of the sport: Ro(d), Gai(l), and Ne(il) Phillips. The earliest evidence of rogaining is found in 1979. 1982 N. & R. Phillips Rogaining: Rogaining is the sport of long distance cross-country navigation in which teams of two to five members visit as many checkpoints as possible in an allocated period. Teams travel entirely on foot, navigating by map and compass in terrain that varies from open farmland to thick, hilly forest. A central base camp provides hot meals throughout the event and teams may return there at any time to eat, rest or sleep. 2013 Milton-Ulladulla Times 25 June: Elleisha has also .. survived overnight bush rogaines, running through the bush at Kangaroo Valley as first aid officer for her team on a 24-hour trek. rooned: we'll all be rooned We will all be ruined. An expression of pessimism. Rooned is an Irish pronunciation of ‘ruined’, used in the refrain of the poem ‘Said Hanrahan’, published in 1921 by John O’Brien, the pen name of P.J. Hartigan. Hanrahan, a farmer, is a lugubrious and pessimistic doomsayer. Whatever the weather, he predicts disaster: ‘We’ll all be rooned,’ said Hanrahan, ‘before the year is out’. The expression is now used to mock pessimists, and is first recorded in the same year the poem was published. 1927 Gundagai Independent 1 August: There are plenty of Hanrahans about—‘We'll all be rooned’, they croon, ‘if rain don't come this month’. 2008 Canberra Times 26 January (Opinion Supplement): We may have become a nation in 1901 but in 107 years since we have gradually severed constitutional, legal and procedural links to the English crown and government apparatus. Each has been accompanied by cries of ‘We'll all be rooned!’ rort To scam, misuse, or to treat fraudulently. This significant Australian word derives from wrought, an archaic past participle of the verb to work. Wrought means ‘worked into shape or condition’ and we see it today in the term wrought iron. Indeed the Australian rort is sometimes spelled wrought in early evidence (see the 1938 example below). The verb rort first appears in 1919. 1938 Argus (Melbourne) 26 March (Supplement): ‘Now me’, he went on, ‘I was edjicated in Woolloomooloo, in Sydney. That's were I learnt wroughting’. ‘But what is this wroughting?’ I asked. He wrinkled his forehead thoughtfully. ‘It's a bit ’ard to explain it’, he said. ‘What it really comes to is that you sells something that isn't no use, to people what doesn't want it, for good, ’ard cash.’ 2006 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 28 September: Carlton were found to have rorted the salary cap. Rort is also used as a noun, meaning ‘a trick, a fraud, a dishonest practice’, and is first recorded in 1926. For a further discussion of the origin of rort, see our Word of the Month article . 1936 J. Devanny Sugar Heaven: The cockies are supposed to pay this retention money into the bank and we are supposed to draw interest on it but normally they don’t pay it in. They keep the use of it through the season and we draw the bare amount at the end of the cut. It’s the greatest rort ever. 2000 R. Hoser Taxi: Canberra, the public service capital of Australia, is without doubt the rort capital as well. sanger A sandwich. Sanger is an alteration of the word sandwich. Sango appeared as a term for sandwich in the 1940s, but by the 1960s, sanger took over to describe this staple of Australian cuisine. Sangers come in all shapes and sizes for all occasions—there are gourmet sangers, steak sangers, veggie sangers, cucumber sangers, and even double banger sangers. 1968 D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches: Meals consisted of piles of sangers, made by the pub cook, and brought out at odd intervals. 2003 J. Birmingham Dopeland: The club sanger is the only reason I stay here. schmick Smart, stylish; excellent. Schmick (sometimes shmick) is a relatively recent addition to Australian English. The form smick is found once in the written record in the 1970s, and may be a blend of the words smart and slick. From the late 1990s onwards smick is modified to schmick on the model of various Yiddish words borrowed into English. Schmick is now often heard in Australian English. For a discussion of the origin of schmick, and the term schmick-up that has developed from it, see our Word of the Month article. 1999 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 28 July: The view over the river and Story Bridge will be pretty schmick. 2009 J. Welch Choir Man: I .. was decked out in a lovely new navy-blue suit… When I walked out onstage feeling rather schmick, I got a nod of acknowledgement from the very handsome artistic director, Richard Bonynge. School of the Air A government-funded educational program that uses a two-way radio communication system (and, more recently, internet technology) to enable children in remote areas to participate in ‘classroom’ activities for part of each day. Developed to supplement correspondence education, the School of the Air was pioneered in Australia in 1951. It remains the most important means of education for children who have no access to school. 1960 Bulletin (Sydney) 17 February: Queensland’s first School of the Air, operating one hour daily from the Cloncurry flying-doctor base, got away to a bad start. 2009 E. McHugh Birdsville: I'm happy about School of the Air being over… Now they're off to school and in a classroom again they can come home to me and I'm just Mum instead of being their cranky teacher. screamer (In Australian Rules football) a spectacular overhead mark. Australian Rules is a team game in which the ball is moved by running, kicking, and handballing. A mark is the act of cleanly catching a ball that has been kicked a distance of more than 15 metres, and the mark allows the catcher to take an unimpeded kick of the ball. A screamer is a mark that results from an especially high and spectacular leap for the ball. It is a specific use of the standard English screamer meaning ‘an outstanding specimen’. The Australian Rules screamer is first recorded in 1953. 1989 Age (Melbourne) 24 July: 'Leaping Al' Lynch played an inspired game... kicking six goals and .. sitting on a pack of four players .. to pull down a screamer. 2014 Herald Sun (Melbourne) 30 March: Six minutes in he threw himself onto a pack in the goalsquare and took a screamer. A second sense of screamer is recorded in Australian English from 1959. It functions in various compound terms with words for measures of alcoholic drink, indicating a person who has a low tolerance of alcohol, or who becomes drunk easily or quickly. Two-pot screamer is the most common of these, but you can also find two-pint, two-middy, and two-schooner screamers. 1972 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 June: Sefton said she’d become a two middy screamer. He said when she had a few drinks she began to shout and tried to dominate the conversation. 2004 Canberra Times 12 December (Magazine Section): In the days when I was a two-pot screamer (as opposed to now when I'm a two-pot sleeper), I could be guaranteed to reveal bits of me which oughtn't to be revealed to anyone. seachange A significant change of lifestyle, especially one achieved by moving from the city to a seaside town. It derives from SeaChange (1998–2000), the name of a popular Australian television series in which the principal character moves from the city to a small coastal town. The name of the series itself alludes to the standard English meaning of sea-change ‘a profound or notable transformation’, which has its origin in Shakespeare’s play The Tempest: ‘Nothing of him that doth fade, But doth suffer a sea-change, Into something rich and strange.’ The Australian meaning is first recorded in 1998, and has generated the verb to seachange, and the name seachanger to describe people who choose a seachange. A later term modelled on seachange is tree change, referring to a significant change in lifestyle with a move from the city to a rural district. 2003 Daily Telegraph (Sydney) 1 December: Sea change investors cause prices to triple. People fleeing Sydney to NSW coastal areas for a ‘sea change’ have forced land prices up by as much as three times in three years. 2006 Australian Gourmet Traveller April: One of Melbourne's best pub restaurants .. has appointed a ‘certified Francophile’ to replace Tim Saffery, who is sea-changing to the New South Wales south coast. secret business In traditional Aboriginal culture, ceremony and ritual that is open only to a particular group. The word business in this term is from Aboriginal English, and means ‘traditional Aboriginal lore and ritual’, and is recorded from 1907. Secret business is first recorded much later in 1986, and from it have developed terms with a more specific reference: secret men’s business, for ceremony and ritual that is open only to men, and secret women’s business, for ceremony and ritual that is open only to women. 1997 West Australian (Perth) 9 July: People might refuse to give evidence if it meant revealing secret business. 2001 A. McMillan An Intruder's Guide to East Arnhem Land: In the morning the men went off to a nearby ceremonial site for Ngarra bunggul or, if you like, secret men's business. 2014 Cairns Post 24 February: It's really hard with my daughters, a lot of it is secret women's business. The women had more sacred areas than men and it's up to my partner, my sisters and my mum to teach them. From the late 1990s the terms are transferred into standard Australian English where they are used, often jokingly, in non-Aboriginal contexts. 1997 New Idea (Melbourne) 29 November: Kingswood driving is secret men's business—just like pushing a shopping trolley straight is secret womens' business. shag: like a shag on a rock An emblem of isolation, deprivation, and exposure. It is first recorded in 1845. A shag is a name for any of several species of Australian cormorant, commonly found in coastal and inland waters, where they are often seen perched alone on a rock—the behaviour that gave rise to the expression. In Australian English any isolated person can be described as being like a shag on a rock—for example, a political leader with few supporters, or a person without friends at a party. Sometimes found in the formulation as lonely (or miserable) as a shag on a rock. 1864 Sydney Morning Herald 8 July: He heard Lant say he would be revenged on Mr Orr; he would scab his sheep, and leave him as miserable as a shag on a rock. 2001 B. Courtenay Four Fires 501 Tommy doesn't want the poor bloke to be standing there like a shag on a rock. sheila A girl or woman. This word first appeared in Australian English in 1832 with the spelling shelah. It was initially used in Australia to refer to a woman of Irish origin, but from the late 19th century onwards it became a general term for a woman or girl. It probably derives from the generic use of the (originally Irish) proper name Sheila. For a full discussion of its likely origin in the old celebration Shelah’s Day, celebrated the day after St Patrick’s Day, see our blog ‘Shelah’s Day and the origin of sheila’ from March 2016. For a different, but nevertheless Irish, view of the origin of the term, see an earlier discussion in our Ozwords article ‘Who is Sheila?’ from December 2001. 1930 L.W. Lower Here’s Luck: ‘Sheilas!’ gasped Woggo as the girls clambered out of the car. 1992 J. Davis In our Town: That's my sister. What a sheila. Every bloke in Northam wants to date her. shower: I didn’t come down in the last shower I’m not stupid, don’t try and put one over me! This is a response to someone who is taking you for a fool, and indicates that you have more experience or shrewdness than you have been given credit for. It is now used elsewhere, but it is recorded earliest in Australia, and its use is chiefly Australian. First evidence is from 1883. 1904 Northern Miner (Charters Towers) 22 September: At least I thought it would be accepted that I didn't come down in the last shower. 2015 Star Observer (Sydney) September: I didn’t verbalise it with my mother until she was dying… So I told her, just before she died, and she looked at me and said, ‘Michael, I didn’t come down in the last shower. You’ve been bringing Johan to Sunday dinner for the last 30 years, do you think I was blind?' sickie A day's sick leave, especially as taken without sufficient medical reason. Sickie is an abbreviation of the term sick leave, and illustrates a distinctive feature of Australian English — the addition of -ie or -y to abbreviated words or phrases. Other examples include: firie ‘firefighter’, surfie ‘surfer’, and Tassie ‘Tasmania’. Sickie is first recorded in 1953, and is often found in the phrase to chuck a sickie, meaning ‘to take a day’s sick leave from work’ (often with the implication that the person is not really ill). 1962 Bulletin (Sydney) 3 March: I don’t feel a bit like work today… I think I’ll take a sickie. 2003 Canberra Times 21 June: The age old practice of ‘chucking a sickie’ in the Australian Public Service is costing the taxpayer at least $295 million a year. skip An Australian, especially one of British descent. Also as skippy. The term is the creation of non-British Australian migrants, especially children, who needed a term to counter the insulting terms directed at them by Australians of British descent. First recorded in 1982, it derives from the children’s television series Skippy, the Bush Kangaroo (1966-68). 1988 K. Lette Girls' Night Out: The Skips at school had teased her about being Greek. 2000 Geelong Advertiser 3 December: You listening to me ya skippy dickhead? Skippy has a later meaning, ‘kangaroo meat’, first recorded in the early 1990s and derived from the same source. For a discussion of this sense see our Word of the Month article from October 2013. sledge Of a fielder in a game of cricket, to attempt to break the concentration of a person batting by abuse or needling. Sledge is first recorded in the mid-1970s in a cricketing context. It derives from the word sledgehammer, used figuratively to designate an unsubtle form of verbal abuse. Later it became used more widely in a variety of contexts, sporting and otherwise, in the sense ‘to criticise, ridicule, attack’. For a discussion of the theory that it derives from the name of the singer Percy Sledge, see our blog ‘Percy Sledge and cricket’ from April 2015. 1980 Sydney Morning Herald 16 October: Crude language is forbidden. This edict should put an end to the disgraceful practice of ‘sledging’ opponents, an abomination that has become rampant in the game over the last few years. 2014 Sydney Morning Herald 7 June: And The Australian is certainly selective about which women it worries about: it was hardly outraged over the sustained sledging of Julia Gillard. sleepout A verandah, porch, or outbuilding that is used for sleeping accommodation. The word first appears in 1915. Sleepouts are often used when hot weather encouraged people to sleep in a sheltered area that might receive cooling night breezes. Sometimes a sleepout may be a porch or verandah that is enclosed with windows or walls, eventually becoming a permanent extra bedroom. 1959 L. Rose Country of the Dead: He looked up through the gauze wire serving as the outer wall of the sleep-out, across the dry river flat. 2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 28 October (Etc Section): It still has an authentic country feel with wide shady verandas, a wood-burning fireplace for frosty nights, two double bedrooms with high wrought-iron beds and, much to the children's delight, a sleepout they were all to share on our visit. snag A sausage. Also snagger. In Australia and elsewhere snag has a number of meanings, including ‘a submerged tree stump’, ‘an unexpected drawback’, and more recently as an acronym for sensitive new age guy’. But in Australia a snag is also one of several words for ‘sausage’ (others include snarler and snork). It is first recorded in 1937, and probably comes from British (mainly Scots) dialect snag meaning ‘a morsel, a light meal’. Snag has generated another, rhyming slang, term for the humble sausage: the aptly named mystery bag. 1943 Bulletin (Sydney) 15 December: Waiting only to bolt a couple of cold ‘snags’ Ted got out his bike. 1991 Age (Melbourne) 24 December (Supplement): Bangers, snags, call them what you will, the once-humble sausage has moved up into the gourmet class. sorry In traditional Aboriginal culture, of or relating to death and mourning. In Aboriginal English the adjective sorry is recorded in this sense from the 1940s. Later compounds based on sorry include sorry business, ritual and ceremony associated with death, and sorry camp, a mourning camp. 1997 S. Dingo Dingo: the Story of Our Mob: When Polly passed away, none of the children had been permitted to go to the sorry ceremony, the funeral, no children at all. 1999 Canberra Times 11 December (Panorama): An Aboriginal boy tells us about going with his family by car to Yarrie for sorry business. In the wider Australian community sorry is found in the annual Sorry Day, first held on 26 May 1998, a public expression of regret for the treatment of the stolen generations, those Aboriginal children who were forcibly removed from their parents by white authorities. It is also, for the Indigenous community, a day of mourning. 2001 Adelaidean June: For the fourth year in a row, Sorry Day has been marked at Adelaide University with a formal ceremony. spit the dummy This has two meanings in Australian English: to give up (contesting or participating), and to lose one’s temper or composure. The phrase is recorded first in the1980s. It is usually used of an adult with the implication is that the behaviour described is childish, like a baby spitting out its dummy in a tantrum and refusing to be pacified. 1992 Sydney Morning Herald 2 November: With most games, of course, I'd simply spit the dummy, hit the switch and give up. 2005 Age (Melbourne) 27 November: There was a lingering doubt: would host Russell Crowe spit the dummy and biff someone with a trophy? spunk A sexually attractive person. Australians also use the meanings for this term that exist in standard English: 1 courage and determination. 2 semen. But in Australia spunk is most commonly used to refer to a person of either sex who is regarded as sexually attractive. It is first recorded in the 1970s and is derived from spunky ‘full of spirit; brave, plucky’, although it may be influenced by spunk ‘semen’. A term based on the Australian spunk is spunk rat, which means the same thing, but can also mean ‘a sexually promiscuous person’. 1979 Carey & Lette Puberty Blues: It was Darren Peters—the top surfing spunk of sixth form. 2004 Australian (Sydney) 12 June (Magazine): Physical attractiveness is multi-dimensional: after all, one person's spunkrat is another person's .. er, rat. squatter A squatter is a person who unlawfully occupies an uninhabited building. But in early nineteenth-century Australia a squatter (first recorded 1825) was also a person who occupied Crown land without legal title. From the 1840s it began to refer to any person who grazed livestock on a large scale, without reference to the title by which the land was held; and the term squatter also referred to such a person as being of an elevated socio-economic status. Squatters became wealthy and powerful, and the term squattocracy (recorded in 1841) alludes to their aristocratic pretensions. 1867 ‘A Colonist’ Life’s Work As It Is: No men have made wealth faster in this colony than ‘squatters’; that is, in plain English, sheep and cattle owners. 1984 W.W. Ammon et al. Working Lives: He had class that manager, squattocracy class, and only others of squatter ilk were encouraged to fraternise with him. stolen generation The Aboriginal people who were removed from their families as children (especially between the 1900s and the 1960s) and placed in institutions or fostered by white families. Also stolen generations. The term was first recorded in 1982. 2002 Koori Mail 20 February: I hope this film will be a turning point in Australians’ awareness of the complex and painful issues surrounding the Stolen generations. 2006 Mercury (Hobart) 22 November: Pioneering laws to offer compensation to Tasmanian Aborigines forcibly removed from their families as part of the Stolen Generation were passed yesterday by the Tasmanian House of Assembly. stoush Fighting; violence; a brawl or fight. Probably from British dialect (Scots) stashie, stushie (and variants) ‘an uproar; a commotion, disturbance, quarrel’. Stoush is used as a noun and a verb (‘to strike or thrash; to fight or struggle’) from the late 19th century. 1935 J.P. McKinney Crucible: ‘The jacks were tailing me up.’ ‘What was the matter’, John asked. ‘Just a bit of stoush’, said Roberts. ‘Two of them bailed me up for my pass. I dropped them and beat it for the bush.’ 1994 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 19 July: Australia's leading fund managers are lining up for a stoush with one of the industry's leading researchers over its proposal to develop a rating system. Stoush was also used to refer to military engagement during the First World War, and later the phrase the big stoush was used of the war itself. 1932 Western Mail (Perth) 25 August: I was on board the troopship Nestor when that steamer went over to the big stoush in 1915. For a discussion of the phrase the big stoush, see our Word of the Month for April 2015. straight to the poolroom A catchphrase used to express the great value of a gift, prize, object, etc. The idiom comes from the 1997 film The Castle in which the main character, Darryl Kerrigan (played by Michael Caton), says of gifts such as ‘a samurai-sword letter opener’ that ‘this is going straight to the poolroom’, suggesting it is so wonderful that it should be preserved as a trophy. First recorded in 1998. 2000 Sunday Mail (Adelaide) 21 May: Bravo! The great man signed a football for me and when I get home it's going straight to the pool room. stubby A short, squat beer bottle, especially one with a capacity of 375 ml. The bottle is stubby (short and thick) in comparison with the tall and slender 750 ml beer bottle. First recorded in 1965. The term stubby holder appears a few years later, to describe a casing made of an insulating material, in which a stubby is held (and kept cold) while the contents are being drunk. The expression a stubby short of a sixpack, recorded from the late 1990s, means ‘very stupid; insane’. It is an Australian variation of a common international idiom, typically represented by a sandwich short of a picnic. It combines the Australian stubby with the borrowed American sixpack (a pack of six cans of beer), demonstrating how readily Australian English naturalises Americanisms. 1966 J. Iggulden Summer’s Tales: Drinking beer from small, cold stubbies. 2005 Townsville Bulletin 12 November: The fact the affable brindle bitzer is a stubbie short of six pack might explain why one day he took on a stingray. No dog in his right mind would tackle a stingray, especially one at home in its own watery environment. such is life An expression of resignation; a philosophical acceptance of the bad things that happen in life. First recorded in 1896. This is a commonplace, but given significance in Australia because these words are popularly understood to be the last uttered by the bushranger Ned Kelly on the gallows in 1880. The expression was further popularised by its use as the title for Joseph Furphy’s famous novel about rural Australia (1903). Some claim that Kelly’s last words were in fact ‘Ah well, I suppose it has come to this’— not quite as memorable. For a discussion of such is life and other terms associated with Ned Kelly, see the article ‘Who’s Robbing this Coach? Ned Kelly and Australian English’ in our Ozwords newsletter from April 2009. 1918 W. Hay The Escape of the Notorious Sir William Heans: The tragic distresses of portions of our lives ... make at worst a pleasant interest for the young of future ages. Such is life! 2006 Sydney Morning Herald 1 July: It's the first time in my life that I've been sacked but such is life. My pride has been a bit dented. swag In early use, the collection of possessions and daily necessaries carried by a person travelling, usually on foot, in the bush; especially the blanket-wrapped roll carried on the back or across the shoulders by an itinerant worker. In later use, such a collection of possessions carried by a worker on a rural station, a camper, or a traveller to the city from a country area; a bed-roll. First recorded in 1836. The Australian sense of swag is a transferred use of swag from British thieves’ slang ‘a thief's plunder or booty’. The transfer of meaning (from the booty itself to the the booty and its container) is recorded by convict James Hardy Vaux in 1812 and published in his Memoirs in 1819. For more on this see the article ‘James Hardy Vaux: Pioneer Australian Lexicographer’ (page 6) in our Ozwords newsletter from April 2008. 1890 Bulletin (Sydney) 30 August: Did you ever take 'the wallaby' along some dreary track With that hideous malformation, called a swag, upon your back. 2006 R. Ellis Boats in the Desert: He slid out of it like a banana losing its peel. He began rummaging among his swag looking for something, and as he did so, I saw a brown snake slithering away from Jim's swag as fast as it could go. The verb to swag meaning 'to carry one's swag' appears in the 1850s, and the compound swagman (a person who carries a swag; an itinerant worker, especially one in search of employment, who carries a swag; a vagrant) appears in the 1860s. 1996 B. Simpson Packhorse Drover: I remember clearly the sad procession of down-at-heel swagmen, many of them returned soldiers, who called at our place in the hope of getting a job or a handout. For a discussion of other terms associated with swagmen, see the article ‘The Jolly Swagman’ on pages 6-7 of our Ozwords newsletter, October 2007. tall poppy A person who is conspicuously successful, especially one who attracts envious notice or hostility. It is often said that Australians have a tendency to cut tall poppies down to size by denigrating them. It may have its origin in an obsolete 17th-century sense of the word poppy, meaning ‘a conspicuous or prominent person or thing, frequently with implication of likely humiliation’. This meaning of poppy is likely to refer to the Roman historian Livy’s account of Tarquinius Superbus, who silently showed how to deal with potential enemies by striking off the heads of the tallest poppies in his garden with a stick. The Australian tall poppy is first recorded in 1871, and tall poppy syndrome, the practice of denigrating prominent or successful people, is recorded from 1983. 1894 Oakleigh Leader (Melbourne) 29 December: He would avert direct taxation on wealth by retrenching all the low paid civil servants, while carefully protecting the tall poppies who have very little to do. 2005 Sydney Morning Herald 12 March: How do colleagues know when I am having a go at Shane Warne?… They can see my fingers moving on the keyboard. Look, I try not to do it all the time, honest! But sometimes the compulsion just overwhelms me, as a hideous case of Tall Poppy Syndrome grabs me by the throat and, fair dinkum, makes me do it. tart A girlfriend or sweetheart; also applied generally to a girl or woman, implying admiration. This Australian sense of tart is recorded from 1892 through to the 1970s, but has now fallen out of use. It is likely to be an abbreviation of jam tart, itself probably rhyming slang for sweetheart. 1937 A.W. Upfield Mr Jelly’s Business: I’m in love with a tart. Her name’s Lucy Jelly. She is the loveliest girl within a thousand miles of Burracoppin. 1972 D. Sheahan Songs From The Canefields: If you fell in love and got on with a tart—’Twas happy she’d be to go out in a cart—And after the wedding she’d chatter for hours Of sight and scenes that she saw at the Towers. Today a woman is likely to take offence if you call her a tart, since the two current meanings for a female tart are both derogatory: 1. a promiscuous woman or prostitute, and 2. an offensive slang term for a girl or woman. It wasn't always the case. For the best part of the last hundred years, calling a woman a tart in Standard English was not necessarily an insult, and both the positive and negative meanings of tart overlap for much of this time. However the use of tart to mean a girlfriend or sweetheart is unique to Australian English. things are crook in Tallarook A rhyming catchphrase used to indicate that things are bad or unpleasant. Its use often prompts a similar response from a listener, such as ‘but things are dead at Birkenhead’.Tallarook is the name of a small town in northern Victoria, and crook is used in the Australian sense ‘bad; inferior; unpleasant; unsatisfactory’. Things are crook in Tallarook is one of several similar phrases based on rhyming reduplication, including ‘there’s no work at Bourke’, ‘got the arse at Bulli Pass’, ‘no lucre at Echuca’, and ‘everything’s wrong at Wollongong’. They are sometimes thought to be associated with the Great Depression of the 1930s, when massive unemployment meant that many people travelled long distances looking for work. However, things are crook in Tallarook is not recorded until the early 1940s. 1988 H. Reade You’ll Die Laughing: How stiff can you get? No tube, no jack, no spare, no car, no bike, no ’phone, no hearse and no bloody undertaker! Things are crook in Tallarook. 2005 Newcastle Herald 26 February (Weekender Section): ‘Things are crook in Tallarook’ was a well-worn exclamation from World War II diggers when they found themselves in a sticky situation. tickets: to have tickets on yourself To have an exaggerated sense of one’s own importance or value; to be conceited. The evidence for this phrase dates from 1904. It became popular around the time of the First World War, and increasingly so into the 1920s and 30s. The original meaning of the word ticket is uncertain, but it probably refers to betting tickets (a person is so confident in their ability that they would bet on himself or herself). Other suggestions have included raffle tickets, price tags (especially the kind that used to be displayed on the outfit of mannequins in shop windows), or prize ribbons awarded at agricultural shows. 1945 Townsville Daily Bulletin 28 November: Entered a haughty lady with enough rings on her fingers to open a jeweller's shop. One glance convinced me she had ‘tickets on herself’, and in her own mind believed she was superior to the others in the compartment. 2001 Australian (Sydney) 26 September: Freeman is often portrayed as a shy, humble athlete, but she professed the opposite to be true. ‘I think I have always had the overwhelming audacity to believe I could win. I always had tickets on myself, I just didn't speak about it publicly’, she said. trackie daks Tracksuit trousers. Trackie is a colloquial term for tracksuit, chiefly used in Australia and Britain and recorded from the 1980s. The word daks began as a proprietary name (trademarked in the 1930s) for a brand of trousers. In Australia daks became used as a generic term for trousers from the 1960s. The two words appear in the compound trackie daks in 1993 and, whether you love them or deride them as daggy, they are Australia’s favourite leisure wear. 1997 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 7 August: Scott Blackwell pops on his trackie daks to write a dag's guide to the Ekka. 2001 Australian (Sydney) 12 May: I like to think she eases herself into some comfy old trackie daks. troppo: go troppo To become mentally disturbed; to go crazy or wild. Troppo is formed by the abbreviation of tropic and the addition of –o, and it demonstrates a common Australian way of altering words. The phrase to go troppo was first used by Australian troops in the Pacific during the Second World War, and arose from the idea that long exposure to tropical conditions affected your sanity. It is now used in various contexts. 1945 G. Powell Two Steps To Tokyo: I might have wondered at what stage I had reached in the process of going ‘troppo’. It was a common saying with us that a man was beginning to go ‘troppo’ when he started talking to the lizards. 1994 M. Colman In A League Of Their Own: This was in the middle of the Whitlam government's darkest days and the crowd has gone absolutely troppo when Gough's walked out. true blue Very genuine, very loyal; expressing Australian values; Australian. This derives from a British English sense of true blue, recorded from the 17th century with the meaning ‘faithful, staunch, unwavering in one's commitments or principles; extremely loyal’. Later it also came to mean ‘staunchly conservative’ in a political sense. In Australia true blue expressed a completely different political ideal; the earliest records of the Australian sense date from the 1890s and mean ‘loyal to workers and union values’. 1897 Worker (Sydney) 18 September: Reports from the sheds are cheering, both reps. and men being of the sort called ‘true blue’. This sense is overtaken in the last decades of the 20th century by a more general use of true blue to refer to something or someone that expresses Australian values, or is very genuine or loyal. 2006 Townsville Bulletin 6 January: The two married after dating for two years. Both were barely 20, she Canadian, he true blue Aussie. Although true blue is not exclusively Australian, it is of special interest in Australia, and used here without the connotations of conservatism that are usually present elsewhere. For an earlier, detailed discussion of the history of the term from medieval times, see the article ‘How True Blue is True Blue?’ (page 5) in our Ozwords newsletter from October 1996. turps: on the turps Drinking heavily. Turps is an abbreviation of turpentine, and is recorded in Australian English from the 1860s with the meaning ‘alcoholic liquor’. It alludes to the use of spirits such as turps and methylated spirits by down-and-out alcoholics. In the earliest uses of the phrase on the turps the alcohol referred to is a spirit such as gin or rum, but more recently it has referred to any kind of alcoholic drink, especially beer. 1968 D. O’Grady A Bottle of Sandwiches: He’s a bastard when he gets on the turps. 2006 Australian (Sydney) 14 June: Drinking coffee after a night on the turps might do more than help you sober up—it could also slash your risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver. two-up A gambling game in which two coins are tossed in the air and bets laid as to whether both will fall heads or tails uppermost. It is first recorded in 1855. The two coins, traditionally pre-decimal currency pennies, are placed tails up on a flat board called the kip. The ring-keeper (the person in charge of the two-up ring) calls come in spinner, and the spinner tosses the coins. Two-up was popular with Australian soldiers during the First World War, and has become associated with the Anzacs. The game is traditionally played on Anzac Day, 25 April, in hotels and RSL clubs. For further discussion of two-up, see the article ‘The Language of Two Up’ in our Ozwords newletter from October 2010. 1893 Western Champion (Barcaldine) 27 June: The men were amusing themselves on the ‘off-day’ by playing cards, &c., one group playing ‘two-up’. 2007 Canberra Times 26 April: Ms Brill joined about 100 people yesterday at the club's outdoor two-up ring to watch punters empty their wallets and pint glasses during the traditional Anzac game. uey A U-turn. Uey is formed by abbreviating U-turn and adding –y on the end, a common Australian way of altering words. It is often found in the phrases to chuck a uey or to do a uey, meaning ‘to carry out a U-turn’. The earliest evidence of the term is found in 1973. 1975 Australian Women’s Weekly 2 July: My father remarked nervously that we were going the wrong way. ‘Sir’, replied the driver, ‘I will shortly make a turn. I am not in the habit of chucking a U-ey.’ 2006 A. Hyland Diamond Dove 205 He did a casual u-ie in the driveway and headed south. ugg boot A flat-soled boot made from sheepskin with the wool on the inside. The term is of unknown origin, but is perhaps originally an alteration of ugly boot. Ugg boots (also spelled ugh boots and ug boots) are Australia’s favourite footwear for comfort or cold weather. The early evidence for the term, from the late 1960s, suggests they first became popular with surfers. The name Ugh-boots was registered as a proprietary name for a type of footwear in 1971 by the Shane Clothing Company, but in 2006 ugg boot (and its variants) was removed from the Australian register of trademarks. It is now a generic term for this type of boot in Australia. For a discussion of this and other footwear terms, see our blog ‘Footwear in Australian English’ from May 2015. 1986 Woman's Day (Sydney) 15 December: You can wash your ug boots in the washing machine with a good wool wash. 2003 Sydney Morning Herald 29 November: Is it just us, or has 2003 been the year of the ocker? Everywhere you look, there are ugh boots, thongs and mullet haircuts. ute Abbreviation of utility, a small truck with a two-door cab that looks like a sedan, and a tray (with permanent sides) that is part of the body. The word ute is first recorded in 1943. Utes are used for carrying light loads and are a familiar sight on Australian roads, both rural and urban. Many towns have an annual gathering of utes for competitive display, sometimes called a ute muster, with prizes awarded in categories such as ‘best street ute’ and ‘best feral ute’. 1955 Bulletin (Sydney) 2 February: Charley, caught well out in the blacksoil country in his utility .. glanced over his shoulder—the back of the ute was loaded with hailstones! 1994 Age (Melbourne) 26 June: No country road anywhere on this continent is ever entirely free of hoons in utes travelling faster than they ought to. verandah over the toy shop A man's large protruding belly; a ‘beer gut’. This phrase is a jocular allusion to toy shop in the sense ‘sexual wares’ (with reference to the male genitals). In standard English a verandah is ‘a roofed platform along the outside of a house, level with the ground floor’, but in Australia it also refers to the same kind of open-sided roofed structure over a shop or commercial building. The verandah is a significant architectural feature in Australia, and although Australian shops now rarely have such verandahs, the phrase verandah over the toy shop is still current. It is first recorded in 1987. Variants include verandah over the tool shed. 1991 Australian Financial Review (Sydney) 10 September: Santa training courses start in October—so pull out that red suit with the fur trimmings, and get accustomed to sticky fingers and wet patches on your knee. A small veranda over the toy shop probably wouldn't hurt either. 2009 J. Castrission Crossing the Ditch: He was looking slimmer and fitter than ever before. Normally, his cheeks had a decent puff in them and his veranda over the toy shop would have no trouble resting on the table edge. vegemite: happy little vegemite, Vegemite kid Vegemite is a concentrated yeast extract used as a spread. It was registered as a trademark in 1923, and became one of Australia’s favourite spreads for toast and sandwiches. The phrase happy little vegemite means ‘a cheerful or satisfied person', and is recorded from 1954. The phrase derives from an advertising campaign in the same year that included the jingle: ‘We're happy little Vegemites As bright as bright can be. We all enjoy our Vegemite For breakfast, lunch, and tea.’ (See the video on our blog ‘A History of Vegemite’ .) 2001 B. Courtenay Four Fires: So the Owens Valley CFA weren't always happy little Vegemites. The 1980s saw another term adopted into Australian English from a Vegemite advertising campaign. Ads included the line ‘I’ll always be a Vegemite kid’, and Vegemite kid came to mean not only 'a child who eats Vegemite', but 'a typical Australian'. 1996 Sydney Morning Herald 19 June: Jane Campion? She's an Aussie. Neil Finn? A true-blue Vegemite kid. Mel Gibson? He fought at Gallipoli, didn't he?… That was just a movie? Oh, close enough. waltzing Matilda: to waltz Matilda To carry a swag; to travel the road. A matilda is a swag, the roll or bundle of possessions carried by an itinerant worker or swagman. The word waltz in to waltz Matilda is a jocular or ironic way to refer to the hard slog of carrying your possessions as you travel on foot, although waltz may possibly influenced by a German colloquial term, auf die Walze gehen, which means ‘to go a-wandering; to go on one's travels’. The term to waltz Matilda is first recorded in the late 1880s, and is likely to have had a fairly short life, if it hadn’t been for the poet Banjo Patterson. In 1895 he penned the lyrics to the song about a swagman that became Australia’s famous national song, ‘Waltzing Matilda’. The song became strongly associated with national identity, and has cemented the term waltzing Matilda in the Australian imagination – although it is a fair bet that not all of us know exactly what it means! 1908 Cairns Morning Post 8 April: The population still increases, every coach to Quartz Hill bringing a full complement of passengers who ‘waltz matilda’ the 60 odd miles to the new El Dorado. 1945 J. Devanny Bird of Paradise: Nowadays they waltz Matilda on bikes. For an earlier discussion of to waltz Matilda see the article ‘Chasing Our Unofficial National Anthem: Who Was Matilda? Why Did She Waltz?' (page 2) in the May 1999 issue of our Ozwords newsletter. wide brown land Australia. The phrase originates in the poem ‘My Country’ (originally titled ‘Core of My Heart’) by homesick poet Dorothea Mackellar, a young Australian living in England. It was published in the London Spectator in 1908, and then widely in Australian newspapers. The poem contrasted her experience of the green, orderly English countryside with the extremes of Australian geography and climate. Wide brown land is from the much-quoted second stanza: I love a sunburnt country, A land of sweeping plains, Of ragged mountain ranges, Her beauty and her terror – The wide brown land for me! Following the poem’s publication, the phrase wide brown land began to be used from the 1930s to refer to Australia. 1966 J. Smith Ornament of Grace: A nice myth to be dusted off every Anzac Day, about bronzed heroes of the wide brown land. 1999 T. Astley Drylands: Out there all over the wide brown land, was a new generation of kids with telly niblets shoved into their mental gobs from the moment they could sit up in a playpen. widgie The female counterpart of a bodgie . Bodgies and widgies had their heyday as a youth subculture in 1950s Australia, and widgies, like bodgies, were readily identified by their style of clothing. In the Sydney Morning Herald, 11 February 1955, there occurs an interesting description of the 1950s widgie: Constable Waldon said: 'A widgie, as she is known to me, is generally dressed in a very tight blouse, mostly without sleeves, and generally with a deep, plunging front. The blouse closely conforms to the lines of the body. In addition, she usually has a form-fitting skirt, which is very tight, especially around the knees. The skirt flares out a little below the knees and generally has a split either at the side or at the rear to enable her to walk. A widgie wears a short-cropped haircut.' Judge Curlewis said the detective's description of a widgie was the best he had heard in a Court. Widgie (often spelt weegie in early occurrences) is first recorded in 1950. It is of unknown origin, although suggested origins have included a blend of woman (or women) and bodgie, an allusion to their wedge-shaped hairstyles, or an arbitrary rhyming reduplication on bodgie. The phenomenon of bodgies and widgies peaked in the 1950s. In the 1960s they were replaced by new subcultures such as the sharpies, rockers, mods, and surfies. 1996 Condon & Lawson Smashed: Breezy McCarthy, good-time girl, fast girl, slut, was a sort of widgie, if that word from the fifties still has any meaning. wigwam: a wigwam for a goose’s bridle Something absurd or preposterous; used as a snubbing or dismissive reply to an unwanted question. It might be used to answer an inquisitive child who asks ‘What’s in the bag?’ The original English idiom was a whim-wham for a goose’s bridle. Whim-wham meaning 'an ornament' or ‘a trinket’ disappeared from the language in the nineteenth century and survived only in this phrase. In Australia the meaningless whim-wham was altered to the more familiar wigwam (and sometimes to wing-wong). The Australian idiom is first recorded in 1917. 1947 Sydney Morning Herald 12 March: ‘Where you going?’ he called. ‘To get a wigwam for a goose's bridle’, yelled Smiley insolently, recalling one of the sayings of Granny McKinley, the oldest inhabitant. 2004 Mercury (Hobart) 19 June: And when your dad was busy in the shed and you repeatedly asked ‘What's that dad?’ there were all those variants on ‘A wigwam for a goose's bridle’. wobbly: to chuck a wobbly To lose one's self-control in a fit of nerves, panic, temper, annoyance, or the like. To chuck a wobbly is a variant of the Standard English idiom to throw a wobbly, where wobbly means ‘a fit of temper or panic’. In Australian English chuck in the sense of ‘throw’ or ‘stage’ is used in other expressions with the same meaning, such as chuck a mental and chuck a mickey. Chuck a wobbly is first recorded in 1986. In 1992 it appears in the record of a parliamentary debate in the Australian Senate, when one senator chastises another: ‘Stop chucking a wobbly, Senator Ray. Behave yourself. You will have a heart attack.’ 2006 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 7 January: If one more cot-case trendy brands us as bogan yobbos, we'll chuck a wobbly. wog A microbe or germ, a ‘bug’; an illness such as influenza or gastroenteritis. This wog is not the offensive word used in Australia to mean a migrant from southern Europe, and in Britain to mean a non-white migrant. This Australian wog originally meant ‘an insect or grub’, and referred especially to a predatory or disagreeable one. It then came to mean a germ or illness, and is first recorded in this sense in 1931. 1937 Cairns Post 19 July: This is the season, according to the experience of recent years, for the influenza ‘wog’ to become active, and this year is no exception to the rule. 2006 Newcastle Herald 1 June: I have had this wog for a while, and I was pretty crook when I woke up this morning, so I arranged replacement drivers for my team at Newcastle and then came to the hospital. Woop Woop A remote and supposedly backward rural town or district. It is one of several imaginary names Australians use to refer to a typical place in the outback, including Oodnagalahbi, Bullamakanka, and Bandywallop. As with Woop Woop, they allude to remoteness, a lack of sophistication, or both. Woop Woop is a jocular formation that is probably influenced by the use of reduplication in Aboriginal languages to indicate plurality or intensity. A number of real Australian placenames, such as Wagga Wagga, are examples of reduplication. The first evidence for Woop Woop occurs in the 1890s. 1940 Rip (Port Phillip) 29 October: If I go to the dance on Thursday, I’ll have to walk from Woop-Woop. 1993 R. Fitzgerald Eleven Deadly Sins: It is preferable to refer to one's opponent as ‘the honourable member for Woopwoop’ rather than as ‘that idiot scumbag’. wowser A person who is publicly censorious of others and the pleasures they seek; a person whose own behaviour is puritanical or prudish; a killjoy. Wowser, still current in Australian usage, is recorded from 1900. Its origin is uncertain. It may be from British dialect wow ‘to howl or bark as a dog; to wail’ and ‘to whine; to grumble, make complaint’, but it is possibly a coinage of John Norton, who was the editor of the Sydney newspaper Truth from 1891–1916. He claimed to have invented it, saying ‘I first gave it public utterance in the [Sydney] City Council, when I applied it to Alderman Waterhouse, whom I referred to as ... the white, woolly, weary, watery, word-wasting wowser from Waverley’. Certainly the earliest evidence for wowser is found in Truth. Wowser is a productive term that has given rise to words such as wowserish, wowserdom, and wowserism – all of which can be found in use today. 1906 Truth (Sydney) 25 March: A wowser cannot walk through the Art Gallery without being shocked by seeing the picture of some well-proportioned goddess. 1989 Sun (Melbourne) 14 March: And there are plenty of wowsers who believe Dr Ruth should be censored and any talk of sex confined strictly to the bedroom. For an earlier discussion of the history of wowser see the article ‘Wow for Wowser!’ (page 7) in our Ozwords newsletter from May 1997. X-ray Used to designate a style of Aboriginal painting that originated in Western Arnhem Land (Northern Territory). The style is characterised by the depiction of internal as well as external organs of the subject, as if the artist is seeing it with X-ray vision. The first evidence of the term is found in the early 1940s. 1978 R. Edwards Aboriginal Art in Australia: The famous X-ray paintings have their home in the west. In them, the artist portrays not only the external features of the animal, human or spirit being he is painting, but also the spinal column, heart, lungs and other internal organs. It is a conventional way of showing that there is more to a living thing than external appearances. 1999 M. Mahood Crocodile Dreaming: Two big sea turtles and a dugong, X-ray style. yabby Any of several freshwater crayfish valued as food, especially the common species Cherax destructor that is native to south-eastern Australia. Fishing for yabbies is often a favourite childhood memory for Australians who lived near a dam or creek. A piece of string lowered into the water, with a bit of fresh meat tied to it for the yabby to latch on to, is the traditional fishing method. Yabbies are good to eat (a number of species can now be found on restaurant menus) and are also used as fishing bait. The word yabby is a borrowing from the Wemba Wemba language of Victoria. The earliest evidence of it dates from the 1840s, and it has generated a number of compound terms such as yabby farming, yabby net, and yabby trap. 1889 Bathurst Free Press 14 March: Luscious Murray cod, with succulent ‘yabbies’ and tempting fruit. 1999 Australian Gold, Gem &Treasure Magazine December: About a kilometre from our camp was a dam brimming over with large yabbies so each night Imy would set a couple of yabby nets he happened to have, baited with some Meaty Bites, and the next morning we would feast on toasted yabby sandwiches. A second sense of yabby occurs chiefly in Queensland, recorded from 1952. It refers to any of several small burrowing shrimp-like marine crustaceans that are commonly used for bait. Anglers often use a mechanical device called a yabby pump to extract these crustaceans from the sand or mud flats. 1994 P. Horrobin Guide to Favourite Australian Fish (ed. 7): Inside temperate estuaries, there are two small shrimps which are first class baits for a variety of fish. These are the ‘yabbies’ or ‘nippers’. There are many species of freshwater crayfish in Australia and many different names for them, such as lobby, marron, and crawchie. For a discussion of these and other terms for Australian freshwater crayfish, see our blog ‘The problem with yabbies’ from February 2013. yakka Work, strenuous labour. The word is used especially in the phrase hard yakka. Yakka first occurs in the 1840s as a verb meaning ‘to work’, and it derives from yaga meaning ‘work’ in the Yagara language of the Brisbane region. Yakka found its way into nineteenth-century Australian pidgin, and then passed into Australian English. Spelling variants such as yakker and yacker are also found. 1892 Bulletin (Sydney) 19 November: The stevedore must yacker for the bit he gets to eat. 2004 Townsville Bulletin 14 July: We marched out through the thigh-deep mud carrying wallaby jacks, jungle matting lent by the army and railway sleepers. It was hard yakka. yidaki A didgeridoo. Yidaki is a borrowing from the Yolgnu languages of north-eastern Arnhem Land (Northern Territory). The instrument was originally used only in Arnhem Land, but became commonly known in Australia as the didgeridoo (not an Aboriginal word, but an imitation of the sound by non-Aboriginal people). The Yolgnu word for the instrument has become widely known in recent decades, and was popularised by the music group Yothu Yindi, formed in 1986, whose members were Yolgnu speakers. 1988 Sydney Morning Herald 12 November: The rock and roll starts. It's a thick sound, made more bass-y by the addition of the yidaki but Bakamana Yunupingu has a strong, appealing voice. 2000 Koori Mail (Lismore) 20 September: With the sound of the yidaki (didgeridoo) echoing off nearby high-rise buildings and apartments, a gathering of Sydney's Aboriginal community celebrates the mid-point of the Budyari ‘Proper Way’ Festival. yowie An ape-like monster supposed to inhabit parts of eastern Australia. The yowie is Australia’s equivalent of the Himalayan yeti, or the American bigfoot or sasquatch. Yowie may come from the word yuwi ‘dream spirit’ in the Yuwaalaraay language of northern New South Wales. However, another possiblity is that yowie is an alteration of the word yahoo, a name given by Aboriginal people to an evil spirit. Yowie is first recorded in the 1970s. 1980 M. McAdoo If Only I’d Listened: ’E’d be about six foot easy tall, broad, an’ a sort of brownish fur lookin’ stuff all over ’im, an’ standing up like a man… We didn’t know what the name of it was then, but .. a lot of people’ve been seein’ them around the eastern parts, an’ they’re known as the ‘Yowie’. zac A sixpence. It is probably derived from the Scottish dialect word saxpence. Zac is first recorded in Australian English in the 1890s. Later it is also used to mean ‘a trifling sum of money’, as in the phrase not worth a zac. Australians no longer use pounds, shillings and pence since decimal currency was introduced in 1966, but we have long memories. Despite the fact that there have not been zacs in our wallets for fifty years, the word zac, and the notion that it is not worth a great deal, can still be found in Australian usage. 1945 Australian Week-End Book: The only one who’d backed it had been his wife who’d had a zac each way. 2006 Age (Melbourne) 29 August: ‘When I started this .. I divested myself of anything I owned’, he said. ‘I'm not worth a zac.’	i don't know
"From which song doesthe following line come, ""I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat towear"""	vincent burke music vincent burke music Search for: Late on Saturday night 2 weeks ago I got this amazing e-mail: “We would love to invite you to play our stage, which will be recorded for later broadcast across one or more of the following BBC Radio Networks including BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC 6 Music and the 36 BBC Introducing local shows across the UK. We will have numerous presenters join us across the weekend to introduce all the acts onto stage including BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, Lopa Kothari from Radio 3’s World on 3, Max Reinhardt from Radio 3’s the Late Junction and more. BBC Introducing supports new musicians at the BBC and we have stages across the major festivals in the UK. We would be delighted if Vincent Burke could perform at our BBC Introducing stage at Latitude Festival in July. Date: Saturday 16th July Stage: BBC Introducing’s Lavish Lounge, In the Woods Set length: 25 mins” !!!! Ok so 2 weeks later it’s announced, I’ve got the set together and had a haircut, so nerves aside, I’m ready to go! Here’s a link to the stage with some stuff about me if you click on it:-) http://www.latitudefestival.com/news/announcing-new-bbc-introducing-stage Thanks for the friends who came round last night for a set preview and said nice things. I’ll let you know how it went and if you do know anyone who’s going would be great to see them there, let them know! ‘this is us now’ I had a week off and wrote 2 songs – (this is one of them) I got the melody one day packing up to go camping – it was pouring with rain but we’re English. By the time we got to a field outside Cheddar it was fine. Next morning the sun came out hot, everything slowed down and I did the words for the second Verse (which make sense of what I already had) eating cornflakes and sitting in the mouth of the tent. Verse 1 – when we met Verse 2 – where we are now I hope it catches life as a string of valuable moments. For the film I searched the computer for put old camera clips – there were more than I could use of the children and almost none of me and Carol (I must change that) but it started to fit well so I wanted to finish it and show it to Carol, Nathaniel and Laurie on my birthday. Carol liked it because she was in it (and looking foxy). The 100’s of still shots near the end were taken by our friend Chris Porter. We did them in the back garden while I span us round as quick as I could in a borrowed computer chair (I took out the shots where we fell off). I’ve had the tune stuck in my head ever since hope you like it too. suzanne vega -‘cracking’ That’s the link up there – this one goes back to Summer 1985; we thought we were being cool cooking up banana skins on a trangia ( I was quietly relieved it didn’t work) me, James, Alex, and Gutsy who had a tape-recorder and for some reason in the middle of the hot day put on a cassette of someone none of us had ever heard of – suzanne vega. This was her first album and from the beginning of the first song to the end of the album she had us – no-one said a word. It’s 1980’s New York, it’s female, it’s grown up relationships; basically I knew nothing about any of that, but like the Woody Allen films I’d seen I kind of wanted to be in that world. This is the first track from that album, delivered with simple conversational language, and stripped down (almost) to a guitar a voice; but sometimes when the song is strong enough that just gives it a sharper focus, like travelling straight into someone else mind. It’s a one time thing It just happens The problem with irony is nobody gets it; they get it in conversation, on TV, but not in songs. I know this from personal experience – there’s something about singing which everyone believes is personal, autobiographical and that can be great, but it’s not always what is happening, it can be interesting to pretend to be someone else, or to give yourself licence to say stuff you don’t believe to make a point. A while ago I posted a song called ‘Can I just Explain?’ for example, where I imagine I’m a man explaining his affair and partially blaming his wife. ‘You were acting like a stranger, turning your back in the dark’ etc. then I wonder why people are asking me if my marriage is OK 😉 Anyway believe it or not this blog isn’t about me… ‘Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear’ http://www.vincentburke.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Randy-Newman-Simon-Smith-and-the-Amazing-Dancing-Bear.mp4 Despite being covered by the Muppets (whose version I love) it’s actually a pretty bleak song. Simon Smith is poor ‘I may go out tomorrow if I can borrow a coat to wear’ (wonder if Morrissy nicked that line for ‘This Charming Man’?) What’s Simon doing? Well he’s off to entertain rich people ‘well fed faces’ by poking a bear with a stick. Yes, sorry Fonzie that’s how they used to make the bear ‘dance.’ So two layers of cruelty the laughing rich cruel to Simon, making Simon cruel to the bear. ‘It’s just amazing how fair people can be.’ There’s probably another meaning too as Randy Neman was struggling himself to make entertainment pay ‘Who needs money , when you’re funny?’ Well the song is funny but I think better for the darkness underneath. I like it when an up-beat melody is undercut by a lyric, I suppose I’ve done it myself with a song like ‘he paid to have himself murdered’ Anyway, Now by the Muppets! Randy Newman went on to write so many great songs and was often misunderstood. In ‘Sail Away’ he breathtakingly plays a slave trader luring Africans on to his ship with the promise of a wonderful new land. In ‘Political Science’ he seems confused as to why everyone hates America and suggests they blow the rest of the world up (except maybe Australia ‘don’t wanna hurt no kangaroo.’ ) Then there’s the hit ‘Short People’ which ridicules discrimination but which got him sued. I still have a relatively short friend who can’t stand him because of it. One more? ‘You can leave your hat on’ seems to me it’s a song about a darkly manipulative man; but then it had the meaning sucked out of it by vocal vacuum cleaner Tom Jones and is now mostly danced to by strippers. Ho hum – Randy did his best! All good tunes! Catch up soon (and sorry if you like Tom Jones). Another song soon – stay in touch! 100 of my favourite songs Aguas de Marco , Antonio Carlos Jobim , Art Garfunkel , ELIS REGINA , minimalist poem , the Waters of March , TOM JOBIM , William Carlos William admin As a songwriter of sorts I want to write a bit about some of my favourite songs – things I wish I’d written or made me want to write in the first place. Some are clever, some are stupid, some are old some are new. Either way they’re all brilliant in their own way. The idea is this will hopefully make you want to listen again or that maybe you’ll discover something you’ll want to keep. Waters of March (Aguas de Marco) by Antonio Carlos Jobim (This is Art Garfunkels version there’s another beautiful version by TOM JOBIM & ELIS REGINA down at the bottom) Art Garfunkel Antonio Carlos Jobim To me it’s got everything you want – melodic, simple and profound. My Brazilian friend Nando tells me it was originally about everything that floated downstream after a devastating Spring flood; which is surprising because being a bossa nova it sounds like a fairly laid-back disaster. I first heard because my parents used to pirate-record albums from Plymouth record library, fitting them onto a C90 cassette by taking out the duff songs. This made the cut; it reminded me then of picture dictionaries ‘A stick, a stone’ etc. It feels like a listed celebration of the mundane ‘a truck load of bricks in the soft morning light’ , ‘the plan of the house, the body in bed’ beautiful clear images; to me a least as beautiful as a William Carlos William poem like ‘the red wheelbarrow.’ and all these images exist within the repeated refrain of nature ‘ and the riverbank talks of the waters of March…’ The continuation of life in and through all change. it’s poetic but with bright simplicity. I suppose the instrumentation on this version may feel a little dated but Art Garfunkels wry monotone delivery fits, it’s observational not emotional and more beautiful for that. To me it says the most important things are small things in your everyday life; notice them and enjoy them before you yourself have to drop out of their cycle. It winds up into a great resolution ‘the end of the run …the end of all strain/ it’s the joy in your heart’ You know it’s all a great minimalist poem, here it is: A stick, a stone, It’s the end of the road, It’s the rest of a stump, It’s a little alone It’s a sliver of glass, It is life, it’s the sun, It is night, it is death, It’s a trap, it’s a gun The oak when it blooms, A fox in the brush, A knot in the wood, The song of a thrush The wood of the wind, A cliff, a fall, It is nothing at all It’s the wind blowing free, It’s the end of the slope, It’s a beam, it’s a void, It’s a hunch, it’s a hope And the river bank talks of the waters of March, It’s the end of the strain, The joy in your heart The foot, the ground, The flesh and the bone, The beat of the road, A slingshot’s stone View all 3 comments can I just explain? ‘Such a natural macrocosm of real life in a 3 minute pop song. Totally won me over with its unforced charm and restraint..’ M.J.Bennet thanks! it’s brutal, but with jokes… the idea is to catch something of the truth about what people say when things break up, not how it is in songs. music: the film is all from old super 8 footage of weddings – it took ages – but I think it really works. Throwing rice looks appropriately violent slowed down, and look out for apples of temptation over the wedding car at the end… video: I don’t want to fight i don’t want to do this tonight it was just a fling no it didn’t mean anything you were acting like a stranger turning your back in the dark now this marriage is in danger tell me we’re not falling apart I was working late I had those appointments to make she let down her hair I could feel the thrill in the air you were acting like a stranger I was alone in the dark now this marriage is in danger tell me we’re not falling apart would you like some tea? would you like to throw it at me? do you feel the same? maybe I won’t do it again you were acting like a stranger turning your back in the dark now this marriage is in danger tell me we’re not falling apart February 6, 2016 …just to say great start to the new year being played on Late Junction Radio 3! Last time my home recording sounded a bit weedy and I winced a bit, but this one seemed to come through pretty well. I was in the bathroom when it came on and the rest of the family rushed in to hear it – nice moment. Thanks to Max Reinhardt there and Tom Robinson at Radio 6 for continuing to play my new songs. Let’s see if anything good emerges this year! January 10, 2016 – this may not sound like a song based on truth but it is. I must have been 19 or so and I would wait endlessly for her sitting on the university steps; and then not talk to her. eventually I did, but that’s another song… I added some bits and pieces but really it’s a straight guitar vocal thing. The guitar is tuned down a bit because I wrote it late at night. Everyone was asleep so I was whispering and the next day I realised it was too high for me – love it though – best thing I’ve written all year! November 15, 2015 Britain has been at war somewhere around the world every year for 101 years. – we may not be seen as the peaceful people we think we are…. Thanks to Ecclesia for prompting me to update – let’s see if we can do better in 2016.	Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear
Which city on the River Tagus, once the capital of Castile and later Spain, is the capital of the Castile-La-Mancha region?	Morrissey under the influence: music Abshire, Nathan (& The Pinegrove Boys) His song "French Two-Step" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour and the 1995 Boxers tour . It was also played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . His song "Hey Mom" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. Morrissey wanted to include his song "Hey Mom" on his compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" , but was denied permission. Adkins, Hasil The song "The Chicken Walk" was played during intermission early on the 2007 Greatest Hits tour and on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. A-ha In an interview published in the July 1987 issue of Creem magazine, Morrissey was asked to name acts who sold more records than the Smiths but didn't sell-out concerts. He replied "Well, I can, but I don't want to sound bitter or twisted. An example might be A-ha, whom I happen to like a great deal. On the last tour, we were doing two shows, as they were cancelling their one show because they couldn't fill the auditorium. And yet a look at the charts showed them with a single at number two and an album at number nine." When he played Norway on 5 July 2004 , Morrissey started the show by teasing the crowd with a line of the A-ha song "The Sun Always Shines On TV". Alan Price Set The song "Simon Smith and His Amazing Dancing Bear" (written by Randy Newman) features the chorus: "I may go out tomorrow / If I can borrow a coat to wear / Oh, I'd step out in style / With my sincere smile / And my dancing bear / Outrageous, alarming / Courageous, charming". This has many similarities with lines found in the Smiths' "This Charming Man". A video of the latter song was shown before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. All The Young They opened for Morrissey on 1 date of his 2011 tour. Alpert, Herb and the Tijuana Brass The inner sleeve of the "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" cd-single #1 showed on one side a photo of Morrissey's musicians holding the following LPs by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass: "What Now My Love", "South Of The Border", "The Lonely Bull" and "Going Places". The font used on the "South Of The Border" album inspired the one used on Morrissey's album "Years Of Refusal", while the font on Alpert's "What Now My Love" album seems to have inspired the one used on Morrissey's single "Irish Blood, English Heart". Hw was asked to play on the "Years Of Refusal" album but declined. al-Sahir, Kazem Morrissey's people got into negotiations with the Iranian government late 2007 / early 2008 to play a concert in Iran. They were aiming for a date in Tehran in June 2008, ideally with the internationally-acclaimed Arab pop singer Kazem al-Sahir, were he amenable. Amen Corner In an interview given to Len Brown in 1997 for the "Brit Girls" series, Morrissey mentions loving this band in the 1960s. Andrews, Chris A video of the song "Yesterday Man" was shown before Morrissey concerts on his 2014 tour. Angelic Upstarts Their "Best Of" album was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . In the 1994 video for the single "The More You Ignore Me, The Closer I Get", the little girl (Boz Boorer's daughter Billie-Rose) has the name of the band written on her crown and the t-shirt she is wearing shows the cover of the Angelic Upstarts' "Greatest Hits Live" album. Every night on the Boxers tour Morrissey would use a tambourine with something written on it, and then throw it into the audience. In Cardiff on that tour the word was MENSI, the name of this band's lead singer. Their song "Never Had Nothing" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour and the 1995 dates promoting the "Southpaw Grammar" album. Their songs "Teenage Warning", "Kids On The Streets" and "I'm An Upstart" could also be heard in the intermission music played before gigs on the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . In the introduction to the "Introducing Morrissey" live video release of a concert from the February 1995 Boxers tour , Morrissey is seen putting up posters of the Angelic Upstarts. The band was mentioned as a big influence on Morrissey on a press release for the "Maladjusted" album from 1997. Angelou, Maya Her spoken word piece "No No No No" was played during intermission on the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour. She was invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated, but declined. Anyones, The They supported Morrissey in Melbourne and Adelaide Australia, respectively on 15 October and 17 October 2002 . Apex Theory Their song "Bravo" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. Their song "Apossibly" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Armatrading, Joan The line "she'll take the worry from your head, but then again, she'll put trouble in your heart instead" in her song "Down To Zero" might have inspired the line "She took away your troubles, oh but then again, she left pain" in the Smiths' "This Night Has Opened My Eyes". The line "Why do you come here, (...) when you know I've got troubles enough?" in her song "The Weakness In Me" might have inspired the similar one in Morrissey's "Suedehead". The lines "Things have looked bad / but now some years later" and "Since I took up with you" from her song "Turn Out The Light" very likely inspired Morrissey when he was writing "Billy Budd". In a press release announcing that he would be playing the Wireless Festival in Hyde Park in July 2008, Morrissey mentioned Armatrading as one of the previous "Hyde Park greats". Ayshea Her song "Farewell" could supposedly be heard in the intermission music played before gigs on the 1992 Your Arsenal tour. Aznavour, Charles A video of him singing "Emmenez-moi" was shown before concerts on the 2014 tour. B-52's In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned that he particularly liked their song "6060-842". Balfa Brothers Their song "Casey Jones" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . It was also played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . Bardot, Brigitte Her song "Nue Au Soleil" was played during intermission on the 1999 Oye Esteban tour. Her song "Bubble Gum" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour and the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. Her songs "Harley Davidson", "Contact" and "Ce n'est pas vrai" could also be heard in the intermission music on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. She was invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated, but declined. A video of her performing "Bubble Gum" was shown between opening act and Morrissey on dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI and the Greatest Hits tour from 2007. See also Serge Gainsbourg . Barry, John The James Bond opening "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. One third into the year 2000 portion of the Oye Esteban tour that song became the one Morrissey walked on stage to. "Thunderball", the John Barry Orchestra collaboration with Tom Jones, was played before concerts during portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Bassey, Shirley On the Queen Is Dead tour in 1986 her song "You'll Never Walk Alone" was heard after the Smiths' gigs, as the fans exited the venue. Morrissey repeated this for his first solo concert, a one-off thing in Wolverhampton in December 1988. In an interview for Star Hits in 1987 Morrissey was asked what was in his Walkman and he answered Shirley Bassey. He then went on to express his disappointment at her having recently collaborated with the band Yello. when interviewed by Sounds magazine in June 1988, Morrissey said "I went to see her last night, I thought she was excellent. I'd love to meet her, I'd love to touch the end of her dress." Her song "Don't Take The Lovers From The World" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. She was mentioned in a list of Morrissey's favourite singers titled "Bigmouths - The Singer Not The Song" published in the same issue of the NME. On the Kill Uncle tour in 1991 and the Your Arsenal tour in 1992 her version of "Ave Maria" was heard after Morrissey's gigs, as the fans exited the venue. For a few dates on the 2002 tour her song "This Is My Life" was heard after Morrissey's gigs, as the fans exited the venue. In concert at the London Palladium on 28 May 2006 Morrissey mentioned some of the heroes who had motivated his choice of venue: "It's very very nailbiting to think that Sacha stood here and to think that Gracie Fields stood over there... as you'll remember... and Burly Chassis came on this way..." ("Burly Chassis" was some British comedy's word-play on Shirley Bassey who used to belt out songs in the 60's at the Palladium). While he said this Morrissey actually mimicked 'Burly Chassis' by making pounding footstep noises. Her song "I Who Have Nothing" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . Morrissey also enjoys Petula Clark's version of the same song. A video of her performing "To Give Is The Reason I Live" on RAI TV was shown during intermission on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy" was mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Beatles Morrissey, in a 1984 interview (source needed): "I won't deny that I like some of the Beatles songs... it's dramatically unfashionable to say that but I do. A lot of them I can't stand... so where does that leave us?" In an interview given to journalist Len Brown, printed in his biography titled "Meetings With Morrissey": "Some bits of Sgt. Pepper... I really like 'A Day In The Life', 'Lovely Rita'. Obviously I'm a great Beatles fan." Beck Morrissey wore a Beck t-shirt in the video for his song "Alma Matters". He was one of the artists Morrissey picked as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. In an interview published in June 2008 in Irish magazine Hot Press Morrissey answered the question "Are you a particularly big fan of [Beck]?" with "No, I don't really know much about him. I knew a woman at the time of that video who dared me to wear the t-shirt, so I did, and she was thrilled." Beck, Jeff This legendary guitarist was asked by Morrissey to play on the 2009 song "Black Cloud". Berlin, Irving The title line in "The Song Is Ended" from Ziegfeld Follies is followed by "...but the melody lingers on", a possible inspiration for the title of Morrissey's compilation of promotional films titled "The Malady Lingers On" . However it must be said that comedian Les Dawson came up with the pun before Morrissey and might be the source of the compilation's title. (Betjeman, Sir John) On the 2002 tour Morrissey walked on stage following a 1973 recording of him reciting his poem "A Child Ill". This was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. See the literature section for more John Betjeman. Big Country In an interview to GQ magazine in 2005 , when asked what he thought of Big Country's song "Wonderland", Morrissey answered "lovely, seriously". Big Hard Excellent Fish Their 'song' "Imperfect List" was played right before Morrissey took the stage on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. The version used by Morrissey was approximately 5 minutes long and didn't include "Mike Gatting" in it. Morrissey used the 'song' as walk-on music again on some dates of the 2007-2008 Greatest Hits tour. Big Sandy And The Flyrite Trio Birkin, Jane She was invited by Morrissey to perform at the Meltdown festival which he curated in 2004. In interview to Time Out magazine at the time, Morrissey said: "Jane Birkin is a leaf on a tree in a storm." Black, Cilla In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned that he was listening to Cilla Black amongst others at that time. Her song "The Right One Is Left" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. On the British leg of the 1984 tour promoting the smiths' debut album , the band entered stage following her song "Love Of The Loved". Morrissey interviewed by The Face magazine in 1984 : "But the one thing that saved me in spite of my uncommon perversions, liking Cilla Black and Oscar Wilde - being a working class person from Manchester it really doesn't help being obsessed by Oscar Wilde - was my ability at athletics." In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, her song "The Right One Is Left" was listed at #4 in the "yeahs" section. Her song "Work Is A Four-Letter Word" was covered by The Smiths in 1987. "Love Of The Loved" was included on the pre-concert tape at Morrissey's one-off show in Wolverhampton in December 1988. Her version of "Work Is A Four-Letter Word" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Morrissey, Vox magazine 1993 : "I worship every belch of Cilla Black." In an interview for the Brit Girls documentary first broadcast in November 1997 (UK, Channel 4), Morrissey said "She made some great records and great b-sides but I think she's very dodgy now. (On covering 'Work Is A Four Letter Word) I thought it was an amusing song. I think I was the only member of the Smiths who actually did. I thought it was quite funny and very throwaway, and a bit of a tease really. I wasn't attempting to produce a great piece of Gothic Art, it was just a taunting little number. I even got the words wrong, accidentally. (...) It was very instrumental in breaking up the Smiths but what care I? Cilla Black, unbeknownst to herself, actually broke the Smiths up... which is pretty much to her credit. Morrissey, in a Q&A session on the True-To-You website in June 2007: "Everything has its place and its reason. Certainly, the early Smiths covers, for example 'Work is a four-letter word' and 'Golden lights' were done as acts of playful perversity - they weren't meant to be groundbreaking miracles of sound. And that's usually how it is, just a matter of throwing something unexpected into the mix." Black Beetle They supported Morrissey in New York on 25 February 2000 . Black Box Morrissey, in an interview to Q magazine in December 1989 : "I'm still a big record fan. I really enjoyed the Black Box single. It's odd for me because it's not my world at all and there's no reason on earth why I should enjoy that record, but when I first saw them on Top Of The Pops I thought it was pretty extreme. She also looked brilliant, and I still love the record after nine weeks (...) I'm more interested in the rumours that she has been male. I'm hoping that it's true because it makes it more interesting. If you look at her from a certain angle, you could possibly see her playing for Wigan." Black Kids They were picked by Morrissey as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. Blaggers I.T.A. Morrissey, in an interview to Raygun magazine in March 1994 , when asked about new music he enjoys: "From here? I can't think of anything. Within England, certainly groups like the Blaggers and Gallon Drunk and Echobelly sound new to me it sounds as if I'm actually hearing something new. Which seems to be an impossible occurrence in America." Bob And Marcia According to Johnny Marr, "Girlfriend In A Coma" was based on their song "Young, Gifted And Black" which both he and Morrissey loved. The latter song was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included "Young, Gifted And Black". Bolan, Marc See T-Rex . Bowie, David In private letters to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned that he had seen Bowie in concert 14 times, and that he particularly liked the song "Fantastic Voyage". The line "Throw your homework onto the fire" from the Smiths' 1987 single "Sheila Take A Bow" is very reminiscent of one of the lines from Bowie's "Kooks": "and if the homework brings you down then we'll throw it on the fire". His song "The Laughing Gnome" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Bowie duetted with Morrissey on "Cosmic Dancer" on 2 June 1991 in Los Angeles. The line "We will descend on anyone unable to defend themselves" in "We'll Let You Know" may be a twist on "Love descends on those defenceless" from Bowie's "Soul Love". In an interview given to Jools Holland in 1995 Morrissey said of Bowie: "He changed British pop and I think that's an incredible thing. (...) He changed British pop in a very dangerous way because of the way he looked and the things he said." In an interview printed in the May 1994 issue of Select magazine Morrissey said: "Put it this way, Mozzer, you have a card from Dirk Bogarde here. You have Alan Bennett sitting in your kitchen having tea. You have David Bowie having sung one of your songs quite beautifully. What else are you looking for? What right do I have to be sour-faced and complaining, queuing up at Waitrose in Holloway being annoyed because somebody in front of me has got a leg of lamb? What more could there be?" The line "You're watching yourself but you're too unfair" in his "Rock 'n' Roll Suicide" might have inspired the similar one in "Do Your Best And Don't Worry". Morrissey accepted to support Bowie on his 1995 Outside Tour . He stayed on board for two weeks then pulled out. In an interview published in the Times Magazine in 1999, Morrissey addressed the latter events when he said "I have never spoken about this up until now because, in spite of everything, I do respect David. I simply have to play Star Man or Drive-in Saturday and I will forgive him for anything. But I left that tour because he put me under a lot of pressure, and I found it too exhausting. But then, Bowie is principally a business, and I can't imagine he would have telephoned his own mother without considering the career implications. David surrounded himself with very strong people, and that's the secret of his power: that everything he does will be seen in a certain light. But it certainly wasn't the greatest career move that I ever made, even though they gave 6,000 refunds in Manchester when I didn't appear - but I don't think you'd have read about that in the Manchester Evening News..." Morrissey, in the 2002 documentary "The Importance Of Being Morrissey": "He was a fascinating artist in 1970, 1971, 1972... but not now." Morrissey asked David Bowie (through their common producer Tony Visconti) to cover the Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling", but Bowie declined. Morrissey, in an interview to XL magazine in 2006 : "He is a mystery to me. He has the mentality of a vampire, he is always searching for fresh blood to suck. I don't know if he did the same thing with me. I don't think he is now the same person he was 30 years ago. That David Bowie doesn't exist anymore." In an interview published in June 2008 in Irish magazine Hot Press Morrissey said "He was so important to me because his vocal melodies were so strong and his appearance was so confrontational. Manchester, then, was full of boot boys and skinheads and macho-macho thugs, but I saw Bowie's appearance as the ultimate bravery. To me, it took guts to be David Bowie, not to be a shit-kicking skinhead in a pack. At the time Wayne County had a song called 'Are You Man Enough To Be A Woman?' and I thought it applied to the Manchester thugs of 1972, which is why I actually saw Bowie's bravery as very strong, and not floppy or dippy. He just did not care. And all people care to a ridiculous degree - we're all so frightened and boxed-in. (...) It also seemed to me that his impact was bigger than punk, because he was a one-man revolution, yet it is punk that's remembered as the big turnaround of the '70s. The Outside tour didn't work, though, because after a time knowing David I realised that he actually thought I was the singer from Suede - a fate worse than life. Can you imagine the indignity? I hope not..." In an interview to Radionica (Columbia) in early 2012, Morrissey mentioned David Bowie in a list of artists he was indebted to, and that he would like to sing "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" with him. He also said "David Bowie took me one night to his studio in New York and played a version of one of my songs. I cried for a week. Of anything for what I have prayed in my life, I never imagined that I would be given so much." The sleeve of the 2013 redesigned "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" single was originally going to feature a previously unseen private photograph of David Bowie and Morrissey taken by Linder Sterling in New York in 1992. Although Bowie has no legal rights to the photograph, most of his back catalogue was at the time licensed to EMI so he successfully managed to order EMI UK not to run the proposed artwork. In his autobiography, Morrissey talks about buying Bowie's "Starman" single, seeing him live, and the effect the artist had on him when he was a teenager. He also discusses other meetings with his idol, singing a duet with him and having him cover one of his songs, etc. Bow Wow Wow Their cover of the Smiths' "I Started Something I Couldn't Finish" was played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Boyfriends, The Their song "I Love You" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. They were Morrissey's support band on some dates on the European leg of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . Bradford They supported Morrissey on his very first solo concert in December 1988 in Wolverhampton . Their song "Skin Storm" from the "Shouting Quietly" album was covered by Morrissey and released as a b-side to the "Pregnant For The Last Time" single (or the "My Love Life" single in the USA). Bragg, Billy As a one man band he supported the Smiths on the American leg of the Meat Is Murder tour . The Smiths joined Billy on his Red Wedge tour for one date, 31 January 1986 . In an interview to Q Magazine in 1992 , Morrissey said: "It must be very hard to be Billy Bragg, but I won't say why! Actually, I retract that, I'm a big fan of his." Bresslaw, Bernard It has been speculated that his 1958 song "Mad Passionate Love" from this "Carry On..." regular inspired the title for Morrissey's song "Pashernate Love". Britten, Benjamin "Moonlight", an excerpt of the "Sea Interludes" from his "Peter Grimes" opera, is heard in the video for the song "Boxers". Brother They opened for Morrissey on 2 dates of his 2011 tour. Buckley, Jeff On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Buckley's "Grace" at #12. Buckley, Tim He came in at #15 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014, despite never having been mentioned as a favourite before. Burnette, Johnny His song "Rock-A-Billy Boogie" was featured in the intermission music on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour and on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Burns, Pete Their song "Scagheads" was played during intermission on the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour. Buzzcocks In a letter to the editor published by the NME in the mid/late 1970s Morrissey wrote: "I have made the impertinence to inform the masses of a quartet infamously known as Buzzcocks who seem to fit so neatly into the punk category, yet have been eschewed from all chances of recognition. Buzzcocks differ only one way from their contemporaries: they possess a spark of originality (that was important once, remember?), and their music gives you the impression they spend longer than the customary ten minutes clutching the quill in preparation to write. Indubitably, Buzzcocks will hardly figure strongly - or even weakly - in the NME poll, and in these dark days when Patti Smith, Loudon Wainwright or even the New York Dolls fail to make an impact on Radio 1 DJs, common sense is therefore not so common. Both this letter and Buzzcocks themselves will probably be filed and forgotten. But for now, they are the best kick-ass rock band in the country." In an interview publised by Face magazine in July 1984 Morrissey answered the question "Were the Buzzcocks and Pete Shelley in particular, near and dear to you?" with the answer "Mmmmm. Yes. They had an endearingly confused quality... really Northern, dim and appealingly camp." Singer Pete Shelley opened for the Smiths on what would turn out to be their final concert on 12 December 1986 . The band was slotted by Morrissey at #3 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Morrissey covered their song "You Say You Don't Love Me" on some live dates in 2008, and once in 2009. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose their song "You Say You Don't Love Me". Bygraves, Max His song "Fings Ain't What They Used To Be" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. It can be speculated that the line "I'm tired and I want to go to bed" from Asleep were lifted from the traditional folk song "Show Me The Way To Go Home". Morrissey did indeed sing a few lines from the song in Hull on the Tour Of Refusal. If so, the version Morrissey was most likely exposed to is by Max Bygraves. Cafe Tacuba Morrissey presented this band with a 'Legends' award at the 2009 MTV Latin Music Awards. Callas, Maria Her recordings of "Ebben? Ne Andro Lontana" and "Samson and Delilah" were played before the concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. Cats, The Their instrumental ska version of "Swan Lake" was played during intermission on the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour. It was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . Chicory Tip In an interview given to journalist Len Brown and published in the NME in 1988 Morrissey said "Johnny and I once drove 250 miles to get a copy of 'Good Grief Christina'!" In unpublished parts of the interview that have since appeared in Len Brown's biography titled "Meetings With Morrissey", we learn that Morrissey also said "...and 'What's Your Name', which was the third hit, was excellent." In an interview published in the January 2006 issue of Uncut, Johnny Marr also tells the above story about driving 250 miles to get one of their singles. Chopin In a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in February 2006, Morrissey answered the question "Which classical music period would you say you prefer, and who are your favorite composers from that period?" with "I'm no expert when it comes to classical music. My favorite is Chopin's Nocturnes... Yes, I know, quite a common choice - a bit like naming the Beatles as your favorites. Anyway, there is a reasonably new CD by Angela Hewitt of this, which is well worth buying." Chopin's Nocturnes were sometimes played before the usual intermission music on certain European dates from the Spring of 2006. Cinquetti, Gigliola A video of him performing "Si" at 1974's Eurovision Song Contest was shown between opening act and Morrissey on dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . In an interview publised in XL magazine in 2006 Morrissey said "When I was six I bought 'Heart' (Cuore) by Rita Pavone. I still own it. And then...Gigliola Cinquetti, do you know the song 'Yes'? It represented Italy at the eurofestival." Clark, Petula Her song "Downtown" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour and the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Her song "I Who Have Nothing" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour and the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey also enjoys Shirley Bassey's version of the same song. Clash, The In a 2000 interview Joe Strummer mentioned having been approached to produce a Morrissey album sometime around 1995. In the liner notes found in the 2009 expanded and redesigned edition of the "Maladjusted" album, Morrissey mentioned having considered him to produced the album. In a July 1997 radio interview to KROQ , one of the songs Morrissey selected to be played was "London Calling" by The Clash. When asked about his choice, Morrissey answered "It's a great song. I think it's nice and British and very urban and quite violent and so forth, very west London." Cochran, Eddie His song "Nervous Breakdown" was played during intermission on an American leg of the 1991 Kill Uncle tour (and perhaps more). He has a song called "Sweetie Pie", just like Morrissey, but that could simply be coincidence. Cockney Rejects Their songs "Greatest Cockney Ripoff", "East End" and "I Wanna Be A Star" were played during intermission on the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour. Morrissey's appreciation of the West Ham Boys Club (he wore their t-shirts and made lyric changes namedropping West Ham) at the time paralleled that of the Cockney Rejects' love of West Ham FC. They were invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown festival which Morrissey curated. In an interview to Time Out magazine at the time Morrissey said: "The Cockney Rejects were Liam and Noel before Liam and Noel were Liam and Noel. I never quite understood what their politics were meant to be. I've always seen them as just a great pop band with great singles. I hope they play the old tunes of glory." Their songs "The Greatest Cockney Rip-off" and "East End" were played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose their song "Greatest Cockney Ripoff". Morrissey wrote the foreword to Jeff Turner's autobiography titled "Cockney Reject". Cogan, Alma It has been speculated that the "The more you give your trust, the more youre bound to lose" line in "If Love Were All" (written by Noel Coward, see further in this list) inspired some words in Morrissey's "Found Found Found". Her version of "If Love Were All" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Twice on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI Morrissey started the show by singing a few lines from "If Love Were All": "I believe, that since my life began, the most I've had is just a talent to amuse..." before going into his own song. Cohen, Leonard The line "Everything depends upon how near you sleep to me" in his song "Take This Longing" might have inspired a similar one in the Smiths' "Hand In Glove". Buffy Sainte-Marie covered this song (under the alternate title "Bells") and it's probably her version that Morrissey is fond of. See Buffy Sainte-Marie . Cole, Lloyd Morrissey, in an interview published in Melody Maker on 3 November 1984 : "Lloyd is a tremendously nice person, much more fascinating than anything he's ever put on vinyl, which I'm sure will end the relationship straight away, but I think he's a lovely person. We see quite a lot of each other." According to Sandie Shaw, the song "Are You Ready To Be Heartbroken" (which she covered) was Morrissey's favourite of Cole's. Collins, Dave and Ansel Their song "Double Barrel" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Cooke, Sam His song "There, I've Said It Again" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Cookies Their song "I Want A Boyfriend For My Birthday" was rehearsed very early in the Smiths' career, and it was played live twice, at the band's first two shows. They soon lost interest in the song as their own catalogue expanded, so they never recorded it with the aim of releasing it. That song was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, their song "I Want A Boy For My Birthday" was listed at #8 in the "yeahs" section. The music to Morrissey's "Girl Least Likely To" - written by Andy Rourke - was obviously inspired by the Cookies song "Only To Other People". Both songs even share the phrase "How many times..." sung to the same melody. Cope, Julian His album "Fried" was mentioned by Morrissey as one of his favourites of 1984, although he said that he liked it for its title. (source needed) Costello, Elvis Something from his "Armed Forces" album was supposedly included in the intermission music played before gigs on the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . Courteeners, The They were picked by Morrissey as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose their song "What Took You So Long". They supported Morrissey for the second half of the American leg of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal . Couty, Nat & The Braves Their song "Woodpecker Rock" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . It was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "(...) the imagination chatters convulsively through Nat Couty's 'Woodpecker Rock', Charlie Feathers' 'one Hand Loose', Jimmy Radcliffe's 'The Forgotten Man', and Jay Bee Wasden's 'De Castro'. Of these last four, I would not pretend to know any background details, but the happiness these songs give me seems, now, to be everlasting - even if this is music played with a lop-sided grim, then please hook me." Coward, Noel In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned that he was listening to Noel Coward amongst others at that time. It has been speculated that the lines "I do believe that the more you give your love, and I do believe that the more you offer trust, the more you're bound to lose" and "somebody splendid, someone affectionate and dear" in Coward's "If Love Were All" inspired some words in Morrissey's "Found Found Found". The sample heard at the end of Morrissey's "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning" was lifted from the movie "In Which We Serve" which was directed by Coward. He also starred in it. Twice on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI Morrissey started the show by singing a few lines from "If Love Were All": "I believe, that since my life began, the most I've had is just a talent to amuse..." before going into his own song. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose his song "There Are Bad Times Just Around The Corner". See Alma Cogan higher in this list. She recorded her own version of "If Love Were All". Also see the literature section for more Noel Coward. Cramps In a letter published in a June 1979 issue of Sounds magazine, Morrissey wrote: "The Cramps are worth their weight in gold for making the Police seem like a great big sloppy bowl of mush. (...) The Cramps were enough to restore faith in the most spiritless. They have it all, and their drummer is the most compelling in rock history. Back to the Cramps or perish. It is written." In another letter published in July 1979 , this time in the NME, Morrissey wrote "I've just seen the Cramps and they're at that funny stage. This is the kind of group that start revolutionary outrages and all that." In a letter published in Record Mirror magazine in April 1980 Morrissey wrote "Who are the Cramps? (...) This is a group not to be analysed, but to be FELT. (...) They are the most beautiful - yes BEAUTIFUL group I've ever seen. The fact that they exist is enough.(...) They are the most important US export since the New York Dolls, but God forbid they don't suffer the Dolls' fate." Shortly after Morrissey co-founded a Cramps fanclub called "The Legion Of The Cramped". Crass Their song "Do They Owe Us A Living?" was played during intermission early on the 2007 Greatest Hits tour. Crosby, Bing His version of "Whenever It Snows" is heard on Morrissey's "Hulmerist" compilation of videos. "Christmas In Killarny" is also heard on it, but it hasn't been determined if the version is Bing Crosby's. Crystals Their song "What A Nice Way To Turn 17" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Songs from their "Best Of" were played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Their song "Hold Me Squeeze Me" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included the Crystals' "All Grown Up". Cultivators, The They supported Morrissey in Minneapolis on 8 February 2000. Curtis, Mac "Blue Jean Heart" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Curved Air Their song "Backstreet Luv" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. The band was mentioned in an interview given by Morrissey during the Maladjusted tour and published in the January 1998 issue of Swedish magazine Pop . Damned, the Their song "New Rose" was played during intermission on the summer festivals leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Darren, James He requested that his song "Goodbye Cruel World" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. Davis, Skeeter A sample of "The End Of The World" is heard in the intro of the UK version of "I've Changed My Plea To Guilty". The version of the song released in the USA does not feature the sample. Dawson, Ronnie His song "Rockin' In The Cemetary" was played during intermission on an American leg of the 1991 Kill Uncle tour (and perhaps more). Dead 60s They supported Morrissey on a few dates on the British leg of the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004. Dead Or Alive In a November 1984 interview to Melody Maker, Morrissey said "I saw a video recently that was the very first video I ever liked. It was, I admit with massive shame, the Dead Or Alive video for 'That's The Way I Like It'. I thought Pete Burns was quite stunning. I thought, 'Oh I must meet him.' He's the only person I want to meet." Morrissey's wish came true, for a period of a few months in 1985 ha and Dead Or Alive lead singer Pete Burns became friends. In a March 1985 interview to Melody Maker, Morrissey said of Pete Burns: "I think he's a wonderful person. He's one of the few people I can feel a great affinity with. Namely, because he says exactly what he wants to. Which, of course, is a national sin within music, especially considering the things he wants to say." Burns appeared on stage with the Smiths on 6 April 1985 in London to duet with Morrissey on "Barbarism Begins At Home". On the short Scottish tour of September 1985 the Smiths' intermission music played before gigs included their song "You Spin Me Round". A joint interview of Burns and Morrissey was published by Smash Hits in October 1985 . In a Q&A published in Uncut magazine in 2006, Morrissey answered the question "Julian Cope or Pete Burns?" with "Pete Burns". Dears, The They opened for Morrissey in Toronto and Devore on the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004. Delrons, The It is speculated that the song "Bye Bye Baby" might have inspired some lyrics of "Girlfriend In A Coma". See related band Reparata . Dempsey, Damien He opened for Morrissey in Manchester , Dublin and on a bunch of American dates on the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004. He was invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown festival which Morrissey curated. His song "Factories" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. In a Q&A published in Mojo in 2004, when asked "What music are you currently grooving to?", Morrissey answered "Damien Dempsey, 'Seize The Day'. He has the most stunning voice in the universe." Morrissey, in interview to Time Out in 2004: "Damien Dempsey has a better voice and better songs than the artists he looks up to." In a Q&A given to the True-To-You website in January 2006 Morrissey said "I'm the world's biggest Damien Dempsey fan, but every night he kept saying exactly the same things onstage, so one night I met him walking offstage and jumped on his back. He enjoyed that... and... so did I ..." Something of his was played during intermission on the summer festivals leg of the Greatest Hits tour. He requested that his song "Jar Song" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. "Jar Song" was played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Damien Dempsey's "Seize The Day" at #10. He came in at #11 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Morrissey had a good word of Damien Dempsey's songwriting in an interview published in Hot Press magazine in 2014 Devoto, Howard They supported Morrissey in Los Angeles on 26 April 2004. Dirty Pretty Things They were picked by Morrissey as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. Distel, Sacha Morrissey considered having Distel play the Meldown festival which he curated, but Distel was too ill and actually passed away a few weeks later. Morrissey often expressed his appreciation of Sacha Distel's work in interviews given in early 2006. For the first few months of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI a photo of Sacha Distel was used as a stage backdrop . Morrissey was often seen holding Distel items (records,etc.) in promotional/interview photos taken in 2006. In concert at the London Palladium on 28 May 2006 Morrissey mentioned some of the heroes who had motivated his choice of venue: "It's very very nailbiting to think that Sacha stood here and to think that Gracie Fields stood over there... as you'll remember..." A video of him performing "Où ça où ça" was shown between opening act and Morrissey on dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI into the 2007-2008 Greatest Hits tour dates. He is mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Dodd, Ken His song "Happiness" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey also had that song's title printed on the bass drum's skin for some time in the middle of that tour. Morrissey mentioned Ken Dodd to his audience - as one of the famous people who had once played this venue - when he played the London Palladium on 14 may 2006 . In a Q&A published in Uncut magazine in 2006, Morrissey answered the question "Bernard Manning or Jim Bowen?" with "Odd Ken Dodd". Dolan, Joe A video of his song "You're Such A Good Looking Woman" was shown before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. Doll And The Kicks He requested that their song "Roll Up The Red Carpet" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. They supported Morrissey in England and the rest of Europe on the 2009 Tour of Refusal as well as on the Swords tour later the same year. Their cover of Morrissey's "I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris" was played during intermission for a segment of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. In an interview reported on the NME website in October 2010, Morrissey said "When I first saw Doll & The Kicks live, I could not, even with the best will in the world, look away. I can't be reasoned with where Hannah is concerned � she is the best British singer of recent years. She will sing an entire song without any breathing lulls, and the boys seal her confidence brilliantly. How they work off each other is the most any group could give; the soft tones as arresting as the muscular tones. They certainly deserve far more serious treatment than they have received. (...) The fact that they remain unsigned is bizarre beyond belief, but insofar as I can tell, the entire point of the X Factor culture is to starve genuine music out of existence." Donegan, Lonnie Morrissey supposedly mentioned loving his song "My Old Man's A Dustman" as a kid. (source needed) Dors, Diana In the video for his single "Interesting Drug", Morrissey is seen holding a mock-up issue of the NME with Diana Dors on the cover. She was included by Morrissey in a list titled "Handsome Devils" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Her song "So Little Time" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Interviewed in 1997 for the Brit Girls documentary, Morrissey said "Diana Dors made the best record of the Sixties. 'So Little Time' in 1964 on the Fontana label, which sank with a trace. I don't know why but maybe people couldn't accept her as a singer because she was known for other things. She was incredibly sexual. Not so much a girl singer, more womanly. She made an album that's very rare called The Swinging Dors, which is not really very good. She didn't have a great voice but it's a great single, a great record. Written as I recall by Les Reed and well worth hunting... and shooting." It was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "Diana Dors, too, is warm to the skin. The voice teeters with a knowing smile, but the heart is on the gravel as she tells us so much more than what she literally says, a double-tier of sexual urgency." and "She had the sexiest voice in world history. She is just a fantastic British figure and because she was so overtly sexual she was always underrated as an actress. She was decades before her time in standing up and saying, 'Yes, I enjoy sex', but her private life was over-recorded by the papers and it did not tally that someone so flamboyant could have depth too. This is Diana Dors' best recording: very sexual, very heaving, sort of string-drenched and very beautiful. You want to nestle in her bosom." In the documentary "The Importance Of Being Morrissey" Morrissey is seen putting "So Little Time" on his record player. The latter number was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. A clip of her was shown during intermission on the summer festivals leg of the Greatest Hits tour. For more Diana Dors, have a look at the actors and actresses section of this chapter. Dream Academy According to biographer Simon Goddard, the latter cover was included on the interval tape on the Smiths' 1985 tour of Scotland. In an interview published in Sounds magazine in 1988, Morrissey said "I liked the Dream Academy version of that old Smiths song [Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want]. Everyone despised it and it got to number 81, which is nearly a hit." du Pré, Jacqueline She was mentioned by Morrissey as one of his favourite musicians in the 1991 Kill Uncle tourbook. Her performance of Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Major was played before the opening act on certain dates in the latter half of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Dusty, Slim His song "The Pub With No Beer" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Eager, Vince Morrissey supposedly considered using as etchings on the "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" single the lines "Eaten by Vince Eager" and "Vince Eager, Come And Get Me". His song "The World's Loneliest Man" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. In the September 1992 issue of Slitz, Morrissey said "Mister Eager was made from the same mould as Billy Fury. He released eight singles on the record company Top Rank. But the other seven are, honestly, completely impossible to listen to. (...) The title 'The Loneliest Man In The World' well, that�s pretty Morrisseyesque." Morrissey used his name as an alias (when checking in hotels, etc.) in the early 1990s. Easterhouse They supported the Smiths on a 7-date Scottish tour in the autumn of 1985 . They had previously opened for the band once in 1983. Echobelly Morrissey was seen at their concerts in 1994. They were to be the support group for Morrissey's American gigs on the "Vauxhall & I" tour that never was. Morrissey, in an interview to Raygun magazine in March 1994 , when asked about new music he enjoys: "From here? I can't think of anything. Within England, certainly groups like the Blaggers and Gallon Drunk and Echobelly sound new to me it sounds as if I'm actually hearing something new. Which seems to be an impossible occurrence in America." Their song "Give Her A Gun" was played during intermission on the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . Morrissey appreciation for the band is mentioned in his "Autobiography". Elcka In an interview published in the 9 August 1997 issue of the Melody Maker Morrissey said: "They're astonishing. I went to see them recently and it was one of those gigs of a lifetime. One you never forget. They're really special." They supported Morrissey extensively on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. In a statement to the True-To-You website in January 2006, looking back on past opening acts, Morrissey wrote: "I thought Elcka were great." Elefant They supported Morrissey twice in Los Angeles on 23 April and 24 April 2004. They were invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown festival which Morrissey curated. Elgar, Edward Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . El Vez He supported Morrissey at Coachella in 1999 . In an internet chat on KROQ.com in 1999, Morrissey said "I love El Vez. I wanted him to come to England and to Europe. He's influenced me greatly." In an interview published in The Face in 1999, Morrissey answered the question "Your forthcoming UK tour has a Mexican theme. Why?" with the answer "Because I saw El Vez recently and I'd like to have a go at stealing all his ideas." Eno, Brian In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey wrote "I have always considered 'Tiger Mountain' to be one of his best albums ever, and 'Warm Jets' is fab too." He praised the song "Backwater" in a different letter which was mailed with a photocopy of the cover of the "Before And After Science" album. At some point he also mentioned appreciating his album "Before And After Science" as well (source?). His songs "Here Come The Warm Jets", "Backwater", "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy)" and "Dead Finks Don't Talk" were played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. His song "Seven Deadly Finns" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. A video of the latter song, taken from Dutch television in 1974, was shown before Morrissey concerts on his 2014 tour. Equals In an interview given to Len Brown in 1997 for the "Brit Girls" series, Morrissey mentions loving this band in the 1960s. Exuberants, The They were slotted by Morrissey at #10 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Faithfull, Marianne Her song "Sha La La Song" was given by Morrissey to Marr on a tape soon after they met. It is rumoured that early in their career the Smiths considered, or even attempted, to cover "Summer Nights" or "Sha La La Song". According to the Meat Is Murder tour programme "Come And Stay With Me" was the first single Morrissey ever bought. In an interview published in Jamming magazine in 1984 Morrissey said "My first record was Marianne Faithfull's 'Come Stay With Me' which I bought when I was very young. I remember it had a profound effect on me, and from that time, I was totally obsessed with all aspects of popular music." Morrissey announced in a 1985 interview (source needed) that the Smiths were looking into a collaboration with Marianne Faithful. This unfortunately never materialised. "Come And Stay With Me" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. According to a Marianne Faithfull interview, Morrissey also tried to contact her at some point during the 1990s. In an interview for the Brit Girls documentary first broadcast late 1997 (UK, Channel 4), Morrissey said "The first single I ever bought, Marianne Faithfull's 'Come And Stay With Me' [...] it was 1965 and I still love it... it's a great record. I memorised the words and I would sing them very loudly. I thought she was incredible, I'm sure she still is, but then she was great. I was only six, I really didn't know what the words meant, I didn't know what she was singing about, certain lines I couldn't fathom at all. It was just something that was grabbing me in. It was the sound of her voice, the feel, the emotivemess and the freedom, and from that moment I just fell in love with pop music. I never stopped playing pop records. " In a Q&A published in Mojo in 2004, when asked "What was the first record you bought, and where did you buy it?", Morrissey answered "'Come And Stay With Me' 7" single. I bought it in a shop in Moss Side called Paul Marsh. I didn't understand what she was singing, but I lost myself to it." He requested that her cover of his song "Dear God, Please Help Me" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. Her cover of Morrissey's "Dear God Please Help Me" was played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Her song "Come And Stay With Me" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. Morrissey mentions how "Come And Stay With Me" was the first ever record he purchased as a child, "after howls of insistence from beneath the kitchen table." Fall, The Morrissey mentioned the Fall as one of the most promising new Manchester bands in issue #7 of the Kids Stuff fanzine (July 1977). In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned that he liked their song "How I Wrote Elastic Man". In an interview in late 1986 or early 1987 Morrissey chose the songs "Mr. Pharmacist" and "Living Too Late" among his favourites of 1986. They were slotted by Morrissey at #8 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Their song "Lie Dream Of A Casino Soul" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . It was also played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . The latter number was played again during intermission on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and Swords Tour. Fatima Mansions Morrissey said in an interview to Les Inrockuptibles magazine that their album "Viva Dead Ponies" was his favourite of 1990. Feathers, Charlie He recorded a version of "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On", the title of which might have inspired a line in the Smiths' "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". However it is generally assumed that Morrissey would have been inspired by Johnny Tillotson 's version of the song, or perhaps Dean Martin's. His song "One Hand Loose" was played during intermission on the first American leg of the 1992 Your Arsenal tour (and perhaps more). The latter title was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "(...) the imagination chatters convulsively through Nat Couty's 'Woodpecker Rock', Charlie Feathers' 'one Hand Loose', Jimmy Radcliffe's 'The Forgotten Man', and Jay Bee Wasden's 'De Castro'. Of these last four, I would not pretend to know any background details, but the happiness these songs give me seems, now, to be everlasting - even if this is music played with a lop-sided grim, then please hook me." Ferrick, Melissa She supported Morrissey on a bunch of American dates on the Kill Uncle tour . Ferrier, Kathleen She was mentioned in a list of Morrissey's favourite singers titled "Bigmouths - The Singer Not The Song" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Fields, Gracie In an interview printed in the 26 September 1987 issue of Melody Maker Morrissey said "The whole Gracie Fields, George Formby, Frank Randall mentality is one I completely worship. I adore those old Northern troupers and I'd love to be remembered as following in their tradition, but it seems doubtful I'll be remembered at all." On four Northern dates on the British leg of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI the song "Trouble Loves Me" was preceded by a few bars from Gracie Fields' most famous song, "Sally", the theme from the 1931 film "Sally In Our Alley". While this was being played in Salford , seeing blank stares in the audience, Morrissey asked the audience "You've forgotten Gracie Fields haven't you? Shocking!" In concert at the London Palladium on 28 May 2006 Morrissey mentioned some of the heroes who had motivated his choice of venue: "It's very very nailbiting to think that Sacha stood here and to think that Gracie Fields stood over there... as you'll remember..." Flats They opened for Morrissey on 4 dates of his 2011 tour. Formby, George George Formby is mentioned by Morrissey in private letters to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet). In an interview to the NME in December 1984 Morrissey revealed "For me one of the greatest lyricists of all time is George Formby. His more obscure songs are so hilarious, the language was so flat and Lancastrian and always focused on domestic things. Not academically funny, not witty, just morosely humorous, and that really appeals to me." In 1985 a poster of Morrissey in front of a picture of George Formby was given away with Smash Hits magazine. In an interview to The Hit magazine published 5 October 1985 Morrissey said "His songs were total innuendo. I hate anything that's totally revealed... And I like his blunt, naive Northern element � the clumsy awkward little bugger who found everything enormously difficult. That has tremendous appeal for me..." Morrissey voted Formby the greatest singer of 1985 in a NME poll. Morrissey was photographed with Formby's banjo at his grave in 1986. On the Queen Is Dead tour in 1986, the Smiths' intermission music played before gigs included his song "Why Don't Women Like Me?". In an interview printed in the 26 September 1987 issue of Melody Maker Morrissey said "The whole Gracie Fields, George Formby, Frank Randall mentality is one I completely worship. I adore those old Northern troupers and I'd love to be remembered as following in their tradition, but it seems doubtful I'll be remembered at all." The clouds seen on the reverse of Morrissey's "Viva Hate" album are a detail from a larger photograph of George Formby's father's grave. Formby wrote songs filled with innuendo, including one titled "When I'm Cleaning Windows", which might have inspired Morrissey's "Roy's Keen". Foundations In an interview given to Len Brown in 1997 for the "Brit Girls" series, Morrissey mentions loving this band in the 1960s. Their song "Mr. Personality Man" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. One of their songs was played before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. It may have been "Any Old Time (You're Lonely And Sad)" Morrissey also at some point expressed his appreciation of their song "Build Me Up Buttercup". (source needed) "Back On My Feet Again" was mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Frank Chickens, The They supported the Smiths on a handful of Irish and Northern Ireland dates in May 1984 . Franz Ferdinand They supported Morrissey at his birthday concert on 22 May 2004 . Their 2004 self-titled debut album was mentioned by Morrissey shortly before this as his favourite new release to French weekly Les Inrockuptibles. A live version of their song "Jacqueline" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. However, according to his "Autobiography", the decision to include this track may have been that of the NME who wanted more modern music on the compilation, as he had selected material that "date[d] back to the Roaring Twenties." Furnish Time, The In Madrid (and perhaps also in Barcelona ) they supported the Smiths on their 1985 Meat Is Murder tour. Fury, Billy His song "I'll Never Quite Get Over You" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. In an interview to Smash Hits in June 1984 Morrissey said "Billy Fury is virtually the same as James Dean. He was entirely doomed too and I find that quite affectionate. He was persistently unhappy and yet had a string of hit records. He was discovered working on the docks in Liverpool, was dragged to London, styled and forced to make records. He always wanted to make very emotionally over-blown ballads but he found himself in the midst of the popular arena. He despised almost every aspect of the music industry and was very, very ill from an early age. (...) Billy's singles are totally treasurable. I get quite passionate about the vocal melodies and the orchestration always sweeps me away. He always had such profound passion." Morrissey was seen holding a copy of Fury's "Halfway To Paradise" album in a photo accompanying the latter article. On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey played his song "I Will". His song "Don't Jump" may have partly inspired the creation of "Shakespeare's Sister". In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, his song "I'll Never Quite Get Over You" was listed at #6 in the "yeahs" section. In an interview published in The Face magazine in July 1987 Morrissey answered the question "Did you cry when Billy Fury died?" with the simple "Persistently. Loudly." In a different interview (source needed) Morrissey said: "Like James Dean, I always saw Billy Fury as one of life's losers." He is the cover star on the Smiths' final single "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" single. Incidently he himself had a single titled "Last Night Was Meant For Love". In an interview published in the NME on 13 February 1988 Morrissey said about the Smiths' song "Paint A Vulgar Picture": "It was about the music industry in general, about practically anybody who's died and left behind that frenetic fanatical legacy which sends people scrambling. Billy Fury, Marc Bolan..." His songs "Gonna Type A Letter" and "Halfway To Paradise" were played during intermission at various points into the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. In an interview given to Len Brown in 1997 for the "Brit Girls" series, Morrissey said "The boy bands weren't terribly interesting to me. (...) the female singers seemed to be giving everything away and hiding nothing. Billy Fury was an exception but for the most part male voices were more restrained. Fury recorded a song called "She Cried" which Morrissey may have had in mind when he wrote his own "He Cried". A poster of what is believed to be Fury is seen behind Morrissey on the photo used as the cover of the "Oye Esteban" DVD compilation. The title to the Smiths compilation album "The Sound Of the Smiths" was likely inspired by Billy fury's debut "The Sound Of Fury". Gaber, Giorgio His song "La Ballata Del Cerutti" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Gainsbourg, Serge and Brigitte Bardot Their song "Bonnie And Clyde" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour and the 2000 Oye Esteban tour. Their song "Initials B.B." was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. He requested that the latter song be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. They supported Morrissey on the first American leg of the 1992 Your Arsenal tour . In a radio interview to Modern Rock Live in 1992, Morrissey said that they were one of the two modern bands he was in love with, "something to become excited by". Morrissey, in an interview to Raygun magazine in March 1994 , when asked about new music he enjoys: "From here? I can't think of anything. Within England, certainly groups like the Blaggers and Gallon Drunk and Echobelly sound new to me it sounds as if I'm actually hearing something new. Which seems to be an impossible occurrence in America." Garcia, Leo His song called "Morrissey" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour and the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. Gene Their song "Fighting Fit" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. However, according to his "Autobiography", the decision to include this track may have been that of the NME who wanted more modern music on the compilation, as he had selected material that "date[d] back to the Roaring Twenties." They were invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown festival which Morrissey curated. In an interview to Time Out magazine at the time Morrissey had this to say about them: "The press have always compared Gene to The Smiths to the point of dulling boredom, but there is so much more to be said about them that is never said. I saw them live in Los Angeles three or four years ago and the audience screamed hysterically throughout. These things matter." General Johnson He came in at #7 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014, despite he or his band Chairmen Of The Board never having been mentioned as a favourite before. Generation X Their song "Wild Youth" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Their song "Gimme Some Truth" was played during intermission on the 1999 Oye Esteban tour. Girl In A Coma Their song "Clumsy Sky" was played during intermission at various times on the Greatest Hits tour. They supported Morrissey on the UK/France leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Go-Betweens Their song "Karen" features the line "Eskimo blood in my veins" which Morrissey reused in "Stretch Out And Wait". Gorecki, Henryk His Symphony No. 3 (aka Symphony Of Sorrowful Songs) was played after concerts on the 1995 Boxers tour . A performance of the latter symphony closed the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated. A recording of the latter symphony by the London Sinfonietta was included in a top 13 album list put up on the True-To-You website. The album didn't originally make the list when it was first published on thequietus.com in 2010, but it replaced a Roxy Music album in 2011 after Morrissey found out that band's lead singer Bryan Ferry was a fan of hunting. Guillemots, The They were picked by Morrissey as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. Hardy, Françoise On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey played her song "All Over The World". In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, her song "All Over The World" was listed at #7 in the "yeahs" section. Her song "You Just Have To Say The Word" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Morrissey also expressed his appreciation of her song "Another Place" at some point. (source needed) She was invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated, but declined. Harvey, PJ She opened for Morrissey on a few dates at the end of the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004 . His appreciation for Harvey must have disappeared because in a late 2013 missive to the True To You website and in a 2014 interview with Hot Press magazine, he deplored the fact that she supported fox hunting. Heartbreakers, The They opened for Morrissey on 1 date of his 2011 tour. Hebb, Bobby It has been reported that Morrissey was looking for any cd featuring his song "Sunny" in 1999. Heller, Bobby and His Orchestra with Bette Davis and Debbie Burton Their song "Whatever Happened To Baby Jane" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. Herman's Hermits Smiths bassist Andy Rourke recalls Morrissey playing Herman's Hermits in the tour bus. The band was slotted by Morrissey at #2 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Morrissey recorded and released his own version of their song "East West". The band's original version of that song as well as "Mrs Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter" and "Wonderful World" could also be heard in the intermission music played before gigs on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Hill, Benny His song "Harvest Of Love" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Honeycombs, The Their song "Something I Have To Tell You" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Hopkins, Mary Her version of Sparks' "Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth" (titled "Mother Earth") was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Houston, Thelma Morrissey praised her version of his song "Suedehead" in a 2012 email interview with Metro. (Howe, Julia Ward) The first line in the Smiths' "These Things Take Time" is a variation on "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord", the opening line of the famous Battle Hymn Of The Republic which she has written Hynde, Chrissie Chrissie Hynde is a friend of Morrissey's. She appeared in Morrissey's video for "Sing Your Life" and sang back-up vocals on the songs "My Love Life" and "Shame Is The Name". The Pretenders version of Morrissey's "Everyday Is Like Sunday" was played before the March 1994 instore signing sessions for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . The latter cover was also played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. He requested that their song "One Thing Never Changed" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. "Love's A Mystery" was played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Morrissey's friendship with Chrissie Hynde is mentioned in Morrissey's "Autobiography". He also praises her person and her involvement in animal protection. Morrissey had a good word of Chrissie Hynde's songwriting in an interview published in Hot Press magazine in 2014 Ian, Janis Her 1972 song "Stars" includes the lines "perhaps pretending / you never saw the eyes / of grown men of twenty-five / who followed as you walked / and asked for autographs / or kissed you on the cheek / and you never could believe / they really loved you", which could have inspired the "grown man of twenty-five" line in "This Night Has Opened My Eyes" and perhaps the subject of "Paint A Vulgar Picture". Morrissey discussed Janis Ian when he interviewed Joni Mitchell for Rolling Stone magazine in 1994. Iggy And The Stooges In an interview to KROQ on 6 July 1997 Morrissey requested that their song "Search And Destroy" be played. On the subject he said "A very L.A. song to me, don't you think? And did you remember EMF's version a few years ago? A very, very good version, I thought. A great song." On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Iggy And The Stooges' "Raw Power" at #5. Inspiral Carpets They were slotted by Morrissey at #7 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Irwin, Big Dee (with Little Eva) Their song "Swinging On A Star" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . The song was played over the credits at the end of the original television broadcast of a show from the latter tour. However it was replaced by another song on "Introducing Morrissey" , the official video release of that broadcast. Isaacs, Gregory In 2004 when the reggae label Attack was given to Morrissey by Sanctuary Records, the man defended his love of reggae to naysayers by saying "I have a Gregory Isaacs seven-inch on my refrigerator". Jam, The Their song "That's Entertainment" was covered by Morrissey in 1991. In a 1992 interview published in Slitz magazine, Morrissey said of his cover "It was a completely worthless version. I wanted to make it different from the original, but maybe I shouldn't have tried that. The original is a classic and Paul Weller is, when he wants to be, a genius. Hopefully we, Paul and I, will record a duet. I don�t know what song it will be yet. But if I�m lucky, he will appear at a huge gala in Finsbury Park where I perform in the beginning of August." Their song "A Bomb In Wardour Street" was played at Morrissey's request during the 1994 HMV instores for the "Vauxhall & I" album. Morrissey said in an interview to KROQ radio in July 1997 , as he was requesting that they play their song "A Town Called Malice", that the band was "another great British group" and the song was a "timeless record". James They supported the Smiths on a late 1984 Irish leg of the debut album tour and on the extensive British leg of the Meat Is Murder tour in early 1985. They had before that opened for the Smiths at the Manchester Hacienda on 24 November 1983. Morrissey mentioned in 1985's Meat Is Murder tour programme that James was one of his favourite bands. The Smiths covered their song "What's The World" on a mini tour of Scotland in September 1985 . A live recording from Glasgow on that tour was later released by the band as a b-side. They were slotted by Morrissey at #4 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". It is generally assumed that Morrissey's "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" from 1992 is about James who started out opening for the Smiths but eventually became more successful than them (at least sales-wise), particularly at the time that song was written. Jet Black Machine They supported Morrissey on a few American dates on the 1992 Your Arsenal tour . Jobriath Morrissey had letters praising this obscure '70s glam singer (who was to be America's answer to David Bowie) printed in the 27 December 1975 issue of Sounds magazine, the 11 November 1976 issue of Melody Maker and the 27 October 1979 issue of Sounds. In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey said that he still "dribbled" over Jobriath. He was included by Morrissey in a list of favourite people titled "Odd Fellows" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. The "Creatures Of The Street" album is very briefly seen in the video for "Pregnant For The Last Time". On the cover of the Japanese "My Love Life" single released in 1991, Morrissey musicians Gary Day and Alain Whyte are seen holding a copy of the latter album. Morrissey supposedly tried to have Jobriath open for him on his 1992 Your Arsenal Tour, but he found out that he had died of AIDS complications in 1983, in complete obscurity. His song "Street Corner Love" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . His songs "Morning Starship" and "Dietrich/Fondyke" were played during intermission at various points into the Greatest Hits tour. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose his song "Morning Starship". He requested that "Morning Starship" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. A video montage tribute of Jobriath footage was shown during intermission on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Jobriath's self-titled debut at #13. Morrissey's discovery of Jobriath's music is covered in his autobiography. He talks about wanting to have him as a support artist around 1991-1992, and discovering that the singer had already been dead for 10 years. He also talks about releasing some of his music in 2004 on his vanity label Attack . John Butler Trio They supported Morrissey three times in Australia on the 2002 tour. Johnson Family, The They supported Morrissey on a few dates on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Jolson, Al His 1929 song "Sonny Boy" is credited on the Smiths' debut album for having provided the line "Climb upon my knee, sonny boy" and more to "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Here are some of the song's lyrics: "Climb upon my knee, Sonny Boy / You are only three, Sonny Boy / You've no way of knowing, There's no way of showing / What you mean to me, Sonny Boy ...When I'm old and gray, dear, promise you won't stray, dear / For I love you so, Sonny Boy ... Let me hold you nearer, One thing makes you dearer / You've your mother's eyes, Sonny Boy". This is very likely to be a coincidence, but Al Jolson also had a song titled "Where The Black Eyed Susans Grow" and Morrissey recorded a song titled "Black Eyed Susan". Jones, Jimmy In an interview to Select magazine published in July 1991 , Morrissey said "Tonight (...) I will listen to a record which I can't stop playing at the moment, a single called 'Good Timin'' by Jimmy Jones - an old American MGM yellow label record. It's just simple, straight, boring, dull, floppy old pop music, but to me it's... (he lowers his voice to a whisper) it's like skin against skin. It's better than fine cuisine. It's better than sex! There, now, that's how I feel." In his autobiography Morrissey wrote that as a child, "I discover Good Timin' by Jimmy Jones, and I am beginning to feel something that no one else has brought to my attention." He came in at #6 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Jones, Paul His song "I've Been A Bad, Bad Boy" includes the line "I'm not the man you think I am", possibly the source for the same line in "Pretty Girls Make Graves". That song was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included Paul Jones' "I've Been a Bad, Bad Boy". Jones, Rickie Lee The line "He tried living in a world, and in a shell" from her song "The Last Chance Texaco" was a very likely inspiration for the similar one in "Shoplifters Of The World Unite". According to Morrissey drummer (1988-1991) Andrew McGibbon aka Andrew Paresi, the creation of "Late Night Maudlin Street" was influenced by Rickie's "Last Chance Texaco". Jones, Tom His song "What's New Pussycat" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. "Thunderball", the John Barry Orchestra collaboration with Tom Jones, was played before concerts during portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. In an interview to Radionica (Columbia) in early 2012, Morrissey mentioned Tom Jones as one of the artists he loved the most, and even said that he would like to sing "If I Can Dream" with him. Jones was a special guest for a Morrissey concert in Los Angeles on 10 May 2014 June Brides They supported the Smiths on a few Irish dates in early 1986 . Killers, The They supported Morrissey twice in Los Angeles ( 22 April and 27 April ) and once in Chicago ( 17 July ) on the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004. Their song "Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. However, according to his "Autobiography", the decision to include this track may have been that of the NME who wanted more modern music on the compilation, as he had selected material that "date[d] back to the Roaring Twenties." King Cheetah They supported Morrissey on the American dates of the 2002 tour . Kinks Their song "Dandy" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Morrissey had his band rehearse their song "Harry Rag" in late 1991, he seemed to have been planning to release his own cover of it, but this never materialised. Morrissey once said that he or the Smiths were from a lineage of truly british bans like The Kinks. (source needed) Morrissey: "Certainly, Ray Davies has been a great influence on me. I think his view of England has been pretty accurate and very melodious, very comforting". (source needed) Konstantinos B They supported Morrissey in Athens, Greece on 6 November 1999. Körberg, Tommy His 1969 Eurovision Song Contest entry "Judy min vän" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. A video of him performing that song was shown between opening act and Morrissey on live dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . "Judy min vän" was played during intermission on the UK/France leg of the Greatest Hits tour. The latter song was also mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. (Lang, Andrew) The line "But me and my true love will never meet again" from the traditional Scottish hymn "The Bonnie Bonnie Banks Of Loch Lomond" (words by Andrew Lang) was recycled by Morrissey in the Smiths' "Paint A Vulgar Picture". On Scottish dates early in the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI Morrissey's "Trouble Loves Me" was preceded by a few lines from that hymn. Leyton, John His song "Johnny, Remember Me" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. Morrissey chose the latter song to be featured on his October 1984 appearance on the My Top Ten radio programme. In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, his song "Johnny Remember Me" was listed at #5 in the "yeahs" section. Libertines They supported Morrissey at London's Brixton Academy on 5 November 2002 . Their song "Time For Heroes" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. However, according to his "Autobiography", the decision to include this track may have been that of the NME who wanted more modern music on the compilation, as he had selected material that "date[d] back to the Roaring Twenties." Linder Sterling See Ludus . Lotis, Dennis In an interview published in Rorschach Magazine in late 1983/early 1984 Morrissey mentioned that he was quite fond of crooners such as Johnny Ray, Frank Sinatra and Denis Lotus [sic]. Love Affair In an interview given to Len Brown in 1997 for the "Brit Girls" series, Morrissey mentions loving this band in the 1960s. Their song "Rainbow Valley" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. The latter song was also mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Lovesick They supported Morrissey in Boise on 5 February 2000 . Lovetones, The They supported Morrissey in Sydney Australia on 13 October 2002 . Ludus / Linder Sterling Ludus' lead singer Linder Sterling is one of Morrissey's oldest friend. Their friendship started many years before the formation of the Smiths. They lived together at some point in Whalley Range, and it is speculated that early Smiths numbers "Miserable Lie" (which mentions Whalley Range) and "Wonderful Woman" (and perhaps even "Jeane") are about her. As if to add weight to these speculations, Morrissey once introduced Linder as a 'wonderful woman' on stage on 18 September 2002 and quoted the "Whalley Range" line from "Miserable Lie" in a 2006 essay for her 2006 art retrospective. In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned the Ludus song "My Cherry Is In The Sherry" as one his favourites of that moment. From May 1980 to August 1981 Morrissey sent to UK music papers like the Record Mirror at least 3 reviews in which he praised the band. One chapter in Morrissey's book "James Dean Is Not Dead" was given as a title a quote from Linder. Morrissey wrote a press release for the band Ludus in 1982. Their cover of Brigitte Bardot's "Nue Au Soleil" was voted by Morrissey as his favourite single of 1984 (despite the song having been released two years before). Ludus were mentioned by Morrissey in 1985's Meat Is Murder tour programme as one of his favourite bands. In 1985 Morrissey wrote sleevenotes for a Ludus compilation album that ended up being shelved: "Ludus lay on us the decorative impulses of their music, and nowhere more significantly than on the volume which now lies before you. People who know real genius will love this record... Her singing leaves me out of breath... Linder went to Brussels and I remained stuck in Manchester, battling with the tides of fortune. Our shrill spirits still slide through the ugly streets of Manchester, always wet through, always caught out, always spectating, our hearts damaged by too many air-raids." The 'other person' in the Smiths' "Cemetry Gates" is believed to be Linder. Morrissey considered using the line "Linda found a cobra" as the etched run-out groove message for the "Girlfriend In A Coma" single, but changed his mind. Ludus were slotted by Morrissey at #5 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Linder sang backing vocals on Morrissey's 1991 song "Driving Your Girlfriend Home". Linder followed Morrissey on tour in 1991 as a photographer. She published the following year a book of photographs from that tour under the title "Morrissey Shot" . Some of these photos were used for the covers of the albums "Your Arsenal" and "Beethoven Was Deaf" , and singles "We Hate It When Our Friends Become Successful" , "You're The One For Me Fatty" , "Tomorrow" and "Certain People I Know" . Linder also took photos of Morrissey while he was on stage on a few dates in 2002. On one of these, 18 September 2002 , he even introduced her to the audience as his "lifelong friend" and as "a wonderful woman". Ludus' song "The Fool" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. Because she was misrepresented in the script for the 2002 film "24 Hour Party People", Morrissey refused to appear in it and refused the makers the use of the song "This Charming Man". Ludus' song "Breaking The Rules" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "Gliding in without oars, Ludus belong to the sea. Linder comes into position against the light, at double-sail, holding her words prepared. The weight of despair lifts like a deceptive fog only because the voice sings. 'Breaking The Rules' might appear to be a statement, but like all Ludus songs, it is really a question laid out like a statement. This is the delightfully recurring now-that-you've-got-me-where-I-want-you Linder trick. I want to be caught. Linder's tags of verse offer advice, strength, warmth, sustenance and inspiration, as she sings - not roughly, but firmly. I want to be caught twice. My mouth cannot close whilst 'Breaking The Rules' plays." Morrissey also stated in an interview given to Word magazine in 2003: "Linder has an enormously sexual voice and is also enormously underrated(...) I find these lyrics remarkable, suggesting that all forms of love are wonderful, whether it's three women together, four men together. Why can it not be so?" Linder contributed to the 2003 documentary "The Importance Of Being Morrissey". She had previously contributed to another documentary, 1987's installment of the South Bank Show about the Smiths. Ludus' song "Let Me Go Where My Pictures Go" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. "Let Me Go Where My Pictures Go" was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. Ludus was invited to reform for the 2004 Meltdown festival which Morrissey curated. In an interview to Time Out magazine at the time Morrissey had this to say: "Linder is Ann-Margret on her motorcycle 10km outside St Tropez. Everything she sings about is by way of a last word sensual and robust." Linder, speaking about Morrissey in an interview published on 6 June 2004 in the Independent on Sunday: "With Ludus I sang, 'I steal your books and you steal mine'. It was, of course, about him." Linder filmed the interviews appearing in Morrissey's live DVD "Who Put The 'M' In Manchester". In a Q&A published in Uncut magazine in 2006, Morrissey answered the question "Damien Hurst or Tracy Emin?" with "Linder Sterling". The Ludus song "Breaking The Rules" was played during intermission music on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Morrissey interviewed Linder for the March 2010 issue of Interview magazine. Unsurprisingly, Morrissey mentions his friendship with Linder in his autobiography. He credits her as being the inspiration behind the title for "Still Ill". Lulu In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned being particularly found of Lulu's "To Sir With Love". Her song "Boom-Bang-A-Bang" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. When asked to perform at the Amnesty International 30th Birthday Party Morrissey agreed under the condition that he would be introduced by Lulu. In an interview for the Brit Girls documentary first broadcast late 1997 (UK, Channel 4), Morrissey said: "Yes I am, I am [a massive fan]. I can point to her errors but that's just the kind of person I am. I think she's also the most well-balanced of that glut of female singers of that time. She's a very nice person, a very natural and open person, which doesn't help in this business. There's no showbizness or flamboyancy about her, and she made some great records! 'Dreary Days And Dreary Nights' is obviously a floor filler... in my house. You will giggle but 'I'm A Tiger' I thought was an expertly crafted piece of genius gibberish. And 'To Sir With Love', which was a b-side in this country... You think they're really disposable but if you really listen they are wittily crafted pieces of work. 'Boom Bang-A-Bang'? These are records that we might not even be bothered to burn but there is a cleverness, there is a craft. Maybe it's only people like me who sees it but... who cares." Her song "The Boat That I Row" is also mentioned in that interview. "I'm A Tiger" was mentioned as an early favourite and "a brilliant slab of froth" in Morrissey's autobiography. MacColl, Kirsty She sang back-up vocals on the Smiths' "Ask" and "Golden Lights", and Morrissey's "Interesting Drug". In 1985 she had been invited to sing backup on early demos of "Bigmouth Strikes Again", but this collaboration was never released. She supported Morrissey in London on 19 December 1992 . She then included a cover of the Smiths' "You Just Haven't Earned It Yet Baby" in her set. In the sleeve notes for her "Galore" compilation, Morrissey wrote "Kirsty is a voice gradually added to a body. She has great songs and a crackin' bust. She is a supreme original, although not - as far as i know - one of the original Supremes. Everything shows in the voice. The best of the last of. Furthermore, a full set of teeth. What more? NOT cursed." She sang backing vocals on Morrissey's "I'd Love To" but she wasn't credited for it. Morrissey's friendship and love for MacColl is discussed in his "Autobiography". Mackay, Andy 'Eddie Riff', a pseudonym Morrissey has be known to use, was taken from the title of this artist's 1974 album 'In Search Of Eddie Riff'. The sleeve design for Morrissey's "Your Arsenal" album was credited to Andy Mackay, but this was another one of Morrissey's pseudonyms. Mackay was a member of Roxy Music (see further down this list). MacKenzie, Billy The Smiths song "William It Was Really Nothing" is rumoured to be about Associates singer Billy Mackenzie (although there is zero evidence to that effect). Mackenzie wrote a riposte titled "Stephen You're Really Something" in 1993, but the song remained unreleased until 2000. When MacKenzie took his life in early 1997, Morrissey stated in the 1 February 1997 issue of Melody Maker "He was such a lovely person, and I feel very, very sad." MacNee, Patrick and Honor Blackman Their song "Kinky boots" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Madness Morrissey collaborated with Madness producers Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley from 1989 to 1991. Madness lead singer Suggs sang back vocals on Morrissey's 1990 single "Piccadilly Palare" and its b-side "Get Off The Stage". Madness bassist Bedders played on the 1991 album "Kill Uncle" and its subsequent singles "Pregnant For The Last Time" and "My Love Life". The song "You're The One For Me, Fatty" was supposedly written with Madness member Cathal Smyth (aka Chas Smash) in mind. Smyth also speculates that he might also be the inspiration for lines in "Certain People I Know". He sang back-up on Morrissey's cover of "That's Entertainment" and befriended Morrissey in 1991-1992. Morrissey supported Madness in 1992 at the Madstock festival. In the video for Morrissey's 1992 single "We Hate In When Our Friends Become Successful", the little picture of a man in a suit and a bowler hat was taken from the video for Madness' "Cardiac Arrest". Magazine / Howard Devoto / Luxuria During the short time when the Nosebleeds were fronted by Morrissey, they supported Magazine at Manchester's Ritz in May 1978. It was about that time or shortly after that Magazine frontman Howard Devoto and Morrissey became acquainted through mutual friend Linder Sterling (see Ludus above) In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey wrote "Presently in mourning over the death of Magazine. So tragic. My life will change. Have you heard their "About The Weather"? Go out and buy it at once." In different letters to the same penpal, he mentions that he particularly likes the Magazine song "Sweetheart Contract", namedrops Devoto's name and quoted from their lyrics ("I am angry, I am ill, and I'm ugly as sin"). The latter line from Magazine's "A Song From Under The Floorboards" very likely inspired the similar one in the Smiths' "Accept Yourself". Morrissey remained friends with Devoto throughout the Smiths days, and soon after the Smiths split up, the pair were joint guests on Radio 1's Singled Out programme where they reviewed new singles. Morrissey joined his friend Howard Devoto and his new band Luxuria on stage on 13 March 1988 at the Town & Country and read from the Proust classic "À la recherche du temps perdu" ("Remembrance Of Things Past"). Magazine were slotted by Morrissey at #6 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". In an interview to KROQ on 6 July 1997 Morrissey requested that their song "About The Weather" be played. On the subject he said "Magazine are an overlooked Manchester group. In assessments of Manchester, they never mention Magazine. I don't know why. An excellent group, very strong, and this was the first single in England that really had attention. Great lyrics." Their spoken piece "The Book" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. This was also the case on one later date, Tulsa Oklahoma on 13 March 2006 at the very beginning of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey recorded and released his own version of "A Song From Under The Floorboards" in 2006. The Magazine song "I Love You You Big Dummie" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Maker, James James Maker's friendship with Morrissey goes back to before the formation of the Smiths. It is extensively discussed in his autobiography. Morrissey dedicated his book The New York Dolls, "For Jimmy, who lives it." He was on stage as a dancer for the band's first two concerts. Maker put together his own band called Raymonde in the mid-1980s and they supported the Smiths on most of the British leg of the Queen Is Dead tour . The James Maker song "Born That Way" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . Morrissey, in a Q&A session on the True-To-You website in June 2007: "'No One Can Hold A Candle to You' was originally written and sung by James Maker, and we've been good friends now for 30 years. He released 'Born that Way' a couple of years back and that's one of my favorite recordings of all time." In a 2012 email interview to news.com.au, Morrissey said "'Born That Way' by James Maker is the greatest single of the last decade". Morrissey talks about his friendship with James Makers and praises Raymonde's self-titled album and his "Born This Way" single in his "Autobiography". Mancini, Henry and Johnny Mercer His song "Moonriver" written for the movie "Breakfast At Tiffany's" was recorded and released by Morrissey. Marion They supported Morrissey on all bar one date of the Boxers tour . Marmozets This band claims to have received in April 2014 a personal message from Morrissey saying that he loved their music. Mars, Johnny This singer who's name is very close to Johnny Marr's released in 1972 a song titled "Meet Me In The Alley", which may or may not have inspired Morrissey when he wrote the words to "I Want The One I Can't Have". Martino, Al Morrissey requested that his song "Rachel" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. His song "Granada" was played before concerts on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and on the Swords Tour later the same year. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included Al Martino's "Granada". Morrissey praised Martino in his "Autobiography". He came in at #1 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Marvelettes When Morrissey and Marr first met, Morrissey asked Johnny to pick a song out of his box of 7" singles, and he picked "You're The One", the b-side to their "Paper Boy" single. Their song "Paper Boy" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. The song made another list, this one broadcast on a radio programme called My Top Ten in October 1984. Their song "Strange, I Know" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. The title of their song "You're The One For Me, Bobby" must have inspired "You're The One For Me, Fatty". Similarly, the title of their song "Used To Be A Playboy" might have inspired "Used To Be A Sweet Boy". The Marvelettes' lead singer Gladys Horton was mentioned by Morrissey as one of his favourite singers in an interview to Raygun magazine in March 1994 . Their song "Anything You Wanna Do" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . "Anything You Wanna Do" was also played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour and the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . McAlmont (David McAlmont) He supported Morrissey on the final date of the Boxers tour at the Brixton Academy. Melsen, Monique Her 1971 Eurovision Song Contest entry "Pomme, pomme, pomme" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Melson, Lee Red His song "Carmen Sue Rock" was played during intermission early on the Greatest Hits tour. Mercurys, The They supported Morrissey in Birmingham on the 1992 Your Arsenal tour. Micro They supported Morrissey in Salonika, Greece on 5 November 1999. Mitchell, Joni The lines "Last night the ghost of my old ideals reran on channel five" and "I came out two days on your tail" from her song "Don Juan Reckless Daughter" are very likely inspirations for similar lines found in "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" and "Half A Person". "Another false alarm" from "Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me" was borrowed from her song "Amelia". "I love the romance of crime" from Morrissey's "Sister I'm A Poet" was also taken on loan from "Don Juan Reckless Daughter" ("They love the romance of the crime"). According to Morrissey drummer (1988-1991) Andrew McGibbon aka Andrew Paresi, the creation of "Late Night Maudlin Street" was influenced by Joni's "The Hissing Of Summer Lawns". Some lines from Morrissey's "Seasick Yet Still Docked" were obviously inspired by "I am a poor wayfaring stranger / traveling through all these highs and lows / wish i had the wings / of Noah's pretty little white dove / I would fly this raging river to reach the one i love / if I'd only seen through the silky veils of ardor / what a killing crime this love can be" from her song "The Silky Veils Of Ardor". In 1997 Mitchell agreed to give an interview to Rolling Stone magazine only if Morrissey was the one asking the questions. This interview was published in the 6 March (#755) issue of that year. The audio of the interview was shortly after sent to radio stations as a promotional tool. In the interview Morrissey told Joni that she was "the greatest lyricist that has ever lived" and "very underrated". Her song "The Jungle Line", which mentions "a low-cut blouse" and "a working girl like her", must have inspired a few lines in Morrissey's "Maladjusted". Mizell, Hank His song "Jungle Rock" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour and early on the 2007 Greatest Hits tour. Mona They opened for Morrissey on 2 dates of his 2011 tour. Monochrome Set In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey praised their "Strange Boutique" and "Love Zombies" albums and the song "Lester Leaps In". Morrissey: "How can anyone get through life without the dear, cuddly Monochrome Set?" He also transcribed a verse of their song "Ici Les Enfants" in one of these letters. It is speculated that Morrissey's love of the Monochrome Set might have been one of the reasons why the Smiths signed with Rough Trade Records in 1983 (they had released three singles on the label a few years before the creation of the Smiths). Monro, Matt His song "Charade" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. The latter was also probably heard before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . "We're Gonna Change The World" was mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. He came in at #12 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Morricone, Ennio He provided string arrangements on Morrissey's 2006 song "Dear God Please Help Me". When questioned about working with Morricone in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005 Morrissey answered "Yes, the Maestro came into the studio with his orchestra and worked on a song called "Dear God Please Help Me" � which was very flattering because he'd turned so many multi-million selling pop acts down (I won't mention their names � U2, David Bowie, etc.), so I was delighted that he said yes to scruffy old me. In the event, he was very shy, and he was heavily surrounded and shielded, and there was no way that he and I would end up at the local pub playing darts. But � that's OK. Life's rich tapestry, and so on." Morrisseys, The It is very unlikely that this folk band ever had any influence on Morrissey, but they do have a song called "I Will Never Marry" while Morrissey has one simply titled "Will Never Marry". Motels, The In an interview with Richard Kedzior published online in early 2009, the latter says Morrissey was a fan of the band The Motels in 1980. A photo of a very young Morrissey with the Motels' lead singer was also published alongside the interview. Mott The Hoople Their song "Honaloochie Boogie" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Their song "Sea Diver" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. Morrissey talks about his teenage love of Mott The Hoople in his autobiography. Amongst other things, he mentions playing "All The Young Dudes" his father. A video of Mott The Hooople was shown before Morrissey concerts on his 2014 tour. Mr Bloe Their song "Groovin' With Mr Bloe" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour and the 1999 Oye Esteban tour. "Groovin' With Mr Bloe" was also mentioned by Morrissey in an interview given during the American leg of the "Maladjusted" tour to Swedish Magazine Pop (published in January 1998 issue). When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose the song "Groovin' With Mr Bloe". On the occasion of re-release of "Everyday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included "Groovin' With Mr Bloe". Newley, Anthony His song "Girls Were Made To Love And Kiss" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. His song "Strawberry Fair" was played during intermission on the 1999 Oye Esteban tour. A video of him performing "I'm The Boy You Should Say Yes To" was shown between opening act and Morrissey on dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI , on the Greatest Hits tour and on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. For more Anthony Newley, have a look at the Under The Influence: actors section. Newton-John, Olivia Her 1974 Eurovision Song Contest entry "Long Live Love" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey was going through a Eurovision 'phase' at the time and it is very likely that song was selected for that reason and not because Morrissey has any particular fondness for Olivia Newton-John. When questioned about lasting musical influences in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005 Morrissey joked: "The royal three remain the same: The New York Dolls, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, with Nico standing firm as first reserve. Oh, and Olivia Newton-John." New York Dolls Morrissey had many letters in which the New York Dolls (and later projects by David Johansen and Johnny Thunders/The Heartbreakers) were praised printed in various music magazines and fanzines published between September 1975 and November 1977. The ads section of a December 1976 issue of Sounds includes one where "Dolls / Patti fans wanted for Manchester-based punk band". Their then-unreleased song "Teenage News" was rehearsed by the Nosebleeds during the short period in 1978 when Morrissey was part of the (remains of that) band. The decision to tackle this cover was of course Morrissey's. Before becoming famous Morrissey published a biography of the band simply titled The New York Dolls and was the UK president of their fan club (although he denied the latter fact at some point in time). The New York Dolls were among the very first bands that he saw play live. A chapter in "James Dean Is Not Dead" - another book Morrissey published - was given the title "Lonely Planet Boy", also the title of a New York Dolls song. In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey praised their song "Frankenstein". Morrissey in interview (source info needed), about seeing them for the first time: "I was thirteen and it was my first real emotional experience. The next day I was twenty-nine. The Dolls gave me a sense of uniqueness, as if they were my own personal discovery." Morrissey, in an interview published in the 16 February 1984 issue of Smash Hits : "Five years ago I would have lain on the tracks for them. Now I could never possibly listen to one of their records." In an interview published in Melody Maker on 3 November 1984 Morrissey said: "It was just a teenage fascination and I was laughably young at the time. I always like the Dolls because they seemed like the kind of group the industry couldn't wait to get rid of. And that pleased me tremendously. I mean, there wasn't anybody around then with any dangerous qualities so I welcomed them completely. Sadly, their solo permutations crushed whatever image I had of them as individuals. Now I think they're absolute stenchers. " In an April 1985 interview to Australian radio Morrissey said "(...)The music industry hated them and that was good enough for me. I thought well, yes, that's the group for me. The music industry couldn't wait to get rid of the New York Dolls, they were quite clamorous and raucous so many people said they couldn't actually play, which was not entirely true. But you must remember throughout the periods of '73 and '74 when they existed, they were quite dank times and they were very... they were quite stylish times almost in a... offensively stylish, should I say, and the New York Dolls were just the antidote to everything we find and I thought that was wonderful (...) I think they were the single most important group to me as an adolescent." In an interview published in The Face in 1985, Morrissey said "It was the New York Dolls who were the real beginning for me. They were so precious. (...) I always saw them as an absolutely male group. I never saw them as being remotely fey or effeminate. They were characters you simply did not brush aside, like the mafia of rock and roll." The lines "driving in your car" and "how can you be drivin' down by my home, when you know I ain't got one" in the New York Dolls' song "Lonely Planet Boy" surely inspired similar ones in the Smiths' "There Is A Light That Never Goes Out". In an interview given to Rolling Stone magazine in 1986, Morrissey said "For me, they were the official end of the Sixties. They were the first sign that there was change, that someone was going to kick through and get rid of all the nonsense. It gave people hope." "What Kind Of Mean Reads Denim Delinquent", an etching found between the run out grooves of a limited etched edition of Morrissey's single "Interesting Drug" was a New Yorks Dolls photo caption found on the back of a fanzine from the 1970s . Morrissey is seen with a framed photo of the New York Dolls in a photo session published in the NME in 1989. In an interview published in The Face magazine in March 1990, Morrissey said that his song "November Spawned A Monster" "...is my version of the New York Dolls' 'Frankenstein'." They were mentioned by Morrissey as being among his favourite musicians in the 1991 Kill Uncle tourbook. Their song "Trash" was covered by Morrissey on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. The New York Dolls original was also played during intermission before some of the latter tour's gigs. The intro of the 1991 song "My Love Life" is very similar to the one from the New York Dolls' "Subway Train". In an interview published in the 1991 issue of Musician, Morrissey said "But the center of it all, of course, were the New York Dolls, who completely destroyed and changed my life. Because, naturally, if you liked the New York Dolls in England in 1973, and you were 13 pushing 14, you were bound to be faced with national unpopularity. England absolutely hated the New York Dolls, they though they were the most absurd rock creation ever. They considered them to be clamorous transsexuals, which of course was not acceptable, and which of course they weren't, anyway." In an interview given to Mark Kemp and published in the July 1991 issue of Select, Morrissey said "The New York Dolls were my private 'Heartbreak Hotel,' in the sense that they were as important to me as Elvis Presley was important to the entire language of rock 'n' roll. They were my only friends. I firmly believed that. I knew those people intimately. I knew everything about their lives. Of course, I really didn't, but in my own sheltered way I certainly thought I did. To me, the New York Dolls were the best group ever to come out of America, and they were loathed by America at that time. Sadly, they were reasonably appreciated only after it was too late. The New York Dolls were an early version of the Sex Pistols, and if Americans and the American music industry had only been alert enough in 1972 and 1973, the New York Dolls could have changed so much. But, not to be." Their song "Jet Boy" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . It was also played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . Interviewed on Later With Jools Holland in November 1995, Morrissey said: "They were very violent, intelligent and witty... and most pop stars are not." He was then given the opportunity to choose a video to be played on the show, so he picked one by the New York Dolls. In concert on 14 September 2002 Morrissey told the audience before going into the encore: "all I ask in life is that God blesses you, that Nico blesses you, that Radclyffe Hall blesses you, that Johnny Thunders blesses you, that Oscar Wilde blesses you..." Their song "Trash" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey said "How empty life would have been without The New York Dolls". He also described how he fell in love with them and said that they were the "world's most perfect pop group". Of the New York Dolls documentary "All Dolled Up", Morrissey said "An astonishing film, every frame a memory, every song a hit of the heart. America's most perfect pop group - yes, pop group." Singer David Johansen supported Morrissey on a bunch of New York dates on the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004. The live performances of "Everyday Is Like Sunday" on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour were preceded by the first 10 lines from the New York Dolls' "Subway Train". At the tail end of the tour this intro was instead tagged at the beginning of live performances of "Munich Air Disaster 1958". The merchandise on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour included a black t-shirt featuring Morrissey's name in a New York Dolls' style lipstick font (view here ). One New York Dolls song might have been featured in the intermission music played before gigs on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. Their song "Vietnamese Baby" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. Morrissey managed to get the New York Dolls to reform for the 2004 Meltdown festival which he curated. The event was successful enough that the band then went on to play other concerts. At the time of the original Meltdown appearance Morrissey had this to say to Time Out magazine: "I've magnified the importance of The New York Dolls since I was a small, fat, dull child, and it isn't possible to say too much about them. The songs were great and still are, and David Johansen looks and sounds better than ever. Yes, we all wish Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan were still around, but they're not. I think they'd be happy to know how The Dolls are still loved." In a Q&A published in Mojo in 2004, when asked "What is your all-time favourite album?", Morrissey answered "The New York Dolls debut album. I think it still has no competition as the most perfect piece of pop presentation." Morrissey appeared in "New York Doll", a 2004 documentary about bassist Arthur Kane. When questioned about lasting musical influences in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005 Morrissey answered: "The royal three remain the same: The New York Dolls, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, with Nico standing firm as first reserve." In a 2006 interview given to Mojo, Morrissey said "David Johansen was so clever for a 19 year old; so witty, literate, unstoppable and here, finally, it is, on film. It was always frustrating to me, that the rest of the world wouldn't take the things that were setting me alight. So it's fascinating that in 2006 it all seems to make sense." Morrissey, on stage in Greenock on 29 April 2006 , after performing his cover of the New York Dolls' "Human Being": "I realise over the years I've New York Dolled people to death... but I can't actually help it... I can't help it!" Their songs "Bad Detective" and "Pills" were played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey recorded and released as a b-side his own version of the New York Dolls' "Human Being" in 2006. Their song "Showdown" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . A video of them performing "Looking For A Kiss" on Musik Laden and an interview of member David Johansen were shown between opening act and Morrissey on dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI and on the 2007-2008 Greatest Hits Tour and on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. The musical performances was also shown on the Swords Tour later the same year, but not the interview. Morrissey, in a Q&A session published on the True-To-You website in June 2007, on having the New York Dolls at the 2004 Meltdown festival which he curated: "I often find it hard to believe that it all happened because I obviously see that isolated 14-year-old in Manchester in 1973 having no one to talk to about this LP called "The New York Dolls". I did a montage of Dolls photos for art class and the teacher was so appalled that she burst into tears and passed it around to each boy in the class denouncing the sickness and depravity of the Dolls. This teacher appeared years later on one of those bitchy Smiths television documentaries, still apparently upset. So, with all of these things in mind, it's miraculous to jump ahead 30 years and to assess the chain of events that led to Meltdown. The film, I think, greatly helped the Dolls' status because everyone who has seen the film loves it even if they hadn't much cared for the Dolls. I'm no good in the film because I felt too emotional and I could barely speak. But, me aside, it's so well done, and must be the best ever rock docu-film. As for Meltdown, that moment when David, Sylvain and Arthur trooped on - I was standing up in the balcony, frozen, unable to hold back the tears. David Johansen later asked me to sing on the new Dolls album, but I had to refuse - I'm not from New York and I'm not a Doll and I know my place...if nothing else." Their song "Frankenstein" was played during intermission early on the Greatest Hits tour. They were picked by Morrissey as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. They opened for Morrissey for most of the summer festivals he played at in the summer of 2008. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose their song "There's Gonna Be A Showdown". In their 2009 "My Inspiration" promotional campaign, the HMV record shop chain had a poster showing Morrissey and his chosen quote, lifted from the New York Dolls' "Frankenstein". Something of theirs may have been played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Their song "(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included the New York Dolls' self-titled debut at #1. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included the New York Dolls' "Jet Boy". In a 2012 email interview with Juice Online, Morrissey said "I loved everything about them � their name, their appearance, the songs, the photo sessions, their irresponsibility and their total lack of regard for the music establishment. No one had ever been this way before. They were also very funny, and very tough. �Jet Boy�, �Trash�, �There�s Gonna be A Showdown� and �Looking For A Kiss� ought to have been huge hit singles." Unsurprisingly, Morrissey's love of the New York Dolls is covered extensively in his autobiography. He also talks about reuniting them and his personal relationship with some of its members. A video of the New York Dolls was shown before Morrissey concerts on his 2014 tour. Morrissey discussed the New York Dolls extensively in an interview given to Louder Than War in January 2015. Nico In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey praised her song "The End". He also send his penpal a photocopy of her Desertshore album and praised the song "All That Is My Own". Her "Chelsea Girl", "Desertshore" and "The End" albums were mentioned by Morrissey as his favourites LPs in 1985's Meat Is Murder tour programme. In an interview published in Select magazine in May 1994 Morrissey said of Nico's "Innocent And Vain": "This is my youth in one piece of music. Don't talk while it's on". Biographer Len Brown speculates that Morrissey's "Now My Heart Is Full" might be a response to Nico's "My Heart Is Empty". "Le Petit Chevalier" and "Afraid" from her "Desertshore" album were played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Her song "Innocent And Vain" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour , the 1997 Maladjusted tour, the 1999 Oye Esteban tour and the 2002 tour. The latter number was also played over the credits at the end of the original television broadcast of a show from the Boxers tour . However it was replaced by another song on "Introducing Morrissey" , the video release of that broadcast. In a press release for his "Maladjusted" album Morrissey (under the alias Stoney Hando) mentioned Nico's album "Chelsea Girl" as one of his favourites. Her song "Frozen Warnings" could be also heard in the intermission music played before gigs on the 1999 portion of Oye Esteban tour. Her song "You Forgot The Answer" was played during intermission on the 2000 portion of Oye Esteban tour. In concert on 14 September 2002 Morrissey told the audience before going into the encore: "all I ask in life is that God blesses you, that Nico blesses you, that Radclyffe Hall blesses you, that Johnny Thunders blesses you, that Oscar Wilde blesses you..." Her song "All That Is My Own" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "On the flipside of happy, the Nico net caught me early. Her voice equalled the sound of a body being thrown out of a window - entirely with out hope, of this world, or the next, or the previous. Onstage, she moved like a big bleak creaking house, never once altering the direction of her eyes. I am in love. Her harmonium heaves and swells like crashing waves answering each other. If Nico could've laughed, she would've. But she couldn't, so she didn't." When questioned about lasting musical influences in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005 Morrissey answered: "The royal three remain the same: The New York Dolls, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, with Nico standing firm as first reserve." Her song "Somewhere There's A Feather" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . Her songs "Frozen Warnings" and "All That Is My Own" were included in the intermission music at different times on the 2007 Greatest Hits tour. Her song "I'm Not Saying" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. A video of the latter song was shown before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Nico's "Chelsea Girl" at #4. Morrissey had all his musicians dressed in Nico t-shirts when he performed on Conan O'Brien's late night programme in November 2011. Morrissey mentions in his autobiography his love of Nico's music, particularly the "Chelsea Girl" album. A video of Nico was shown before Morrissey concerts on his 2014 tour. Nitros, The Morrissey is seen wearing a Nitros shirt in the video for his "Pregnant For The Last Time" single. Noise Is The Best Revenge This band led by Morrissey's nephew was chosen by the singer as one of the many to play the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London which he headlined. The also supported Morrissey for other dates around the same time. They supported Morrissey again in Manchester in May 2009. Nomi, Klaus At the Smiths' very first gig , Klaus Nomi's "The Cold Song" was played before James Maker came on stage and introduced the Smiths in French. On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey played Nomi's "Death". The latter song was also mentioned by Morrissey as one of his favourite singles in 1985's Meat Is Murder tour programme. It was often mentioned in interviews here and there at the time. On the Queen Is Dead tour in 1986 the Smiths' intermission music played before gigs included his song "Wayward Sisters", and sometimes also "Death". For his first solo concert, a one-off thing in Wolverhampton in December 1988, Morrissey walked on stage following Nomi's "Der Nussbaum". This can be heard on Morrissey's "Hulmerist" compilation of promotional films because it features footage from the latter concert between videos. Nomi was mentioned in a list of Morrissey's favourite singers titled "Bigmouths - The Singer Not The Song" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. On the 1991 Kill Uncle tour and the 1992 Your Arsenal tour Morrissey walked on stage following his song "Wayward Sisters". "Death" and "Der Nusbaum" were played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . His song "Der Nussbaum" was played during intermission on the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour. His song "Death" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "Klaus Nomi's dismal dignity placed him beyond the reach of crassly commercial success. His was a life quite apart from knife-plunging press reviews (as if any pop writer could ever possibly know). Nomi sang like a man trapped in the body of a dead girl. 'Death' is his dying speach, after which he was - quite literlly - led away to die, and early bull's eye for the AIDS machine-gun. The words have a dreadful ring because they came true, and so soon: 'remember me remember me but ah, forget my fate'." In a Q&A published in Mojo in 2004, when asked "And your Sunday morning record?", Morrissey answered "'Death' by Klaus Nomi, or 'Lazy Sunday' by The Small Faces." His songs "Der Nesbaum" and "After The Fall" were played during intermission at various points into the 2007 Greatest Hits tour. Morrissey walked on stage at the end of "Wayward Sisters" on the UK/France leg of the Greatest Hits tour. His song "Der Nusbaum" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. He came in at #4 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Ochs, Phil He was mentioned in a Morrissey letter to the NME circa 1977. His song "City Boy" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . O'Hara, Mary Margaret She is the screaming voice heard in the bridge of Morrissey's "November Spawned A Monster". She also does back vocals on b-side "He Knows I'd Love To See Him". In a list titled 'Hopes' published in the NME in 1989, Morrissey included "daydream off to Llandudno with Mary Margaret O'Hara." In an interview published in The Face in March 1990 Morrissey said: "I was massively intrigued by her album. I thought it so beautiful I suddenly realised I hadn't in a decade heard someone singing because of deep-set personal neurosis, absolute need and desperation. You'd think she might fall apart at any second and become a pile of rags and bones on stage. For the first time in almost a decade I was 'high' - mentally really, really high. What kept coming back to me was 'Horses'." Orange Juice In an interview published in GQ magazine in 2005 , when asked about his favourite Orange Juice song, Morrissey answered "Felicity". Ordinary Boys, The They were invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated. Their song "(Little) Bubble" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. However, according to his "Autobiography", the decision to include this track may have been that of the NME who wanted more modern music on the compilation, as he had selected material that "date[d] back to the Roaring Twenties." Orlando, Tony In his autobiography Morrissey wrote that as a child, "Tony Orlando's surfs-up voice leaps on Bless You, and I am spirited away watching and watching as these discs spin, calling up to me." O'Sullivan, Gilbert Morrissey covered his 1970 song "Nothing Rhymed" twice in 2002. He has an album titled "Southpaw", which may have something to do with Morrissey naming his 1995 album "Southpaw Grammar". Lines from his song "Alone Again (Naturally)" could have inspired Morrissey when he wrote "I Have Forgiven Jesus". Panics, The They supported Morrissey in Perth, Autralia on 10 October 2002 . Paper Dolls Their song "Something Here In My Heart (Keeps Tellin' Me No)" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Interviewed for the 1997 Brit Girls documentary, Morrissey said "The Paper Dolls were very interesting. They made great records, only one of which was a hit, called 'Something Here In My Heart (Keeps A-Tellin' Me No)'. They were from Manchester, they were on the Pye label and they were great for, god bless them, a year. Then it was back to Woolworths. A great year... for Woolworths." (Parry, Hubert / William Blake) A version of "Jerusalem" sung by the Borstal inmates in the film "The Loneliness Of The Long Distance Runner" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers and Outside tours. This can also be heard on the "Introducing Morrissey" live video featuring footage from the Sheffield and Blackpool concerts of that tour. Part, Arvo A performance of his "Tabula Rasa" closed the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated. Pavone, Rita Her song "Heart" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. That song was also included by Morrissey on a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984. The song was also mentioned as his favourite in a Q&A published in the 31 January 1985 issue of Smash Hits . In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, her song "Heart" was listed at #3 in the "yeahs" section. The song was again mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Rita Pavone was mentioned by Morrissey as one of his favourite singers in an interview published in Raygun in March 1994 . Interviewed for the 1997 Brit Girls documentary, Morrissey said "She made the best record in the history of... abattoirs. It was called 'Heart', it was on RCA and I think it got to number 12 or 26. Incredible, absolutely incredible, almost as good as... Tommy Steele." In an interview publised in XL magazine in 2006 Morrissey said "When I was six I bought 'Heart' (Cuore) by Rita Pavone. I still own it. And then...Gigliola Cinquetti, do you know the song 'Yes'? It represented Italy at the eurofestival." A video of her song "Cuore" was shown before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. "Heart" was also mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Morrissey (source unknown): "I am very interested in Sandie Shaw and singers who are similar to her like Timi Yuro and Rita Pavone. They both suffered a hasty eclipse. It was because of them I wrote my book 'The History of the Female Voice in Popular Music'. Two publishers are interested in it." Phantom Planet They supported Morrissey in Los Angeles and Irvine on the latter half of the Oye Esteban tour. Phranc She supported The Smiths on most if not all of the North American leg of The Queen Is Dead tour . In 1991 she supported Morrissey on the first two legs of the Kill Uncle tour ( Europe , USA ) and most of the later British dates. Pioneers, The Their song "Let Your Yeah Be Yeah" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Pitney, Gene The line "I could never never go back home again" in his song "24 Hours From Tulsa" might have been reused in the Smiths' "Is It Really So Strange?". Planet Rockers, The Rockabilly band who supported Morrissey on the second American leg of the Kill Uncle tour . Their song "There'll Be No More Crying The Blues" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Pony Club They supported Morrissey in London on 18 September 2002 and in Dublin on 2 October 2002 . Their song "The Thing About Men" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. Their song "Single" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour and before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . The latter song was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. However, according to his "Autobiography", the decision to include this track may have been that of the NME who wanted more modern music on the compilation, as he had selected material that "date[d] back to the Roaring Twenties." Porter, Cole The line "In my own strange way, I've always been true to you / In my own sick way, I'll always stay true to you" from Morrissey's "Speedway" may very well have been inspired by one from Cole Porter's showtune "Always True To You In My Fashion". Posey, Sandy On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey played "I Take It Back". That song was also mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Prefab Sprout In an interview published in Spin in April 1991 , Morrissey said of Prefab Sprout leader Paddy McAloon: "I'm actually a fan of his; I criticized him recently and slightly regretted it, even though I believed what I said. I thought the first record that he made was reasonably priceless." Presley, Elvis Morrissey (interview source unknown): "All but the last five years". Live performances of the Smiths' "Rusholme Ruffians" in 1985 and 1986 concerts featured the first two verses of Elvis' "(Marie's The Name) His Latest Flame" tagged at the beginning as an intro. The etching found between the runout grooves of the "Ask" single was "Are you loathesome tonight?", a pun on Elvis' "Are You Lonesome Tonight". A photo of Elvis taken in 1955 by his hairdresser was used for the cover of the Smiths' "Shoplifters Of The World Unite" single. It is speculated that Presley's song "Is It So Strange?" might have inspired the Smiths' "Is It Really So Strange?" It features the words "Is it so strange to be in love with you?". This link to Elvis is even more likely considering how Elvis' influence on Morrissey and also on Marr was at its peak at the time this song was written. The Smiths have recorded a version of Presley's "A Fool Such As I" during the sessions for the "Girlfriend In A Coma" single, but this was never released. Elvis was mentioned in a list of Morrissey's favourite singers titled "Bigmouths - The Singer Not The Song" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. He is seen on the prison walls in the video for the Morrissey single "The Last Of The Famous International Playboys" . His song "I Need Your Love Tonight" was played during intermission on an American leg of the 1991 Kill Uncle tour (and perhaps more). Morrissey's song "Tomorrow" shares the line "tell me that you love me" with the song "Tomorrow Never Comes", which was popularized by Elvis and Glen Campbell, amongst others. A photo of a smiling Elvis was used as a backdrop here and there on the Your Arsenal tour ( view ). A 1968 film called "Speedway" starred Presley and Nancy Sinatra. This could just be a coincidence, it might not have anything to do with Morrissey's song of the same name, although Morrissey did mention in 1986 that it was his favourite Elvis film. Morrissey is seen doing a puzzle of Elvis on the photo used as the cover of the "Oye Esteban" DVD compilation. Elvis' song "Tiger Man" was played during intermission on the 2000 Oye Esteban tour. The stage backdrop on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour was nine very tall letters spelling out Morrissey's name, disposed in an arc at the back. The letters had light bulbs on them. The visual result was very impressive and reminiscent of Elvis' Comeback Special ( view ). When questioned about lasting musical influences in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005 Morrissey answered: "The royal three remain the same: The New York Dolls, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, with Nico standing firm as first reserve." In a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in February 2006 Morrissey answered the question "Who do you admire vocally?" with: "I think Elvis Presley had a great voice, and Frank Sinatra - two obvious choices, perhaps. Neither ever sounded unsure." Coming on stage at the V Festival on 20 August 2006 Morrissey picked up the microphone and sang the first line of Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight". However attentive ears noticed that the man actually sang "Are you loathsome to light..." Something of his was played during intermission on the summer festivals leg of the Greatest Hits tour. He came in at #9 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Primitives Morrissey was a big fan of their music around 1986. He wore their "Stop Killing Me" t-shirt on stage at the band's final concert on 12 December 1986 . Procol Harum A 1972 live version of their song "Conquistador" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. The latter was also played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . Prokofiev On live dates from the autumn of 1984 to the end of their career the Smiths entered stage after the very dramatic "March Of The Capulets" (aka "Dance Of The Knights") overture from Romeo And Juliet. The recording used by the Smiths was a 1982 one by the Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Riccardo Muti. Promise Ring, The They supported Morrissey in Madison on 9 February 2000 . Pullen, Dwight His song "Sunglasses After Dark" was featured in the intermission music on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Queens Of The Stone Age Although he never expressed a clear appreciation for this band at any point in his career, Morrissey was seen attending one of their concerts in May 2013. Radcliffe, Jimmy His song "(There Goes The) Forgotten Man" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "(...) the imagination chatters convulsively through Nat Couty's 'Woodpecker Rock', Charlie Feathers' 'one Hand Loose', Jimmy Radcliffe's 'The Forgotten Man', and Jay Bee Wasden's 'De Castro'. Of these last four, I would not pretend to know any background details, but the happiness these songs give me seems, now, to be everlasting - even if this is music played with a lop-sided grim, then please hook me." Railway Children, The They supported the Smiths on 24 October 1986 at London's Brixton Academy. Rakes, The In a Q&A published in Uncut magazine in 2006, Morrissey answered the question "The Rakes or The Kooks?" with "The Rakes". Ramones Although Morrissey had letters published in British music magazines in July and September 1976 in which he spoke negatively of the Ramones, he wrote positively about them in a letter printed in the 11 December 1976 issue of Melody Maker. They soon became one of his favourite bands. "Blitzkrieg Pop" was allegedly almost covered by The Smiths with James in 1985. Their song "Beat On The Brat" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. "Judy Is A Punk", "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue", "I Don't Wanna Go Down To The Basement", "Loudmouth" and "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World" from their debut album were played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Their song "Judy Is A Punk" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . "Beat On The Brat" was also reported as having been played before gigs on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. "Judy Is A Punk" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "In the real world of pop songs, genius drags the always reluctant world along. Awful to listen to on first play, the first Ramones album stays beside me almost 30 years on. A cruel �5.29 on import in 1976, this is an album of criminal ballads, and 'Judy is a Punk' still sends a shock through the blood, complete with red-herring lyrical lift from 'I'm Henry the Eighth I Am' ('second verse/it's the same as the first'). At Manchester's electric Circus to promote their debut album, the Ramones move across the stage like human remails floating ashore. Smallpox brought them together. Joes is whooping cough on two impossibly long legs. Someone who has been murdered in a hospital bed looks better than Joey. The Ramones do nothing to conceal their disibilities, and once again I am in love." Their songs "Carbona Not Glue" and "Why Is It Always This Way?" were played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. In early 2007 Morrissey announced that he wished to be buried near Johnny Ramone at the Hollywood Forever cemetary. Morrissey: "I like that cemetery. I stumbled across Johnny Ramone's stone and thought it was very nicely placed. (...) I sat there for a long time and I felt quite good about it. It was nice his bones were under the soil I was sitting on. So yeah, that's my spot." Their song "Cretin Hop" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Something of theirs was played during intermission on the UK/France leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Two photos of Morrissey at Johnny Ramone's grave appeared alongside an interview of him published in an early 2009 issue of Filter magazine. Other shots from that session were used for the artwork of the "Something Is Squeezing My Skull" single released later the same year. Their song "Loudmouth" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included the Ramones' self-titled debut at #2. In a 2012 email interview with Billboard magazine, Morrissey addressed the contradiction between his early negative opinion of the band (see above) and his current love for them: "When I bought the Ramones first album on import, I was enraged with jealousy because I felt they had booted the Dolls off the map. I was 100% wrong. Three days after writing that Ramones piece, I realized that my love for the Ramones would out-live time itself. And it shall. Well, it virtually has already. If the Ramones were alive today, they'd be the biggest band in the world. It takes the world 30 years to catch on, doesn't it?" Morrissey talks about the discovery of the Ramones and his initial lukewarm appreciation of them in his autobiography. A video of the Ramones was shown before Morrissey concerts on his 2014 tour. In a 2014 interview to Vegan Logic, Morrissey said: "I thought they were terrible on the Monday that I bought their first album, and by Tuesday I was sneaking back to re-listen, and by Wednesday I was playing the LP at midnight, and by Thursday I was shocked at their magnificence. It�s incredible how the Ramones are now so hugely popular. If they were still alive they�d be the biggest band on the planet, yet they died thinking nobody loved them." Morrissey put together the track listing of the 2014 Ramones compilation "Morrissey Curates The Ramones". (Raudive, Konstantin) The "you are sleeping, you do not want to believe" sample at the end of the Smiths' "Rubber Ring" was taken from his 1971 LP "Breakthrough: An Amazing Experiment In Electronic Communication With The Dead". Raudive claimed that he recorded the voices of the dead in laboratory conditions. The voice however is not his, but that of Nadia Fowler, the English translator. Ray, Diane It is speculated that her song "Please Don't Talk To The Lifeguard" might have inspired Morrissey's "Lifeguard Sleeping, Girl Drowning", or his unreleased song "Lifeguard On Duty". Ray, Johnnie Johnny Ray had a big hit titled "You Don't Owe Me A Thing" which could have inspired the Smiths' "You Don't Owe Me Anything". It is speculated that Morrissey wore an hearing aid in the early days of the Smiths as a tribute to him. He once did a duet with Timi Yuro who also is one of Morrissey's favourites singers. In an interview published in Rorschach Magazine in late 1983/early 1984 Morrissey mentioned that he was quite fond of crooners such as Johnny Ray, Frank Sinatra and Dennis Lotis. His back-up band were called The Four Lads, while Morrissey called his own band Th'Lads around 1991-1992. It is speculated that his biggest hit, titled "Cry", may have influenced Morrissey's "He Cried" because Ray actually wept on stage when he performed the song. Raymonde They supported Morrissey for the first half of the American leg of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal . Red Guitars, The They supported the Smiths once in 1983 and were asked back to warm up audiences for the band on selected dates of their 1984 tour promoting the band's debut album in England. Reed, Lou In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey wrote "As for old Uncle Lou, 'The Bells' must be his 'meisterwork'." A Lou Reed press conference excerpt was shown between opening act and Morrissey on live dates from the tail end of the Tour Of Refusal and on the Swords Tour. Morrissey covered his song "Satellite Of Love" on the 2011 tour. In an interview to Radionica (Columbia) in early 2012, Morrissey mentioned Lou Reed in a list of artists he was indebted to. When Reed died in October 2013, Morrissey wrote had the following letter posted on the True-To-You website: "Oh Lou / why did you leave us this way? No words to express the sadness at the death of Lou Reed. He had been there all of my life. He will always be pressed to my heart. Thank God for those, like Lou, who move within their own laws, otherwise imagine how dull the world would be. I knew the Lou of recent years and he was always full of good heart. His music will outlive time itself. We are all timebound, but today, with the loss of liberating Lou, life is a pigsty." In his autobiography, Morrissey mentions seeing Lou Reed in concert as a teenager. Reeves, Martha & The Vandellas Their song "Third Finger, Left Hand" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. The song was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Remma They released a single titled "Worry Young" on Morrissey's Attack label in 2004. A demo of the latter title was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. They opened for Morrissey on a few dates from the end of the You Are The Quarry tour in 2004. Reparata Their song "Shoes" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. In an interview published in the January 2006 issue of Uncut Johnny Marr confirmed that he and Morrissey were both fans of this song. This is probably why the intro to "A Rush And A Push And The Land Is Ours" sounds like the intro of "Shoes". See related band the Delrons . Richard, Cliff He was a special guest for a Morrissey concert in New York on 21 June 2014 Righteous Brothers With its chorus of "just once in my life let me get what I want", their song "Just Once In My Life" may have inspired Morrissey when he wrote "Please, Please, Please, Let Me Get What I Want". Morrissey, in an interview to Mojo magazine in 2006: "When I was a child I was obsessed with 'You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling', the way the two voices were jumping around, and, when I saw it on Top Of The Pops, the way [they] would not look at each other and sing those two parts was extraordinary." In a 2006 interview to Uncut magazine, Morrissey said he "...wanted to be Bobby out of the Righteous Brothers" after seeing them on television. Morrissey talks about his early obsession with the song "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" in his "Autobiography". Singer Bobby Hatfield was at #2 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. In a Q&A published on the True To You website in January 2014, he said that singer Bobby Hatfield was the one who inspired him to sing: "his falsetto swoop made me jump backwards over the settee." He also said that he wanted to cover "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling" with David Bowie but the latter singer declined. Roe, Tommy His song "Sheila" was played during intermission on an American leg of the 1991 Kill Uncle tour (and perhaps more). Rolling Stones Although he never expressed a clear appreciation for this band at any point in his career, Morrissey was seen attending one of their concerts in May 2013. In his "Autobiography", Morrissey admits not understanding the appreciation Johnny Marr had for the Rolling Stones during the Smiths days, but that he had since had a change of heart. Ronson, Mick Ronson was hired by Morrissey to produce his "Your Arsenal" album. This had probably more to do with Ronson's work with David Bowie or Lou Reed than his solo work. In a questionnaire published in the January 1995 issue of Q magazine , Morrissey answered the question "When did you last cry and why?" with "Death of Michael R." It is rumoured that Morrissey may have written songs for Mick Ronson. The February 2013 edition of Uncut magazine features an article on Mick Ronson including "Morrissey On Mick", an interview with Morrissey praising the guitarist who produced his "Your Arsenal" album. Read from scan here . Morrissey discusses admiring and working with Ronson in his "Autobiography". Roxy Music Their song "Street Life" was requested by Morrissey in an interview to KROQ in July 1997 . He then said about the band: "Excellent unique sound, a very, very unique group in their early years. They certainly slipped under water a bit when they became famous, but this is very unique sound." "Street Life" was covered by Morrissey in Karlstad (Sweden) and Oslo (Norway) on his Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. The cover was not particularly well received and Morrissey decided to drop the song from his set after these two performances. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Roxy Music's "For Your Pleasure" at #9. The album was later edited out of this list after Morrissey found out Ferry was a fan of hunting. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included Roxy Music's "Do The Strand". In his autobiography, Morrissey talks about his love for early Roxy Music. See also Roxy Music member Andy Mackay . Sack They supported Morrissey on the 1999 half of the Oye Esteban tour and on a good portion of the 2002 tour. Their song "Colorado Springs" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. It was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. Morrissey mentions his friendship with singer Martin McCann in his "Autobiography". Safka, Melanie Morrissey mentions in "Autobiography" how as a teenager he discovered and was impressed by this folk singer's lyrics. She came in at #14 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014, despite never having been mentioned as a favourite before. Morrissey said "lately I keep listening to I really loved Harold and also Johnny boy by Melanie Safka" in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in January 2014. Sainte-Marie, Buffy Morrissey allegedly collects her music, along with contemporaries from the 1970s West coast folk scene such as Joni Mitchell. She has a song called "Suffer Little Children" and this could have inspired the title of the Smiths song. The line "and everything depends upon how near you stand to me" in the Smiths' "Hand In Glove" was very likely inspired the line "and everything depends upon how near you sleep to me" from her song "Bells" (written by Leonard Cohen). She was mentioned in a list of Morrissey's favourite singers titled "Bigmouths - The Singer Not The Song" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. In an interview published in Q magazine in December 1989 Morrissey said "I can also appreciate people like Buffy Saint-Marie. (...) Even today I get very excited by Buffy Saint-Marie. I thought she had a great voice and great passion. (...) A very underrated artist; there's millions of them." Her song "Until It's Time For You To Go" could supposedly be heard in the intermission music played before gigs on the 1992 Your Arsenal tour. The title of her songs "You're Gonna Need Somebody On Your Bond" and "Better To Find Out For Yourself" may or may not have influenced Morrissey's "You're Gonna Need Someone On Your Side" and "Why Don't You Find Out For Yourself". Her song "Codeine" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . She was invited to perform at the 2004 Meltdown Festival which Morrissey curated, but declined. Morrissey considered appearing at a Buffy Sainte-Marie tribute in 2008, but rejected because of his boycott of Canada (the tribute was held in Montreal). In a statement explaining his decision at the time Morrissey said "I first bought a Buffy Sainte-Marie record when I was 12, and her music has always remained with me. In the 1960s, as a political activist, Buffy's lyrics were fearless, and I'm very grateful for all the risks that she took." In an interview given to Stuart Maconie for BBC Radio 2 in early 2009 Morrissey requested that her song "Soldier Blue" be played. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included "Soldier Blue". In an interview to Radionica (Columbia) in early 2012, Morrissey mentioned Buffy Sainte-Marie in a list of artists he was indebted to. In "Autobiography", Morrissey talks about buying her "Soldier Blue" single and the effect it and its b-side had on him. She came in at #8 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Santaolalla, Gustavo This Oscar winning Argentinian composer was asked by Morrissey to produce "Children And Pieces" and "My Dearest Love", b-sides to the "All You Need Is Me" single from 2008. Satie, Erik His piano "Gymnopedies no 1", "Gnossiennes" and others from the album "After the Rain" were heard before certain concerts on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Searchers It is speculated that the line "goodbye my love" from the end of the Smiths' "Death At One's Elbow" was inspired by their song "Goodbye My Love". Seress, Rezsõ His "Gloomy Sunday" - also known as the "Hungarian Suicide Song" in English speaking countries - which was recorded by many famous people over the years features the line "Let them not weep, let them know that I'm glad to go...", a likely inspiration for the lyrics to the Smiths' "Asleep". Sex Pistols Morrissey had a letter published in the 11 December 1975 issue of Melody Maker in which he spoke negatively of the Sex Pistols. However, after seeing them live in mid 1976, he wrote another letter (published in the NME on 18 June 1976), this one praising them and comparing them to his beloved New York Dolls. Then in September 1976 he had a letter published in Sounds in which he mentions that it is "a joke that the Dolls should be compared to such notoriously no-talents as the Ramones and the Sex Pistols". He mentioned them once more in a letter about the state of punk published on 11 November 1976 in Melody Maker. Morrissey offered Chris Thomas, the producer of the Sex Pistols' "Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols", to produce his album "Southpaw Grammar", but he declined. In an interview published in the 11 February 2006 issue of the NME Morrissey was quoted: "I think they changed the world and I'm very grateful for that. I saw them three times at the very beginning and they were breathtaking and very necessary and I simply feel gratitude. Everybody on the planet has shortcomings, and most people can't see it through, but it doesn't matter because most people give nothing and they gave so much and they've sustained." Morrissey talks about his discovery of the Sex Pistols in his autobiography. Shangri-La's Their song "Give Him A Great Big Kiss" (one of Morrissey's beloved New York Dolls favourites) was rehearsed by the Nosebleeds during the short period in 1978 when Morrissey was part of the (remains of that) band. The decision to tackle this cover was of course Morrissey's. He didn't alter the gender of the title when he sang it, just like he wouldn't when covering the Cookie's "I Want A Boy For My Birthday" at the very beginning of the Smiths. The title of their song "He Cried" might have inspired Morrissey for his own. Their song "Never Again" was played before concerts during portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Shapiro, Helen Interviewed for the 1997 Brit Girl documentary, Morrissey said "'Tell Me What He Said' was a great record. 'Don't Treat Me Like A Child', that's quite revolutionary. No, it's not my theme tune, not really at the age of 37, but that's what all teenagers were saying at that time, at the end of the Fifties. Nineteen Sixty One - 'Don't Treat Me Like A Child'!". Shaw, Sandie In a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet), Morrissey mentioned that he was listening to Sandie Shaw amongst others at that time. The line "If you wore rags, you'd still look good to me" in her song "You've Not Changed" very likely influenced Morrissey when he wrote the words to "Hand In Glove". She was mentioned alongside nine other 'symbolists' in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , a list of Morrissey's favourite films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. Her song "Stop Before You Start" was also mentioned in the 'records' category. An article on Sandie Shaw written by Morrissey was published in the 24 December 1983 issue of Sounds Magazine. After much insistence from Morrissey and Johnny Marr (Morrissey wrote to her stating "The Sandie Shaw legend cannot be over yet - there is more to be done"), Sandie accepted to collaborate with the Smiths on a single which featured her own versions of the band's "Hand In Glove", "I Don't Owe You Anything" and "Jeane". This led to her getting on stage two nights in a row around the time of release of that single to do "I Don't Owe You Anything" with the band. Morrissey and Marr praised her song "Keep In Touch" in letters to her when they were asking her to collaborate with them. Ironically that song was the b-side to her single "I Don't Need Anything" and she would end up recording the similarly titled "I Don't Owe You Anything" with the Smiths. In an early 1984 interview (source unknown), when asked on the subject of their collaboration, Morrissey said "I met her a few months ago and it seemed perfectly natural for me to seize the opportunity and ask her to work with us and she was incredibly eager and incredibly enthusiastic. She really liked the songs and she was very eager to do it. So, it's happened and I'm very pleased." The title of the Smiths' "Heaven Knows I'm Miserable Now" was inspired by that of Sandie's "Heaven Knows I'm Missing Him Now". The song was written and recorded at the same time the band was working with Sandie on the single they would release together. On the subject of the inspiration for the title Morrissey told Len Brown in a 1997 interview for the Brit Girls documentary: "It was an in-joke. But it was so 'in' that nobody really got it. It was a private joke between she and me." On some dates from the summer of 1984 the Smiths entered stage after her song "Girl Don't Come". On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey played her song "You've Not Changed". In an interview published in Melody Maker on 3 November 1984 Morrissey said "To me it was revolutionary. It proved to me that the gap between artists is really quite slim. The tabloids leaped on the case with great vigour. They were completely skeptical. 'Sandy how can you possibly work with these blimps, these obscure characters from criminal areas of Manchester. How can you possibly soil your slippers?' So it was horror all round. We think that society is dedicated to the class system but it's rife throughout the music industry." In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, her song "You've Not Changed" was listed at #1 and "Today" at #10 in the "yeahs" section. It is possible that the "message received" line in the Smiths' "Unloveable" was inspired by her song "Message Understood". In an interview given to journalist Len Brown for the NME in 1988, Morrissey defends that "Viva Hate" means "Long Live Hate", which prompted Brown to speculate that this might be "...Morrissey's comic response to Sandie Shaw's 1965 hit 'Long Live Love'." Her songs "You've Not Changed" and "Voice In The Crowd" as well as her version of the Smiths' "Jeane" were played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. It is speculated that her 1966 hit "Tomorrow" may have something to do with Morrissey's own song with the same title. In an interview given to Len Brown in 1997 for the "Brit Girls" series, Morrissey said: "Sandie, I think, was probably the best of the lot. Her discography was better, longer than the others. There was something about her voice, something very... I was going to say cheap but it was close to cheap. Just something very noisy and natural about it. I liked her because she was very of the street and off the street, very unpretentious, and she was quite raucous and though almost. All the records were (...) all slightly hard on the ears and heavily orchestrated. Very brassy. I liked that because it sounded like she'd just walked in off the street and began to sing and then just strolled home and... bought some chips. (On his favourite Sandie records) There are so many. I like one, which you won't know, called 'Keep In Touch'. And 'You've Not Changed', which was a reasonably big hit, that's probably the best one. The simplicity was very touching. Simplicity with a hint of aggression... which is always a fantastic mixture. And she had great b-sides. 'Stop Before You Start'. She was the best!" Her song "You've Not Changed" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . The latter song was also mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Morrissey (source unknown): "I am very interested in Sandie Shaw and singers who are similar to her like Timi Yuro and Rita Pavone. They both suffered a hasty eclipse. It was because of them I wrote my book 'The History of the Female Voice in Popular Music'. Two publishers are interested in it." Morrissey (source unknown): "It's really quite strange because as I grew up all the strong female voices of the Sixties seemed to affect me enormously - certainly none more than Sandie - and it really became quite a special part of me." Unsurprisingly, Morrissey discusses his collaboration with Sandie Shaw in his autobiography. Sheila Divine, The They supported Morrissey on a handful of dates on the latter half of the Oye Esteban tour . Shins, The They supported Morrissey in New York on 7 May 2004 . Shocking Blue Morrissey requested Shocking Blue's "Mighty Joe" on Russell Brand's radio programme in August 2008. He requested the same song again when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. A photo of Morrissey holding a Shocking Blue "Ink Pot" single appeared with an interview published in a early 2009 issue of Filter magazine. A video of their song "Mighty Joe" was shown before concerts on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal and on the Swords Tour later the same year. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included "Mighty Joe". They are mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Shostakovitch The intro to his symphony no. 5 was sampled and looped to produce the basic track of "The Teachers Are Afraid Of The Pupils". Shrinking Violet They supported Morrissey in Spokane on 1 February 2000 . Sigh They supported Morrissey in Portland on 2 February 2000 and Seattle on 3 February 2000 . Simone. Nina One of her songs was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. On portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal, Morrissey walked on stage at the end of an instrumental piano version of her "You'll Never Walk Alone". Simple Minds Morrissey mentioned liking "Today I Died Again" in a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet). Sinatra, Frank In an interview published in Rorschach Magazine in late 1983/early 1984 Morrissey mentioned that he was quite fond of crooners such as Johnny Ray, Frank Sinatra and Dennis Lotis. Morrissey covered Mancini's "Moonriver" from Breakfast At Tiffany's. According to an interview he gave to the Independent in June 1994, Sinatra's is his favorite vocal version of the song. In an interview given to KCXX in 1998, Morrissey said "I thought he had patches of brilliance and I thought he gave a great deal to people. Lots of people didn't like him as a person I gather and the eulogies in England were very, very bad but I think he was one of the greatest." His "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" duet with Celeste Holm was played during intermission on the 1999 Oye Esteban tour. On the 1999-2000 Oye Esteban tour his classic "My Way" was heard after Morrissey's gigs, as the fans exited the venue. This was also the case for most of the 2002 tour and all of the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. Morrissey returned to it again on the 2009 Swords Tour. When questioned about lasting musical influences in a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in November 2005 Morrissey answered: "The royal three remain the same: The New York Dolls, Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, with Nico standing firm as first reserve." In a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in February 2006, Morrissey answered the question "Who do you admire vocally?" with: "I think Elvis Presley had a great voice, and Frank Sinatra - two obvious choices, perhaps. Neither ever sounded unsure." "That's Life" was played after Morrissey gigs, as the fans exited the venue on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI, on the 2007-2008 Greatest Hits tour and on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Sinatra, Nancy Her song "How Does That Grab You?" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. A 1968 film called "Speedway" starred Elvis Presley and Nancy Sinatra. This could just be a coincidence and have nothing to do with Morrissey's song of the same name. At Morrissey's request she appeared in the 2003 documentary "The Importance Of Being Morrissey". At Morrissey's invitation she recorded a version of his song "Let Me Kiss You" which was released as a single on Morrissey's own label Attack on the very same day he released his own version as a single . Her version of Morrissey's "Let Me Kiss You" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. She was invited by Morrissey to perform at the 2004 Meltdown festival which he curated. In an interview published in Time Out magazine at the time Morrissey said "The songs of Nancy Sinatra are full of heart. She has a timeless style and nothing ever dates it." She supported Morrissey in Los Angeles on 11 November and 12 November 2004. In his "Autobiography", Morrissey praises her and talks about their friendship and working with her. Nancy appears in the promotional video for the 2014 song "World Peace Is None Of Your Business". Siouxsie And The Banshees Their song "Mirage" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. The latter song was also supposedly included in the intermission music on the 1992 Your Arsenal tour. "Playground Twist", "Mother/Oh Mein Papa" and "The Lord's Prayer" from their album "Join Hands" were played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . A cover of Timi Yuro's "Interlude" was recorded and released as a single in 1994 by Morrissey in duet with Siouxsie. "Mother/Oh Mein Papa" was also played during intermission on the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . Their song "Eve White / Eve Black" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. "Spellbound" was played at Morrissey's request during an interview to KROQ on 6 July 1997 . On the subject he told them that "they were one of the great groups of the late 70s, early 80s and very underrated, I think. Siouxsie and the Banshees were excellent." Solo Siouxsie was picked by Morrissey as a guest when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. Something of theirs was played during intermission on the summer festivals leg of the Greatest Hits tour. He requested that their song "Mother" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. Something of theirs may have been played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. In his "Autobiography", Morrissey had great words to say about Siouxsie the artist, but not so much about their professional relationship. Slits Their song "Love Und Romance" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. Singer Ari Up was invited by Morrissey to perform at the Meltdown festival which he curated in 2004. In an interview published in Time Out at the time, he said: "Ari Up has, I think, remained her true self. The Slits were about the shock of selfrecognition. As a meagre fan, I would've loved four, five or six albums instead of just the one." In a Q&A published in Uncut magazine in 2006, Morrissey answered the question "Banarama or Girls Around?" with "The Slits". Their song "Love Und Romance" was included in the intermission music on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Small Faces Their song "Lazy Sunday" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. In a Q&A published in Mojo in 2004, when asked "And your Sunday morning record?", Morrissey answered "'Death' by Klaus Nomi, or 'Lazy Sunday' by The Small Faces." The latter song was also mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Small, Millie Interviewed for the 1997 Brit Girls documentary, Morrissey said "Incredible. 'My Boy Lollipop' was about one minute 10 seconds long. Fantastic record. Incredibly energetic and spicy and... pert. People don't sing like that any more apart from me." A video of her song "My Boy Lollipop" was shown before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. Smith, Bessie A cover of her song "Wake Up Johnny" was sent as a demo by Morrissey to Buzzcocks manager Richard Boon in the early 1980s. Smith, Hurricane His song "Don't Let It Die" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Smith, Patti In a letter published in a British music magazine on 21 July 1976 Morrissey wrote "The New York Dolls and Patti Smith have proved that there is some life pumping away in the swamps and gutters of New York and they are the only acts which originated from the N.Y. club scene worthy of any praise." In a letter to the editor published by the NME in early 1976 Morrissey wrote: "...in these dark days when Patti Smith, Loudon Wainwright or even the New York Dolls fail to make an impact on Radio 1 DJs, common sense is therefore not so common." In a letter published in Sounds on 25 September 1976 Morrissey wrote "Horses by Patti Smith has virtually no competition as the most exciting rock album of the year and it shows more potential than just about any other release in recent memory. There is no 'beat on the brat' nonsense. Patti is intriguing without being boring and every track is laced with her own brand of sardonic humour." She was also mentioned positively by Morrissey in a letter printed in the 11 November 1976 issue of Melody Maker. The ads section of a December 1976 issue of Sounds includes one where "Dolls / Patti fans wanted for Manchester-based punk band", attributed to Morrissey. Morrissey attended a fanzine press conference (to promote her album "Easter") in February 1978. Morrissey and Marr first met at a Patti Smith concert on 31 August 1978 but it would be another 4 years until they would meet again and form the Smiths. Morrissey supposedly took a trip to New York City in 1979 to attend a Patti Smith poetry reading event. It has been speculated that her name was one of the many reasons why Morrissey wanted to call his first band the Smiths. Her song Kimberly was an inspiration (mostly musically, but also lyrically) on Morrissey and Marr when they wrote "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle". Johnny Rogan's "The Visual Documentary" shows a copy of a set list from The Smiths' first rehearsal and next to the chords to "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle" Johnny Marr had written "Kimberly". Her song "Fire Of Unknown Origin" was mentioned by Morrissey in 1985's Meat Is Murder tour programme as one of his favourite singles. According to biographer Len Brown Sandie Shaw was encouraged by Morrissey and Marr in 1986 to cover Patti Smith's "Frederick". Her song "Hey Joe" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In an interview to XL magazine in 2006 Morrissey said "Her first four albums changed everything. They changed me." Her song "Frederick" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . Morrissey included a cover of her song "Redondo Beach" in his sets in late 2006 . A live recording from that period was featured on his live album "Live At Earls Court" and released as a single . In a Q&A session published on the True-To-You website in June 2007 Morrissey said "As for 'Redondo Beach', I've always said how Patti Smith's 'Horses' album changed my life. When I told Patti I had released it as a single she said it wouldn't chart because of the 'Patti Smith curse', but we just missed the top ten by a few copies, even though, as always, zero airplay. I also had it in my mind that the opening line was 'let it be known,' which it isn't, it's 'late afternoon'." Morrissey biographer Len Brown suggests that a famous Robert Mapplethorpe photograph showing Patti Smith with the words "Pasolini est vie" next to her probably inspired the line "Pasolini is me" in Morrissey's "You Have Killed Me". Her song "Redondo Beach" was played during intermission music on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Patti Smith's "Horses" at #3. In an interview to Radionica (Columbia) in early 2012, Morrissey mentioned Patti Smith in a list of artists he was indebted to. She supported Morrissey on his 1 March 2013 concert in Los Angeles. Morrissey talks about the discovery of Patti Smith and her "Horses" album in his autobiography. Smiths, The (!) The band was slotted by Morrissey at #1 in a list of favourite Manchester musical artists published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME under the title "Moanchester, So Much To Answer For". Smoking Popes In an interview given to KROQ on 6 July 1997 Morrissey asked that their song "Need You Around" be played. He then mentioned how he thought that their album "Destination Failure" was excellent. Their song "Midnight Moon" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. Their song "Writing A Letter" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. In an interview published in GQ magazine in 2005 , when asked about the Smoking Popes album "Born To Quit", Morrissey replied "It's my ninth favourite album... but you'll never find a copy." Their cover of "You'll Never Walk Alone" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Their song "Rubella" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. He requested that their song "If You Don't Care" be played when he was interviewed by Janice Long in October 2008. Something of theirs was played during intermission on the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included the Smoking Popes' "Born To Quit" at #11. Snow, Hank His "Old Shep" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. It was also played before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. Soil They supported the Smiths in Kilburn on 23 October 1986 . Sons And Daughters They were Morrissey's support band in England and Europe during the first few months of his Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Soundgarden Morrissey attended a Soundgarden concert in February 2013. Sparks Morrissey had a letter praising their "Kimono My House" album published in the 14 June 1974 issue of the NME . He also published an article praising the band in a Scottish fanzine called Next Big Thing in 1979. The line "The rain is pouring on the foreign town, the bullets cannot cut you down" from Sparks' "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us" was very likely an influence on the line " The rain falls hard on a humdrum town, this town has dragged you down" in the Smiths' "William It Was Really Nothing". Their song "Beaver O'Lindy" features the line "The London that's dead, the London that's dead", which Morrissey may have adapted for "Glamorous Glue" ("London is dead, London is dead"). Their song "Arts And Crafts Spectacular" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. A previously unreleased version of the latter song was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "In a glorious surge of deserved success in 1974, the very comprehensive lyric sheets accompanying Sparks albums prove that Ron Mael is clearly driven to tell, yet he answers the media by skillfil Quietism and by impersonating various walls. Ron Mael is an undoubted genius, and where else would a true genius live but in the catacombs of hell? Ron asks his younger brother Russell to sing the words - in chilling falsetto. Russell sings in what appear to be French italics, and has less facial hair that Josephine Baker. It is a scream, because the songs are screams. (...) Who on earth would write a pop song in such a way? A song about an arts and crafts competition where 'lovely Claudine Jones/has to come to push her quilt', but where Tracy Wise gets a prize. There is no category for this madness - except the category of madness, and Sparks are only let down by their name. At 14, I want to live with these people, to be - at last! - in the company of creatures of my own species." Their song "Thank God It's Not Christmas" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. Their song "Barbecutie" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks titled "Songs To Save Your Life" given away with the 19 June 2004 issue of the NME. Morrissey asked Sparks to perform their "Kimono My House" album entirely for the 2004 Meltdown festival which he curated. In an interview published in Time Out magazine at the time he said: "In 1974 the whirling rhythms of 'Kimono My House' by Sparks completely stopped me in my tracks. Russell, I thought, had the most beautiful female voice in pop music, and Ron was and still is like an abandoned ventriloquist's doll. Lines such as 'You mentioned Kant and I was shocked/Because where I come from none of the girls have such foul tongues' were, to me, magnificently funny. Mind you, I was quite ill at the time." In an interview published in the January 2006 issue of Uncut, Marr said that he and Morrissey were both fans of "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us". Their song "Alabamy Right" was played during intermission early on the Greatest Hits tour. When invited to play his favourite bands on KCRW's Guest DJ Project in August 2008, Morrissey chose their song "Moon Over Kentucky". The video for their song "Lighten Up Morrissey" was shown during intermission on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Their song "Something For The Girl With Everything" was played before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. A video of their song "This Town Ain't Big Enough For The Both Of Us" was shown before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included Sparks' "Kimono My House" at #6. On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included the Sparks' "This Town Ain't Big Enough For Both Of Us". Morrissey talks about his discovery of Sparks in his autobiography and even quotes from some of their lyrics. Springfield, Dusty Her song "You Don't Have To Say You Love Me" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. Interviewed for the 1997 Brit Girls documentary Morrissey said "Dusty was incredibly important. (...) Dusty singing 'The Corrupt Ones' in 1966 or 1967 was thin ince, and there was Dusty skating on it. (...) She made many great records but I think she seemed to be older than everyone else, more sensible and more liked by the older generation, which wasn't necessarily off-putting but... could be." In a 2012 email interview to the Columbus Dispatch, Morrissey said "Wikipedia names Dusty Springfield as my first influence. I don�t actually think I�ve ever even mentioned her name � and I was never remotely a fan." Morrissey interviewed (source unknown): "(...) Dusty Springfield just made too many bad records, awful things like 'Son Of A Preacher Man' which completely went against her original introductory records which are timeless." Springwater Their song "I Will Return" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI and early on the Greatest Hits tour. Stefani, Gwen As he was introducing his newest single "I Just Want To See The Boy Happy" during the 10 December 2006 concert in Luxembourg and complaining about its poor performance in the charts, Morrissey said "Well #1 is just impossible, no airplay, blah-blah-blah-blah, Gwen Stefano, Gwen Stefano, waaargghh... actually she's not too bad..." After the song's performance he returned to the subject: "So one final confession, one final confession, I like Gwen Stefano, I do, I do, I do, I do, I do..." Sterling, Linda Their song "Boozy Creed" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Stockholm Monsters, The They supported the Smiths on a few Queen Is Dead tour warm-up dates in the summer of 1986. Stooges and Iggy Pop The Stooges songs "Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell" and "Search And Destroy" were played during intermission music at various points into the Greatest Hits tour. Their song "Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. In an interview to Radionica (Columbia) in early 2012, Morrissey mentioned Iggy Pop in a list of artists he was indebted to. Morrissey talks about the discovery of Iggy & The STooges and their "Raw Power" album in his autobiography. Storm, Gale Her song "Lucky Lips" was a hit in May 1959 when Morrissey was born. Morrissey recorded a song titled "Lucky Lisp" which has led to some speculation by certain fans and biographers. It must be said that Cliff Richard also recorded a song with that title. Stranglers, The They have a song called "Dagenham Dave", but there is no reason to believe it had any influence on the creation of Morrissey's song of the same name. Morrissey has never otherwise mentioned the Stranglers. Stubbs, Levi He came in at #10 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014, despite never having been mentioned as a favourite before. Suede Championed by Morrissey in 1992, Morrissey sang his own version of their early b-side "My Insatiable One" at concerts that same year. In an interview to Modern Rock Live in 1992 Morrissey said that Suede were one of the two modern bands he was in love with, specifying "something to become excited by". Morrissey quickly fell out with the band as they gained notoriety. Sundays, The At the V Festival on 19 August 2006 , after bowing alongside his musicians, Morrissey found a way of mentionning the bad weather and his return to England by beginning his set singing a few lines from their song "Can't Be Sure": "England my England / The home of the free / Such miserable weather..." Sundown Playboys Their song "Saturday Nite Special" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In the liner notes of that album Morrissey described how he discovered and fell in love with the song. The latter song was also played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. On the occasion of re-release of "Everyday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included "Saturday Nite Special". In his "Autobiography", Morrissey discusses the trouble of getting the rights to include "Saturday Nite Special" on the "Under The Influence" cd. Supremes On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included the Supremes' "I'm Livin' In Shame". System Of A Down Their song "Lonely Day" was played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. In a 2012 email interview to news.com.au, Morrissey mentioned the latter song as being "the last song I absolutely loved". In a 2012 email interview to the Village Voice, he said of the latter song: "It caught me in the right way at the right moment. I like the band generally, and the main vocals (by Serj Tankian) always have interesting tunings, almost Arabic, sounding like ancient codes for bewailing the dead or something. Although 'Lonely Day' wasn't sung by Serj." Tams Morrissey appears to be a fan of their song "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy" and not necessarily a fan of the band. He ended a private letter to penpal Robert Mackie in the early 80s (since leaked to fans and on the internet) with the words of the song's title. The song was mentioned alongside nine others in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey chose to include that song in his top ten. In an interview published in The Face in 1985 Morrissey that he loved this song "...because of the sentiment. Not that I could ever relate to it. But then maybe that's why I found it so appealing in the first place." In a Q&A published in Mojo in 2004, when asked "What is your favourite Saturday night record?", Morrissey answered "'Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy' by The Tams." On the occasion of re-release of "EVeryday Is Like Sunday", Morrissey's Facebook page created a Spotify playlist of Morrissey 'Supreme 13 Singles' which included "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy". Taylor, Vince A video of him performing "Twist It" was shown between opening act and Morrissey on dates from the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI , the Greatest Hits tour of 2007-2008 and on portions of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. Telephone Boxes, The They supported the Smiths once in 1983 and were asked to warm up audiences for the band on selected dates of their 1984 tour promoting the Smiths' debut album in England. Television Personalities Their song "Part-Time Punks" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. Thrills Their song "One Horse Town" was played during intermission on the 2002 tour. They supported Morrissey in London on 17 September 2002 and in Dublin on 3 October 2002 . Tiger Army They were the support band on a few Morrissey dates in the USA and England at the very beginning of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Tillotson, Johnny His song "Send Me The Pillow You Dream On" seems to have inspired the last lines in the Smiths' "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others". It must be said that many other people have recorded versions of this song, including Charlie Feathers (see higher in this list) and Dean Martin. Toys, The In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, their song "Lover's Concerto" was listed at #9 in the "yeahs" section. Their song "Attack" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Traffic Their song "Hole In my Shoe" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. The band was also mentioned by Morrissey in an interview given during the American leg of the "Maladjusted" tour to Swedish Magazine Pop (published in the January 1998 issue). Travis In an interview given to KROQ on 6 July 1997 Morrissey mentioned this (then) new band as being one of his current favourites. T.Rex / Tyrannosaurus Rex / Marc Bolan According to the Meat Is Murder tour programme the first concert Morrissey attended was T-Rex at the Manchester Bellevue in July 1972. T-Rex's "Metal Guru" was an obvious inspiration on the Smiths' "Panic". Some T-Rex was played between the opening artist and the Smiths on the band's final date on 12 December 1986 . In an interview published in the NME on 13 February 1988 Morrissey said of the Smiths' song "Paint A Vulgar Picture": "It was about the music industry in general, about practically anybody who's died and left behind that frenetic fanatical legacy which sends people scrambling. Billy Fury, Marc Bolan..." The song "The Visit" features a repeated chorus of "Truly I do love you", a line Morrissey used in his own "Late Night, Maudlin Street". In an interview given to journalist Len Brown (date/source needed), Morrissey said "Marc Bolan was very important to me. Extremely important. He made some great records, even before he became famous, before he bacame the teeny bopper star. His earlier stuff, with Tyrannosaurus Rex, I found really moving. These records are still very important to me. (...) To me he was pretty inexplicable and he seemed very lonely and mixed up and confused. And I'd never seen that in pop music before." Morrissey also said in that interview that he has pilgrimaged to where Marc Bolan died in a car accident. Morrissey performed a cover of T-Rex's "Cosmic Dancer" on his Kill Uncle tour. He released a live recording from the 1 May 1991 show as a b-side on the "Pregnant For The Last Time" single and a different live recording, this one from 1 June 1991 , on his anthology "My Early Burglary Years" . The T-Rex songs "Metal Guru" and "Cosmic Dancer" were played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. In an introduction for the 1992 Marc Bolan biography "Marc Bolan, Wilderness Of The Mind" Morrissey wrote: "I can't cleverly theorize about Marc; I just loved him, and any judgement of him ultimately sways to a favourable conclusion. (...) I cried to certain songs before I even knew the words. (...) My indispensables are "Prophets, Seers And Sages," "My People Were Fair," and "T. Rex," with "Metal Guru" as the moment of complete perfection." Morrissey's "Certain People I Know" was musically inspired by T-Rex's "Ride A White Swan". The 7" promo to the latter single was actually designed to look like a T-Rex record and Morrissey would refer to the song as "Certain White Swans I Know" in live performances of the song on the Your Arsenal tour. The T-Rex song "Telegram Sam" was played during intermission on the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . The Tyrannosaurus Rex song "King Of The Rumbling Spires" was played during intermission on the 1997 Maladjusted tour. The Tyrannosaurus Rex song "Great Horse" was included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In the liner note to that album Morrissey wrote "However Bo(b) (dy)lan remains - in my mind's ear - the sound of late 1960's Notting Hill bedsits, unsuitable daytime heat in busy London Parks, the future not yet behind us, and we are on our way. I see T. Rex live in 1972, and I meet the singer three years later, when I request the binding autograph, and although there is no one but he and I around for miles, the Stamford Hill boy declines the request. Just too much trouble. I am still amazed at the brevity of Marc Bolan's success, and at the speed of his decay, and by how people who knew him never seem to say anything nice about him. But, weren't we made to be this way?" The T-Rex song "The Groover" was played during intermission on the 2004 You Are The Quarry tour. Something by T-Rex or Marc Bolan was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI . The T-Rex song "The Broken-Hearted Blues" was played during intermission early on the Greatest Hits tour. T.Rex are mentioned as an early favourite in Morrissey's autobiography. Amongst other things, he mentions being turned down by Marc Bolan when he asked him for an autograph. Tucker, Sophie Her song "I'm Living Alone And I Like It" was played before concerts at the tail end of the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI and early on the Greatest Hits tour. Twinkle Twinkle's song "Golden Lights" was covered by The Smiths. Lines from her song "Terry" were adapted for early drafts of the Smiths' "Paint A Vulgar Picture". Her song "Terry" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Her version of "Golden Lights" was played during intermission on the 1991 Kill Uncle tour. In an interview for the Brit Girls documentary first broadcast late 1997 (UK, Channel 4), Morrissey said "Twinkle was trouble and that's why she was so interesting. Her major hit 'Terry' was a death disc and was banned by the BBC. She wasn't allowed on Ready, Steady, Go! because the song was too morbid. So obviously I bought 12 of them. It reached number four. Great tune, great words. Very unusual to have a teenager singing about death and she also wrote most of her own stuff. So Twinkle was amusing and interesting and don't-blink-or-you'll miss her. Sometimes little spurts of career can be more important than careers that go on for hundreds of years. (On why the Smiths covered her song 'Golden Lights') Because it reminded me of the Gene Pitney backstage 'I'm lonely' type drama. I thought it was very dramatic. (...) So 'Golden Lights' was just a slight interesting twisty insight into the perils of fame and change and all the great things that happen to you when you are no longer anonymous." In a Q&A session published on the True-To-You website in June 2007 Morrissey wrote: "Everything has its place and its reason. Certainly, the early Smiths covers, for example 'Work is a four-letter word' and 'Golden lights' were done as acts of playful perversity - they weren't meant to be groundbreaking miracles of sound. And that's usually how it is, just a matter of throwing something unexpected into the mix." Upshaw, Dawn She came in at #13 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014, despite never having been mentioned as a favourite before. Velvelettes Their song "Needle In A Haystack" was rehearsed by the Nosebleeds during the short period in 1978 when Morrissey was part of the (remains of that) band. The decision to tackle this cover was of course Morrissey's. The latter song was also suggested as a possible cover version to Slaughter And The Dogs after Morrissey auditioned for them in the late 1970s (although Morrissey denies ever auditioning for them). Velvet Underground Their song "That's The Story Of My Life" may have inspired the last line of the Smiths' "Half A Person" Their song "The Black Angel's Death Song" was played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour . "The Black Angel's Death Song" was also played during intermission on the third American leg of the Greatest Hits tour. Their "Black Angel's Death Song" was chosen by Morrissey as one of his Desert Island Discs on his appearance on the BBC Radio4 show of that name in November 2009. Their songs "Sister Ray", "The Gift" and "I Heard Her Call My Name" were played before concerts on the 2009 Swords Tour. On the occasion of Friday the 13th August 2010, Morrissey sent to thequietus.com a list of his top 13 albums, which included the Velvet Underground's "White Light/White Heat" at #7 and "The Velvet Underground And Nico" at #8. Morrissey in interview (source needed): "I spent my entire twelfth year locked in my bedroom with 'All Tomorrow's Parties'." Also see solo members Lou Reed and Nico . Verbow They supported Morrissey four times on the latter half of the Oye Esteban tour . Village, The They supported the Smiths in Waterford (Ireland) on 11 November 1984 . Wainwright, Loudon III He was praised by Morrissey in at least two letters to the NME editor in 1977. Morrissey quoted from his song "Uptown" in his book "The New York Dolls". He was invited by Morrissey to perform at the Meltdown festival which he curated in 2004. In interview to Time Out magazine at the time, Morrissey said: "Loudon Wainwright is an honoured guest." Morrissey mentions in his autobiography to have come up with the name T-Shirt for a pre-Smiths band (now incorrectly referred to as the Nosebleeds) through that of a Loudon Wainwright album. Warwick, Dionne Her song "Loneliness Remembers What Happiness Forgets" was mentioned in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. Wasden, Jaybee His song "De Castrow" was played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . That song was also played during intermission on the 1995 Boxers tour and the 1997 Maladjusted tour. The song was also included on Morrissey's compilation of favourite tracks released in 2003 under the title "Under The Influence" . In that album's liner notes Morrissey wrote: "(...) the imagination chatters convulsively through Nat Couty's 'Woodpecker Rock', Charlie Feathers' 'one Hand Loose', Jimmy Radcliffe's 'The Forgotten Man', and Jay Bee Wasden's 'De Castro'. Of these last four, I would not pretend to know any background details, but the happiness these songs give me seems, now, to be everlasting - even if this is music played with a lop-sided grim, then please hook me." Well-Oiled Sisters They supported Morrissey in the UK and Europe on the final leg of the 1992 Your Arsenal tour. Wigan's Ovation In an interview given to journalist Len Brown in 1988, Morrissey discussed this band's three singles and answered the question "So you were into all that?" with "Oh, completely. As a spectator. Yes, definitely Wigan's Ovation and Chicory Tip." This was published in Brown's biography "Meetings With Morrissey". Wombats, The They were picked by Morrissey as guests when he headlined the 2008 O2 Wireless Festival in London. Wood, Victoria The words to the Smiths' "Rusholme Ruffians" are without doubt 'taken on loan' from her song "Fourteen Again" ("Free rides on the waltzers off the fairground men", "the last night of the fair", "behind the generator with your coconut, the coloured lights reflected in the Brylcreem in his hair", "tattoo myself with a fountain pen", "When I was funny, I was famous"). Morrissey also drew words from others songs by Victoria Wood, such as "Northerners" ("brass-money") and "Funny How Things Turn Out" ("my faith in myself is still devout"; "sing Lerner and Lowe to the mentally ill"). In 1985, Morrissey jokingly spread the rumour that she and him would be married before the end of the year. She played along and said that they "have been married for eleven months, though owing to touring commitments, we have not yet met." In 1986, Morrissey said that she was that year's most wonderful human being. (source needed) Woodentops They supported their labelmates the Smiths on two short British tours in 1984. The first one in the summer in Northern England and Scotland , and the other in September, in and around Wales . Workman, Hawksley He supported Morrissey in Hamilton on 16 February 2000 . Would-Be's They supported Morrissey in Dublin on 27 April 1991 , the very first date of the Kill Uncle tour. In a Morrissey Q&A posted on website True-To-You in January 2006 Morrissey said: "Years ago, in Dublin, The Would-Be's ran on, looked at the crowd, and then immediately ran off. That didn't quite work..." Wyngarde, Peter On his 2009 appearance on UK television programme Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Morrissey gave Ross a copy of a Peter Wyngarde LP. Wynne, Philippé He came in at #3 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014, despite he or his band the Spinners never having been mentioned as a favourite before. X-Ray Spex Their song "The Day The World Turned Dayglo" was played during intermission on the 1995 dates promoting "Southpaw Grammar" . Their song "Cigarettes" was played during intermission on the 1999 Oye Esteban tour. Their song "Warrior In Woolworth's" was played during intermission on the 2000 Oye Esteban tour. Young, Kristeen She was Morrissey's opening act for all dates from the middle of 2006 to (almost) the end of 2007. She was set to support Morrissey again once in Oakland in April 2009, but that concert ended up being cancelled. Morrissey released her single "Kill The Father" b/w "Life's Not Short, It's Sooooo Long" on his Attack label in August 2006. He said of the a-side that it was "the best song I've heard for 50 years". "Kill The Father" was played during intermission on the Tour Of The Tormentors MMVI. Morrissey released her single "London Cry"/"This Is The Dawn Of My D-Day" on his Attack label in December 2006. She has lent vocals to Morrissey's b-Side "Sweetie-Pie," and has recorded a vocal part on "That's How People Grow Up". In a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in July 2006 Morrissey said: "Kristeen, I think, will soon be bigger than life. To me, she already is." In a Q&A published on the True-To-You website in September 2006 he said: "Kristeen is a dramatic woman - monumental vocal gifts, unwalkable heels, hypnotic way with the keyboard, and underneath it all she is still 16 (and a half.) I watch her set every night and I am dazed. I was thrilled by audience reactions to Kristeen - especially in Iceland and Italy where their intakes of breath could be heard as Kristeen ripped into the high notes. She is an artist who adapts the world to her own needs, which I appreciate. There's no other way." An article published in the Guardian in 2007 features Morrissey talking about Kristeen Young, and vice versa. The title line in "All You Need Is Me" might have been inspired by a line in Kristeen's song "No Other God". Something of hers was played during intermission on the UK/France leg of the Greatest Hits tour. "You Must Love Me" was played during intermission on a portion of the 2009 Tour Of Refusal. She supported Morrissey on the latter half of his 2011 tour and on most dates in 2012, 2013 and 2014. Morrissey praised her and her art at length in his "Autobiography". Young, Neil Morrissey has never mentioned appreciating the work of Neil Young, but his song "Revolution Blues" features the lines "you never see us" and "keep the population down" which appear in Morrissey's "Ambitious Outsiders". Young The Giant Morrissey expressed his admiration for the band in a missive to the True To You website on 1 June 2011. Yuro, Timi Her song "Insult To Injury" was mentioned with nine other records in a list titled "Portrait Of The Artist As A Consumer" , Morrissey's top ten films, symbolists, records and books published in the 17 September 1983 issue of the NME. On a radio programme called My Top Ten broadcast in October 1984 Morrissey played that song In 1985's Meat Is Murder tour programme Morrissey wrote that she was his favourite singer. In "Yeahs And Yeuks", a list of loved and hated songs published in No.1 magazine in 1985, her song "Insult To Injury" was listed at #2 in the "yeahs" section. "Insult To Injury" was mentioned again in a list of Morrissey favourites titled "Singles To Be Cremated With" published in the 16 September 1989 issue of the NME. She was mentioned in a list of Morrissey's favourite singers titled "Bigmouths - The Singer Not The Song" published in the same issue of the NME. "Insult To Injury" was also played in 1994 during a Morrissey signing session at HMV for the release of the album "Vauxhall & I" . Timi Yuro was mentioned by Morrissey as one of his favourite singers in an interview to Raygun in March 1994 . A cover version of her song "Interlude" was recorded and released as a single in 1994 by Morrissey in duet with Siouxsie. Interviewed for the 1997 Brit Girls documentary, when asked why he had covered her song 'Interlude', Morrissey said "It was a very obscure song. It was a b-side and I thought she sang it really beautifully." Her song "Smile" was played during intermission on the 2000 Oye Esteban tour. In April 2004, Morrissey announced Yuro's death on his official website, describing her as his "favourite singer". She has a song titled "All I Need Is You" while Morrissey has a song called "All You Need Is Me" but making a connection between the two might be stretching too far. Morrissey (source unknown): "I am very interested in Sandie Shaw and singers who are similar to her like Timi Yuro and Rita Pavone. They both suffered a hasty eclipse. It was because of them I wrote my book 'The History off the Female Voice in Popular Music'. Two publishers are interested in it." She came in at #5 in a top 15 list of "most revered singers" put up on the True To You website on 1 January 2014. Zipguns	i don't know
Who stood as American Presidential candidate for the Bull Moose Party in 1912, effectively splitting the Republican vote and ensuring Wilson's election?	Politics in Progressive Era Politics Politics in Progressive Era Politics NEXT Populists and Progressives The famous turn-of-the-century newspaper journalist William Allen White once claimed that a Progressive was a Populist who had shaved his whiskers, washed his shirt, and put on a derby hat. 20 In other words, Progressives shared many of the same goals and demands that the earlier Populist movement had unsuccessfully championed: democratic reforms like the initiative (where a popular petition can be voted into law), referendum (where proposed laws have to be referred to the voters for approval), and direct election of Senators (rather than through state legislatures). But Progressivism was rooted in the middle class, unlike the earlier Populist movement of struggling farmers and workers. Perhaps as a result of their class status, their usually high level of education, and their resulting influence, Progressives were also more successful at getting their reforms passed into law, even if some of those reforms failed to accomplish all that the Progressives hoped they would. Progressive initiatives dominated the legislative history of the early twentieth century. At the federal level, Progressives substantially lowered import duties with the Underwood-Simmons Tariff of 1913 . Progressives were also responsible for the creation of the income tax. Through the first 100-plus years of American history, tariffs had provided the bulk of government revenues, and there was no such thing as a federal income tax. Pressed by the Progressives to reduce tariffs, Congress had to make up for the lost revenue somehow; it settled on the modern income tax as a means of funding the government budget. Americans have been complaining about their taxes ever since. Progressives also ensured the direct popular election of Senators with the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913. Progressives supported the Prohibition of alcohol by passing the Eighteenth Amendment of 1918 and contributed to the final push for women's suffrage, which was granted by the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. And Progressive reforms at the state and municipal levels were even more dramatic. Progressives tended to be less radical than Populists, so they did not push for nationalization of the railroad and grain storage industries as their rural predecessors had done. Yet during Woodrow Wilson's presidency , Progressives did secure passage of the Warehouse Act, which offered credit to farmers who stored their crops in federally licensed warehouses; this resembled the old Populist subtreasury plan. (In the 1890s, farmers sought to improve rural conditions by pressing the government to build warehouses where they could store their crops until they were sold; they could then use the stored crops as collateral for federal loans with low interest rates.) The Adamson Act , also passed under Wilson, established an eight-hour day for railroad workers; the eight-hour day (for workers in all industries) had been a central demand of the labor movement for decades. For all of their successes, Progressives often found their legislation compromised by the diluting influence of elites like Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Henry Stimson. Such prominent figures positioned themselves as champions of the cause, but were willing to make compromises in order to satisfy key constituents and remain in power. Progressivism championed noble aims, but was often co-opted by businessmen seeking to enact symbolic or less radical reforms, and was hampered by the diverse and sometimes contradictory motives and identities of its own activists. Teddy Roosevelt and the Square Deal Progressivism followed hard on the heels of Populism. In 1896, the Democratic party co-opted the Populist platform and nominated Nebraska Congressman William Jennings Bryan for the presidency. Bryan lost to William McKinley and the Populist movement dissolved in the process. But the push for reform remained a powerful presence in American life. This proved abundantly clear when McKinley's forty-two-year-old Vice President, Theodore Roosevelt , took office upon McKinley's assassination in 1901. Roosevelt would become first president to be commonly associated with Progressivism, characterized by historian Alan Brinkley as "a champion of cautious, moderate change." 21 Roosevelt was thus the epitome of a Progressive leader. Roosevelt was not out to revolutionize government, but simply to guarantee a balanced approach to both workers and businessmen whenever possible. Roosevelt tried to distinguish between "good" and "bad" corporations and sought to help the former by stamping out the latter, which he defined as monopolistic trusts in restraint of fair and open competition. This so-called "trust-busting" approach was a popular tactic with voters during the early twentieth century, as economic concentration peaked in the United States and some 4,000 smaller businesses were swallowed up by larger conglomerates seeking to attain monopolistic power in the marketplace. 22 But trust-busting was always more a matter of legend than fact; the government never attempted to bust most of the country's trusts, though Roosevelt did successfully bring a few well-publicized suits, such as a 1902 case against the Northern Securities Company railroad combination. (Banker J. P. Morgan had created Northern Securities as a holding company; that is, it held the stock and the control over three large railroad lines in the West. The railroads of Northern Securities controlled most of the transportation lines between the Pacific Ocean and the Great Lakes, thus depriving western customers of the benefits of competition. The Supreme Court agreed with the government and ordered Northern Securities to be dissolved in 1904.) That same year, Roosevelt also became the first president ever to intervene in a labor dispute without taking the side of the employers. An ongoing miner's strike threatened to endanger coal supplies for the approaching winter. Roosevelt forced anthracite coal industry leaders and the striking United Mine Workers to accept federal arbitration in their labor dispute. When mine owners refused to accept arbitration, Roosevelt threatened to dispatch federal troops to seize the mines. The owners then capitulated to federally brokered talks and the workers won a 10% wage raise and a nine-hour day in the resulting arbitration. Roosevelt's pragmatic reformism proved quite popular with the American people. In the 1904 presidential election , Roosevelt won over 56% of the popular vote and pledged to continue his policy of giving everyone a "Square Deal." In 1906, he signed the Hepburn Railroad Act, which gave the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) the added regulatory authority to examine the account books of the powerful railroad companies. That same year, socialist author Upton Sinclair published The Jungle, a sensationally graphic account of the meatpacking industry in Chicago's stockyards. Sinclair was trying to raise public awareness of corporate corruption and the deplorable conditions in which poor workers toiled, but most of the resulting public outcry instead centered on the disgusting state of the country's meat supply. In response, Roosevelt supported passage of the Meat Inspection Act and Pure Food and Drug Act. He called for further reforms, including regulation of the stock market, taxes on income and inheritance, worker's compensation for accidents on the job, and an eight-hour workday. Yet Roosevelt increasingly came into conflict with conservatives in his own Republican Party, who opposed these measures and kept them from passing through Congress. Despite the bevy of Progressive legislative reforms passed under Roosevelt's watch, the capitalist marketplace remained quite volatile; financial panic struck in 1907. Progressive reforms did not cause the economic downturn —though conservative Republicans argued otherwise. The panic proved that the government still held little substantive regulatory power over the financial sector; Wall Street did not look to the government to help rectify the crisis. Since the Federal Reserve Bank did not yet exist, nor did any real regulatory authority, it was not the government but financiers like J.P. Morgan who took steps to rectify the economic instability. Morgan pooled the resources of New York banks to bail out the failing institutions that prompted the recession. He also secured a guarantee from President Roosevelt that the government would not pursue antitrust action against U.S. Steel, which had recently purchased shares of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company. Morgan successfully presented the acquisition to the Roosevelt administration as an act of goodwill that would shore up Tennessee Coal, one of many companies struggling not to go bankrupt in the panic. Despite this period of economic turmoil, Roosevelt did manage to secure quite a popular reputation before he voluntarily stepped down from office in 1908. Roosevelt was one of the presidency's greatest environmental advocates. Roosevelt secured his legacy as an steward of the environment thanks largely to the influence of naturalist and Sierra Club co-founder John Muir . Roosevelt read Muir's 1901 work, Our National Parks, and the two met in 1903 , when they traveled together to the Yosemite Valley to explore the wilderness. Muir convinced the president to ditch his security detail and appealed to his sense of rugged adventurousness by taking him camping in Yosemite's Mariposa Grove for four days. The experience apparently had quite an effect on the young president; five years later, Roosevelt issued a presidential proclamation establishing the Muir Woods National Monument just north of San Francisco. He also used his executive authority to restrict private development on public lands, which constituted millions of acres at the turn of the century. Conservatives, however, acted to thwart Roosevelt's designs by restricting his authority over undeveloped government land. Nonetheless, Roosevelt managed to establish five National Parks, 148 million acres of National Forest, and 23 National Monuments during his eight years in the White House. He also created the nation's first wildlife refuge on Pelican Island in Florida, another result of his meeting with Muir. And the president could agree with the conservative members of his party on the importance of reclamation and irrigation, in which the government funded construction of reservoirs, canals, and dams in the West in order to facilitate widespread settlement, land cultivation, and provide affordable electric power. For all his influence, Muir lost a hard fight against Roosevelt's chief forester, Gifford Pinchot, and the residents of nearby San Francisco when the beautiful and high-walled Hetch Hetchy Valley of Yosemite National Park was converted into a reservoir to provide drinking water for the city by the Bay. The Taft Presidency Perhaps no example better demonstrated the internal conflicts and contradictions of Progressivism than the William Howard Taft presidency. Taft was Roosevelt's good friend and chosen successor in 1909, having served as his Secretary of War and a close adviser. Like his predecessor, Taft beat William Jennings Bryan—American history's only three-time presidential loser—to win the presidency. Taft benefited substantially from Roosevelt's endorsement and the general expectation that he would carry on the Progressive policies of the outgoing administration. Yet Taft ran into trouble with the Progressive wing of the party almost immediately after taking office when he went along with the Payne-Aldrich Tariff , which failed to reduce tariff rates to the degree that Progressives had long demanded. (Progressives wanted a lower tariff to increase imports, thereby fostering more open competition that would undermine the trusts' stranglehold on the market.) Although Roosevelt had largely ignored this issue, Taft had made it a campaign promise, but the final legislation actually increased some rates instead of dramatically reducing all of them. Payne-Aldrich represented a compromise measure between the House and the more conservative Senate, and Taft may have been pragmatic to accept it as the only feasible measure that Congress could agree upon. But Progressives ferociously criticized his decision. It proved the first in an ominous series of debacles for the Taft administration. The president seemed to reveal further conservative predilections when he sided with his new secretary of the interior, Richard A. Ballinger, in the so-called "Ballinger-Pinchot controversy." Ballinger was a corporate lawyer whom Taft had chosen to replace James R. Garfield, a staunch conservationist. Shortly after taking office, Ballinger confirmed environmentalists' fears about him by returning almost one million acres of forest reserve land back to the public domain under the argument that President Roosevelt had overstepped his authority in keeping the land off limits to private ownership or access. Gifford Pinchot, the head of the Forest Service since the Roosevelt administration, accused Ballinger of colluding with business interests, such as mining and lumber companies that stood to profit handsomely from use of the newly accessible land. Taft investigated these accusations, but found no evidence to prove them. Since he remained unconvinced, the president took no action. Determined to prevail, Pinchot then leaked the story to the press and called for a congressional investigation of Ballinger. Taft fired Pinchot in response; the ensuing uproar severed most of the remaining ties between Roosevelt partisans—and Progressives in general—and the president. Two years after the controversy, in the presidential election of 1912, Teddy Roosevelt reemerged as the spokesmen of the Progressives, while Taft had become the conservatives' candidate. Paradoxically, however, Taft was an even more aggressive trust-buster than "TR" himself. Taft's administration took on some of the most powerful corporations in the American economy. While Roosevelt had deemed John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil Company a "good" trust, the Taft administration convinced the Supreme Court to declare Standard Oil in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. Rockefeller's behemoth monopoly was thus forced to break up into separate companies, one each for marketing, refining, and producing petroleum. In 1911, the government filed suit against U.S. Steel, claiming that its 1907 acquisition of the Tennessee Coal and Iron Company was illegal. This suit outraged Roosevelt, for he had specifically approved the U.S. Steel acquisition during the Panic of 1907 and was personally offended at the implication that he was wrong or even unethical to have allowed it to go through. Under Taft, the Interstate Commerce Commission was strengthened by the Mann-Elkins Act of 1910; a Department of Labor was created the following year. The government also prevailed in a suit against American Tobacco Company, which the Supreme Court ordered to stop using cutthroat pricing policies that were bankrupting smaller businesses. Taft also supported the Sixteenth Amendment , which was ratified in 1913 before he left office and which authorized Congress to enact a graduated income tax . This tax would help modernize the rapidly expanding federal government and provide it with a stable source of revenue. Up until this time, the government had relied on tariffs as its chief source of revenue. (A first temporary income tax had been passed during the Civil War, but was phased out by 1872.) With the Progressives' push for a lower tariff to encourage more open competition in the marketplace, the government needed a new source of income. In 1894, Congress tried to pass another income tax, but the Supreme Court quickly rejected it as unconstitutional. In his opinion for the majority, Chief Justice Fuller argued that the Constitution's framers had intended that the "the power of direct taxation would be exercised only in extraordinary exigencies." Since America was at peace, the income tax must not be allowed to serve as a potentially "ordinary and usual means of supply" whenever it is not absolutely necessary. 23 A Constitutional Amendment was therefore necessary to pass an income tax. Taft worked to make that amendment a reality. The Election of 1912: A Progressive Apex Taft's unpopularity among Progressives prompted Teddy Roosevelt to re-enter the political arena, making for one of the most remarkable presidential elections in American history . By 1912, the Progressive platform dominated electoral politics from all sides of the political spectrum. That year's election would pit four strong candidates against each other, all of whom embraced at least some of the Progressive agenda: both a current and former president from the Progressive wing of the Republican Party, a strong nominee from the Democrats, and a popular Socialist, to boot. For all of Taft's contributions to Progressive causes-trust busting, expanding government's role in improving Americans' lives, and safeguarding citizens' rights—his mixture of conservatism and Progressivism proved too volatile to prevent challenges to his re-nomination in 1912. Most Progressives thought that one of the most powerful challenges would come from Wisconsin Senator Robert La Follette . As a legislator and then a governor, La Follette had directed the most influential reform administration at the state level. He had gained a wide following by appealing directly to the people and pushing through important reforms that came to be known collectively as the "Wisconsin Idea." They included a direct primary law (so that popular vote and not party bosses could nominate candidates for office), tax reform legislation (which included the taxation of corporate profits), railroad rate control, regulation of public utilities, and other measures. But after campaigning hard for more than a year for the presidency, La Follette, exhausted and preoccupied with his daughter's sickness, experienced something of a nervous collapse during a speech in Philadelphia before the Periodical Publishers Association in February 1912. He spoke for over two hours, fiercely decrying the members of the press in his audience and repeating large sections of his speech. La Follette had intended the talk as a warning against media reliance on advertisers, who wielded considerable influence over the freedom of the press through their business. But La Follette's illness and exhaustion, combined with his daughter's illness, made for a disastrous setting and an equally disastrous speech. His presidential campaign imploded, though La Follette himself recovered and offered no apologies for the incident. By the end of the month, Roosevelt had announced his candidacy. Seeing an opening for a Progressive candidate, TR decided to jump back in to offer moderate voters an appealing alternative to Taft, but without the more radical brand of Progressivism that La Follette had represented. Now, the sitting Republican president found himself in the awkward position of competing against a popular former Republican president in the party nomination fight. Roosevelt's Progressive platform clearly captured the interest and the affinity of voters throughout the thirteen presidential primaries, which he won easily. Presidential primaries themselves were a new democratic reform measure that Progressives had successfully enacted in several states; before this time, as author Patricia O'Toole explains, "the electing took place in state conventions and caucuses tightly controlled by party bosses." 24 Voters themselves could now directly choose their candidate by majority vote and Roosevelt won 278 "pledged" delegates to Taft's 48. But even with the primaries in place, Progressives had yet to break the stranglehold of state party organizations over the nominating process. The delegates that "pledged" to Roosevelt could be manipulated at the national party convention, and they were. State-level elites supported Taft by replacing the TR-pledged-delegates with "at large" or substitute state delegations that pledged their votes to Taft. Republican Party leaders thereby awarded Taft a disproportionate number of delegates at their Chicago party convention, securing him the party's nomination. 25 For Roosevelt and the Progressives, this was only further evidence of the political corruption and anti-democratic tendencies that needed to be rectified in American government. Roosevelt took his supporters out of the Republican Party and formed a new Progressive (or "Bull Moose") Party , so nicknamed because Roosevelt claimed to be "fit as a bull moose" for the coming election fight. 26 Many Progressive sympathizers nonetheless refused to take the dramatic step of bolting from their party. TR and Taft ended up splitting the votes of Republicans, opening the door for the Democrats, who had otherwise been struggling through a long dry spell in national politics, managing to get only a single Democrat (Grover Cleveland) elected to the White House since 1860. The Democratic nominee in 1912, Woodrow Wilson , was the governor of New Jersey, where he had established a worker's compensation program and increased state regulation of railroads and public utilities. With a reputation for getting Progressive legislation passed, Wilson announced a "New Freedom" platform that pledged not only to regulate monopolies, but to destroy them. He promised to support small businesses, protect workers' right to unionize, and to strengthen the current antitrust laws. Roosevelt, by contrast, developed a "New Nationalism" program that treated big business as an inevitable presence in the country's booming economy and industrial sector. Roosevelt pledged to harness the power of government to regulate and control big business and to heavily tax the very wealthy individuals and corporations who profited the most. Both candidates agreed that government must play an integral role in preserving citizens' rights and freedoms, but they differed on economic policy, the merits of expanding government power, and the inevitability of big business as an outgrowth of rapid industrialization. Further to the left than Wilson, Roosevelt, and Taft stood Socialist Party nominee Eugene V. Debs, who demanded public ownership of the banks and railroads, a nationwide minimum wage, labor laws that would give workers shorter hours, and government aid to the unemployed. With all four candidates for president committed to various aspects of the Progressive agenda, 1912 marked a moment of triumph for the reform movement. It was also the beginning of the end for Progressivism. Ironically, because all the major candidates seemed to have accepted the movement, the very meaning of Progressivism was diluted. Though its central premise of expanded government support for individual citizens and its call for economic regulation remained intact, people from different parties and backgrounds now claimed to be Progressives, regardless of the differences between their philosophies and backgrounds. What's more, Woodrow Wilson's victory in the election—he received 42% of the popular vote compared to Roosevelt's 27%, Taft's 23%, and Debs's 6%—brought a committed "Progressive" into office. Wilson would win many battles in the Progressive cause, but he ultimately lost the war. 27 Wilson tied his personal legacy to the spread of Progressive ideals not just in America, but across the world, by promising to "make the world safe for democracy" through military intervention in World War I. When the disillusioned United States turned away from that attempt at international reform in the wake of the devastation of the First World War, Progressivism died along with Wilson himself. Wilson: The Strong Executive Woodrow Wilson's presidency began with a degree of optimism and energy characteristic of Progressivism itself. Backed by a Democratic Congress, Wilson passed a series of strong Progressive reforms. To make amends for the disappointing Payne-Aldrich Tariff that Taft had supported, Wilson pushed through the Underwood Tariff shortly after his inauguration in 1913. This new measure reduced import duties much more substantially, thus enabling more foreign competition in the marketplace. Progressives hoped that such competition would undermine the power of domestic monopolies. Since the reduced tariff meant that government would be receiving less income from duties, Congress passed a graduated income tax . The first of its kind, the income tax applied a 1% levy to married couples and corporations that earned over $4,000 a year and to single people who made over $3,000 a year. Marginal tax rates increased for even wealthier citizens, maxing out at 6% for incomes over $500,000. At a time when the average American adult made only about $900 a year, the vast majority of the American people (95%) paid no income tax at all; even the wealthy paid taxes at rates that seem extraordinarily low compared to today. 28 Next, Wilson held Congress in session throughout the summer of 1913 to pass major reforms of the banking system. Even at this early juncture, it became clear that Wilson had abandoned certain aspects of his New Freedom plan and embraced policies reminiscent of Roosevelt's New Nationalism; rather than aggressively trust-busting, Wilson advocated banking reforms that marked an increased government role in supervising the economy. This included the Federal Reserve Act, which created the Federal Reserve System of twelve regional banks that issued currency and propped up unstable banks in danger of failing. The Federal Reserve would set the interest rate at which its regional banks issued loans to private banks and its currency (Federal Reserve notes) became the country's government-backed medium of trade. With this new system in place, Progressives hoped to prevent future crises like the one that had occurred in 1907, when multiple financial institutions failed and threatened to undermine the entire banking system. Yet Wilson had not yet given up entirely on his campaign promises to smash monopolies. In 1914, Congress passed the Clayton Act and established the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) . The Clayton Act exempted labor unions from antitrust laws and prevented courts from issuing injunctions against workers' right to strike. Yet Wilson seemed to lose interest in the bill and conservative congressmen managed to considerably dilute several of its most effective provisions before it was passed. The FTC was designed to regulate businesses and notify them in advance if their action—such as price fixing or monopolistic measures—might be deemed "unfair" or unacceptable to the government. Regardless of such advances in government regulation, Wilson proved himself anything but an enemy to monopolies. Though the FTC represented a substantial boost for the federal government's regulatory capacity, many businessmen welcomed it, along with the Federal Reserve Act, as a means of stabilizing the economy and as a palatable alternative to more radical attacks against corporate wealth and power. Similarly, though the Clayton Act demonstrated a substantial expansion of the federal government's role, it also signified the disconnect between symbolism and reality in American politics. Clayton was supposed to embody the Wilsonian promise of added labor protections and workers' rights, but because it was watered down in Congress, Americans were left with the impression that their president had passed the necessary reforms without realizing that those reforms had been compromised before they could even be implemented. Once businessmen and others fully understood this potential for deception, they took advantage of it by cloaking themselves in Progressive language and then using all of their influence to ensure that conservative congressmen diluted the reforms. The push for Progressive reforms empowered Wilson and the Democratic Congress to pass important legislation opposing child labor , mandating an eight-hour day for railroad workers and offering federal grants to match states that supported agricultural extension education. Yet the broad and multifaceted Progressive agenda was far from complete; the reforms enacted brought about some change, but not the fundamental social transformation that some Progressives sought. In other matters, progress was nonexistent—or worse. Wilson, who was born in Virginia and raised a southerner, reintroduced segregation in federal government agencies and presided over one of the worst periods in race relations in American history. Discrimination against blacks in Washington predated the Wilson administration, but Wilson and his staff oversaw the removal of thousands of black civil service officials and perpetuated a nationwide trend in segregating federal employment. 29 Wilson also refused to support female suffrage until he ultimately capitulated to public pressure in 1916. Progressivism Writ Large, and Doomed In 1914, the Democrats suffered major losses in the congressional elections. As they would continue to do many more times in the years to come, voters used the election to express their disenchantment with the ruling party. This was for a number of reasons. Activists like Alice Paul had vigorously campaigned against the Democrats that year in response to President Wilson's refusal to publicly support female suffrage. Black voters (though small in number because of their disfranchisement in the South) deserted the Democratic Party because they felt betrayed by the disconnect between Wilson's campaign promises and his administration's actions in segregating federal employment. Theodore Roosevelt's "Bull Moose" (or Progressive) Party continued to run candidates for office, siphoning off potential Democratic votes. An economic malaise was beginning to take hold over the national economy. In response, Wilson attempted to pass a new slate of reforms. In June of that same year, a Serbian nationalist assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. This seemingly isolated incident sparked a series of reactions and counter-reactions between allied nations that led to the opening of World War I in Europe by August 1914. Initially determined to keep out of the conflict, Wilson proclaimed American neutrality . Yet while the war dragged on in the ensuing years, such attempts to maintain neutrality became increasingly difficult as rumors of German atrocities spread and economic ties to France and England pulled Americans toward an alliance with the Allies. After running successfully for reelection in 1916 on the slogan "He kept us out of war," Wilson was forced to go to Congress with a request for a declaration of war against Germany less than a month after he was inaugurated into his second term. To justify this sudden policy reversal, Wilson proclaimed a grand extension of Progressive aims; not only the nation, but "the world," he declared, "must be made safe for democracy. Its peace must be planted upon the tested foundations of political liberty." 30 The war resolution overwhelmingly passed the House and Senate. Progressives from almost every rank—including intellectuals, muckrakers, social reformers, prominent authors, and union leaders—got behind the war effort. They envisioned the global crisis as an opportunity for obtaining a more just and equal society at home and a chance to share American values and institutions abroad. But in the war that followed, the United States paradoxically subverted its own democratic principles even as it fought to spread democracy across the globe. Wilson and his administration were so convinced of their righteousness that they deemed any dissent to be synonymous with treason. Thus, they passed the Espionage Act of 1917 , the first systematic restriction on Americans' freedom of speech since the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. Under the terms of the Act, citizens were forbidden from interfering with the draft, spying, or even making "false statements" that could affect U.S. success on the battlefield. (Exactly how such statements would apply to military movements in Europe was never made clear.) A quarter of a million people joined the American Protective League and spied on their neighbors to help the Justice Department identify war critics and "radicals." Vigilante mobs and the government worked together to crush radical unions like the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). In July 1917, a Bisbee, Arizona anti-union organization called the Citizens' Protective League organized to suppress an IWW-led strike of local copper miners who wanted safer working conditions and a stable wage. Thousands of vigilante "deputies" forcefully deported some 1,186 men—some of them local copper miners and union members, but others sympathizers who were not on strike at all—into the desert of Hermanas, New Mexico, where they were abandoned without rations or shelter. The copper companies were never held liable for the deportation. 31 A month later, a crowd of masked vigilantes in Butte, Montana, kidnapped IWW organizer and outspoken war critic Frank Little and lynched him. Little had been in Butte to help workers who were striking against the Anaconda Copper Company. No one was ever arrested for the murder. 32 The postmaster general banned from the mail any newspapers or magazines critical of the war or the administration. Prominent antiwar figures like Socialist Eugene Debs were arrested and imprisoned for years. Debs articulated an eloquent self-defense at his trial on the grounds that dissent was a thoroughly American tradition, dating back to the country's founding with the writing of Thomas Paine, but amidst the wartime hysteria, such history lessons were of no avail. The war years afforded many Progressive activists an opportunity to push through several other aspects of their platforms; at times, their very success proved disastrous to the movement itself. Temperance, which had been a Progressive goal, was enforced in several states and then became national policy with the Eighteenth Amendment of 1919. The so-called Prohibition period commenced in 1920 and soon turned into a complete debacle. Mobsters like Al Capone got rich off black-market liquor sales, millions of otherwise law-abiding citizens flaunted the new laws to continue drinking alcohol, and virtually none of the promised benefits of Prohibition materialized: workers did not become more disciplined, American cities remained just as chaotic and crime-ridden as before, and domestic violence did not disappear. The Progressive Era was nearing its end. President Wilson tried to embody its goals on a worldwide scale, but he failed so miserably in this endeavor that the movement itself was drowned by a wave of isolationism in the post-World War I period. Progressives thought that they could control the chaos of World War I in order to remake the world anew, according to their "liberal purposes," as the young critic Randolph Bourne termed it. 33 But the war was uncontrollable; it destroyed Progressives' optimism, naiveté, and faith in modern science and technology. The people of America and Europe watched in horror as the very advancements they had made in industry and technology were applied to the business of killing millions of human beings . Troops poisoned one another with mustard gas and mowed each other down with newly invented machine guns, creating a warfront of unprecedented brutality. In the aftermath of the war, Wilson traveled to Paris in 1918 to negotiate a peace, hoping to establish a Progressive new world order. Yet his idealism proved no match for the bitter vindictiveness and self-interest of the war-torn European nations, each of which demanded heavy reparations from the defeated Central Powers. Wilson's one major achievement, the creation of a League of Nations, was designed to prevent future wars and apply the principle of self-determination to Eastern Europe, in the former territories of the vanquished Austro-Hungarian Empire. But when Wilson returned home to present the Senate with the Treaty of Versailles in July 1919, he encountered stiff opposition from Republicans who despised the president and argued that the League would unduly restrict future American policies. Wilson, ever the fervent Progressive, was sure that the treaty represented "the hand of God" and he sought to take his case directly to the people by embarking on a grueling nationwide speaking tour. 34 After more than three weeks of nonstop traveling, sometimes speaking four times a day on little rest, Wilson suffered severe headaches and then a major stroke after his return to Washington. He recovered only partially and spent the last eighteen months of his presidency as an invalid. Uncompromising to the end, Wilson would not consider any of the almost fifty amendments that the Senate recommended for the Treaty. Ratification failed in March 1920 and the next fall, Americans turned their back on Wilson's Democrats and the Progressivism they represented and voted conservative Republican Warren G. Harding—a man with no attachments to the Progressives in his party—into office. The Progressive Era was over. A few of its ideas survived among the dissenters of the conservative 1920s; Robert La Follette finally completed a presidential campaign in 1924, only to receive just one-sixth of the total vote. He campaigned on tried-and-true Progressive platforms: environmental conservation, public ownership of the railroads, the abolition of child labor, and government relief for farmers. But in the changed political climate of postwar America, Republican candidate Calvin Coolidge could successfully attack such proposals as "Communistic and Socialistic." 35 The Russian Revolution of 1917 had raised the specter of communist revolution before the world and a massive wave of labor strikes in 1919 threatened similarly sweeping changes in American life. Coolidge and the Republicans capitalized on voters' fears of such radical social upheavals in order to associate the old Progressive (and Populist) reform agendas with the radicalism of the new social movements. Progressivism died off when it ceased to be "respectable," although some of its spirit would reemerge in the New Deal of the Great Depression years.	Theodore Roosevelt
Richard, Duke of York and Cecily Neville were the parents of which King of England?	U.S. Presidents Faith Writers.com How Many Good U.S. Presidents Have We Had? This is an objective look at the presidents of the United States and how good of a president each one was. Below is a ranking of the presidents from best to worst. Considerations included effectiveness, leadership, and the challenges that each one faced (with little regard to their ideology or political party). In many cases, their challenges weighed heavily in this ranking and some were just victims of the times and events. It could be possible that one man was a better leader than another, but he ranks lower because his administration just didn't happen to include larger challenges and obstacles that he was able to overcome. However, it is also true that one man with few challenges could rank higher than one who was unable to overcome his obstacles. Also, a president's ability to be re-elected serves as a direct show of confidence by the people for that man's proven leadership. (Twelve presidents served eight years or more.) History also shows a president's effectiveness by what kind of impact he made upon the country and the presidency. Finally, each man's moral character was considered, including his honesty, his integrity, and the moral code by which he lived and led. The presidents are grouped into four categories: best; great; good; and, poor. Of these 43 presidents, only two are included as our best presidents; five were great presidents; and, two were good presidents. As a result, surprisingly, we have had only nine presidents (about 20%) which ranked as good or higher, and 34 presidents (about 80%) are included in the poor category. The Best Presidents Two presidents stand above the rest as being our best presidents: Abraham Lincoln and James K. Polk. Both men were war-time presidents, called upon to use their office of Commander-In-Chief, and both served admirably in this role. Both men had high moral standards of honesty and integrity. In addition to the positive aspects of their presidencies, neither man had a negative aspect that was so severe as to overshadow his accomplishments. 1) Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln became the 16th president in 1861 as a member of the new Republican party. He was a humble man, and he was often able to disarm people with self-degradation humor. No president faced greater challenges than Lincoln. After the election of 1860, but before Lincoln took office, South Carolina and six other states seceded from the Union, and the ensuing Civil War consumed his entire presidency. His leadership and decision making during the most difficult time in our history made him the best president in history. He achieved his goal to preserve the Union in spite of the atrocities of the Civil War. More than 600,000 people died during the Civil War, when the population of the U.S. was only 31 million. He had strong convictions against slavery, and he felt that it was absolutely critical that the Union be saved, restored, and preserved. Although he had no military background, during his first year in office he studied and taught himself the strategies of war. As president, he worked 18-hour days. During his presidency, his 11-year-old son Willie died of Typhoid Fever. In 1863, he abolished slavery with the Emancipation Proclamation. He was re-elected in 1864, and in his second inaugural address in 1865, he promised "malice toward none and charity for all." He wanted to restore the south and allow the blacks to vote. He was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth shortly after his second term began. 2) James Polk James Polk became the 11th president in 1845 as a Democrat. It could easily be argued that he was the best president in history. Like Lincoln, he was a war-time president, but his leadership during the war with Mexican pales when compared to the challenges that Lincoln faced. Polk said that he would serve only one term, and he kept good on this promise, not running for re-election in 1848. He was the most accessible president, meeting with ordinary citizens who would come to the White House and were willing to wait in line to talk with him. He was the hardest working president, even having gas lights installed in the White House so that he could work through the night. He was careful to understand the details of the budgets that he presented to Congress. He was responsible for the Manifest Destiny, the great westward expansion of the U.S. Upon taking office, he had four major goals: 1) The annexation of Oregon, from Great Britain; 2) The annexation of California; 3) Fixing the credit mess; and, 4) Lowering federal tariffs. He successfully achieved all four of these goals in addition to the annexation of additional Southwest territories through the war with Mexico. He won that war and fixed the credit mess by setting up an independent Treasury. It was because of President Polk that we sing of the United States as a continental nation "from sea to shining sea," words penned for the song America the Beautiful in 1895. The Great Presidents Our great presidents include five men who had a positive impact upon the country and the presidency. They made things better for the American people while also strengthening the position of our country on the global scene. They set precedents that were felt far beyond their own administrations. As it happens, all of the great presidents and good presidents served for more than four years. 3) George Washington George Washington became the first president in 1789 as a Federalist (liberal). He elected to serve only two terms, setting a precedent for his office. He avoided getting involved in the war between France and England. He put down the Whiskey Rebellion in Pennsylvania, insisting that taxes must be paid and that this was different from the taxes that had previously been imposed by England. He was re-elected in 1792. 4) Theodore Roosevelt Theodore Roosevelt assumed the presidency upon the assassination of President McKinley when he became the 26th president in 1901 as a Republican. However, some would say that he was actually a Democrat. He had a high-energy and charismatic personality; he was an electrifying politician; and, he worked hard and was always busy. He believed that corporate America had become too powerful. He halted industrialist J. P. Morgan's monopoly of the railroads. Through his Square Deal, he enacted social reform against unsafe conditions in sanitation, child labor, and unsafe conditions for coal miners (he favored labor in the coal strikes). Regarding foreign policy, he believed that the U.S. needed to civilize the rest of the world (similar to McKinley and Bush 41). He supported local rebels in a revolution in Latin America, clearing the way for the building of the Panama Canal. He invoked the Monroe Doctrine, putting the U.S. in charge of the Western Hemisphere. In 1904, he won re-election with the biggest majority of the popular vote in any presidential election, but he promised not to seek another term after that one. He continued increasing business regulations on unsafe and unfair labor conditions. The Meat Inspection Act addressed the unsanitary conditions in the meat packing industry, and the Pure Food and Drug Act addressed unsafe conditions in the processing of food and drugs. He greatly expanded conservationism through the Antiquities Act. In 1908, he honored his pledge not to seek another term, although he did run again in 1912. 5) Ronald Reagan Ronald R. Reagan became the 40th president in 1981 as a Republican. He was known for being a great patriot, and he reduced the size of government through cutbacks in many federal programs. He drastically lowered taxes through major income tax reform, and he saved Social Security from insolvency. He built up the military and introduced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), and this resulted in the end of the Cold War and the end of Communism in the U.S.S.R. He supported anti-communist governments and forces around the world. He was effective in getting legislation through Congress by reaching across party lines, as the Democrat party held a majority in the House throughout his whole presidency, and the Democrats also held Senate during part of his second term. In his re-election victory in 1984, he won the electoral vote for every state except for one. The low point of his presidency was his involvement in the Iran Contra Affair, where his administration secretly violated the Boland Amendment by facilitating the sale of arms to Iran in order to secure the release of hostages and allow U.S. intelligence agencies to fund the Nicaraguan Contras. 6) Harry Truman Harry S. Truman assumed the presidency up the death of Franklin Roosevelt. He became the 33rd president in 1945 as a Democrat. He is the only president to have used a nuclear bomb when he effectively brought about the end of World War II by dropping two atomic bombs on Japan. He instituted the Marshall Plan for the reconstruction of Europe. He ended segregation in the armed services and the civil service. When war broke out in Korea, and China supported North Korea, he sent troops to South Korea, although this war ended in a stalemate. He was the first president to become involved in the struggle in Vietnam. He was re-elected by a narrow margin in 1948. 7) Franklin Roosevelt Franklin Delano Roosevelt became the 32nd president in 1933 as a Democrat. He came from a wealthy family, and his personality included both charm and arrogance. He contracted polio at the age of 39, which rendered his legs almost useless, even with the aid of ten-pound leg braces. He was very charismatic and he exuded public confidence. He signed a huge amount of legislation into law, but this was facilitated by a Democrat majority in both houses of Congress throughout his entire administration. In his New Deal, he signed legislation to fight the depression, including bills on banking, investments, home building, and employment. He signed the Social Security Act to provide for a safety net for the elderly and the disabled. In an attempt to prevent any of his legislation from being overturned by Republicans, he tried to have additional members added to the Supreme Court. Although this power grab failed, he did break with the precedent set by George Washington in being the first man to run for a third term as president. World War II had not yet touched the U.S. directly by 1940. However, just as Americans are reluctant to change presidents during war, they also proved to be reluctant to change presidents during a depression. They re-elected FDR to an unprecedented third term in 1940. Furthermore, FDR won a fourth term in 1944, although he probably should not have run again because his health was so bad. This gave rise to the Twenty-Second Amendment which says that no person shall be elected to the office of President more than twice. Although FDR had promised neutrality, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he asked Congress for a declaration of war against Japan and Germany. Perhaps the low point of his presidency was his internment of 100,000 Japanese-Americans. Also, FDR knew about the Jews in German concentration camps as early as 1942 although he made no concerted effort to help the Jewish prisoners. FDR and his generals planned and executed D-Day in 1944 which eventually led to the end of the war in Europe, although he died before the war ended, just three months into his fourth term. FDR's planning with the Allies resulted in the formation of the United Nations after the war. The Good Presidents There are three other presidents who rank as good presidents. Any weak aspects of their presidencies were far outweighed by their strengths. 8) William McKinley William McKinley became the 25th president in 1897 as a Republican. His opponent was William Jennings Bryan, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for president three times. McKinley's presidency had many similarities to that of George W. Bush over 100 years later. He was a spiritual man with high standards of morality. At a time when corporate America ruled political America, he believed that America should take a stronger leadership role in the world, including American colonization, military power, and use of the world's resources. He believed that an expansion of U.S. power would be good for the U.S. as well as for the rest of the world (much like Bush believed in promoting democracy in other countries). Cuba was a Spanish colony at this time, and the people there were being subjected to much human suffering (much like the humanitarian argument for invading Iraq in 2003). McKinley was greatly influenced by Theodore Roosevelt, his Assistant Secretary of the Navy. In 1898, the U.S.S. Maine was sent to patrol the waters near Cuba, but it mysteriously exploded, and it was assumed that this was the result of hitting a Spanish mine. (Later it was confirmed that there had been a malfunction in the engine room.) The U.S. declared war on Spain, and the Spanish-American war ensued. The U.S. quickly won the war and became an imperial power by taking control of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam. McKinley won re-election in 1900, with Roosevelt as his vice president, but McKinley was assassinated in Buffalo, New York by Leon Czolgosz on September 6th, 1901. (As another parallel to the Bush administration, it was almost exactly 100 years later when the terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 occurred.) McKinley became the third president to be assassinated in 36 years. 9) Calvin Coolidge Calvin Coolidge became the 30th president in 1923 as a Republican. He believed in a small federal government. He vetoed many spending bills, he lowered taxes, and the U.S. enjoyed a prosperous and growing economy. However, he failed to anticipate the coming depression. He was re-elected in 1924. He chose not to run again in 1928 simply because he felt that no man should hold the office for ten years. The Poor Presidents By far, most of our presidents have been poor presidents. Although some of them had positive accomplishments, each one had net negative impact as president. Of these 34 poor presidents: - Two were impeached. - One was censured by Congress. - Five were never elected by the people as president. - One never registered to vote. - One was kicked out of his own party. - One was accused of treason by his critics. - (At least) six were pro-slavery (racists). - One was mentally unstable. - Seven actually hated the presidency. - One had an illegitimate child. - One was married to a woman who was not yet divorced from her previous husband. - 17 were unable to be elected to an additional term. - Six were not even re-nominated by their own party. - 10 served less than a full 4-year term in office. - Eight died in office. This is a sad commentary on our presidents because the bar for being a good president is really quite low. As it turns out, to keep from being on the list of poor presidents, each one had only to: - Serve at least a full four years as president, and show an eagerness to be president and a patriot. - Be re-elected (as long as he was still eligible to run), or honor his promise not to run for re-election. - Not resign; and, not be: impeached; accused of treason; a racist; or, mentally unstable. - Serve admirably as Commander-In-Chief; minimize fraud in his administration; and, do more good than harm. 10) Dwight D. Eisenhower Dwight D. Eisenhower became the 34th president in 1953 as a Republican. He didn't seek the presidency, but he was recruited by both major parties. He was reluctant to run, but he thought he could bring about some positive changes, and he was so popular as a World War II hero that he won easily. He was a much better general than a president. As president he seemed determined to make peace, and his presidency was a relatively leisurely one, allowing him to play a lot of golf. His greatest achievement as president was probably the Federal Highway Act, enabling the construction of the interstate highway system. He was not proactive in civil rights, and he showed no real support for de-segregation. He suffered a heart attack in 1955, but his administration oversaw a time of peace and prosperity, especially during his first term. He ended the Korean War with an armistice instead of a victory, and he downsized the military. He increased U.S. involvement in the Vietnam crisis by siding with South Vietnam, sending "advisors," and setting the stage for U.S. escalation in the Vietnam War for the next twenty years (which also ended without victory). During his second term, the Cold War escalated, the U.S.S.R. gained a lead in the space race, and Castro took over in Cuba. His interactions with Korea, Vietnam, U.S.S.R., and Cuba made for a relatively weak administration in foreign affairs, especially for a five-star general. 11) George W. Bush George Walker Bush became the 43rd president in 2001 as a Republican. He was the son of the 41st president--the only father and son to serve as president other than John Adams and John Quincy Adams. In the 2000 election, he lost the popular vote (the third president to do so) to Vice President Al Gore, and there was extensive controversy over the vote count in Florida, where that state's electoral votes would decide the election. Vote recounts repeatedly showed that the race there was within just a few hundred votes. Finally, in December, 2000, the Supreme Court gave the election to Bush. When Osama Bin Laden killed nearly 3,000 Americans in the 9/11 attacks in 2001, Bush launched the War in Afghanistan. In 2003, he also invaded Iraq (extending his father’s prior struggle with Sadaam Hussein) based upon questionable evidence, including: Iraq's ties to terrorist activities (not well documented); Iraq's violation of UN sanctions; and, the existence of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) in Iraq (which proved to be incorrect). The War in Afghanistan defeated the Taliban, and the Iraqi War brought down Sadaam Hussein. However, Al Qaeda remained as a terrorist entity. Bush believed in expanding democracy throughout the world. His administration increased spending as well as the deficit. He expanded the centralized federal government, including the creation of the Department of Homeland Security. He was easily re-elected in 2004. 12) John F. Kennedy John F. Kennedy became the 35th president in 1961 as a Democrat. He had been a hero in the South Pacific during World War II, and he was the first Roman Catholic president. Although he was the youngest president ever elected, he suffered from multiple chronic health problems, including back pain and Addison's Disease. Although the press did not report on his many extra-marital affairs while he was in office, history has since shown that his standards for character and morality were quite low. He supported the Bay of Pigs, which was an effort to have Cuban exiles overthrow Castro, but it failed miserably. He created the Peace Corps, escalated our space program, and cut taxes. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, when the U.S.S.R. was establishing bases for nuclear-armed missiles in Cuba, he stood up to the Soviet Union by blockading the region and preparing for an invasion of Cuba. This was the closest the world has ever been to a nuclear war, but the crisis was settled diplomatically. He was weak on civil rights until 1963 when television news showed the nation the awful white-on-black violence in the South. Kennedy escalated U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War by approving the assassination of the President of South Vietnam. Oddly enough, only one week later he was assassinated himself--in Dallas, by Lee Harvey Oswald. He was the fourth president to be assassinated, and he had served only about 1,000 days in office. Oswald was killed by Jack Ruby only two days after Kennedy's assassination. Much controversy remains about the motive for his assassination, including the following theories: - Oswald acted alone, suffering from various personality disorders. - Kennedy was assassinated on orders from the Mafia because of Attorney General Robert Kennedy's crackdown on organized crime, and the president's rebuff of Mafia-related personalities such as Frank Sinatra. - He was killed by Castro or by communist sympathizers who opposed his actions against Cuba. - He was killed by anti-communist sympathizers who thought he should have invaded Cuba. - His assassination resulted from his desire to pull out of Vietnam, as he didn’t think we could win the war. Such theories include corruption among high level officials in the FBI, the CIA, the military, and other government entities, along with defense contractors, in a vast conspiracy to escalate the war for political and economic gain. - JFK was killed because of where he stood on the civil rights issue (again, as with the communist conspiracies, either because he was too strong or too weak on civil rights). Kennedy is not here considered to be a good president, largely due to both his shortened presidency and his low standards for moral character. 13) Rutherford B. Hayes Rutherford B. Hayes became the 19th president in 1877 as a Republican. In the election of 1876, he lost the popular vote, and it took four months to settle disputes and recount the votes in several states (much like the election of 2000). A commission was appointed to decide the outcome of the election, and the House of Representatives had to confirm the decision. During his administration, reconstruction in the South was ended. Although Hayes himself was not a racist, blacks were treated as second-class citizens, setting the precedent for the next 85 years. The Civil Service was started under his administration. During his campaign, he had promised not to seek re-election after one term, and he honored that promise. He hated being president. However, after his presidency, he continued to fight for civil rights for blacks. 14) James Monroe James Monroe became the 5th president in 1817 as a Democratic-Republican (conservative). He had previously served as Secretary of State. The issue of slavery became a factor when Missouri became a state, and it had to be determined whether it would be a free state or a slave state. With the Missouri Compromise of 1820, Missouri was admitted to the Union as a slave state, and Maine was admitted as a free state. Monroe favored returning slaves to Africa. Monroe's administration is best known by the Monroe Doctrine, ensuring that none of the U.S. would be subjected to colonization by other countries. He was re-elected in 1820. 15) James Madison James Madison became the 4th president in 1809 as a Democratic-Republican. He had previously served as Secretary of State. He usually dressed in black. During the War of 1812, the British burned the president's mansion and forced Madison to retreat from Washington. Although the U.S. essentially lost that war, it was ended with the Treaty of Gent in 1814. Before the news of the treaty reached New Orleans, Andrew Jackson won one last battle at the Battle of New Orleans. He was re-elected in 1812. 16) Benjamin Harrison Benjamin Harrison became the 23rd president in 1889 as a Republican. Although President Cleveland won the popular vote, Harrison won the electoral college (like the year 2000). Harrison was the grandson of former president William Henry Harrison, and the only president who was the grandson of another president. Harrison nearly bankrupted the Treasury. He secured pensions for Civil War veterans, but there was widespread abuse when these pensions were implemented. He also raised tariffs by signing the McKinley Tariff Act, resulting in fewer imported goods, monopolies by U.S. companies, and rampant inflation. He was unable to be re-elected in 1892. 17) Ulysses S. Grant Ulysses S. Grant became the 18th president in 1869 as a Republican. The election of 1868 was the first election where blacks were allowed to vote, and most blacks voted for Grant. In fact, he wouldn't have won without their vote because he did not receive the majority of the white vote. He was a loyal and humble man, and he essentially crushed the KKK. However, his administration was filled with scandals, corruption, and abuse of power. He appointed his cronies to most positions, and he was responsible for the Whiskey Ring fraud (concerning tax revenues), the Credit Ring fraud, and the many frauds associated with the Department of Indian Affairs. (Custer's Last Stand occurred during his administration.) In 1873, he dealt with the economic depression in the North while tolerating extensive violence in the South. He was re-elected in 1872, but history has viewed his as a failed administration. 18) Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson became the 3rd president in 1801 as a Democratic-Republican. He had previously served as Secretary of State. He came into office believing that a small federal government was best, but he ended up substantially increasing the reach of the federal government. His administration brought about the Louisiana Purchase, for only $15 million, essentially doubling the size of the U.S. However, he was criticized for this, and questions arose concerning the constitutionality of this purchase. He refused to become involved with the war between France and England, essentially taking an isolationist stand. He also signed the Embargo Act, stopping all foreign trade. He had an affair with a slave woman, but he dealt with the bad publicity by just ignoring it. He was re-elected in 1804, but he hated the presidency so much that he omitted it from his gravestone. 19) John Adams John Adams became the 2nd president in 1797 as a Federalist. He dealt with the XYZ Affair when the French interfered with U.S. trade ships and attempted bribery during their war with England, and Adams eventually made a treaty with France. He signed the Alien and Sedition Acts, making it a crime to speak out against the government--possibly the low point of his presidency. Although he did establish a strong U.S. Navy, his presidency was probably the low point of his distinguished political career. He was unable to be re-elected to a second term, and this was so upsetting to him that he snubbed the incoming president, Thomas Jefferson, and he probably hated the presidency. 20) Grover Cleveland Grover Cleveland became the 22nd president in 1885 as a Democrat. He was unable to be re-elected in 1888, but he was re-elected in 1892, making him the only man to serve two non-consecutive terms as president. During the campaign of 1884, his morality was questioned when it was discovered that he had had an illegitimate child, and he confessed to this. He was the only president ever to be married in the White House. As president, he had the most vetoes (414) of any president so far. He supported the gold standard, but the economy became even worse in the Panic of 1893. He was not re-nominated by his own party. 21) Bill Clinton Bill Clinton became the 42nd president in 1993 as a Democrat. He balanced the budget for the first time since the Jackson administration. However, he failed to take action against terrorists, including Osama Bin Laden, even after the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole. Furthermore, his administration included many scandals such as White Water, and numerous sexual harassments suits against the president. He did reach across party lines when he had no other choice. He was re-elected in 1996, but in the Paula Jones case, Monica Lewinsky was called as a witness, and this uncovered more incidents of the president's extra marital affairs. When he lied under oath, he was accused of perjury and abuse of power. He became only the second president to be impeached, but he was acquitted by the Senate. 22) Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president in 2009 as a Democrat and the first African (-American) president. Since he is our current president, his true place in history, and his final ranking is still to be determined. He came out of nowhere to win the election in 2008 after being a national figure for only three years as a U.S. senator. His far left views implied that he supported socialism over capitalism. He won the Nobel peace prize in 2009 despite having no foreign policy experience. He was an arrogant man, and he seemed to despise America's history of colonization. He apologized to the nations of Europe for American actions of the past. He implied that American exceptionalism was no more special than that of other countries such as Greece (a country that went bankrupt during his administration). He declared that the U.S. was no longer a Christian nation. Obama bailed out large banks and auto manufacturers. During his presidency, the credit rating of the U.S. government was downgraded for the first time in history, although he blamed most problems on the previous administration. He ran up historic deficits. His 2012 budget was voted down in the House by a vote of 414 to zero, and in the Senate by a vote of 99 to zero. He spent $800 billion on a failed stimulus package, later laughing about his "shovel-ready" projects not being so shovel-ready after all. He said that unemployment would top out below 8%, yet his administration was the only one in history to see unemployment near or above 8% for four years. He promised that his administration would be the most transparent in history, but it was probably the least transparent--basically bringing the dirty politics of Chicago to Washington. He passed Obama-care (national healthcare) through a series of back room deals. Although he promised not to raise taxes on the middle class (anyone making less than $250K), Obama-care did just that, as the Supreme Court ruled that the mandate for everyone to purchase healthcare insurance was indeed a tax. He was unable to effectively reach across party lines when there was a Republican majority in the House. He did get Osama Bin Laden, and he was re-elected in 2012. 23) Jimmy Carter James Earl Carter became the 39th president in 1977 as a Democrat. He negotiated peace between Israel and Egypt in his Camp David Peace Accords. He expanded the federal government by adding the departments of Energy and Education. During his administration, the economy was awful, with double-digit inflation, unemployment, and interest rates. When 52 Americans were taken hostage from the U.S. embassy in Iran, he appeared to be a weak president when he was unable to negotiate their safe return. After more than a year of imprisonment, the hostages were finally released on his last day in office, and many surmised that this was because Iran was fearful of the new president (Reagan). He was unable to be re-elected. 24) Woodrow Wilson Woodrow Wilson became the 28th president in 1913 as a Democrat. His wife died in 1914, he remarried in 1915, and he was re-elected in 1916. He created the Federal Reserve to control monetary policy and stabilize U.S. currency. Wilson signed the Sedition and Espionage Act, making it a crime to criticize the government. When War broke out in Europe, he pledged to remain neutral, even when Americans were killed aboard British ships that were attacked by Germany. However, in 1917, when Germany began attacking American ships, he had to renege on his promise of neutrality. The U.S. declared war on Germany, but Wilson insisted that the U.S. maintain a separate Army (instead of just being a part of an allied effort with Great Britain). Wilson desperately sought to form the League of Nations, believing that it would put an end to war forever, and he successfully negotiated the origin of the League of Nations at the Treaty of Versailles. However, when he backed legislation for the U.S. to become a part of the League of Nations, it was defeated in the U.S. Senate, so the U.S never joined it. Wilson's legacy was an administration that was unable to compromise (with Republican leaders such as Henry Cabot Lodge). With the onset of World War II, the League of Nations lost credibility since it had been proven to be unsuccessful in ending war forever, but it was essentially replaced by the United Nations after the war. Wilson suffered a stroke in 1919 and he was unable to govern effectively during his last 18 months in office. 25) William Howard Taft William Howard Taft became the 27th president in 1909 as a Republican. He had no real desire to be president, but he was pressured into running for president by President Roosevelt, as well as his own wife who desperately wanted to live in the White House. Shortly after taking office, his wife suffered a stroke and was unable to enjoy her role as first lady. President Taft hated the spotlight, and the stress of the job caused him to over-eat until he weighed 355 pounds--our heaviest president. He was quick to delegate responsibility as he was a weak leader and a poor decision maker. During the election of 1912, President Roosevelt ran for the Republican nomination against President Taft, but Taft won. As a result, Roosevelt ran in the general election as a member of the progressive Bull Moose Party. This split the Republican vote (much like Ross Perot's third-party runs in 1992 and 1996), paving the way for a victory for the Democratic party, so he was unable to be re-elected. President Taft later became the Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. 26) John Quincy Adams John Quincy Adams became the 6th president in 1825 as a Democratic-Republican. He had previously served as Secretary of State, and he was the son of John Adams, the second president. The election of 1824 was the first presidential election to test the constitutional direction of controversial elections. This was the first election where the popular vote was counted. Andrew Jackson had the most electoral votes, but he didn't have a majority. The election then went to the House of Representatives where Henry Clay was the Speaker of the House (and he had ended up in fourth place in the election). John Quincy Adams was the winner of the vote in the House, and he chose Henry Clay as his Secretary of State. This brought accusations of scandal and corruption, as some thought that Clay had guided the election in the House in order to bargain with Adams. As a result, during Adams' term in office, the Jacksonians in Congress blocked all of his legislation, making for a miserable administration for Adams, and he hated the presidency. Jackson also thought that the election had been rigged. The presidential election of 1828 was a repeat of the 1824 election between President John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, so it was a very dirty election. The Adams campaign dug up dirt on Jackson by noting that Jacksons wife Rachel had not been legally divorced from her first husband when she married Jackson in 1791, 37 years earlier. Still, Adams was unable to be re-elected, and Jackson won in a landslide. However, his wife Rachel had endured much stress during the campaign. After the election, and after she had picked out her dress for the inauguration, she died of a heart attack in December, 1828, before ever seeing her husband as president. John Quincy Adams was so aggravated by Jackson and the election that he refused to attend Jackson's inauguration. However, Adams went on to become a member of the House of Representatives, the only president ever to serve in the House after his presidency. Also, Adams was the first president to ever be photographed, in 1843. 27) George Herbert Walker Bush George Herbert Walker Bush became the 41st president in 1989 as a Republican. He was a World War II hero. His presidency oversaw the end of the Cold War. When Sadaam Hussein invaded Kuwait, President Bush led a UN coalition to oust Hussein from Kuwait in the Gulf War. He promised not to raise taxes, but large deficits forced him to renege on this promise. Largely because of this, as well as third-party candidate Ross Perot’s splitting of the Republican vote, he was unable to be re-elected. 28) Martin Van Buren Martin Van Buren became the 8th president in 1937 as a Democrat. The Panic of 1837 was the first economic depression that the U.S. suffered, resulting in high unemployment and many bankruptcies. The Panic of 1839 was even worse, due to a glut of cotton on the market, the major product and export. Van Buren was incapable of making tough decisions. He spoke out against the annexation of Texas, basically because this allowed him a way of ducking the slavery issue. He was unable to be re-elected in 1840. 29) Lyndon B. Johnson Lyndon Baines Johnson assumed the presidency when JFK was assassinated. He became the 36th president in 1963 as a Democrat. In his Great Society, he signed a flood of legislation, second only to FDR, including the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, Medicaid, Food stamps, EPA laws, National Public Radio, and the Public Broadcasting System. Like FDR, his legislative victories were made possible by a Democrat majority in both houses of Congress throughout his entire administration. Although his legacy may be the Civil Rights Act, politics may have overruled his compassion and sincerity, as he sometimes referred to it as the "N... bill." He greatly escalated the Vietnam War, in a losing cause. He was so unpopular for this that he decided not to run for re-election in 1968. He would have been unable to be re-elected, as he had no chance of winning. 30) Herbert Hoover Herbert Hoover became the 31st president in 1929 as a Republican. When World War I veterans marched on Washington, demanding bonuses, he ordered General MacArthur to stop the march, and this ended in violence against the protesters. Hoover was a business man and a hard worker, but he had no charisma and he was unable to do anything to pull the U.S. out of depression. He hated (detested) the presidency, and he was unable to be re-elected in 1932. 31) Andrew Jackson Andrew Jackson became the 7th president in 1829 as a Democrat (a Jeffersonian). His opponents nicknamed him Jackass, and this image stuck as the mascot of the Democratic party. He supported slavery and he was a slaveholder himself. Although he was a good general, he was actually a poor president. He blamed the politics of the opposing party (and perhaps politics in general) for his wife's death. He fired his whole Cabinet, and he went through four Secretaries of State. He signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830, leading to the infamous Trail of Tears where many peaceful Indians lost their lives during their "removal." He was re-elected in 1832. During Jackson's presidency, the state of South Carolina nearly seceded from the Union over the Nullification Crisis (an issue of taxation). During "The bank War," Jackson closed the Bank of the United States, causing him to be censured by Congress. 32) Richard M. Nixon Richard Milhous Nixon became the 37th president in 1969 as a Republican. He established diplomatic relations with China, and he agreed to weapons limitations with the U.S.S.R. However, his administration goes down in history as one that abused the power of the presidency on many fronts. He escalated the Vietnam War and used it for political advantage. He was re-elected in 1972. He wire-tapped phones at leisure, including those of politicians and reporters, and he apparently considered himself to be above the law. The Watergate burglary and cover-up proved to be his downfall. With impeachment and prosecution looming, he resigned in 1974, becoming the only president to resign from office. Although he was a master politician and he reached across party lines, he ranks near the bottom of the list due to his abuse of power and impending impeachment. 33) Gerald R. Ford Gerald R. Ford assumed the presidency upon the resignation of President Nixon. He became the 38th president in 1974 as a Republican. He granted a full pardon to President Nixon. Although he wanted to escalate the war in Vietnam, Congress would not oblige, and he was in power when Saigon fell to the Communists. Since he was unable to be re-elected in 1976, he was never elected by the people as president. He served less than two-and-a-half years in office. 34) Chester A. Arthur Chester A. Arthur assumed the presidency upon the assassination of President Garfield. He became the 21st president in 1881 as a Republican. He was the third president to serve in 1881. He was competent, but he liked to party, and he was not a hard worker. He signed the Pendleton Act which reformed the Civil Service, and he upgraded the Navy. He was not re-nominated by his party in 1884, so he was unable to be re-elected, and he was never elected by the people as president, and he served less than three-and-a-half years in office. 35) Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson assumed the presidency upon Lincoln's assassination. He became the 17th president in 1865 as a member of the Democrat-Union (liberal) party. He had no formal schooling at all. He was probably the most racist of all presidents and he hindered the reconstruction of the South. He fought for amnesty for veterans, but he sought no rights for blacks. He executed his veto power 29 times, more than any other president to that time, indicating an inability to reach across party lines. Congress charged that he violated the Tenure of Congress Act, which required Congressional approval for appointed officials, by firing Secretary of State Stanton and replacing him with Ulysses S. Grant. As a result, he was the first president to be impeached. He avoided conviction and removal from office by only one vote. His tenure as president weakened the office of the presidency considerably. He was unable to be re-elected, so he was never elected by the people as president, and he served less than four years in office. After his presidency, he became the first former president to become a U.S. Senator. 36) James Buchanan James Buchanan became the 15th president in 1857 as a Democrat. He never married and it's quite possible that he was gay. He was one of the worst presidents, and some of his critics even thought that he was guilty of treason. During his oath of office, he omitted the pledge to "preserve, defend, and protect the Union." He was pro-slavery. He was not re-nominated, so he was not able to be re-elected, but hated the presidency and was happy to leave it. 37) Warren G. Harding Warren G. Harding became the 29th president in 1921 as a Republican. He was a poor leader. He signed the Budget and Accounting Act which gave the executive branch greater control over spending, and required the president to submit an annual budget. He supported the first arms limitations by promoting world naval disarmament. first arms limitations by promoting world naval disarmament. Harding died in 1923, presumably of natural causes, after serving only two years and five months in office. After his death, many scandals of his administration came to light, including the Teapot Dome scandal where members of his administration were involved in the illegal leasing of oil reserves. 38) Millard Fillmore Millard Fillmore assumed the presidency upon the death of President Taylor. He became the 13th president in 1850 as a member of the Whig party. He was a poor president. He signed the Compromise of 1850 as a supporter of slavery. He was not even re-nominated by his own party for the next election, so he was unable to be re-elected, he was never elected by the people as president, and he served only two years and eight months in office. 39) Franklin Pierce Franklin Pierce became the 14th president in 1853 as a Democrat. He was a poor president, and an alcoholic; and, he was mentally unstable. Just after he was elected, his 11-year-old son was killed in a train accident. He had previously lost two other children, and this was his last surviving child. During his presidency, his vice president also died. He was pro-slavery, and he was not re-nominated by his party, so he was unable to be re-elected. After leaving office, he lived out the rest of his life as a recluse. 40) John Tyler John Tyler assumed the presidency upon the death of President William Henry Harrison. He became the 10th president in 1841 as a member of the Whig party. He was a poor president, and he was kicked out of his own party. During his administration, the modern day border with Canada was established, and the state of Texas was annexed. He was not re-nominated in 1844, so he was unable to be re-elected, and was never elected by the people as president, and he served less than four years in office. 41) Zachary Taylor Zachary Taylor became the 12th president in 1849 as a member of the Whig (conservative) party. He was not a politician. He was a Mexican War hero, and his nickname was Old Rough 'n Ready. He never registered to vote, and he didn't even vote in his own election. He died in 1850, probably of cholera, after serving only 16 months in office. 42) James A. Garfield James A. Garfield became the 20th president in 1881 as a Republican. He had narrowly defeated Ulysses S. Grant in the Republican convention. He was the only preacher to ever become president. He was perhaps the most detail-oriented of all presidents. In July, 1881, he was shot by an assassin, Charles G. Guiteau, although he lingered for two months before he died, after serving only six months in office. He was the second president to be assassinated in 16 years. 43) William Henry Harrison William Henry Harrison became the 9th president in 1841 as a member of the Whig party. His campaign slogan had been "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," commemorating the heroics of Harrison and his Vice President in the Indian Wars. Harrison was 68 years old when he became president. At his inauguration, he gave a two-hour speech, in the outdoors, on a very cold day. As a result, he contracted pneumonia, and he died after serving only one month in office. The Presidents in Chronological Order: 1) George Washington, 1789 – 1797, Federalist 2) John Adams, 1797 – 1801, Federalist 3) Thomas Jefferson, 1801 – 1809, Democrat-Republican 4) James Madison, 1809 – 1817, Democrat-Republican – The War of 1812 5) James Monroe, 1817 – 1825, Democrat-Republican 6) John Quincy Adams, 1825 – 1829, Democrat-Republican 7) Andrew Jackson, 1829 – 1837, Democrat 8) Martin Van Buren, 1837 – 1841, Democrat 9) William Henry Harrison, 1841 – 1841, Whig 10) John Tyler, 1841 – 1845, Whig 11) James K. Polk, 1845 – 1849, Democrat – Mexican-American War 12) Zachary Taylor, 1849 – 1850, Whig 13) Millard Fillmore, 1850 – 1853, Whig 14) Franklin Pierce, 1853 – 1857, Democrat 15) James Buchanan, 1857 – 1861, Democrat 16) Abraham Lincoln, 1861 – 1865, Republican – The Civil War 17) Andrew Johnson, 1865 – 1869, Democrat-Union 18) Ulysses S. Grant, 1869 – 1877, Republican 19) Rutherford B. Hayes, 1877 – 1881, Republican 20) James A. Garfield, 1881 – 1881, Republican 21) Chester A. Arthur, 1881 – 1885, Republican 22) Grover Cleveland, 1885 – 1889, Democrat 23) Benjamin Harrison, 1889 – 1893, Republican 24) Grover Cleveland, 1893 – 1897, Democrat 25) William McKinley, 1897 – 1901, Republican – Spanish-American War 26) Theodore Roosevelt, 1901 – 1909, Republican 27) Howard Taft, 1909 – 1913, Republican 28) Woodrow Wilson, 1913 – 1921, Democrat, World War I 29) Warren G. Harding, 1921 – 1923, Republican 30) Calvin Coolidge, 1923 – 1929, Republican 31) Herbert Hoover, 1929 – 1933, Republican 32) Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933 – 1945, Democrat – World War II 33) Harry S. Truman, 1945 – 1953, Democrat – World War II, Korean War 34) Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1953 – 1961, Republican – Korean War 35) John F. Kennedy, 1961 – 1963, Democrat – The Vietnam War 36) Lyndon B. Johnson, 1963 – 1969, Democrat – The Vietnam War 37) Richard M. Nixon, 1969 – 1974, Republican – The Vietnam War 38) Gerald R. Ford, 1974 – 1977, Republican – The Vietnam War 39) Jimmy Carter, 1977 – 1981, Democrat 40) Ronald Reagan, 1981 – 1989, Republican 41) George Herbert Walker Bush, 1989 – 1993, Republican – Gulf War 42) Bill Clinton, 1993 – 2001, Democrat 43) George W. Bush, 2001 – 2009, Republican – Afghan War, Iraq War 44) Barack Hussein Obama, 2009 – , Democrat – Afghan War, Iraq War Legend:	i don't know
For which film in 1981 did British actor John Gielgud win the 'Oscar' for Best Supporting Actor?	1981 Academy Awards® Winners and History Reds (1981) Actor: HENRY FONDA in "On Golden Pond", Warren Beatty in "Reds", Burt Lancaster in "Atlantic City", Dudley Moore in "Arthur", Paul Newman in "Absence of Malice" Actress: KATHARINE HEPBURN in "On Golden Pond", Diane Keaton in "Reds", Marsha Mason in "Only When I Laugh", Susan Sarandon in "Atlantic City", Meryl Streep in "The French Lieutenant's Woman" Supporting Actor: JOHN GIELGUD in "Arthur", James Coco in "Only When I Laugh", Ian Holm in "Chariots of Fire", Jack Nicholson in "Reds", Howard E. Rollins, Jr. in "Ragtime" Supporting Actress: MAUREEN STAPLETON in "Reds", Melinda Dillon in "Absence of Malice", Jane Fonda in "On Golden Pond", Joan Hackett in "Only When I Laugh", Elizabeth McGovern in "Ragtime" Director: WARREN BEATTY for "Reds", Hugh Hudson for "Chariots of Fire", Louis Malle for "Atlantic City", Mark Rydell for "On Golden Pond", Steven Spielberg for "Raiders of the Lost Ark" The Best Picture winner this year was a surprise and major upset win for British producer David Puttnam's low-budget Chariots of Fire, directed by Hugh Hudson, with seven nominations and four wins. It also took top honors for Best Screenplay (Colin Welland), Best Original Score (Vangelis' rich electronic, throbbing score, especially during the iconic opening credits sequence) and Best Costume Design. The win signaled the start of another mini-British renaissance of film awards for this year and the next - with Gandhi (1982) soon breaking all British film Oscar records. (It had been 13 years since another British-made film had won Best Picture, Oliver! (1968)) Chariots of Fire was also the second sports film to win Best Picture (the first was Rocky (1976) ). It also marked the first of four biopics to win the top award during the 80s, joining Gandhi (1982), Amadeus (1984), and The Last Emperor (1987). Of the top five competitors for Best Picture, two were historical epics, two were about senior-citizens, and one was a throwback to the action/adventure films of the past: Chariots of Fire was the inspirational story of the 1924 Olympics running event in Paris and the motivations of two of Britain's runners, Cambridge University students - English Jew Harold Abrahams (Ben Cross) and Scottish Christian missionary Eric Liddell (Ian Charleson). The film, which contained an anti-Semitism subplot, soon became the most-successful foreign film in US box-office history Warren Beatty's $35 million, three-hour long American epic masterpiece and front-runner in the competition, Reds (with twelve nominations and three wins) including Best Director (Warren Beatty), Best Supporting Actress (Maureen Stapleton), and Best Cinematography (Vittorio Storaro, the winner of the same award for Apocalypse Now (1979) .) Reds was the film biography of American communist and romantic figure John Reed, a left-wing radical journalist and author of Ten Days That Shook the World, who journeyed from Oregon to Greenwich Village and then to Russia to cover first-hand the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution on the streets of Petrograd [Beatty received simultaneous nominations as producer, director, co-writer (with English dramatist Trevor Griffiths), and star actor for the film. Only one other director, Orson Welles, had accomplished such a feat (for Citizen Kane (1941) ). Beatty was repeating his acquisition of quadruple nominations - his earlier film Heaven Can Wait (1978) had earned him the same distinction.] director Mark Rydell's favored, all-star family drama On Golden Pond (with ten nominations and three wins), a screen adaptation of Ernest Thompson's play about the members of the Thayer family who conflict and reconcile with each other during one summer at a lakeside New England cabin The other Best Picture nominees were: director Louis Malle's long-shot Atlantic City (with five nominations and no wins), the dual stories of an aging, small-time hood and a struggling oyster-bar waitress in the casino town director Steven Spielberg's (and George Lucas' written and produced) block-busting, entertaining genre film Raiders of the Lost Ark (with nine nominations and five wins, mostly technical awards), an old-style action/adventure film about the heroic exploits of archaeologist Indiana Jones searching for the Ark of the Covenant against the Nazis All five of the directors of Best Picture nominees were likewise nominated in the Best Director category - the third instance in Oscar history. [It also happened in 1957 and 1964 and would not occur again for another 24 years, in 2005.] Warren Beatty won the award as Best Director for Reds. [He was one of the few actors/stars that was also an Oscar-winning director (but without winning an acting Oscar), along with Robert Redford for Ordinary People (1980) the previous year, Kevin Costner for Dances With Wolves (1990) and Clint Eastwood for Unforgiven (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004).] Reds had nominations of its actors in all four categories, but only one of the four performers won - Best Supporting Actress. All four of the acting awards winners were elderly, aging actors - the oldest collection of acting winners ever assembled, averaging 70.75 years old: 76 year old Henry Fonda (Best Actor for On Golden Pond) 74 year old Katharine Hepburn (Best Actress for On Golden Pond) 77 year old Sir John Gielgud (Best Supporting Actor for Arthur) 56 year old Maureen Stapleton (Best Supporting Actress for Reds) Other elderly nominees joined the acting winners: 68 year old Burt Lancaster (Best Actor nominee for Atlantic City) 57 year old Paul Newman (Best Actor nominee for Absence of Malice) 50 year old Ian Holm (Best Supporting Actor nominee for Chariots of Fire) The sentimental favorites and actual winners for Best Actor and Best Actress were legendary actors, both co-starring in the same film, On Golden Pond. This was only the fifth film in Oscar history to have Oscars wins for Best Actor and Actress in the same film (it also occurred in 1934, 1975, 1976, and 1978). This was the only time that Henry Fonda was teamed with his real-life daughter Jane, and the only time he starred with veteran actress Katharine Hepburn: Henry Fonda as the gutsy, nearly-80 year-old Norman Thayer, a former college professor who is facing senility, but enjoys sharing life on the lake with the young son of his daughter's boyfriend in On Golden Pond. Henry Fonda's Best Actor award for the film was his first Oscar. It was undoubtedly a 'career' Oscar win - a tribute to his long, distinguished career of film-making. [At 76 years of age, Fonda was the oldest nominee and winner in the Best Actor category in Academy history.] Fonda had been nominated for Best Actor only once before - forty one years earlier for The Grapes of Wrath (1940) , but had lost the award. The gap of time between acting nominations was a record in itself. (Fonda's daughter and co-star Jane accepted her father's Oscar, because he was too ill to attend. He died about four months later. His win made it the first time that a father-daughter team were Oscar-winners: Henry Fonda (for On Golden Pond (1981)) and Jane Fonda (for Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978)). The second father-daughter Oscar winners occurred in 1999 - for Jon Voight and Angelina Jolie.) Katharine Hepburn as his wise and quietly-strong wife Ethel who urges her crusty husband to reconcile with his daughter (Jane Fonda) in On Golden Pond. The couple portrayed bickering but devoted protagonists. [At 74 years of age, Hepburn became the oldest Best Actress winner up to that time - she was surpassed 8 years later by 80 year old Jessica Tandy for Driving Miss Daisy (1989). Hepburn also set a record with her fourth (and final) Oscar - she became the first performer to win that many Best Actress awards with a record of twelve nominations. The four remaining Best Actor nominees included the following: Warren Beatty (with his third Best Actor nomination) for his role in Reds as radical American communist and journalist John Reed, who faced increasing resistance to the spread of Communism in isolationist 1920s US, witnessed the Russian Revolution and then wrote the book, Ten Days That Shook the World Burt Lancaster (with his fourth and last career nomination) as small-time hood Lou in Atlantic City Paul Newman (with his fifth career nomination) as Michael Gallagher, the innocent victim of an unscrupulous Miami newspaper columnist's report in Sydney Pollack's examination of the ethics of journalism, Absence of Malice (with three nominations and no wins) Dudley Moore (with his sole Oscar nomination in his career) as the drunk, spoiled, amiable and millionaire-rich playboy and title character Arthur Bach in Arthur (with four nominations and two wins) The four remaining Best Actress nominees included: Diane Keaton (with her second of four Best Actress career nominations) as Louise Bryant, Reed's lover (and then wife) and fellow radical in Reds Marsha Mason (with the last of her four unsuccessful nominations) as the brilliant, self-destructive, divorced alcoholic Broadway actress Georgia in Neil Simon's adaptation of his own play (The Gingerbread Lady) in the film Only When I Laugh (with three nominations and no wins) Meryl Streep (with her third nomination and first Best Actress nomination, and her first of three consecutive nominations in the early 80s) as the enigmatic heroine Sarah Woodruff/Anna of the title in two parallel stories in the complex film adaptation of John Fowles' best-selling novel, director Karel Reisz' The French Lieutenant's Woman (with five nominations and no wins) Susan Sarandon (with her first nomination) as aspiring casino croupier Sally who becomes involved in a drug deal and who sexily rubs lemon juice on her breasts to remove the smell of fish in Atlantic City [Coincidentally, Streep lost the Best Actress bid to Hepburn when she won her final Oscar with her 12th nomination. Eighteen years later in 1999, Streep would tie Hepburn with her 12th nomination, and in 2002, Streep would surpass Hepburn with her 13th nomination, and then in 2006 garner her 14th nomination.] Classical actor Sir John Gielgud won the Best Supporting Actor award for his role (not in Chariots of Fire as Master of Trinity) as drunken Arthur's kindly, no-nonsense, sarcastic, deadpan butler/valet Hobson in the comedy Arthur. [His only other Oscar nomination was in his role as King Louis VII in Becket (1964).] The four other Best Supporting Actor nominees included: James Coco (with his first and only career nomination) as an unemployed gay actor in Only When I Laugh Ian Holm (with his first and only career nomination) as Liddell's trainer Sam Mussabini in Chariots of Fire Jack Nicholson (with his sixth career nomination and second Best Supporting Actor nomination) as Eugene O'Neill in Reds Howard E. Rollins, Jr. (with his first and only career nomination) as the black ragtime piano player Coalhouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime Maureen Stapleton won the Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal of earthy, disillusioned, and despairing revolutionary-anarchist Emma Goldman in Reds. This was her fourth and final career nomination and only successful one - she had been nominated three times previously for Best Supporting Actress in 1958 (for Lonelyhearts (1958)), 1970 (for Airport (1970)), and in 1978 (for Interiors (1978)). All of her nominations were for films with one word titles! The other Best Supporting Actress nominees included: Melinda Dillon (with her second and last Best Supporting Actress nomination) as tragically-suicidal Teresa in Absence of Malice Jane Fonda (with her sixth of seven career nominations, and her sole supporting nomination) as Henry Fonda's screen daughter Chelsea Thayer in On Golden Pond [the only time that Jane and Henry acted together] Joan Hackett (with her first and only career nomination) as a socialite in Only When I Laugh Elizabeth McGovern (with her first and only career nomination) as millionaire Harry K. Thaw's sexy showgirl wife (and Stanford White's mistress) Evelyn Nesbit in Ragtime Four-time Best Actress Oscar-defeated Barbara Stanwyck (in 1937, 1941, 1944 and 1948) accepted an Honorary statuette from the Academy, "for superlative creativity and unique contribution to the art of screen acting." Oscar Snubs and Omissions: Director John Boorman's visionary version of the King Arthur tales - Excalibur, received only one unsuccessful nomination for Best Cinematography. The four nominations for The Rose, featuring Bette Midler's remarkable performance, went unhonored. The endlessly fascinating dinner conversation film, Louis Malle's My Dinner With Andre was completely omitted from honors. There were no special recognitions or nominations for the imaginative Visual Effects in the mythological fantasy Clash of the Titans, the last film from legendary stop-motion animator Ray Harryhausen. Ragtime was awarded eight nominations (with no wins) without a Best Picture nomination. And Gallipoli went completely unnominated, including omissions for Best Picture, Best Director (Peter Weir), Best Actor (Mel Gibson), and Best Supporting Actor (Bill Hunter). Director Blake Edwards' semi-autobiographical comedy S.O.B., a satire on the film industry which featured his squeaky-clean wife Julie Andrews exposing her breasts, was devoid of nominations, as was the crime drama True Confessions, starring Robert Duvall and Robert DeNiro as two brothers brought together as a result of a brutal murder in late 1940s Los Angeles. Many acting nominations were denied to a number of proven actors and actresses in 1981: the previous year's Oscar-winner Sissy Spacek was neglected for her performance as WWII Texas switchboard operator and divorced mother Nita Longley in Raggedy Man (with no nominations) Faye Dunaway was bypassed for her role as abusive mother and actress Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest (with no nominations) Candice Bergen was denied a nomination for Rich and Famous (with no nominations) Sally Field was ignored for her performance in Absence of Malice (with three unsuccessful nominations) both Carol Burnett (in a serious role) and Bess Armstrong were un-nominated for their lead and supporting roles in director/actor/writer Alan Alda's marriage drama The Four Seasons (with no nominations) Other un-nominated stars/directors included: director/star/co-writer Albert Brooks for his role as love-torn Robert Cole in the realistic romantic comedy Modern Romance Harrison Ford - for his defining performance as courageous, indomitable hero Indiana Jones, and Karen Allen - for her liberated role as sidekick Marion Ravenwood in Steven Spielberg's action/adventure tribute Raiders of the Lost Ark John Heard for his anti-hero role as crippled, angry Vietnam veteran Alexander Cutter in Czech director Ivan Passer's ignored Cutter's Way (with no nominations) Steve Martin (in his first dramatic role) as Arthur Parker - a Chicago Depression-era traveling sheet-music/song salesman, and Christopher Walken in a short role as slick pimp Tom who performed a seductive, almost-lewd striptease/tap-dance ("Let's Misbehave") on top of a bar in a sleazy joint to entice shy schoolteacher Eileen (Bernadette Peters), in director Herbert Ross' eccentric, downbeat musical Pennies From Heaven (with four unsuccessful nominations) Donald Sutherland as a deadly Nazi agent in Eye of the Needle Treat Williams as corrupt NY narcotics cop Daniel Ciello in director Sidney Lumet's Prince of the City William Hurt (as lowlife lawyer Ned Racine) and Kathleen Turner in her film debut (as conniving and sexy femme fatale Matty Walker) in Lawrence Kasdan's modern-day noir Body Heat (with no nominations) John Belushi (in his last film appearance) as a burly newspaperman who falls in love with mountain woman Blair Brown in Michael Apted's romantic comedy Continental Divide (with no nominations - and another un-nominated Kasdan screenplay)	Arthur (newspaper)
Which French philosospher is credited with creating analytical geometry?	John Gielgud - Microsoft Store John Gielgud From $3.99 Facts Of Lithuanian-Polish heritage on his father's side; his paternal great-grandmother was famed Lithuanian actress Anielia Aszpergerowa. Descended from the distinguished Terry family of thespians, most notably Ellen Alice Terry (great aunt) and Kate Terry (grandmother), on his mother's side. His speaking voice was described by Alec Guinness as being "like a silver trumpet muffled in silk." Was knighted in 1953. Most famous for his appearances on the stage, especially in Shakespearean dramas; didn't become an international star until his role in 1981's Arthur. One of the few actors to win a Grammy, a Tony, an Oscar and an Emmy. Awards	i don't know
Which element, atomic number 5, has the symbol B?	Chemical Elements.com - Boron (B) Commercial Site Containing Information about the Source of Boron If you know of any other links for Boron, please let me know Bentor, Yinon. Chemical Element.com - Boron. <http://www.chemicalelements.com/elements/b.html>. For more information about citing online sources, please visit the MLA's Website . This page was created by Yinon Bentor. Use of this web site is restricted by this site's license agreement . Copyright © 1996-2012 Yinon Bentor. All Rights Reserved.	Boron
Which British man won a gold medal in the 100m Breaststroke atthe 1980 Olympics in Moscow?	Chemical Elements.com - Help Help Below is a quick explanation of all the items on the fact sheets Basic Information Symbol- Each element is assigned a chemical symbol. This symbol usually originates from its name or its Latin name. For example, silicon has a chemical symbol "Si". Each element's symbol is composed of a capital letter followed by one or two lowercase letters. Atomic Number- Each atom has an atomic number. This atomic number is equal to the number of protons in the nucleus of that particular atom. For example, the element cobalt (Co) has an atomic number of 27. This atomic number is also the number of protons in the atom. Therefore, Co has 27 protons. Mass- The mass of an atom, expressed in atomic mass units (AMU), is roughly equal to the number of protons plus the number of neutrons. This is because both the protons and the neutrons in an atom have a relatively equal mass. The mass of an electron is so insignificant that it is not represented in the atomic mass. Since not all atoms have only one isotope 1 , the atomic mass is the average of all isotopes, once abundance is computed. For example, if you took a container of the element hydrogen (H) , 99.984% of it would be H-1, 0.0156% of it would be H-2, and 0% of the hydrogen would be H-3. Since H-1 has one proton and no neutrons, its mass is 1. Because H-2 has one proton and one neutron, its mass is 2. Therefore, when you compute the percentages of the isotopes of H in any container, you find that the atomic mass of H is actually 1.0079. If the atomic mass of a particular element is shown in parentheses, such as (145) for Promethium (Pm) , the atomic mass reflects that of the most stable isotope 1 , and is not the average atomic mass for all isotopes of the element. Atomic masses used on this periodic table are from the IUPAC 1995 recommendations . Melting Point- The melting point of any element is the temperature at which the element changes from a solid to a liquid or from a liquid to a solid. Even though water is not an element, I will be using it in this example. Water freezes and ice melts at 0 °C (32 °F). Therefore, the melting point of water is 0 °C. The melting point is provided in degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. The melting point of a substance is also the freezing point. Boiling Point- The boiling point of any element is the temperature at which it changes from a liquid to a gas or from a gas to a liquid. You probably know that water changes to steam and steam changes to water at a temperature of 100 °C (212 °F). The boiling point of water is 100 °C. Therefore, the boiling point is also the condensation point. The boiling point is provided in degrees Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin. Number of Protons/Electrons- The number of protons/electrons in any atom is always equal to the atomic number of the atom. Each atom has a neutral charge, and since a proton has a positive charge and an electron has a negative charge, in order to achieve a neutral charge, the number of protons and electrons must equal. A particle that is not neutral (has either more or less electrons) is known as an ion. Number of Neutrons- The number of neutrons in an atom is equal to the number of protons in an atom subtracted from the mass of the atom rounded to the nearest integer. This is true because both neutrons and protons have an atomic weight of approximately 1 AMU 2 (see mass ). Since atoms often have more than one isotope 1 , the number of neutrons listed on the element fact sheets is only valid for the most abundant isotope of any element. For example, boron (B) has an atomic mass of 10.81 and an atomic number of 5. When you round 10.81 to the nearest integer, the result is 11. When you subtract the number of protons (equal to the atomic number) from the atomic mass, the result is 6. Therefore, the most common isotope of boron has 6 neutrons. Classification- The classification of any element relates to its properties. Each periodic table may use different group names and classify each element a little differently. This periodic table uses 9 families: Rare Earth Elements Crystal Structure- The term "Crystal Structure" refers to the way in which the atoms are arranged within an a substance (element). This property explains the way an element cleaves, or breaks apart physically. For example, an element with a cubic crystal structure, such as aluminum (Al) , will break into cubes. Each side of the cube should have a straight edge. Density- The density of an element refers to how closely its atoms are packed together. This is measured in grams per cubic centimeter. Take, for example, magnesium (Mg) . Its density at 293 degrees Kelvin (20 degrees Celsius, 67 degrees Fahrenheit) is 1.738 g/cm3. This means that if you have a block of magnesium at room temperature (293 Kelvin), and you decide to cut a cube measuring 1 x 1 x 1 cm, the mass that you will cut will be 1.738 grams. The greater the density of an element is, the "heavier" the element is. Color- The color of an element refers to its physical reflection of light under normal conditions. For example, tin (Sn) , will have a white color at room temperature. These properties may change if tin was heated to its melting point, where it would become a liquid, or if it was shown under a light with a color other than white. Other Names- Some elements have more than one name or spelling. This may be caused by either local spelling or a naming dispute. For example, the element aluminum (Al) is spelled aluminum in the United States, but is spelled (and pronounced) aluminium in most other English-speaking countries, including Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. A naming dispute has occurred between the American Chemical Society (ACS) and the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) over elements 104-109. ACS has used the discoverer's suggested names, while IUPAC decided to leave the naming process up to a panel of 20 members. Until this naming dispute is resolved, this periodic table will use the systematic Latin names automatically assigned to newly discovered elements. More information about the naming of heavy elements is available. Atomic Structure Number of Energy Levels- The number of energy levels refers to how many "electron shells" or places where electrons can be an element has. An element with 4 shells, such as zinc (Zn) , has 4 different areas where an electron is likely to be found. Electron Arrangement- The electron arrangement of an atom refers to the number of electrons in each energy level. For example, carbon (C) has 6 electrons. Its atom arrangement shows that the six electrons are divided up into two shells, with 2 and 4 electrons, respectively. Electron Configuration- The electron arrangement described above can be further described to include information about orbitals, shells, and more. This explanation is beyond the scope of this document, but if you are already aware of what these numbers mean, they are provided here for you. Bohr Models- On this periodic table, Bohr models are now available for all 112 known elements. These models are designed to give some idea of how the electrons are spread over the energy levels. However, the Bohr model is now considered inaccurate among most scientists. This is because Bohr models show that electrons travel on specific paths or orbitals, a theory which has now been replaced by one that states that an electron has a greater probability of being in a certain area (or "energy level") of the atom. Half Lives Half Lives- Half lives are defined as being the average time it takes for half of the atoms of a radioactive element to decay into their daughter elements. For example, carbon-14 (an isotope of carbon used for dating fossils) has a half life of 5730 years. This means that if you take a container of carbon-14, and leave it unchanged for 5730 years, about 50% of the carbon will remain as carbon-14, and the other 50% will decay to carbon-14's daughter element ( nitrogen ). If you wait for another 5730 years, about 25% of the container will be composed of the original carbon, and the other 75% will be atoms of nitrogen. Some elements, especially the heavier ones, have half lives of just a few milliseconds. For example, ununbium-277 (Uub) has a half-live of just 280 milliseconds. This means that in one second of ununbium's existence, 94% of it will radioactively decay into its daughter element. Facts Date of Discovery- The date of discovery of any element refers to the year in which is was first isolated and identified as an element. Some elements were discovered by early civilizations, and have an unknown discovery date. Discoverer(s)- The discoverer of an element is defined as the first person to have identified the element. In more recent years, teams of scientists have been working on the identification of new elements, allowing more than one name to be put in this field. Name Origin- The name origin of an element is the language/object/property/person that gives an element its name. Some elements have been assigned names of famous scientists, important mythological characters, or places. Other element's names come from foreign languages, such as Latin. The most recently discovered elements have a temporary, systematic name, assigned by IUPAC 3 . Symbol Origin- When the chemical symbol of an element does not correspond to its name, its symbol origin is given on this periodic table. For example, the element lead has the chemical symbol "Pb". The symbol origin is from the Latin word "plumbum", which means "lead". Uses- Each element's most common uses, as an element or a compound containing the element, is written in this field. Obtained from- The method of obtaining an element is also given under this section. Some elements are obtained from minerals, others are obtained from methods such as electrolysis of a mineral, while others are man-made. MLA Format for Citing This Page Citing this Page- On each page, I have provided the current Modern Language Association (MLA) format for citing my web pages in reports and other works. I do not require that you use any particular format for citing these pages, but the MLA style is the most common one used in K-12 school and some colleges. To cite this page, for example, you would use: Bentor, Yinon. Chemical Elements.com - Help. <http://www.chemicalelements.com/sup/help.html>. (Where you see " ", substitute the date you accessed the site, if it is not correct. Check your computer's clock to change this if it is not correct.) If this citation exceeds one line, you will need to use a hanging indent (indent every line but the first). More information about citing online sources using the MLA format can be found at http://www.mla.org . 1: An isotope is an atom of any element with the same number of protons and electrons as all the other atoms of this particular element, but with a different atomic mass (and number of neutrons). 2: AMU- Atomic Mass Unit(s) 3: IUPAC- International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry This page was created by Yinon Bentor. Use of this web site is restricted by this site's license agreement . Copyright © 1996-2012 Yinon Bentor. All Rights Reserved.	i don't know
"When Japan bombed Pearl Harbour their attack codename was ""Tora, Tora, Tora"", what does 'Tora' mean in English?"	10 things you probably didn’t know about Pearl Harbor ‹ Japan Today: Japan News and Discussion ( 20 ) TOKYO — The surprise Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, marked the day the United States entered World War II. Over three thousand Americans lost their lives in the attack and in 1962 the USS Arizona Memorial was constructed over the sunken battle ship USS Arizona to remember those who lost their lives that day. But you already know that. This article will tell you some other things about Pearl Harbor that you may not know. 1. Pearl Harbor was not originally known for its pearls Pearl Harbor was called Pu’uloa by the Hawaiians who harvested the bay’s oysters for food, not pearls. They used the shells for decorating bowls and making fish hooks. The gem inside the oyster was not used until the early 1800s when foreign settlers discovered the bay and its abundance of bivalve mollusks, calling it Pearl Harbor for the first time. Hawaii’s King Kamehameha implemented pearl gathering to meet the foreign demand for pearls, but as the area surrounding the harbor fell to deforestation and over-grazing in the 1840s, the bay filled with silt from the rains. The oysters suffered and had become nearly extinct by the 20th century. 2. The harbor continues to function as an active naval base. In 2010, the United States Air Force Hickam Field and the United States Naval Station Pearl Harbor merged to form the Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam. Pearl Harbor is the headquarters of the United States Pacific Fleet, which relocated there in 1940. The Naval Station provides maintenance and training for surface ships and submarines as well as berthing and shore side support. It services many visiting submarines due to its location as the closest intermediate maintenance facility in that area of the Pacific. The base is located on Oahu, about 2,500 miles (4,000 km) from the U.S. mainland. 3. Pearl Harbor is known for watercress production Pearl Harbor is located in Pearl City, about 11 miles (18 km) west of downtown Honolulu. In the past, this part of Oahu was known for its abundant spring water and the locals grew rice and plowed the fields with water buffaloes. Now, Pearl City is mostly residential but is still known for the Pearl Harbor Spring and abundant fresh water, which has led to the development of a dozen watercress farms. Sumida Farm, a small family-run operation of 10 acres of fields among shopping malls just off the Kamehameha Highway, accounts for around 70 percent of Hawaiian watercress consumption. 4. You can View Pearl Harbor monuments while golfing If you’re short on time and have to decide between visiting Pearl Harbor or going to the greens, don’t despair–you can do both! There are at least two golf courses that overlook Pearl Harbor and from which you can view the monuments. From the Pearl Country Club (home of the Hawaii Pearl Open Golf Tournament), you can view the USS Arizona Memorial, the most notable monument at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, as well as the USS Missouri. The Waikele Country Club also overlooks Pearl Harbor and the slopes of the Ko’olau and Waianae mountains. 5. The architecture of the USS Arizona Memorial represents “initial defeat and ultimate victory” The sunken ship USS Arizona lies 12.2 meters under water and is the most iconic structure in the park. The architect, Alfred Preis, explains the design of the 65-meter-long Memorial “enclosed bridge” that spans the hull of the ship: “Wherein the structure sags in the center but stands strong and vigorous at the ends, expresses initial defeat and ultimate victory.” The USS Arizona Memorial has come to commemorate all military personnel killed in the Pearl Harbor attack. 6. Oil still leaks from the USS Arizona The USS Arizona held approximately 1.5 million gallons (5.7 million liters) of “Bunker-C” oil. The ship burned two and a half days, in which some of the oil would have been burnt up, but no one knows exactly how much. It is estimated that 500,000 gallons (1,892,706 liters) of it was within the hull. About nine quarts (8.5 liters) of oil still surfaces from the ship each day. 7. Of the 1,177 crew members who died on the USS Arizona, there were 37 sets of brothers. 8. The USS Missouri fought in Japan’s Seto Inland Sea The decommissioned USS Missouri, now docked in Pearl Harbor as a floating museum, is best known for being the ship that entered Tokyo Bay on August 29 to prepare for the signing by Japan of its official surrender. On Sept 2, General MacArthur made a speech at the a ceremony to mark the surrender and the official end of WWII. But before that, the Missouri fought in Iwo Jima, Okinawa and, believe it or not, the 270-meter (886ft) Missouri entered the narrow Seto Inland Sea, where it detected a Japanese submarine (which was later sunk), downed four Japanese aircraft and was itself hit by a kamikaze plane. The battleship continued on to raid airfields and naval bases near the Inland Sea. 9. Tora! is abbreviated Japanese meaning “lightning attack” Tora was the Japanese code word indicating that complete surprise had been attained. The word, which can also mean “tiger” is actually an abbreviation of “totsugeki raigeki” (突撃雷撃) which means “lightning attack.” “Tora! Tora! Tora!” was the name of a 1970 movie directed by Kinji Fukasaku, Toshio Masuda and Richard Fleischer that represented both the Japanese and the American points of view on the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. 10. In the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center bookstore, you can buy a book about “war dogs” At the time of the attack on Pearl Harbor, there were 90 dogs in the military, mostly Siberian Huskies and Malamutes. In 1942, the “Dogs for Defense” program began a military training program for canines in combat units and security. German Shepards, Doberman Pincers, Collies, Belgian Sheep dogs and Alaskan Sled dogs were eventually added. In “War Dogs: A History of Loyalty and Heroism” by Michael Lemish, you can read stories about the canine influence in battle since WWI. These are true stories of canine heroes who have pulled sleds, participated in search in rescue and at least one who has even parachuted. How’s that for a twist on combat? A little light reading is probably just what you need right now. Read more stories from RocketNews24.	Tiger (disambiguation)
'How To Handle A Woman' is a song from which musical?	Prince's pseudonym: "Tora Tora" - the japanese warcry... ? thedance Prince's pseudonym: "Tora Tora" - the japanese warcry... ? I guess Tora Tora was a warcry from the Japanese in world war II, I think I heard this in a 1995 BBC tv-program about Prince / Exodus / The Gold Experience. and this "warcry" was Prince's way showing his frustrations with Warner Bros. because they would not release his debut album The Gold Experience ? But... what does it actually mean, are there any japanese fans here?? Depeche Mode had in 1981 a song - with similar song title: "Tora! Tora! Tora!" on their debut album "Speak & Spell". Sorry if it's common knowledge what "Tora Tora" actually means.. My guess is something like "Attack Attack"... ? --- ernestsewell Here's a snip about the movie title: The title is made up of the code-words that were used by the Japanese to indicate that complete surprise was achieved and is translated in the Japanese as "tiger", hence making the code for achieved surprise "Tiger, tiger, tiger". ^ what? I had to read that post twice... and... I don't understand your post, there's a movie named "Tora Tora" ? And someone translated the movie to "Tiger Tiger" ? hmmm... really ? ^ what? I had to read that post twice... and... I don't understand your post, there's a movie named "Tora Tora" ? And someone translated the movie to "Tiger Tiger" ? hmmm... really ? According tho that, it says tora tora translates as Tiger, Tiger. I guess as a war cry, that's pretty damn good. It's a really old movie, I think I watched a bit of it once. On a related note, what do we know about the Tora Tora experience apart from the fact that it would have had 'lemme see your body get loose' on it. I'mn guessing it was some kind of remix album? Anything else ever leak out about it? Erik ^ what? I had to read that post twice... and... I don't understand your post, there's a movie named "Tora Tora" ? And someone translated the movie to "Tiger Tiger" ? hmmm... really ? Are you American? If so, don't you guys get history lessons in school? Never heard of Pearl Harbor? The incoming Japanese fighter pilots are pleasantly surprised when there isn't even any anti-aircraft fire as they approach the base. As a result, the squadron leader radios in the code phrase marking that complete surprise for the attack has been achieved: "Tora, Tora, Tora." © Bart Van Hemelen This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights. It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for your use. All rights reserved. the japanese were time-travelers having flash-backs from a tiger woods hotel room 2039 all treasures retrieved erik319 BartVanHemelen said: Are you American? If so, don't you guys get history lessons in school? Never heard of Pearl Harbor? No I'm not American. Neither is thedance. I've heard of Pearl Harbor though, that's what finally got America off the fence and join the war. Europe was pretty much under Nazzi rule, England was on its last legs, America were still sitting on the fence. Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and Winston Churchill instantly declared war on Japan for attacking Americans. Effectively embarrasing America into finally joining the war. So yeah, I know my history Blimey, that was a tangent an a half. hehe. blah blah blah erik319 Just re read my post and it looks like I'm on some sort of anti America rant. haha. sorry about that, wasn't the intention at all. Just every time the phrase 'Pearl Harbor' is mentioned, I get flashbacks to that dreadful film that attempted to rewrite history. I'm glad you guys showed up... better late than never Erik moderator erik319 said: Just re read my post and it looks like I'm on some sort of anti America rant. haha. sorry about that, wasn't the intention at all. Just every time the phrase 'Pearl Harbor' is mentioned, I get flashbacks to that dreadful film that attempted to rewrite history. I'm glad you guys showed up... better late than never Erik lol I actually saw a history program on Hawaii last week and the way the American government ended up owning the Pearl Harbor, then when the Harbor was bombed it was almost like:reaping what you sow the American government got the Pearl Harbor from the native Hawaiian monarchy thru lies, bending of laws, force, manipulation. thedance Wow do I really have to get history lessons in a Prince thread... I'm danish, and no I'm not expert in ww2 history - my school teacher from the late 1970s was horrible - and I have never catched interest in history, and no you are right, Bart: I haven't seen the Pearl Harbour movie - or any other (older) movie(s) related to that, if that is what you ask..... I hate everything related to war, violence etc. Of course history is important, I am just not that interested in reading about it or watch movies, I avoid the war movies especially - if that's what you wanna know. I have other interests, and I'm confident with that [Enough of defending myself...] OldFriends4Sale said: erik319 said: Just re read my post and it looks like I'm on some sort of anti America rant. haha. sorry about that, wasn't the intention at all. Just every time the phrase 'Pearl Harbor' is mentioned, I get flashbacks to that dreadful film that attempted to rewrite history. I'm glad you guys showed up... better late than never Erik lol I actually saw a history program on Hawaii last week and the way the American government ended up owning the Pearl Harbor, then when the Harbor was bombed it was almost like:reaping what you sow the American government got the Pearl Harbor from the native Hawaiian monarchy thru lies, bending of laws, force, manipulation. And now we have our anti-America rant. I mean if he did have sex he would break every rule Jehova's have regarding premarital sex so Prince is really just friends with them all anyway. And now we have our anti-America rant. tell that to the native Hawaiian-Americans that are still dealing with the repercussians. actually I'm very pro American, I Too Sing America, the ancestor of African slaves Blackfoot Natives and English & French immigrants Just because it's true doesn't make it anti-American White racists said the same about those in the Civil Rights movement when they brought up wrongs and injustices. Check the show out it's very informative (History Channel) And...now someone's been called a racist. Lovely. I mean if he did have sex he would break every rule Jehova's have regarding premarital sex so Prince is really just friends with them all anyway.	i don't know
Which year of the 19th.century was called 'The Year of Revolutions'?	patrickhcc - 1848 - The Year of Revolutions 1848 - The Year of Revolutions 1848: The Year of Revolutions Terms to know: dual monarch Ferdinand I Discussion Question: In what ways were the various 1848 civil disturbances discussed in this lecture similar? Were the results of each similar as well? Why? Home In 1848, the proverbial dam broke, spilling the water of Classical Liberalism and Nationalism into the courts of nearly every country in Europe. With varying degrees of violence, the subjects of European monarchs voiced their desire to participate in government. In areas where this was not forthcoming, nationalists and liberals took to the streets in protests that often turned bloody. The irony of these revolutions, though, is that they were all produced by combinations of different ideals, and their success almost inevitably sewed the seeds of their own destruction. Liberals, nationalists, socialists, and other groups who were able to cooperate in the common effort to unseat or change government found that they were unable to cooperate after they had become the government. In this way, the revolutions were, in almost every case, failures. The pressure was earliest, and most intense in the first half of the century, in France. By 1829, it had become clear that the restoration of the monarchy, something the French had agreed to at Vienna, was not serving the interests of the middle class well. Louis XVIII had accepted the Code Napoleon, and though he reserved for himself important powers, he did subject himself to a constitution with laws that he, as well as his subjects, had to obey. Louis was succeeded in 1824 by his brother, Charles X. Charles saw himself as an absolute monarch in the mold of Louis XIV, and refused to accept any limits on his power. In order to regain the power he felt had been lost since 1789, Charles began to appoint a ministry made up of people who were supporters of an extremely conservative agenda – one that might be characterized by the desire to return to absolute monarchy. When the legislature balked, refusing to support his choices for ministers, he called elections, which confirmed the legislature’s stance – returning solid public opinion against the king’s program. Charles then promulgated a set of laws that narrowed the voting public to only a few landed rich who were his supporters. The middle class, watching its hard won privileges being swept away, took to the streets with guns, and barricaded themselves behind piles of rubble, chairs, tables, and doors. Their success at holding off the French army was such that Charles abdicated in 1830 and left France to go into exile in England. Louis Phillippe, a member of the Orleans branch of the Bourbon line, replaced Charles X, and ruled until 1848. Louis Phillippe styled himself the "citizen king" – a politic idea given the context of his predecessor’s downfall. He accepted the terms of French citizenship, limits on his power, and the Code Napoleon. His support was behind the wealthy, and his conservative policies reflected that. The social pressures created by a government responsive mostly to the wealthy since 1830 were compounded in 1846 – 47 with an economic depression. This caused a revolutionary explosion in which republican leaders set up a provisional government, and Louis Phillippe followed Charles X into exile in England. The provisional government re-established universal manhood suffrage, and became known as The Second Republic. It soon became clear that the government was split into a faction that wanted to maintain the status quo, and another that wanted radical social change. During a period known as the "June Days", the more radical revolutionaries became violent, and were suppressed by the moderates with the help of the army in bloody street fighting. With the June Days over, an election dominated by the middle classes chose Louis Napoleon, the nephew of the former Emperor, to be its president. This was at least in part due to the fact that Louis Napoleon’s was the only name recognized in every county of France due to the fame of his uncle. Germany, 1848 In the area we now call Germany, the French revolution of 1848 brought radical change, but less violence. Nationalists began to demand unification of German states in local assemblies throughout the region. Prussian King Frederick William IV, by most accounts a rather weak and impressionable ruler, granted liberals concessions rather than risk violence in his state. Frederick William’s concessions prompted rulers of other German states to grant constitutions, legislatures, and civil rights. However, when an assembly at Frankfurt convened on May 18, 1848 to discuss how to go about unifying the German states into a single entity, disagreements over goals and methods of the various groups involved turned the meeting into chaos. Eventually, disgusted with the bickering, Frederick William IV, who was offered the crown of a united Germany, declined- apparently disappointed with the disorder, and not convinced of the legitimacy of a single country created by commoners. This set conservatives back into power throughout German territories, and prompted many of Germany’s best liberal middle class minds to emigrate to the United States. Italy, 1848 Italy, which had been divided by the Congress of Vienna and placed variously under the rule of Austria, France, the Pope, or local kings, broke into rebellion as it caught the 1848 cold, too. The fractured state of the Italian peninsula led to a widely varied set of reactions by the governments there. Sardinia’s King, Charles Albert, granted a constitution that provided for a legislature and civil rights with little prompting. Most other states, including those run by the pope, granted constitutions. During this period, Giuseppe Mazzini was defining what a nation was, and linking the nation to the will of God in his political philosophies. Mazzini’s ideas popularized the national agenda throughout Europe, and helped define what the idea of nation should be for generations to come. Unfortunately, Mazzini was never able to have more than a minor impact on the course of Italy’s political realities. Inspirational as he was, he never achieved control of a major army, or motivated a popular revolution. In response to the Italian movements toward liberal government, and Mazzini’s ideas of national unification, Austria began to reassert its power in key Italian states. Austrian defeats of Charles Albert forced him to abdicate in favor of his son, Victor Emmanuel II, in 1848. The pope refused to support Italian states against Austria in the same year, spelling death for Italian unity for the time being. This created the opportunity Mazzini had been waiting for, and he, with the help of the subjects of the papal states, drove the pope to run to France. He returned with a French army, crushing Mazzini’s movement, and was never again willing to consider reform of his government. Austria, 1848 Perhaps the kingdom with the most to fear from nationalism and liberalism in the early 19th century was Austria. The Habsburg kings had ruled a polyglot kingdom for centuries, and were accustomed to multi-lingual, multi-ethnic populations. Within Austria in the 1840’s, Germans and Magyars (Hungarians), the two largest groups, each made up about 12 million in Austria’s population, but Austria also included Ruthenians, Poles, Ukranians, Serbs, Bosnians, and many other ethnic groups. News of the French revolution reached the ears of Magyar leader Louis Kossuth in Budapest. Kossuth was a liberal who demanded that the Habsburgs establish a national legislature to rule the entire empire. This demand became extremely popular throughout the empire, and the public fervor forced the Austrian emperor to feed Metternich to the public, in the form of his resignation and exile. The demands for a legislative assembly, however, had taken on a life of their own, even after the sacrifice of Metternich, and became revolutionary in nature, each ethnic group demanding the right to self-rule, not just to elect legislators. The Austrian emperor, under extreme pressure, agreed to give the Hungarians autonomy, and became a dual monarch – that is, he ruled Hungary as the Hungarian king, and Austria as the Austrian emperor, with separate administrations, legislatures, and ministers. Hungarians, in a move they felt was magnanimous, offered civil rights to non-Hungarian people under their jurisdiction, but announced they would not support independence. This proved to be a powder keg, triggering Croats and South Slavs to violent action against the Magyar administration. The Austrian emperor named the Croat leader Joseph Jellachich an Austrian general, and he was sent to Vienna after defeating the Magyars, where he was able to defeat the liberals putting pressure on the emperor. After taking over from his predecessor, the new Emperor in 1848, Ferdinand I, began to roll back all concessions made to liberal and national groups. The Magyars once again went to war over their independence, but Austria, with the aid of 100,000 Russian troops, was able to put down the revolt, and destroy Kossuth & the Magyars. Once again, internal divisions between the opposition forces allowed conservative forces to defeat them and return to near status-quo situations.	1848
Which Italian city is the regional capital of Lombardy?	The European Revolutions of 1848 : history The European Revolutions of 1848 European History in 1848 Following on from the defeat of Napoleon which brought a French Revolutionary and Napoleonic period of turmoil which had lasted from 1789-1815 to a close, the conservatively inclined alliance of powers that had been ranged against him attempted to re-impose the sovereign powers of Monarchies and Empires. These powers held Congresses to discuss the affairs of Europe and to orchestrate mutual efforts to maintain monarchical sovereignty. The European political map above, agreed at the Congress of Vienna of 1815, saw some changes (principally due to the emergence of Belgium and Greece) before the Revolutions of 1848-1849. After 1820 there were many instances of "constitutional-liberal" political upheaval on varying scales, in Spain and on the Italian Peninsula (resulting in counter-interventions by conservative / reactionary powers), in Russia, in Poland (national-constitutional-liberal and suppressed by Russian intervention), and in France. Perhaps the most dramatically transforming of these upheavals being that in France where an illiberal "Legitimist" King of France was deposed and replaced by an "Orleanist" cousin who undertook to rule more liberally as "King of the French" in 1830. European states as then traditionally organised, in addition to constitutionalism, liberalism and nationalism, also faced challenges from an increase in population creating more demands for foodstuffs, housing and employment. Such industrialisation as had begun to occur had sometimes impacted seriously on established craft industries bringing about significant displacement into unemployment. Many young persons from middle class backgrounds finished their years of education or training and emerged into an economic situation that was unwelcoming to their skills. Levels of payment for both urban and rural workers tended to fall leaving many persons in a situation where they could hope to survive, health permitting and quite possibly in over-crowded and unsanitary conditions, but found it almost impossible to actually prosper. Moreover, there was then no such thing as any system of social security in place to cater to the needs of those unlucky enough to fall on hard times through unemployment, illness or injury - or their dependants. The European Revolutions of 1848 begin The Springtime of Peoples The revolutions of 1848-1849, (sometimes referred to in the German lands as the Völkerfrühling or the Springtime of Peoples), can perhaps be seen as a particularly active phase in the challenge populist claims to political power had intermittently been making against the authority traditionally exercised by the dynastic governments of Europe. As with several instances of revolution in Europe previously that of 1848 was to have its major point of origin in France. Poor grain harvests, the appearance of blight - an extremely serious disease - in potato crops, and generally depressed economic conditions across much of Europe in 1845-6 led to sharply rising food prices, unemployment, and a radicalisation of political attitudes. Dramatic increases in the prices of food and fuel contributed to a situation where there were serious outbreaks of hunger-related Typhus fever, causing many fatalities. Trade was disrupted as there was less general spending as food came first where the poorest classes of people struggled to keep themselves fed and everyone found the necessities of life to be much more expensive. The levels of unemployment rose significantly. Such general economic dislocation brought with it increases in crime as persons broke the laws in their efforts to get food, fuel or cash. Those suffering from various forms of economic deprivation lost confidence in the authorities ability to help them and became somewhat resentful of occupational groups who could be seen as profiting from the crisis. In many cases the authorities found it very difficult to receive customary tax revenues as the population had a significantly reduced ability to pay. Hopes of social and political reform were somewhat encouraged by the election to the Papacy, as Pope Pius IX in June 1846, of an incumbent who soon thereafter followed policies perceived as being "Liberal" and by the fact of a "federal" Swiss interest, that was perceived by liberals as being progressive, prevailing in November 1847 over several Cantons leagued in a "Separate Union" or Sonderbund that had been supported in attempts to place limits on liberal reform by such reactionary powers as Metternich's Austria and Guizot's France. During these times France was yet a monarchy under Louis Phillipe but with his "Liberal" monarchy having few real supporters. Elections were held on the basis of quite limited suffrage - only some 170,000 wealthy men, (approximately one person in two hundred of an overall French population of 35 millions), could legally vote. Many French people felt excluded from any possibility of gaining wealth, many also felt that the bourgeois "Liberal" monarchy of Louis Phillipe compared unfavourably with earlier "Glorious" eras of French Monarchy or Empire. On 14th January 1848 the authorities banned a "banquet", one of a series of some seventy or so that had been held in Paris and in the provinces to protest, within the law, against such things as limitations on the right of assembly and the narrow scope of the political franchise, with the result that the it was postponed by its organisers. At such politicised banquets participants could find the means to challange the government by participating in toasts to such things as "electoral reform" or "parliamentary reform". Although the banned banquet, now re-set for the 22nd February, was cancelled at the last minute there was some serious disturbance in the Paris streets during which extreme individuals opposed to the government intermittently attacked groups of soldiers. In such circumstances and in other situations soldiers fatally injured protesting citizens. Faced with such unrest Louis Phillipe dismissed Guizot, his unpopular Prime Minister, on the 23rd and himself abdicated on the 24th. In the wake of these dramatic developments there was an establishment of a Provisional Government of a French Republic. On the 25th February a group of socialists, armed and carrying red flags, gathered in front of the Hotel de Ville (or City Hall) in Paris where their insistence secured a decree which proclaimed that the newly formed provisional government would undertake to provide work and would also recognise workers rights to combine. "The Government of the French Republic binds itself to guarantee the livelihood of the workers by providing work ... it will guarantee work for all citizens. It recognises that workers may organise in order to enjoy the profits of their labour." News of these events in Paris quickly reached other European cities as (what was then) a relatively new technology - The Telegraph System - allowed rapid dissemination of such momentous political news as this. Across Europe those supportive of various forms of political liberalisation or political radicalism tended to see the Parisian developments as giving rise to an opportunity for the pressing of the case for liberalising or radical reform in their own cities and in their own states. On 27 February in the Grand Duchy of Baden "German" black-red-gold emblems were widely evident and demands were expressed for such things as freedom of the press, constitutional governance and an all-German parliament. These demands were widely publicised in other German states, became known as the "March Demands", and were insistently required by the citizens of other German states of their own rulers. Reforms were subsequently conceded, with varying degrees of reluctance, by the rulers of such historic and previously locally sovereign German states as Wurttemberg, Nassau, Hesse-Darmstadt, Bavaria and Saxony. The Federal Diet of the German Confederation declared on 8 March that a revision of the Constitution of the German Confederation was necessary. It adopted, and unfurled over its palace in the longstanding confederal capital, Frankfurt, a black-red-gold standard and invited German States to send delegates to discuss Constitutional reform. In the unsettled and challenging times invitations had already been sent out several days earlier by a self-appointed group of liberals based in Heidelberg that were intended to lead to the convening in Frankfurt on the 31st March, of a preparatory parliament where invited prominent persons could participate in deliberations on matters of immediate concern to all Germans prior to eventual elections to an all-German parliamentary body which was primarly intended to undertake the framing of future constitutional arrangements for the Germanic lands. The Heidelberg liberals' invitations were thus sent out to individuals whom they respected and whom they hoped could make a positive contribution to such a liberal / parliamentary / constitutional programme. An "assembly of trusted men from all German peoples" was their aim for this pre-parliament and, given that the authority of the existing states of the Germanies was discredited, this Frankfurt Vorparlament, although somewhat irregularly called into being, gained acceptance in preference to the discussions of states' delegates as suggested by the Federal Diet of the German Confederation. After an incident precipitated street fighting in Berlin, the capital of the Prussian Kingdom, King Frederick William withdrew his soldiers rather than see even more fatalities amongst his "beloved Berliners" and was subsequently seen by the populace to stand with his head bared in a demonstration of his regret, whilst the earthly remains of those Berliners killed in the street fighting were paraded with their wounds exposed. That same day Frederick William rode in a stately progress through the streets of Berlin, prominently wearing a black-red-gold sash, accompanied by his generals who also wore black-red-gold emblems, along with his similarly-decorated ministers. The king presented himself as behaving as German leaders had in earlier times when they had " grasped the banner in situations of disorder and placed themselves at the head of the whole people. " These "Germanic" colours were at one and the same time "revolutionary" and "conservative". They were open to being associated with contemporary German Liberalism and Nationalism having been adopted by "patriotic" Germany in the days of the Wars of Liberation against Napoleon but were also open to being thought of as being associated with the earlier "Holy Roman Empire of the German Nation." The following day a political amnesty brought about the release of the Polish revolutionist Mieroslawski and his forty followers from their two years of imprisonment at Moabit jail. A triumphant procession took them from the prison to the palace, in carriages pulled by enthusiastic Berliners. Mieroslawski waved a black-red-gold banner, proclaiming that Poles and Germans were brothers. Some Berliners, meanwhile, carried red and white "Polish" flags. On the 22nd March the 190 Berliners who had fallen in the street fighting were given a state funeral with their funeral observances being attended by representatives of all branches of the government, wearing their golden chains of office. The above outline map shows how the immense territories of the Habsburg Empire lay both within and outside the frontiers of the German Confederation. N.B. Lombardy and Venetia in the north of the Italian Peninsula, (south-west of the Tyrol and east of the Adriatic), were also under Habsburg sovereignty. Peoples of the Habsburg / Austrian Empire:- The rising tide of cultural and linguistic nationalism which Europe had experienced since the later eighteenth century was marked, in relation to the position of the Kingdom of Hungary within the Austrian empire, by demands being made for greater use of the Hungarian "Magyar" tongue. The Emperor of Austria, in his capacity as King of Hungary, authorised the convening of a Hungarian political assembly, or Diet, at Pressburg (today's Bratislava) in 1823. The representatives thereto sought the recognition of the Magyar tongue as being appropriate for use in the administrative and judicial courts - this was assented to by the Habsburg authorities. It was also agreed that Magyar should displace Latin and German as the principal language in the administrative and political life in the Hungarian kingdom. The Hungarian-Magyar kingdom had been established after the Magyars, as a powerful and somewhat martial people, had migrated into the Carpathian basin where they established their sway over some of the neighbouring Slavic peoples with the result that the kingdom in 1848 was dominated by the Magyars but was also peopled by various Slavic and other minorities. By 1848 former losses of territory to the Ottoman empire had been recovered and Transylvania, together with certain areas of the Balkans, that had also been won from Ottoman control, were also seen as being open to becoming closely associated with the Kingdom of Hungary. The Latin tongue had been somewhat accessible to the other ethnicities represented at Pressburg as it was often represented in classical traditions of education besides being a prominent language of religion and scholarship. The Magyar tongue was more exclusive to the Magyars and has a reputation for being difficult to learn. The Magyars, in fact, although they formed the most numerous individual ethnic group in the Hungarian Kingdom, and the traditionally most powerful one, only comprised perhaps four-in-ten of the population of the kingdom which was also peopled by Rumanians, Slovaks, Serbs and others. In the event Magyar interests tended to insist on the full utilisation of their tongue even in areas where the were not themselves in the majority. The nationalist, Kossuth, was prominent at a Diet of the Hungarian Kingdom held at Pressburg in 1844 in securing the position of the Magyar tongue as the official language, and as the language of public education. After 1847 the proceedings of the Hungarian Diet were conducted through Magyar instead of Latin. The several ethnic groups domiciled under the auspices of the Hungarian Diet were also variously influenced by romanticisations of their own local traditions of nationality, the Croats, in particular, had experienced a pronounced development of a romanticised national conciousness, and were much inclined to resist potential Magyarisation focussing their aspiration on the recovery of an "Illyrian" language. Early in 1848, after hearing of the developments in France Kossuth made a speech in support of a constitutionally defined governmental system for Hungary at a session of the Pressburg Diet of 3rd March which concluded with words imparting hostility to the then position of the Kingdom of Hungary together with hopes for a happier future:- ... "From the charnel-house of the Viennese system a poison-laden atmosphere steals over us, which paralyses our nerves and bows us when we would soar. The future of Hungary can never be secure while in the other provinces there exists a system of government in direct antagonism to every constitutional principle. Our task it is to found a happier future on the brotherhood of all the Austrian races, and to substitute for the union enforced by bayonets and police the enduring bond of a free constitution". Kossuth seemed to expect that the principal linkage with Austria would be that of a personal union through the monarchy of Kings of Hungary who were simultaneously Emperors of Austria. Magyar aspirations became somewhat distilled into twelve specific demands:- I. Liberty of the press, and removal of all censorship. II. A responsible ministry. VI. An equal distribution of taxes. VII. The abolition of all territorial laws. VIII Trial by jury. IX. A national bank. X. That the army should swear fidelity to the constitution, and that the government should enlist native soldiers, and dismiss all foreigners. XI. A general amnesty for political offences. XII. Union of Transylvania with Hungary. There was also unrest in Vienna which culminated, on 13th March, already designated as the date for the discussion of reform petitions in the Lower Austrian diet (the legislative chamber where the non-Hungarian lands of the empire held political debates), in public turmoils where several thousand university students paraded through the streets of Vienna in support of far-reaching liberalising reforms. These students were joined by many similarly dis-satisfied citizens. After the leaders of the students had proceeded into a government building to present their petition some of the numerous students gathered outside believed that those leaders had placed themselves in a situation where they could be captured by the authorities. After shouting out of windows to their many friends outside the students' leaders were rescued, with some damage to property, from the building. Archduke Albrecht, a member of the imperial family, who held an high military rank, subsequently approached a crowd of protesting citizens, on foot, urging those gathered together to disperse, but was hit on the head by a missile. A situation continued for some time where figures of authority exhorted protesters to disperse and missiles were thrown by some protestors. Eventually, a company of soldiers whose commanding officer had been knocked unconcious by one of these missiles actually fired their weapons into the crowd - a number of injuries and a few fatalities occured. These events led to the Emperor ordering a withdrawal of soldiers to their barracks within the city. Many Viennese citizens were deeply alienated by the use of military force against the civilian population. Shops were looted, factories were wrecked - yet soldiers, who might in other circumstances have been looked to as potential restorers of order, were now widely unwelcome on the streets. The Viennese Citizen Guard, traditionally a somewhat ceremonial body composed of better-off burghers (citizens), offered to assume responsibilty for the maintainance of order, and demanded that an "Academic Legion" composed principally of students and academics was officially recognised and allowed to carry arms. Prince Metternich the Austrian statesmen who had done so much since the humbling of Napoleon (1815) to organise the Princes of Europe in opposition to the spirit of Revolution that had been stirring since 1789, and who had for years been serving the Habsburg Court as "Head of Chancellery and Minister of Foreign Affairs", lost the confidence of the Imperial Family and had little choice but to go quietly into exile. Metternich was a figure of European significance as a mainstay of reactionary governance: his fall from power greatly encouraged liberal, constitutional and national aspirations to be expressed by diverse sections of the populations of the states of Europe. The Austrian authorities made the further concession of abolishing the formerly quite pervasive censorship of the press. In circumstances where the Citizen Guard had been reconstituted as a National Guard, within which the students' Academic Legion was also incorporated, and where the National Guard was taking the side of the protesting citizenry censorship would have probably been impossible to maintain. Further insight into the political and social atmosphere then in place in Vienna can be perhaps gauged from the fact that a general amnesty for political offences was declared some days later. On the evening of the 15th March a mounted herald read a proclamation outside one of the gates of the palace which declared that the Emperor "had taken the necessary steps to convoke, as quickly as possible, representatives of all provincial Estates ... with increased representation for the burghers, for the purpose of the Constitution which We have decided to grant." There had already been much tension between landlords and those persons who actually cultivated the land in these times where, for several years in succession, notably wet weather had hampered crop growth and harvesting in many areas of the Austrian Empire. Potato blight, (at that time a crop disease new to Europe), had catastrophically diminished the prospective supply of the mainstay foodstuff of such populous regions as Silesia, and there was a serious outbreak of cattle disease in Hungary. Even in good times those persons who actually cultivated the land often won only a meagre living for themselves after paying monies to the landlord as rent, to the church as tithes, and to the authorities as taxes. They were also expected to perform so-called "Robot" obligations where those who cultivated land as tenants were also expected to work one or more days per week on lands owned by individual landlords and where the crops or herds were being farmed for the individual landlord's economic benefit. Such had been the traditional ordering of rural life for several centuries. In March 1848 the Austrian Emperor, (or rather his advisors as the then holder of that title, although widely respected, was a somewhat simple-minded and good-natured individual), authorised the announcement of the principle of the abolition of the Robot obligation "within a year, at the latest by 31 March 1849". There was to be some compensation paid to the landlords with the amounts being settled upon by local Diets or political assemblies. Those persons who farmed as tenants had, in fact, often recently stopped performing the Robot obligations they were nevertheless deeply grateful to the Emperor for giving legal backing to the abolition of a burden they regarded as particularly onerous. Given that more than ninety per cent of the population of the Empire in those times were rural dwellers gratitude associated with the abolition of the Robot obligation tended to provide a basis for an acceptance of the continued authority of the Emperor in the countryside. It was in any case a problematic reality that it was urban, relatively prosperous and educated, persons who were likely to feel frustrated by lack of opportunities in the Habsburg Empire's economic life and state bureaucracy. Urban, relatively prosperous and educated middle class persons, intellectually engaged artisans and some liberal aristocrats were also more likely to have been influenced by romanticisations of nationality, which had become fashionable across Europe after circa 1770, where it was held that individuals should prize and cultivate the language and culture of the ethnic or national group within which they felt, (or could feel), they belonged. The Habsburg authorities had actually tended to facilitate such linguistic and cultural enthusiasms seeing them as possible diversions of the energies of their participants away from potentially more problematic political activities. In association with such romanticisation of nationality, and the wider implications of such societally impacting national conciousness, a situation began to arise where less powerful emergent ethnic or national groups increasingly began to complain when locally powerful emergent ethnic or national groups, such as Germans, Magyars, Poles and Italians, attempted to impose their languages and cultures on them. During these times the Habsburg administration was faced with a wide array of demands for liberalising and nationalist concessions being made on behalf of its constituent peoples. The Poles of Galicia drew up an address, which was presented on March 19 to the governor of Galicia, Count Franz Stadion, demanding of the Austrian Emperor such things as:- The nomination of a committee of Galician Poles, entrusted with a reorganization of the laws and institutions of their province on a purely national basis. That awardance of a separate constitution to the Poles of Galicia, with powers being conceded to elect representatives on the basis of universal suffrage to serve in a national diet. The recognition of legality in relation to public meetings being held to discuss all political questions. The organisation of a separate national guard and the formation of an army of native Poles. The introduction of the Polish language into all schools and also into public offices; where it was anticipated that some dismissals or redeployments of German speaking office holders in favour of Polish speaking substitutes might prove to be necessary. Galicia, however, was peopled by Ruthenians, (or Ukranians), in the east, as well as Poles in the west. It would seem that Stadion, with the intention of lessening the impetus of Galician-Polish national aspiration, gave some encouragement to the relatively historically dispriveledged Ruthenians in making submissions, on April 19, to the Habsburg Emperor intended to establish protections for their nationality against suppression. After mid-March when news of the recent serious civil unrest in Vienna, (including the fall from power of Metternich - much disliked by liberals in the italian peninsula), reached Milan there was civil turmoil where an estimated ten thousand persons actively sought the the freedom of the press, the replacement of the existing police force by a newly formed civil guard and the convening of a national assembly. The Austrian authorities in Lombardy were initially somewhat unprepared to meet these protests head-on and, after a captured Austrian administrator made concessions to the protestors, (including the signing of proclamations of the establishment of a Provisional Government and of a National Guard), the Austrian military commander Radetzky, (a general of wide experience who was actually then more than eighty years of age), continued to attempt to regain control with the result that an intense combat ensued over some two or three days. In the event Radetzky's forces estimated at some 13,000 men, suffered from a significant number of desertions whilst there was a real threat that the Piedmontese-Sardinian Kingdom, with its tens of thousands strong armed forces, could intervene against the Austrian interest. Given these considerations the Austrian forces in Lombardy were withdrawn from Milan. Radetzky subsequently decided to base his forces, in a defensive posture, upon a formidable group of fortresses known as the Quadrilateral located towards the strategic Brenner pass, through which Austrian forces traditionally crossed between Austrian territory and the Italian lands through the Alps. Germanic national-liberal enthusiasm resulted in the black-red-gold "german" colours being worn in the button holes of many students in the important "Austrian" cities of Graz and Vienna - and were often worn by members of the Academic Legion then active in Viennese events. In early April the traditional Black and Yellow colours of the Austrian Habsburgs were replaced on the cathedral and the university in Vienna by the hands of Germanic national-liberal enthusiasts, by the black-red-gold "german" colours. Black-red-gold emblems were even also raised over the Austrian Habsburg's imperial palace whilst crowds outside sung germanic national-liberal songs. Young, and not so young, middle class Austrian Germans tended to see some potential for enhanced liberty and progress through associating themselves, and their country's future, with the proceedings of the Frankfurt Parliament. This widely evident adoption of Germanic national-liberal enthusiasm by powerful sections of opinion in Vienna drew the Austrian lands towards a full participation in a process unilaterally authorised on 2 April by the Frankfurt Vorparlament whereby a Committee of Fifty, appointed by the Vorparlament itself, would be entrusted with the framing of a future German constitution "solely and entirely, without any consent from the governments." The Vorparlament did expect that a few delegates to the Committee of Fifty would come from the broader lands of the Austrian Empire yet Frantisek Palacký, one of the persons it invited to participate in this process, declined to attend, (as the representative for Bohemia, Moravia, and Silesia), in a famous and historically significant letter :- The letter of 6th April in which you, greatly esteemed gentlemen, did me the honour of inviting me to Frankfurt in order to take part in the business concerned 'mainly with the speediest summoning of a German Parliament' has just been duly delivered to me by the post. With joyful surprise I read in it the most valued testimony of the confidence which Germany's most distinguished men have not ceased to place in my views: for by summoning me to the assembly of 'friends of the German Fatherland', you yourselves acquit me of the charge which is as unjust as it has often been repeated, of ever having shown hostility towards the German people. With true gratitude I recognise in this the high humanity and love of justice of this excellent assembly, and I thus find myself all the more obliged to reply to it with open confidence, freely and without reservation. Gentlemen, I cannot accede to your call, either myself or by despatching another 'reliable patriot'. Allow me to expound the reasons for this to you as briefly as possible. The explicit purpose of your assembly is to put a German people's association [Volksbund] in the place of the existing federation of princes, to bring the German nation to real unity, to strengthen German national feeling, and thus to raise Germany's power both internal and external. However much I respect this endeavour and the feeling on which it is based, and particularly because I respect it, I cannot participate in it. I am not a German - at any rate I do not consider myself as such - and surely you have not wished to invite me as a mere yes-man without opinion or will.... Palacký thought of himself as being of Czech ethnicity and became prominent over ensuing weeks and months in promoting Austro-Slavism where the several Slavonic ethnicities present in the Austrian Empire strongly supported its continued existence as being the best protector of their several Slavonic ethnicities. In the event several "German Austrian" delegates from the Austrian Empire did attend the proceedings at Frankfurt but seem to have seen themselves as acting to rein in any revolutionary tendencies appearing at Frankfurt and to maintaining a high degree of continued distinct sovereignty for Austria. On 25 April the Austrian authorities issued an Imperial Patent, commonly known as the Pillersdorf Consitution, which offered to provide constitutional arrangements for the future governance of most of the non-Hungarian and non-Italian lands of the Austrian Empire. Radically inclined opinion in Vienna tended to object to the imposition of a Constitution by the authorities - particularly one that recognised the Emperor as having a right of veto over future policies a government might wish to pursue. The minister who had succeeded Prince Metternich resigned. Several liberal amendments, (including those of there being two parliamentary houses rather than just one, and of a broadened franchise), to the proposed Imperial Patent were offered by the Austrian authorities. In the event mass meetings were held on 15 May where the National Guard and workers demanded the concession that an Assembly, with full responsibility for the framing of a Constitution, could be elected by a broad and popular franchise. On 16 May the Emperor and his ministers accepted the convening of such a popular Constituent Assembly. It was also accepted that the National Guard would share in sentry duties at the Imperial Palace. Within days, however, the Imperial family took flight from the turbulence of Vienna. The Emperor and his wife had apparently left the palace in a carriage to make a personal visit nearby but left the city to be driven through the night and well into the following day to reach the relative calm of Innsbruck where they were joined, some hours later, by the Emperor's brother (and presumptive heir), his wife, and their younger children. The Imperial family forwarded a proclamation to Vienna which stated that the Emperor had been forced to depart from Vienna as:- "an anarchical faction, supported chiefly by the Academic Legion, which had been led astray by foreigners, and by certain detachments of the Citizens' and National Guards, had, wavering in their accustomed loyalty, wished to deprive him of his freedom of action". Back in Vienna conservative elements tried to assert their version of "order" in support of the departed Emperor but were gradually obliged to recognise the authority of a comparatively radical "Committee of the Burghers, National Guard, and Students of Vienna for the maintenance of peace, security and order and the preservation of the people's rights" known for short as the "Committee of Safety". Within days, whilst it probably not in line the the wishes of the more sober members of this Committee, an order of monks considered to be ministering, in particular, to wealthier persons was subjected to diverse harassments and felt a necessity to flee the city. Across the Habsburg lands very many persons could condemn this as being anti-religious. Witch hunts were pursued by unruly elements against prominent conservatives, aristocrats and wealthier persons, many of the more priviledged citizens left Vienna taking their purchasing power with them. Economic woes began to pile up for the Committee of Safety. Both the rich and those of more modest means became more cautious about their spending in the uncertain times. Domestic tradesmen and factories became unsure of reaching a ready market for their services and their produce due to the knock-on effects on consumption associated with widespread and deep concern about the potential disturbance to normal life resulting from social and political instability. Foreign suppliers of raw materials became nervous about actually being paid. Levels of unemployment rose markedly. The Austrian currency plummeted in value on international exchanges. Taxation became even more difficult to raise. Claims on the public purse tended to increase. Although there was no established system of Social Security the "Committee of Safety" were persuaded to assume responsibility for funding the financial maintenance of persons unable to find employment. The differing rates of payment decided upon for men, for women, and for juveniles, actually compared well with the higher rates then being paid by private enterprises for unskilled employees. The "Committee of Safety" proved unwilling or unable to prevent such unwelcome developments as an influx of unemployed persons from the provinces or the drawing of such maintenance several times on the same day by opportunists who could present themselves at a number of payment offices. Conservatives, and even Liberals who had been in favour of some reform, could now be disenchanted by such things as the flight of the imperial family, by the departure of the wealthy classes (and their spending power), and, (whilst they might concede that unemployed people needed some level of support), the reality of some 50,000 persons claiming maintenance from the state at considerable and seemingly open-ended expense to the public purse brought with it real concerns for the future. Whilst Conservatives and Liberals might concede that the crisis had some natural causes, (appallingly bad weather causing bad harvests, with crop and animal disease outbreaks adding significantly to the situation), they could also blame radical excesses for worsening the the picture. As March continued, and into April, there was a rush of laws passed by the Hungarian Diet in support of the administration there being free of Austrian control. Hungary, and Transylvania styled as "the Lands of the Crown of St. Stephen" were deemed a single state. This proposed political union between Hungary and Transylvania was, however, subject to ratification by the Transylvanian Diet. Croatian representation in the Hungarian Diet was increased from three to eighteen delegates in recognition of an expected Croat participation in the proceedings of the Hungarian Diet. It was understood that the Diet of the Hungarian Kingdom would in near future relocate away from Pressburg to hold its sessions at Pest (an important town lying alongside the river Danube and just across that river from Buda - hence today's Budapest). The ministry there would be fully responsible for many areas of governance. The Austrian Emperor, appearing in person at a final meeting of the Hungarian Diet in Pressburg, formally accepted these changes on 11th April. In early April the Austrian Emperor promised in a Charter of Bohemia that there should be a responsible separate political estates (assemblies) for Bohemia and for Moravia and that there would be substantial concessions to the Czech language. Czech aspiration further sought that Bohemia and Moravia with Silesia should be regarded as a single administrative unit - "the Lands of the Crown of St. Wenceslaus" - but this was not fully conceded. Czech, Polish and other Slav elements within the lands of the Habsburgs reacted to the events of 1848 and to the nationalistic and constitutional developments in the Germanic lands by arranging for a pan-Slav Congress to convene at Prague in early June. After news of the dramatic developments in Vienna in mid-March reached Agram (Zagreb), the Croatian capital, a long simmering Croatian-Illyrian nationalism stirred into political life seeking a Croatian state with complete political independence from Hungary. Although Hungarian representations to the Emperor produced an attempt, dated 7 May, to contain the Croat-Illyrian nationalism led by a general named Josip Jellachic, this was followed by an explicit refusal by Jellachic to submit to the authority of an Hungarian Diet and the unconstitutional calling, on his own authority, for the meeting of a General Assembly of Croatia to take place in early June at which deputies from all the other Austro-Slavonian countries were deemed to be entitled to attend. Hearing of this some Serbs proposed that Serb representatives should present themselves at this General Assembly in order to take part in its proceedings. Serbs and Croats share a language, Serbo-Croat, and, in 1848, felt some ethnic kinship with each other. Although the Habsburg authorities attempted to discourage this Serb participation in the proceedings of this General Assembly Serbian interests openly defied the Habsurg authorities and arranged for Serb delegates to attend. On 29 May, Baron Wesselenyi, who had actually personally done much to oppose the Union of Transylvania with Hungary during earlier proceedings of the Transylvanian Diet, appeared in the Upper House of the Hungarian Diet, the House of Magnates, where he was also entitled to take a seat, and attempted to make a case that some concessions to the nationality of the numerous Rumanians within Transylvania was necessary to provide a basis for future co-operation and asking that the Hungarian Diet "pass a law that the nationality of the Rumanians shall be respected." Prior to the revolutionary events of 1848 the political representatives of three traditionally recognized "nations", (Magyars, Székelys - a Magyar-speaking subgroup very closely linked with the Magyars, and the Saxons), had been politically dominant in Transylvania, with the Magyar element being pre-eminent! A measure passed by the Diet in 1847 had given a favoured position to the Magyar language in the future administration of Transylvania. The Saxons were a community of historic Germanic origin but then present in Transylvania for some six hundred years after having been invited in by earlier Magyar rulers to assist in the defence of their realms. The descendants of these incomers were allowed extensive territorial autonomies and established themselves as craftmen, merchants and as members of the professions living in largely self-governing, Germanised, towns and villages over the course of time. The numerous Romanians living in Transylvania, however, did not receive politically relevant recognition as a "nation." The rules in relation to persons qualifying as electors in the various administrative areas of the Habsburg territories had changed markedly as an outcome of the revolutionary turmoils in Vienna and Budapest, and it was obvious that any fresh elections to the Transylvanian Diet conducted under those new rules would also inevitably produce a very substantial Rumanian representation. Thus it was against a background of a probable imminent political transformation within Transylvania that on May 30, 1848, the Transylvanian Diet went ahead and voted in favour of the Union of Transylvania with Hungary. Although Rumanians comprised the majority ethnic community in Transylvania, and were then unmistakably giving voice to aspirations towards changes that would eliminate the longstanding political, economic and cultural disenfranchisements under which they felt themselves to have been living, Kossuth subsequently dismissed Baron Wesselenyi's proposed concessions declaring that he knew nothing of a Rumanic, or a Croatian people, and recognised only Hungarian citizens. Within days of the vote of May 30 some sporadic clashes, between the authorities who sought to implement the Union, and Rumanians, who were very reluctant to accept it on political and linguistic grounds, were being reported. Many of the Saxons became increasingly concerned for their political and linguistic future if Transylvania was incorporated into an expanded Kingdom of Hungary and tended to make common cause with the Rumanians. Over ensuing weeks inter-communal clashes in Transylvania grew in scale and intensity as a tangled situation had arisen where some seventy five per cent of the Transylvanian population declined to give consent to the Union whilst the remaining, historically politically dominant, twenty five per cent favoured it and were supported in this by those who held the levers of power in the Kingdom of Hungary. Jonathan Sperber, in Chapter 5 of his The European Revolutions, 1848-1851, gives this summary of the European situation:- By late spring 1848, the Habsburg Empire looked like a hopeless case: the monarchy's northern Italian possessions in revolt, invaded by a Piedmontese army and largely cleared of Austrian troops; three different "national" governments in Vienna, Budapest and Zagreb each claiming sovereign authority; Polish, Romanian, Slovenian, Serb, Czech, and Slovak national movements aspiring to a similar sobvereign status; a mentally incompetent monarch and his court in flight from the capital to the provinces; a state tresury completely bare. In April Frantisek Palacký had declined to become involved in the proceedings at Frankfurt declaring in his letter:- "I am not a German - at any rate I do not consider myself as such", and, in the same letter , making such statements as:- ... You know that the south-east of Europe along the frontiers of the Russian Empire is inhabited by several peoples significantly different in origin, language, history and culture - Slavs, Wallachians, Magyars, and Germans, not to mention the Greeks, Turks and Schkipetars - of whom none is strong enough by itself to put up a successful resistance in the future against the overpowering neighbour in the East (i.e. The Russian Empire); they can do that only when a single and firm bond unites them all with one another. The true life blood of this necessary union of peoples is the Danube: its central power, therefore, must not be too far distant from this stream if it wants to be and to remain at all effective. Truly, if the Austrian Empire had not already existed for a long time, then one would have to hurry in the interest of Europe and the interest of humanity to create it. ... When I cast my glance beyond the frontiers of Bohemia I am impelled by natural as well as historical causes to direct them not towards Frankfurt but towards Vienna, and there to seek the centre which is natural and is called to secure and to protect for my people peace, freedom and justice. ... For the salvation of Europe, Vienna must not sink down to the level of a provincial city! ... I shall always be glad to co-operate in all measures which do not endanger Austria's independence, integrity and the development of her power. Palacký had made considerable efforts during the following weeks in promoting Austro-Slavism which had resulted in the arranging of a Pan-Slav congress to be held in Prague early in June, 1848 bringing together in one place representations from across the "Austrian" Slavic lands - Czechs, Slovaks, Poles, Ruthenes, Croats, Serbs and Slovenes. Prior to the opening session the conveners of the congress (who were mostly Czech) issued a proclamation announcing that:- "We solemnly declare that we are resolved to remain loyal to the House of Hapsburg-Lorraine, which reigns over us by virtue of hereditary right and constitutional principles. We are resolved to maintain the integrity and independence of the empire by every means in our power. We repel all the accusations of separatism, "pan-Slavism", and pro-Russian tendencies which may be brought against us by evil-disposed calumniators. ... Our national independence and our union depend on the maintenance of the independence and integrity of the Austrian empire. The task which we essay is essentially conservative, and there is nothing to cause inquietude to our fair-minded and liberal fellow-citizens of other nationalities". From this it might well be thought that the Habsburg system might find firm support amongst its numerous Slavic peoples, (which, if numbered together, actually constituted a majority of the Empire's inhabitants), but it became plain that this support was unlikely to be selfless - as can be appreciated by considering this passage from the Manifesto to the peoples of Europe issued by the Pan-Slav Congress on the 12th June, 1848:- "In the belief that the powerful spiritual stream of today demands new political forms and that the state must be re-established upon altered principles, if not within new boundaries, we have suggested to the Austrian Emperor, under whose constitutional government we, the majority, live, that he transform his imperial state into a union of equal nations, which would accommodate these demands no less fully than would a unitary monarchy. We see in such a union not only salvation for ourselves but also freedom, culture, and humanity for all, and we are confident that the nations of Europe will assist in the realization of this union. In any case, we resolve, by all available means, to win for our nationality the complete recognition of the same political rights that the German and Hungarian peoples already enjoy in Austria." This present page is one of a series treating with the themes unfolding during the history of the European Revolutions of 1848. Widespread social chaos allows the re-assertion of Dynastic / Governmental Authority Some instances of social and political extremism allow previously pro-reform liberal elements to join conservative elements in supporting the return of traditional authority. Such nationalities living within the Habsburg Empire as the Czechs, Croats, Slovaks, Serbs and Rumanians, find it more credible to look to the Emperor, rather than to the democratised assemblies recently established in Vienna and in Budapest as a result of populist agitation, for the future protection of their nationality. The Austrian Emperor and many Kings and Dukes regain political powers. Louis Napoleon, (who later became the Emperor Napoleon III), elected as President in France offering social stability at home but ultimately follows policies productive of dramatic change in the wider European structure of states and their sovereignty. Other Popular European History pages at Age-of-the-Sage The preparation of these pages was influenced to some degree by a particular "Philosophy of History" as suggested by this quote from the famous Essay "History" by Ralph Waldo Emerson:- There is one mind common to all individual men... Of the works of this mind history is the record. Its genius is illustrated by the entire series of days. Man is explicable by nothing less than all his history. Without hurry, without rest, the human spirit goes forth from the beginning to embody every faculty, every thought, every emotion, which belongs to it in appropriate events. But the thought is always prior to the fact; all the facts of history preexist in the mind as laws. Each law in turn is made by circumstances predominant, and the limits of nature give power to but one at a time. A man is the whole encyclopaedia of facts. The creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn, and Egypt, Greece, Rome, Gaul, Britain, America, lie folded already in the first man. Epoch after epoch, camp, kingdom, empire, republic, democracy, are merely the application of his manifold spirit to the manifold world.	i don't know
The painting 'And When Did You Last See Your Father' can be found in Liverpool's Walker Art Gallery. Who painted it?	John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. (British, 1860–1939) \| The Knohl Collection John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. (British, 1860–1939) After "And When Did You Last See Your Father" by William Frederick Yeames You are here: Home / The Collection / Paintings / John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. (British, 1860–1939) Next » Henri-Paul Motte (French, 1846-1922) John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. (British, 1860–1939), watercolor, signed lower right, 27.5″ x 37″ [after the original oil by William Frederick Yeames (1878)] John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. studied in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts under the famous French academic artist, Jean-Léon Gérôme. Fox started exhibiting at the Paris Salon at the early age of 16. Starting in 1890, he exhibited at the Royal Academy, and was elected a full Member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1892. He exhibited 15 paintings at the Royal Academy, 49 at the RBA, 2 at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, 1 at the Royal Oil Painters Institute, 4 at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolor and variously in the provinces. He lived in London in 1890, but later moved to Marlborough, keeping an apartment in London. He was married to Ada R. Holland, a portrait and figure painter who is also a listed artist and frequent exhibitor. Fox enjoyed fly fishing, and wrote two books, one about fishing and one about his experiences as an art student in Paris. His biographical details may be found in The Dictionary of British Artists (Collector’s Club) and The Dictionary of British Artists by Grant Waters. And When Did You Last See Your Father? is a watercolor painted after the original oil by William Frederick Yeames (1855-1918). The painting depicts a scene in an imaginary Royalist household during the English Civil War (1642 – 1646). The Parliamentarians have taken over the house and are questioning the boy about his Royalist father’s whereabouts. Behind him, a Roundhead soldier holds the boy’s crying sister, who waits her turn to be questioned. At the back of the hall the mother and elder daughter wait anxiously on the boy’s reply. You can see the mother’s fear and anxiety as she waits for the boy’s answer. The boy is obviously quite distraught; if the boy tells the truth he will endanger his father, but if he lies he will go against the ideal of honesty undoubtedly instilled in him by his parents. During the English Civil War, Roundheads (Parliamentarians) and Cavaliers (Royalist) fought against each other in order to gain control of the country. The Roundheads were unhappy with the way King Charles I ruled the country. The Cavaliers were loyal to the King. Oliver Cromwell, a leading Roundhead, had the King executed and then became leader of the country. The original oil painting, one of the most popular works hanging in the Walker Art Gallery, has been widely reproduced and is often found in history textbooks. It is also the subject of a popular 1890s song and has been replicated as a waxwork tableau at Madame Tussaud’s in London. For more information about the painting see:	William Frederick Yeames
Which hanging basket favourite is also called 'Pelargonium'?	Paintings \| The Knohl Collection - Part 7 Fredrick Arthur Bridgman (American, 1847-1928) Fredrick Arthur Bridgman (American, 1847-1928), Arab Street Scene, oil on canvas, c. 1880, 19″ x 23″ Bridgman was America’s preeminent Orientalist painter. He was born in Alabama, then moved north to Boston, and at one point was enrolled in art school in Brooklyn, New York. In 1866, he moved to Paris, France, and a year later entered the studio of the noted French Orientalist painter, Jean Léon Gérôme. Bridgman’s painting style was greatly influenced by Gérôme and he is often referred to as “the American Gérôme.” Bridgman, like so many 19th century artists, decided to venture outside of their familiar environment and explore more exotic lands. He traveled through Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, and became fascinated by the life and light in these foreign lands. An Arab Street Scene is an excellent example of Bridgman’s ability to capture the essence of daily life in the East. John Charlton (British, 1849 – 1917) John Charlton (British, 1849 – 1917), Hunting in Olden Times, oil on canvas, signed with initials, signature on frame, oil on canvas, 40″ x 30″ John Charlton was a very successful British artist known for his powerful military scenes, detailed and accurate animal and figure paintings, and vivid landscapes. He debuted at the Royal Academy in 1870 and exhibited there until 1904, contributing 53 works. He was born in a county in North East England and received his first drawing lessons from his father. Due to his family’s financial misfortunes, Charlton was enrolled in Dr. Sharp’s charity school, but a short time later was forced to quit and find employment. His first job was at a bookstore, which gave the promising artist a chance to copy the master’s work. Years later, while working as a draughtsman, his employers noticed his extraordinary talent and regularly granted him time to practice his art. At the suggestion of Mr. Joseph Crawhill, a notable British illustrator, Charlton began to attend evening classes at the Newcastle School of Arts under William Bell Scott. It was during this time that Charlton developed a reputation as a skilled painter of horses and dogs, and began receiving commissions to portray family pets. In 1874, realizing that his best chance for advancement lay in the London art world, he ventured south and took classes at the South Kensington Museum, now the Victoria and Albert Museum. To earn a living Charlton became an illustrator for The Graphic, and his sketches of the Egyptian Campaign of 1882 were often reproduced in the popular weekly illustrated British newspaper. Experiencing the wealth of military illustration, he decided to try his hand at creating a large war-themed painting, and in 1883 exhibited British artillery entering the enemy’s lines at Tel-el-Kebir, 13 September 1882. The critics praised the canvas calling it a “vigorous and vividly realistic rendering.” Spurred on by the success, he chose another military scene for his 1887 academy piece. Based on a sketch by a Royal Navy surgeon, Charlton painted Bad news from the front, a scene from the Suakim campaign of 1885. For his 1893 piece, Placing the Guns, he returned to the Sudan campaign. His next military subject was from the Zulu War, After the charge: 17th Lancers, Ulundi, 4 July 1879, which was shown at Burlington House in 1888. Charlton exhibited several paintings from the Crimean War, including An Incident in the charge of the Light Brigade, shown at the academy in 1889. In 1897 he exhibited another powerful piece called Comrades, showing a trooper of the 17th Lancers lying dead on the field while his horse, hit by a bullet, rears in agony. The artist’s success continued, and in 1905 his picture Balaclava: The Charge of the Light Brigade was reproduced in the Christmas Supplement to The Graphic. Charlton also painted scenes from the Peninsular War and the English Civil War, and occasionally turned to foreign wars not involving Britain. In After the battle: Sedan, based on an incident in the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, Charlton chose one of his favorite themes, that of riderless horses after a battle. His painting of Prussian General Seidlitz at the Battle of Rossbach in 1757 was shown at the Berlin Art Gallery in April 1914 and attracted the attention of a wealthy German who offered to buy the piece, but before the sale could be finalized, war broke out and the picture was ‘interned’ in Germany. In 1916, World War One brought the pain and suffering of war directly home to Charlton. On June 24, his eldest son, Lieutenant Hugh Vaughan Charlton, was killed on the Western Front and seven days later his youngest son, Captain John Macfarlane Charlton, was killed on his 21st birthday. Devastated by his loss, the artist painted a poignant canvas, now lost, of his two sons with their grandmother; and in another painting he showed the two handsome and promising young men with their three dogs. Henri-Paul Motte (French, 1846-1922) Henri-Paul Motte (French, 1846-1922), oil on canvas, signed lower center: Henri Motte, 17.5″ x 27.75 “ Henri Motte was an award-winning student of Jean-Léon Gérôme who exhibited at the French Salons for most of career. He also exhibited Taking of the Tuileries, 10th August 1792 (1892) at the Chicago World’s Fair of 1893. Motte specialized in historical and mythological scenes, such as The Trojan Horse (1874), his first Salon entry; Hannibal Crossing the Rhone (1878); and Vercingetorix Surrendering to Caesar (1886) — all depictions of compelling moments of warfare. Vercingetorix Surrendering to Caesar and Hannibal Crossing the Rhone both received medals at the Universal Exhibition in Paris. Another award-winning image, Cardinal Richelieu at the Siege of La Rochelle (1881), depicts Cardinal Richelieu, on behalf of King Louis XIII, commanding a siege on the city of La Rochelle, then occupied by the Huguenots. Motte received a third class medal in 1880, the Bronze Medal at the Paris Exposition in 1889, and the Silver Medal at the Paris Exposition in 1900. He was also awarded the Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honor) in 1892. The Order of Légion d’Honneur is the highest decoration in France and is divided into five degrees: Chevalier (Knight), Officier (Officer), Commandeur (Commander), Grand Officier (Grand Officer) and Grand Croix (Grand Cross). Motte was commissioned to decorate the theatre at Monte Carlo and the Town Hall of Limoges. More recently, his 1886 painting of Vercingetorix Surrendering to Caesar was used as the cover artwork for the modern-day board game, Caesar in Gaul. Sources: World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893, Official Catalogue, edited by Moses Purnell Handy Official Catalogue of Exhibitors: Universal Exposition, St. Louis, U.S.A., 1904 Henri-Paul Motte obituary – American Art News, Volume 20 http://digitalresearch.lib.unc.edu/exhibits/show/catc3112/section1/interpretation John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. (British, 1860–1939) John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. (British, 1860–1939), watercolor, signed lower right, 27.5″ x 37″ [after the original oil by William Frederick Yeames (1878)] John Shirley Fox, R.B.A. studied in Paris at the Ecole des Beaux Arts under the famous French academic artist, Jean-Léon Gérôme. Fox started exhibiting at the Paris Salon at the early age of 16. Starting in 1890, he exhibited at the Royal Academy, and was elected a full Member of the Royal Society of British Artists in 1892. He exhibited 15 paintings at the Royal Academy, 49 at the RBA, 2 at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, 1 at the Royal Oil Painters Institute, 4 at the Royal Institute of Painters in Watercolor and variously in the provinces. He lived in London in 1890, but later moved to Marlborough, keeping an apartment in London. He was married to Ada R. Holland, a portrait and figure painter who is also a listed artist and frequent exhibitor. Fox enjoyed fly fishing, and wrote two books, one about fishing and one about his experiences as an art student in Paris. His biographical details may be found in The Dictionary of British Artists (Collector’s Club) and The Dictionary of British Artists by Grant Waters. And When Did You Last See Your Father? is a watercolor painted after the original oil by William Frederick Yeames (1855-1918). The painting depicts a scene in an imaginary Royalist household during the English Civil War (1642 – 1646). The Parliamentarians have taken over the house and are questioning the boy about his Royalist father’s whereabouts. Behind him, a Roundhead soldier holds the boy’s crying sister, who waits her turn to be questioned. At the back of the hall the mother and elder daughter wait anxiously on the boy’s reply. You can see the mother’s fear and anxiety as she waits for the boy’s answer. The boy is obviously quite distraught; if the boy tells the truth he will endanger his father, but if he lies he will go against the ideal of honesty undoubtedly instilled in him by his parents. During the English Civil War, Roundheads (Parliamentarians) and Cavaliers (Royalist) fought against each other in order to gain control of the country. The Roundheads were unhappy with the way King Charles I ruled the country. The Cavaliers were loyal to the King. Oliver Cromwell, a leading Roundhead, had the King executed and then became leader of the country. The original oil painting, one of the most popular works hanging in the Walker Art Gallery, has been widely reproduced and is often found in history textbooks. It is also the subject of a popular 1890s song and has been replicated as a waxwork tableau at Madame Tussaud’s in London. For more information about the painting see: Ricciardo Meacci (Italian, 1856-1940) Ricciardo Meacci (Italian, 1856-1940), La Presentazione, pencil and watercolor heightened with gold on board, signed, 5″ x 10″ Aliases: Riccardo Meacci Born in Dolciano, a province of Siena, Riccardo Meacci studied at the Instituto di Belle Arti di Siena under Luigi Mussini. He worked in Biringucci until 1881, when he moved to Florence. He painted with meticulous attention to detail, in the manner of his Italian master forefathers. Known for his rich, jewel-toned colors, Meacci typically painted religious and allegorical themes. He was renowned throughout Europe and was especially sought after by the English aristocracy, many of whom were his patrons. He received commissions from Queen Victoria, the Earl of Lothian, the Duke of Connaught, Prince Franz of Lichtenstein and Leopold of Hohenzollern. Additionally, there paintings were commissioned by the Palazzo Pitti in Florence: The Arrival of the Convicts, The Offering of the Country, and The Three Wise Men. Many of Meacci’s works can still be seen today in Siena. One of them, St Peter Receiving the Keys, is a triptych in the Basilica of Saint Francis. He also executed a fresco depicting various Italian provinces, which is still visible in the Monumental Room of the town hall in Siena. John Frederick Herring, Jr. (British, c. 1820-1907) John Frederick Herring, Jr. (British, c. 1820-1907), Riders on a Country Lane, signed & dated, 1857, 13.75″ x 19.25″ John F. Herring, Jr. was born in South Yorkshire (c.1820) to the well-known 19th century artist John F. Herring, Sr., one of England’s greatest sporting and equestrian artists. John Frederick Herring Jr. had two brothers, Benjamin and Charles, who were also skilled painters. His mother, a member of the Society of Lady Artists, was also a competent painter and exhibited genre scenes at the Royal Academy from 1852 to 1866. John Frederick Herring Jr. worked in both oil and watercolor, but his oils gained him the most recognition. Herring, Jr. married Kate Rolfe, an artist herself and the daughter of Alexander Rolfe, the English angling and sporting artist. Herring, Jr. would, at times, collaborate with his father-in-law, as well as other artists, painting the animals in their works. During his lifetime Herring Jr. exhibited at all the major exhibition halls including the Royal Academy, where he exhibited: The Farm – Autumn (1863), Farm-yard (1864), Watering the Team (1869), The Homestead (1871) and A Farm yard (1872) among others. Exhibited: The Royal Academy 1863 – 1873; The British Institute 1864 – 1867; The Suffolk Street Gallery Christoph Schwarz (Munich c.1545 – 1592) Christoph Schwarz (Munich c.1545 – 1592), The Arrest of Two Saints, oil on copper, 15 3/8″ x 15 3/4″ Christoph Schwarz was the son of a Munich goldsmith, Conrad Schwarz ( fl 1540s), and was apprenticed to Hans II Bocksberger from 1560 to c. 1566. In 1568 he worked on festive decorations for the marriage of Prince William (later Duke) of Bavaria and Duchess Renata of Lorraine together with Hans Mielich (1516–73), the master in charge, and Hans Ostendorfer II (d c. 1570). He also assisted Mielich on paintings for the high altarpiece (1560–72; in situ) of the Liebfrauenkirche, Ingolstadt. In 1569 he was awarded his master’s certificate and citizenship of Munich. Between 1570 and 1573 he was in Italy, mainly in Venice, though he did spend some time in Padua with Lambert Sustris. After his return in 1573 he was first appointed Town Painter in Munich and the following year court painter to Duke Albert IV, as Mielich’s successor. The façade paintings praised by Sandrart on the merchant’s house at Kauffingerstrasse 4 (Rape of the Sabine Women, drawing; Stuttgart, Staatsgalerie), on the Senger brewery in Burgstrasse and elsewhere, partially known through drawings made after them, were executed in this period. In the 1570s he also depicted subjects from Classical mythology (e.g. the Rape of Proserpine; Cambridge, Fitzwilliam Museum) and painted portraits. During Duke William V’s reign (from 1581) Schwarz became the Bavarian court’s favourite painter of religious pictures (e.g. Crucifixion; Munich, Alte Pinotek); these included altarpieces, small devotional pictures and collectors’ items, often painted on copper. He decorated the interior of the Duchess’s private oratory at the Residenz in Munich, using canvas panels, as was the custom in Venice, to form ceiling pictures and employing foreshortened perspective (parts in situ, heavily overpainted). In 1581 he painted a winged altarpiece (on loan to Nuremberg, Ger. Nmus.) for the student congregation of the newly built Jesuit school. Although Schwarz’s personal relations with Friedrich Sustris were always tense, the artists’ styles gradually grew closer. In 1585 Schwarz was in Augsburg where he painted altarpieces for chapels in SS Ulrich und Afra (e.g. a Crucifixion; in situ) and for the former Jesuit church (Virgin Enthroned above the City of Augsburg; Munich, Alte Pinotek., on loan to Munich, St Anna im Lehel), working for members of the Fugger family. Emperor Rudolf II then endeavoured to obtain Schwarz’s services as a court painter. Though William V refused to release him, he was allowed to work in Munich on pieces for the famous imperial Kunstkammer in Prague, and several pictures by him are mentioned in its early inventories. In the 1580s Schwarz enjoyed special status at court in Munich as a painter of devotional pictures, portraits and miniatures. He was commissioned to do the high altarpiece for the Jesuit Michaelskirche in Munich (Fall of the Angels, 1587–9; in situ) and was thus able by and large to remain aloof from collaborative ventures directed by Sustris, such as the interior decoration of the Grottenhof at the Residenz. Another indication of his standing is that when Hendrick Goltzius visited Munich in 1591 he drew a portrait of Schwarz (untraced). The portrait (Munich, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung) executed on his death by Engelhard de Pee (c. 1540/50–1605) has survived, inscribed with the exact date. Engravings by Jan Sadeler I and Aegidius Sadeler II, Lucas Kilian and others, and above all the approval expressed by Sandrart, kept the reputation Schwarz had enjoyed in his lifetime alive well into the 18th century. He had considerable influence on the Bavarian artists who came after him—Hans Krumper, Georg Pecham, Christoph Zimmermann (c. 1575–1639) and others. He was one of the main practitioners of the Venetian manner in south German painting in his day and in that respect was a forerunner of the Baroque style of Johann Rottenhammer the elder. Collections Schwarz is represented in the following collections: Fitzwilliam Musuem, Cambridge; Munich, Alte Pinotek; Munich, Staatliche Graphische Sammlung; Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco, amongst others. Source: SPHINX FINE ART – sphinxfineart.com Edward Henry Corbould, RI, RA, (British, 1814-1904), Una and the Redcrosse Knight: In the Cavern of Despair, watercolor with body color over pencil, signed and dated, 1906, 24″ x 15″ Edward Henry Corbould (1814-1904) was a distinguished painter, successful illustrator, and an accomplished sculptor. While a student at the Royal Academy, he concentrated primarily on watercolors, producing a large number of images depicting scenes and characters from classic and contemporary literature, chiefly Chaucer, Spenser, and Shakespeare. In 1842 his watercolor The Woman Taken in Adultery was purchased by Prince Albert; nine years later Corbould was appointed Instructor of Historical Painting to the Royal Family. For 21 years he continued to teach various members of the Royal Family, and many of his best works were acquired by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Corbould’s contract with the royal family was eventually terminated and Corbould returned to exhibiting at the Royal Academy and the Royal Institute of Painters, supporting himself by illustrating books and magazines. Between 1835 and 1874 Corbould exhibited 17 paintings at the Royal Academy. Una and the Redcrosse Knight is an illustration of a scene from The Faerie Queene, an incomplete English epic poem by Edmund Spenser. The first half of the poem was published in 1590 and a second installment was published in 1596. The Faerie Queene is notable for its form; it was the first work written in Spenserian stanza and is one of the longest poems in the English language. It is an allegorical work written in praise of Queen Elizabeth I. In a completely allegorical context, the poem follows several knights – each knight representing a different virtue. Una is the personification of the “True Church.” She travels with the Redcrosse Knight (who represents England), and together they try to save her parents’ castle from a dragon. The Redcrosse Knight bears the emblem of Saint George, patron saint of England. St George’s Cross, a red cross on a white background, continues to be the national flag of England. Balthazar Beschey (Flemish, 1708 – 1776) The Assumption of the Virgin, Balthazar Beschey (Flemish, 1708 – 1776), signed, oil on panel, 30″ x 20″ Balthazar Beschey (or Besschey) was a professor and Director of the Academy of Arts in Antwerp, Dean of the Painter’s Guild of Saint Luke, and helped establish the Rubens Studio in Antwerp. Beschey was born at Antwerp in 1708 and studied under Pieter Strick, an unknown painter who imitated the styles of accomplished Antwerp painters. In 1753 Beschey was admitted to the Painter’s Guild of St Luke in Antwerp and two years later he was elected Dean of the Guild of Saint Luke (1775-1776). In 1755 he was made one of the six directors of the Academy of Arts in Antwerp. Using his influential position at the Academy, Beschey sought to revive traditional practices through the study of Rubens. Among his pupils were Pierre Joseph Verhagen, Guillaume-Jacques Herreyns, and Andries Cornelis Lens. Beschey held the position of Professor at the Academy of Arts in Antwerp up until his death in 1776. Beschey began his career as a landscape painter, but later switched to history and portrait painting. Near the end of his life he concentrated almost exclusively on religious subject matter. Balthasar also operated an art restoration workshop and art dealership in Antwerp. Thanks to his connections in England through his brother Jan Frans, he was able to export Flemish paintings to England. His works can be found in the Louvre, Hermitage Museum, Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and other important museums and private collections around the world. Antwerp, Royal Museum of Fine Arts: Joseph sold by his brothers (signed and dated 1744) The brothers try to buy corn from Joseph, the Vice-Roy of Egypt (signed and dated 1744) Self-portrait (signed — donated by the artist to the Academy of Antwerp in 1763) Portrait of the painter Martin Joseph Geeraerts Paris, Louvre Museum Portrait of a Family (signed and dated 1721) Saint Petersburg, Hermitage Museum The Five Senses, Allegory of Eyesight and the Sense of Touch, Signed and dated: B. BESCHEIJ, 1733 The Five Senses, Allegory of Hearing, Taste and Smell, Signed and dated: B. BESCHEIJ It has been recorded that Beschey had a son who was a painter, but this is a mistake. He had, however, three younger brothers who followed his profession, under his instruction, and one elder brother, who was a pupil of Goovaert’s. This last mentioned was Carel Beschey, who was born at Antwerp in 1706. His younger brothers were Jacob Andreas Beschey (born at Antwerp in 1710); Joseph Hendrik Beschey (born at Antwerp in 171); and lastly, Jan François Beschey (born in 1717). Jan established himself as an art dealer in England, and became celebrated for the copies he made of the works of Rubens, Van Dyck, and other great masters. He was elected dean of the Guild of St. Luke in 1767. REFERENCES: This article incorporates text from the article “BESCHEY, Balthasar” in Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers by Michael Bryan, edited by Robert Edmund Graves and Sir Walter Armstrong, an 1886–1889 publication George Edmund Butler (British, 1872-1935) George Edmund Butler (British, 1872-1935), Bedtime Story, oil on canvas, signed lower left, 32″ x 72 1/2″ framed This biography was written by Chris Pugsley and was first published in the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Volume 3, 1996 – updated 5-Jun-2013 George Edmund Butler was born in Southampton, Hampshire, England, on 15 January 1872. In 1883 he emigrated with his parents, Joseph Cawte Butler and his wife, Jane Tiller, to New Zealand where his father established himself as a builder with premises in Cuba Street, Wellington. After completing his education at Te Aro School George worked for his father and studied art part time under James Nairn. He enrolled at the Wellington School of Design (later the Wellington Technical College) in 1890. In 1892 he joined the avant-garde Wellington Art Club, founded by Nairn, and established a local reputation for his seascapes. In 1897 Butler went to Sydney with the Wellington art dealer McGregor Wright to study pictures in the National Art Gallery of New South Wales. He then decided to further his studies in art, and in 1898 worked his passage back to England in the stokehold of the Gothic. Butler studied at the Lambeth School of Art, and the Académie Julian in Paris, where he gained honours. He moved to the Antwerp academy, winning a gold medal and laurel wreath in 1900. On 29 April 1899 Butler married Sarah Jane Popplestone at Lyndhurst, Hampshire. Butler returned to Wellington in 1900 and exhibited in Wellington and Christchurch art society exhibitions that year. In 1901 he settled in Dunedin and exhibited until 1905. It must have been a difficult time for Butler. He had a reputation gained from his studies in Europe and his paintings won praise at the Otago Art Society exhibitions, but life as a professional artist without private means gave little financial reward. He supported himself by giving tuition in drawing, and was commissioned to complete a number of portraits of city dignitaries. In 1905, at the age of 33, George Butler returned to England seeking success on a larger stage. He settled in Bristol, taught art at Clifton College, established a reputation as a portrait and landscape artist in watercolours and oils, and was elected to the Royal West of England Academy in 1912. His work was exhibited ‘on the line’ at the Royal Academy of Arts, the Royal Scottish Academy and the Salon of the Société des artistes français. In 1916 ‘Supreme sacrifice’ was exhibited at the Royal Academy and sold for £450. In August 1918 the newly formed New Zealand Expeditionary Force War Museum Committee approached Butler, as an expatriate New Zealand artist of reputation, about executing ‘a picture or pictures’ depicting the work of the NZEF. Butler agreed and was appointed official war artist with the honorary rank of captain in the NZEF on 16 September 1918. He joined the New Zealand Division in France in late September and remained there until late November, completing some 53 sketches and paintings. He carried a small sketch-book in which he made rough pencil sketches, often under fire, of actual operations and war scenes and based his finished works on these drawings. Butler was part of the New Zealand Division’s successful advance during the last two months of the war, and was fortunate not to be wounded when a delayed-action mine destroyed a barn he was sketching near Bapaume. After the armistice he visited and sketched all the New Zealand battlefields in Belgium and France. The rapid return of the expeditionary force to New Zealand ended the War Museum Committee’s ambitious plans for London exhibitions similar to those mounted for Canadian and Australian war artists, and Butler was demobilised on 31 December 1918. Colonel R. Heaton Rhodes and Major General Sir Andrew Russell, the New Zealand divisional commander, privately commissioned Butler to complete a series of senior officer portraits and a number of large landscapes associated with New Zealand exploits on the western front. It was Heaton Rhodes’s intention to persuade the New Zealand government to purchase these works; if this was unsuccessful, he and Russell would meet the cost. Finally, in September 1921, the New Zealand cabinet approved payment including the purchase of a further two large works and 26 smaller paintings recommended by the New Zealand high commissioner in the United Kingdom, Sir James Allen. Butler never returned to New Zealand. Following Sarah Butler’s death at Trimley, Suffolk, on 15 March 1928, he married Monica Susan Boyce at London on 29 April 1929. He died at Twickenham on 9 August 1936, survived by his second wife and two children of his first marriage. Butler’s war paintings, held at National Archives, Wellington, capture the realities of war through a civilian’s eyes. They mirror the view of the New Zealand citizen soldier. There is no glory, only the stark depiction of waste and loss. They are an evocative indictment of war that have remained largely unseen by the New Zealand public. Chris Pugsley. ‘Butler, George Edmund’, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 5-Jun-2013 URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/biographies/3b62/butler-george-edmund George Edmund Butler attempted for a time to make a living as a professional artist in New Zealand, but in 1905 was forced to go to England to further his career. Despite his contribution as an official war artist of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in 1918, he remained an expatriate.	i don't know
What is the key ingredient of 'Cumberland Sauce'?	Cumberland Sauce Recipe : Emeril Lagasse : Food Network Prime Rib Recipes 3.7 3 This was awful, lacked the beautiful glistening red colour and rich taste I remembered. Then I looked at British recipes, Where Emeril only uses two teaspoonful of jelly, the British ones use four TABLESPOONS of jelly and 4 Tablespoons of Port, the spiciness comes from mustard and ginger powders Anyol'name 2015-12-24T00:03:24Z item not reviewed by moderator and published This was SO much easier than the recipe I've been using for years, and it tastes just as good. jacklynjill 2008-04-11T15:46:19Z item not reviewed by moderator and published Very easy to make and every good on fried brie, chicken, duck, or turkey. The only modification I would suggest is to use half cranberry sauce and half red current jelly or just cranberry sauce. Make sure to use cranberry sauce that has actual cranberries in it and not just the smooth kind. It adds nice texture to the sauce. Stephen H. 2007-01-09T00:33:42Z item not reviewed by moderator and published On TV	Redcurrant
Which animal appears on the flag of the US state of California?	BBC - Food - Cumberland sauce recipes Cumberland sauce recipes Cranberry and Cumberland sauce By Antony Worrall Thompson A classic English sauce with a thin consistency, made from port, orange and lemon juice and redcurrant jelly. Served cold, it is a traditional accompaniment to ham, cold cuts of goose or game, sausages and pâté. It is quick and easy to make. Recipes for cumberland sauce	i don't know
Whose parents were Edmund Tudor and Margaret Beaufort?	The Birth of Henry Tudor \| History Today The Birth of Henry Tudor The man who founded the Tudor dynasty was born on January 28th, 1457. Henry Tudor The future Henry VII was born with a claim to the English crown which was extremely slight and intriguingly complicated. He was to spend his youth in the nightmare politics of the Wars of the Roses but he was a survivor. So was his mother, the thirteen-year-old Lady Margaret Beaufort, great-granddaughter on the wrong side of the blanket of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, by Katherine Swynford. That the Beauforts were subsequently legitimized still left a question mark over their political position, but Lady Margaret was a rich enough heiress to make possession of her a profitable investment. Small, slight, shrewd and determined, Margaret was twelve when she was married to Edmund Tudor, son (ostensibly at least) of Owen Tudor, which brought a link with the French royal house into the equation. The Tudors were Anglesey landowners and Owen Tudor became a courtier of Henry V and met Henry Vs young wife, Catherine of Valois, the daughter of Charles VI of France. There were stories that he caught the Queen's eye when she saw him swimming, or that he tripped and fell into her lap when dancing. When Henry V died in 1422, Queen Catherine was left a widow at twenty and, according to one chronicler, 'was unable fully to curb her carnal passions'. She apparently had a love affair with Edmund Beaufort, future duke of Somerset, but it was Owen Tudor she married, on the quiet, the first widowed queen of England to remarry for 300 years. Her sons Edmund and Jasper Tudor stood high in the favour of their half-brother Henry VI, who created them earls of Richmond and Pembroke. Gossip made Edmund Tudor the son of Queen Catherine's affair with Edmund Beaufort, who was Lady Margaret's uncle. If so, Henry VII was not Welsh, and a Beaufort on both sides, but the gossip did not prevent Margaret Beaufort being married off to Edmund Tudor in 1455. Getting her with child despite her youth secured him a life interest in her substantial inherited estates, but he died the following year, when she was six months pregnant. Perhaps damaged by giving birth so young, she would have no more children. Meanwhile she went for protection to Jasper Tudor and it was in his stronghold of Pembroke Castle that she gave birth to the baby Henry. The following year she married Henry Stafford, a son of the Duke of Buckingham, to gain his protection and avoid having another husband forced on her. In 1462, when the young Henry Tudor was five years old, he was taken away from her and his wardship was given to William, Lord Herbert. Young Henry had never known a father and had now been parted from his mother as well. The Herberts seem to have treated him kindly and he was given a gentleman's education, but Lord Herbert was executed in 1469. Henry stayed on with Lady Herbert and in 1470, when he was thirteen, he had an audience with Henry VI. Later Tudor propaganda had it that the pious, half-mad king prophesied that the boy would one day rule England. Meanwhile, Henry returned to his Uncle Jasper and they were soon standing siege by a Yorkist army in Pembroke Castle. They managed to get away by ship to Brittany in 1471 and Duke François gave them shelter and protected Henry from England's Yorkist king, Edward IV, who wanted him in his own hands. Louis XI of France also tried to get Henry into his clutches. It was a desperately insecure situation and it is little wonder that the young Tudor came to manhood cautious, prudent and deeply reserved. Eventually, the death of Edward IV in 1483, the succession of Richard III, the disappearance of the princes in the Tower and the deaths of other Lancastrian claimants left Henry Tudor, however improbably, as a credible claimant to England's throne. He was encouraged by his mother, who was plotting against Richard III. Henry led an invasion from Brittany in 1485, defeated Richard III at Bosworth and became king of England at the age of twenty-eight. His mother, who burst into floods of tears at his coronation, died a few weeks after him, in 1509. Related articles	Henry VII of England
Which letter of the alphabet is denoted by a single dash in the Morse Code?	Lady Margaret Beaufort \| History Today Lady Margaret Beaufort Email Widowed at the age of thirteen, three months before the birth of her only child, the devout mother of Henry VII showed herself a master of political intrigue in pressing, once the moment was right, the imperfect title of her son to the throne of England. With a combination of piety and pragmatism she left a deep impression on her age. The foundation of the Tudor dynasty in 1485 reflected both the abilities and the good fortune of the new monarch, Henry VII. Henry's success without doubt owed much to the remarkable determination of his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, who had helped arrange his prospective match with Elizabeth of York, sent him money and organised part of the 1483 rebellion. During the new reign Margaret had considerable influence with the King. The personnel of their councils and households often overlapped and it was a measure of Henry's trust that he allowed her to retain servants on his behalf and delegated judicial cases to her. Mother and son maintained a close and affectionate relationship, glimpsed in the intimacy of their few surviving letters to each other. Yet what exactly was the role of Lady Margaret in the early Tudor period? The surviving portrait evidence stands as testament to her considerable religious and educational patronage. Her garb is usually conventual, black with a white coif, and she is presented kneeling at or holding a book of devotions. The mood is consonant with the reaffirmation of her vow of chastity made before John Fisher, and her daily spiritual observances movingly recorded in the 'mournynge remembraunce' which he preached at her month's mind in July 1509. In her childhood Margaret, a wealthy heiress, was very much a pawn in the unstable political atmosphere of the Lancastrian court. A marriage was first arranged with John de la Pole, the son of the Earl of Suffolk. This child match seems actually to have taken place, but was later annulled to enable another marriage to occur, with the King's half-brother Edmund Tudor. This union produced Margaret's only child, Henry, who was born in January 1457. However Edmund's early death led to a new match with Sir Henry Stafford, a younger son of the Duke of Buckingham. From this period of emotional confusion Margaret was at last able to emerge with a deeply-felt and long-standing relationship. The evidence of the Stafford household books shows that the couple rarely left each other's company, touring their estates and attending parliament together. Stafford quickly came to terms with the new Yorkist dynasty and enjoyed close access to Edward IV, frequently hunting with him in Windsor park. On one occasion husband and wife took advantage of the proximity of the King to entertain him at their hunting lodge at Brookwood. Margaret Beaufort's ties with the Yorkist court were strengthened by her third marriage, less than a year after the death of Stafford, to Thomas Stanley, steward of the King's household. The marriage settlement, drawn up in June 1472, was a careful arrangement of mutual benefit and it was with Stanley's assistance that Margaret was able to consolidate her landed estates. These Yorkist connections belie Bernard Andre's portrait of Margaret as a committed Lancastrian. Instead a fuller perspective emerges. Margaret was able to move easily through the world of political affairs, and during the brief period of Henry VI's restoration in 1470-71 invited such leading Lancastrians as Edmund, Duke of Somerset, to her palace at Woking. Yet the dominant characteristic was political astuteness rather than blindly partisan allegiance. She had welcomed Edward IV on his return from exile in April 1471 and played a leading part in the coronation of Richard III some twelve years later. But her sense of opportunism led to a remarkable role in the autumn rebellion of 1483, when she plotted to unite Yorkist and Lancastrian factions in a daring scheme to bring her son to the throne. The gamble failed, and only the influence of Stanley saved her from imprisonment or even death. Instead she was still able to send money to Henry, now in exile in France, and after Bosworth was handsomely rewarded for the dangers and difficulties she had borne. Such resilience could only come from a fully developed personality, strong and forceful and aware of worldly values. Never ostentatious, Margaret nevertheless recognised the need for display and finery. She shared many of the Renaissance interests of her son, including an appreciation of well-wrought jewellery, gold and silverware, and servants were sent abroad for items of particular quality. Some pieces were intricately designed. One, a tiny gilt ship, was decorated with lions bearing the Beaufort portcullis and a little figure sprung to open the lid. Much of her magnificent collection of gold plate was for the adornment of her chapels, but some was for personal decoration, such as the fine collars, girdles and chains of gold. She owned a large range of tapestry and arras, not only on biblical themes but also mythological and martial, including one on the deeds of Hannibal. Her gowns and dresses were suitably splendid, and her household accounts contain a number of references to hundreds of pounds spent on the purchase of furs, silk and cloth of gold. One counterpane, a beautiful piece of crimson satin embroidered with rose quarters, was worth a hundred pounds, and the total value of her goods was estimated at her death at nearly fifteen thousand pounds. Margaret was accustomed to fine residences, at Woking in the 1460s and Lathom in the 1470s, and from 1487 at Collyweston, a manor in Northamptonshire, which Margaret made into a palace. Here were a chapel, with a chamber furnished with desks for the choristers, an almshouse and garden, a library, a prison, and a council house built near the gate so that her councillors could hear the various complaints brought to her. She employed a clerk of works for the regular repair of her numerous houses, and it was he who oversaw the building of Christ's College Cambridge in the 1500s. Her domestic life saw a harmonising of spiritual and worldly values. Fine singers were recruited for the chapel, but a lord of misrule was employed at Christmas to organise morris dancing. May kings, boy bishops, fools and entertainers regularly visited her palace at Collyweston. One charming reference in Margaret's accounts records a payment to children for singing to her by the wood-side. Henry Parker, Lord Morley, who served as Margaret's cup-bearer during his youth in the 1490s, described her dinner-table conversation as ' joyous', loving merry tales as well as talk of godly matters. The broader dimensions to Lady Margaret's character reflected her belief in good stewardship and the proper observance of degree and rank as symptomatic of God's hierarchy on earth. She compiled detailed ordinances about the clothes to be worn by different ranks at court on occasions of mourning, and strictly adhered to proper etiquette. Henry Parker recalls her support for her servant Ralph Bigod, who refused to hear any disparagement of Richard III because he had previously served in his household and could not accept insults to a former master. Parker was to praise Margaret's relations with her own household, describing her as a diligent and careful mistress, knowing her servants' names, visiting them when sick, providing spiritual comfort to those in need. She understood largesse, making gifts to the poor but also to those of degree, such as the beautiful jewel worth a hundred pounds which she presented to her former ward and nephew, the Duke of Buckingham. This notion of temporal responsibility was evident in Margaret's scrupulous administration of her large landed estate. Several of her surviving letters indicate her grasp of detail and her willingness to pursue dishonest officials. She was prepared to enter into considerable litigation to recover old revenues or debts, yet also ready to drop a case after a few preliminary hearings if it did not justify a prolonged suit. Her concern for justice and familiarity with the law led to her and her council acting as arbitrator in a number of disputes. Margaret disliked needless faction, and Fisher describes vividly how, if dissension arose among her own servants, she 'did boulte it out'. The firm tone of a letter to a party failing to attend arbitration shows her concern for a fair settlement: ...albeit the said agreement was made by your mind and consent, yet ye ne doe performe the same, to our merveile, if it be so. Wherefore we desire and also counsell you without delay... to ride to the court to the said arbitratofs... without further troubles or business therein atter to he had; and that ye wil do this in and wise, so as we he not driven (through your defaulte) to put to our hands for further remedye to be had in the premise. She intervened with similar force at Cambridge to settle differences between town and university, to expedite the hearing of a citizen's complaint before the mayor and corporation of Coventry, and to resolve the title to some land in Northamptonshire. Margaret's vigorous fulfilment of worldly duty crystallised in her sense of family. Close contacts were maintained with those descended from her mother's two other marriages, to Oliver Saint-John and Lionel' Lord Welles. Frogenhalls, Zouches and Saint-Johns were all cared for, placed in the household, given an education and sometimes were married at Collyweston. Perhaps the most notable of such marriages was that between Elizabeth Zouche (whose mother was Margaret's half-sister) and Gerald Fitzgerald, son and heir of the Earl of Kildare, celebrated in the summer of 1503. A strong sense of family obligation was revealed in her attempts to collect bonds owed to her paternal grandfather John Beaufort, first Earl of Somerset, and to resolve the long-standing ransom dispute with the House of Orleans which had been of such concern to both her parents. Most important of all was her deeply-felt love and loyalty to her son. A glimpse of this is shown in one letter to Henry, movingly postscripted 'thys day of Saint Annes, that y did bryng into this world my good and gracyous Prince, Kynge and only beloved son'. During Henry's long period of exile his mother continually championed his interests, securing property for him in trust, attempting to negotiate his return to the Yorkist ourt, and finally risking all in conspiring to bring him to the throne. Such devotion ensured that Margaret exercised a major infuence over the new Tudor King. To understand Lady Margaret one must always be aware of her practicality. She was a superb organiser, both at the national and local level of politics. Faced with problems of flooding in parts of the Fens that threatened some of her properties, she was able to initiate an ambitious drainage scheme, involving foreign engineers, that saw the construction of a large sluice at Boston. Her remarkable determination and her 'holding memory' were noted by Fisher, and such qualities allow a better understanding of both her role and her achievements during the reign of Henry VII. The stresses of her earlier years, and her sensitivity to changing fortune, were reflected in her behaviour at her son's apogee of triumph in 1485, also recorded by Fisher. 'She never yet was in that prosperity' he says, 'but the greater it was the more alwaye she dredde the adversyte. For when they kynge her son was crowned in all that grete tryumphe and glorye, she wept mervaylously.' Fear that the wheel might turn once more, plunging the victors into disaster, was real enough during the succeeding years, troubled by the rumour and fact of rebellion. Henry's large grant of property to his mother in 1487 was a declaration of trust in the most reliable defender of his cause. The first parliament of the new reign had already reversed the attainder against her passed under Richard III, and she was given complete legal independence in respect of holding property for the term of her life 'as anie other sole person not covert of anie husband'. Margaret's vast estates, composed of her family inheritance, lands held for life as a result of her marriages, and grants by the crown, brought her a revenue of three thousand pounds a year. Until her death the profits of this entire agglomeration of property could be used to support her household and over four hundred dependents, the daily calls on her charity from religious bodies and the poor, and scholars and others receiving her patronage. Of these estates her father's lands in Devon, Somerset and Northamptonshire had been protected assiduously since 1472, when she placed them in trust for the performance of her will. The full potential of the trust was realised after her death by the completion of her chantries and colleges, but the crown still stood to benefit in the end. Her grandson Henry VIII was her sole direct descendant, and her lands helped to consolidate the Tudor dynasty. Lady Margaret's stature at the court of her son reflected her position as great landowner and patron. The Spanish ambassador in 1498 noted the mother of the King among those with greatest influence in England. She was approached by the Pope to forward the career of Adrian Castellesi, a curial diplomat favoured by Henry, who was promoted to the see of Hereford in 1502. A dedication to Margaret survives from the humanist cleric Giovanni Gigli, noted also for his elegy on the wedding of Henry and Elizabeth of York. Margaret was coupled with the King and Queen in receipt of spiritual privileges from Rome, and the debts due to her as a result of the Orleans ransom case involved her deeply in Anglo-French politics. Her semi-regal status was symbolised by the coronet of roses and fleurs-de-lys which appeared as a crest on her seal. It could also be seen in her rich apparel, resembling the Queen's, at the festivities following Elizabeth of York's coronation, and in the precedence accorded to her at court ceremonies such as the Garter procession of 1488. At a local level her efforts in arbitration made her a lieutenant of the crown, in whose name she sometimes explicitly acted. The style of her letters was that of the signet letters of the king, although her signature 'Margaret R', sometimes misunderstood as 'Margaret Regina', stood for Margaret Countess of Richmond. Her letters were often written from her palace at Collyweston. Rooms were reserved there for, among others, Catherine, wife of Sir Reginald Bray, the King's trusted councillor and Margaret's receiver-general, and Cecily, sister of the Queen and widow of John Viscount Welles, Margaret's half-brother. Among the visits made by the King to Collyweston was one in the summer of 1503, when he accompanied his daughter Margaret there on her way to Scotland as the bride of James IV. For the entertainment of the King's household extra plate was fetched from Lady Margaret's London mansion of Coldharbour, the Queen's minstrels were employed, and singing men came to swell her choir from Cambridge, Westminster and Tattershall College. Richard Fox, Bishop of Winchester and Keeper of the Privy Seal, stayed with others at Maxey – another residence of Lady Margaret's while the King occupied Collyweston. When Henry had given his daughter his blessing and seen her departure, Nicholas Aughton, a servant often employed by Margaret as a scout and messenger, rode with the bride's suite a day's journey towards the north. After his mistress's death Aughton would be paid for going 'with many boats' to take her swans out of the Thames. Lady Margaret's interest in public affairs continued until her death. In 1506 she was sent an account of the meeting of Henry with Philip of Castile who had been driven by a storm onto the English coast, and she entertained members of his household as she had done part of Catherine of Aragon's retinue five years before. At the time of Henry VIII's coronation a house was hired in Cheapside where Margaret stood with Philip's daughter to watch the King and Queen come from the Tower to Westminster to be crowned. Her previous fondness for her grandson is shown in a letter she wrote to Henry VII asking that her tenants be retained by no-one except 'my lord of York your faire swete son for whom they be most mete'. Her wealth and prestige at court and in the country after 1485 was a tribute to her survival of thirty years of political turmoi] but it was also the springboard for many acts of religious and educational charity associated with her. Her concern with such things was not an isolated phenomenon: neither the regime of piety in her household nor her interest in education was unique in her age. We know in detail her daily pattern of private prayer and worship, but an equally exacting timetable survives for Cecily, Duchess of York and mother of Edward IV. Anne, Duchess of Buckingham, Margaret's mother-in-law, was like her a pious and cultivated women who left to Margaret in her will 'a book of English called Legenda Sanctorum, a book of French called Lucun, another book of French of the epistles and gospels, and a primer with clasps of silver gilt, covered with purple velvet'. Lady Margaret's contribution was distinctive in the combination of her piety and educational awareness with a great range of scholarly and literary patronage, and in the scale of her endowments. She was a firm adherent of the established religious forms: spiritual sister and participator in the benefits of prayers and masses at the great Benedictine houses of Durham, Westminster, Crowland and Thorney, and benefactress of the conventual Franciscans and Dominicans. She was also the friend of the Carthusians and Friars Observant who were active in encouraging the growth of personal devotion to Christ among the laity. Margaret was conscious of the need to develop her own spirituality and at the same time to communicate to society around her the richness of the Church's traditional devotion and worship, especially in the sacrament of communion. She translated from French to English the fourth book of the Imitation of Christ, which centres on the need for taking this sacrament frequently and for sincere penitence. At one point it contrasts the lack of real reverence shown in people's fascination for richly displayed relics of saints, with the experience of God to be found at every celebration of Mass. Margaret also commissioned Wynkyn de Worde to print Walter Hilton's Ladder of Perfection, and Richard Pynson printed her English version of a French translation of the Speculum Aureum Peccatorum, a product of Carthusian piety, as The Mirror of Gold for the Sinful Soul. Her own ignorance of Latin, beyond that sufficient to understand the order of worship, forced her to rely on scholars to complement her work. The French version of The Mirror of Gold was 'checked and corrected by many clerks, doctors and masters of divinity' before she turned it into English. By the time The Mirror of Gold was published in 1507 Margaret had become the leading patron of both English Universities. The credit for turning her eyes in their direction may rest with the scholars of her acquaintance, such as Maurice Westbury who was dispensed from residence at Oxford to act as tutor in her household in 1493; Richard Fitzjames, warden of Merton College who became her confessor before being made Bishop of Rochester in 1497; and especially John Fisher, fellow of Michaelhouse Cambridge. He first met Margaret while on university business at court in 1495 and later succeeded Fitzjames as her spiritual adviser. Her interest in Cambridge, of which Fisher was made Chancellor in 1504, was henceforward the stronger for his presence. The university benefactions for which Margaret is most famous are her professorships of divinity. They were financed directly from her household before being funded from Westminster Abbey, which was well endowed by Margaret and the King to support their chantries. Edward IV had once initiated a similar project for Oxford, only linked to a chantry at Windsor; but Margaret's scheme was more ambitious and has endured, although financed by different means. The endowed stipend meant that the lecturers were freed from dependence on other sources of income, and the course of lectures could be guaranteed in the same way as a post offered by a college. Fisher himself was made the first Cambridge endowed professor of divinity in 1502. Fisher and Margaret both saw clearly the communication problem faced by the Church of their day. They sought the answer not only in a clergy better grounded in theology, but in one familiar with the methods and duties of preaching. At Margaret's behest Wynkyn de Worde printed Fisher's own sermons on the penitential psalms, originally preached by him before her, and shortly before her death she commissioned the publication of his sermon at the funeral of Henry VII. Doubtless with Fisher's advice she embarked on the foundation of a university preachership at Cambridge in 1504. The preacher was obliged to leave Cambridge periodically during the year to preach at named churches, mostly in areas where Margaret had estates. The preachership was also supported by Westminister Abbey, but it was envisaged that the post might be held with a college fellowship, which guaranteed an added source of income. While Lady Margaret continued to fund individual scholars at all levels throughout her life, she devoted her greatest efforts to the Cambridge Colleges. She contributed towards the building of Jesus College, another of whose benefactors was Catherine Bray. At Queens' she helped to redress the injury which the college had suffered from Henry VII's confiscation of estates granted by Richard III, by inducing her nephew the Duke of Buckingham to grant it lands in Essex. She afterwards nominated Fisher as president of the college, a post from which he was able to oversee the foundation of Christ's. When she and the King stayed at Queens' college in 1506 the shadow of its Yorkist past was lifted. Christ's College itself, which bears a fine modern statue of Lady Margaret over its gateway, is the 'College Royall' mentioned by Fisher in his Mournyng Remembraunce. It is strictly royal not only by its connection with Margaret, but because it was an enlargement and completion of God's House, a place designed originally to train teachers in grammar, which was adopted by Henry VI in 1448. The royal charter of Christ's, granted in 1505, stated that Margaret had wished to complete Henry's foundation for the increase of the Christian faith, the salvation of her soul, and the love she bore the murdered King and her confidence in his sanctity. Her personal devotion to Jesus determined the new dedication to Christ, and it is interesting that she united with this a reverence for Henry VI whose cult, after much negotiation between her son and the pope, remained unofficial. Fisher was later to be commemorated at Christ's as the man who had drawn her attention to God's House. They both took a personal interest in the new college, and she a proprietary one. She reserved rooms there for her use or in her absence for the use of Fisher, who was made visitor of the college for life. She also reserved to herself the right to revise the statutes, the opening words of which – 'Nos Margareta' – are in her own hand. During her life the master, fellows and scholars were all to be her nominees. Evidence that Margaret actually resided at Christ's is slim, though an inventory of some of her bedding and plate was found recently in the college. Fuller's later story of her leaning from her window and rebuking the dean with the words 'lente, lente,' for too harshly correcting a scholar supports a cherished college tradition. After the foundation of Christ's, which Margaret endowed handsomely during her lifetime, Oxford and Cambridge competed for her patronage. Fisher, however, succeeded m keeping her attention on his own university. The hospital of St John the Evangelist at Cambridge had declined in numbers, fallen into debt, and was ripe for change. It was under the patronage of the Bishop of Ely, who at that time was James Stanley, Margaret's stepson. By Christmas 1508 she had agreed with him for the conversion of the place into a college for students of arts and theology. Sadly for Fisher she did not live to see the fruition of her plans for its foundation and endowment. Her death, on June 29th, 1509, together with that of her son on the preceding April 21st, brought to an end a remarkable partnership of power. The circumstances faced by her executors, principally Fisher and Henry Hornby, as they carried out the rest of her intention, show us the importance of her death as a political and economic event early in the new reign. The unity of her household broke down: some servants argued for a division among themselves of her whole personal estate, misinterpreting earlier arrangements made between Fisher and Margaret for their rewards. In the debate that ensued, Fisher later claimed, the servants succeeded in turning the King against him, a presage, or perhaps the germ, of the bitter enmity that was later to estrange them. There was also the question of the fate of revenue from Margaret's hereditary lands. The aims of her last will, which they were to help serve, included the perfection of all charitable objects of her life: the endowment of a chantry and grammar school at Wimborne Minster where her parents were buried, donations to a variety of religious houses, the completion of Christ's, the building of Margaret's tomb at Westminster, and, lastly, the establishment of St John's. The college was clearly the greatest drain on the revenue, and there was uncertainty as to when it could be called properly established. After 1515 the royal officials grew impatient: encouraged by Lady Margaret's servants they insisted that the lands put in trust in 1472 should go immediately to the King. The college gained some compensation, but the legend grew up that the crown owed St John's land, a claim urged unsuccessfully when Queen Elizabeth I visited the university. In fact the crown was Margaret's true and permanent heir: its rights, as well as those of her charitable foundations, were upheld by the stewardship with which she had ordered her wide estates. The sermon which Fisher preached at Lady Margaret's month's mind compared her with Martha in the gospel, the epitome of virtuous activity. She seemed to him the ideal representative of God-fearing orderliness for their days, a noble patron tempering her power with a humility which showed itself in respect for individuals. Like Martha she was busy about her household: he notices her astute handling of discord, her care for her almsfolk, servants and strangers fed by her charity, as well as personal qualities like her readiness to learn. All the estates of the realm had reason to mourn her: the students and learned men because she was their mother and patron; the religious with whom she conversed, the clergy whom she protected, the nobility to whom she was an example of honour, and the commons for whom she acted as a mediator. There are other features of this tender icon painted by Fisher which appear there only dimly, but more strongly in the reminiscences of Henry Parker. He pictures her sitting one New Year's Day under a cloth of state with her guests, a figure comparable for him with an Anglo-Saxon ruler, Elfleda Lady of the Mercians, or with Matilda wife of Henry I. Both of those led lives made politcally important by marriage and were symbols of piety and justice, but were also of strong passions and active characters. We get a glimpse of this side of Lady Margaret in Fisher's recollection of her saying often that if the Christian princes would war upon the enemies of Christ's faith, she would gladly go with them to wash their clothes, for the love of Jesus. Her tears of devotion, like those shed at her son's coronation, were perhaps signs of an intense nature concentrated upon its chosen aims. The aims were those demanded not only by her loyalty to God but to her son and the security of the royal house. It has been suggested that once at least her concern for wealth and power overcame her conscience: she neglected to fulfil a trust left by Cardinal Beaufort for the benefit of St Cross Hospital Winchester, although it clearly affected part of her estates. Lady Margaret was, after all, the victim of politics from an early age: a prize passed from Suffolk to Edmund Tudor, even if she was able to accept her marriage with the latter as God's will. She learnt painfully during the dangerous years of war and of Edward IV's peace how to safeguard her interests and those of her son. She was a mature conspirator under Richard III, ready to suffer disaster before Henry's final triumph. Margaret, translator of The Mirror of Gold and inspirer of Henry Watson's translation of The Ship of Fools, had learnt the themes of reversal and penitence in a practical school. She was imbued with the courtly military ideals of her time; the recipient of a papal indulgence for her contributions to war against the Turks, the first book she commissioned from William Caxton in 1489 was of 'the noble acts and feats of war by a noble and victorious prince named Blanchardin... for the love of a noble princess called Eglantine'. As a patron, the employer of Caxton, Wynkyn de Worde and Pynson, and early helper of Skelton, she was for England a figure of Renaissance magnificence. Her epitaph was composed by Erasmus and her most moving likeness is the effigy sculpted by Torrigiano. Her great achievement was the self-discipline which allowed her to listen not just to the claims of power but to those of responsibility, whether for her own dependents or for the broader needs of religion and scholarship. For Further Reading: C.H. Cooper, The Lady Margaret (Cambridge, Deighton Bell, 1874); E.M.G. Routh, Lady Margaret (Oxford University Press, 1874); Retha Warnicke, 'The Lady Margaret as seen by John Fisher and Lord Morley' , Moreana, xix (1982); Margaret Condon, 'Ruling Elites in the Reign of Henry VII' in Patronage Pedigree and Power, ed. C. Ross (Alan Sutton, 1979); Much material has been drawn from the authors' research in the muniments of Westminster Abbey and St John's College, Cambridge.	i don't know
Which of the Mitford sisters wrote the semi- autobiography 'Pursuit Of Love' in 1945?	Masterpiece Theatre \| Love in a Cold Climate \| Essays + Interviews \| The Mitford Sisters The Mitford Sisters Raised in isolation on several Cotswold estates, the seven children of Lord and Lady Redesdale -- six daughters and a son -- were forced to depend on each other for ideas, companionship, and fun. They invented elaborate family jokes and games that included an elaborate network of nicknames and private languages. By the time Tom was at Eton and the girls ready for their London debuts, they had each developed their own highly individual, eccentric personalities. Coming of age in the era of Evelyn Waugh's fabled "Bright Young Things," the Mitford children burned bright only to flame out in a series of unwise alliances, outspoken books, and poorly chosen political bedfellows. Nancy, The Author The eldest of the seven children of David Mitford and Sydney Bowles, Nancy was born in London in 1904. Because her father did not believe in formal education for girls, Nancy and her sisters were instructed at home by governesses. (One reason he gave was that by playing field hockey, a common school sport, they would develop thick calves.) Both Nancy and Jessica longed to go to school, and at age 16 Nancy got her wish, spending less than a year at nearby Hatherop Castle. By and large, school did not play a large part in her childhood. Books, however, did. By age six, Nancy was already reading Ivanhoe, and she went on to read voraciously throughout her teenage years. The strict house rules about books -- children were not allowed to read in bed or to read novels in the morning, and library books had to stay in the library -- made reading, especially the reading of novels, all the more attractive. Nancy's own first novel, Highland Fling, was published in 1931, followed by Christmas Pudding the next year. But critics and the public took little notice of these frothy romps. She found success with her fifth novel, The Pursuit of Love (1945), and its sequel, Love in a Cold Climate (1949). Based like much of her fiction on her own experiences, their sentimental but satiric tone was irresistible to a nation fatigued by years of war, and the books became best-sellers. Known for her style and elegance, Nancy was a great social success, as were her sisters in their turn. As a young woman in London, she worked away at her fiction and penned articles for Vogue, The Lady, and Harper's. Released at last from the family fold, she took up residence with the author Evelyn Waugh and his wife and enjoyed a lively social life. Her first love was Hamish St. Clair Erskine, an aesthete who had been friends with her brother at Eton. When he threw her over, she quickly married Peter Rodd, son of an eminent diplomat, chiefly because he happened to be available. Undone by his philandering and profligate spending habits, the match was never happy; they would divorce in 1958. With her husband posted overseas during the war, Nancy found work as an assistant at Heywood Hill bookshop in the Mayfair district of London, where she soon became a partner in the firm. Drawing on her work with Rodd in refugee camps during the Spanish Civil War, Nancy did her part in the war effort as an Air Raid Precautions (ARP) driver in London. By this time, Nancy had fallen in love with Gaston Palewski, a follower of General de Gaulle, who she included as Fabrice in The Pursuit of Love. Settling in Paris after the war, she moved from fiction to history, writing highly acclaimed biographies: Madame de Pompadour (1953), Voltaire in Love (1957), The Sun King (1966), and Frederick the Great (1970). She is remembered, however, as Britain's most piercing observer of social manners. While her sheltered upbringing was the object of her scalding satire, she nonetheless continued to defend it until her death in Paris, of cancer, at the age of 69. Pamela, The "Woman" Sister number two, Pamela (1907-1994), was the least rebellious of the older girls. Of all the sisters, Pamela developed a particular love of the country and went on to become a poultry expert. According to Mitford biographer Mary S. Lovell, for Pam the country "... was not just a 'nice place to live,' she felt a positive affinity with farming and animals.... It was her undisguised enjoyment of domesticated pursuits such as cooking, which the others regarded as boring and 'womanly,' that led to her lifelong nickname in the family, Woman, sometimes shorted to Woo." Known as the "quiet sister," she nonetheless attracted her share of suitors, and in 1936 she fell for Derek Ainslie Jackson, the good-looking son of Sir Charles Jackson and a world-renowned physicist in his own right. After divorcing his first wife, he married her that December. Pam and Derek would take in Diana's two boys when she and her second husband, Oswald Mosley, were jailed for treason. Tom, The Boy Tom (1909-1945), the only Mitford son, became a lawyer with a passion for music. As a youngster, he participated with the girls in schoolroom lessons at home, where he was taught Latin and math, subjects essential for his admission to boarding school and that were thought necessary for the girls. At the age of nine, he was sent to a preparatory school, which eventually lead to his enrollment at Eton. Although not often at home, Tom played an important role in the education of his sisters, as he brought them a glimpse of the wider world. After Eton, Tom went on to study German and music in Vienna. He loved Germany and everything about it. Although he was not known to be anti-Semitic, he was impressed by Hitler when he met him, as were both his parents when they visited Berlin. In the end, however, he fought for England in World War II and was killed in Burma in April 1945. When the news came through, Diana was granted leave from prison, and the family gathered together in their London house to comfort each other. David would never recover from the loss of his only son. Diana, The Beautiful One The third sister, Diana (1910-), was always considered the most classically beautiful. She ended her first season as a debutante by becoming engaged to Bryan Guinness, heir to the fabulous Guinness Brewery fortune and one of the most eligible bachelors of the day. Several years and two sons later, she caused a scandal by divorcing him. Evidently theirs was a less-than-ideal marriage. They had only known each other three months when he proposed. Bryan mistook her for a fresh country girl while Diana had jumped into marriage to escape from her family. Truth be told, Diana was love with Sir Oswald Mosley. Leader of the British Union of Fascists (BUF) and its "defense force" of thuggish Blackshirts, Mosley was a sinister character, but also something of a buffoon. He may be best known as the model for P. G. Wodehouse's immortal character Sir Roderick Spode, leader of a fascist organization called the Black Shorts. Mosley was also lampooned by Nancy in her farcical novel Wigs on the Green (1935). More disturbing to her friends and relatives than Mosley's politics was the fact that Diana was divorcing one man in order to live as the mistress of another. When Mosley's wife died unexpectedly, he and Diana wed. During their life together, they shared the same beliefs, campaigned together, and suffered the ignominy of being imprisoned together by the British government as German sympathizers during World War II. Nancy had informed on her sister, while Jessica never forgave Diana for her fascist views. Unity, The Fascist As girls in the 1930s, Jessica and Unity (1914-1948) shared a room. One end was decorated with Unity's fascist insignia, while at the other end Jessica displayed her communist library, copies of the Daily Worker, and a small bust of Lenin. The rest of the family regarded this ideological war as an amusing childish game rather than as an early sign of the division the family would face in the future. Rather boisterous as a teenager, Unity tormented the family's governesses and was expelled after a brief stint at school. At home she practiced the art of sitting silently at meals and fixing her father in a stare until he exploded with irritation. Later, as a debutante, she horrified the London social scene by taking her pet rat to dances and wearing a flamboyantly fake tiara. She so enjoyed herself and amused her sisters that later, when she greeted everyone with the Nazi salute, they regarded it for a time as another one of her pranks. Unity Mitford's admiration for Hitler is well known. She liked the spectacle -- the oratory, uniform, marching, and music. As it did for so many young people in Germany, the pomp gave her a sense of identity, of belonging to something important. For his part, Hitler saw Unity as a perfect example of Aryan womanhood, and her connections with important people in English society were obviously useful. She became a member of his social circle, drawing Diana into it as well. Early in 1936, Diana married Mosley while staying with Unity at the Goebbels' house outside Berlin. When World War II came, Unity was so appalled at the idea of her country being at war with Germany that she tried to commit suicide by shooting herself in the head. Although Hitler got her to the hospital and she recovered enough to be taken back to England, she was a semi-invalid for the rest of her days. Jessica, The Communist Jessica, or "Decca" (1917-1996), was the sister who least enjoyed her upbringing. As a young girl, she had a "running-away account"; she had a habit of saving up her pocket money, frequently informing her family that she would soon have enough to escape. Even her short education in Paris and her first London season left her feeling at odds with her family background. She was looking for a way out when she engineered a meeting with Esmond Romilly, Winston Churchill's 19-year-old "red" nephew who had run away from school to join the Republicans in the Spanish Civil War. He was her soul mate and hero, and Jessica eventually joined him in Spain, where they were married. (Although Nancy sympathized with Jessica in her love for Edmond, she advised her not to run off to Spain with him.) Throughout their time together, they shared a passionate commitment to communism. When he was killed in World War II, shot down by Germans over the North Sea, Jessica was crushed. She emigrated to the United States (later marrying progressive Oakland lawyer Robert Treuhaft) and began a series of written attacks on the establishment, most famously her scathing indictment of the funeral industry in her book The American Way of Death. Deborah, The Duchess As the youngest, Deborah, or "Debo" (1920--), was less energetically competitive than her siblings. Nancy called Debo "Nine" until she married, saying it was her mental age. She took advantage of Debo's sentimental nature by writing poems and stories to make her cry, one of which appears in Masterpiece Theatre's Love in a Cold Climate: "A little houseless match/It has no roof, no thatch/It lies alone, it makes no moan/That little houseless match." Eventually, Nancy had only to hold up a box of matches to make tears well in Debo's eyes. Much like Diana, Debo found her match shortly after coming out to London society. She'd met Andrew Cavendish, younger son of the 10th Duke of Devonshire, in a restaurant off Curzon Street. "If it wasn't love at first sight, it was certainly attraction at first sight," he later reported. They became engaged in 1939 but kept their pledge secret, as, at age 19, they were considered too young to marry. They made it official the following April amid the bombed-out remains of the family's London home at 26 Rutland Gate. When Deborah's brother-in-law Billy (husband of Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy, sister to Jack, Bobby, and Ted) was hit by a sniper on the Belgian front, Andrew became heir to the dukedom, including the neglected family estate Chatsworth. Restoring and preserving this heirloom home would soon become their mission. Debo even joined the ranks of her published sisters, authoring The House, part autobiography, part history of Chatsworth, and a follow-up, The Estate. In addition to consulting on Masterpiece Theatre's Love in a Cold Climate, Debo has jealously guarded the memory of her older, if not wiser, sisters, endeavoring to block unflattering and unauthorized biographies. As a result of their social and political exploits, the Mitfords captured the British media spotlight, dominating the front pages of splashy tabloids -- a public fascination that continues to this day, as new biographies try to reveal what kept these siblings burning bright.	Nancy
For which film did British actor Jim Broadbent win the 'Oscar' as Best Supporting Actor in 2001?	Nancy Mitford :: Nancy Permissions Nancy Mitford was born on 28 November 1904 in London, the eldest of the six legendary Mitford sisters. Their father, Lord Redesdale, a countryman at heart, worked in London at the office of The Lady until 1914. After the war he moved his family to Oxfordshire. Nancy and her sisters were educated at home and relied mainly on one another for company. Her high spirits and funniness lit up the family atmosphere but she was also a remorseless tease. The jokes, rivalries and passions of the Mitford childhood went straight into her highly autobiographical novels. Nancy grew up partly in the 1920s of The Bright Young Things and partly in the politically polarized 1930s. Her sisters Diana and Unity were drawn to the extreme Right and Jessica to the Left. Nancy wavered between the two but could never take politics – or indeed anything– very seriously. Nancy started writing for magazines in 1929 and became a regular contributor to The Lady. In 1931, she published her first novel,Highland Fling. During the war she worked at Heywood Hill, the Mayfair bookshop, which became a meeting place for London literary society and her friends. Nancy fell in love with three un- satisfactory men. The first, Hamish Erskine, was homosexual but her infatuation with him lasted five years. In 1933 she married Peter Rodd, a clever, delinquent bore. They separated after the war and were divorced in 1958. In London during the war she met Gaston Palewski, a Free French officer and General de Gaulle’s chief of staff, at whose feet she laid all her passion and loyalty for over thirty years. Gaston never returned her love but they remained friends until her death. ‘If one can't be happy one must be amused don't you agree? ' Nancy wrote to a friend. It could stand as the motto for her life. She hid her deepest feelings behind a sparkling flow of jokes and witty turns of phrase, and was the star of any gathering. Childless and unfulfilled in love she may have been, but Nancy found huge success as a writer. Her fifth novel, The Pursuit of Love(1945), was a phenomenal best seller and made her financially independent for the first time. In 1946 she moved to Paris to be near Gaston Palewski and remained in France for the rest of her life. She adored the country and saw everything French through rose-tinted spectacles. Separation and distance from her various friends and relations produced a flood of marvellous letters that are as important a part of her literary output as her books. In the late 1950s Nancy started writing about the history of France, describing historical characters as if they were her friends and contemporaries. These biographies were as successful as her novels. The Sun King, a brilliant evocation of the court of Louis XIV, was a worldwide bestseller. In the early 1950s Nancy wrote a regular column for the Sunday Times and continued to be in demand as a journalist and reviewer until the end of her life. Her friend Evelyn Waugh said that it was her true metier. A light-hearted article she contributed to Encounter on the English aristocracy in 1954 sparked a hullabaloo over upper-class and non upper-class (U and non-U) speech and was a tease that even she thought went too far. In 1969 she moved to a house in Versailles and soon afterwards began to suffer from the onset of a rare form of Hodgkin's disease. Except for a few periods of remission, she was in great pain for over four years, which she bore with heroic courage. Nancy died on 30 June 1973 at home in Versailles. Her ashes are buried at the Church of St. Mary's in Swinbrook, Oxfordshire, where her parents and her sisters Pamela, Diana and Unity also lie. BOOKS ABOUT NANCY NANCY MITFORD: A Memoir (1975) by Harold Acton THE HOUSE OF MITFORD: Portrait of a Family (1984) by Jonathan Guinness with Catherine Guinness NANCY MITFORD: A Biography (1985) by Selina Hastings The Biography of an Extraordinary Family (2001) by Mary S. Lovell LIFE IN A COLD CLIMATE, NANCY MITFORD: A Portrait of a Contradictory Woman (2003) by Laura Thompson Images clockwise from top left: Portrait courtesy of the Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's, family portrait © The Mitford Archive, portrait and plaque photograph © The Mitford Archive, drawing of Nancy by Cecil Beaton, contact sheet courtesy of the Cecil Beaton Studio Archive at Sotheby's, painting by Mogens Tvede © The Mitford Archive, photograph by Bassano © National Portrait Gallery, London. Personal effects © The Mitford Archive, Sitemap - Website by Burble - Design by Megan Wilson	i don't know
Which letter of the alphabet is denoted by a single dot in the Morse code?	Morse code \| Military Wiki \| Fandom powered by Wikia Edit A typical "straight key." This U.S. model, known as the J-38, was manufactured in huge quantities during World War II , and remains in widespread use today. In a straight key, the signal is "on" when the knob is pressed, and "off" when it is released. Length and timing of the dots and dashes are entirely controlled by the operator. Beginning in 1836, the American artist Samuel F. B. Morse , the American physicist Joseph Henry , and Alfred Vail developed an electrical telegraph system. This system sent pulses of electric current along wires which controlled an electromagnet that was located at the receiving end of the telegraph system. A code was needed to transmit natural language using only these pulses, and the silence between them. Morse therefore developed the forerunner to modern International Morse code. In 1837, William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone in England began using an electrical telegraph that also used electromagnets in its receivers. However, in contrast with any system of making sounds of clicks, their system used pointing needles that rotated above alphabetical charts to indicate the letters that were being sent. In 1841, Cooke and Wheatstone built a telegraph that printed the letters from a wheel of typefaces struck by a hammer. This machine was based on their 1840 telegraph and worked well; however, they failed to find customers for this system and only two examples were ever built. [2] On the other hand, the three Americans' system for telegraphy, which was first used in about 1844, was designed to make indentations on a paper tape when electric currents were received. Morse's original telegraph receiver used a mechanical clockwork to move a paper tape. When an electrical current was received, an electromagnet engaged an armature that pushed a stylus onto the moving paper tape, making an indentation on the tape. When the current was interrupted, a spring retracted the stylus, and that portion of the moving tape remained unmarked. The Morse code was developed so that operators could translate the indentations marked on the paper tape into text messages. In his earliest code, Morse had planned to only transmit numerals, and use a dictionary to look up each word according to the number which had been sent. However, the code was soon expanded by Alfred Vail to include letters and special characters, so it could be used more generally. Vail determined the frequency of use of letters in the English language by counting the movable type he found in the type-cases of a local newspaper in Morristown. [3] The shorter marks were called "dots", and the longer ones "dashes", and the letters most commonly used were assigned the shorter sequences of dots and dashes. File:Morse comparison.svg In the original Morse telegraphs, the receiver's armature made a clicking noise as it moved in and out of position to mark the paper tape. The telegraph operators soon learned that they could translate the clicks directly into dots and dashes, and write these down by hand, thus making the paper tape unnecessary. When Morse code was adapted to radio communication , the dots and dashes were sent as short and long pulses. It was later found that people became more proficient at receiving Morse code when it is taught as a language that is heard, instead of one read from a page. [4] To reflect the sounds of Morse code receivers, the operators began to vocalise a dot as "dit", and a dash as "dah". Dots which are not the final element of a character became vocalised as "di". For example, the letter "c" was then vocalised as "dah-di-dah-dit". [5] [6] In the 1890s, Morse code began to be used extensively for early radio communication, before it was possible to transmit voice. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, most high-speed international communication used Morse code on telegraph lines, undersea cables and radio circuits. In aviation, Morse code in radio systems started to be used on a regular basis in the 1920s. Although previous transmitters were bulky and the spark gap system of transmission was difficult to use, there had been some earlier attempts. In 1910 the U.S. Navy experimented with sending Morse from an airplane. [7] That same year a radio on the airship America had been instrumental in coordinating the rescue of its crew. [8] However, there was no aeronautical radio in use during World War I , and in the 1920s there was no radio system used by such important flights as that of Charles Lindbergh from New York to Paris in 1927. Once he and the Spirit of St. Louis were off the ground, Lindbergh was truly alone and incommunicado. On the other hand, when the first airplane flight was made from California to Australia in the 1930s on the Southern Cross , one of its four crewmen was its radio operator who communicated with ground stations via radio telegraph . Beginning in the 1930s, both civilian and military pilots were required to be able to use Morse code, both for use with early communications systems and identification of navigational beacons which transmitted continuous two- or three-letter identifiers in Morse code. Aeronautical charts show the identifier of each navigational aid next to its location on the map. Radio telegraphy using Morse code was vital during World War II , especially in carrying messages between the warships and the naval bases of the belligerents. Long-range ship-to-ship communications was by radio telegraphy, using encrypted messages, because the voice radio systems on ships then were quite limited in both their range, and their security. Radiotelegraphy was also extensively used by warplanes , especially by long-range patrol planes that were sent out by these navies to scout for enemy warships, cargo ships, and troop ships. In addition, rapidly moving armies in the field could not have fought effectively without radiotelegraphy, because they moved more rapidly than telegraph and telephone lines could be erected. This was seen especially in the blitzkrieg offensives of the Nazi German Wehrmacht in Poland, Belgium, France (in 1940), the Soviet Union , and in North Africa ; by the British Army in North Africa , Italy, and the Netherlands; and by the U.S. Army in France and Belgium (in 1944), and in southern Germany in 1945. Morse code was used as an international standard for maritime distress until 1999, when it was replaced by the Global Maritime Distress Safety System . When the French Navy ceased using Morse code on January 31, 1997, the final message transmitted was "Calling all. This is our last cry before our eternal silence." [9] In the United States the final commercial Morse Code transmission was on July 12, 1999, signing off with Samuel Morse's original 1844 message, " What hath God wrought ", and the prosign "SK". [10] The United States Coast Guard has ceased all use of Morse code on the radio, and no longer monitors any radio frequencies for Morse code transmissions, including the international medium frequency (MF) distress frequency of 500 kHz . [11] However the Federal Communications Commission still grants commercial radiotelegraph operator licenses to applicants who pass its code and written tests. [12] Licensees have reactivated the old California coastal Morse station KPH and regularly transmit from the site under either this Call sign or as KSM. Similarly, a few US Museum ship stations are operated by Morse enthusiasts. [13] User proficiency Edit A commercially manufactured iambic paddle used in conjunction with an electronic keyer to generate high-speed Morse code, the timing of which is controlled by the electronic keyer. Manipulation of dual-lever paddles is similar to the Vibroplex , but pressing the right paddle generates a series of dahs, and squeezing the paddles produces dit-dah-dit-dah sequence. The actions are reversed for left-handed operators. Morse code speed is measured in words per minute (wpm) or characters per minute (cpm). Characters have differing lengths because they contain differing numbers of dots and dashes. Consequently words also have different lengths in terms of dot duration, even when they contain the same number of characters. For this reason, a standard word is helpful to measure operator transmission speed. "PARIS" and "CODEX" are two such standard words. [14] Operators skilled in Morse code can often understand ("copy") code in their heads at rates in excess of 40 wpm. International contests in code copying are still occasionally held. In July 1939 at a contest in Asheville, North Carolina in the United States Ted R. McElroy set a still-standing record for Morse copying, 75.2 wpm. [15] William Pierpont N0HFF also notes that some operators may have passed 100 wpm. [15] By this time they are "hearing" phrases and sentences rather than words. The fastest speed ever sent by a straight key was achieved in 1942 by Harry Turner W9YZE (d. 1992) who reached 35 wpm in a demonstration at a U.S. Army base. To accurately compare code copying speed records of different eras it is useful to keep in mind that different standard words (50 dot durations versus 60 dot durations) and different interword gaps (5 dot durations versus 7 dot durations) may have been used when determining such speed records. For example speeds run with the CODEX standard word and the PARIS standard may differ by up to 20%. Today among amateur operators there are several organizations that recognize high speed code ability, one group consisting of those who can copy Morse at 60 wpm. [16] Also, Certificates of Code Proficiency are issued by several amateur radio societies, including the American Radio Relay League . Their basic award starts at 10 wpm with endorsements as high as 40 wpm, and are available to anyone who can copy the transmitted text. Members of the Boy Scouts of America may put a Morse interpreter's strip on their uniforms if they meet the standards for translating code at 5 wpm. International Morse Code Edit Morse code has been in use for more than 160 years—longer than any other electrical coding system. What is called Morse code today is actually somewhat different from what was originally developed by Vail and Morse. The Modern International Morse code, or continental code, was created by Friedrich Clemens Gerke in 1848 and initially used for telegraphy between Hamburg and Cuxhaven in Germany. Gerke changed nearly half of the alphabet and all of the numerals resulting substantially in the modern form of the code. After some minor changes, International Morse Code was standardized at the International Telegraphy Congress in 1865 in Paris, and was later made the standard by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Morse's original code specification, largely limited to use in the United States and Canada, became known as American Morse code or railroad code. American Morse code is now seldom used except in historical re-enactments. Aviation Edit In aviation , instrument pilots use radio navigation aids. To ensure that the stations the pilots are using are serviceable, the stations all transmit a short set of identification letters (usually a two-to-five-letter version of the station name) in Morse code. Station identification letters are shown on air navigation charts. For example, the VOR based at Manchester Airport in England is abbreviated as "MCT", and MCT in Morse code is transmitted on its radio frequency. In some countries, during periods of maintenance, the facility may radiate a T-E-S-T code (— · · · · —) or the code may be removed, which tells pilots and navigators that the station is unreliable. In Canada, the identification is removed entirely to signify the navigation aid is not to be used. [17] [18] In the aviation service Morse is typically sent at a very slow speed; in the U.S. this is about 5 words per minute. Pilots do not actually have to know Morse to identify the transmitter because on aeronautical charts, the sound sequences are written out next to the transmitter's symbol. Some modern navigation receivers automatically translate the code into displayed letters. Amateur radio Edit Vibroplex brand semiautomatic key (generically called a "bug"). The paddle, when pressed to the right by the thumb, generates a series of dits, the length and timing of which are controlled by a sliding weight toward the rear of the unit. When pressed to the left by the knuckle of the index finger, the paddle generates a single dah, the length of which is controlled by the operator. Multiple dahs require multiple presses. Left-handed operators use a key built as a mirror image of this one. International Morse code today is most popular among amateur radio operators, where it is used as the pattern to key a transmitter on and off in the radio communications mode commonly referred to as " continuous wave " or "CW" to distinguish it from spark transmissions, not because the transmission was continuous. Other keying methods are available in radio telegraphy, such as frequency shift keying . The original amateur radio operators used Morse code exclusively, since voice-capable radio transmitters did not become commonly available until around 1920. Until 2003 the International Telecommunication Union mandated Morse code proficiency as part of the amateur radio licensing procedure worldwide. However, the World Radiocommunication Conference of 2003 made the Morse code requirement for amateur radio licensing optional. [19] Many countries subsequently removed the Morse requirement from their licence requirements. [20] Until 1991 a demonstration of the ability to send and receive Morse code at a minimum of five words per minute (wpm) was required to receive an amateur radio license for use in the United States from the Federal Communications Commission . Demonstration of this ability was still required for the privilege to use the HF bands. Until 2000 proficiency at the 20 wpm level was required to receive the highest level of amateur license (Amateur Extra Class); effective April 15, 2000, the FCC reduced the Extra Class requirement to five wpm. [21] Finally, effective on February 23, 2007 the FCC eliminated the Morse code proficiency requirements from all amateur radio licenses. While voice and data transmissions are limited to specific amateur radio bands under U.S. rules, Morse code is permitted on all amateur bands— LF , MF , HF, UHF, and VHF. In some countries, certain portions of the amateur radio bands are reserved for transmission of Morse code signals only. The relatively limited speed at which Morse code can be sent led to the development of an extensive number of abbreviations to speed communication. These include prosigns , Q codes , and a set of Morse code abbreviations for typical message components. For example, CQ is broadcast to be interpreted as "seek you" (I'd like to converse with anyone who can hear my signal). OM (old man), YL (young lady) and XYL ("ex-YL" – wife) are common abbreviations. YL or OM is used by an operator when referring to the other operator, XYL or OM is used by an operator when referring to his or her spouse. QTH is "location" ("My QTH" is "My location"). The use of abbreviations for common terms permits conversation even when the operators speak different languages. Although the traditional telegraph key (straight key) is still used by some amateurs, the use of mechanical semi-automatic keyers (known as "bugs") and of fully automatic electronic keyers is prevalent today. Software is also frequently employed to produce and decode Morse code radio signals. Other uses Edit A U.S. Navy signalman sends Morse code signals in 2005. Through May 2013 the First, Second, and Third Class (commercial) Radiotelegraph Licenses using code tests based upon the CODEX standard word were still being issued in the United States by the Federal Communications Commission. The First Class license required 20 WPM code group and 25 WPM text code proficiency, the others 16 WPM code group test and 20 WPM code text test. It was also necessary to pass written tests on operating practice and electronics theory. A unique additional demand for the First Class was a requirement of a year of experience for operators of shipboard and coast stations using Morse. This allowed the holder to be chief operator on board a passenger ship. However, since 1999 the use of satellite and very high frequency maritime communications systems ( GMDSS ) has made them obsolete. (By that point meeting experience requirement for the First was very difficult.) Currently only one class of license, the Radiotelegraph Operator Certificate, is issued. This is granted either when the tests are passed or as the Second and First are renewed and become this lifetime license. For new applicants it requires passing a written examination on electronic theory, as well as 16 WPM code and 20 WPM text tests. However the code exams are currently waived for holders of Amateur Extra Class licenses who obtained their operating privileges under the old 20 WPM test requirement. Radio navigation aids such as VORs and NDBs for aeronautical use broadcast identifying information in the form of Morse Code, though many VOR stations now also provide voice identification. [22] Warships, including those of the U.S. Navy , have long used signal lamps to exchange messages in Morse code. Modern use continues, in part, as a way to communicate while maintaining radio silence . Submarine periscopes include a signal lamp. Applications for the general public Edit Representation of SOS-Morse code. An important application is signalling for help through SOS, "· · · — — — · · ·". This can be sent many ways: keying a radio on and off, flashing a mirror, toggling a flashlight and similar methods. SOS is not three separate characters, rather, it is a prosign SOS, and is keyed without gaps between characters. [23] Morse code as an assistive technology Edit Morse code has been employed as an assistive technology , helping people with a variety of disabilities to communicate. Morse can be sent by persons with severe motion disabilities, as long as they have some minimal motor control. An original solution to the problem that caretakers have to learn to decode has been an electronic typewriter with the codes written on the keys. Codes were sung by users; see the voice typewriter employing morse or votem, Newell and Nabarro, 1968. Morse code can also be translated by computer and used in a speaking communication aid. In some cases this means alternately blowing into and sucking on a plastic tube (" sip-and-puff " interface). An important advantage of Morse code over row column scanning is that, once learned, it does not require looking at a display. Also, it appears faster than scanning. People with severe motion disabilities in addition to sensory disabilities (e.g. people who are also deaf or blind) can receive Morse through a skin buzzer.[ citation needed ]. In one case reported in the radio amateur magazine QST , [24] an old shipboard radio operator who had a stroke and lost the ability to speak or write could communicate with his physician (a radio amateur) by blinking his eyes in Morse. Another example occurred in 1966 when prisoner of war Jeremiah Denton , brought on television by his North Vietnamese captors, Morse-blinked the word TORTURE. In these two cases interpreters were available to understand those series of eye-blinks. Representation, timing and speeds International Morse code is composed of five elements: short mark, dot or "dit" (·) — "dot duration" is one time unit long longer mark, dash or "dah" (–) — three time units long inter-element gap between the dots and dashes within a character — one dot duration or one unit long short gap (between letters) — three time units long medium gap (between words) — seven time units long [1] Morse code can be transmitted in a number of ways: originally as electrical pulses along a telegraph wire, but also as an audio tone, a radio signal with short and long tones, or as a mechanical, audible or visual signal (e.g. a flashing light) using devices like an Aldis lamp or a heliograph , a common flashlight, or even a car horn. Some mine rescues have used pulling on a rope - a short pull for a dot and a long pull for a dash. Morse code is transmitted using just two states (on and off). Historians have called it the first digital code. Strictly speaking it is not binary , as there are five fundamental elements (see quinary ). However, this does not mean Morse code cannot be represented as a binary code. In an abstract sense, this is the function that telegraph operators perform when transmitting messages. Working from the above definitions and further defining a "unit" as a bit , we can visualize any Morse code sequence as a combination of the following five elements: short mark, dot or "dit" (·) — 1 longer mark, dash or "dah" (–) — 111 intra-character gap (between the dots and dashes within a character) — 0 short gap (between letters) — 000 medium gap (between words) — 0000000 Note that this method assumes that dits and dahs are always separated by dot duration gaps, and that gaps are always separated by dits and dahs. Morse messages are generally transmitted by a hand-operated device such as a telegraph key , so there are variations introduced by the skill of the sender and receiver — more experienced operators can send and receive at faster speeds. In addition, individual operators differ slightly, for example using slightly longer or shorter dashes or gaps, perhaps only for particular characters. This is called their "fist", and experienced operators can recognize specific individuals by it alone. A good operator who sends clearly and is easy to copy is said to have a "good fist". A "poor fist" is a characteristic of sloppy or hard to copy Morse code. An operator must choose two speeds when sending a message in Morse code. First, the operator must choose the character speed, or how fast each individual letter is sent. Second, the operator must choose the text speed, or how fast the entire message is sent. Both speeds can be the same, but often they are not the same. An operator could generate the characters at a high rate, but by increasing the space between the letters, send the message more slowly. Using different character and text speeds is, in fact, a common practice, and is used in the Farnsworth method of learning Morse code . Because Morse code is usually hand generated, an operator may retain a certain comfortable character speed, but vary the text speed by varying the spacing between the letters. All Morse code elements depend on the dot length. A dash is the length of 3 dots, and spacings are specified in number of dot lengths. Because of this, some method to standardize the dot length is useful. A simple way to do this is to send the same five-character word over and over for one minute at a speed that will allow the operator to send the correct number of words in one minute. If, for example, the operator wanted a character speed of 13 words per minute, the operator would send the five-character word 13 times in exactly one minute. From this, the operator would arrive at a dot length necessary to produce 13 words per minute while meeting all the standards. The word one chooses determines the dot length. A word with more dots, like PARIS, would be sent with longer dots to fill in one minute. A word with more dashes, like CODEX, would produce a shorter dot length so everything would fit into 1 minute. The words PARIS and CODEX are frequently used as a Morse code standard word. Using the word PARIS as a standard, the number of dot units is 50 and a simple calculation shows that the dot length at 20 words per minute is 60 milliseconds. Using the word CODEX with 60 dot units, the dot length at 20 words per minute is 50 milliseconds. Because Morse code is usually sent by hand, it is unlikely that an operator could be that precise with the dot length, and the individual characteristics and preferences of the operators usually override the standards. For commercial radiotelegraph licenses in the United States, the Federal Communications Commission specifies tests for Morse code proficiency in words per minute of text speed. [25] The commission does not specify character speeds. For proficiency at 20 words per minute, it would be impossible to generate characters at less than that speed. If, for example, the characters were generated at a rate to produce 5 words in one minute, the examiner could not send 20 words in one minute. Conversely, the examiner could generate characters at a rate to produce 24 words per minute, but increase the character spacing to send the message at 20 words per minute. The regulation, however, only specifies the number of words to be received in one minute. While the Federal Communications Commission no longer requires Morse code for amateur radio licenses, the old requirements were similar to the requirements for commercial radiotelegraph licenses. [26] There was no requirement for any particular character speed, but the examinee had to send and receive a message at a specified text speed. A difference between amateur radio licenses and commercial radiotelegraph licenses is that commercial operators must be able to receive code groups of random characters along with plain language text. For each class of license, the code group speed requirement is slower than the plain language text requirement. For example, for the Radiotelegraph Operator License, the examinee must pass a 20 word per minute plain text test and a 16 word per minute code group test. [12] Based upon a 50 dot duration standard word such as PARIS, the time for one dot duration or one unit can be computed by the formula: T = 1200 / W or T = 6000 / C Where: T is the unit time, or dot duration, in milliseconds, W is the speed in wpm , and C is the speed in cpm . Below is an illustration of timing conventions. The phrase "MORSE CODE", in Morse code format, would normally be written something like this, where – represents dahs and · represents dits: −− −−− ·−· ··· · −·−· −−− −·· · M O R S E C O D E Next is the exact conventional timing for this phrase, with = representing "signal on", and . representing "signal off", each for the time length of exactly one dit: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890123456789 M------ O---------- R------ S---- E C---------- O---------- D------ E ===.===...===.===.===...=.===.=...=.=.=...=.......===.=.===.=...===.===.===...===.=.=...= ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ \| dah dit \| \| symbol space letter space word space Morse code is often spoken or written with "dah" for dashes, "dit" for dots located at the end of a character, and "di" for dots located at the beginning or internally within the character. Thus, the following Morse code sequence: M O R S E C O D E −− −−− ·−· ··· · (space) −·−· −−− −·· · is orally: Dah-dah dah-dah-dah di-dah-dit di-di-dit dit, Dah-di-dah-dit dah-dah-dah dah-di-dit dit. Note that there is little point in learning to read written Morse as above; rather, the sounds of all of the letters and symbols need to be learned, for both sending and receiving. Link budget issues Edit Morse Code cannot be treated as a classical radioteletype (RTTY) signal when it comes to calculating a link margin or a link budget for the simple reason of it possessing variable length dots and dashes as well as variant timing between letters and words. For the purposes of Information Theory and Channel Coding comparisons the word PARIS is used to determine Morse Code's properties because it has an even number of dots and dashes. Morse Code when transmitted essentially creates an AM signal (even in on/off keying mode), assumptions about signal can be made with respect to similarly timed RTTY signalling. Because Morse code transmissions employ an on-off keyed radio signal, it requires less complex transmission equipment than other forms of radio communication. Morse code also requires less signal bandwidth than voice communication, typically 100–150 Hz , compared to the roughly 2400 Hz used by single-sideband voice , although at a lower data rate. Morse code is usually received as a medium-pitched audio tone (600–1000 Hz), so transmissions are easier to copy than voice through the noise on congested frequencies, and it can be used in very high noise / low signal environments. The transmitted power is concentrated into a limited bandwidth so narrow receiver filters can be used to suppress interference from adjacent frequencies. The narrow signal bandwidth also takes advantage of the natural aural selectivity of the human brain, further enhancing weak signal readability. This efficiency makes CW extremely useful for DX (distance) transmissions , as well as for low-power transmissions (commonly called " QRP operation ", from the Q-code for "reduce power"). The ARRL has a readability standard for robot encoders called ARRL Farnsworth Spacing [27] that is supposed to have higher readability for both robot and human decoders. Some programs like WinMorse [28] have implemented the standard. Learning methods Edit People learning Morse code using the Farnsworth method are taught to send and receive letters and other symbols at their full target speed, that is with normal relative timing of the dots, dashes and spaces within each symbol for that speed. The Farnsworth method is named for Donald R. "Russ" Farnsworth, also known by his call sign , W6TTB. However, initially exaggerated spaces between symbols and words are used, to give "thinking time" to make the sound "shape" of the letters and symbols easier to learn. The spacing can then be reduced with practice and familiarity. Another popular teaching method is the Koch method, named after German psychologist Ludwig Koch, which uses the full target speed from the outset, but begins with just two characters. Once strings containing those two characters can be copied with 90% accuracy, an additional character is added, and so on until the full character set is mastered. In North America, many thousands of individuals have increased their code recognition speed (after initial memorization of the characters) by listening to the regularly scheduled code practice transmissions broadcast by W1AW , the American Radio Relay League's headquarters station. In the United Kingdom many people learned the Morse code by means of a series of words or phrases that have the same rhythm as a Morse character. For instance, "Q" in Morse is dah-dah-di-dah, which can be memorized by the phrase "God save the Queen", and the Morse for "F" is di-di-dah-dit, which can be memorized as "Did she like it." A well-known Morse code rhythm from the Second World War period derives from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the opening phrase of which was regularly played at the beginning of BBC broadcasts. The timing of the notes corresponds to the Morse for "V"; di-di-di-dah and stood for "V for Victory" (as well as the Roman numeral for the number five). [29] [30] Letters, numbers, punctuation The &, $ and _ signs are not defined inside the ITU recommendation on Morse code. Exclamation Mark There is no standard representation for the exclamation mark (!), although the KW digraph (– · – · – –) was proposed in the 1980s by the Heathkit Company (a vendor of assembly kits for amateur radio equipment). While Morse code translation software prefers the Heathkit version, on-air use is not yet universal as some amateur radio operators in North America and the Caribbean continue to prefer the older MN digraph (– – – ·) carried over from American landline telegraphy code. Currency symbols The ITU has never codified formal Morse Code representations for currencies as the ISO 4217 Currency Codes are preferred for transmission. The $ sign code was represented in the Phillips Code , a huge collection of abbreviations used on land line telegraphy, as SX. Ampersand The representation of the & sign given above, often shown as AS, is also the Morse prosign for wait. In addition, the American landline representation of an ampersand was similar to "ES" (· · · ·) and hams have carried over this usage as a synonym for "and" (WX HR COLD ES RAINY, "the weather here is cold & rainy"). Keyboard AT @ On May 24, 2004 — the 160th anniversary of the first public Morse telegraph transmission — the Radiocommunication Bureau of the International Telecommunication Union ( ITU-R ) formally added the @ (" commercial at " or "commat") character to the official Morse character set, using the sequence denoted by the AC digraph (· – – · – ·). This sequence was reportedly chosen to represent "A[T] C[OMMERCIAL]" or a letter "a" inside a swirl represented by a "C". [31] The new character facilitates sending email addresses by Morse code and is notable since it is the first official addition to the Morse set of characters since World War I . Prosigns Main article: Other alphabets in Morse code For Chinese, Chinese telegraph code is used to map Chinese characters to four-digit codes and send these digits out using standard Morse code. Korean Morse code [ dead link ] uses the SKATS mapping, originally developed to allow Korean to be typed on western typewriters. SKATS maps hangul characters to arbitrary letters of the Latin script and has no relationship to pronunciation in Korean. Unusual variants Edit During early World War I (1914-1916) Germany briefly experimented with 'dotty' and 'dashy' Morse, in essence adding a dot or a dash at the end of each Morse symbol. Each one was quickly broken by Allied SIGINT, and standard Morse was restored by Spring 1916. Only a small percent of Western Front (and Mediterranean Sea) traffic ever was in 'dotty' or 'dashy' Morse during the entire War. In popular culture, this is mostly remembered in the book "The Code Breakers" by Kahn and in the national archives of the UK and Australia (whose SIGINT operators copied most of this Morse variant). Other forms of 'Fractional Morse' or 'Fractionated Morse' have emerged. [32] Alternative display of more common characters in International Morse code See also: Huffman coding Some methods of teaching or learning Morse code use the dichotomic search table below. A graphical representation of the dichotomic search table: the user branches left at every dot and right at every dash until the character is finished. T –	E (Epik High album)
In Roman mythology, who were 'Aglaia', 'Euphrosyne', and 'Thalia'?	Morse Code Alphabet Morse Code Alphabet The International Morse code characters are: ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ A .- B -... ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ D -.. ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ E . F ..-. ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ G --. H .... ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ I .. J .--- ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ K -.- L .-.. ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ M -- ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ï¿½ N -. O ---	i don't know
In which musical is the song 'Honey Bun' featured?	South Pacific - Honey Bun (Original Film version) Pt 1 - YouTube South Pacific - Honey Bun (Original Film version) Pt 1 Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Oct 20, 2007 One of the Highlights from the musical 'South Pacific'. Honey Bun Part 2:	South Pacific
With which orchestral instrument would you associate Yo-Yo Ma?	"Honey Bun" - music from "South Pacific" - YouTube "Honey Bun" - music from "South Pacific" Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on Oct 8, 2007 Monta Vista High School Choir and Orchestra performance of selected music from "South Pacific". This is one of the songs - "Honey Bun", featuring Leah Davis and Sam Moon Category	i don't know
Who wrote the Art Garfunkel number one hit 'Bright Eyes'?	Art Garfunkel - Bright Eyes Lyrics \| SongMeanings Art Garfunkel Bright Eyes is found on the album Fate for Breakfast . Found on more albums: Best of Art Garfunkel [Germany] The Very Best of Art Garfunkel The Art Garfunkel Album Is it a kind of a dream Floating out on the tide Following the river of death downstream Oh, is it a dream? There's a fog along the horizon A strange glow in the sky And nobody seems to know where it goes And what does it mean? Oh, is it a dream? Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Is it a kind of a shadow Reaching into the night Wandering over the hills unseen Or is it a dream? There's a high wind in the trees A cold sound in the air And nobody ever knows when you go And where do you start? Oh, into the dark Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Bright eyes, burning like fire Bright eyes, how can you close and fail? How can the light that burned so brightly Suddenly burn so pale? Lyrics submitted by tjordaan , edited by lobo81865 "Bright Eyes" as written by Mike Batt Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC Lyrics powered by LyricFind Oldest First +7 General CommentSpeaking from personal experience, as someone who is having to watch his loved one 'slip away downstream', I think this is one of the best ever songs about death. My wife is so close; her bright eyes, normally so full of life and love, normally glowing with vitality and enjoyment, are now hollow, grey and vacant. I have watched, heartbroken, as she has declined gradually over the last 6 months. Her determination has waned, depression has set in and I know that one day soon her bright eyes will burn no longer. When does it start? Maybe death creeps up on us, ever so gradually, every time we fear it so much that it takes away from our appreciation of life. When I look at the sadness in my wife's eyes, and no doubt in my own eyes watching her, I see fear - surely far more fear of what may or may not happen when she 'floats out on the tide' than what she will ever feel when it actually does happen. Death is a return to peace and we all know it, but it's not really the fear of death that we are afraid of; it's the attachment to life. It's so hard to let go, especially when most of us spend our whole lives in a mental struggle for survival, always trying to build more security...like we can ever hope to cheat death and live forever! The harder we try to survive and improve our lives, the more we underline and reaffirm our own subconscious fear of death, which in the end always catches up with us on our death beds. If you want my advice, spend as much time as you can contemplating your own death (like the Tibetan Buddhists do). It's not morbid, it's liberating; only the soul that is at one with death can truly appreciate life without being held back by fear. This song is one of the best ways of beginning that journey. If you listen to it and feel a tightness in your chest, like a star inside trying to burn its way out of you...if you weep with sadness at the absurdity and unfairness of life and the futility of it all...if this song moves you to the very core of your being and you yearn to release your passion, yet at the same time you can't stop yourself pressing the repeat button and playing it over and over again... If you have ever loved somebody more than you even love yourself, and more than life itself... ??? If that is you, take a deep breath my friend. You are the type who will feel your loved one all around you, within and without you, for the rest of your life. Ever present. In the morning mist and the cool evening breeze, in the winter frost and the autumn leaves. What happens when we die? Where do we go? We go NOWHERE - NOW + HERE - turning and returning to the passive energy of BEING, the background presence that infuses life with its passion - our passion. And if you are the kind of person that is sensitive to that then you are fortunate that you are able to release some of those feelings now, while you are still alive and conscious. Thank you Watership Down. Thank you Mike Batt and Art Garfunkel. And thank YOU for allowing their expressions to reflect within the mirror of your own soul and in so doing allow life and death to become a little more conscious of each other. xxx	Mike Batt
Who was the only Knight of the 'Round Table' to see the entire grail?	Art Garfunkel Official Website 1980-1985 Chronology 1980 Art Garfunkel appeared in his third film, Nicholas Roeg's BAD TIMING - A SENSUAL OBSESSION with Theresa Russell and Harvey Keitel. Art plays Dr. Alex Linden, an American psychoanalyst and professor at the University of Vienna. The story revolves around the passionate and often hostile relationship between Alex and the seductive Milena Flaherty (Russell). The part would turn out to be Art's most demanding acting project to date. The acting emotions were intensively passionate and required each of the lead actors to stretch beyond anything they had done before. Art Garfunkel's performance as a serious actor again received wide praise by critics. The movie won for Best Film at the Toronto Film Festival. In the Fall, Art Garfunkel recorded background vocals on Stephen Bishop's album RED CAB TO MANHATTAN. In October, Art's favorite baseball team, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Kansas City Royals 4 games to 2, to become the 1980 World Series Champions. During the Fall, Art began recording tracks for SCISSORS CUT, his next album. Art also recorded the Stephen Bishop song, "One Less Holiday," although this tune would not be released until 1993's UP 'TIL NOW. 1981 In August, the concert promoter, Ron Delsner asked Paul Simon if he would be willing to perform a free concert in New York's Central Park Paul was reluctant about the public's response. His recent album ONE-TRICK PONY did not sell well and the film of the same title faded quickly, leaving Paul a bit down. He decided the time was right for a Simon & Garfunkel reunion concert. Paul contacted Art who was traveling in Switzerland and they both agreed to do the show. Approximately 500,000 people attended the performance on September 19th. Apparently, after ten years, the public wanted and perhaps needed S&G together again, even if only for one night. The response from fans as well as the media was overwhelming. It truly was a memorable evening. Both Paul and Art decided to tighten up the show a bit (and tune Richard Tee's piano!) and take the show on the road (U.S., Europe & the Far East) for 19 shows over the next 18 months. In August, Art released his fifth solo album SCISSORS CUT (U.S. #113, U.K. #51). This album included the Gallagher & Lyle hit "A Heart in New York" (U.S. #61). The U.K. version contains the track "The Romance" rather than "Bright Eyes." The album was co-produced by Roy Halee, who also co-produced the S&G albums, including BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER. Paul Simon makes a brief appearance on "In Cars" performing background vocals. Near the end of the song, Art sings, rather mystically, two lines from "Scarborough Fair/Canticle" ("Remember me to one who lives there, she once was a true love of mine" - a reference to Laurie Bird?) The album is dedicated to Laurie Bird and includes a partial photograph of Ms. Bird on the rear cover. Art was devastated by Ms. Bird's death in Art's New York apartment while he was in Europe filming BAD TIMING - A SENSUAL OBSESSION. Art was quoted at the time, "Laurie was the greatest thing I ever knew in my life, now I've lost it." In 1988, he added, "I took her death terribly and remained moody over it through much of the 80's." Probably why he did not release another solo album until 1988's LEFTY (excluding 1986's THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS with Amy Grant). Having been fascinated by the English language his entire life, Art Garfunkel began to realize that he had a gift, the ability to write prose poems. Art would continue to write throughout the decade and this work would culminate in a collection of prose poems published in 1989 entitled STILL WATER. 1982 In the Spring, the long awaited Simon & Garfunkel - THE CONCERT IN CENTRAL PARK album was released (US #6, UK #6). This was their first album since BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (1970). Stephen Holden wrote in ROLLING STONE Magazine, "If The Concert in Central Park is Paul Simon's valentine to the Big Apple, it is Art Garfunkel's voice that really tugs at the heartstrings and sends the message home." In April, to promote the album, Art and Paul announced plans for a world tour (1982-83) in a press conference at the Carlton Tower Hotel in London. Included on the tour: May 28, Offenbach; May 30, Dortmund; June 1, Berlin; June 4, Copenhagen; June 6, Stockholm; June 8& 9, Paris; June 10, Zurich; June 12, Rotterdam; June 15, Dublin; June 19, London. "Mrs. Robinson" became a #1 hit in France, 15 years after its initial release. The album sold so heavily in Europe during the tour that one out of every two Dutch families purchased a copy. In February, HBO broadcasted "Simon and Garfunkel: The Concert in Central Park." It would later be released as a successful selling video. In the mid-1980's, Art Garfunkel's obsession with long-distance walking began to come into focus, starting with a three and a half-week hike across the rice paddies and back roads of Japan in 1982. In December, Art Garfunkel recorded background vocals on the Crosby, Stills and Nash album DAYLIGHT AGAIN. During the Holiday's, Art sung a small solo piece at a children's concert at St. Mark's Church in Tuxedo Park, N.Y. in a concerto composed by Jimmy Webb. This was a prelude to THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS. 1983 During the Spring, Simon & Garfunkel continued their highly-successful European tour. In July and August, they brought the tour back to the U.S. for a series of "stadium" concerts. July 19, Akron; July 20, Pontiac; July 21, Toronto (Canada); July 23, Chicago; July 27, Milwaukee; July 28, Minneapolis; July 29, Pittsburg; July 31 E. Rutherford; August 3, Foxboro; August 6, New York; August 13, Laurel; August 14, Atlanta; August 17, Houston; August 18, Dallas; August 20, Oakland; August 22, Vancouver (Canada); August 27, Los Angeles; August 28, San Diego; August 30, Boulder. These US dates were in addition to the 19 concerts they performed during their international tour (1981-83). A full segment of ABC's "20/20" was devoted to Simon & Garfunkel in honor of their "Summer Evening Tour." On August 16th, Art Garfunkel attended the wedding of Paul Simon and Carrie Fisher. The ceremony was held in Paul's west side apartment. In December, Art and Susan Webb (Jimmy's sister) perform at the Royal Festival Hall. This show was the British premiere of Jimmy Webb's THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS. All profits from the show went to a London children's charity. The concert was later broadcast on British radio on Christmas Day. Earlier in the month, THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS had two performances in New York's St. John the Divine Cathedral. In the December 20th issue of THE NEW YORK DAILY NEWS, Patricia O'Haire wrote about Art Garfunkel's performance of "The Animals' Christmas" at the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine. The music they were hearing was composed by Jimmy Webb, who's known for his hit songs "Up, Up and Away," "By the Time I Get to Phoenix," and "MacArthur Park." But this time his music is a small, cantata-type piece called "The Animals' Christmas," and it was given two performances Sunday from the alter... to benefit the T.J. Martel Foundation for Leukemia and Cancer Research. Garfunkel, in white tie and tails, stood in the pulpit on the left side of the altar while singing; Susan Skylar, who sang some of the vocals, stood on a raised platform on the right. In between them were a 24-voice children's choir who did the backup vocals, and a full orchestra. The session was recorded live, to be issued some time in the future as an album. Though two or three of the songs were poems Webb had set to music, and one was a 12th century carol, most of the lyrics and all of the music were Webb originals. The music is unaffected, rather charming; the rhythmic schemes are simple and the story they describe is about the birds, the fish and other members of the animal kingdom - where they were and what they did when Christ child was born in Bethlehem. One of the numbers described how a cat named Phat led Mary and Joseph to a stable, where other animals could keep warm when there was no room at the inn, how the roosters warned the Holy Family that soldiers were coming after King Herod decreed that all firstborn male children were to be killed; how a donkey carried them to Egypt and the wild geese, soaring high above, made an arrow in the sky to point their way. "The Animals' Christmas"... could easily become a classic in schools and churches, since so much of it is tailored for the voices of children. " Art Garfunkel recorded background vocals on the Christopher Cross album ANOTHER PAGE. 1984 Art Garfunkel began his Walk across America. Starting out from New York, Art will make periodic trips of 100 miles or so, return to New York, and later, go back to where he left off and continue on his odyssey. He will begin to write poetry along the way. In October, Art Garfunkel released a single entitled, "Sometimes When I'm Dreaming," written by Mike Batt (who also composed "Bright Eyes"). In December, THE ART GARFUNKEL ALBUM (UK #12) was released. This was a greatest hits compilation and included the new song, "Sometimes When I'm Dreaming." Surprisingly, neither the single or the greatest hits album were released in the United States. It would not be until 1988 when Columbia released a less than complete greatest hits compilation entitled GARFUNKEL. 1985> Art Garfunkel accompanied by good friend Jimmy Webb, travel to Tahiti and sail the Polynesian Islands in the South Pacific. Art filmed his part as a reporter in Washington, D.C. for the movie GOOD TO GO (a.k.a. SHORT FUSE). Art continued to record vocals for the upcoming album THE ANIMALS' CHRISTMAS in London at St. Paul's Cathedral, at the Air Studios in the British West Indies, and with Amy Grant in Nashville, Tennessee. In the Fall, Art met the future Mrs. Garfunkel, Kathryn (Kim) Cermak.	i don't know
Which year of the 18th century was called 'The Year of Victories'?	18th Century Britain A HISTORY OF 18TH CENTURY BRITAIN By Tim Lambert In 1702 Queen Anne began her reign. In the same year the war of the Spanish succession began. In 1704 the great general the Duke of Marlborough, won a great victory over the French at Blenheim. Also in 1704 the British captured Gibraltar - and they have held it ever since. The Duke of Marlborough went on to win great victories at Ramillies in 1706, at Oudenarde in 1708 and at Malplaquet in 1709. Meanwhile the Act of Union between England and Scotland was passed in 1707. From 1603 England and Scotland shared a king but they remained separate countries. The Act of Union made them one although the Scots kept their own legal system, church and educational system. Free trade was established between the two countries. George I became king in 1714. He was also the ruler of Hanover (part of Germany) and he much preferred to stay there. George could not speak English and was content to leave the running of Britain to his ministers. Meanwhile in September 1714 the Highlands of Scotland rose in rebellion. In an attempt to claim his throne James Stuart (son of James II, who was deposed in 1688) landed at Peterhead in December 1714. The uprising failed after an indecisive battle was fought at Sheriffmuir near Stirling on 13 November 1715. James Stuart left Scotland in February 1716. In 1711 the South Sea Company was formed. It was given exclusive rights to trade with the Spanish colonies in South America. (It transported many slaves from Africa to South America). In 1720 shares in the company became massively overpriced. Then the share price collapsed. (The South Sea Bubble burst) and many investors lost huge sums of money. From 1721 Robert Walpole (1676-1745) became the king's chief minister. People began to call him Prime Minister (Originally it was a term of abuse not an official title). Walpole moved into Downing Street in 1735. 10 Downing Street became the Prime Minister's official residence in 1732. Walpole resigned in February 1742. George I died in 1727 and was succeeded by his son George II. Like his father George II was content to leave government largely in the hands of his ministers. However he was the last British king to lead an army into battle. He led them to victory against the French at Dettingen in June 1743. In July 1745 Charles Stuart landed in the Hebrides. He had promised his father, James Stuart, that he would capture the throne. The Highlanders rose to support him and Charles made rapid progress. In September 1745 his followers (known as Jacobites from the Latin for James, Jacobus) captured Edinburgh (except for the castle). The Jacobites then won the battle of Prestopans. They invaded England and in November 1745 they captured Carlisle. The Jacobite army reached Derby in December 1745 but they then turned back. Charles Stuart then headed to Inverness . However the Jacobites were crushed at the battle of Culloden in April 1746. Charles Stuart fled to France. Also in the early 18th century England suffered from an 'epidemic' of gin drinking. Gin was cheap and drinking it was easy way for the poor to forget their troubles. However in 1751 a duty was added to gin, which curtailed gin drinking. The early 18th century was noted for its lack of religious enthusiasm. It was an age of reason rather then dogmatism and the churches lacked vigor. However in the mid-18th century things began to change. In 1739 the great evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770) began preaching. Also in 1739 John Wesley (1703-1791) began preaching. He eventually created a new religious movement. The Agricultural Revolution in the 18th Century In the 18th century there was an agricultural revolution in England. It began with Jethro Tull. In the 17th century seed was sown by hand. The sower simply scattered seed on the ground. However in 1701 Tull (1674-1741) invented the seed drill. This machine dropped seeds at a controllable rate in the straight lines. A harrow at the back of the machine covered the seeds to prevent birds eating them. Tull also invented a horse drawn hoe, which killed weeds between rows of seeds. Furthermore new forms of crop rotation were introduced. Under the old system land was divided into 3 fields and each year one was left fallow. This was, obviously, wasteful, as one third of the land was not used each year. In the 17th century the Dutch began to use new forms of crop rotation with clover and root crops such as turnips and swedes instead of letting the land grow fallow. (Root crops restored fertility to the soil). In the 18th century these new methods became common in England. A man named Charles 'Turnip' Townshend (1674-1738) did much to popularize growing turnips. Turnips had another advantage. They provided winter feed for cattle. Previously most cattle were slaughtered at the beginning of winter because there was not enough food to keep them through the season. Now fresh milk and butter became available all year round. Moreover in the early 18th century farmers began to improve their livestock by selective breeding. One of the most famous pioneers of selective breeding was Robert Bakewell (1725-1795). There were other minor improvements. On light soil farmers used marl (clay with a lime content). Other farmers drained their fields with stone lined trenches. Manure has always been used as fertilizer but in the mid-18th century farmers began to build underground tanks to protect manure from the weather. Finally in the 18th century there was a wave of enclosures. In the Middle Ages land in each village was divided into strips. Each farmer held some strips in each field. In the 16th and 17th centuries some enclosures took place. Many more followed in the 18th century. When an act of enclosure was passed commissioners divided up the land in the village so each farmer had all his land in one place, which was an inefficient way of doing things. In 1756 Britain became embroiled in the Seven Years War (1756-1763) with France. In 1759 the British, led by General Wolfe, won a great victory at Quebec. That ensured that Canada became a British colony rather than a French one. Meanwhile in 1757 Clive won the battle of Plassey, which ensured that India became British rather than French. Meanwhile in 1760 George II died at the age of 77. George III succeeded him. The first two George's were content to leave government in the hands of their ministers. However, according to his enemies, George III tried to gain more power for himself. During his reign Britain lost her colonies in North America. Fighting began in 1775 and the colonists declared themselves independent in 1776. George was determined to suppress the colonists, ignoring the wishes of those who wanted reconciliation. However the Americans won a decisive victory at Yorktown in 1781, which ensured their independence. That caused George's crony, Prime Minister Lord North to fall from power. Meanwhile London was rocked by the anti-Catholic Gordon riots in 1780. Riots were common in the 18th century. The workers could not vote and there were no trade unions so if the workers were disaffected they rioted. The Gordon riot was the worst. Lord George Gordon (1751-1793) was an MP who led a huge crowd to parliament to present a petition demanding the repeal of a 1778 act, which removed certain restrictions on Roman Catholics. The demonstration became a riot. With cries of 'No Popery!' the rioters held London for several days until the army restored order. About 300 people died in the rioting. At the end of the 18th century a group of Evangelical Christians called the Clapham Sect were formed. They campaigned for an end to slavery and cruel sports. They were later called the Clapham Sect because so many of them lived in Clapham. The Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century In the late 18th century everyday life in Britain was transformed by the industrial revolution. Towns, industry and trade had been growing for centuries but about 1780 economic growth took off. Economic growth was helped by vast improvements in transport. In the early and mid 18th century many turnpike roads were built. Local turnpike trusts were formed. They maintained a road and charged people to travel on it. In the late 18th century a network of canals was built. One of the first was built for the Duke of Bridgewater by James Brindley. It opened in 1761 from Worsley to Manchester . A number of technological advances made the revolution possible. In 1709 Abraham Darby (1677-1717), who owned an iron works, began using coke instead of charcoal to melt iron ore. (It was a much more efficient fuel). Darby and his family kept the new fuel secret for a time but in the late 18th century the practice spread. Meanwhile in 1698 Thomas Savery made the first steam engine. From 1712 Thomas Newcomen made steam engines to pump water from coalmines. Then, in 1769, James Watt patented a more efficient steam engine and in the 1780s it was adapted to power machinery. The first industry to become mechanized was the textile industry. In 1771 Richard Arkwright opened a cotton-spinning mill with a machine called a water frame, which was powered by a water mill. Then, in 1779, Samuel Crompton invented a new cotton-spinning machine called a spinning mule. Finally in 1785 Edmund Cartwright invented a loom that could be powered by a steam engine. As a result of these new inventions cotton production boomed. Iron production also grew rapidly. In 1784 a man named Henry Cort (1740-1800) invented a much better way of making wrought iron. Until then men had to beat red hot iron with hammers to remove impurities. In 1784 Cort invented the puddling process. The iron was melted in an extremely hot furnace and stirred of 'puddled' to remove impurities. The result was a vast increase in iron production.	1759
What did the term 'Tenko' mean in Japanese prisoner of war camps?	The French Army : Military : History : Wars a model of standardization and professionalism followed by many Until World War I, commanders and nations throughout the world hoped to reproduce Napoleon's lightning campaigns. French military expertise was often sought by other nations. Picture: General Delzons with Napoleonic infantry in the battle of Maloyaroslavetz. Russia 1812. Picture by Avierianov, Russia. "The attack was the natural way for Frenchmen to fight. British beef and German sausage might create specialists in the art of standing still under fire but the mercurial Frenchman could not be so inhibited." Griffith - "Military Thought ..." "My soldiers are as brave as it is possible to be, but they argue too much. If they had the impassible firmness and the docility of the Russians the world not be great enough for me." - Napoleon . "... the French soldier is everywhere acknowledged to be the first for elan and movement" - Lamartine in Chamber of Deputies "Conceptions about French military prowess go back for centuries, but they first became prevalent during the reign of Louis XIV, when French military hegemony both inspired and angered many Europeans. A series of coalitions formed against France in the late seventeenth and early eighteenth century, but all failed in their stated objectives of rolling back the extensive French territorial conquests. French military success provided a model of standardization and professionalism followed by many European armies and leaders, who regarded the likes of Turenne and Vauban as the foremost military men of the age. During the reign of Napoleon in the early nineteenth century, France reached the height of its power. By 1807, after spectacular triumphs at Austerlitz, (ext.link) Jena (ext.link) and Friedland, many Europeans believed the French were invincible. The French Empire was eventually defeated, but memories about the Napoleonic Wars lingered. Until World War I, commanders and nations throughout the world hoped to reproduce Napoleon's lightning campaigns. Several military leaders in the American Civil War, like George McClellan, often styled themselves after the erstwhile French Emperor and hoped to emulate his triumphs. French military expertise was often sought by other nations. In the 1730s, French delegates attempted to modernize and improve Ottoman artillery. In the 19th century, while undergoing modernization, Japan requested guidance from French military officers about how to best restructure its armed forces. In the Polish_Soviet War, the French were part of an interallied mission to Poland and even started a military mission in that nation which attempted to improve Polish organization, logistics, and planning." (- www.wikipedia.org 2005) ~ "The Section historique of the French general staff, ... provides one measure of the military's interests; it published 80 volumes on the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars but only 6 specialized studies dealing with the reign of Louis XIV." - John Lynn - "Giant of the Grand Siecle" King Louis XIV (Sun King) and His Army. Under Louis XIV France became World power. France's cultural influence had never been so profound and French language spread across Europe. "The glare of Napoleonic brilliance outshone the radiance of the Sun King. The Napoleonic Wars have probably attracted more attention from 19th and 20th century readers than any other period of French military history. Library shelves groan under the weight of works on the campaigns of Napoleon, yet to my knowldge the only complete history of the campaigns of Louis XIV was written in the first half of the 18th Century ... The Section historique of the French general staff, which operated between 1899 and 1914, provides one measure of the military's interests; it published 80 volumes on the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars but only 6 specialized studies dealing with the reign of Louis XIV. After all, the emperor had marched his armies across Europe, from Lisbon to Moscow, while Louis' forces ventured less far from home. Napoleon's wars were short and decisive, brought to a hea in climatic battles, at least until the debacle of 1812 (Invasion of Russia), while Louis' conflicts dragged on as long, indecisive, and costly wars of attrition. In short, there seemed to be more to be learned from a study of Napoleon's military genius. To this day, war colleges dissect the Ulm-Austerlitz and Jena-Auerstadt Campaigns, but they have little interest in the siege-dominated wars fought by Louis' great generals." (Lynn - "Giant of the Grand Siecle: The French Army") Under King Louis XIV "The Sun King" the French army had been the world's finest army. Military service represented a living of sorts for the French nobility and gentry, a source of prestige. The classification of 'French' infantry denoted troops recruited from men born and raised in France. These regiments were called infanterie francaise as opposed to the mercenary infantry recruited elsewhere. The officers and men were to be of the Roman Catholic faith, the official state religion. Recruiting parties went to towns and villages looking for likely volunteers, inducing them to enlist with the usual promises � wines, money, fast women, and glory. The greycoats led by de Turenne (picture, ext.link) won numerous battles until Eugene of Savoy (picture, ext.link) and Duke of Marlborough (picture, ext.link) broke their reputation but not their spirit. Louis XIV regarded himself a soldier. From the age of 12 he spent a great deal of time with his troops. Only advancing years forced him to forgo such activity. Louis never commanded a battle in the open field, though he came close to doing so at Heurtbise in 1676. He was excellent organizer and administrator. Louis' wars were great conflicts, mobilizing huge armies for long periods of time. "The period 1661-1715 saw diminished violence within the borders of France because better-paid and better-disciplined soldiers didn't prey on Louis' own subjects, because the success of French arms meant that wars were fought primarily outside his realm, and because France was largely spared internal rebellions. ... Richelieu classed war as 'an inevitable evil' but 'absolutely necessary'; it was, in short, a fact of life. [In 1624, Louis XIII elevated ... Cardinal Richelieu to the powerful position of first minister. Richelieu harbored a strong and lasting desire to increase French prestige by toppling the Spanish. He saw France encircled on her land borders by Hapsburg holdings; Spain to the south, the Spanish Netherlands to the north, and a string of territories belonging to Spain and her Allies running from the Netherlands down through Italy, what was known at the time as the Spanish Road ...] (Lynn- "Giant of the Grand Siecle: The French Army" pp 13-14) After war broke out in Europe between France and England in the 1680s, the two nations regularly sent expeditions to raid and capture each other's fur trading posts in America. In March 1686, the French sent a raiding party under des Troyes over 1300 km to capture the British Hudson Bay Company's (map, ext.link) posts along James Bay. (HBC is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and is one of the oldest in the world.) The French appointed Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville, who had shown extreme heroism during the raids, as commander of the company's captured posts. In 1697, d'Iberville commanded a French naval raid on the company's headquarters at York Factory. (picture, ext.link) On the way to the fort, he defeated the ships of the Royal Navy in the Battle of the Bay, the largest naval battle in the history of the North American Arctic. Spanish invasion in 1636 threatened Paris. The Battle of Rocroi put an end to the supremacy of Spanish military and inaugurated a long period of French military predominance. A Spanish invasion in 1636 threatened Paris and years of indecisive campaigns followed. Richelieu died in 1642, and Louis XIII died in the next year, passing the throne to his 4 years old son, Louis XIV. A few days later the French army won a victory of major proportions at Rocroi. At Rocroi the French led by Duke d'Enghien defeated the hated Spaniards. The Battle of Rocroi 1643 was the first major defeat of the Spanish army in a century, although historians have noted that German, Walloon, and Italian troops actually surrendered first, while the Spanish infantry cracked only after repeated cavalry charges. The French carried out a huge cavalry encirclement, sweeping behind the Spanish army and smashing their way through to attack the rear of the Spanish cavalry that was still in combat with the reserves. The Battle of Rocroi put an end to the supremacy of Spanish military doctrine and inaugurated a long period of French military predominance. Louis XIV enjoyed a great military inheritance as he began his personal reign. Even after demobilization, his army remained large and skilled, in Turenne (picture, ext.link) and Conde, now back in Frencgh service, he probably had the best field commanders in Europe. "A young king with a lust for glory would not let such a fine military instrument grow dull from disuse. ... Louis plotted to chastise the Dutch and continue his acquisitions of Spanish lands. He carefully isolated the Dutch from their allies and struck in 1672. This Dutch War, 1672-8, began with an invasion, masterfully supported and supplied by Louvois ... Louis intended to defeat and humble the Dutch so as to force them to give him a free hand in the Spanish Netherlands, but he failed." (Lynn, - pp 16-17) The Dutch War 1672-8 was also called the Franco-Dutch War. The British were France's ally, having fought already two wars against the Dutch For the British, this war became the Third Anglo-Dutch War. (However, in 1674 the British switched alliances and fought for the Dutch.) The era 1610-1715 was an age of warfare throughout. At Neerwinden casualties were heavy: 9,000 French and 19,000 British and Allies French Marshal Luxembourg captured so many British and Allies flags that he could make a "tapestry" with them inside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. In 1693 at the famous battle of Neerwinden (also called Battle of Landen) Marshal Luxembourg led 75,000 men in victory over William III of England's 50,000 men protected by field fortifications. The French assaulted the allied position three times before the French cavalry penetrated the allied defenses. The French surprising the British and Allies in the act of maneuvering, rode over every body of troops they met, and nothing remained for the Allies but a hurried retreat over the Gete River. Casualties were heavy: 9,000 French and 19,000 British and Allies were killed, wounded and taken prisoner. Luxembourg captured so many British and Allies flags that he could make a "tapestry" with them inside the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. For this reason he was nicknamed le Tapissier de Notre-Dame. Several flag trophies of the colonial period are still displayed in the St. Louis-des-Invalides' church. The era 1610-1715 was an age of warfare throughout. "The War of the Spanish Succession, 1701-14, proved to be the longest and most exhausting war of Louis' personal reign. The Duke of Marlborough, perhaps England's greatest general, led British forces, while Prince Eugene of Savoy, an excellent general in his own right, commanded the main Imperial armies. For years, the French could not find a winning commander, and disaster followed didaster. At the Battle of Blenheim, 1704, (picture, ext.link) the allied team of generals so devastated the French army before them that the French would not again venture deep into Germany. At the battle of Turin in 1706, (picture, ext.link) Eugene essentially drove the French out of Italy, while Marlborough and Eugene won battles at Ramilles, 1706, and Oudenarde, 1708, that secured the Spanish Netherlands for the Allies. ... In September of that year [1709] at the battle of Malplaquet, Villars (90,000 men) confronted Marlborough and Eugene (100,000-120,000 men). Although the French lost that battle, they retired in good order and inflicted such great casualties that Marlborough would not again face the French in the open field." (Lynn, - p 19) Villars then defeated the Allies at Denain in 1712 (picture, ext.link) and captured number of cities and fortresses along the Rhine River. It was a bloody battle. Eugene of Savoy with 100,000 men intended to force a battle with Villars' 120,000 troops. However, the sudden withdrawal of English troops, led to the allied army being halted. Villars took advantage to launch a bayonet attack on a portion of Eugene's army. Chaos filled the scene. The attack however, was repulsed by the reserves. The French counterattacked, pushing the Allies into the river. The Allies suffered 18,000 casualties, the French 5,000. Strength of the French Army. In the end of XVII century, European warfare pitted collosal armies against one another - armies that dwarfed those of the past. According to John A. Lynn in the end of XVII century, European warfare pitted collosal armies against one another - armies that dwarfed those of the past. France boasted the greatest of these Goliaths, a force that totaled as many as 420,000 soldiers, at least on paper. The Dutch War high attained 279,610 men. This combined 219,000 infantry with 60,360 cavalry, while 116,000 of the total served in garrisons. A financial etat dating from the 1690s gives a detailed accounting of 343,300 infantry and 67,300 cavalry, not including officers. After war the strength of the army sharply decreased and numerous regiments had been disbanded. The size of individual French armies in the field varied. During the Dutch War the average size of army in battle rose to 24,500 men. Growth of the French army 1600-1760 Time period 390,000 ? King Louis XIV achieved greater regularity; early in his reign, French infantry battalions usually included 12 companies, 50 men each. The German mercenary companies claimed 100 men each. Before long, grenadier companies were added to French battalions. The number of companies in battalion increased to 16 by the close of the Dutch War. Regiments varied in size, majority included 3 battalions. The regiments of the Guard had 6 battalions each. In 1710 one infantry regiment had 5 battalions, one had 4, and eleven had 3, the rest had only 2 battalions or a single battalion. Uniforms and Weapons. In 1685 was issued order prescribing particular colors for regiments. Picture: army of King Louis XIV, by Eugene Leliepvre. The dress of the soldiers was standardized. Musketeers were more likely to wear simply a loose coat and broad brimmed hat. The infantrymen and officers wore stocking and shoes rather than boots, unless the officers were mounted. Durign the reign of Louis XIV the most prominent piece of military clothing became the justaucorps, a coat reaching to the knees, decorated with a row of buttons down the front. Cavalry wore heavy tall bots and spurs, while dragoons wore shoes and gaiters to allow them to move more freely on foot. Cavalry were likely to adorn themselves more elegantly than infantry. Instead of regimental and national uniforms, regiments and entire armies declared their allegiance by wearing emblems or tokens stuck in the hatband or some other convenient place. In 1685 was issued order prescribing particular colors for regiments, blue for the Guard and the royal regiments, red for the Swiss regiments and gray-white for regular French infantry. In 1690 was prescribed color for each regiment; for eighty eight regiments it was gray with red reverses and for fourteen royal and princely regiments it was blue. Although the army would seem to have adopted uniforms for regular regimens during the Nine Years' War, the first regulation detailing the fabric, color, and cut of uniforms in detail appeared in 1704. The infantry was armed with muskets, fusils and pikes. Musket was the basic weapon, while fusil became the standard firearm by 1700. There was no shortage of weapons, the army may have been bootles, shoeless and very hungry but they had firearms and gunpowder. Privates and Officers. France was 'always filled with an idle and seething [aristocratic] youth, ready to undertake anything, and who seek to exercise their valor regardless of the expense.' "The most common method of recruitment in wartime, recolage, relied neither upon personal contacts of officers in their home provinces not upon compulsion organized by royal officials, but upon the labor and lure of recruiting parties dispatched to the towns and cities of France. When a recruiting party arrived in a town, the officer in charge had first to secure permission from the local authorities, who might be highly reluctant to grant it. Once given the right to proceed, recruiters advertised their presence. Recruiters' drums must have been a common sound in the larger towns ... After a dramatic drum roll, the recruiter addressed those attracted by the racket, urging the young men to sign up ... Recolage was open to many abuses, and military authorities did little to stop them, save for issuing pious words. Liquor played more of a role than simply solemnizing a contract. Many a recruiter got his prey drunk, before springing the trap." (Lynn, pp 358-9) Recruiters not only grabbed men off the streets, they sometimes invded private homes and churches to kidnap male inhabitants ! On average, the French soldiers enlisted during the Thirty Years' War at the age of 24. Approx. 55 % of Louis' soldiers were between the ages of 20 and 30. The king did not set height requirements, except for the Guard. The average height of French soldier was 5'3" (or English 5'7") and was in that time an average height. In comparison, the average American soldier during the Civil War was 5'8" tall. Composition of the French army in 1716 Rank 77 72 The officers led from the front, braving the same dangers that their men faced. There was honor to be won on the battlefield - honor to be won at any price. Like Louis XIV, his officer corps pursued gloire. According to John A. Lynn the quest to attain glory by publicly fulfilling the demands of honor explains the undeniable taste for war on the part of the French aristocracy. A 1601 Guide des courtesans noted: 'I hear our young nobility murmur against the peace which limits them from displaying what they have of good in their souls. They can appease their warrior ardors by taking themselves, with the leave of their prince, to some just war outside their country.' Louis XIV noted the enthusiasm of nobles to raise units to serve him. A young man intent on an officer's career could serve an apprenticeship as a cadet or a volunteer.The ensign ranked as the lowest commissioned officer with command responsibility in the infantry, a position paralleled by the cornet in the cavalry. Captains led companies. They bought their commands and thus owned venal charges. Grenadier companies stood outside the purchase system, therefore their commissions belonged to the king. It opened the door to men promoted from the ranks. Colonels commanded, and almost always, owned regiments. The French repeatedly claimed a suppossedly rare and special fighting spirit for their nobility. Vauban considered that French officers were 'the best in the world' and that 'all the nation loves war and takes up the profession of war every time that it finds in it some promise of elevation and of the ability to subsist with honor. Lisola, a Spaniard (and enemy of France), described France as 'always filled with an idle and seething [aristocratic] youth, ready to undertake anything, and who seek to exercise their valor regardless of the expense.' But the aristocracy's code of honor assumed a strictly hierachical society and disregarded the lower classes as unworthy. Officers seemed to expect deferences and turned to violance to punish those who refused to grant it. For example, several subaltern officers of artillery ran amok in Grenoble in 1694 and attacked passerby, eventually, a crowd cornered them and killed two in the final fray. The soldiers were expected to embrace obedience and display courage out of desire to avoid coercion if they could not be inspired by higher appeals. Troops that had behaved disgracefully were punished by executing soldiers drawn by lot from the offending unit. The army was better paid than under Louis XIII. The consequences of lack of pay went beyond the privations of individual soldiers and officers. Pushed to its extreme, lack of pay inspired mutiny. In 1635 the French army mutined and sacked Tirlemont, massacring its inhabitants. The war with Spain was filled with countless acts of mutiny on a small scale in which troops simply went on rampage. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PS. In 1600, King of France Henry IV formed the Musketeers, an elite force to serve as his guard. They had a strict code of ethics that they lived by and were held to be the most renown fighters of their day. Without Dumas' great tale of the 'Three Musketeers', this group of military men would have doubtless faded into history. The Three Musketeers (Les Trois Mousquetaires) is a novel by Alexandre Dumas. It recounts the adventures of a young man named d'Artagnan after he leaves home to become a musketeer. D'Artagnan is not one of the musketeers of the title; those are his friends Athos, Porthos, and Aramis - inseparable men who chant the motto "One for all, and all for one." The Three Musketeers continues, after a century and a half of continuous publication, to define the genre of swashbuckling romance and historical adventure. In "Great Foreign Language Writers", Barnett Shaw wrote, "Two hundred years from now, you can be sure that at any given moment, someone, in some far-off place, will be reading "The Three Musketeers" or "The Count of Monte Cristo" in one of the dozens of languages into which Dumas has been translated." ~ "Another problem was the drastic differences between French and American attitudes toward, and treatment of British POWs. For the French, the current conflict was but the latest in a long series of conventional wars against a traditional enemy ... The officers of the French and English armies shared a comparable social background a cosmopolitan culture, and the same professional values. Consequently, the French socialized with, entertained, and even loaned funds to their unfortunate brothers in arms from Cornwallis' forces." Scott - "From Yorktown to Valmy" 1998 The Royal Army in 1700-1790. Wars in Europe, America, Asia and Africa. Under the careless and profoundly timid King Louis XV the army slumped into slow decay. The skilled generals were replaced with those whose ability was that of pleasing Madame de Pompadour. She was king's mistress and ruled France and its armies with a pout and smile. They were more concerned with hair powder, dances and women. The 18th century saw France remain the dominant power in Europe, but begin to falter largely because of internal problems. The country engaged in a long series of wars, such as the War of the Quadruple Alliance, the War of the Polish Succession, and the War of the Austrian Succession. The Royal Army was a typical 18th century force. The ranks were filled with mercenaries, volunteers, adventurers and others. The discipline was harsh (a soldier who struck an officer had his offending hand chopped off before he was hanged) and the morale low. The Royal Army used linear tactics, copied from Prussian system. King Louis XV's army. France maintained the largest standing army in Europe. The first 20 years of Louis XV were generally peaceful, a marked contrast to the war-like disposition of Louis XIV (Sun King). France had a population of 25 million and maintained the largest standing army in Europe. It consisted of the following trops: - guard cavalry - - - - - - - Provincial Militia had 100-120 battalions (on average each had 600 men) - - - - - - - Coast Guard Militia - - - - - - - Bourgeois Militia The Provincial Militia was drafted for garrison duty but they were also used as army reserves and considered part of the royal forces and listed as such in the army registers. In 1780s reaction reigned supreme over the French military administration. In 1781 the courtiers extorted from Segur, the Minister of War, against his will, a royal decree to the effect that every candidate for a commission must satisfy the court genealogist that he was possessed of 16 quarters of nobility ! The effect of this was to shut the doors of the army in the face of the rising middle class. The Seven Years' War (1756�1763) "The inglorious performance of French arms in the wars of the mid 18th century - particularly in the disastrous Seven Years' War sent shockwaves through French society. The Prussian army in that time enjoyed reputation as one of the best trained, the most disciplined and one of the best led (Frederick the Great, Zieten, Seydlitz and other generals). The Prussians wore simpler dress than the French army with its many lackeys, cooks, courtesans, actors and chaplains, friseurs and valets, chests full of perfumes, hair nets, sun shades and parrots. "At the time of the Seven Years' War the constitution of the royal army was as heterogeneous as that of the France which maintained it. There were, first of all, a number of regiments of household troops doing duty at the palaces, and of French and of Swiss Guards. Of the line regiments some bore titles of the great noblemen who had originally raised them, others names of the several provinces of France. Some were managed under the authority of the Minister of War, while in others the companies were farmed by their captains, who were allowed and accustomed to make a profit on the transaction. A quarter of the regiments were composed of foreigners, Germans, Swiss, Scots, Irishmen, and Flemings, and these were governed by the military laws and customns of their own countries. The ranks of the French regiments were filled by voluntary enlistment, that is by the wles of the recruiting sergeants and the temptations of bounty. The recruits were engaged for 8 years on a pay of six or eight sous a day, from which deductions were made for provisions and clothing. They were drawn from among the less fortunate of the poorer class, the idlers of the towns, and the unemployed of town and country. The bourgeoisie remained outside the army." Besides the regular army there was a militia, raised among the rural population by ballot, from which, however, there were so many exemptions that it prssed heavily on the poorer classes and was intensely disliked. ... After the Seven Years' War the Duc de Broglie said one day that the principal cause of the mistakes which he had seen committed was the complete ignorance of the officers, from the sub-lieutenants to the lieutenants-generals, of the duties of their position and of the details of which they ought to be masters. Most of the officers were as extravagant and luxurious, even in the field, as they were ignorant, too ready to satisfy their inordinate wants by plunder, and thus to set to their men an example of indiscipline which, when it was followed, they were unable to repress. Yet in spite of this and other elements of weakness, the army of the Seven Years' War, when commanded by good soldiers, had proved capable of rapid movements, of complicated evolutions, and of prolonged endurance. Its failures were due not so much to the defects of its organization, equipment, and training, as to the lack of unity of command. In the 18th century the French state was the French monarchy, and the King himself the main-spring of the machine. If it was to work the King must give the impulse. But Louis XV was there to enjoy himself, and he handed over the State to those who amused or distracted him - during the Seven Years' War, chiefly to Madame de Pompadour. ... (see picture -->) Ministers and generals were appointed, not for their aptitude to administer France or to command armies, but according to their attitude toward the lady at the head of affairs. In 6 years the armies were commanded by 6 generals, only one of whom, the Marechal de Broglie, understood his business, and his success was rewarded, first by the division of his command and then by his dismissal and exile. The first effect of this system was to destroy the discipline of the army, which could have no confidence in commanders, the causes of whose appointment were no secret, and whose incompetence was manifest. Even those officers who knew their business were aware that their career depended not upon success but upon favour. The army became a hotbed of intrigue, and great strength of character was required to enable an officer in any position of responsibility to be guided solely by his sense of duty." (Wilkinson, Spenser - "The French army before Napoleon; lectures delivered before the University of Oxford ..." pp 84-88) In 1757 at Rossbach the Prussian army (22,000 men) under Frederick the Great defeated the French and German armies (54,000 men) under Marshal Prince de Soubise. About 3,500 Prussian horsemen had defeated an entire army of two combined European superpowers. Frederick was heard to say "I won the battle of Rossbach with most of my infantry having their muskets shouldered." Casualties: 550 Prussians and 5,000 French and Germans ! "The inglorious performance of French arms in the wars of the mid 18th century - particularly in the disastrous Seven Years' war - sent shockwaves through French society. Nowhere was the humiliation of defeat felt more sharply than in the army. There, the perception of military decline prompted reformers to enact a series of profesionalizing measures which transformed the French army." The Seven Years War sparked genuine progress in military. And it was in France most particularly that substantive developments occurred. Merely noting the contributions of the various individuals involved gives some idea of the scale and scope of the reforms undertaken by the French. Thus, Marshal de Broglie, a veteran commander of The Seven Years' War, developed the idea of the division as an administrative and tactical formation and introduced the use of light infantry and skirmish tactics into the French service. Jacques de Guibert, scion of a military family, wrote extensively on tactics, proposing reliance not on column or on line, but rather a series of flexible tactical formations, each suited to particular circumstances. De Guibert supported the idea of light infantry and skirmish tactics and advocated reform of the artillery and the establishment of permanent divisions. He also advanced the revolutionary notion that all citizens were liable for military service. Jean Baptiste de Gribeauval, a seasoned gunner, sparked and sponsored a total reorganization and reform of the French artillery upon attaining the lofty status of Inspector General of that arm. He promoted the redisign of guns and carriages, standardized calibers, and introduced new approaches to tactical deployment. To foster increased professionalism and reliability de Gribeauval secured the replacement of the customary civilian contractor gunners with trained soldiers. (- Loraine Petre) Pierre Joseph de Bourcet, a seasoned campaigner and military educator, wrote extensively on organization and strategy, advocating the permanent division of armies into self-contained, relatively large subordinate bodies of all arms capable of undertaking limited independent operations for short periods. He suggested that in this fashion an army of considerable size could advance with great speed, agility, and flexibility, for each body of the army - corps d'armee - could move along parallel routes of march toward the same objective, while remaining within supporting distance of the balance of the army. Jean du Teil and his brother Jean-Pierre, both gunners, advocated increased mobility on the battlefield, the use of artillery as an offensive arm, to prepare and support infantry attacks, and sounder preparation of officers. None of these changes came easily. Most of the reformers believed that France's weakness was not merely the result of the inadequacy of her military institutions, but was due also to her antiquated political, social, and economic institutions. So most of them supported the Revolution when it came in 1789. In the process of rebuilding France, the Revolutionary government put the finishing touches on the military reforms. War in America and Canada. France's major weakness in Americas was in numbers, there were only 80,000 French colonists. In contrast there were 1,500,000 mln British colonists. Map: Territory and population of French (blue), British (red), and Spanish (yellow) colonies in North America. In the late 17th and much of the 18th century, the colonial powers (Spain, Britain, and France) fought a series of wars for control of America: King William's War (1689-97), Queen Anne's War (1702-13), King George's War (1744-48), and the French and Indian War. They are usually referred to en masse by the name of the last war; bestowed from the Anglo-American perspective. The whole american continent, with the exception of the few British colonies on the east cost and Spanish holdings in the south was claimed by France as 'New France.' By 1663 France out of a population of 16 million, approx. double the size of England which sent out 40,000 settlers to New England, had provided Canada with only 2,500 settlers (!). Most of these were confined to three small settlements: Quebec, Montreal and Three Rivers. As the 17th century drew to a close the French were filled with a sense of accomplishment. They could contemplate a colony stretching along the St. Lawrence for a couple of hundred miles as well as other smaller settlements in Acadia, Cape Breton, Isle de St. Jean and Terre-Neuve. In addition French explorers had penetrated into the distant recesses of the continent, writing as they did so a chapter in exploration that ranks with the greatest. Great figures of New France "that emerged into the white light of historical importance" began with Cartier and Champlain and included La Salle, Talon, Frontenac and Laval. They found in Canada the chances and the challenges to match their talents and characteristics and they used these to open a vast new continent and create a great new country - Canada. (W.R.Wilson - "Early Canada Historical Narratives -LA BELLE PROVINCE") With strategic points along the St.Lawrence River in Canada, and the Great Lakes, and along the Mississippi River down to New Orleans, France could throw a noose around the British and Spanish colonies. The British westward expansion was frustrated by chain of French forts, trading posts and the Indian tribes manipulated by France. France's weakness was in numbers, there were only 80,000 colonists. In contrast there were 1,5 mln British colonists. Essentially a land power, France fought in America at great disadvantage. Once the conflict began, the resources she could commit were limited; the logistical problems were insuperable. Second, the French themselves saw the war as one to be won or lost in Europe. Almost the totality of the French army was committed in Germany. There the maximum effort was made and there the government sought victories and conquests. The French in North America concentrated on the Ohio Valley already penetrated by the British fur traders. The Indians of the region incl. Delawares, Mingos, Shawnee and Ottawas were visited by French officers, priests, traders and officials. War parties of Indians and wild Canadian bushrangers were soon organized. Many British settlers were tomahawked, scalping-knifes were used in every opportunity. The Indians were infected with scalp-fever as never before and the British traders were quickly expelled. British troops tried to establish a fort on Ohio but were chased off in 1754 by the French who promptly erected Fort Duquesne on the site so conveniently cleared. The number of skirmishes between the French and Indians and the British from Virginia increased. Great Britain and France decided that more troops should be sent to America. "On 6 July 1755 an Indian scout reported to Cpt. Contrecoeur ... commandant of Fort Duquesne, that a huge body of British was approaching. This was Braddock's column, it consisted of 1,200 redcoats with engineers and artillery, some Virginian 'bluecoats' under George Washington, and much baggage and impedimenta. ... 300 axmen carved a track for it through the wilderness. Cpt. Contrecoeur had but a few companies ... and some militia - tough forest fighters, but no match for redcoats trained to European standards. ... The French had about 800 Indians with about 36 French officers scattered among them - many greased and painted like their allies - incl. particularly the gallant Cpt. de Beaujeu and the guerilla, Langlade. They were supported by 72 men of the Compagnies Franches and some 140 militiamen. ... In minutes the British were driven back like bewildered cattle, unable to see the enemy who were firing into their ranks from behind thick cover. ... Braddock fell shot through the lungs ... he had already had 4 horses shot under him. ... Only about 23 officers and 460 men escaped alive and able to walk, out of 1,450 odd. The wounded were abandoned..." (Martin Windrow - "Montcalm's Army") Edward Braddock was commander-in-chief of the British forces for North America during the actions at the start of the French and Indian War. His military career started with the Coldstream Guards. (ext.link) In 1754 he became a major-general. Appointed shortly afterwards to command against the French in America, he landed in Virginia with two regiments of British regulars and was persuaded to undertake vigorous actions against the French. Braddock's troops were routed at Monongahela, and Braddock, rallying his men time after time, fell at last, mortally wounded by a shot through the right arm and into his lung. Braddock was carried off the field by Washington (ext.link) and another officer, and died, just four days after the battle. The struggle for Fort Ticonderoga was long and bitter. The fort controlled both commonly used trade routes between the English-controlled Hudson River Valley and the French-controlled St.Lawrence River Valley. The first Battle of Ticonderoga happened in 1758, when General Abercrombie of the British Army attempted to subdue the fort with 16,000 men. They were soundly defeated by a mere 4,000 French soldiers. In 1759, the fort was finally captured by the British under General Amhurst. There were more successes for the British. They ambushed several French vessels at sea and captured 400 soldiers and sailors. In May 1756 the war was formally declared. France however was still focused on central Europe (especially on Prussia) and the war in America was regarded as a sideshow. The French troops in America were led by Marquis Montcalm, a short man with a great predatory beak of a Roman nose. He was one of these rare generals whose men love him as well as respecting him. Montcalm's army numbered 2,500 regular troops. A French battalion had 500 men in 10 companies. (Due to sickness some battalions had only 200-300 men.) Montcalm had also small number of engineers and gunners. There were also 1,850 in local troops in garrisons, forts and sea ports. These men however were under the Governor and were not always placed at Montcalm's disposal. Third category of troops was militia. Approx. 4,000 militiamen were employed in transporting and supplying the regular and local troops. Fourth category were Indians and coureurs de bois, backwoodsmen, (picture, ext.link) they were employed for scouting and patrol work. Their knowledge of the forest and guerilla warfare were admirable. Marquis de Duquesne who became governor-general of New France in 1752, had used Shawnee, Ottawa, and Delaware Indians to harass and hold back British attempts to trade or settle in the Ohio valley. Other tribes, including the Iroquois Confederacy, assisted the British. The French small war parties played bloody havoc with British settlements along the border. These parties consisted of coureurs de bois, Indians, few militiamen and local troops, and were led by officers of the regular army. The coureurs-de-bois gloried in their physical prowess, fought in the Indian manner, travelled by canoe and snowshoes, and wore dearskin and moccasins. The war parties raged virtually unchecked and scalp-hunting for bounty wa sthe order of the day. The British responded with their own guerillas; Rogers' Rangers and the ruthless Iroquis warriors. Their operations took deep into French Canada. The year of 1756 brought with it William Pitt of Great Britain. His leadership, and France's continued neglect of the North-American theater, turned the tide in favor of the British. The French were driven from many frontier posts such as Fort Niagara and Fort Louisbourg. The Battle of the Plains of Abraham gave Quebec City to the British. Though the war in North America ended in 1760, when de Vaudreuil surrendered Montreal, indeed all of Canada to Britain, the war officially ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The treaty resulted in France's loss of all its North American possessions east of the Mississippi. France regained the Caribbean islands of Guadelupe and Martinique, which had been occupied by the British. The economic value of these islands was greater than that of Canada at the time, because of their rich sugar crops. On the whole, however, there was little interest in Canada, Voltaire disdainfully dismissed as "several acres of snow." The British provided medical treatment for the sick and wounded French soldiers and French soldiers were returned to France aboard British ships with an agreement that they were not to serve again in the present war. French-American Victory in America. British Prime Minister resigned after receiving news of the defeat at Yorktown. The British signed the Treaty of Paris, recognizing the United States. Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, comte de Rochambeau was a French aristocrat and general. He was originally destined for the a career in the Roman Catholic Church. However, after the death of his elder brother, he entered a cavalry regiment, and served in Bohemia and Bavaria. In 1780, Rochambeau was given the command of French troops sent to join the American colonists under George Washington fighting the Kingdom of Great Britain. He had four infantry regiments for his expedition to America: - Soissonnais (40th Line in 1790s) - Bourbonnais (13th Line in 1790s) - Saintonge (82nd Line in 1790s) - Royal Deux-Ponts, a German unit in the service of France (99th Line in 1790s) Each regiment was allowed to take 1,000 men "chosen among the most robust." He also had a small mixed unit consisting of infantry, hussars and gunners called Lauzun's Legion, and part of the Regiment of Auxonne Artillery. The total strength of Rochambeau's corps was approx. 5,000 men ready for combat. In the Bourbonnais Regiment served sublieutenant Louis-Alexandre-Andrault Langeron. Few years later he emigrated from France and served in the Russian army, eventually becoming a famous general. Langeron led one of the Allies' armies fighting at Leipzig in 1813 and participated in the storming of Paris in 1814. None of the 5,000 men had volunteered to fight for American Independence; indeed, they were at sea for weeks before being informed of their destination. They cheered as they were happy that they were not bound for the West Indies, whose inhospitable climate had been deadly to tens of thousands of their comrades Rochambeau's corps (8 battalions and few squadrons) was somehow neglected by the French government from military point of view. In comparison in March 1781 a powerful French fleet departed from Brest, it was composed of 190 warships, transports and merchantmen, whose destinations included West Indies, South America, Africa and Indian Ocean. Even in the New World, North America ranked behind the Caribbean in French priorities. For example, to Martinique, (ext.link) Guadeloupe, and Santo Dominque (ext.link) were sent 29 battalions to join the 19 battalions already garrisoning those islands. The French military activities beyond United States forced Britain to extend her own military efforts considerably, thereby contributing to the American cause - a contribution only few Americans appreciated, however. "The American rebellion became a global war, and the French monarchy entered the last phase of its ancient rivalry with England. ... In their conception - and consequently their strategy - of the war against Britain, French and American authorities had entirely different approaches. In contrast to the Americans, the French did not conceive of this conflict as a war waged solely for US independence; for them, the stakes involved the balance of power in Europe and in the European-dominated world. As far as Americans were concerned, the struggle was confined to North America. For the French, the scene of operations stretched from India - where Pierre Andre, bailli de Suffren, won some of the most impressive victories of the war near the end of hostilities - to Africa, where a French expedition succeeded in recovering Senegal, (ext.link) from the English in late January 1779; from the Caribbean, the most crucial region for French interests at that period, to Nova Scotia, which throughout the war remained a potential area for French operations; and from North America, where the French hoped to alternate the employment of West Indian garrisons during appropriate seasons, to Europe, where a cross-channel operation against England continued to attract continental strategists. The last of the Old regime's projects for an invasion of Britain (anticipating Napoleon's plans by a quarter of a century) was a Franco-Spanish project that antedated Spain's entry into the war against England in July 1779. Typically, the extensive preparations for this attack were frustrated by Spanish slowness, disease, and weather." (Scott - "From Yorktown to Valmy" pp 5-6) The Battle of Yorktown was a victory by a combined American and French force led by Washington and Marquis de Lafayette, and the French under Rochambeau over the British army. A formal surrender ceremony took place on the morning following the battle. Cornwallis (ext.link) refused to attend out of pure embarrassment, claiming illness. News of Yorktown was greeted with joyous celebration throughout the United States and France. In Boston were demonstrations and fireworks. King Louis XVI ordered all bishops of his kingdom to have Te Deum celebrations in the churches. American Congress thanked Rochambeau. Picture: The Surrender of the British at Yorktown. Picture by K. Rocco. The French commander is in white uniform, the American in dark blue. Both are mounted. According to legend, the British forces marched to the fife tune of "The World Turned Upside Down," though no real evidence of this exists. British Prime Minister Lord North resigned after receiving news of the surrender. The British signed the Treaty of Paris, recognizing the United States. ~ Perhaps 2/3 of the officers of the Royal army had fled the country to escape guillotine. The Revolutionary Army (1790 - 1799) Revolutionary France had been the first to adopt the principle of universal conscription, according to which all young men of draft age were subject to being called up. The French Revolution was a political upheaval of world importance in France that began in 1789. On July 14 1789, the Bastille was stormed. The regular garrison consisted of about 80 veteran soldiers no longer capable of service in the field. They had however been reinforced by a detachment of 32 grenadiers from one of the Swiss mercenary regiments When the rioters had entered the Bastille, they collected cartridges and gun powder for their weapons and then freed the prisoners. The storming of Bastille is considered the beginning of the French Revolution. (See picture ->) During the course of the Revolution, France was temporarily transformed from an absolute monarchy, where the king monopolized power, to a republic of free and equal citizens. The effects of the French Revolution were widespread, both inside and outside of France. The more moderate American Revolution, (picture, ext.link) in comparison, was much less influential upon the world of its time - even if it was more successful and less bloody. The French Revolution was a failed revolution: Libert�, Egalit�, and Fraternit� descended to the figure of Robespierre and his Reign of Terror as the revolution spun out control and began to murder itself. First the royalists were beheaded, next the moderate girondists, and by then the violence and suspicion was totally out of hand as the revolution devoured itself. In 1792, every able-bodied Frenchman was declared liable for military service, and National Guard was formed. Revolutionary France had been the first to adopt the principle of universal conscription, according to which all young men of draft age were subject to being called up; in fact, however, a system of drawing names was in place, and as a result, only the minority of those eligible were enrolled every year. Even though entering the draft lottery was theoretically required of all male citizens, malfunction exemptions, favors and bribes - together with every man's perfectly legal right to buy a replacement if he could afford one - guaranteed that the burden of conscription fell principally upon the country and town folks. Nevertheless, the army considered itself as representative of the entire society. In the beginning the new French armies, composed of demoralized regulars and untrained volunteers, refused to face the disciplined Austrian troops and were more dangerous to their own officers than to the enemy. The victory at Valmy stimulated the French morale, then the Jacobin fanatics infused the French soldiers with something of their own demonic energy. Untrained but enthusistic volunteers filled the ranks. In the spirit of liberty and equality, the volunteers elected their officers, and discipline all but disappeared. "In the summer of 1790, the army was rocked by a wave of troop mutinies that shattered the officers' authority and set in motion a series of events that would ultimately destroy the National Assembly's carefully constructed military constitution. Ironically, it was the officers themselves who had given the first examples of insubordination in mid-1788 during the royal government's attempt to dissolve the parlaments. ... In the spring of 1790, insubordination returned to the army with a vengeance. This new burst of disturbances was characterized by increasingly direct confrontations between soldiers and officers. Most incidents were provoked by disputes over pay which, the soldiers claimed, had been illegaly withheld from them." ( Blaufarb - "The French Army 1750-1820" pp 75-77) Lazare Carnot, de facto minister of war in the ruling "Committee of Public Safety", (ext.link) became the Organizer of Victory. Lazare Nicolas Marguerite Carnot was an organizational genius. He was born in 1753 and educated at the College d�Autun, an artillery and engineering prep school. On August 14, 1793 he was elected to the Committee of Public Safety where he took charge of the military situation as one of the Ministers of War. Carnot established a general staff to facilitate planning and coordination for the armies; he set up a nationwide semaphore telegraph system, permitting more rapid communications; and he created the first unified engineering corps. Lacking time to train the vast masses of conscripts and volunteers, Carnot fostered the amalgame, which used the Royal Army as the hard core around which new regiments were formed, thereby greatly facilitating the implementation of the new tactics; the recruits could be used in line and as skirmishers, where discipline and training were more important than elan. Everything was in short supply, so the armies did without tents, trains, and similar impedimenta, learning to live off the land, and were thus able to move more rapidly than their foes. Carnot was also ruthless. Trusting no one, he used a system of political commissars, to keep an eye on the reliability of generals Success was the only criterion for rank. Bonaparte was a product of his times. "On 1 Jan 1791 the infantry was reorganised into 104 line regiments and 12 chasseur battalions (light infantry). A report to the Assembly noted that these units were woefully under-strength. Initially the Assembly wanted to bring the standing army up to full strength and raise battalions of National Guardsmen as its reserve. However, many politicians distrusted the army after the mutinies of 1790, the widespread desertion and the inability of officers to control their men ... Consequently, on 21 June (the day after the King's failed attempt to flee France) and on 22 July 1791, the formation of 185 battalions of gardes nationaux volontaires was ordered." (Crowdy - "French Revolutionary Infantryman 1791-1802" p 8) On the night of 20-21 June 1791, King Louis XVI made an unsuccessful attempt to flee from France. This provoked a crisis in the army. "Interpreting their sovereign's action as a repudiation of the Revolution, the officers began to abandon their posts, some resigning from military service and others crossing the frontier to swell the ranks of the emigre armies. Emigration confirmed the soldiers' doubts about the officers' patriotism and provoked a new wave of mutinies. ... Emigration and indiscipline fed each other as the army descended into a state of chaos." (Blaufarb - "The French Army 1750-1820" p 85) Perhaps 2/3 of the officers of the Royal army had fled the country to escape guillotine. The replacement of emigre officers began in 1791 when the Assembly authorized generals to make emergency nominations. The guillotine, also referred to as "The National Razor", (ext.link) was a device used for carrying out executions by decapitation. It consists of a tall upright frame from which a heavy blade is suspended. This blade is raised with a rope and then allowed to drop, severing the victim's head from his or her body. The crowds marveled at the machine�s speed and precision. :-) Battalions of National Guard volunteers were formed in three successive levies between 1791 and 1793. The first battalions were raised in response to King's flight. In 1791 the National Assembly called upon the departments to raise battalions to maintain internal order and defend the frontiers from expected invasion. "Two structural differences - the organization of the battalions along territorial lines and the designation of their officers by election - distinguished the volunteers from the regular army and lent their cadres particular characteristics. ... Officials who tried to shuffle volunteers between the companies could face stiff resistance." (Blaufarb - "The French Army 1750-1820" p 101) During 1793-1796, the infantry was reorganized into demi-brigades, each with 1 battalion of old soldiers and 2 battalions of volunteers, in the hope of combining regular steadiness with volunteer enthusiasm. Initially, the result was that each element qcquired the other's bad habits. There was no time to drill the disorerly recruits into the robot steadiness and precision demanded by linear system. (Esposito, Elting - "A Military History and Atlas of the Napoleonic Wars") The rapid conversion of these masses of recruits into efficient fighting units was a problem. The reign of Terror left a bitter legacy of fratricidal hatred which swept across France in the weeks following Robespierre's (ext.link) demise. Armed with the law of 1795, which authorized the officials to dismiss personnel who had participated "in the horrors committed under the Tyranny" the Thermidorean representatives-on-mission began to purge the army of its most pronounced "terrorists." In troops hard-hit by campaign losses and political actions, it was not uncommon to find large groups of officers promoted two steps in the hierarchy - from sergeant to lieutenant in a single day ! Some claimed that this process would only "increase the number of idiots" and give the Republic officers "unworthy of commanding free men." "It had been obvious for some time that firm action was needed to give the army a cost-efficient and militarily sound organization. Sonsequently, as its last act, the Thermidorean Committee of Public Safety approved a drastic consolidation of under-strength units and a corresponding reduction of officer strength. ... The 952 existing battalions were to be consolidated into 140 new demi-brigades of 3 battalions each. As a result 532 battalions were to be dissolved ... A similar consolidation of the cavalry was to eliminate 145 squadrons, reducing their number from 323 to 178. ... The impact on the officer corps was profound. ... The climate of professional insecurity created by the second amalgame would dominate the mentality of the officer corps for the duration of the Republic." (Blaufarb - "The French Army 1750-1820" pp 142-3) . The Imperial Army (1804 - 1815) Gone were the republican days "when any officer under the rank of major had had to hoof it with his men. ... Colonel Francois Roguet of the 1st Grenadiers... has brought with him 6 servants, 12 horses and 2 wagons filled with his personal effects ..." (Austin - "1812: The March on Moscow" p 49) France had been aggressive neighbor, and other nations (especially Russia, Austria Prussia , and Britain), were willing enough to see her weakened. The European powers formed alliance and France was forced to dramatically strengthen her army. Conscription was the solution. Generally speaking, under the empire 100.000 conscripts were called annually, which meant that about 1 name in 7 was drawn. The last conscripts to join their units en masse were those of 1814, whose call-up had been advanced to the preceding year. (Barbero - "The Battle" p 20, 26) Conscription allowed the French to form the Grande Armee, what Napoleon called "the nation in arms", which successfully battled European professional armies. Under Napoleon many new regiments were formed, the discipline and morale greatly improved. The troopers were well dressed, fed, armed to teeth and very eager to fight. In 1805 the French army was the largest and the most powerful in Europe and in the World. The Napoleonic period (1805-1813) saw France's influence and power reach immense heights. But gone were the republican days "when any officer under the rank of major had had to hoof it with his men. For the top brass alone the famous Parisian coach builder Gros-Jean has built no fewer than 300 carriages ... Colonel Count Francois Roguet of the 1st Grenadiers... has brought with him 6 servants, 12 horses and two wagons filled with his personal effects, among them books and a great many maps." (Austin - "1812: The March on Moscow" p 49) The French Grand Army demolished the armies of the powers of Europe. Their victories were easy and decisive; Ulm, Austerlitz, Jena and Friedland. During the early period of Empire (1803-1807) Napoleon's army reached its peak. Following the breakdown of the Peace of Amiens Napoleon took the opportunity to assemble an Army of the Ocean Coasts along the English Channel in preparation for an invasion of Great Britain. Approx. 100,000-150,00 troops (of total 450,000) gathered in training camps for 18 months and went through intensive training and maneuvers on large scale. The remaining 300,000 were spread along the long borders, busy with occupying Hanover, Italy etc. These fought in some small engagements like Maida etc. The top class troops from Boulogne Camps and those occupying Hannover were put together and formed a new army that would soon become legendary - the Grand Army (Grande Armee). These troops had had close to 3 years of training and drill. Approx. 1/3 were veterans of at least 6 years' service. According to de Segur the old-timers could easily be recognized "by their martial air. Nothing could shake them. They had no other memories, no other future, except warfare. They never spoke of anything else. Their officers were either worthy of them or became it. For to exert one's rank over such men one had to be able to show them one's wounds and cite oneself as an example." They stimulated the new recruits with their warlike tales, so that the conscripts brightened up. By so often exaggerating their own feats of arms, the veterans obliged themselves to authenticate by their conduct what they've led others to believe of them. 'Even though a large part of the troops there were veterans, they began with a month of "refresher" training in the schools of the soldier and of the company. Then came 2 days of battalion and 3 days of division drill every week; on Sunday the entire corps drilled - infantry, cavalry, and artillery together. That training well absorbed, there were large-scale maneuvers twice a month. There was also much target practice; artillerymen were sometimes able to use British warships as moving targets. Davout added practice in night fighting and firing. (Elting - "Swords Around a Throne" p 534) Napoleon also cleaned out the 'deadwood from among his officers', approx. 170 generals (too old, or simply incompetent) were retired. It left him with such talented generals like Massena, Davout, Lannes, St. Cyr or Suchet. The soldiers of Boulogne Camps outmarched and outfought every opponent. This is not surprising that Napoleon was very proud of his army. In 1805 after the victory at Austerlitz he wrote: "Soldiers ! I am pleased with you. On the day of Austerlitz you have justified what I had expected of your intrepidity. You have decorated your Eagles with an immortal glory ...in two months the Third Coalition is conquered and dissolved." (After Austerlitz, Tsar of Russia Alexander was extremely depressed. He dismounted "and sat on the damp ground beneath a tree, where he covered his face with a cloth and burst into tears." (Chritopher Duffy - "Austerlitz") Picture: Battle of Ulm, 1805. Through rapid marching, Napoleon conducted a large wheeling maneuver that captured an Austrian army under General Mack at Ulm. Napoleon had surrounded the Austrians and three days later Mack surrendered with 30,000 men. Some 20,000 escaped, 10,000 were killed or wounded, and the rest made prisoner. About 6,000 French were killed or wounded. At the surrender, General Karl Freiherr Mack von Leiberich offered his sword and presented himself to Napoleon. The Ulm Campaign is generally regarded as a strategic masterpiece. Picture: Battle of Austerlitz, 1805. It was one of Napoleon's greatest victories, effectively destroying the Third Coalition. Austerlitz Campaign profoundly altered the nature of European politics. In three months, the French had occupied Vienna, decimated two armies, and humbled the Austrian Empire. These events sharply contrast with the rigid power structures of the 18th century. Austerlitz set the stage for a near-decade of French domination on the European continent. Napoleon wrote to Josephine, "I have beaten the Austro-Russian army commanded by the two emperors. I am a little weary...." Tsar Alexander perhaps best summed up the harsh times for the Allies by stating, "We are babies in the hands of a giant." Picture: Battle of Jena, 1806. Jena cost Napoleon 5,000 losses, but the Prussians had a staggering 25,000 casualties. On the same day, further north at Auerstadt, Marshal Davout defeated the main Prussian army. Napoleon did not believe that Davout's single Corps had defeated the Prussian main body unaided, and responded to the first report by saying "Tell your Marshal he is seeing double", a reference to Davout's poor eyesight. As matters became clearer, however, the Emperor was unstinting in his praise. The decisive defeats suffered by the Prussian army a mere 19 days after its mobilization resulted in Prussia's elimination from the Fourth Coalition. The Prussians were scatterred all across the country and the remainder of the campaign was a mopping-up operation. The campaigns however were costly, there were not only killed and wounded, but also injured and sick men. In 1806-7, during the campaign in Eastern Prussia and Poland: "The rank and file of the army was but little, if at all, past its best. In the earlier part of the campaign, its youngest men were the conscripts of 1806 who had, owing to their premature enrolment, already undergone a years' training. Many of the troops had been with Napoleon in his earlier campaigns and in Egypt, very many had been at Ulm and Austerlitz, the majority had just emerged from the briliant campaign of Jena. They were now preparing for a renewed war against fresh enemies; the hardest task that an army can undertake. Even these hardened and enthusiastic warriors contemplated with dread the prospect of a fresh winter campaign in an inhospitable and difficult country, and Napoleon was often remonstrated with, as he rode alongside of his men, for insisting on their advance to Poland. To such complaints he would reply with the rough jests which his veterans loved to hear from him ... In action, the infantry was still splendid, and did not as yet require to be formed in deep columns of many battalions, such as was macdonald's at Wagram, three years later. The cavalry was excellent and well mounted, though, in the latter respect, they fell short of many Russian cavalry regiments. The artillery was highly trained and invariably made good practice." (Petre - "Napoleon's Campaign in Poland, 1806-1807" pp 27-28) The battles of Eylau and Heilsberg were very bloody and inconclusive contest between the French and a mostly Russian army under Benigssen. At Heilsberg the French lost 12,000 killed and wounded. At Eylau they have suffered 15,000-25,000 killed and wounded, this is about 1/3 of their forces. Riding over the battlefield one of the French commanders said: "Quel massacre ! Et sans resultat" (What a massacre! And for no outcome.) The French soldiers cried out for peace after Eylau. Eylau was the first serious check to the French Grand Armee, which in the previous two campaigning seasons had carried all before it. In spring 1807 though the weather was still severe, so Napoleon rousted his troops out of their winter quarters for drills and frequent field exercises. The army was weakened as many veterans were killed, wounded or sick and in hospitals. Meanwhile in France thousands of young men were called to arms. Napoleon caused these to be despatched to the front as soon as possible and they were drilled en route. The harsh winter campaign of 1806-1807 and the bloody battles at Eylau and Heilsberg exhausted the French troops mentally and physically. Picture: Battle of Friedland, 1807. On 14th June, the French army finally scored a decisive victory over the Russians. By the end of the battle, the French were in complete control of the battlefield and the enemy was retreating over the Alle (Lyna), where many soldiers drowned while trying to escape. French casualties were approx. 7,500 while the Russians suffered almost 20,000 in dead and wounded. The thorough destruction of Bennigsen's army persuaded Tsar Alexander to seek peace terms 5 days after the battle. . "After 1808 fewer French soldiers received extensive training." - Colonel J. Elting In this period the army was still in good shape, although not as good as few years ago. Much of the revolutionary ardour that had fired the French troops of the 1790s and early 1800s had been quenched by 1808. Napoleon himself sensed a lack of enthusiasm for the forthcoming campaigns. In 1808-09, for the new war with Austria tens of thousands of new recruits joined the field armies. The influx of conscprits diluted the old ideals of austerity, self-respect and duty. After 1809 drunkenness and indiscipline increased, especially in the cavalry. They were hastily trained. "After 1808 fewer French soldiers received extensive training." (Elting - "Swords Around a Throne" p 534) In 1809 Napoleon chastised the lack of discipline in some infantry divisions. He noted that since the battle of Wagram , Tharreau's division had attended neither battalion school nor target practice. Henceforth, the Emperor ordered, the men would perform the basics of the soldier's school and practice platoon drill each morning. They would fire 12 cartridges daily at the marks and for 2 hours in the evening perform battalion maneuvres. (Arnold - "Napoleon Conquers Austria") Napoleon bolstered the morale of young soldiers by forming regimental artillery and attaching 2-3 light guns to every infantry regiment. Picture: battle of Wagram, 1809. Artillery was a major factor in this battle and casualties soared above 80,000, with the Austrians losing slightly more than the French. Wagram was the first battle in which Napoleon failed to score an uncontested victory with relatively few casualties. This would be indicative of the gradual decline in quality of Napoleon's troops and the increasing experience and competence of his opponents, who were learning from previous errors. (- wikipedia.org) The first provisional regiments, squadrons and battalions appeared already in October 1807. Napoleon, when he needed, took one or two squadrons/battalions from one regiment and one or two from another regiment, named a field officer and thereby formed a provisional regiment. Rarely these troops returned to their parent regiments. The temporary regiments had no Colors, no Eagles, no esprit de corps and no tradition. They served mainly in Peninsula against the Spaniards and the British. Among the French troops occupying Spain looting was rampant, discipline was poor. The veterans were demoralized by plunder and waste and by the cruel war with Spanish guerillas. They had got out of the habit of being inspected. Training had fallen off during the years. Several hundred of veterans were selected from the troops in Spain and sent to join the Middle Guard. Although they looked good with tanned faces, some of them went around and stole things in Paris. General Michel arrested them and sent to prisons. John Arnold wrote on the French failure in Spain: "A young French conscript, Phillipe Gille, provides a detailed account of the inadequate manner in which French soldiers were rushed to the front. Mobilized in France in 1808, Gille apparently did not even receive his musket until arriving at the Spanish border. There he joined a provisional unit composed of fellow conscripts, crossed the border, and soon engaged in combats with guerilla. ... During the Peninsula years, how large a numerical contribution to the French armed forces were conscripts such as Gille? For the decisive years 1808 to 1812, French annual conscript calls ranged from 181,000 to 217,000. During 1810 and 1811, when France was at peace in the rest of Europe, the majority of these conscripts went to the Peninsula and substantially diluted the quality of the French forces serving there. Simultaneously, troop quality declined further as veterans suffered some of the nearly 100,000 casualties sustained in the Peninsula in 1810-1811. The impact of this dilution is clearly stated by General Anne Savary. Savary's report on the 1809 Battle of Essling, where he fought with troops substantially better than the average Peninsula soldier, observes, "if instead of troops consisting of war levies [raw conscripts], we had opposed to them such soldiers as those of the camp of Boulogne [the Grande Arm�e], which we might easily have moved in any direction and made to deploy under the enemy's fire without any danger their being thrown into disorder". Innumerable Peninsular battlefields demonstrated this need.... The problem worsened as the Peninsula became a secondary front. A typical Peninsula regiment of 2,500 men would send 120 to 200 men back to France as a depot unit, 50 to the artillery, 10 to the gendarmes, and 12 of the best men to the Imperial Guard. These subtractions, coupled with the unprecedented guerilla-inflicted losses experienced in the never secure rear areas, seriously eroded the staying power of the infantry regiment. It got worse in 1811 and thereafter when Napoleon withdrew the best troops from the Peninsula to prepare for the Russian invasion." (Arnold - "A Reappraisal of Column Versus Line in the Peninsular War") . The Grand Army of 1812 was almost as good as the famous Grand Army of 1805. In 1812 however there were less veterans in the ranks. The army of 1812 was the most carefully and completely organized force Napoleon had ever commanded. In 1811, except the rather low-intensity guerilla war in Spain, Europe was in peace. Napoleon had time to train the young soldiers. They were clothed and well armed. The cavalry was supplied with thousands of German, Polish and French horses. The artillery and engineers were well equipped and trained. The Grand Army of 1812 was almost as good as the Grand Army of 1805. In 1812 however there were less veterans in the ranks. "The veteran troops were sadly diluted by the influx of recent recruits and the demands of the Spanish campaign. A similar expansion had occurred in 1809 when the French army was largely composed of new recruits. In both instances the recruits lacked the discipline and savoir faire to be able to sustain themselves in a foraging situation, but as the 1809 campaign was fought in Austria, the impact of this indiscipline on supplies was minimal compared to what it was to be in 1812." (Nafziger - "Napoleon's Invasion of Russia" p 88) Before the campaign began General Dejean wrote to the Emperor that up to a third of the horses in cavalry were too weak to carry their burden, while nearly half of the men were too puny to wield a saber. Colonel Saint-Chamans wrote: "I was not happy with the way the cavalry was being organised. Young recruits who had been sent from depots in France before they had learnt to ride a horse or any of the duties of a horseman on the march or on campaign, were mounted on arrival in Hanover on very fine horses which they were not capable of managing." The result was that by the time they reached Berlin, the majority of the horses were suffering from lameness or saddle sores induced by the riders' bad posture or their failure to take care in saddling up. More than one officer noted that recruits were not taught about checking whether their saddle was rubbing or how to detect the early signs of saddle sores. Napoleon however liked the big numbers of soldiers, even if they were young recruits mounted on weaker horses. He wrote: "When I put 40,000 men on horseback I know very well that I cannot hope for that number of good horsemen, but I am playing on the morale of the enemy, who learns through his spies, by rumour or through newspapers that I have 40,000 cavalry... I am preceded by a psychological force..." Most military experts agree that the Grand Army of 1812 was the most carefully and completely organized force Napoleon had ever commanded. It had the most thoroughly prepared supply system (The baggage was hauled by 18,000 heavy draft horses). The army was also bigger than any other army Napoleon had before. One of the conscripts wrote: "Oh Father !, this is some army ! Our old soldiers say they never saw anything like it." But only half of the troops were French, the rest were made up of Poles, Italians, Germans, Swiss, and Austrians. Napoleon passed the Imperial Guard in review at Dresden, before a throng of vassal rulers, including many princes, five kings and one emperor (of Austria). "... the 200,000 French soldiers arrived on the Niemen in company with 200,000 allies. ... assembled by this wonderful man, all disciplined warriors, and notwithstanding their different national feelings, all proud of the unmatched genius of their leader." (Napier - "History of the War in the Peninsula" Vol III, p 447) Russia was a remote giant land with poor road system and once the campaign began there were numerous problems with supplies. "As supplies became scarce in 1812, discipline broke down and the control over the troops diminished. They plundered indiscriminately instead of carefully requisitioning the supplies they found. Surprisingly, the officers refused to take part in the excesses and often suffered to a greater degree than the men they led. This lack of discipline forced the inhabitants of the region to flee and hide those supplies that might have assisted the French army." (Nafziger - "Napoleon's Invasion of Russia" p 88, 1998) The discipline of the troops decreased while the amount of stragglers and sick rapidly increased. At Niemen River Davout's I Corps had 79,000, but at Smolensk only 60,000. The situation in other troops was even worse. Ney's III Corps had 44,000 at Niemen and only 22,000 at Smolensk. Murat's Reserve Cavalry numbered 42,000 at Niemen and 18,000 at Smolensk. Before the army reached Moscow it lost half of its strength. In the battle of Borodino more than 30,000 were killed and wounded. It was THE bloodiest battle of Napoleonic wars. But hunger, Cossacks and weather decimated the troops more than the regular Russian army. After Napoleon left Moscow the situation changed from bad to worse. The debris of the Grand Army which in June 1812 had crossed the Niemen River was now chased back by Cossacks and armed peasants. The Russians captured thousands of POWs. GRANDE ARMEE in Borodino 1812 Commander: Emperor Napoleon - - - Infantry Division of [Polish] Vistula Legion R E S E R V E - C A V A L R Y (MARSHAL MURAT) I CAVALRY CORPS - General Nansouty - - - 1st Light Cavalry Division - General Bruyeres - - - 1st Heavy Cavalry Division - General St.Germaine - - - 5th Heavy Cavalry Division - General Valence II CAVALRY CORPS - General Montbrun - - - 2nd Light Cavalry Division - General Pajol - - - 2nd Heavy Cavalry Division - General - - - 4th Heavy Cavalry Division - General Defrance III CAVALRY CORPS - General Grouchy - - - 3rd Light Cavalry Division - General Chastel - - - 6th Heavy Cavalry Division - General Lahussaye IV CAVALRY CORPS - General Latour-Maubourg - - - 4th Light Cavalry Division - General Rozniecki - - - 7th Heavy Cavalry Division - General Lorge I ARMY CORPS - MARSHAL DAVOUT - - - 1st Infantry Division - General Morand - - - 2nd Infantry Division - General Friant - - - 3rd Infantry Division - General Gerard - - - 4th Infantry Division - General Desaix - - - 5th Infantry Division - General Compans - - - Light Cavalry Division - General Girardin III ARMY CORPS - MARSHAL NEY - - - 10th Infantry Division - General Ledru - - - 11th Infantry Division - General Razout - - - 25th Infantry Division - General Marchand - - - Light Cavalry Division - General Beurmann IV ARMY CORPS - Eugene Beauharnais - - - 13th Infantry Division - General Delzons - - - 14th Infantry Division - General Broussier - - - Light Cavalry Division - General Ornano - - - Light Cavalry Division - General Preysing-Moos - - - Italian Royal Guard - General Lecchi V ARMY CORPS - Prince Poniatowski - - - 16th Infantry Division - General Krasinski - - - 18th Infantry Division - General Kniaziewicz - - - Light Cavalry Division - General Kaminski VIII ARMY CORPS - General Junot - - - 23th Infantry Division - General Tharreau - - - 24th Infantry Division - General Ochs - - - Light Cavalry Division - General Hammerstein "I have no army any more!" - Napoleon "Of the 680,500 men that Napoleon had organized for his invasion of Russia, barely 93,000 remained. George Nafziger writes: "Of the 680,500 men that Napoleon had organized for his invasion of Russia, barely 93,000 remained. The main army had suffered the harshest casualties and had dwindled from 450,000 to 25,000 men. The flanking and rearguard forces under Schwarzenberg, Reynier, MacDonald, and Augereau had returned with a total of 68,000 men, but many of these men had not ventured very far into Russia, and those of Schwarzenberg, Reynier, and MacDonald had not been as heavily engages as the main army. Records suggest that 370,000 French and allied soldiers died either from battle or other causes, while 200,000 were taken prisoner by the Russians. Of those taken prisoner, nearly half died in captivity. Napoleon had taken 176,850 horses with him into Russia, and barely any of them survived the campaign. The Russians reported burning the corpses of 123,382 horses as they cleaned up their countryside of the debris of war. So heavy were the horse losses that one of Napoleon's most serious handicaps in the 1813 campaign was his inability to reconstitute his once-powerful cavalry. Of the 1,800 cannon taken into Russia, the Russians reported capturing 929 of them, and only 250 were brought out. The remainder were lost or thrown into swamps and lakes so that they might not be captured. Though the loss of cannons was serious, the loss of horses was more devastating to Napoleon. France's arsenals and industrial facilities would soon replace the lost weaponry. Of the 66,345 men that had belonged to Davout's corps in June 1812, there remained only 2,281. The 50,000-man Imperial Guard had been reduced to 500 men under arms and a further 800 sick, of whom 200 would never return to arms. Similar casualties were suffered by the II, III, and IV Corps ..." Picture: Battle of Berezina, 1812. Napoleon's plan was to cross the Berezina and head for Poland, while the Russians wanted to trap him there. While some 25,000 French troops and a further 15,000 Russians became casualties, their losses paled next to that of the French stragglers, about 10,000. Approx. 10,000 were massacred by Cossacks, while another 20,000 died in the near freezing water or were crushed to death in the panic to cross the bridges. Since then B�r�zina has been used in French language as a synonym of disaster (meet your berezina). Many regiments ceased to exist. For example the 5th Regiment of Cuirassiers had 958 men present for duty on June 15th, 1812. On Feb 1st 1813 had only 19 ! The French cavalry never recovered from the massive loss of horses. Nine out of ten cavalrymen who survived walked much of the way home; most of those who rode did so on tiny, but tough, Russian and Polish ponies, their boots scuffing the ground. Napoleon wrote: "I have no army any more! For many days I have been marching in the midst of a mob of disbanded, disorganized men, who wander all over the countryside in search of food." PS. In 1812 Polish senior officer, Sokolnicki, was French army's intelligence chief. He thought that having thousands of warm uniforms stored in depots even before the campaign started was a must. . "Evidently, some of the new troops looked so bad in drill while still at the training centers that the populace referred to the army as the 'infants of the Emperor' - General Savary They were however filled with boundless confidence in their leader whom they loved with unflagging devotion. For his contemplated campaign in Germany, Napoleon required practically an entirely new army. It was not a case of a reorganisation of the army, for that once great force had almost ceased to exist. French military was in crisis and scrambling to raise men as quickly as possible. Napoleon turned to every possible resource at his disposal that could produce manpower, and do this quickly. It required not only time and energy but also money. The expense of organizing only the Guard amounted to 18,000,000 francs. Military service was unpopular, in the west of France it became necessary to hunt up the refractaires with mobile columns, and the generals reported that they were afraid to use their young sldiers for this purpose. The new army was huge but the 18- and 19-years old soldiers lacked stamina and the rapid marches and hunger weakened them physically. Camille Rousset gives the following as a common type of report on inspection: "Some of the men are of rather weak appearance. The battalion had no idea of manouveruring; but 9/10 of the men can manage and load their muskets passably." General Lambardiere writes: "These battalions arrive fatigued, every day I supply them with special carriage for the weak and lame ... All these battalions are French; I must say that the young soldiers show courage and good-will. Every possible moment is utilised in teaching them to load their arms and bring them to the shoulder." So poor were they in physique that the Minister of Police protests against their being drilled in the Champs Elysees during the hour of promenade, on account of the scoffing and jeering they gave rise to. After the disastrous campaign in Russia the quality of cavalry was low. There were too many young soldiers, hastily trained, and hardly 10-20 % of the officers were classed as capable. Retired officers had been recalled, many old NCOs had been promoted lieutenants. Nearly 80 % of the new cavalrymen had never ridden a horse. In Hamburg the young cuirassiers having been ordered to leave on reconnaissance and after few minutes all were dismounted, with their horses running free in the streets. The Germans laughed openly. The high stress suffered during military campaign (they were put into action without full training) exhausted many of them. They fell sick by hundreds, there were also deserters and stragglers. Special detachments were formed to catch the stragglers and find the weak and 'make them walk'. In Paris alone 320 soldiers of Young Guard were arrested for desertion and sent to prisons. During Emperor's journey from Dresden, through Gorlitz to Bautzen, he saw the German roads and villages choked with thousands of stragglers. Napoleon was outraged and issued the following order: "Every soldier who deserts his flag betrays the first of his duties. As a consequence, His Majesty orders: Article 1. Evry soldier who deserts his flag without legitimate cause will be subject to decimation. To this effect, as soon as 10 deserters are returned the generals commanding the army corps will have them draw lots, and have one shot." Bautzen. 6 Septeber 1813 Napoleon." (Bowden - "Napoleon's Grande Armee of 1813" p 160) "The strength and physical stamina of the young conscripts, and consequently the quality of their regiments, left much to be desired; they could not march like the veterans, fell easy prey to sickness, and the standard of their training when they left the depots in the spring 1813 was frighteningly low. The ability of battalions to manoeuvre was poor, and many recruits could not even load their muskets. When the reinforcements drafts marched to the front, carts had to follow them to pick up the footsore and the exhausted." (Digby-Smith, - p 29) "The levy, calling upon the adolescents of France one full year before they normally would have been eligible for military service clearly illustrates Napoleon's desperate need for numbers of troops. " (- Bowden p 31) The new units were thrown together quickly and their men had not had the necessary time to form the interpersonal bonds within their companies that gave them the morale strength necessary to wage war successfully. Despite these problems, the army's morale was generally high. Many of the young troops who stayed in the ranks, were filled with boundless confidence in their leader whom they loved with unflagging devotion. The few veterans had regained their faith in Napoleon. The artillery and engineers were as usual excellent. When led by Napoleon in person the young soldiers won every battle (Lutzen, Bautzen, Dresden ) Without Him they were routed at Kulm, Dennewitz and Katzbach. Picture: battle of Leipzig, 1813. Leipzig was the biggest battle of the Napoleonic Wars. Soldiers of more than 20 nationalities were present on the battlefield. The casualties were heavy. Teacher Sander's son writes: "Everywhere there lay thousands of dead and the returning peasants had to burry them. Big pits were dug in the village and in the surrounding fields, each designed to hold 40-50 dead. ... " It was one of the very few battles in which Napoleon was clearly defeated. It resulted in the destruction of what was left of French power in Germany and Poland. Never again Napoleon's army went into Germany. Digby Smith writes: "The effects of the Allied victory at Leipzig were truly momentous. It had smashed Napoleon's stranglehold on Europe for good ..." . Many of Napoleon's marshals were weary and some defected to the Allies. Paris was taken by storm by the Russian and Prussian troops. "A decree ordering a levy of 300,000 soldiers was made, and another augmenting the Guard to 112,500 men... The levy, however, was not successful. France was exhausted not only of her men, but even of her youth, and boys were now in his greatest need to form his battalions. To add to his trouble, as fortune always seems to delight in pushing down a falling favorite, the Typhus fever broke out among his troops along the Rhine." (Headley - "The Imperial Guard of Napoleon") A handful of heroes faced all of Europe to whom they themselves had taught the art of fighting over the past decade. Napoleon had mixed feelings about his troops in 1814. He wrote: "The Old Guard alone stood firm - the rest melted like snow." The lack of weapons and uniforms was one of the characteristics of the French troops during this war. Napoleon wrote that the peasants had picked up on the battlefields thousands of muskets abandoned by the enemy and that commissioners should be sent to collect them. In default of muskets there were 6.000 pikes manufactured. Allied armies were advancing into France from every direction. With an army of only 50,000-75,000, the Emperor was faced with half a million Allied troops commanded by Barclay de Tolly, Schwarzenberg and Blucher. Napoleon put up an impressive performance, fighting on average a battle or skirmish every day, and winning many of them (Champaubert, Montmirail, Chateau-Thierry, Vauchamps etc.) However, his victories were not significant enough to make any changes to the overall strategic picture, and Allies army eventually captured Paris. Many of Napoleon's marshals were either weary or downright prophets of doom. In the end of campaign some defected to the Allies. Paris was taken by storm by the Russian and Prussian troops. Out of frustration, Marshal Marmont surrendered his troops to the Allies and allowed them to enter Paris unabated. For this action (or lack thereof) Marmont was (and still is) considered, by most French, as a traitor. At Fontainebleau, Marshal Michel Ney became the spokesman for the marshals' revolt on 4 April 1814, demanding Napoleon�s abdication. Ney informed Napoleon that the army would not march on Paris; Napoleon responded �the army will obey me!� to which Ney answered �the army will obey its chiefs�. Napoleon abdicated on April 6. However, occasional military actions continued in Italy, Spain, and Holland throughout the spring of 1814. Part of the French army was very unhappy with the new situation. . "There was a prodigious gap between them (soldiers of 1815) and our old soldiers from the Camp the Boulogne." - Desales, officer of artillery of Erlon's I Corps Picture: French POWs in Austrian custody: the sentry on extreme right is a Hungarian infantryman. Picture by J.A.Klein. Some authors claim that the French army of 1815 was Napoleon's best and composed of battle hardened veterans. According to Henri Lachouque however "not all the discharged veterans returned. Some had been spoiled by civil life." (Lachouque - "Anathomy of Glory") Captain Duthilt thought the soldiers who had suffered the defeats of the emperor's recent campaigns and the returned prisoners of war from Russia had lost a great deal of their enthusiasm. A call for volunteers produced only some laughable 15,000 men. The army in 1815 was composed of soldiers who had at least one campaign behind them, although in the eyes of veterans of Austerlitz and Egypt, the soldiers of 1814 still seemed like little boys. (Barbero - "The Battle" p 20) There were French eyewitnesses who stated that many regiments included a high percentage of young soldiers who had never been under fire. General Lamarque complained that the Young Guard were filled with recruits and deserters who neither knew how to maneuver nor shoot. (Lasserre - "Les Cent jours en Vend�e: le g�n�ral Lamarque et l'insurrection royaliste, d'apr�s les papiers in�dits du g�n�ral Lamarque." published in 1906.) In 1815 the discipline was poor, the old timers were annoyed and complained that the young men went out with girls or got drunk. The army was hastily assembled, lacked uniforms and shoes. Many soldiers wore civilian clothes under their greatcoats and forage caps instead of shakos. "For lack of shakos the 14th Light Regiment would fight the Waterloo campaign in fatigue caps." (Austin - "1815 the return of Napoleon" p 295) In some infantry regiments only the grenadiers were issued bayonets. Some cuirassiers had no armor. "The 11th Cuirassiers fought without them at Waterloo ... Shoes, twenty regiments had none." (Adkin - "The Waterloo Companion" p 24) In 1815 the French cavalry was impoverished and had considerably scaled back the strength of cavalry regiments. By contrast England had always good horses and the financial means to obtain more of them wherever they might be found. Worst of all, several French top rank commanders defected to the Allies already before the campaign started! For example General Bourmount rode directly over to the Prussians and surrendered with five of his staff. The old camaraderie of the French troops was replaced by suspicion. "The soldiers were upset at the excessive number of senior officers who had betrayed, or who were suspected of being ready to betray the emperor... The troops had neither confidence in their commanders nor the ability to accept discipline." (Barbero - "The Battle" pp 277-278) At Waterloo a French officer deserted to the Allies and informed about Napoleon's plans. "The soldiers doubted the loyalty and competence of many senior officers. They resented officers being promoted merely for going over to the Emperor while they received nothing for doing the same. Six officers of the 1st Cuirassiers who had been rewarded in this way were greeted with groans and shouts on parade. The 12th Dragoons petitioned the Emperor requesting, "... the dismissal of our colonel, whose ardour in the cause of Your Majesty is by no means equal to our own." (Adkin - "The Waterloo Companion" p 78) But not only officers and generals defected to the enemy, there were deserters even from the Old Guard. They formed so-called "Bourbon Cavalry Corps". With them served deserters of cuirassier and dragoon regiments. This unit was under Wellington's command but not present at Waterloo. ~ "The new organization had no past, no traditions, no reputation, and precious little self-respect." Elting - "Swords Around a Throne" The Royal Army is Back. The existing army units were completely broken up. After Napoleon's second abdication in 1815 the Bourbons introduced many changes in the army. The existing army units were completely broken up. The term 'regiment' was abolished, and the infantry was organized into departamental legions. Instead of numbers, they were distinguished by their department's name. Each legion was to consist of: - 2 battalions of line infantry - 1 battalion of chasseurs - a company of horse scouts (eclaireurs) - a company of artillery - depot Four Swiss regiments were added to the line infantry and two to the Guard. The Swiss drew higher pay than French units, and their officers outranked French officers of the same grade. The French infantrymen were put in white uniforms with facings of regimental colors. That was not popular, they felt like an always-whipped Austrians. King Louis ordered all of cavalry regiments disbanded and reorganized, regarding the survival of any recognizable element of the Napoleonic army a menace to the general tranquility. Regimental numbers were replaced by departamental names. The new cavalry regiments and the infantry legions were activated with pomp and ceremony. The new organization had no past, no traditions, no reputation, and precious little self-respect. The army as a whole was unreliable, it was not even proud of itself. When the new officers amused themselves by snatching an eagle-crested button from the threadbare coat of a limping veteran, there would be a sudden casualties in nearby alleys. When a group of young officers jammed into a provincial theater to heckle Talma, a friend of Napoleon, the attentive citizenry and veterans asked for a short intermission, bounced them out the handiest door, and ran them down the street to the shelter of their barracks. In 1823 this army managed a military promenade through Spain to overthrow an upstart Spanish constitutional government and restore Ferdinand's absolute authority. Most of the Spaniards welcomed them, and there was only little fighting. More wars followed. In 1825 the French-Trarzan War, Algeria, intervention in Mexico with battles of Puebla and Camaron, Mandingo Wars, Dahomey War, and others. The Franco-Trarzan War of 1825 was a conflict between Muhammad al Habib and France. In 1825, Muhammad attempted to establish control over the French-protected territory located south of the Senegal River. The French responded by sending a large expeditionary force that crushed enemy's army. The war incited the French to expand to the north of the Senegal River. French rule in Algeria lasted from 1830 to 1962. Algeria was then part of the Barbary States, which depended of the Ottoman Empire, but enjoyed relative independence. The conquest of Algeria was initiated by King Charles X in the attempt to save his throne from increasing hostility of the French people. The monarchy planned to bolster patriotic sentiment around him and reverse his domestic unpopularity. In 1830 the French landed with 34,000 soldiers (enemy had 43,000) and established a strong beachhead. They pushed toward Algiers, thanks in part to superior artillery and better organization. The French won at Staoueli and entered Algiers. By 1848 nearly all of northern Algeria was under French control. ~ "After 1893, the relative strength of forces once more turned in favor of Germany. Since the German population was growing much more rapidly than the French, the contingent mobilized every year was much more numerous, and the reserves at the disposition of the regular army were far larger than those the French high command could count on." - La Gorce - "The French Army; a military-political history" 1850-1900. "The English fleet can't protect Paris." - Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany Picture: French infantrymen in 1860. The red trousers had been worn by the French infantry since 1829. www.grosser-generalstab.de The army, elevated from obscurity, was remodelled on Napoleonic lines. What was needed to complete the resurrection was victory in the field. "It is hardly surprising that Napoleon III and the army were mindful of the great Napoleonic traditions and were anxious to emulate them. Their first real opportunity came with the Crimean War. In this muddled campaign the army acquitted itself well ... finally forcing the issue at Sebastopol by storming the Malakov Fort. In 1859 it was again successful, this time against the Austrians, with a couple of fumbling and costly voctories at Magenta and Solferino. The next adventure unfortunately did not go so smoothly; a protracted anti-guerilla struggle in Mexico, 1863-7, ended in a humiliating withdrawal. Meanwhile, back in Europe, Prussia was fast emerging as a challenge to France's military pre-eminence." (Shann and Delperier - "French Army 1870-1. Franco-Prussian War. (I)" p 3) Promotion in the army was determined by a law that had been passed in 1832. Approx. 66 % of the officers were promoted on the basis of seniority, up to the rank of commandant. According to Major Simon the soldiers "spent whole weeks adjusting the straps or revolver holsters and the straps around canteens, seeing to it that the former should run between the 2nd and 3rd tunic buttons ... On the range, what mattered was not to hit the target frequently but to adopt the precise posture that regulations called for, even if the marksman's physique made this uncomfortbale for him. To allow the lefthand soldier to put a rifle against his left shoulder would have seemed a grave infringement of discipline. ARMY (of Napoleon III) --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [1] --- The Cent-Gardes were charged with the task of escorting Napoleon III in the field. [2] --- The Zouaves were not subject to conscription, which ensured a high level of esprit de corps. They were formed from native volunteers of the Zouagha tribe and was quickly Europeanised. The Zouaves made a very favourable impression on military men and civilians alike. The 2nd Regiment was nicknamed "The Jackals of Oran". In the war against the Germans the Zouaves greatly distinguished themselves. [3] --- The African Chasseurs helped to extricate the British Light Brigade (ext.link) following its disastrous charge at Balaklava. The 1st Regiment received the honour of being the first cavalry regiment to be awarded the Legion d'Honneur. In Mexico they earned the nickname of "The Blue Butchers." (ext.link) [4] --- 3 battalions formed regiment. Each battalion had 6 field and 2 depot companies. [5] --- For their dash and marksmanship they were regarded as an elite troops. The French army in 1870 was made of almost 500,000 regular soldiers, some of them veterans of previous campaigns in the Crimean War, Algeria, Mexico, and the French-Austrian war. This strength would increase to 650,000 on full mobilisation. After receiving reports of the effectiveness of the Prussian breech-loading rifles in 1866, the French had hastily equipped their infantry with the Chassepot rifle, one of the most modern mass-produced firearms in the world. In addition, the infantry was equipped with the precursor to the machine-gun � the mitrailleuse. It was made up of 25 barrels activated by a hand crank, firing 150 rounds per minute. The Prussian army was still equipped with the Dreyse needle-gun rifle, which was not nearly as effective as the French Chassepot rifle and had shorter range, which meant that the Prussian infantry would have to make it through French fire before their rifles could threaten the enemy. The deficiencies of the needle-gun were more than compensated for by the 6 pounder (3 kg) breech-loading cannons being issued to Prussian artillery. The Prussian cannon had a longer range, faster rate of fire, and was much more accurate as compared to the French muzzle-loading cannon. The Prussian cannon was to shape the future of artillery on the battlefield. "At the outbreak of war many pundits were predicting a rapid French offensive and a repeat of the victorious Jena campaign of 1806. Yet within a month of the first encounter the French army had been almost totally eliminated as an effective fighting force. Much of the blame for this debacle was rightly laid at the door of the French High Command. ... Some blamed the 'Algerian experience' for France's defeat claiming that her generals had forgotten how to fight a European war after 40 years of pursuing the wily tribesmen of North Africa. This is hardly true. Three-quarters of the generals active in 1870 had seen action in either the Crimea or in Italy, and over a third had served in both campaigns ... It is certainly true that many of the lessons learned there were less than fully relevant by 1870: unlike their German opponents the French had no experience of a war fought with breech-loading weapons, although they were aware of the theoretical changes in tactics that they had wrought." (Shann and Delperier - "French Army 1870-1. Franco-Prussian War. (I)" p 22) Picture: Battle of Gravelotte-St. Privat. It was the largest battle during the Franco-Prussian War. The combined German forces (188,000 men), under von Moltke the Elder defeated French Army of the Rhine (113,000 men), commanded by Marshal Bazaine. While most of the Germans fell under the French Chassepot rifles, most French fell under the Prussian Krupp shells. The Prussian Guard Division losses were staggering with 8,000 casualties out of 18,000 men ! On the French side, the troops holding St. Privat lost more then 50 % of their number. General Bourbaki refused to commit the reserves of the French Old Guard to the battle because he considered it a 'defeat'. (- wikipedia.org 2005) The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War in 1870. The intention of the French was to rest the army, which had been involved in a long series of marches, resupply with ammunition and then retreat, rather than giving battle in the town. The French troops were exhausted and short on ammunition. "Prussian artillery, commanding the heights above the town, bombarded the trapped French troops. The courageous General Margueritte led repeated cavalry charges in a valiant attempt to break out, but these all failed. Finally a flag of truce was sent from the fort. To the Germans' surprise they discovered that Napoleon III himself was in Sedan. All French forces surrendered at 4:15 P.M., September 1." (- Wallechinsky & Wallace) Battle of Sedan resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III along with his army and practically decided the war in favour of Prussia, though fighting continued under a new French government. The French lost over 38,000 men killed, wounded and captured. The Prussians reported their losses at 9,000 killed, wounded and captured or missing. Picture: Battle of Sedan. Napoleon III surrenders himself to Moltke and the Prussian King. With the Second Empire overthrown, Napoleon III was permitted to leave Prussian custody for exile in England, while, within a fortnight, the Prussian Army went on to besiege Paris. [Franco-Prussian War in pictures] (ext.link) "Relations with the German Empire dominated France's whole foreign policy up to 1914. Every French government reached a decision on the basis of the intentions attributed to Germany, and on the danger that German political initiatives represented for France. Franco-German relations were themselves dominated by the question of Alsace-Lorraine. The territorial annexation carried out under the Treaty of Frankfort (1871) had inflicted such a wound on France that nothing could exceed in urgency the desire to avoid a repetition of the German Invasion. The lost provinces had belonged to France since the days of Louis XIV and Louis XV, and the question of national sovereignity had not been raised even after the collapse of Napoleon. ... Yet the relative strength of the armed forces of France and Germany was such that no French government, during the last quarter of the century, could have envisaged the notion of any aggression directed against Germany. ... From 1875 on, when the French General Staff elaborated its first plans for mobilization in the event of war, the ruling idea was entirely defensive. ... After 1893, the relative strength of forces once more turned in favor of Germany. Since the German population was growing much more rapidly than the French, the contingent mobilized every year was much more numerous, and the reserves at the disposition of the regular army were far larger than those the French high command could count on. ..." (La Gorce - "The French Army; a military-political history" pp 11-13) The creation of a unified German Empire ended the "balance of power" that had been created with the Congress of Vienna after the end of the Napoleonic Wars. French colonies 19th-20th century.	i don't know
What is the main ingredient of the Middle-Eastern dish or snack 'Falafel'?	Falafel Ingredients \| Made Man Falafel Ingredients Facebook Twitter Stumble Google+ Save While actual recipes have a lot of variation, there are several basic falafel ingredients. Falafel is a common Middle Eastern street food that is typically served in a pita or wrapped in a flatbread and topped with a tahini sauce or, generally in Western countries, hummus. Chickpeas. In Israel and many other Middle Eastern countries, the primary falafel ingredients are chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans. The chickpeas make falafel very high in protein and fiber. Fava beans. In Egypt, falafel is more commonly made using one of their staple foods, fava beans. Some countries use a combination of fava beans and chickpeas as the foundation of falafel. The beans are either soaked in baking soda and ground up or cooked and mashed before being used in falafel. Onion. Finely chopped onion is a common falafel ingredient. Falafel is also often topped with sliced or pickled raw onions and other vegetables. Garlic. Garlic is used in larger amounts in Egypt where the dish is generally made to be spicier. Most falafel contains some garlic for flavor. Coriander. The seeds from the cilantro plant are dried and ground to make coriander, a spice that is frequently used in Middle Eastern cooking. Cumin. Best known as a key flavor in hummus, cumin is another spice that is a common falafel ingredient. Parsley. Adding a fresh flavor to balance the other spices, fresh, finely-diced parsley is another falafel ingredient. Vegetable oil. The rest of the falafel ingredients are combined and shaped into balls or small patties. The falafel is then fried in hot vegetable oil before being served. show comments	Chickpea
Name the Scottish Football League club whose home ground is in Dumfries?	FAQs - Yosi Kitchen FAQs Forgot your username? Is Hummus good for your diet? Yes. The main ingredient in Hummus is Tahini which is high in Omega 3 fats - which are good for you. It is 60 to 70% water so it will fill you up without weight gain. it has a high content of important minerals like Manganese, Copper and Sodium, and Calcium, Iron, Magnesium and Zinc. It is rich in vitamin C and B6 with vitamin E, K, Folate and Thiamin. Hummus also contains about 20 essential Amino Acids, including Tryptophan, Phenylalanine and Tyrosine. Bottom line is that Hummus tastes great and it's good for you so eat up! What is Babaganoush? This Middle Eastern puree consists of three primary ingredients: eggplant, sesame tahini and lemon juice. These base components are seasoned with garlic, olive oil, spices or fresh herbs like mint and parsley. While specific recipes may vary with different culinary regions and individual tastes, the nutritional makeup of baba ghanoush is largely determined by the main ingredients. Together, the eggplant, tahini and lemon juice make baba ghanoush rich in protein, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. What are the ingredients in Falafel? Falafel is a deep-fried ball or patty made from ground chick peas, fava beans, or both. At Yosi Kitchen we only use chick peas. Falafel is a traditional Middle Eastern food, usually served in a pita, which acts as a pocket, or wrapped in a flatbread known as lafa. The falafel balls are topped with salads, pickled vegetables, hot sauce, and drizzled with tahini-based sauces. Falafel balls may also be eaten alone as a snack or served as part of a meze. Generally accepted to have first been made in Egypt, falafel has become a dish eaten throughout the Middle East. What goes with Tabbouleh Salad? Tabbouleh is a salad traditionally made of bulgur, tomatoes, finely chopped parsley, mint, onion and garlic, and seasoned with olive oil, lemon juice and salt. It has become a popular ethnic food in Western cultures. Tabbouleh salad is served with plain yogurt, olive oil and some larger salad leaves such as lettuce for crunch. Yosi Kitchen makes Tabbouleh Salad from fresh ingredients daily so you can enjoy this Middle Eastern favorite at home without the hassle of making it! Is Eggplant Salad healthy? Yosi Kitchen's Eggplant Salad is made from only the finest and freshest ingredients. We buy whole eggplant process it by hand. The herb and spice mixes are prepared and mixed using Yosi's secret recipe from the highest quality spices. Our Eggplant Salad consists of fresh eggplant, fresh red bell peppers, frsh garlic, canola oil, vinegar, salt and pepper, and our fresh herb and spice mix. Combined into the Yosi Kitchen Eggpland Salad makes a delicious and healthy dish that can be used as an appetizer or side dish for a meal. Available at these grocers	i don't know
Which composer was born in Belgium in 1822 but later became a French citizen?	Cesar Franck \| Belgian-French composer \| Britannica.com Belgian-French composer Johann Sebastian Bach César Franck, in full César-auguste Franck (born Dec. 10, 1822, Liège , Neth.—died Nov. 8, 1890, Paris , France ), Belgian-French Romantic composer and organist who was the chief figure in a movement to give French music an emotional engagement, technical solidity, and seriousness comparable to that of German composers. César Franck, detail of a portrait by J. Rongier; in a private collection. C. Caroly—J.P. Ziolo Franck was born of a Walloon father and a mother of German descent. He showed unmistakable musical gifts that enabled him to enter the Liège conservatory at the age of eight, and his progress as a pianist was so astonishing that in 1834 his father took him on tour and a year later dispatched him to Paris, where he worked with the Bohemian composer Anton Reicha, then professor at the Paris Conservatory. In 1836 the whole family, including the younger son Joseph, who played the violin, moved to Paris, and in 1837 César Franck entered the Paris Conservatory. Within a year he had won a Grand Prix d’Honneur by a feat of transposition in the sight-reading test, and this honour was followed by a first prize for fugue (1840) and second prize for organ (1841). Although the boy should now normally have prepared to compete for the Prix de Rome, a prize offered yearly in Paris for study in Rome, his father was determined on a virtuoso’s career for him and his violinist brother, with whom he gave concerts, and therefore removed him prematurely from the conservatory. In order to please his father and earn much-needed money, Franck gave concerts, the programs of which were largely devoted to performing his own showy fantasias and operatic potpourris, popular at that time. After 1840, when he turned his attention increasingly to the organ, his compositions became noticeably more serious, and three trios written at this time were to impress favourably the Hungarian composer Franz Liszt . A more ambitious work was the cantata Ruth, which had its first performance at the conservatory on Jan. 4, 1846. Unwilling concert giving, a number of bad press notices, and the teaching needed to supplement his income took a physical toll of his powers. Only when he had finally asserted himself against what amounted to the unscrupulous exploitation of his gifts by his father could he achieve maturity and peace of mind. Franck fell in love with an actress with the professional name of Desmousseaux, whose real name was Félicité Saillot, but because both her parents also worked in the theatre, the family was regarded as unsuitable by the elder Franck, and his son was obliged to leave home some time before marrying her in 1848. After his marriage Franck’s way of life changed little for his remaining 42 years. He earned his livelihood as an organist and teacher and led a simple, almost ascetic life. Britannica Stories EU Considers Rules For Robots In 1851 he was appointed organist to the Church of Saint-Jean-Saint-François and in 1858 to that of Sainte-Clotilde, where he was already choirmaster. From the organ loft of Sainte-Clotilde came the improvisations for which he was to become famous and also their elaboration in organ and choral works. This music is all marked by the taste of the day, which was for a facile tenderness and saccharine sweetness in ecclesiastical music. More important to Franck’s career as a composer was his appointment as organ professor at the Paris Conservatory in 1872, which came to him as a surprise because he had indulged in none of the preliminary intrigue customary in such cases. His open-heartedness and lack of sophistication were to make him enemies among his colleagues as well as friends among his pupils. This enmity was increased by the fact that his organ classes soon became classes of composition , and his pupils not infrequently proved superior to those of the conventional composition professors. Music: Fact or Fiction? The nucleus of a school of disciples had already begun to form around Franck, but only after the founding of the National Society of Music (Feb. 25, 1871) was a real future assured for the type of music that he was interested in writing and communicating to his pupils. When Vincent d’ Indy, a French composer, joined the group of Franck’s pupils in 1872, he brought an enthusiasm, a propagandist zeal, and an exclusive personal devotion that played a large place in restoring Franck’s confidence in his powers. With Ernest Chausson, Pierre de Bréville, Charles Bordes , and Guy Ropartz the Franck circle was complete in the early ’80s, and subsequently d’Indy’s very high claims (in his biography, César Franck, 1906) led for a time to the suspicion that Franck was “a creation of his own pupils.” Britannica Lists & Quizzes Editor Picks: Exploring 10 Types of Basketball Movies The music that he went on to write makes it clear that this is not true. As a composer Franck fulfilled his potential only in the last 10 years (1880–90) of his life. His Symphony in D Minor (1888), Variations symphoniques (1885), Piano Quintet in F Minor (1879), String Quartet in D Major (1889), Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano (1886), and several organ pieces mark him as one of the most powerful French composers in the second half of the 19th century. His music is marked by soaring, almost improvisatory melodic flights. Certainly his early years as performer and composer of virtuoso music left an indelible mark on his musical taste, as can be heard unmistakably in the last movement of the Prélude, aria et final for piano (completed 1887) and even momentarily in the Variations symphoniques for piano and orchestra. On the other hand, some of his weaker music represents an almost excessive reaction against superficiality and aspires to emotional intensity at all costs, drawing for the purpose on the examples of Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner , and, more remotely, Beethoven. Franck died, partly as the result of a street accident, in 1890. The new seriousness of French music in the last quarter of the 19th century derived entirely from Franck and his pupils. Much has been made of his angelic sweetness and simplicity of character, his selflessness and innocence in the ways of the world. These traits are reflected in a blandness of manner, and they proved a handicap when Franck was faced with the necessity of producing strongly contrasting musical ideas, as in the oratorio Les Béatitudes (written during the 1870s and performed posthumously) and the symphonic poems Le Chasseur maudit (1882; The Accursed Hunter) and Les Djinns (1884). On the other hand, the Sonata in A Major for Violin and Piano and the Variations symphoniques remain as all but perfect monuments of a warm and noble musical nature and a strong, thorough craftsmanship that have survived all changes of taste and emotional attitudes.	César Franck
Which future Prime Minister resigned as Foreign Secretary in 1938 over the appeasement of Hitler?	Cesar Franck Biography - Childhood, Life Achievements & Timeline Musicians Cesar Franck Biography Cesar Franck was a very influential composer, pianist and an inspiring teacher who authored memorable musical works. Know all about his childhood, life and timeline in this biography. Quick Facts Composer, pianist, organist and music teacher Nationality Marie-Catherine-Barbe Franck (nÃ©e Frings) siblings Royal Conservatory of LiÃ¨ge Image Credit https://kemansitesi.wordpress.com/2011/06/12/cesar-franck1822-1890/ Cesar-Auguste-Jean-Guillaume-Hubert Franck was a leading composer, pianist, organist and an inspiring music teacher who lived in Paris and created dynamic and enthralling symphonic, chamber and keyboard works. He gave his maiden concerts in 1834 in his birth place. He studied initially in Paris. After a brief return to Belgium and a bad experience in his early career, he moved back to Paris, married EugÃ©nie-FÃ©licitÃ©-Caroline Saillot and led a successful career prominently as a music educator and organist. He was not only popular for his compositions, but also as an ambitious improviser. He travelled all across France to propagate the new musical instruments invented by Aristide CavaillÃ©-Coll. As a teacher, Cesar Franck had a very powerful and positive influence on young French composers. He helped to restore and strengthen chamber music and developed the use of cyclic form. He was one of the most humble, earnest and sincere composers who presented the world with some of his greatest works to become significant in the standard classical repertoire. Cesar Franck’s Childhood And Early Life Franck was born in Liège. At that time, it was a part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (and from 1830 part of Belgium). His father was Nicolas-Joseph Franck, who was a bank clerk, whose family relocated from the German-Belgian border, and his mother Marie-Catherine-Barbe Franck (née Frings) was from Germany. As a child, Franck illustrated both music and drawing skills, his father strongly believed him to become a great composer and musician, just like Sigismond Thalberg or Franz Liszt who will fetch recognition and wealth to his family. To fulfill this desire, his father got him entered at the Royal Conservatory of Liège in October 1837 to learn organ, solfège, piano and harmony from Joseph Daussoigne-Méhul and other renowned faculties. Franck gave his first concert in 1834 at Leopold I of the newly formed Kingdom of Belgium. In 1838, young Franck won his first prize in piano. He included organ studies with François Benoist, including both the performance as well as improvisation, which fetched him the second prize in 1841. Surprisingly, for unknown reasons, he made a voluntary retirement from the Conservatoire on 22 April 1842. Though initially compositions performed by him were successfully welcomed by audiences, but due to his father’s undue marketable promotion, Parisian musical journals and critics were irritated. Though Franck’s technical abilities as a pianist was appreciated, but as a composer, fame eluded him. Franck As A Teacher And Organist (1842–1858) At Belgium, Franck suffered a bad luck as his concerts commercially panned, critics were contemptuous and there was lack of support or sponsorship from the Belgium court. Thus, his father, Nicolas-Joseph brought his son back into the genre of teaching and family concerts in Paris. Though earnings were still low, it proved to be very beneficial for Franck in long run. Through his life’s early experiences, Franck composed his first mature composition, a set of Trios (piano, violin, cello)! Franz Liszt went through his compositions, encouraged him and gave his valuable constructive criticism, and even performed them some years later in Weimar. In 1843, Franck initiated his work on his maiden non-chamber work, the ‘Oratorio Ruth’. It got privately premiered in 1845 before Liszt, Meyerbeer, and other eminent musical personalities, who gave reasonable feedback and constructive criticism. As Franck always aspired to be an organist, his dream came true when he became the assistant organist in 1947 at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Franck's parish church. Franck had a fascination for the musical instruments of Cavaillé-Coll and travelled widely throughout France to illustrate and popularize the instruments by playing them at inaugural concerts. Personal Life There were two significant happenings in his life that changed Franck’s outlook towards life, depicted in his musical compositions. His relations with his parents, especially his father that got worse due to his undue interference in Franck’s professional as well as personal life. This was fueled due to Franck’s obsession with one of his students ‘Eugénie-Félicité-Caroline Saillot ‘(1824–1918). Their friendship was as old as Conservatoire days and her family and home provided a respite to Franck from his domineering father. Franck finally left his father’s house and went to live with her family. From that time, Franck declared his official name as ‘Cesar Franck’ or just C. Franck. He married his lady love on 22 February 1848. Titulaire Of Sainte-Clotilde (1858–1872) Franck was appointed as organist and maitre de chapelle at Sainte-Clotilde (from 1896 the Basilique-Sainte-Clotilde) on 22 January 1858. A few months later, the parish inaugurated a new three-manual Cavaillé-Coll instrument and Franck was appointed as the ‘titulaire’. A deadly combination of this organ along with Franck’s past piano experience built up the foundation of his future success in music world. Franck was so dedicated towards this instrument that in order to improve his control over this organ and its thirty-note pedal, he bought a practice pedal board from Pleyel et Cie for practicing at home and improve his pedal technique. The melodious sound and mechanical facilities of this organ helped Franck to gain popularity as a composer and an improviser. Franck’s organ works and harmonium compositions began to gain popularity, including the ‘Messe à 3 voix’, (1859). One of the most remarkable works of Franck is the set of ‘Six Pièces’ for organ, authored in 1860–1862 and published in 1868. These compositions were devoted to his fellow pianists and organists, to his teacher Benoist, and to Cavaillé-Coll. This set of ‘Six Pièces’ for organ included his best-known organ works, the "Prélude, Fugue, et Variation", op. 18 and the "Grande Pièce Symphonique", op. 17. "Père Franck", Conservatory Professor and Composer (1872–1890) In 1872, Benoist retired as professor of organ at the reopening of the Paris Conservatoire. Franck’s name was proposed among others, but to be appointed to this post, he needed to be of a French citizen. Franck underwent the naturalization process and was appointed on 1 February 1872. Several of his dedicated students were studying at the Paris Conservatoire including Henri Duparc, Vincent d'Indy, Louis Vierne and Ernest Chausson who became quite famous in their own musical career. At this stage, Franck was very comfortable composing some of his greatest works such as Les Béatitudes, the oratorio Rédemption (1871, revised 1874), the secular cantata Les Éolides (1876), the Trois Pièces for organ (1878), and the piano Quintet (1879). In 1886, Franck gifted his ‘Violin Sonata’ to the Belgian violinist Eugène Ysaÿe as a wedding present. This was a great achievement for Franck’s career! In 1888, Franck again worked on an opera – Ghiselle. When the huge ‘String Quartet’ got completed, it was performed in April 1890, and was welcomed by audiences and critics. Death And Legacy Franck began his new session at the Conservatoire in October, but was infected by a cold mid-month. This worsened and was converted into pleurisy complicated by pericarditis. From this time, his health never stabilized and went on deteriorating and he expired on 8 November 1890. His funeral took place at Sainte-Clotilde and as expected was attended by large worshippers including Léo Delibes (officially representing the Conservatoire), Eugène Gigout, Saint-Saëns, Édouard Lalo, Alexandre Guilmant, Gabriel Fauré and Charles-Marie Widor (who succeeded Franck as professor of organ at the Conservatoire). One of his great legacies include a number of compositions written by him such as the Prelude, Chorale and Fugue for piano solo (1884), Symphony in D minor (1886–88), the Sonata for Violin and Piano in A major (1886) to name a few. His works largely inspired the young generation and set new trends in the world of music. CESAR FRANCK TIMELINE Born at Liège, which was under the Netherlands' control, now in Belgium. 1834: Gave his first concerts before Leopold I of the newly formed Kingdom of Belgium. 1835: Started studied privately in Paris. 1837: Took the first prize in piano at the end of his first year. 1842: Made a "voluntary" retirement from the Conservatoire. 1843: Started work on his first non-chamber work, the ‘Oratorio Ruth’. 1845: Oratorio Ruth was privately premiered before Liszt and other musical notables. 1847: Appointed as assistant organist at Notre-Dame-de-Lorette Franck's Parish Church. 1848: Married Eugénie-Félicité-Caroline Saillot on 22 February. 1851: Attempted an opera, Le Valet de Ferme. 1858: Became organist and maitre de chapelle at Sainte-Clotilde on 22 January. 1859: Authored ‘Messe à 3 voix’. 1868: His most notable work, the set of Six Pièces for organ was published. 1872: Became the professor at the Paris Conservatoire. 1876: Composed the secular cantata ‘Les Éolides’. 1878: Composed the ‘Trois Pièces for organ’. 1879:	i don't know
In Italian Commedia del Arte, what was the name of 'Pantaloon's' daughter?	The Commedia dell'Arte. Italian Renaissance Theater. \| Costume History 7 Further Reading La Comédie The commedia dell’arte developed in Italy in the 16th century from different already existing Theater groups in the middle ages. The commedia dell’arte was spread by itinerant troupes, such as the Compagnia dei Comici Gelosi over Europe and had great influence in particular the Spanish Theatre and the British, French and German comedy of the 17th and 18 Century, such as the Viennese popular theater and the “Main and State Actions” of the German traveling theaters. The center of the commedia dell’arte in the 18th Century was no longer in Italy, but in Paris, the largest city in Europe. During the French Revolution it was forbidden in France, where commedia since Louis XIV had their fixed location and not later than the time of Napoleon this once dominant form of European theater was practically gone. It was not until the early 20th century, Commedia dell’arte was rediscovered and revived in various form throughout Europe. Isabella Andreini (Padua, 1562 – 10 June 1604), Prima Buffa della Compagnia dei Comici Gelosi. 16th century, The Commedia dell’Arte THE Commedia dell’arte, the Italian Comedy as It is sometimes called, is one of the most curious phenomena in the whole history of the theatre. It began to be noticed in the early years of the sixteenth century in Italy, and in the next hundred and fifty years it swept over Europe. It must have been known, at least by hearsay, to Shakespeare; it profoundly influenced Molière; it is with us today wherever Punch and Judy is found in a side street or a ” troupe of Pierrots ” performs upon a pier at the seaside. Painting and poetry have alike felt its impact, so that we must know something of the Commedia dell’ Arte if we are to understand either Watteau or Verlaine. We have already mentioned its supposed derivation from the Atellanœ, the popular farces played in ancient times in the city of Atella, in the Roman Campagna. But if this is really so it implies an astounding hibernation or underground life for something like a thousand years. Yet when these farces revived again, warmed by the sun of Humanism, we find, to our astonishment, the same method of procedure and even the same group of characters. Bucco and Maccus, and the ogre Manducus, the Miles Gloriosus of Plautus, and half a dozen other masks appear again. Only their names are changed. We have called them ‘masks’ deliberately. The Atellane players wore masks, so did the actors in the Italian Comedy. If troupes of such players were performing in the squares and market places of remote towns throughout the whole of the medieval period, why is nothing heard of them? If they were not, how was the tradition preserved? It cannot be dismissed as a self-conscious Humanist revival, as part of the impulse which led to the erection of such pseudo-classical structures as the Teatro Olimpico at Vicenza. The Humanists, after all, were first and foremost literary men, and the most striking thing about the Commedia dell’ arte was the absence of a written text. All that existed was a scenario. The actual words of the dialogue were improvised afresh at each performance. The immense amount of patient research which has gone to the study of the Italian Comedy during the last half-century has still not completely disposed of the problem. It would be out ofplace in a work like the present to attempt to follow all die controversies which have raged about the subject. Scholars of the standing of Constant Mic and Michele Scherillo have denied the ancient origins of the Commedia dell’ Arte altogether. They would seem to have been sufficiently answered by Pierre Louis Duchartre (La Comldie Italienne. Paris, 1924. An English translation by Randolph T. Weaver was published in 1929 by Messrs. Harrap.), who gives an impressive list of similarities which can hardly be accidental. His conclusions may be briefly summarized. It is known that the ancient mimes had shaven heads; the false scalps or head-bands of the Italian comedians give the same effect. Two of the characters in the Italian Comedy Harlequin and Brighella are called Zanni (Shakespeare’s ‘zanies’), a name which seems (in spite of the doubts of some scholars) to be derived from the sannio of the Atellane farces. The slapstick (Shakespeare’s ‘dagger of lath’) and the phallus are common to both, so are the short garments worn by both the Italian valets and the ancient slaves. The quaint figure of Pulcinella (our Punch) with his hooked nose and crooked back is to be found already in the Atellane Maccus. Not only that, but both are invariably dressed in white. The Italian comedians, alone among their contemporaries, wore the mask, as did their ancient counterparts. The Commedia dell’ arte, however, was no mere revival of an ancient mode. When it springs into being again in Italy in the early sixteenth century it is pulsating with a life of its own, and soon begins to develop its own special types. It is thought that a valuable impulse may have been given by Angelo Beolco, who in 1528 presented a comedy in prose in which each character spoke a different Italian dialect. This became one of the most striking characteristics of the improvised comedy. Not only did the characters, so to say, represent a cross-section of human life, they also formed a kind of geographical survey of the Italian peninsula. Harlequin and Brighella hailed from Bergamo, Pulcinella was the sly Neapolitan, the pedantic Dottore came from the University of Bologna, Pantaloon was a ‘Merchant of Venice.’ But the astonishing growth did not stop there. From the middle of the sixteenth century onward (says Duchartre) there was a constant proliferation of characters which the famous troupes of the Gelosi, the Confidenti and the Uniti eventually made popular everywhere. Milan produced Beltrame and Scapin, brothers of Brighella and Meneghino; Naples brought forth first Pulcinella and then Scaramouche and Tartaglia; to Rome are due Meo-Patacca, Marco-Pepe, and later Cassandrino; to Turin, Gianduja; and in Calabria appeared Coviello, of whom Callot made a charming etching. In this way each town created a representative type which was its boast, and to which its jealous neighbours added a touch of caricature. And thus the various roles became stylized. At first there were no women in the Italian Comedy at all. When they did appear they were always a little apart from the ‘masks.’ Their own mask was made as small and elegant as possible and they never crystallized into definite characters, but assumed the role of the sighing mistress or the brazen wanton as the scenario demanded. They played, so to speak, ‘straight’ parts, and so did their opposite numbers, the Lovers, the jeunes premiers of the time. Their fortune or misfortune in love might figure as the central theme of the plot, but it was the under-plot of comic characters that provided the greater part of the entertainment. Another striking distinction between the ‘masks’ and the straight characters was that the latter tended more and more to rely upon set speeches learned by heart and brought in wherever occasion offered, as when it was necessary to lament the loss of a mistress or make a formal declaration of love. Until the end ofthe sixteenth century the Italian comedians led a very nomadic life, not only because it was difficult for one small town to support a company for any length of time, but because of the almost universal hostility they encountered from magistrates and the ecclesiastical authorities. An honourable exception was St. Charles Borromeo, who protected them in Milan, but in general they had a hard life of it not only in Italy but in France. Their penetration into the latter country was fraught with such consequences for the history of the theatre (for Molière is almost unthinkable without the background of the Commedia dell’ Arte) that it is worth while to notice the first accounts of their infiltration. We know that the Italian comedian Ganassa came to Paris in 1571 for the marriage festivities of the young King Charles IX, and in the following year he took part in the celebrations of the marriage between Marguerite de Valois and Henry of Navarre. He afterwards went to Spain and played before King Philip II. So great was the enthusiasm at the French Court for this new kind ofdramatic entertainment that the royal personages themselves wanted to take a hand in the game. It is tempting to adopt Maurice Sand’s belief that the very interesting painting by Porbus (It is either by Paul Porbus, called Porbus the Elder, or by Frans Porbus.) in the museum at Bayeux represents Charles IX in the costume of Brighella, the Due d’Anjou (later Henri III) as Harlequin, the Duc de Guise as Scaramouche, the Cardinal of Lorraine as Pantaloon and Catherine de’Medici as Columbine. Duchartre, however, is undoubtedly nearer the truth when he suggests that the royal personages are playing the parts of the lovers and that the masked characters are professionals. None the less it is sufficiently remarkable that the Royal Family should have mingled with the comedians in this way, and it is perhaps small wonder that not only the Huguenots were scandalized. It was only the insistence of the King that prevented the Italians from being expelled from France. An even more famous company than that of Ganassa arrived in France in 1577. This was the celebrated Gelosi troupe which Henri III had seen in Venice on his way back to France from Poland. Henri invited them to Blois for the opening of the States General. They played several times before the King and were even allowed to charge for admission, before returning to Florence in the following year. It was in Florence that Andreini, who had now become director of the troupe, married the celebrated Isabella, then sixteen years old. Her beauty and her talents did much to contribute to the Gelosis’ outstanding success, and they were received with enthusiasm at all the Courts of northern Italy. They made another visit to France in 1588, but were frightened away by a decree of the Parliament against them and by the troubles which followed the murder of the Duc de Guise. It is interesting to note that Henri IV had sufficiently pleasant memories of them to summon them once more to Paris for his marriage with Marie de’Medici. Isabella died of a miscarriage shortly afterwards and the troupe was disbanded. It is, however, not the history of individual troupes nor the contribution of the Italian Comedy to dramatic literature which concerns us here. It is the stylization and the persistence of the costumes which strikes and to some extent confounds the imagination. On decor we can conclude that the The Commedia dell’ Arte had comparatively small effect, although by the end of the seventeenth century it had begun to share in the general use of side-wings and back-cloths, and mechanical devices of all kinds. Indeed, it finally became so entangled with the pièce à machines that it seems natural to us that a ‘harlequinade’ and a ‘transformation scene’ should form part o fthe same entertainment. But none of this is essential to the Commedia dell’ Arte, which in its early days dispensed with decor altogether. It is, however, unthinkable without its fantastic costumes, completely individual, highly stylized and seeming to be possessed of a life of their own. The most famous is of course that of Harlequin, perhaps the most interesting theatrical costume that has ever existed. Yet when we first meet him his dress is very different from what it eventually became. The earliest known engravings show him in a long doublet laced down the front and nether-garments that are sometimes so loose that they might almost be called trousers. His clothes are covered with patches of various shapes and colours. On his head he wears a soft cap adorned with a fox’s brush or a hare’s ears, or a tuft of feathers. His face is covered with a black chin-piece. The scholars are still disputing why his mask should be black. In his hand he carries a wooden sword. Early in the seventeenth century the stylizing of the patches began. They became triangles of blue, green and red arranged in a symmetrical pattern and separated by a narrow yellow braid. The triangles became diamonds at the end of the seventeenth century, the tunic was shortened and a pointed hat replaced the soft cap. This, with slight modifications, is the Harlequin that has persisted into our own day. Harlequin still exists precariously, as one of the vestigial characters of the English pantomime. So does Pantaloon, but he no longer speaks and has forgotten that he was once the original ‘Merchant of Venice.’ His very name is Venetian, for it is generally supposed to be derived from piantar leone, to plant the lion, i.e. the Lion of St. Mark. The British were not the inventors of the notion that ‘trade follows the flag.’ His forebears were the old men of the Atellane farces and the misers of Plautus, his descendants, on the respectable side of the family, are Orgon and Harpagon in the comedies of Molière. The loose trousers which he wore in the sixteenth century, and which are now universal, are called pantaloons because of him. As well as these loose trousers he wore a short jacket, usually of bright red, and a long black cloak with plain sleeves. On his feet were soft Turkish slippers and on his head a little Greek cap. When he reappeared at the Renaissance the dangling, shameless phallus of antiquity was still to be seen. He had a grey moustache and a long white beard, sometimes ludicrously tufted; his mask showed a prominent hooked nose and sometimes round spectacles. Like his counterpart in Shakespeare, he was perpetually bewailing the treachery of his daughter and the loss of his ducats. If Pantaloon was a Venetian, the Doctor, the other old man in the Italian Comedy, was a Bolognese, and a member of all the Academies of that learned city. He did them, however, little credit, for his knowledge of Latin (which he was always spouting) was as small as his skill in medicine. Like his friend Pantaloon, he was extremely miserly and always engaging in love adventures which only resulted in the scorn of the lady and the blows of his rivals. As a caricature of an eternal type, he represents the revenge of the ordinary man against pretension to learning, of the low-brow against the high-brow, of the undergraduate against the don. For a don he is with his black, sleeveless gown which, even in the sixteenth century, was recognizably academic, with his black clothes and black shoes. His small black toque was changed in the seventeenth century for a large black felt hat, and his clothes followed the changing fashions more closely than those of other characters in the Commedia dell’ Arte. But he always remains the doctor and the don. His mask is very curious, covering only the forehead and the nose. Goldoni says this ” took its form from a birthmark which disfigured the face of a jurisconsult of those days.” It is one ofthe traditions still in existence among the amateurs of the Commedia dell’ Arte. The cheeks were rouged, and for the greater part of his history il Dottore wore a small pointed beard. Punch to the English mind is two things: a diminutive puppet in a side street eking out a precarious existence, marginal in both time and space, and the most august of comic journals. In one manifestation he has shrunk to a doll, in the other he has expanded into an institution, and in both he seems peculiarly English. Yet he has a long history which has nothing to do with these islands, and the strange thing about him is that, however much he may have changed his character, he has kept his shape. He looks almost exactly the same in the little terra-cotta statuettes which have come down to us from the days of the Atellane farces. He has the same hooked nose and prominent chin, the same protruding belly and humped back, in the earliest pictures of the Italian Comedy in which he is represented. The modifications which have taken place in the costume of Pulcinella have been admirably summarized by Duchartre. He seems to have begun in Renaissance time with, a version of the local costume worn by the peasants of Acerra, from which district he is supposed to have derived. A loose blouse of white linen, caught in at the waist with a wide belt, and wide pantaloons provided the essentials of his outfit. Round his neck was a kind of collarette or ruff and on his head a white skull cap or a grey hat with turned-up brims. In later times the description might be thought to fit more accurately the costume of Pierrot, for, following the example of jupille, the famous French Polichinelle, the Pulcinella of Mazarin’s troupe of Italian comedians adopted red breeches and a jacket trimmed with green. Later in the seventeenth century cock-feathers were added to the hat. The exaggeration of the hump, the shortening of the pantaloons and the addition of striped stockings gave us the Punch we know today. Examples of the Pulcinella mask have been preserved. They are all very similar, showing small eyes, a bump on the forehead, and, of course, the characteristic hooked nose familiar to every child. It was in the middle of the seventeenth century that he turned into a marionette, and was so successful in this new guise that we hardly think of him as a character in the Italian Comedy at all. The name of Brighella is not nearly as familiar to the modern reader as those of Punch, or Pantaloon, or Harlequin. None the less he is an important character, not only for the part he played in the Commedia dell’ Arte, but for his Italian and French derivatives and descendants. One might say that Scapin and Sganarelle are his sons and Figaro his grandson, and these only differ from their ancestor by being a little more civilized (or having a little more respect for the law) and a little less ready to draw the knife. Brighella is the intriguing, thieving valet of all time, or rather of all times until our own. When we first meet Brighella at the close of the sixteenth century he wears a tunic and trousers and sometimes a short cloak. On his head is a flat cap or toque, usually with a green border. He carries a purse and a dagger and wears a half mask, not black like Harlequin’s, but of an olive hue even more sinister. His characteristic sign consists of a series of horizontal stripes of green braid across the coat and the seams of the trousers. These horizontal stripes concentrating themselves on the coat and finally transferred to the waistcoat have persisted to our own day in the striped waistcoats of liveried servants. They have vanished from private houses, but are still sometimes to be met with in Continental hotels. The Captain was another important member of the Commedia dell’ Arte, but his effect on literature (Shakespeare’s Pistol is an obvious Capitano. Some of the double-entendres which Shakespeare gives to Pistol are curiously illuminated by a glance at Callot’s engravings of the burlesque fencing matches ofS caramuccia and others) was greater than his effect on theatrical costume. For he simply followed the evolution of military dress, with a preference for that of the Spaniards. At first he wore a flesh-coloured mask with a big nose and fierce moustaches, but the later Captains discarded this and simply powdered the face. The most famous Scaramouche (one of the alternative names for Il Capitano: from scaramuccia, ‘skirmisher’) was Tiberio Fiorilli, who lived throughout the greater part of the seventeenth century. Molière himself had the greatest admiration for his powers of mimicry: II fut le maître de Molière Et la Nature fut le sien. There has been much dispute concerning the origin of Pedrolino, who has come down to us as Pierrot. He has now been traced back to the second half of the sixteenth century. He is a valet like several of the other characters, but more personable, more sentimental, more naive. He is much given to melancholy and is capable of love. He played without a mask but with his face heavily powdered, and his costume was similar, as we have already noted, to the original costume of Punch, but better fitting and more becoming. His derivative Pagliaccio, however, did wear a mask at the beginning of the seventeenth century a white mask over the white powdered face; and from him are also derived the skull cap and the white conical hat worn over it, as well as the large buttons which later became pom-poms. This costume, familiar to us from the paintings of Watteau, has survived to our own day in the troupes of pierrots who still perform on English piers. (It is perhaps hardly necessary to remind the reader that, from the point of view of the Commedia dell’Arte, a ‘troupe of Pierrots’ is an absurdity. One might as well speak of a troupe of Harlequins or a company of Scaramouches,) The women of the Italian Comedy – the Isabellas and the Innamoratas – never developed specific costumes of their own. They simply wore either a costume of fantasy, vaguely supposed to represent the ‘antique,’ or the fashionable costume of their own day. Nor did they wear masks, except occasionally the little loup or black velvet mask just covering the eyes, but even this ceases to have any theatrical significance when we realize that, in the seventeenth century, the loup was worn by the ladies in the audience as well. The soubrette, or maid, begins by dressing as a peasant girl and at the very end of the seventeenth century turns into Harlequina, being almost always Harlequin’s wife or mistress. Her costume is a mere echo of his, as Pierrette’s is of that of Pierrot. The Columbine of modern pantomime is simply a ballet dancer in the traditional tutu which began to assume its final shape about 1830. Dances of Sfessania (Balli di Sfessania 1621) series by Jacques Callot, 1592 – 1635. Taglio Cantoni. Fracasso Harlequin The Characters of The Commedia dell’Arte (Description) Trivellino: He represents a stupid servant or valet. Trivellino means “man with the drilled dress.” The dress darned of Trivellino it is found only in a print of the first half of the eighteenth century and consisted of jacket and pants yellow chamois, edged with blue or green triangles of cloth and imaginatively littered with crescents and stars scarlet. His mask was black similar to that of Harlequin, with an expression that recalled to his character of a servant, of zany. Originally in the 16th century, the figure of Trivellino acted as a counterpart to the Harlequin. Both were in competition at the foolish, naive servant. He Wherein in contrast to Harlequin also devilish traits took. Pulcinella: The figure was mostly a hump, often a long beaked nose, which gives him a sly expression. His original costume was held from coarse fabric in green, brown or red colors. This gradually changed to a white suit with wide sleeves and a black mask and a pointed hat. The Pulcinello is usually a kind of living newspaper. Everything that has happened over in Naples Striking the day, in the evening you can hear from him. From southern Italy the mask of Pulcinella spread with the touring companies of the Commedia dell’arte gradually to the north. However, it is believed that it has Roman (pre-) origins in the character of the Muccus Atellanen theater. At the same time emerged from this figure related masks. In German-speaking approximately influenced and he served as the model for the figures buffoon, Kasper German or as Kasperl in the Viennese popular theater The Punch, in England for Jack Pudding, Jan Klaassen in the Netherlands, Master Jockel in Denmark or Petrushka in Russia. From the 17th century however, this figure pales more and more displaced from the stage. Pagliaccio: With his yellow face mask and / or yellow floured face and his white linen, too big robe he seems to be a relative of Pierrot. Pagliaccio is a clumsy servant and copycat, bold in words, but in truth an extraordinary coward. For his mistakes, he is often punished with beatings. Ottavio: Stock character – Innamorati – “The Lovers”. Orazio: Stock character – Innamorati – “The Lovers”. Meo Patacca: The character was of Roman origin, and made its appearance towards the end of the seventeenth century in a poem of 1695 by Giuseppe Berneri. Here he appeared as a soldier, bully, always ready to fight and tell bluster. Its name comes from “smears” the money that was the pay of the soldier. His costume consisted of tight trousers to the knee, a velvet jacket stressed and a colorful scarf belt in which was hidden a dagger. His hair was tied back in a retina from which protrudes a characteristic tuft. Loudmouth from the terrible, face and challenge his colleague, but as soon as these are the steps in front and straight in the eye, it melts in fear.The type then passed into parodies of classical tragedies and comedies in music and many of its features are found in Rugantino. La Ballerina: stock character Leandre: stock character Lelio: Stock character – Innamorati – “The Lovers”. Harlequine: In the medieval mystery plays the character of Harlequin or Italian Arlecchino was still a devil figure. As such, it also occurs in Dante’s Divine Comedy in Hell. The later harlequin was distinguished by his impromptu jokes, fight scenes, funny dances and clown arts. Therefore, it was essential to figure and a favorite of the audience in the Commedia dell’arte. The Harlequin became the main character of the Commedia, the other characters are considered to be his followers. At the boor original, the character has become more cunning, bright, cynical, immoral, naive and awkward, sometimes speaks in a scatological language. There is always an optimistic solution to everything. He`s a lazy and greedy womanizer, but he can also be kind and faithful. He is the favorite of children because, in many features, it looks like them. Harlequin likes to have fun and be witty. The Harlequin Costume He wears a hat that does not fully cover his shaved head. His hat is decorated with a rabbit’s tail. Its high color suit was perhaps originally a miserable garment hole, covered by various pieces of fabric. In the seventeenth century, the rags become blue, green and red triangles arranged symmetrically lined with a yellow stripe. Around the waist, a rope is wound which he used repeatedly for sexual innuendo. He wears lighter flat shoes, allowing him to perform thousand spins and acrobatics. Giangurgolo Calabria: The character of the figure shows in his talkativeness and his unbridled lust for recognition. He shows himself as a wealthy landowner who demands respect from others, but himself shows no respect towards others. He constantly wants to impress and is permanently on display so that it is always mocked at the end, which is also due to his physical appearance. Coraline: Sisters Maria Anna Veronese and Giacoma Antonia Veronese known as Corallina. Colombine: Is a person of lower social class. Mostly she plays the role of the maid or cook. It lacks any contrived element of the upper class and it is a fun-loving and self-confident character. By their dominant and seductive manner it often attracts admirers (for example Brighella) that against which she know to fight back. The character of Colombina has partially no mask and wears mostly simple women’s clothes. Capitan Spezzafer : This is about the type of bullies and braggart, which occurs usually as a (former) soldier or sailor. He also occasionally uses other names like Captain Corazza, Captain Cardone Rinoceronte, Terremoto, Spezzaferro, Spaccamonti, Rodomonte who often describe it a little more closely. It is intrinsically generally the properties of ostentation, cruelty, greed, malice and pride, coupled with an extraordinary cowardice who is afraid of his own sword. Masques et Bouffons (Comédie Italienne) by Maurice Sand (Jean-François-Maurice-Arnauld 1823-1889, Baron Dudevant, known as Maurice Sand, was a French writer and illustrator, son of famous French novelist George Sand ). Associated to:	Columbine
Washington DC National Airport has been named in honour of which US President?	Lazzi - La Commedia dell'Arte La Commedia dell'Arte This site is a member of WebRing. To browse visit Here . Lazzi Lazzi are essentially "gags" or stock jokes which can be added into a commedia dell'arte play or performance in order to ensure the comic action keeps pace. Traditionally the writers and actors in a troupe would have lazzi memorized so that they could insert them where needed. This trick kept up in theater into the motion picture era, and some film and TV writers still use stock jokes to enhance their work. These are commedia dell'arte lazzi collected from various sources. Several come from Mel Gordon's lovely book of Lazzi, which can be bought here. ACROBATIC LAZZI Running-Around-The-Balcony Lazzo Arlecchino, pursued, or to prove his identity as Arlecchino, leaps from the stage to the first spectator box and runs around the railing or the three sets of balconies. Lazzo of Unspilled Wine Startled, Arlecchino, holding a full glass of wine, executes a complete backward somersault without spilling the wine. Slapping Lazzo A Zanni, with either his hands bound or holding plates of food, slaps another character in the face with his foot. VIOLENT LAZZI Innocent Bystander Lazzo Arlecchino and Pedrolino meet each other face-to-face and are armed to the teeth. They heap abuse on each other, relying on others to hold them back physically. Finally, when the Captain seeks to separate them, they strike out at each other with the Captain receiving most of the blows. "Defend Me" Lazzo The inamorata takes offense at something and demands that other characters should duel to protect her honor. Shield Lazzo Arlecchino, about to be hit, grabs the nearest other character to use as a shield. Revival Lazzo Woman pretends to faint or die. Zanni enters and suggests that the way to revive her is pull her hair or twist her limbs. Undead Lazzo A zanni has either been mistaken for dead or has deliberately feigned death. When he gets up, other characters believe he's a zombie or a vampire and try to kill him. Chair Lazzo Arlecchino (or Pierrot) pulls the chair away from the Captain just before he is to sit down. Or the Captain's cape is pulled, so he is forced from the chair. LANGUAGE LAZZI Lazzo of Latin The Doctor attempts to conjugate English words as if they are Latin (e.g. complaining he’s been attacked by “hoodla” instead of “hoodlums” or speaking of going “inside and exside.”) Lazzo of the Foreign Language Covielle (or any other Zanni) pretending to have met a foreign nobleman, quotes him by using made-up words or words associated with whatever culture the made-up nobleman is supposed to have come from. (“Dirka-dirka mohammed jihad!”) He then gives ridiculous and improbable translations for these phrases. Lazzo of La Fontaine’s Fable Using a mixture of Italian and French, Arlecchino manages to tell in a ridiculous and obscene manner the story of La Fontaine’s “ The Miller, The Son and The Ass ” Lazzo of Greeting Pulcinella greets the Captain or another character with apparent reverence. “Son of Jove, new moon, twice the last name of Alexander!” Then, Pulcinella explains, “The son of Jove is Bacchus. Bacchus is a goat. The new moon is horned, and the last name of Alexander is Magno, which, when taken twice, becomes magno-magno. Thus the whole greeting becomes: ‘Manga-manga, becco cornuto!’” (Eat it up, eat it up, you horned goat <cuckold>) Learning French Lazzo The inamorata is learning French (or any other language) from an instructor, and every word which she is taught sounds like a swear word, appalling her. Shakespeare did this lazzo as a French woman learning English, offended at being taught words like 'foot' [foutre - fuck] and 'gown' [con - cunt.] Lazzo of the List German innkeeper (or any character with an accent) reads from a shopping list. Everything is mispronounced, so “four chickens” becomes “four broken pillars” and so forth. FOOD LAZZI Water and Wine Lazzo Turchetta faints. Coviello goes to fetch water for her. When Turchetta comes to, Fedelindo faints as he calls for water. At this point Coviello decides to faint and calls for wine. Barber's Water Lazzo Disguised as a barber, Arlecchino pours the dirty and soapy water into the Doctor's drinking glass as he shaves him. Tasting Lazzo A zanni is cooking a pot of something for dinner. He continually seasons the dish, then tastes it, then adds more seasoning, tastes again, and this goes on until there is no food left in the pot. Cherries Lazzo While Scapino is speaking, Arlecchino shows his indifference by taking imaginary cherries out of his hat, eating them, and throwing the pits at Scapino. Fire Lazzo At the beginning of the meal, Harlequin arrives in a panic, saying that the kitchen is on fire. Don Juan and all the valets run there. In the meantime, Harlequin sits down and eats all he can. Optionally, when the others return complaining that there was no fire, Harlequin replies: “I said THE kitchen was on fire. I didn’t mean YOUR kitchen was on fire.” Doggie Treat Lazzo Brighella (or Columbina) offers Arlecchino food, which he eats with great enthusiasm. Brighella then pulls out more food, making whistling/calling noises as for a dog, then tosses the food across the stage. Arlecchino runs after the food and eats it off the floor. PROP LAZZI Hat Lazzo Male character is glared at or otherwise given a seductive glance by female character. The look is so powerful that it causes his hat to fly off. Glassware Lazzo While spying or dancing, Arlecchino tips over a basket of glassware or dishes, breaking them. Straw Lazzo Arlecchino uses a long straw to steal drinks of another character's beverage. Stolen Silverware Lazzo A zanni stands still while an entire banquet's worth of stolen silverware falls from his clothing, where he's hidden them. The last item that falls out is a coffeepot or centerpiece. This is best done at a time in the play when the zanni is swearing to his honesty or innocence. SEX/SCAT LAZZI Chamber Pot Lazzo As Pantalone (or the Captain) serenades Isabella, the servant girl empties a chamber pot out the window, hitting him with the contents. Rising Dagger Lazzo Hearing about the physical perfections of a certain woman, Pantalone's (or the Captain's) dagger begins to rise between his legs. Slime Lazzo Every time Ruffiana has sat on something, other characters complain about the spot being slimy. Hiding Lazzo Arlecchino (or Pedrolino) and Isabella (or Columbine) are alone in her room when knocking is heard. She tells Arlecchino to hide, since the knock can only belong to Pantalone. Finding no place to hide, Arlecchino is persuaded to become a chair (or statue.) Throwing a sheet over Arlecchino, who's arms form the arms of the chair and his knees a seat, Isabella calls in Pantalone. Unheeding of Isabella's warning, Pantalone sits in the Arlecchino-chair but jumps up, citing a pin in the seat. Pantalone assures Isabella that he is fine since the pin was so small. Fainting Lazzo The inamorata faints. Zanni revives her by peeing on her. Kiss and Puke Lazzo One of the women is obligated to kiss the vecchio. Pantalone announces that his eyes are closed and that he expects a big, wet, sloppy one. The first woman (obligated to do the kissing) shoves the second woman toward Pantalone while moving away to puke at the thought of kissing the vecchio. The second woman (equally disgusted) blows a kiss at the vecchio. The vecchio feels the blown kiss and is enraptured (he should be cued audibly). The second woman joins the first in puking. The vecchio notices the first woman puking, brags on his sexual prowess being to much for her, and performs some lewd physical action. The first woman rises/turns just in time to see the vecchio performing the lewd action, is disgusted again, and returns to puking. Alternately, when the vecchio performs the action, he dislocates his hip. Doctor's Pee Lazzo Another character visits the Doctor with some ailment. The Doctor prescribes the patient to drink urine. Patient is appalled: "You want me to drink my own urine?" The Doctor shakes his head and tells him not at all -- it can't be the patient's own urine, it has to be the Doctor's urine, and he charges $40 a bottle for the stuff. Bed Lazzo A Zanni complains to the Inamorato about the bed(s) the Inamorato broke when alone with the Inamorata. Butt Lazzo Harlequin performs some activity that would normally be done using hands (such as sealing a letter or carrying a tray) with his butt. CLASS REBELLION LAZZI Spitting Lazzo One of the zanni asks his master for permission to spit. The master agrees on condition that he not spit on anything important. The zanni proceeds to spit on another zanni or vecchio. Lazzo of Silence Pedrolino (or Pulcinella) becomes dumbfounded when his master shouts at him for doing what he thought was a duty that his master requested. Other characters enter the stage, each with a ridiculous reason for scolding Pedrolino. All this time, Pedrolino is silent. When the Captain pinches Pedrolino to see if he is awake, he gives out a frightened cry that scares away the other characters, and calmly exits. Wine Lazzo Mezzetino serves wine at a dinner, but keeps drinking it all himself before/between filling the cups of the guests. He feigns shock at the empty bottle, apologizes and runs off to get more wine; and the lazzo repeats. Shut-Up! Lazzo Pulcinella interrupts his master's discourse. Three times his master tells him "Shut up!" Later, the master calls Pulcinella who shouts back to him "Shut up!" three times. Fly Lazzo Pulcinella has been ordered to guard his master's house. When the master returns and asks if there is anyone in the house, Pulcinella attests: "Not a fly!" But his master enters and finds hoards of people. He scolds Pulcinella, who replies: "Well, you didn't find a fly. Just people." Why Don't You? Lazzo Coviello is ordered to do something difficult by the Captain, like capture a robber in the dark or enter a cave. Coviello continually replies, "Why don't you?" STAGE/LIFE LAZZI Lazzo of the Inside To create the illusion of ferociousness, Pulcinella, hidden from the Captain by a door, speaks in several fake voices, such as servants begging Pulcinella not to beat them anymore. Psychic Lazzo A character makes an obvious error about the historical era they're in, such as mentioning an event that takes place several hundred years in the future. Another character acts amazed that first character has suddenly become psychic, and demands fortune telling services. (A rumpology reading is particularly suitable.) This is a good cover-up lazzo for improvised shows where an actor makes a mistake that is unfunny and would risk confusing the audience. STUPIDITY LAZZI Cowardice Lazzo Pantalone and Zanni search for the man who has beaten them. They practice dueling. But when the Captain appears, they suddenly forget how to hold their swords in their fright. Pantalone and Zanni try to persuade each other to fight, pushing the other toward the Captain. Illiteracy Lazzo An illiterate zanni is given a letter and a basket of 12 figs by his master, and told to deliver it to the Doctor (or some other character.) Zanni eats several of the figs before making the delivery. The Doctor reads the letter, which says how many figs should be in the delivery, and points out that the number is wrong, because "The letter says there should be 12." Zanni calls the letter a liar. Doctor commands the zanni to come back with the right number of figs. Zanni goes home, gets more figs. He proceeds to eat several again but makes a particular point of hiding the letter while he does so, so it won't witness the act this time. Insult Lazzo The Doctor mispronounces Pantalone's name in stupid and embarrassing ways and then asks for sexual favors from his wife or daughter. Leeches Lazzo An inamorato or vecchio, or a smart zanni like Brighella, reluctantly goes to the Doctor as a patient. The Doctor promises to offer his best remedy. Patient: "Let me guess. Leeches?" Doctor: "Oh, I didn't know you were a medical man!" Forgotten Name Lazzo First character begins to speak to second but cannot remember the second character's name. ("Lee..." "Leandro." "Leo..." "Leandro." "La..." "Leandro." "Leandro, right.") Stupid Discovery Lazzo The Doctor, seizing upon some trivial and well-known fact, pretends that he has made the discovery, which is of the utmost importance. Lazzo of Paying Homage to All Their Names Pulcinella meets a number of characters. In an attempt to ingratiate himself with them, he begins to praise their names in ridiculously insulting and long-winded fashions. Suicidal History Lazzo Harlequin has been rejected by his beloved, and threatens suicide. He begins comparing his situation to those of famous people who committed suicide, but misremembering all the information: "Did not the Roman Lucrece kill herself for Mark Antony, Cleopatra for Tarquin? Did not Aristotle die for Galen?" TRANSFORMATION LAZZI Yes and No Lazzo Zanni attempts to play a ruse on another character. When the other character asks a question, Zanni answers yes. But when the ruse is about to be exposed, Zanni suddenly changes his mind about the answer and replies no. This yes and no routine continues through a whole battery of questions. Lying Lazzo Zanni makes up lies and lies, each more stupid than the last. Optionally, the stupidest lie he thinks of is what convinces the others of his honesty. Movie Quotes Lazzo The inamorata or inamorato quotes famous lines from movies in a romantic, classical Shakespearean style. (e.g. "You talkin' to me? Well, who the hell else you talkin' to? &c. &c." recited in the approximate tone of "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?") The more vulgar or violent the line recited, the better. Laughter and Tears Lazzo Arlecchino begins to laugh hysterically. Slowly, his laughing turns to weeping and tears. TRICKERY LAZZI Tart Lazzo Pantalone’s wife puts a basket over his head, promising him a tart. As Pantalone bargains, his wife’s lover slips out. Stopped Music Lazzo Lindor (the Inamorato) is disguised as a music teacher in order to see Rosine (the Inamorata.) The Doctor boredly supervises the singing lesson, but begins to fall asleep. Once the Doctor is quite unconscious, Lindor begins to kiss Rosine, which makes the singing stop. This causes the Doctor to wake up, and the Inamoratti must quickly reset to their original positions. This continues several times. Monosyllable Lazzo Weeping, Arlecchino enters the stage. The Doctor and Trivellino question him as to his behavior, but Arlecchino only answers in monosyllables. Or, Arlecchino’s master questions him while Arlecchino eats. Concerned about a widow, the master asks increasingly complicated questions about her, while Arlecchino always manages to answer in monosyllables as he gobbles down the food. Lazzo of Cussing Out the Master Zanni #1 tells zanni #2 that his master (one of the vecchi) had treated him poorly so he cussed him out. Zanni #2 is surprised that he got away with it, and runs off to see if he too can get away with insulting the vecchio. Zanni #2 can be heard offstage insulting the vecchio and then crying out as he's being beaten in retaliation. Zanni #1 admits to the audience, that while he had cussed out the vecchio, he had not done so to his face. Harlequin Doctor Lazzo Harlequin disguises himself as a doctor, and prescribes ridiculous and obviously lethal remedies to his patients. Lazzo of Pantalone’s Story Pantalone begins to tell ridiculous and impossible stories about adventures he has supposedly had with well-known figures from medieval/ancient history. PLOT DEVELOPMENT LAZZI Sack Lazzo A popular routine where the victim is either secreted or tricked into a cloth sack: A) Zanni (or Arlecchino) hides in the sack which the Captain (or Scaramouche) trips over and begins to beat in anger. B) Hoping to be sneaked into his beloved's house or a room full of riches, the Captain (or Pantalone) is tricked into hiding in a sack; The Captain is then delivered into a pork butcher's hands, whose sounds of delight and knife flourishing frightens the Captain. C) Several Commedia characters are fooled into hiding in sacks; confused over the others' identities, they alternately attempt to beat and seduce each other. Gun Lazzo Cola (or Pedrolino) hired to murder the Captain (or Zanni) fires his gun, but after the smoke clears, his intended victim walks away. Realizing that he forgot to put a bullet in the gun, he jumps on it and walks away. Lazzi of Nightfall As total darkness overtakes the scene, the characters grope around the street, climb ladders into various houses, falling, bumping into objects and people, discovering what they think are bloody corpses, putting their hands inadvertently down other characters' pants and blouses, mistaking identities and conversations. Recognition Lazzo Often a concluding lazzo, this involves the exaggerated and frantic scene of sudden recognitions between several pairs of characters.	i don't know
'Approaching Menace' composed by Neil Richardson is the title of the piece of music to introduce which TV quiz show?	Grange Hill, Mastermind, Terry and June, Wimbledon, Ski Sunday theme tunes By Oliver Condy Saturday 1 August 2015 at 1:00PM The theme tune is a television programme’s heralding call, the ditty that brings you in from the kitchen in time for that crucial opening scene, and helps you set the mood while you take off your gardening gloves. It’s a Pavlovian tool, too, creating excitement, tension, expectation or comedy, and years after a series has been consigned to the great studio in the sky, its theme tune can often be its sole lingering memory. Many of the greatest theme tunes, however, weren’t originally written for their associated programme but were plucked, off the peg, as it were, from the shelves of music libraries. These were pieces written not for any specific purpose or audience, but simply to lie in anticipation of being eventually used by a producer. Which is why many of them have titles that bear no resemblance to the programme they eventually came to introduce. Here’s a quick run-down of the very best along with the story of who wrote them, why and for whom. Grange Hill The cheeky-chappy, lolloping squawks of this fabulous theme tune weren’t originally supposed to be portraits of Tucker, Gripper, Roly and all, but somehow Alan Hawkshaw’s Chicken Man, a piece he wrote and recorded for a music library one afternoon in Munich, does the job rather well. But then it’s quite chicken-like too. Weirdly, the BBC also used the theme for Give us a Clue for a few years from 1979 before someone wisely commissioned its own theme tune. Terry and June Music libraries still make a mint from selling generic tunes to production companies – the theme to the long-running comedy series Terry and June was just that – mood music, filed under ‘comedy’. This particular tune was composed by John Shakespeare and went by the curious name of Bell Hop. It can be heard in some episodes of Spongebob Squarepants. Ski Sunday Many people reckon the theme tune’s the best bit about Ski Sunday. And why not? It’s a great tune: it’s fast, it’s brilliantly written and it’s got just the right amount of cheese. Pop Looks Bach was penned by Sam Fonteyn (his real surname was Soden), and is a superbly scored, jazzy take on the fugue from Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ. You can’t imagine any other theme working for the programme today, can you? And the title? Fonteyn once suggested if he’s known his piece was going to be used for such a high-profile programme, he might have called it something a little different… Grandstand One of the best-known sporting tunes was written for the KPM Music library – plucked out of obscurity by a BBC producer, frustrated that the ones he’d commissioned specifically for the job weren’t up to scratch, including one by Keith Mansfield. Mansfield, however, who’d once worked alongside Dusty Springfield, had already written the theme tune that would eventually be chosen and that would lodge itself firmly in the nation’s musical psyche. To this day, he admits, he has no idea why it was chosen – it didn’t even have a title prior to its promotion to mainstream Saturday afternoon telly. Wimbledon Here’s another of Keith Mansfield’s KPM tunes, this time with a title: Light and Tuneful – it does, as they say, exactly what it says on the tin, except that originally it had absolutely nothing to do with tennis and, on blind listening, would be more suited to an upbeat 1970s lounge. Still, today, most of us start drooling Pimms as soon as we hear the opening fanfares. Mastermind The suffocating atmosphere, that sweaty black leather chair bathed in light, the audience plunged into surrounding darkness, the cool cajoling of quizmaster Magnus Magnusson and, latterly, John Humphrys – Mastermind’s famous tune seems to sum it all up. But Approaching Menace was a piece of general mood music composed by Neil Richardson for KPM, the drum beats echoing the petrified heart beats of a floundering contestant… Here’s the full track – just ignore the images. This Is Your Life The theme tune to the long-departed This Is Your Life was all glamorous frocks and pearls – once you’d got past those four ominous opening chords, that is. Gala Performance, a library piece written by Laurie Johnson (whose work can also be heard from time to time on episodes of Spongebob Squarepants) was therefore perfect for a show featuring glamorous celebs holding back the tears while greeting old friends and colleagues. The music was used as its theme for over 30 years.	Mastermind
Which race was first held in 1903 under the sponsorship of the magazine L'Auto?	The Musician, Autumn 2014 by Musicians' Union - issuu issuu The Musician Journal of the Musicians’ Union Autumn 2014 theMU.org Your rights on YouTube What do the new terms really mean for our music makers? Film man David Arnold From Björk to Bond themes – an incredible musical journey Black music in Britain Charting the profound impact of black music over the years Confirming bookings Key advice on ensuring proof of contract in the digital age contacts Union HQ General Secretary John F Smith Assistant General Secretary Horace Trubridge (Music Industry) Assistant General Secretary David Ashley (Finance & Administration) National Organiser Bill Kerr (Orchestras) National Organiser Diane Widdison (Education & Training) National Organiser Ben Jones (Recording & Broadcasting) National Organiser Dave Webster (Live Performance) Regional Offices Head of Government Relations & Public Affairs Isabelle Gutierrez In-House Solicitor David Fenton Legal Official Dawn Rodger Communications Official Keith Ames Recording & Broadcasting Official Michael Sweeney Royalties Official Phil Kear Sessions Official Peter Thoms Live Performance Official Kelly Wood Orchestras Official Danny Longstaff Music Education Official Fran Hanley Union HQ 60â€”62 Clapham Road London sw9 0jj t 020 7582 5566 f 020 7582 9805 e [email protected] w theMU.org @WeAreTheMU Education & Equalities Official Bindu Paul London Regional Organiser: Naomi Pohl 33 Palfrey Place, London SW8 1PE t 020 7840 5504 f 020 7840 5599 e [email protected] East & South East England Regional Organiser: Paul Burrows 1a Fentiman Road, London SW8 1LD t 020 7840 5537 f 020 7840 5541 e [email protected] Midlands Regional Organiser: Stephen Brown 2 Sovereign Court, Graham Street, Birmingham B1 3JR t 0121 236 4028 f 0121 233 4116 e [email protected] Wales & South West England Regional Organiser: Paul Westwell 199 Newport Road, Cardiff CF24 1AJ t 029 2045 6585 f 029 2045 1980 e [email protected] North of England Regional Organiser: Morris Stemp 61 Bloom Street, Manchester M1 3LY t 0161 236 1764 f 0161 236 0159 e [email protected] Scotland & Northern Ireland Regional Organiser: Sheena Macdonald 1 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow G3 7UY t 0141 341 2960 f 0141 332 8709 e [email protected] report John Smith reports on music in the party manifestos With the elections coming up, the MU is working hard to get arts and culture included on the parties’ manifestos. © Katharyn Boudet The first of these highlights the need for a realistic level of state and local authority arts funding, pointing out that philanthropy, while welcome, will never replace core funding. John Smith, General Secretary We are approaching a very interesting period in the political life of the UK. This September sees not only the referendum on Scottish Independence, but the last TUC and party conferences before next May’s General Election. The MU has written to the main political parties asking for arts and culture to be included in the manifestos. Last time round only the Lib Dems made any reference to culture in the run-up to the election, and to be fair ensured that the Coalition delivered, albeit through a private members’ bill – the Live Music Act. I’m optimistic that the Labour Party will make reference to our sector in its manifesto, particularly since the MU has been successful in getting the Labour Party National Policy Forum to adopt four amendments to be included in the document that will go forward to the team that is working on the manifesto. The second asks for the full implementation of the National Plan for Music, so that music education is moved up the agenda. Our other amendments call for stability in the funding of the BBC and a new focus for the Intellectual Property Office (part of the Department for Business, Innovation and Science) so that it becomes a champion of creators and performers, and acts on their behalf rather than supporting the likes of Google, Microsoft and Apple. In most EU member states this takes the form of a levy on the hardware manufacturers, which is used to compensate the contributors. The UK government will not introduce this or any other method of compensation to the clear “A system of fair compensation must be introduced to run alongside the Copyright Exception.” On the last point there is still unfinished business in the intellectual property area. The Copyright Exception, which will legalise private copying but not give fair compensation to rights holders, has now moved through the parliamentary process and been accepted. The MU and UK Music have consistently said that we support the private copy exception. We believe that, in this age of iPods, MP3 players and the like it is nonsense for the law to make copying copyright material onto these devices for personal use an illicit act. However the EU 2001 Copyright In The Information Society Directive makes it quite clear that a system of fair compensation must be introduced to run alongside the exception. detriment of writers, performers and others who hold rights in the material that will be copied. We will not accept this without a fight, and along with UK Music, the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors (BASCA) we are currently considering our options. I will have more to report on this in the next issue but we will challenge this decision. It could be a long process but this is an important matter of principle which must be pursued on behalf of UK creators. John Smith To hear more from John, visit theMU.org The Musician • Autumn 2014 3 “The dynamism of black music in Britain has spread far and wide beyond the migrant communities whence it originally came.” 24 Contents Autumn 2014 Steel Pulse: one of Britain’s most influential reggae bands The Musician • Autumn 2014 This issue... On the Frontline 6 Funding boost for music education in England 7 MU backs Fair Digital Deals Declaration Reports 3 MU General Secretary 8 How one complaint can spell closure for a venue 20 Creating new revenue streams with library music 23 Celebrating the 80th anniversary of PPL 32 A whole new outlook for Help Musicians UK Inbox 10 Emails, tweets and letters Features 12 Is YouTube imposing restrictive contracts on music makers? 24 Charting the huge influence of black musicians in Britain 34 The role of the modern state in supporting the arts Profiles 16 David Arnold 28 Moulettes Front cover: Chris Vinnicombe from The Lash MU Contributors Helienne Lindvall Swedish-born Helienne is an awardwinning songwriter, musician, journalist and blogger, and writes regularly about music and media for The Guardian. p12 ÂŠ WENN UK / Alamy Kevin LeGendre Kevin writes about soul and jazz for Echoes, Jazzwise, The Independent and The Guardian. He has also presented programmes for BBC Radio 3. p24 Katie Nicholls Katie is a freelance journalist and editor whose features and reviews have appeared in titles such as MOJO, The Guardian and Kerrang! p16 & 36 Anne Wollenberg Anne is an award-winning journalist who has written for The Guardian, The Independent and Film Four. She also sings and plays guitar. p40 Will Simpson Will has contributed to a range of music magazines, including Total Guitar, Guitarist and Mixmag. He recently published his first book, Freedom Through Football. p20 Andrew Stewart Andrew writes for The Times, The Guardian, Classical Music and BBC Music Magazine, among others. He is also Director of Southwark Voices. p32 Advice 36 A guide to booking gigs in the digital age 40 Increasing your fees Reviews Union notices 2 42 46 49 Key contacts Ask Us First Tributes EC & Regional Committee nominations 50 MU Pension Scheme 51 Member benefits Find out more at musiciansunion. org.uk/join-themu/benefits/ Top 5 benefits l Insurance schemes l Legal assistance l Nationwide network l Rights protection l Career and business advice For more on benefits see page 51 5 On the frontline Autumn 2014 The latest news, views and events from the world of music. Children will benefit from an extra £18m of music education funding 6 22 MU welcomes fresh funding for music education in England The MU has welcomed the government’s announcement in July that music education for children in England will receive an £18m boost in funding. The additional revenue will be allocated to music education, including to the national network of 123 music education hubs, established in 2012. Diane Widdison, MU National Organiser – Education & Training, said the MU is pleased to see the government The Musician • Autumn 2014 © Getty Images July recognising the importance of giving children the opportunity to learn instruments at school. “This is excellent news for music education and for hubs in particular,” she said. “However, we have seen hundreds of teachers lose their jobs in music services over the past three years and we still feel the aspirations of the National Music Plan can only be achieved if there is the workforce there to inspire the next generation of musicians. This is one of the reasons we launched #SupportMyMusicTeacher – to raise awareness of the issues affecting music teachers “This is excellent news for music education and for hubs in particular.” everywhere, and celebrate the work of music teachers in creating the musicians and music lovers of the future.” The Support My Music Teacher campaign was created by the MU and the Music Industries Association (MIA) to help support the invaluable work carried out by music teachers around the UK. The campaign encourages people to share experiences – via social media platforms – of how music teachers transform students’ lives and help them to realise their ambitions. A motion has been tabled for the TUC Congress in September 2014 to support the MU and MIA’s Support My Music Teacher Campaign. To find out more about #SupportMyMusicTeacher, visit tinyurl.com/support-mmt frontline Delegates from across the trade union movement were represented at the annual two-day LGBT Conference at the TUC’s Congress House in London. The MU’s Bindu Paul and Nicola Dancey were among delegates from 28 unions at the event. Keynote speakers talked about LGBT bullying in the workplace and classroom; civil partnership conversions; ending discrimination in sport; and the plight of gay Africans. In all, 20 motions were passed. The day after the conference ended, the MU sent a delegation to the London LGBT Pride march, defying the rain to wave the MU’s flags and celebrate equality. 17 july New pledge heralds hope for digital music deals The MU has given its full support to The Fair Digital Deals Declaration, launched in July by the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), a global forum for the professional independent music industry. The declaration is a statement of commitment made by independent record labels to treat their artists fairly in agreements relating to digital exploitation of artists’ work in recorded music agreements with third parties (see our story on page 12). Those labels that sign up will agree to attach a signed copy of the Declaration to their artists’ royalty statements. Labels wishing to sign up can download the Declaration at winformusic.org/ fair-digital-dealspledge/ and then return it to emmy@ musicindie.com. © Jonathan Stewart The MU distributed leaflets at the BBC’s War Horse Prom Arts Council pulls plug on Jazz Services funding UK jazz musicians, fans and promoters were dealt a blow when Arts Council England (ACE) announced it would no longer be funding Jazz Services as a National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) from April 2015. Jazz Services is the UK’s foremost charitable support organisation for jazz music and the announcement comes as part of ACE’s investment portfolio for the arts over the next three years. Dave Webster, MU National Organiser, Live Performance, said: “It’s a great shame that an organisation that has supported jazz musicians for many years has had its funding cut by a government that seems to know the cost of everything but the value of nothing.” Members can sign the petition at tinyurl. com/jazzpet or show their support at facebook.com/Jazz.Services. Ltd and via Twitter using the hashtag #4JazzFuture. MU action at War Horse Prom The MU’s ongoing fight to save the War Horse band – the five members engaged in the West End production of the show, whose contracts were terminated – continued on 3 August at the BBC’s War Horse Prom. MU members and officials distributed leaflets at the Royal Albert Hall. The Proms were collaborating for the first time with the National Theatre (NT) for a concert inspired by the award-winning play. The action was part of the Union’s response to comments allegedly made in The Stage by National Theatre executive director, Nick Starr, who was reported as saying that, “We should have axed War Horse musicians in 2009”. Please sign the petition at change.org/ organisations/musicians_union, follow @WeAreTheMU for updates and use #KeepMusicLive on Twitter to spread the word. Jazz Services supports many musicians, including saxophonist Jason Yarde 03 August 19 May MU appointment for Scotland & N Ireland Region Caroline Sewell has been appointed to the post of Scotland & Northern Ireland Regional Officer, based at the Union’s office in Glasgow. Caroline, whose career in the music industry has included elements of artist management, publishing, labels, touring and live performance, said she was delighted and extremely proud. “I look forward to utilising this experience in order to best serve the members of the region,” she said. The Musician • Autumn 2014 7 Live venues under threat MU Assistant General Secretary Horace Trubridge outlines a worrying rise in the number of live music venues that have already shut down, or are at risk of closure, due to noise complaints from a handful of neighbours. So, you knock yourself out for years and years to establish a live music venue. You build a profile for your establishment so that agents and promoters start putting some of their better bands in. You give local bands the chance to cut their teeth live and you establish a popular destination for people in your community who want to experience live music. All good then, so good in fact that you would naturally expect your local authority to recognise the importance of your music venue as a valuable component in the rich cultural tapestry of the community. Wouldn’t you? If only this were true. Unfortunately, the reality is very different. There is a worrying trend that has emerged over the past few years whereby it only takes one or two complaints from neighbours in the vicinity of a venue to spark a flurry of noise abatement notices from the local authority’s environmental office, often culminating in the closure of the music venue. Now, I like my sleep as much as the next person and, while the Trubridge offspring are now of an age that means they are more likely to be in the venue than in a cot, I still remember how hard it is to get a baby to sleep when there is a distracting noise. Nevertheless, if I choose to move into a flat or a house situated near a music venue then surely I’m likely to know that there will be times when I will hear music coming from that venue, and if I have young children or a predilection for insomnia, then maybe I should consider moving somewhere else. 8 When the local authority processes noise complaints do you think they ask the complainant the key questions? Such as, ‘how long have you lived there?’ Or, ‘did the estate agent not tell you that there is a live music venue next door?’ I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking. I suspect they just process the complaint and fire off the noise abatement notice. The next thing you know, the venue is under threat, the owner is contemplating closing down the business they have worked so hard to establish and Live Music UK suffers yet another casualty. Here’s a select list of premier music venues that are currently under threat or have already closed: Night & Day Café, Manchester: An objection from one local resident and the venue is fighting for its survival. Did you know? The George Tavern, Stepney: Developers want to build apartments next to the venue; noise complaints are an inevitable consequence. This article first appeared in Horace’s online monthly column in The Huffington Post. huffingtonpost.co.uk/horace-trubridge/ “It only takes one or two complaints to spark a flurry of noise abatement notices.” The Musician • Autumn 2014 The Blind Tiger Club, Brighton: A new resident moves above the venue and complains about the noise, eventually leading to The Blind Tiger Club’s closure. Perhaps even more alarming is the scenario whereby the music venue is situated in an area that – prior to the establishing of a successful music venue – held no attraction for property developers. However, with the emergence of a popular music venue, the area suddenly becomes more attractive, the developers move in and Bob’s your uncle: following complaints from the new neighbours, the venue closes down. This particular practice is on the increase and seems totally unfair to me. Of course, by shutting down the music venue a valuable piece of real estate © Lucas Smith report Nile Marr, who performs as Man Made, at Manchester’s Night & Day Café (left), which is fighting for survival after a complaint from one neighbour Motion to TUC Congress 2014 The MU and its members are concerned about a worrying trend of long established music venues being forced to close after only one or two complaints from neighbours, which often result in the issuing of noise abatement notices from the local authority. © Amanda Window This is becoming more problematic as a result of the increasing numbers of new flats and houses being built in the vicinity of existing music venues. New residents are often unaware of the music venue when they purchase the property and then put in noise complaints. then becomes available in an area that property developers are keen to utilise but far be it from me to suggest that anything underhand has gone on, I’ll leave that for you to ponder, dear reader. I think it is about time that the UK adopted a new law that has worked very well in countries like Australia. The law is sometimes referred to as ‘The Agent of Change Principle’. You can read about it here: dpcd.vic.gov.au/planning/ publicationsandresearch/codes-andguidelines/live-music-taskforce#agent. What it basically says is that it is the legal responsibility of the person or persons who have brought about the changes that inadvertently affect an individual or an individual’s business to take steps to remedy the problem. In other words, in the case of the property developer who builds homes near a music venue, it is the property developer’s legal and financial responsibility to use sound proofing to prevent any inconvenience to the residents. The music venue bears no responsibility. This would seem to me to be a fair and proper arrangement and it’s about time we adopted this law here. In the meantime, support your local music venue and let them know how much you appreciate their, albeit precarious, existence. We would like to see the introduction of an ‘Agent of Change Principle’ law, such as that in Australia, which would put the legal responsibility of remedying any issues on to the person or persons who have brought about the changes that inadvertently affect an individual’s business. The Fleece saved? Under this law, in the case of a property developer building homes in the vicinity of a music venue, it would be the property developer’s legal and financial responsibility to use sound proofing to prevent any inconvenience to the residents and the music venue bears no responsibility, other than to continue to operate within the terms of its existing licence. A welcome ruling by Bristol City Council just as The Musician was going to press could prove to be a test case for music venues across the country. The Council approved plans to build flats next to seminal music venue The Fleece, but said the new homes would be subject to strict acoustic conditions. The Save The Fleece campaign was led by local MP Kerry McCarthy and backed by a 41,500-name petition. Congress calls on the General Council to support the MU’s calls for a change in the law to protect music venues. The Musician • Autumn 2014 inbox Follow us on Twitter @WeAreTheMU These pages reflect the diverse range of multi-channel communications between the Union and its members. We welcome your contributions via email, Twitter or letter. Morris major Just got off the phone with the MU’s Morris Stemp. Excellent service, felt like he had all the time in the world for me. Cheers MU! KTB Music @ktbmusic soundcloud.com/ musicians-union Find us at theMU.org Email us TheMusician@ TheMU.org Tom Robinson was profiled in the summer issue of The Musician Keep it live Your Editor 10 Welcome to the Autumn issue of The Musician. We hope you appreciate the wide range of reports, features and interviews. We have also enclosed your MU Diary for 2015. Many members have told us how much they value the range of MU printed publications, from The Musician and the Members’ Handbook through to the Musician Extra newsletters and the Diary. Please stay in touch and keep the feedback coming. Keith Ames TheMusician@ theMU.org The Musician • Autumn 2014 Took part in the inaugural meeting of the MU’s Live Performance Committee today. I reckon this could be the start of a good thing! Guitar George– Cielo @GuitarGeorgeUK This means war I can’t believe this whole War Horse band fiasco is still going on. Aside from the obvious breach of contract, if the NT follows its own logic, it would pay the actors once, video the whole thing and show it on a big screen! John Spiers @squeezyjohn Come on fellow musicians! We should have 30,000 names on that petition for starters. It’s your job on the block next. #warhorse Gavin Greenaway @gvngrnwy Pension points Calling all West End MU members. Make sure your employer is paying into the MU Pension and get the most from them. Hencilla Canworth @Hencilla Mr Robinson Great interview in The Musician with Tom Robinson @freshnet about opportunities to get your new music heard. Sam Duffy @samduffysinger Sweet retweet Was enjoying the MU magazine and found myself retweeted in print. Nice one folks! :) Alison Diamond @ADsaxist Sound advice The band I’m touring with are full of praise for the MU for consent form advice and cheap NCP parking. Rick Finlay @rick_finlay New signing Signed up to the MU the other day. Very much looking forward to some instrument and public liability insurance – very handy! :) Kyle Stuart Howie @TheKyleOfLife That’s not the ticket It’s not just consumers fed up with extra charges, the MU says ticket fees can damage the artist/fan relationship. whi.ch/1va1O87 Which? News @WhichNews A good read Congrats to the MU on another very fine members’ journal! A compelling, colourful, interesting read! Love the new look and structure. Gareth McLearnon @garethmclearnon Well done @WeAreTheMU! This month’s mag has saved us up to £900 in accountant’s fees thru the article on tax and MU members’ legal cover! Tom Makes @tommakesmusic letters Fee not free Feel the benefits Music festivals of the shires, please stop asking musicians to play for free. Unless the catering comes free too. And the stages, loos, security, advertising… #worknotplay #sickofbeingaskedtodoourjobforfree David Booth @DaveRecordingB Many thanks To all promoters: I do NOT accept unpaid gigs, unless charity or festivals. I have to pay my band members. #WorkNotPlayMU XSARA @XSARA_ Yep, the value of our work isn’t reflected by fees or reality. If we work for ‘free’ we’re paying to play when you factor in parking/food. Daren Callow @Daren68 I have an MMUS and professional training. In any other profession would I train for years to work for free? Eve Williams @EveLMWilliams Don’t bash the buskers Buskers arrested in London while the MU met the Mayor’s Office to discuss a code of conduct to cover them. Trade Union Group @TradeUnionGroup I don’t think musos are the real nuisance on our streets! Terl Bryant @TerlBryant Save The Fleece Another established live music venue facing challenges – @FleeceBristol. Musicians and music lovers show your support. bit.ly/1tInhCF Graham Russ @GrahamRuss1 Travel advice Travelling with instruments made of rare or potentially endangered materials? musiciansunion.org.uk/ advice-downloads/playinglive/2014/06/30/ travelling-with-instrumentsmade-of-rare-materials Martin Weller @Ramones74 Just joined the MU. Amazed by all the benefits you get from joining! Thank you! Tanya Stephens @RainbowSoundKM Thanks to the MU for its nice little piece about my CD The Space In Between in The Musician. #newmusic Hannah Scott @hannahscottuk t f e Taxing afternoon Editor Keith Ames (MU) Consultant editor Neil Crossley Art editors Stuart Hobbs Emma Swift Writers Helienne Lindvall Kevin LeGendre Katie Nicholls Anne Wollenberg Neil Crossley Andrew Stewart Keith Ames Will Simpson Ellie O’Hagan Roy Delaney Clive Somerville Production editors Roy Delaney Andrea Ball Production and procurement manager Matt Eglinton Client production co–ordinator Tracy Nugent In Leeds for the MU tax talk with Andy Levett and Ajay Jassal from @HWFisherUK. A lot to take in, but very glad I went! #taxes #sorehead Jenny Dyson @_jdys_ Singing and signing Delighted to run a workshop at the MU Teachers CPD Weekend in October on Singing and Signing @aamedia_org_uk. musiciansunion.org.uk/event/muteachers-cpd-weekend Sam Dunkley @SamDunkleyMusic Support your teacher Great music teachers give an invaluable emotional connection to the school syllabus. So important. Support the arts! #SupportMyMusicTeacher Georgina @gmorris5 Has a music teacher changed your life and helped you achieve your ambitions? #SupportMyMusicTeacher Steve Haynes @stevehaynestbn “Thank God for the MU – every artist should sign up for help with any difficulties!” Rita Morar @ritamoraruk • In the Summer issue we included a tweet from Caroline Murphy. We wish to confirm that her correct twitter username is @_C_Murphy w Director of FuturePlus UK Jayne Caple Senior account manager David Parker Group account director Fiona McDaniel Editorial director Mark Donald Art directors Stuart Hobbs Dermot Rushe Repro Future Pre-Press Printed at Precision Colour Printing See page 02 for the contact details of Musicians’ Union offices. All information contained in this journal is for informational purposes only and is, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of going to press. This journal is published by Future Publishing Limited on behalf of Musicians’ Union. Neither Future Publishing Limited nor Musicians’ Union accept any responsibility for errors or inaccuracies that occur in such information. Readers are advised to contact manufacturers and retailers direct with regard to the price of products/services in the journal. Publication of an advertisement does not imply any form of recommendation. 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Any material you submit is sent at your risk and neither Future Publishing Limited nor Musicians’ Union nor their respective employees, agents or subcontractors shall be liable for any loss or damage. © Future Publishing Limited and Musicians’ Union 2014. All rights reserved. No part of this journal may be used or reproduced without the written permission of Future Publishing Limited and Musicians’ Union. The Musician • Autumn 2014 11 SOUND andVISION Is YouTube using its position as the worldâ€™s premier music service to impose restrictive contracts and low royalty rates on the people who make music? Feature by Helienne Lindvall 12 Where do you go to check out a new record or artist that’s been recommended to you? Chances are the answer is YouTube. If you’re under 25 years old, it almost certainly is. With more than a billion users worldwide, YouTube is by far the biggest music service in the world – and as such, it’s extremely important as a promotional tool for both pop stars and self-releasing independents. But in June 2014, news emerged that YouTube will remove music by independent labels that have refused agreements with the site. When added together with concerns about ultra low royalty payments, music writers, performers and producers are all expressing grave concerns for the future of commercially released music across the globe. © Wavebreak Media ltd / Alamy YouTube is not just a great means for musicians to promote their new music, for many it’s the prime listening source, and these days it even allows the user to make playlists. This has led to speculation that YouTube may also be cannibalising music sales. A recent study by researchers from Fairfield University and the University of Colorado, called Online Music, Sales Displacement, and Internet Search: Evidence from YouTube, came to this conclusion, pointing to a period in 2009 when Warner Music blocked videos by not only their own artists, but by anybody using bits of their music on YouTube. The blackout, the study concluded, had both statistically and economically significant positive effects on album sales. It claimed that not having videos on YouTube increased sales by on average 10,000 units per week for top albums. But getting YouTube to block all unlicensed videos is easier said than done for all but the major labels. It can involve sending endless take-down notices only for the videos to pop up on the site again within hours, uploaded by its users. If you get accepted by YouTube as a content partner, you’re able to use its Content ID to streamline the process, although it’s worth pointing out that it only identifies 5060% of the songs that are uploaded). YouTube won’t, however, use the tool to pull down songs it doesn’t have a licence for. YouTube in numbers Monetising your videos Many labels and musicians choose to apply to be ad partners with YouTube rather than file endless take-down notices. This means that YouTube will monetise even user-generated videos of your music, and share the revenue with you. However, you can only be a partner if you have enough views. The rights holder that becomes an ad partner can choose what type of ad is served with the video, such as pre-roll ads that are run before the video starts, and pop-up ads. How high a percentage of the ad revenue YouTube pays through varies, but the most it will pay through, according to the labels we’ve spoken to, is 55%. It’s impossible to say exactly how much YouTube pays per stream, as all its licensing deals are covered by non-disclosure agreements. It also depends on what type of ads are served with the video. Record labels report that they earn between $1,000 and $3,000 – Cooking Vinyl said it could earn as much as $5,000 – per million streams. The “YouTube is not just a great means to promote new music, for many it’s the prime listening source.” highest rate comes from videos that have non-skippable pre-roll ads, though many labels choose not to use those, as they fear users will simply refuse to watch the video if they have to sit through an ad. But YouTube has received criticism from music creators, labels and the MU for devaluing music. Billy Bragg has suggested that artists who criticise Spotify for its low royalty payments “should be marching to YouTube central with flaming pitchforks”. l Google, which owns YouTube, refuses to specify how much of its revenue comes from the streaming service. Its ad revenue for 2013 has been estimated to be anything from $3.6bn to $5.6bn. It’s expected to bring in $7.2bn in 2014, according to eMarketer. l There are currently over a billion YouTube users uploading well over 300,000 videos a day. l The most recent royalty statements show that, if a songwriter has written 100% of a track, he or she would need about 952,000 YouTube streams a day in order to make the UK minimum wage of £50.48. “Someone must be making money out of the music on YouTube but it certainly isn’t the people who write the songs,” says songwriter Barry Mason. “Delilah would need to be streamed roughly 113,250 times for Les Reed and I to earn enough for a coffee each at Starbucks.” l The new YouTube contracts are offering lower rates of payments than other ondemand services. While Spotify pays through about 70% of its revenue to labels and publishers, the YouTube deal offers 55% to labels and 10% to publishers and performing rights organisations for its premium audio-only service – for music videos it will pay out 55% of revenue, with 45% going to the labels and 10% to the publishers. “Anecdotally, we know that YouTube pays about a fifth of what other on-demand streaming companies pay the rights owner of the recording,” says MU Assistant General Secretary, Horace Trubridge. The Musician • Autumn 2014 13 The cannibalisation conundrum The worry about cannibalisation has increased recently, as YouTube is preparing to go headto-head with audio streaming services such as Spotify and Deezer by launching a subscription service. Google is notoriously tightlipped about its operations, but the New York Post reported back in March that it would be called Music Pass, and would likely cost $5 a month with ads, or $10 a month for an ad-free version. 14 The major labels have already concluded licensing deals for the service, and have reportedly received huge upfront payments. Many independent labels, however, were not offered the option to negotiate as they simply received click-through contracts saying that if they did not agree to the terms, their YouTube channels would be terminated and they would lose the ability to monetise any of their music across the ad-supported site. Although the contracts (which are with Google and not with YouTube, meaning that they could cover services across the Google spectrum, including Google Play) are covered by strict non-disclosure agreements, there have been multiple leaks to the press. Judging by these leaks and label sources, there are a number of issues that the independent label community finds unacceptable: l The contract stipulates that if the label releases a song on any other service, the new YouTube service must also have it. This completely negates any opportunity for socalled windowing – giving exclusives to one particular service for a limited time. “YouTube’s demand for all the catalogue denies the opportunity for it to be used as a promotional tool any longer,” says songwriter, producer and former frontman of The Longpigs, Crispin Hunt. l There’s a permanent “least favoured nation” clause in relation to the majors, meaning that if the majors decide to lower their royalty rate at any point – which they could do in return for, say, a large up front payment – then YouTube is able to lower the rates for smaller labels to match, as long as it gives a 30-day notice. The Musician • Autumn 2014 © Barbara Lindberg/Rex And that’s only for tracks that are identified by Content ID. You can find almost any full-length album on YouTube, uploaded by users, from which the creators of the music receive no revenue, and arguably no promotional value. It’s not just the small underground acts that are affected. High profile artists such as Goldfrapp and Arctic Monkeys release their music on independent labels too l The label must promise to never sue either Google, or a member of the public who illegally uploads the label’s music to YouTube. In theory, this would mean Google could accept user-generated copies of a label’s music, make money off the advertisements – and refuse to pay the label. l The leaked YouTube contract doesn’t offer a minimum rate for streaming, meaning that on its ad-supported component it will only pay if ads are connected to the video, but it’s not in any way required to put ads on every video. A YouTube source told Billboard that if every video had ads against it, it would drive away users and reduce plays. However, other streaming services, such as Spotify, do have minimum per-stream rates and so are incentivised to monetise every single stream. Hunt explains: “I haven’t seen the contracts but, from what I understand, if you don’t have a video for a piece of music, YouTube will supply a video for it – but they will own the copyright to that video. This leads the way for enormous copyright confusion later on.” Many indies deemed these terms unacceptable, but claimed that the contract had been presented as non-negotiable by YouTube. The Worldwide Independent Network said its members had been threatened with having their videos blocked from the user-generated web platform if they did not accept these terms. “The MU is supporting the indies in their efforts to get a fair deal with YouTube on the new streaming service,” says Horace. “The one thing we are absolutely against is non-negotiable contracts. We enter into agreements every day in the business we’re doing – and we never do business with a third party who isn’t prepared to negotiate.” YouTube explained to The Guardian newspaper that it had “successful deals in place with hundreds of independent and major labels around the world, however we don’t comment on ongoing negotiations”. However, the technology news site The Register noted that ripping up existing contracts and blocking royalty payments (while continuing to host the material) would put it in breach of most competition laws anywhere in the world, given YouTube’s selfproclaimed status as “the world’s de facto (and free) jukebox”. Hunt puts it more bluntly: “Banning independent labels who haven’t signed up to the agreement, while allowing people to cover those songs on their service, is tantamount to complete legalised piracy. It wouldn’t be legal in any other sphere but the internet.” The European indie label trade body Impala is filing a complaint with the European Commission calling on it to red card YouTube © PYMCA/Alamy reached is still hanging over the labels. YouTube claimed in the press that this was a marginal problem, that only 5% of the indies were holding out for a better deal. “That’s simply not true,” says Wenham. “It’s a lot more than 5%. I don’t want to speak to the actual market shares, because I don’t want to dignify the argument. In a world where customers expect everything, 1% would be enough to compromise the service.” Hunt, who is also chief executive of the Featured Artist Coalition (FAC), says the streaming service’s behaviour poses a wider threat by commoditising music. “Personally, as a musician, I listen to and create music in order to avoid commercialisation and adverts, rather than in order to be a lure for an advert.” “We’ve only just got over the trauma of having to come to grips, as musicians, with music on streaming services being about access rather than ownership,” he adds. “Now YouTube will make it about attention and not ownership. The things that command the most attention get paid the most. This forces musicians to make ever more extreme videos, with singing bunnies and naked twitching girls, which completely circumnavigates the quality of the music and becomes more about the quality of the video. It’s about attraction rather than access. Musicians need now more than ever to work together and sing with one voice in order to create a movement that denies the complete devaluation of what we do for a living.” “They are not part of the marketplace – they are essentially THE marketplace.” for abusing its position as a gatekeeper to the online market. It also suggested the EC could issue a fine of up to 10% of YouTube’s turnover worldwide. WIN and Impala are not only asking the EU competition commissioner Joaquín Almunia to investigate, but also to annul any contracts that have already been signed. “Google has over 90% of the online advertising market in Germany – 80% in Europe,” explains Alison Wenham, chief executive of WIN and the Association of Independent Music companies (AIM). “YouTube has over 90% of the online video-viewing audience worldwide. They are not just monopolies, but monopsonies so they are must-have customers. The development of online markets now appears to entail a single dominant player in each market. They are not part of the marketplace – they are essentially THE marketplace, the only gatekeeper, the only route to market.” After an outcry from the creative community, YouTube postponed its controversial plan to block those record labels that don’t sign its deals from the video platform in order to allow time to negotiate a solution. However, the threat of being blocked if an agreement isn’t The Musician contacted YouTube for its response to the issues raised in this feature. A YouTube spokesperson provided the following statement: “We’re always working on new ways for people to enjoy YouTube content across all screens, and on giving our partners more opportunities to reach their fans and generate revenue. We’ll be adding subscription-based features for music on YouTube with this in mind, and look forward to sharing them with music fans.” Changing attitudes The Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) launched its Fair Digital Deals Declaration, with a worldwide sign up day in July. WIN has underlined five key points in the declaration: l We will ensure that artists’ share of download and streaming revenues is clearly explained in recording agreements and royalty statements in reasonable summary form. l We will account to artists a good-faith pro-rata share of any revenues and other compensation from digital services that stem from the monetisation of recordings but are not attributed to specific recordings or performances. l We will encourage better standards of information from digital services on the usage and monetisation of music. l We will support artists who choose to oppose, including publicly, unauthorised uses of their music. l We will support the collective position of the global independent record company sector as outlined in the Global Independent Manifesto. More than 750 independent labels from more than 21 countries have signed the declaration, at the time of writing, and many more are expressing an interest. Some of the more high profile labels who have already signed up include: 4AD, Beggars Group, Cooking Vinyl, Epitaph, Fat Cat, Flying Nun Records, Kill Rock Stars, Matador, Mushroom Group, Mute, NinjaTune, Rough Trade, Sub Pop, Tommy Boy, Tuff Gong, Warp Records and XL Recordings. The campaign can be followed on Twitter from the @winformusic account and using the hashtag #fairdigitaldeal4artists. For more information on the campaign and the background behind it, visit winformusic.org The Musician • Autumn 2014 15 Movie man From Luton to Hollywood: The Musician talks to David Arnold about his journey from gigging musician to award-winning composer. Feature by Katie Nicholls 16 profile Arnold’s James Bond soundtracks balance bombastic drama with an edgy atmosphere and a strong emotional connection. Whether you realise it or not, David Arnold’s mercurial talents have ensured that his sublime compositions will have undoubtedly found their way into your sitting room. His reach extends from the West End, as the writer of musical Made In Dagenham; through the BBC, as the man behind Sherlock’s signature soundtrack; to Hollywood, where he was composer on Independence Day, Godzilla and five Bond movies. He’s picked up a Grammy, a couple of Ivor Novello awards and a few BAFTA nominations on the way; and if you were wondering which musical maestro matched Danny Boyle’s unforgettable dramatics at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics, that was Arnold too. © Nichole Rees It wasn’t always red carpets and glitter. He paid his dues for many years working smalltime gigs in pubs and clubs. His break came at the age of 31 when his long-time friend Danny Cannon secured the gig as director of the 1993 feature film The Young Americans. He asked Arnold to score the soundtrack from which Björk’s rendition of Play Dead was a chart hit. The doors opened and within weeks Arnold was flying out to LA for a date with Stargate director Roland Emmerich. Born in Luton in 1962, Arnold was growing up at a time when the dynamic power of the relationship between film and music was being fully realised. Inspired as a young child by the visual and aural punch of films such as You Only Live Twice, he would later became close friends with his mentor John Barry. They would share more than friendship and, like Barry, “It used to annoy me when people couldn’t keep time. I could never understand it,” On his school music lessons Fresh from performing his live concert debut at the Royal Festival Hall, David Arnold sat down with The Musician to discuss his journey to success, his favourite collaborators and how he puts a soundtrack together. You started writing soundtracks at sixth form with film director Danny Cannon… I didn’t start writing to picture until I met Danny at the Arts Centre in Luton. He wanted to be a film director and I wanted to be a film composer. We’d grab our friends on a Sunday morning, head to a field just off the M1 and film them walking across the horizon with long coats on looking important! For a good couple of years we were making films together. That was when I was 19, 20 and to put it into some perspective, I didn’t get a job writing music until I was 31. In the ensuing period there was an awful lot of stuff done, but zero reward for it in financial terms. It was Danny who ended up doing his first feature film. He asked me to score it and that got me into the world professionally. Until then it was me gigging at nights and the weekend, doing part-time jobs in B&Q, selling carpets, digging holes in roads… Which composers inspired you as a child? John Barry had the biggest influence on me, but also Lionel Bart. Seeing Oliver, You Only Live Twice and The Jungle Book – watching films that were very powerful musically in terms of score as well as being very idiosyncratic visually. All of those films were hugely iconic. I loved the feel of it: the visual noise and the aural noise seemed very exciting. I lived in Luton and everything looks exotic when your bedroom backs onto a factory car park. What form did your musical education take? It was largely informal. I never had piano lessons. I didn’t have a formal university education in playing or composition, but I’ve been writing songs and instrumental pieces since I first picked up a guitar aged nine or ten. When they first put a recorder in my hand and the class tambourine was passed around, it used to annoy me that people couldn’t keep time. I could never understand it. I was always hearing harmonies in my head. I loved the idea that people were making a sound that wasn’t speech. I remember feeling that the music teachers seemed to be the happiest in the school. Good education and enthusiastic David Arnold on the MU in the 21st century My perspective is slightly different because I’m not a working musician in the same way that the guys we employed on Sunday night at the Royal Festival Hall are. They don’t know what they’re doing the next day. They get a call and they come down, and whatever is in front of them they’ll play. Either that or they’re playing in the West End. I know all those players and I know how precarious the business of being a working musician is. The possibilities for exploitation are greater because there are hundreds of great violin players but there might not be hundreds of great composers for the particular work for which they think you’re suitable. Most of my experience of the Union is when they come in to see if everything is alright with my sessions – they turn up and make sure everyone is looked after properly. That’s the great value of it. It’s there to protect people’s rights, and to make sure that they’re compensated fairly and looked after, and not exploited. The Musician • Autumn 2014 17 18 Throughout your career you’ve forged a wide variety of collaborations – Jarvis Cocker, Iggy Pop, Paul McCartney among others. How do you choose the musicians you work with? Sometimes people ask me, which is a huge treat and an honour. Sometimes I’ll have someone particular in mind and it’s just a matter of making a phone call. I really like working with other people – I don’t know if I get a bit irritated or bored with myself. Also, there’s always an element of surprise that you would never achieve if you’re doing your own thing. People say to me it must be amazing hearing your work played by an orchestra, but the performance is always in my head. When we do get to the point of ‘that’s the take’, it’s more a sense of relief than excitement. You don’t go, ‘Oh my god, this is my music being played by an orchestra,’ you think ‘this is how I conceived it.’ It’s a team sport. How do you approach writing for film? Does it differ from writing for Sherlock, for example? It doesn’t really differ from TV. You have a series of moving images and you have a set of problems that those images present you with, and music is the solution to that “There’s a big difference between a songwriter and a record maker,” On new technology in music The Musician • Autumn 2014 How has the development of technology affected the way young songwriters approach the craft of songwriting? I think it’s democratising the idea of producing sound recordings, but there’s a big difference between a songwriter and a record maker. I think software has allowed people who don’t have musical training to express themselves musically, and that’s a good thing. What worries me more is that it allows you to make music with a limited scope and reach. I’m not saying you can’t write an amazing song with three chords – plenty of people have. I suppose it’s a bit like learning a language and only knowing five verbs. But if that’s all that’s required for that style of music there’s obviously no problem. I’m not the person to criticise the state of songwriting because I think there are great songs being written. Are there classic songs being written? I guess there still are, aren’t there? If you’re talking about classic songwriting: Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, my main concern is that I don’t know where you’re going to be hearing that material in 50 years time. If you’re a teenager, where are you going to discover Ella © Brian Rasic/Rex music teachers are the secret. Music teaching is about so much more than just learning music. It teaches you how to communicate, to listen and work democratically within a group, and when to play loud or quiet – so many life lessons to be learned. problem. Whether it’s Sherlock or James Bond or Independence Day: it’s me in the same room with the same equipment looking at the same screen trying to respond to something that’s in front of me. The first thing you do is make a decision about what the tone of the music is going to be. Is it electronic, acoustic, jazzy, orchestral, techno? You have to find the language of the film stylistically, and that comes from your own response to the work in front of you as well as from discussions with the director. I used to write themes based on the script and I’d start putting music to it once they’d sent me the film. Now I wait until they’ve finished shooting. Sometimes I read the script, sometimes not. I ask filmmakers if they can assemble sequences for me. If it’s a character study, for example, I ask them to send me scenes they’re in. The way they move, talk and look – something that tells you the kind of person that they are. Then I write a suite of music inspired by the film – not the story, but by location, light, character and dialogue. I write suites of parts, and the filmmakers put them into the film in different places. Then you start the process of rescoring based on how they’ve reused the music that you have given them. By the end of that process, before you start ‘scoring scoring’, you might have 50% of the music ready. That’s when you sit down to decide where the music should go and what it should be doing. Fitzgerald and Hoagy Carmichael? You can’t hear them on the radio unless you seek out the specialist programme that puts them on. What worries me is that there is a shrinking sphere of amazing songs in terms of how they influence future generations of writers. When did you first join the MU? When I started recording stuff myself. My dad was a big union fan and a socialist-minded person. He used to sing in a 12-piece dance © Nichole Rees profile Shaken and stirred As a prolific composer, producer and writer, David Arnold likes to mix up his portfolio. Here are just three of his career highlights… 1996 When director Roland Emmerich was looking for a composer who could supply dark drama and rousing anthems to accompany his film Independence Day, Arnold was the obvious choice. A great decision that earned Arnold a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television. Above: Alone in the studio. Far left: The BBC Electric Proms with Dame Shirley Bassey. Near left: On stage at the John Barry Memorial Concert at the Royal Albert Hall. Below: At the BMI Film & TV awards in Beverley Hills with Clint Mansell and Brian Tyler. As a longtime Bond fan, David Arnold paid homage to John Barry by producing an album of versions of tracks from the Bond films. Jarvis Cocker, Propellerheads and Björk were among the artists who joined Arnold on the album. Barry liked it so much he recommended Arnold as the composer for the next Bond movie and the pair became close friends. 2010 © Getty Images © Getty Images 1997 Sherlock, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat’s sharp, edgy interpretation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s detective hero, needed music to match. Working alongside collaborator Michael Price, Arnold’s compositions and signature theme tune have become inextricably connected to the show’s intelligent wit, and the complex characters that inhabit it. band. They were all MU members and the newsletter used to be around the house. I always thought, ‘This is a good idea’, because there’s no other way of being represented. When I was 21, 22, I used to use the legal services, because in the early days when you got a contract you didn’t know what you were looking at. You just wanted to know what time to turn up, what you were going to get paid and if you got a sandwich. It was very useful in that there were consequences if people messed you about. How is the way music is consumed affecting the industry? We can all agree that the idea of being able to sell music to people is something that is disappearing, and probably won’t be around for that much longer. Technology has effectively allowed illegal behaviour to flourish, but we have to adapt to the fact that that’s the world we’re living in now. That cat is definitely out of the bag! People share music on devices and they don’t consider the implications because there are no consequences. The consequences are that we will lose grassroots skills. We’re already losing the smaller and medium-sized studios… if the recording studios go, the engineering skills go, the knowledge to mic up a piano, or mic up an orchestra – that will go and the support network will go and then what’s the point of learning an instrument if you’re not going to play anywhere? I’m talking about 50 years in the future when our core group of astonishing, world-class musicians will have passed on to the next generation. I wonder if people will bother investing all that time and trouble in learning – and we know how much time that is – and the sacrifices you end up making to be a player of excellence. I wonder whether that will just fall away and we’ll stop being the centre of excellence in music. I think we need to protect our studios and we need to protect our musicians’ inheritance in terms of allowing them to do what they do so brilliantly. There’s a reason why the world comes to this country to make recordings. The industry is not dead. It’s lying on the ground twitching a little bit! I’m thinking if we kick it hard enough it might get up and walk but there’s a possibility that it might not. It might need some intervention. The Musician • Autumn 2014 19 20 Background BEATS Composing library music for TV, radio and film can be a great way to earn extra money. Will Simpson investigates… The Musician • Autumn 2014 FEATURE Compared to playing in front of a live audience, or creating and honing your own artistic vision, the world of library music might be sorely lacking in romance and glamour. But for a writer/composer, it can provide a decent income to supplement your potential earnings as a musician. Library music is the incidental music that you hear on TV and radio, and it differs from most commercial music in that in most cases the library owns the copyright. Essentially it’s a convenient solution for TV and film producers, that is considerably cheaper than commissioned music. © Getty Images In the UK, library first rose to prominence during the 60s and 70s – the so-called golden age of British TV. Indeed several of that era’s best loved themes were originally library tracks. Approaching Menace by Neil Richardson is instantly recognisable as the theme from Mastermind, while a generation of 30- and 40-somethings could probably hum Alan Hawkshaw’s Chicken Man note for note. (It’s better known as the Grange Hill theme, in case you were wondering.) As the number of TV channels has multiplied in the digital era, so has the number of libraries and library musicians. In fact, according to composer Andy Hamilton, the sector has never been more competitive. “Technology has made it easier for everybody to make music. But I also think it’s the sheer number of people who have realised that it’s a way to earn money, and so are flooding the library companies. I’m amazed that the companies haven’t got every kind of music that has ever been written in the whole world.” Hamilton has been writing library music for 18 years. After making his mark as a sax player, he turned to writing library when he had many pieces that he couldn’t find a home for. “My wife said: ‘why not send them to a publisher?’ I got some negative responses, but the head of De Wolfe Music came back to me. He liked what I’d done, one thing led to another, and I have now done five albums for them.” Hamilton now freelances for a number of libraries, but the commissioning process isn’t as free and easy as it used to be: “They used to sometimes say ‘do you fancy doing an album of this kind of thing’, like travel music or latenight jazz type stuff. You’d forward a few MP3s to see if you were on the right track. “Now, with it being so much more competitive, it has become difficult even for established writers to get their calls returned. Even though I’ve done dozens of albums for companies, they still don’t phone me back when I phone them! It’s like the conventional music business in that respect. Now, if you have written a lot of stuff for a company, they will send out a brief to all their writers, saying: ‘We’re doing this, have you got anything like this? Send it in and we’ll tell you if we like it.’” The commissioning process varies from library to library. “Some of the guys I work with are much more hands on,” says composer Paul Honey. “They’ll say ‘yeah that’s working’ or ‘that’s not, how about adding this, how about taking this away’. And with the mix they’re much more hands on too.” Others, like the Eastbourne-based Made Up Music, have a relaxed attitude. “Probably the difference between us and a lot of other companies is that they (the writers) approach us,” says co-owner Ray Russell. “They say, ‘look we really really want to do this, what do you think?’ If they’re lucky we say ‘yeah’. But we do have very stringent quality control – it has to sound really good and it can’t be a bedroom recording. It has to be recorded properly and mastered to meet what we think is the right audio quality.” Russell says that he listens to every submission sent on spec by aspiring composers. “I think most companies do. We’ve struck up a couple of very good relationships that way, and what is great for us is if it sounds good, we can react reasonably quickly. It’s quite a simple process for us to put it out.” Royalty-free library music Most libraries hold the copyright of a track for perpetuity and split royalties 50/50 with the composer. However, recent years have seen the growth of so-called royalty-free or copyright-free library music, especially in the US, where instead of MCPS the library pays a flat fee up front to the writer. Many in the industry feel that this represents a bad deal for all concerned. “The advantage is that programme makers would take a punt on dozens of different pieces of music to see what worked,” says Andy Hamilton. “But I don’t think many musicians are interested because the whole idea of putting your life and soul into a piece of music is that at some point in the future it might get used extensively and you’ll reap greater rewards.” Ray Russell is more succinct. “It’s a false economy. And it devalues the music.” “It can’t be a bedroom recording. It has to be recorded properly to meet what we think is the right audio quality,” Ray Russell The Musician • Autumn 2014 21 “It’s a very specific skill set,” says library composer Matthew Moore. “You have to switch off your sense of art and attempt to write music that could be used in lots of different ways rather than pigeonholing yourself. It’s really developing those skills in listening, and thinking about how many different usages it might get? It’s not easy. I’ve made some great rookie errors, like writing too much melody that can get in the way of dialogue, or not putting enough variation in. Or a massive change of texture. The knack is keeping it constant.” Of course, trends come and go – in the 60s and 70s library music was synonymous with 22 easy listening mood music. In the 90s it was difficult to switch on your TV without hearing library trip-hop. These days, though, it is perhaps best to think outside the box. “You have to think: ‘where is there a gap?’ says Honey. “Sometimes, rather than thinking ‘oh the trend is to do this type of thing,’ why not think ‘there’s not much of this going on out there’. For example, Andy Findon and I recorded an album of fairground-type music called Cirque Du Freak for the In-spired library. I think if you throw yourself into an existing trend, well, there is no point adding more tracks to a very crowded market.” “You have to switch off your sense of art and attempt to write music that could be used in lots of different ways,” Matthew Moore The Musician • Autumn 2014 Ray Russell insists that aspiring library music should have top-notch production and sound Advice for aspiring library composers l Do your research. Have a look around at what the libraries are releasing. Think about the sort of music they need, and any gaps they might have in their catalogue. l When you put your tracks up on SoundCloud, make sure they are recorded on the best quality equipment you can get. Cheapsounding music is unlikely to be commissioned. l Think about how to make your music appeal to libraries through words. Give your tracks titles that instantly conjure up memorable images. Ray Russell suggests: “You need to have a concept. When an editor listens to a track they usually listen to about three or four seconds, so they’re more likely to commission tracks with keywords that explain what the music is like.” l Try to make your music timeless. A track that sounds bang up to date in 2014 might not be used in five years’ time, let alone 20. l Write as much as you can. And don’t be put off if at first the libraries don’t return your calls. © Paul Carter So what makes a good library track? Well unlike nearly every other field of contemporary music, library tracks do not draw attention to themselves – in most cases they are there to provide underscore, a musical bed upon which images and dialogue can be laid. Essentially, it’s background music. What is a term of abuse in the world of commercial music couldn’t be a higher compliment when it comes to library. Andy Hamilton has boosted his earnings as a sax player by writing library music Then when your track has been accepted, the best thing you can possibly do is sit back and forget about it. “If you’re waiting expectantly every month for something to be used then you will drive yourself slowly mad,” says Honey. “The best thing is not to worry about it. “There is no rhyme or reason how this music gets used. My work has been used on everything from a series of historical documentaries to Embarrassing Bodies. One thing I’d completely forgotten about – a cheesy George Shearing-type piece with vibraphone and piano that I had written 15 years ago – popped up in Poland. It probably hadn’t yielded many royalties in all that time, and then it gets picked up and is used absolutely masses on a Polish series.” That’s the thing about library – it’s very much a long-term investment. Everyone we spoke to for this article agreed that you’re very unlikely to become rich overnight from this kind of work. However, if you’re patient and prolific enough to build up a substantial back catalogue of tracks it can become a nice little earner. “It’s a nickel and dime industry, but those nickels and dimes all add up,” says Russell. “A body of work is how you make money.” And it is entirely possible to earn a living from it. “I do know some people who do just library and live off it,” says Honey, “although they are probably writing a huge volume of music to earn that amount. It’s certainly not a guaranteed income, and I wouldn’t recommend doing it solely. Use it as just one of your strands of income rather than devoting your whole life to it.” feature PPL celebrates 80th anniversary in fine health Licensing company hits major milestone as strong growth in performance rights continues. technology is in place to enable the company to process this information in the most efficient way possible. © Blend Images / Alamy Board representation In the past few years, PPL has also worked to increase the number of performers represented on the PPL main board and performer board, so as to better represent the needs of both record companies and performers. At the most recent Annual Performer Meeting, in 2013, performer, songwriter and producer Crispin Hunt and performer and songwriter Mark Kelly were elected as performer directors, taking the total number of PPL performer directors to five. Two performer directors are nominated by Equity and the Musicians’ Union respectively. Performance rights are an important source of revenue for artists It is now eight decades since the creation of PPL, the music licensing company dedicated to collecting payments for labels and, more recently, performers. As the copyright landscape has changed, PPL’s role has expanded and it has significantly grown the revenues that it pays out to its members. PPL works on behalf of more than 90,000 record companies and performers to license recorded music played in public (at pubs, nightclubs, restaurants, shops, offices and many other business types) across the UK. Created by EMI and Decca, its members include major record labels and independents, as well as globally successful performers and session musicians, ranging from orchestral players to percussionists and singers. The majority are small businesses, all of whom are legally entitled to be fairly paid for the use of their recordings and performances. As physical sales of music have continued to decline, performance rights have become a major income stream for all those involved in creating recorded music. PPL is managing more rights for more members with revenues continually increasing: the £1m collected in its first full decade of business had grown to almost £180m a year by 2013. It also operates an international royalty collection service. With 68 reciprocal agreements in place in 34 countries with other international music licensing companies – or Collective Management Organisations (CMOs) as they are sometimes called – PPL helps members to get paid when their music is played internationally. The firm has agreements in the USA, as well as most European countries, and in Asia and South America. The organisation’s continuing investment in new IT systems, staff training and better processes have helped to make music licensing more comprehensive and efficient. Given that PPL now licenses more than 300,000 public performance sites (including shops, bars and gyms), broadcast and online channels and more than 3.6 billion seconds of broadcasting airplay, it is imperative that the PPL CEO Peter Leathem said: “The needs of our members are at the heart of everything that we do, and we look forward to being able to serve them with even greater effectiveness, efficiency and transparency as the industry continues to evolve.” Performers wanting to find out more about how PPL can help to maximise their royalties, both in the UK and internationally, should visit ppluk.com – or check PPL out on Twitter at @PPLUK #becauseitsyours. Why join PPL? PPL member and T.Rex Drummer Bill Legend explains why he finds his PPL membership so valuable: “I really appreciate all the work that PPL does on behalf of those musicians, past and present, whose musical performances are now finally rewarded – sometimes after long periods of time when their creative input and musical inspiration have been disregarded. We now have true recognition and just financial reward.” The Musician • Autumn 2014 23 BLACK MUSIC IN BRITAIN To celebrate Black History Month in October, Kevin LeGendre takes us on a journey through the traditions and innovations of black music makers in Britain. © Getty Images The Musician • Autumn 2014 FEATURE Put simply, there is no single, monolithic black community in Britain. There are several black communities with histories that converge and diverge, as the lived experience of the different members of this human mosaic are in a near constant state of flux. Trinidadian calypso singers who arrived on the Windrush in 1948 met an England quite unlike that which awaited Rwandan DJs and producers who disembarked in 1998. Assuming that there was a kind of grand inventory of black music in Britain, an alternative Domesday Book that recognised the songs, instruments and audiences rather than the monies of musicians of colour, we might be astounded if we flicked through it. Broad appeal Who do we find in 1810? A one-legged fiddler by the name of Black Billy Waters. He is entertainingly ‘scraping the catgut’ for dandyish punters on his pitch outside London’s Adelphi Theatre. And what about 1940? Jamaican double bassist Coleridge Goode. He plays jazz in several groups in Glasgow where he’s studying electrical engineering. 1900? Classical composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, whose father was Sierra Leonean and mother English. He sees his immensely popular oratorio The Song Of Hiawatha performed at the Royal Albert Hall. This is but a cursory roll call of significant names in the history of black music in Britain. But even this relatively small crosssection reveals how musicians of African and Caribbean descent have made their presence felt in both highbrow and populist settings. The hundreds who flocked to hear ColeridgeTaylor’s richly layered, jaunty and appealing score may also have been interested to know that when he successfully toured America he was dubbed The African Mahler. Less The Classical Connection © Universal History Archive/Un/Rex Any study of black music in Britain hinges on an understanding of black people in Britain. For the most part this brings to mind West Indian and African immigrants as well as their children, who claim a dual heritage that is as politically complex as it is culturally rich. However, the other key part of the equation is the numerous African-Americans who have been coming to our green and pleasant land for many centuries. Classical composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a hugely popular musical pioneer, but still struggled to embed himself into the establishment “There was discrimination, police brutality, murders, mob violence and riots while Britain learned how to skank.” edifying was the fact that there had initially been reservations over his enrolment at the Royal College of Music for fear of the unrest a ‘coloured’ student would cause among fellow pupils. This paradox – an embrace of black music and contempt for black people – is not an isolated phenomenon, and whether the historical period in question is the Victorian or post-war age the trend proves recurrent. Britain’s history as both a slave trading nation and colonial power that once ruled large parts of the West Indies and Africa made this very problematic engagement with blacks inevitable. Entrepreneurs who realised the 18th century plantation economy was a vital means to power the Industrial Revolution saw the Negro as a source of untold wealth. But they were always more than an efficient beast of burden. Slaves throughout the Americas displayed enormous aptitude on banjos, violins and percussion instruments, and British audiences did not resist the charms of black music. Tours of Britain by African-American minstrels, such as Haverly’s Genuine Colored Minstrels, drew large crowds. Those who followed down the ages – 19th century gospel legends Fisk Jubilee Singers; 30s jazz big band leader Ken ‘Snakehips’ Johnson; 50s calypso singer Lord Kitchener; 60s ska pioneers Millie Small and Ernest Although Samuel ColeridgeTaylor remains the iconic presence in black British classical music, there were notable others who came before and after him. George Bridgetower was a virtuoso violinist and composer who was a sensation among European aristocratic circles in the 18th century for his recitals and work with Beethoven, who composed the notoriously demanding Kreutzer Sonata for him. Another significant composer was Joseph Emidy, who once played at the Opera House in Lisbon, before he was kidnapped and brought to Cornwall where he greatly developed symphonic music. A contemporary composer who has drawn inspiration from Emidy, and who has imaginatively incorporated elements of his African heritage into his work, is the cellistkora player Tunde Jegede. His superb 1995 CD Lamentation was recorded with members of the London Sinfonietta. While the lack of black representation in major national orchestras has been a subject of intense debate over the years, the achievements of some of Jegede’s peers such as Paul Gladstone-Reid should not be overlooked. He has proved to be irrepressibly eclectic and has frequently brought soul and pop influences into his work. He has composed for string quartets and the Royal Philharmonic, and there are improvising musicians – a key example being the alto saxophonist Jason Yarde – who have worked with the London Symphony Orchestra. The Musician • Autumn 2014 25 Rich heritage No greater symbol of the cultural unity fostered by RAR was the emergence of the 80s Two Tone movement spearheaded by bands such as The Beat, The Selecter and The Specials. Quite apart from the fact that they were multi-racial, and in the case of The Selecter fronted by a woman, these bands also made the important point that the heritage of black music in Britain was simply too rich to ignore. Their template was the bluebeat or ska that had proved hugely popular in the 60s. Fascinatingly, this time travelling was paralleled by developments on the jazz scene. A few years after the Two Tone revival there came a new wave of improvising musicians born in Britain to West Indian parents who took their cue from 50s and 60s post-bop legends such as Art Blakey, Sonny Rollins and John Coltrane, and developed their own acoustic rather than electric music. The scene’s prime movers, Steve Williamson, Courtney Pine, Gary Crosby, Cleveland Watkiss and Orphy Robinson, who played together in the much-loved Jazz Warriors big band, were weaned on all kinds of black music. In fact, they debuted with funk groups like Hi-Tension and reggae singers such as Carroll Thompson. This education was very important, as Robinson explains. “The hue of Jamaica’s shanty towns of the 60s was recast as the cry of Britain’s wrecked council estates in the 80s.” “Our background is the Caribbean. So we’ve had that strong heritage, and the culture, the traditions, the food, the music. It’s always been there whether it’s Burning Spear, from my background in reggae. We’ve always had people speaking very strongly about the world from their viewpoint, and how they see things. I’ve always grown up with that, so let’s not pretend that we only eat fish and chips.” Since the heyday of the Warriors, this cultural duality has crystallised in startlingly fresh The Musician • Autumn 2014 © Eugene Adebar/Rex What brought things to a head was the rise of far-right groups such as the National Front, whose merciless and vicious targeting of ‘wogs’ and ‘Pakis’ reached untold proportions in the 70s. That, as well as the shocking racist comments made by white artists, such as Eric Clapton in 1976, formed the backdrop 26 against which the Rock Against Racism (RAR) campaign was launched in 1978. It was a watershed moment that united superlative reggae acts such as Misty In Roots, Steel Pulse and Aswad, and punk icons The Clash, Buzzcocks and The Ruts in a series of concerts up and down the country. “The real importance of Rock Against Racism was that it gave a platform to all genres, and just allowed people to hear punk and reggae and other genres together,” recalls Aswad lead vocalist Brinsley Forde. “And it wasn’t just the racial thing. It was an opportunity to voice opinions on many different things, while all kinds of people were coming together and dancing.” Political voice To their great credit, The Specials went beyond the anachronistic. In Ghost Town, they created an intensely shadowy, beautifully bleak anthem to the hopelessness of the Thatcher years that was much more than facile West Indian pastiche. It showed how the deep roots of black music could flower into new forms of British pop, if the exponents tuned into the political as well as musical frequencies of the original models. The hue of Jamaica’s shanty towns of the 60s was recast as the cry of Britain’s wrecked council estates in the 80s. © David Levenson/Rex © Andre Csillag/Rex Ranglin; 70s Afro-rockers Osibisa – enjoyed great success while the debate on immigration and race relations took hotly contentious, if not tragic, turns. There was discrimination, police brutality, murders, mob violence and riots while Britain learned how to skank. The Specials et al were reaching back in time to hail the influence of the form of Jamaican music that had preceded the reggae expounded by the aforementioned Aswad. Instead of Bob Marley, Prince Buster was the primary source of inspiration, and this made the essential point that the cultural history of the African diaspora was multi-faceted and ultimately post-modernist. The music of the past was plural rather than singular, and often evolved in mysterious ways. ways. The blackness and the Britishness have intermingled in 90s forms such as drum ‘n’ bass, a genre whose barrelling subsonics owed an obvious debt to Jamaican dub, but whose frenetic speed and icy tonal austerity reflected the starkness of a dimly-lit England. Most impressively, the music went all around the world, influencing many DJs and producers from Shibuya to Sao Paulo. © IIpo/Rex © Danny Payne/Rex Soul II Neo-Soul Ultimately, Britain has proved the place where black artists have been able to entwine genres and flout conventions with regard to how music is made, let alone what it sounds like. The key examples here are three trail-blazing acts that came to prominence in the 90s – Soul II Soul, Massive Attack, and Roni Size/ Reprazent. They were not bands per se, but rather collectives of DJ-producers, rappers, singers and players who blurred the lines between tradition and modernity, and built inventive bridges between soul, jazz, hip hop, dub and drum ‘n’ bass. Far-reaching influence Roni Size scooped the coveted Mercury Music Prize in 1997 and brought a greater degree of gravitas to, and media interest in, electronicallybased black music that has consistently undergone myriad transformations, from trip-hop to UK garage to grime, all of which have experimented with rhyme, rhythm, tempo, texture and the whole art and science of the beat that acknowledges the weight of the past – there would be no Dizzee Rascal without Tricky and no Tricky without Rodney P – all the Since the early 60s Britain has had a strong blues scene powered by the likes of Alexis Korner and John Mayall, but as the music evolved in America, new British artists embraced its changing sound. Rhythm & Blues, with its jazz influence, was brilliantly played by Georgie Fame while the next stage of R&B’s development – soul – was made popular by the likes of the great American expatriate Geno Washington. In the early 70s the visionary West Indian combo Cymande mixed soul and rock grooves with Rastafarian drumming and chanting, and the end of the decade saw the rise of a funk movement whose exponents were children of Caribbean immigrants – Hi-Tension, Light Of The World, Beggar & Co. By the end of the 80s there was another explosion of soul-funk acts led by the Brand New Heavies, Omar and Young Disciples. These artists tapped into the music of James Brown and Curtis Mayfield and championed live playing, particularly with horn sections, at a time when hip hop was making the DJ-producer king. It was a highly significant development as the huge popularity of the Heavies and Omar would greatly influence a new wave of American neosoul artists such as Maxwell, D’Angelo and Erykah Badu. © David Corio/PYMCA/Rex Black trailblazers in British music. Page 24: Osibisa. Left to right: Soul II Soul, Courtney Pine, The Specials, Tinie Tempah, Aswad, Roni Size while reflecting the thrust of the present. However, the dynamism of black music in Britain has spread far and wide beyond the migrant communities whence it originally came. Therein lies its real magnitude. Blues, soul, funk, reggae and dubstep have all significantly affected rock and pop acts over time, even though the artists are as disparate as The Clash, Portishead, James Blake or, with the greatest of irony, Eric Clapton. Put simply, black music has radically changed Britain. While this is cause for celebration there is still considerable ambiguity over the status of black people, whether or not they are musicians. The new wave of artists such as Tinie Tempah have shown that urban pop can sell, but that doesn’t mean the doors have been flung open for all black musicians, especially those who are hard to pigeonhole. Which is why Bindu Paul, Education and Equalities Official of the MU, is keen to make this point. “Young Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic people need to have role models that they can relate to and aspire to be like. Black music has made the British music industry rich with different influences from around the world and from different cultures. There is still a long way to go in order to maintain opportunities for young people who will continue to add to this contribution.” Where black music in Britain will go next is anybody’s guess. The Musician • Autumn 2014 27 Written in the The Musician • Autumn 2014 stars Cosmic prog-tinged folk band Moulettes explain the stories behind their songs and tell of their collaboration with some famous friends… Feature by Neil Crossley profile Jets, Noisettes, Laura Marling and Mumford & Sons, then, in 2009, Seasick Steve’s management and label offered to release the band’s eponymous debut album. Ask most bands to describe their sound and it’s unlikely the answers will correspond with those of the music critics attempting to define them. Such is the case with Brightonbased band Moulettes, whose unbridled, idiosyncratic style has been dubbed variously as indie folk, alt folk or just plain old folk rock, tags that fail to reflect the band’s diversity. “People can listen to Moulettes and hear Shostakovich, Björk, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Pentangle and Skrillex,” explains founder, vocalist, cellist and principle songwriter Hannah Miller. “That is where we’ve all come from. Everyone shares in over 80 years of recorded music history.” Moulettes’ broad sonic palette and soaring live performances have helped define the band from the outset. Formed in 2002 in Glastonbury, they rose to prominence playing Den Of Iniquity nights at London’s 12 Bar Club. By 2005 they’d forged friendships with Mystery This was followed in 2011 by The Bear’s Revenge, described by MOJO as “complex and beautiful… intriguing and unique”. Since then, the band have been almost continuously on the road. In June 2014, they released their third album Constellations, a work steeped in rich stories, characters and imagery. As they prepared to undertake a series of summer festivals, Hannah Miller and Oliver Austin (drummer, co-founder and producer on this album) spoke to The Musician about their sound, gigging abroad, and the challenges of navigating the digital music marketplace. You have some guest artists on this album, including Arthur Brown and Herbie Flowers. What did they bring to the mix? Hannah Miller: It’s a real pleasure to work with both of them. They’re legends. We went on tour with Arthur Brown. Jim, our bassist, has been the MD with Arthur for a few years now, and I think there was a mutual appreciation and friendship. He sings on a couple of tracks. We multi-tracked him to get a whole choir of Arthur Brown – the God Of Hell Choir. When do you get an opportunity to do that? Oliver Austin: He’s got more energy than any of us, and he’s got such great pipes still – he can really belt it out. I sometimes drum with him, and I did a gig with him where he did the fire helmet. And of course it’s even more of a shock now because of people’s health and safety perceptions. I think a lot of the health and safety rules that were implemented were because of Arthur! When you see it in a venue it’s primeval and just incredible. “People can listen to Moulettes and hear Shostakovich, Björk, Miles Davis, Pink Floyd, Pentangle and Skrillex,” Hannah Miller How did Herbie Flowers get involved? OA: Again, through our bassist Jim, who had a few lessons from him. Herbie was a real innovator in youth project music 20 years ago. He kind of set up the rock school model. Jim was a product of that and he struck up quite a good relationship with Herbie. He’s just such a genuine person. Moulettes on the MU Hannah Miller: “I think the MU is a very positive force. I wish that more people would use it and use it to its full potential, because I think it has a lot more to give on a political scale, and I think we need people to be part of that.” Oliver Austin: “We keep getting told that the left, the strong left, is becoming less of a niche thing. But maybe we have a warped perception because there’s a lot of idealism in and around the arts. I mean, we’re big fans of comedians like Stewart Lee and Josie Long, who are actively out there. It’s frustrating that the messages are getting out there, but mobilising people is a whole different challenge. We need to try bringing in some of the more independent artists. There’s a lot of support for the MU in the folk world and there’s a strong relationship in the classical world. If we can try and encourage a better relationship between independent music – rock music, and hip-hop and dance – if we can do that, there’s potentially a sleeping giant there.” HM: He’s always played the same two basses – the electric Fender and the double bass (as played on Walk On The Wild Side) – and when he started to play on Land Of The Midnight Sun you could hear this familiar warmth. It was amazing. I really enjoyed that day. The Musician • Autumn 2014 29 HM: I really love the storytelling element of Scandinavian folk tunes and the traditional instruments they use. There is something very magical about those tunes. I think Moulettes as a band get accused of having too much going on and people struggle to pinpoint what we’re actually doing a lot of the time, but that’s where we’re at musically at the moment. I mean, people have been saying ‘keep it simple’ for quite a long time now, and although there are merits to that, I don’t think we should shy away from complex music. We’ve worked at it, but I don’t think we’re cramming things in for the sake of it. It’s a very organic thing – we’re always trying to serve the song. 30 You’ve enlisted the help of dubstep producer Mike Dennis on this new album. OA: He’s consistently done really great remixes for us before, and we worked with him specifically on Land Of The Midnight Sun and Keep It As A Memory on Constellations. I think folktronica – acoustic instruments with electronica – has been a real innovation in a lot of production in the past 10 or 15 years, and I don’t think we should shy away from it at all. I definitely just wanted to experiment a little bit with programming. Since you formed in 2002, the music industry has undergone a profound transformation, with artists now struggling to define where their recorded music revenue will come from. What impact has that had on you? “People now realise that the live thing is so important in terms of revenue,” Oliver Austin © Jonathan Stewart Photography You’ve always been broadly dubbed as a folkbased band. Is that true of the new album? OA: I think there are actually very few folk moments in there. And I think that’s kind of a conscious thing because we definitely want to try and appeal to a broader audience. That’s who we are anyway as musicians. I wasn’t brought up on folk music at all. I mean, I love it now – Hannah’s introduced me to loads of it, particularly the Scandinavian stuff. OA: I don’t think anyone really knows the answers or the solutions. Like all these things, you always have to think innovatively about how to make money. That’s obviously not our main ambition, but as we all know it helps. But trying to sustain the thing is difficult. HM: It is bad because it does clip your wings, you know? I don’t think anyone could ever accuse us of not being ambitious, but the things that we could have achieved had we had the means… that’s kind of sad. Have you felt the effect of the downturn in terms of live work? HM: Yep. I think it’s fair to say that small venues are shutting left, right and centre, which is really sad because they can be the real heart of the community. And, because of the scale of them, there’s generally a lot of love in those places, from the people that promote them and work there. Middle-sized venues are also getting pretty scarce, and they can be some of the best venues to play as well – those 300-capacity places. OA: It takes a long time to be able to get to that level. That’s when bands can actually turn over a little bit of money. But that’s one potentially positive thing that’s come out of the industry’s changes – people now realise that the live thing for musicians is so important in terms of revenue. And that’s our main stream of revenue. It’s still difficult, but it’s real. And it’s ongoing from day to day – we’re constantly on tour. And at least it creates cashflow. What about touring in other territories such as Scandinavia and Europe? HM: Yeah, Norway’s especially good. The Musician • Autumn 2014 Moulettes frequently expand their four member core to a six-piece for live work, bringing in Eliza Jaye (above, second from left) on electric guitar, synth and vocals, and Mikey Simmonds (above, far left) on violin, viola and vocals. OA: It’s been slower for us than we would have hoped overseas. Our previous management and label were convinced that we would be able to do better in the UK, and that it would then make it so much easier to do the deals in the different territories. And although we’ve had some tangible success it’s not as much as I think was hoped, so we took a gamble. Only now are we really starting to hard graft it in different territories. Do you have any plans to tour North America? HM: I went to Canada to do that very thing, but I went in January and we drove through the Rocky Mountains with no winter tyres, profile Spreading the word “The other day we did a workshop with Alex Mann from the MU,” Hannah explains. “Pete Flood from Bellowhead was there too. We were in a school doing a few workshops, just outside Winchester. It was for young people who want to work in the music industry, and I thought that was just a really positive thing, just to speak to these kids and hear what they had to say. They were really into getting signed up and getting clued up as soon as possible, which is so important because otherwise you don’t realise how much you have to do everything, and not, regrettably, just the music. “There were a lot of motivated young women, and one of them in particular was really keen to become a producer. I was like: ‘Definitely do that. Please do that.’ I mean there’s such a scarcity of female producers in an industry that’s still dominated by men. Very tiresomely.” Vocals, cello, hammered dulcimer, percussion, autoharp, synth Oliver Austin Vocals, drums, guitars, percussion, electric bass, autoharp, synth, piano, waterphone, vibraphone In addition to your live shows, you do quite a bit of outreach work. How did that happen? HM: Yeah, we nestle it in between our touring. We do workshops and sing in care homes and extracurricular stuff like that. There’s so much more need for that with the government cutting so much funding. Once you get into these places and realise how transformative it is, it’s enough to galvanise you into action. We’ve also done vascular post-surgery and dementia. One of our number, Ruth Skipper, is a doctor actually. OA: She’s got a passion for it, I think. She really wants to make the wards in the NHS better. And you can tell that the patients really love it. Last time, when we went into vascular, it was amazing. A guy who had just had surgery said, ‘Oh I like your guitars’, and asked to have a go. He started playing, so we had an impromptu 12-bar blues wig-out on the ward. Looking to the future, what’s next? OA: More records, more touring. Going into Australia and Canada – these are things that are at the forefront of our agenda. We do need to be gigging all the time to keep the thing alive. We’re already thinking about the next record. Our first album came out in 2010, and it took quite a while to come out. But the way that I see it, if we can put out as many albums in this decade – say two a year – that will be six albums. That’s my personal goal I think. Moulettes line-up Hannah Miller so it was hairy. And expensive. But Canada’s great – there’s such a healthy scene out there. I really want us to get to Canada which is why I took this chance. Somebody offered me a little grass rootsy solo tour. I think there’s a lot to be said for the way we’ve done it in other places, which is just get out there in a van and build it up yourself. At least you have a kind of human element going on, which is always nice. Ruth Skipper Vocals, bassoon, autoharp Jim Mortimore Vocals, double bass, electric bass, guitars, percussion HM: And bigger shows, bigger productions, given half the chance. I’d love to do scores. We’ve done some theatre scores, and we’re working on a videogame score at the moment. OA: It’s one of those videogames that, if it takes off, keeps on building. So new music ideas will need to be added. Which is totally our scene – building worlds. The Musician • Autumn 2014 31 With a little Help from our friends The Musicians’ Benevolent Fund charity has rebranded as Help Musicians UK, a new, more inclusive organisation. Feature by Andrew Stewart Professional musicians understand the value of self-reliance. It belongs to the list of personal attributes necessary for a career as a performer, helping individuals deal with fallow periods and driving them on when the workload reaches fever pitch. The music industry would cease to function without it. But what happens when that is not enough to deal with life’s difficulties? Most musicians will be aware of the MU’s work, but it seems that 32 only a minority know about another significant source of assistance – a charity dedicated to the cause of working and retired musicians. The Musicians’ Benevolent Fund may be familiar to many – small wonder given that it has been around for over 90 years. And yet the charity’s own research suggested that it had become ‘the best kept secret in the music business’. Its management team responded by launching an ambitious programme of evolutionary change, one intended to inform all musicians in the UK about the charity’s broad remit to provide the greatest possible number of those in need with help, support and advice. The old name, regarded by many as an exclusive fund for retired musicians, was replaced at the beginning of this year by the more inclusive title, Help Musicians UK. New direction Graham Sheffield, director arts for the British Council since 2011, was appointed as the charity’s chairman in April. His career credits include an acclaimed period as artistic director at London’s Barbican Centre and music The Musician • Autumn 2014 director at the Southbank Centre, having started his career as a musician. “I was aware of the charity and that it had been through challenging times,” recalls Sheffield. “I also knew it had moved beyond its traditional role but without people necessarily recognising how it had changed. When I heard about the charity’s new management team and the ambitions they held, I felt I could bring some leadership to the organisation.” Sheffield intends to be a hands-on chairman, speaking on behalf of Help Musicians UK, presenting its message to potential users and donors, and recruiting prominent ambassadors. “I’ve never done a job where I’ve been there to mind the shop,” he notes. “I felt I could lead the next stage of the change process.” He aims to work with the charity’s executive team to challenge received opinion about its activities. The charity’s rebrand, he notes, is part of the story. “Help Musicians UK provides longterm support, one-off assistance and appropriate advice.” “I believe it helps articulate what we’re trying to do, in terms of reaching more musicians and making it evident that we are addressing the full range of music professionals.” New relationships In 2008, the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund made headline news following its decision to close Ivor Newton House, a 21-bed care home for retired musicians run by the charity. The falling number of people who wanted to live there and the home’s limited ability to care for residents with complex disabilities were cited among the reasons for its closure. While the MU accepted the charity’s case in principle, the Union was concerned for the future welfare of the 15 elderly residents still living there. “We had a massive issue with them over that,” recalls John Smith, General Secretary of the MU. “We feel we were right to call on the charity to keep the home open for the rest of its residents’ lives. But they chose to close Ivor Newton House. It was a very unfortunate episode, which happily we’ve put behind us.” Smith pays tribute to the work of David Sulkin, executive director of the charity since 2008, and welcomes the charity’s forward-thinking development under his leadership. “We have worked closely with them on things such as health and wellbeing, and are about to sign a memorandum of understanding and partnership deal. They will assist us with our wellbeing workshops and we will help them where we can. So we’ve moved forward extraordinarily since the Ivor Newton House report Retired Musicians Lauretta Boston – jazz singer and pianist (top left) “Help Musicians UK has helped me quite a lot. They pay for the piano tuning, the help I get with housework and shopping, and also to meet up with other musicians. It’s always good for retired musicians to keep in touch and remember that they are musicians. The other week I performed, part of it playing the piano, part of it singing and the rest talking about music. It helps having an organisation that helps musicians.” © Help Musicians UK. Musicians in Crisis Mandhira de Saram – violin (top right) days. We saw them then as a patriarchal organisation, but that has changed under David’s watch. We look forward to a close cooperation with Help Musicians UK in future.” New ways to help Help Musicians UK is open to applications from across the community of professional musicians. It provides long-term support, “One of the biggest challenges I’ve had in my career so far was getting ill. I had thyroid cancer, and that put things on hold while I had an operation and some radioactive treatment. When I first got sick, I panicked. Because I have a string quartet, it meant that three other people lost work as well. I know a lot of musicians who try to work through illness and end up more sick. Help Musicians UK helped me financially and gave me emotional support, too. I would advise any musician who has serious health problems or needs support with their career to ask for help.” emerging artists United Vibrations Kareem Dayes – bass and vocals (bottom) “Our unique style is influenced by music from all over the world, from the past, present and future. But it doesn’t necessarily fit into the models which the music industry has currently. Help Musicians UK has helped us carry our vision forward without having to box ourselves or limit our musical creativity.” one-off assistance and appropriate advice to emerging artists, musicians in crisis, retired people whose principal career was in music, and individuals employed as sound engineers and record producers or in other musicrelated professions. The charity also offers support for the relatives and dependants of musicians. “As far as we can, we wish to help musicians plan their careers, and for later life,” explains Sheffield. “That will allow us to shift the balance of our resources towards helping in early career, rather than picking up the bits later on. Of course we will continue picking up the bits, because we all make mistakes, we all have unforeseen circumstances and we all get old. But I think we can help people plan for those eventualities more systematically, not in a patronising way, but by offering the kind of help and advice that we all need.” At present Help Musicians UK funds around 400 emerging artists each year, provides support to an equal number of musicians affected by accident, illness or other careerlimiting crises, and offers assistance to around 500 musicians in retirement. According to its 2013 Impact Report, the charity also helped 670 musicians to access expert healthcare advice, contributed to the costs of professional training for 106 music students, and supported 64 musicians with long-term or terminal illness. It directed around £3.2m (79%) of its £4.1m income to charitable activities, including £626,000 to emerging artists and £180,000 to the British Association for Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM). “We need to raise money to do this work,” notes Graham Sheffield. “The demand for what we do is increasing, and as we get our message across to more musicians, the need to raise more funds will also increase.” Like most charities, Help Musicians UK relies on donations, legacies and fundraising initiatives. While income from gifts in wills fell in 2013, the yield on its investments and money from fundraising grew. “It’s important for us to show that we are supporting those who create an art form that is enjoyed by a significant part of the population,” comments Sheffield. “If I can help this charity to support the profession even more effectively than it has done before, I will have done my job.” The Musician • Autumn 2014 &policy State Should the state’s responsibility include promoting and funding the arts? The debate is discussed by an MU-backed think-tank. Societies across the world have some kind of ‘state’ – the question is not whether the state should play a role, but what sort of role that should be. Now, a new series of papers published by the Centre for Labour and Social 34 Studies (Class), a think-tank backed by the MU, will explore questions around what a state should do, and in whose interests. Neo-liberalism – the dominant political ideology in Britain since the 80s – sees the state as authoritarian: it should defend national sovereignty, protect private property, and maintain social order. Under neo-liberalism there is no role for the state in promoting sustainability, social justice or celebrating arts and culture. Initially, the financial crisis of 2008 seemed also to be a crisis of neo-liberal thinking, but a serious debate about the role of the state in a post-neo-liberal society has not taken place. What is Class? The Centre for Labour and Social Studies (Class) is a hub for debate. Established in 2012, Class works with academics and experts to develop political policies that support working people. Through publications, events and seminars, Class discusses issues on, among others, the economy, work and pay, trade unions, housing, equality and welfare. The Musician • Autumn 2014 Five years after the financial crisis, and with an ecological crisis looming, it is time to ask how a modern state can play a major role in securing social and ecological justice in the UK, and how it can improve quality of life for ordinary people. Future vision The new series from Class is entitled ‘In the public interest: the role of the modern state’. The series features policy papers and think pieces by leading academics and journalists over a range of subjects, including public ownership of the railways and other public assets, local government, and wage-led growth. Andrew Cumbers, Professor of Political Economy at University of Glasgow, and Roger Seifert, Professor of Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management at University of Wolverhampton Business School, use their papers to examine the role of public services in the modern state. Cumbers argues that public services, such as the rail industry, energy, housing and water are now concentrated in the hands of a narrow set of vested corporate and financial interests. He says the consequences are that decision-making is geared towards short-term profits, at the expense of more longer-term thinking and, in particular, how Johnny Greig / Alamy Feature by Ellie O’Hagan, media and communications officer at Class public services work for the common good. Seifert agrees, stating: “Whenever public services have been privatised the outcomes have been generally worse with rising prices, restricted services, more scandals, more corruption, less long-term investment, worse pay and conditions for staff, and a transfer of money from the pockets of users and taxpayers to those of shareholders and senior managers.” Wage drive Özlem Onaran, Professor of Workforce and Economic Development Policy at University of Greenwich, suggests ways in which the government can intervene in the market to end falling real-pay and ensure that the economic recovery is wage-led. Her paper will give an overview of the free-market, trickle-down myth and highlight some of the state interventions already in place to benefit big business at the expense of working people. She makes several recommendations to reverse this trend and increase people’s wages. These include strengthening the feature Political dynamics In 2009, David Cameron said research in the ground-breaking book The Spirit Level (Richard Wilkinson & Kate Pickett) “has shown that among the richest countries, it’s the more unequal that do worse according to almost every quality of life indicator.” Since the introduction of neo-liberalism in the late 70s, inequality has expanded to levels not seen since the 20s, matched by a decline in trade union membership and collective bargaining coverage. In a paper for Class, the authors of The Spirit Level argue that the relationship between trade union membership and inequality demonstrates the weakening of the political and ideological influence of the left in the era of neo-liberal ideology. It is only through creating a progressive alliance, with trade unions playing a central role, that the levels of inequality brought about by neo-liberalism can be tackled. bargaining power of trade unions so they can fight for a better deal for workers from the outset; increasing the statutory minimum wage and putting in place processes for the incremental increase to the level of a living wage; introducing and enforcing pay ratios (which ensure bosses don’t get paid significantly higher wages than their focus on the New Public Management model and discuss what a progressive vision for local government would entail. Finally, Yvonne Roberts, leader writer at The Observer, ties all the ideas together. She looks at the changing role of the state over the past century, and the effect this has had upon the wellbeing of citizens, as well as the quality of public services and the success of business. She writes: “Whoever wins the next election is projected to inherit a deficit of nearly £80bn. Paying for borrowing will be the third largest cost after spending on welfare and health. So far, Labour has accepted that the straitjacket of further cuts will dictate the way ahead. In theory, the state will shrink regardless of which party is in power. That makes it all the more urgent that the prevailing neo-liberal mold is broken, a new social contract is urgently forged, and a positive narrative developed as to the function, capabilities and extraordinary resources that a proactive state can command.” “Whoever wins the next election is projected to inherit a deficit of nearly £80bn.” employees); ensuring a more progressive tax system which includes higher corporation tax and a tax on wealth; and ending the public sector pay freeze. James Murray, Executive Member for Housing and Development at Islington Council, looks at the need for a strong democratic local state and the need for the left to reclaim the concept of a ‘progressive public localism’. His paper will provide a brief overview of the changing role of local government, addressing why we need to move away from New Labour’s Isabelle Gutierrez MU Head of Government Relations & Public Affairs, has been elected to the officer level position of Vice-President of Class. “Class is producing exactly the sort of intelligent and exciting policy work which is so desperately needed at the moment in order to counter the narrow-minded and unimaginative rhetoric of the Conservative Party and others on the right. The MU is proud to be involved with this organisation, which we believe is already helping to reinvigorate and shape left-wing politics for the 21st century.” Ongoing debate As we move further towards the May 2015 general election, the debate around what a state is for, who it benefits and how it functions will become more and more important. Members of the MU will already be aware of this debate following eye-watering cuts to the arts under the coalition government. Those cuts alone pose questions about the purpose of the state: should it be the state’s responsibility to enhance people’s enjoyment of the arts by funding artists and arts venues? Or should the state focus its abilities on providing services essential to survival and maintaining law and order? A neo-liberal answer would be that the state should provide as few services as possible and concentrate on protecting private property and preserving the ability of businesses to trade with one another. There is a growing consensus that neo-liberal ideology has failed ordinary people; not just in the UK, but around the world. As more and more people move away from neoliberalism, there needs to be a progressive alternative in place for people to gravitate towards. We need to debate the ideas and ideology that might form an overarching vision of what the modern state would look like. To find out more visit classonline.org.uk The Musician • Autumn 2014 35 Knowing how to protect your interests ÂŠ Getty Images ARE WE BOOKED? Texts, emails and social media may have made it easier to book gigs, but musicians need to be aware of the pitfalls, as Katie Nicholls discovers. Have you ever booked a gig with a promoter via text or email that goes something like: “Cheers, m8. See u at 7 nxt sat 4 gig”? Fine if you’re planning a night out, but if you’re the one taking to the stage it not only lacks professionalism, it will also be hard to use as evidence in court if the arrangement goes awry. In the context of the casual nature of communication via social media, and the current culture whereby venues often expect musicians to play for no fee at all, a haphazardly arranged booking can result in the band picking up the bill having spent time and expenses getting to a venue to find conditions have changed, or worse still, there’s no gig at all. Of course, the ‘my friend-ofa-friend who’s a promoter and likes your band’-style of booking is nothing new in the music industry, but when the majority of arrangements are taking place via social media, by text or by email, musicians need to protect themselves against unscrupulous promoters by ensuring that the process of booking a gig is as professional as possible. A new way to communicate Rich Gordon is a Scottish musician, bagpipe player and songwriter who arranges most of his bookings via social media. “It tends to be the most direct way of getting in touch with promoters and venues, primarily because of the reach it has,” says Rich. “Many venues and promoters use social media as an alternative to a website.” The problem, it seems, doesn’t lie with the medium but rather with the message. “Communicating via social media or email doesn’t present a problem on the face of it as long as the content is clear and certain,” says Dawn Rodger, MU Legal Official. “To bring a claim for unpaid fees you need to provide documentary evidence to prove that a contract was in place. Ideally the member would use a signed MU contract. Often, though, it is a clear exchange of emails or even a print out of a Facebook chat or tweets. The evidence required is the same, regardless of the format of your agreement. You have to have enough detail down on paper to prove a contractual agreement was in place and that all of the relevant terms had been agreed.” North London four-piece Hot Under Collar fell foul of the casual nature of a booking when they travelled to the Isle of Wight only to miss out on their gig “due to the lack of organisation of the promoter. That wasn’t the only problem,” say the band. “We waited at least two hours before we could soundcheck due to them using the same old default email in regards to what time we should arrive. We weren’t even given a contact number.” A serious profession Communications via social media, by their very nature, tend to be informal and chatty, “There’s a culture of believing that anyone who performs music isn’t doing a serious job,” Rich Gordon so taking a more serious approach with a venue or promoter can feel strange. “Even if the parties have never met, there’s often an air of casualness contained in social media exchanges that doesn’t exist in traditional contracts,” says Dawn. “It’s important to remember that you may need to print and use these conversation exchanges as evidence if you don’t get paid. They are all you have to prove that you had a contract in place so they must set out all the agreed terms. If your messages are peppered with text talk, for instance, it’s going to be harder to prove that there was a serious intention to create a contractual relationship.” Rich believes that the lack of seriousness arranging gigs is exacerbated by the expectation that musicians are all hobbyists. “I don’t think that the medium has an impact on how the promoter views the seriousness of the booking,” Rich considers. “I think there’s a culture of believing that anyone who performs music isn’t doing a serious job, and that if they’re looking to perform in small venues or pubs it’s very much a case that the musician is a hobbyist and exposure is payment enough. I think this is partly down to the mixture of hobbyists and professionals who are doing similar things, but also the feeling that only people who have made it big should be taken seriously. I’ve certainly been on the receiving end The Musician • Autumn 2014 37 While there undoubtedly needs to be a cultural shift in attitudes towards working musicians, acting in a professional way is a signal to venues and promoters that you are worth taking seriously. Asking a venue or promoter to sign a contract, or explicitly express the terms and conditions for each booking, is an outward expression of how you value yourself as a performer. “There’s definitely a degree of informality in the business,” says Dawn. “As a lawyer rather than a musician, it took me a while to get used to that. However the reality is that if you don’t get paid the judge isn’t going to listen to an argument that ‘no one uses contracts’ or ‘I’ve done lots of gigs for them before’. Each claim for an unpaid gig will be looked at on its own merits and your history of working with the engager isn’t necessarily going to help you in trying to prove that you were booked on that particular occasion. You need to prove it.” “Good organisers ensure that acts are promoted and paid,” Tracey Howard-Baker 38 creating a paper trail If you’re not using the MU Standard Contract when booking gigs, you need a paper trail to prove that a contract was in place. Here’s what it should include: l Date of the agreement l The names and addresses of both parties: hirer/engager and the musician (or ‘leader’ in the case of one person representing the band) l A description of the job for which you are being hired l The specifics of the gig: date, start time, finish time and fee l The number of musicians l Clarification of time needed for soundcheck l Confirmation of the equipment needed l The nature and time period by which the musician/leader will be paid The Musician • Autumn 2014 It’s understandable that musicians at the very beginning of their careers are often reluctant to use contracts. “Members who are starting out are naturally wary of scaring a venue off. If an engager refuses to sign, though, or even to confirm the booking in writing, alarm bells should ring. Of course you want to get the gig, but you also want to be paid. These formalities aren’t optional. The MU contract is a simple one-page document that we supply to members. It protects the promoter’s position as much as the member’s, so they really shouldn’t object.” Rich agrees that terms and conditions need to be clarified as a prerequisite to accepting the gig. “Pretty much all of the gigs I’ve been booked for as a hired piper have been through email, but in those instances I lead the process by providing the agreement and the terms of © SuperStock / Alamy of this several times. I think in many venues musicians are viewed as an abundant resource that can be easily replaced.” Whatever instrument you play, if you don’t want to end up out of pocket after a gig, make sure you get the terms and conditions agreed in writing first booking. I’ve never booked anything through text. I’ve always used that as a medium for informal discussion and the confirmation always comes through email. In short, if you don’t take yourself seriously as a musician and conduct yourself in a respectable and selfrespecting manner, no one else will. At the end of the day, this is a business venture.” 360° protection Getting the terms and conditions of a booking in writing or getting an MU contract signed is an ongoing process and not a one-off transaction. Dawn says that a common pitfall is that musicians become complacent when it comes to regular gigs where they have a good history with a venue or agent who normally plays fair. “Unfortunately it’s not going to help your claim to say, ‘I always got paid before,” advises Dawn. “It’s this particular unpaid gig that you need to prove the terms of. I hear from members who say, ‘We had a contract last time but there weren’t any problems so we didn’t use one this time’.” Another common mistake is to arrange the gig with Bob the barman who neither has the authority to hire bands nor is anywhere to be found when the band turn up. Check that your contract is with the right person, and when you sign make sure it identifies the ‘legal person’ (either an individual over 18 or a limited company) who is engaging you as the hirer. “The contract should not simply name the hirer as The Fly Bar or Fantasia or Queen Victoria, advice The key points to remember when arranging a booking 1 © Mike V / Alamy Get it in writing A Twitter, Facebook or text booking is still better than arranging a gig over the phone. “At least you’ve got something in writing,” says Dawn. 2 “Your contract certainly isn’t with Queen Victoria and we can’t help you to bring a claim against her,” Only sign with a legal person A legal person is anyone over 18 or a limited company, and they should be named as the hirer. If the booking is with a company, check that it exists. 3 © Image Source / Alamy Dawn Rodger followed by an address,” Dawn advises. “Your contract certainly isn’t with Queen Victoria and we can’t help you to bring a claim against her. These names are not ‘legal persons’, they are either simply part of an address, and you can’t sue a building, or business or trading names of the legal person using them.” MU support Professional vocalist Tracey Howard-Baker has had her fair share of dubious dealings with promoters. Most recently, she fell foul of a venue who had booked her and her band, Roxi & the Blue Cats, via Facebook without Check their authority Always make sure the hirer who has signed the contract or made the agreement has the authority to do so; Bob the barman probably doesn’t. giving her the full terms and conditions. Of course, there are many hard-working, honest promoters out there who support the music industry and the musicians working within it. “There are some good organisers/ promoters using social media who plan, book and promote their events to the max, and try their very best to ensure that the acts are well-informed, promoted and paid,” says Tracey. Rich goes as far as to suggest that sometimes it’s the musicians themselves who create issues when it comes to the terms and conditions of a gig booking. “I think it can be very difficult dealing with some musicians. They can have very exacting demands that cannot be fulfilled.” Ultimately, the onus is on the musician to ensure that the contract is fair, legal and binding, and if only one member of the band is in the MU, they should be the one doing the negotiating: “A claim is much more straightforward if it’s the MU member who’s dealt with the business side of things,” says Dawn. “Although it’s important that they get their colleagues to join the MU as well.” 4 What do you mean they’ve gone? Your contract is with the person you made the booking with, even if they move on before the gig takes place. 5 Talk to the MU The MU can offer legal help and advice to all its members. If you have a disagreement with a venue, promoter or agent, contact your Regional Office. TOP TIP value yourself as a musician Don’t be afraid of asking to be taken seriously. Using contracts and agreeing terms demonstrates that you expect to be respected. The Musician • Autumn 2014 39 How to increase your FEES We all want to get paid fairly, but talking about money can be a difficult thing. Anne Wollenberg offers tips for getting what you deserve. 40 As the cost of living continues to rise, negotiating a good rate of pay is more important than ever. But how can you go about raising your rates when it’s challenging enough to raise the subject in the first place? “Give yourself the okay to talk about money,” says Dave Webster, MU National Organiser for Live Performance. “Be very straightforward and make sure you have your business hat on when you have this conversation.” This applies whether you’re dealing with an industry professional who has similar discussions on a daily basis, or a member of the public who has never booked a band before. It’s a business transaction either way, so be sure to treat it like one. Broaching the subject of payment shows that you value what you do. It’s worth trying to get this right from the beginning, says Louise Bolotin, a freelance journalist who co-tutors the Pitch and Deal course for the National Union of Journalists. “People don’t necessarily think about how they should be speaking on the phone,” she says. “If you mess up at the start, you’re immediately putting yourself at a disadvantage when it comes to selling what you’re selling and making sure you get the right money for it.” Practise your approach. Try rehearsing what you plan to say out loud until you can deliver it with confidence. “People tell us money is the thing they find really hard to talk about, so they don’t talk about it,” says Bolotin. “That’s why role-playing is an important part of our course. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. And if you don’t negotiate beforehand, you may find there’s no incentive, or even no obligation, to pay you.” Agreeing a higher fee could prove pointless if the gig gets pulled, so it’s important to make a deposit part of the deal, too. “This can help flush out people who aren’t really in a position to put gigs on,” says Kelly Wood, MU Live Performance Official. “If they pay a deposit, they may do more of a push on the promotion, which can also be a good way to negotiate on price,” she continues. “If you’ve got active social media platforms that will reach your committed fans, you can say you’ll use these to help plug the show.” Your rates should rise as your reputation grows, but asking a happy client for more money can feel risky, and you may wonder The Musician • Autumn 2014 Playing live can be a valuable experience in itself. But don’t sell yourself short, and be sure to get paid what your experience merits “Diplomacy is vital at all times. If you’re rude or difficult, word can get round.” if it’s wise to rock the boat. The trick is to approach the subject in a way that makes you sound reasonable. It can help to cite external factors such as inflation, so do your research first. “The Retail Price Index is a good benchmark for increasing your fees,” says Dave Webster, who suggests visiting the Labour Research Department website for relevant statistics (lrd.org.uk). “It’s also useful to look at rising fuel prices and to be aware of what other musicians are earning.” advice © DCPhoto / Alamy venue Urban Forest. “Promoters don’t see money from the bar and venue, so they have to try to get the venue as cheaply as possible – and you’re not going to get a sell-out deal if the venue isn’t actually likely to sell out.” Case study: Dark Blues The MU’s suggested minimum rates are a useful starting point. They can be found in the members’ area of the website, and the Regional Offices will be happy to advise, too. Remember to differentiate between the price you charge and the amount of profit you’ll see after taking off tax, travel and other costs, as well as factoring in the time commitment involved. A corporate trip abroad may involve several days in which you are effectively held captive. These are all potential bargaining points when trying to negotiate rates. Try to see the fee from the client’s perspective. If they’ve suggested a price, they’re unlikely to have plucked it from thin air. If it’s a function, what’s the overall budget? If you are booking a gig, will there be room to manoeuvre after the venue has covered its costs? “Some venues do door splits after the cost of opening, which includes things like security and technical staff,” says Joe Roberts, a freelance promoter rep and venue manager who recently worked on the launch of London © David Monk “It’s more competitive now than I’ve ever known it,” says Nigel Tully, band leader of in-demand function band the Dark Blues. “But you don’t always get the gig by quoting more cheaply.” Tully recommends finding out as much as you can about potential bookings and emphasising any unique selling points your act may have. “Our vocalist, Annabel Williams, is a vocal coach on The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent, so I make sure I work that into the conversation early on.” “Be prepared to talk directly and clearly about money. If you quote £3,000 for a function band and someone else is quoting £1,500, you’ve got to find a way of justifying that to your client,” he says. “Ask how long their sets are, who’s in the band, how big their setlist is and if it’s fixed,” he continues. “Do they only know 20 songs? Does their price include a PA? You need to be able to say: if you book my band, this is what you’ll get.” Roberts says diplomacy is vital at all times. If you are rude or difficult, word can get around quickly. “If there are any issues with a band, people will hear about it,” he says. “Be nice to people on the way up, or they won’t be nice to you on the way down.” “It shouldn’t be a grabbing exercise,” adds the MU’s Kelly Wood. “If a promoter pays a fee they can’t afford, they might put ticket prices up, which could put people off coming and stop you from getting a repeat booking.” One possible strategy is to ask for a guaranteed fee and a percentage of the potential door takings. “Be realistic,” says Wood. “Don’t sell yourself short, but don’t be greedy. You might say: ‘that’s less than I would normally work for, and if you want me to commit to doing this gig you’ll need to meet me halfway.’” People are less likely to feel short-changed if they understand what they are paying for, so it’s a good idea to keep things as transparent as possible – which is especially advisable for members working in education. “Whoever engages you, whether schools or parents, they need to know what they are paying for,” says Dianne Widdison, MU National Organiser, Education & Training. “Being open about your charges and policies will encourage professionalism on both sides.” Teaching rates should factor in the cost of tax and National Insurance, and should reflect your training and expertise. The MU currently suggests a guideline fee of £31, based on an average take-home rate of around £24-25 per hour, although fees vary according to location and experience. If you’re teaching in a school, find out how much they’re charging parents. When there’s a middle man involved, it helps to know how big a cut they’re taking. “Make sure your fees reflect your skills, experience and qualifications, and communicate with parents and schools about when increases will take place,” Diane says. “It is really important to establish your professionalism from the onset, and setting fees is an important part of this.” The Musician • Autumn 2014 41 ASk us first It is in the interest of all MU members to read this list carefully. If you are offered any work or agreements by anyone listed below, before you accept, please consult either the contact shown here, your Regional Office, or MU Legal Official Dawn Rodger (tel: 0161 233 4007, email: [email protected]). — Andrew East-Erskine / Wish Music Ltd — European City Guide Jo Laverty on 020 7840 5535 — Big AL Entertainment Group / Big AL Entertainments Ltd* Scotland & N Ireland Office on 0141 341 2960 — Expo Guide Scotland & Northern Ireland Office on 0141 341 2960 — Bigfoot Arts Education Fran Hanley on 020 7840 5544 — Getty Images Music Ben Jones on 020 7840 5557 — Grubser’s Limited Naomi Pohl on 020 7840 5532 * — Brian Soundy / UK Jazz Radio & Now Dawn Rodger on 0161 233 4007 or Scotland & Northern Ireland Office on 0141 341 2960 42 — Celtic Music / CM Distribution Horace Trubridge on 020 7840 5512 — Classical Festival Company Ltd* / Serenata / Anthony Malpas / Lesley Malpas Paul Burrows on 020 7840 5536 — Craigholme School for Girls (Glasgow) Scotland & Northern Ireland Office on 0141 341 2960 — David Shepherd and Brian Daniels t/a D and B Productions Ltd Dave Webster on 020 7840 5512 — English Martyrs Roman Catholic School Fran Hanley on 020 7840 5544 — Hemmings Leisure — Isle of Wight Jazz Festival Limited* / Isle of Wight Folk & Blues Festival Limited* / Philip Snellen / Geri Ward Paul Burrows on 020 7840 5536 — Keko Promotions London Paul Burrows on 020 7840 5536 — Leo Alexander Jo Laverty on 020 7840 5535 — The Orion Orchestra Management (Jan Cassidy) Dave Webster on 020 7840 5512 — Pamela Aird at the Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon — Play Recording Studios Ltd* Naomi Pohl on 020 7840 5532 — Ptarmigan Productions Ltd* / Mr Brian Willets / Ptarmigan Promotions Ltd* Dave Webster on 020 7840 5512 — Royal Shakespeare Company Productions in London Naomi Pohl on 020 7840 5532 — Speckulation Entertainment Limited — Wayne Maughn / Maughan * Dissolved — Live & Unsigned Kelly Wood on 020 7582 5566 — Music Management (UK) Limited; Sally Civval — The Music Practice Ltd Scotland & Northern Ireland Office on 0141 341 2960 — Online Music Ventures Limited* / Andrew Smales The latest edition of the Ask Us First list can be obtained from the ‘Advice & downloads’ section by logging into theMU.org The Musician • Autumn 2014 — Orchestra Europa Limited Artist promotion services MU members are sometimes asked to sign up to artist promotion services that demand an up-front fee. Members are advised to view any such company that requires an up-front payment with caution and to consult their MU Regional Office before signing any agreement or parting with any money. To get your CD reviewed send recordings, full contact info, biog and PR material to: Reviews, The Musician, 60-62 Clapham Rd, London SW9 0JJ. You should also forward your cover artwork and/ or photos (minimum 300dpi resolution) to: [email protected] Copies of the recording must be available to MU members, the industry reviews and public. We try to help as many members as possible, and preference is given to members not previously reviewed. reviews Reviewer: Keith Ames A look at some of the new albums, EPs and downloads released by MU members for 2014, together with links for more information on the featured artists. © Robin Beer Sam Dowden H ailing from Devon, Sam Dowden is a singer/guitarist in the mould of James Morrison. He’s been sharing stages with Jack Johnson and Ben Howard, while garnering BBC airplay and much acclaim for his performances and the contemporary style of his fluid songwriting. Potential chart-bound, media-friendly hits can be found liberally sprinkled throughout Sam’s latest album: the instantly likeable and upbeat Lucky Stars; the effect-driven mid-tempo Just Friends; and Silver Skin with its Sheeranesque percussion. Each track positively blossoms with the North Devonian artist’s focused, gimmick-free writing and hook-ridden guitar work. His enduring vocals, with their naturalness and unaffected style, are a breath of fresh air. A modern day Colin Blunstone, Henry Gross and David Gray in waiting. samdowdenmusic.com Sam Dowden Out Of The Blue Clever wordplay, funky rhythms, singalong toplines and Sam’s attractive voice must surely gain further traction for this rising artist. Able to sound utterly up-to-theminute and yet echo classic elements, Sam is building rapidly on his early promise. The Musician • Autumn 2014 jazz Heads South On The Way Instantly light, refreshing and adventurous, this album boasts 11 tracks of uplifting originals with welcome interpretations of Horace Silver’s The Preacher and The Odd Couple theme mixed in for additional flavour. Spirited solos and understated rhythms blend to make a delightful whole. headssouth.com Spice Fusion Trying Too Hard 44 Arranger/saxophonist Simon Niblock and drummer/composer Elliott Henshaw are the driving force behind this big band, formed to encompass their joint love of jazz, Latin, cabaret, soul and swing. A consummate example of big band power. spicefusion.co.uk folk/roots The Gascoyne O’Higgins Quartet The Real Note, Volume 2 Skyhook At The Stringsmith’s Forge The acoustic trio treat us to another album of exceptional airs, dances and ballads. Opener Snowing Up The Hill sets an ear-catching high standard, before Bonny Light Horseman has feet a-tapping and any chairbound listeners heading to the dance floor. skyhookmusic.com This captures one of our leading jazz line-ups in blistering form. Delivering new compositions based on established chord sequences, there is a genuine depth and imaginative scope present here. geoffgascoyne.com The Basin Street Brawlers It’s Tight Like That! A light left on Burning The Candle At Both Ends The dynamic sevenpiece serve up piping hot 20s and 30s rags. Solos surface from the waves of group playing, and when rounded off by a bluesy vocal, underline the timeless appeal of a swinging outfit. tinyurl.com/bsbrawlers Melodic acoustic folk/ pop with striking lead guitars, subtle strings and the occasional blissful harmony. Last To Leave and the George Harrison-like Don’t Throw Me Away are the pick of the bunch. alightlefton.co.uk stand out rock Button up Beat Street Coatbridge’s mod heroes step out with an album of brass and organ dancefloor fillers. The setlist leads with It’s A Trip with a Northern Soul feel, yet it is I Can Fall which absolutely hits the RAF target. Fab. buttonuprecords.com The Curious Incident Might As Well Swim The debut from this London-based foursome brings some much needed aural sunshine. Happily, the sun-kissed, hook-laden melodies never fall into irritatingly chirpy territory. facebook.com/ thecuriousincident We’ve picked out two albums that have taken the pole position on our playlist and just get better every time we press Play… Alison Raynor Quintet August Alison has been wowing audiences for many years, whether in the jazz-Latin Guest Stars or working with Tal Farlow. This disc is packed with her own prime fusion and swing compositions, such as Mr Stanley II and Half A World Away. blowthefuse.com The Musician • Autumn 2014 John Verity Tone Hound Best known for his tenure with Argent in the 70s, John Verity has maintained a long and influential career. Still gigging to acclaim with both acoustic and electric outfits, his search for the ultimate blues tone continues, and here he’s nailed a classic British take on the genre. johnverity.com THE ROOZ Caught In The Sun This teenage four-piece markedly avoid being pigeonholed into one genre and present hard rockers, ballads, boogie woogie and rock‘n’roll. The occasional addition of keys only serves to highlight their range. therooz.co.uk reviews country classical Andy Quin Tocatta No.1 In C Pleasingly indebted to 19th century composers, with nimble ornamentation in the style of Chopin plus a Debussy-flavoured approach to tonality. A gorgeous example of modern repertoire masquerading as a salon piece, this is a real treat for the ears. tinyurl.com/andy-quin Laura Rossi Voices Of Remembrance Jan Leszczynski Over The Horizon A landmark orchestral and choral collection, alongside readings by Vanessa Redgrave and Ralph Fiennes, to commemorate the soldiers of World War I. Complete with informative liner notes, it’s an important and timely production. laurarossi.com A Lincolnshire-based classical guitarist and writer who specialises in tender instrumentals. Starting out in rock and blues, he went on to study classical guitar, perfecting the wideranging solo style at the core of these 14 heartfelt tracks. guitarmanjan.co.uk singer/songwriter Charlotte Campbell Blue Eyed Soul David Woodcock Open Secret Released after a PledgeMusic drive, the 10 tracks burst with melodies laced with sunshine and delicate acoustic settings, which never fail to demonstrate her impassioned, commercial appeal. tinyurl.com/charlottec This Southend-on-Sea based songwriter has quietly established himself as one of the most intriguing musicians to emerge this year, with an excellent run of smart, catchy and urgent singles that will surely bear endless returns. tinyurl.com/dwoodcock With his lyrics at the heart of the project (‘The rain on my windscreen and the sun on my back, nothing left in this place that can ever hold me back, I’m coming home, coming home’), Nick steps into a crowded marketplace with an assured sound. nicktann.co.uk Belle Chen Listen, London Rosie Bans Be Bold Meadhbh Boyd Confrontation Australian-Taiwanese pianist Belle Chen is developing a growing reputation thanks to her impressive solo pieces, chamber music recitals and concerto performances. This is an excellent introduction, with seven original pieces focusing on the aural soundscape that is our capital city. bellechen.com A talented writer of intensity and integrity with something to say about modern life and everyday challenges. The influences of Tori Amos, Imogen Heap and Hazel O’Connor bubble along under the surface but Rosie has defined her own space in which to create melodic and finely observed songs. rosiebans.com This arresting release comes from an ethnomusicology graduate whose conversational vocals over a looping riff are interspersed with frenzied bursts of fiddle. Boyd’s off-kilter approach may not be for everyone, but its simplicity should be enough to appeal to musicologists and Regina Spektor fans alike. meadhbhboyd.com Catherine Ashby Tennessee Tracks A homegrown Americana singer/ songwriter, Catherine marries classic Nashville with a British sensibility and lyrical warmth to illustrate the best of both musical worlds. catherineashby.com Nick Tann 3am writer/composer Charlie Savigar Get In Line This country rock release parades a commercial touch and the influences of rock royalty such as Status Quo frontman Francis Rossi. Light-hearted, and life-affirming. charliesavigar.com Rick Christian It’s About Time Rick ensures his pick of standards (The Fields Of Athenry, Love Hurts) benefit from the same emotional content as his tuneful originals (Haunted By The Memory, The Things I Didn’t Say). rickchristian.co.uk The Musician • Autumn 2014 45 of its brass ensemble, then principal trumpet two years later. Rod Franks 46 Hugely respected former principal trumpet with the LSO. In July, a car crash robbed us of a prodigious talent, aged just 58. Rod Franks’ contribution to the LSO over a 25-year tenure has been simply immense. With 23 of those years as principal trumpet, he had recently requested to step back to third trumpet, following ongoing health issues from an operation to remove a brain tumour in 2002. “It’s very far from normal and I can’t always tell how loud I’m playing,” he said to The Times in 2008, adding that he relied on his co-principal Maurice Murphy for an honest appraisal. “I have made him promise to tell me if the day comes I should give up.” Born in Shipley, West Yorkshire in 1956, Rod played with the Brighouse and Rastrick Band and the Bergen Philharmonic, before becoming principal trumpet of the Philip Jones Brass Ensemble. He joined the LSO in 1988, appointed artistic director The Musician • Autumn 2014 While towering performances and an avuncular charm hallmarked his playing career, Rod’s selfless determination to continue educating the next generation, through the LSO’s brass academies and as professor of trumpet at The Royal Academy, drew equal admiration. The LSO recalls a colleague “passionate about the education of future generations of musicians,” while the RA’s principal, Jonathan FreemanAttwood, “will remember his incisive understanding of what students needed, his genuine warmth and, of course, his legendary and remarkable courage. And what a player.” A refusal to let health problems compromise a career he loved only enhanced his reputation among colleagues and fans. “His resilience and strength over the past few years were astounding,” says the RA’s head of brass, Mark David. “So much so that he seemed invincible.” Kathy Stobart: a most innovative sax player Kathy Stobart Innovative saxophonist regarded as the first lady of British jazz. But for a chance encounter, we might be remembering Kathy Stobart the light entertainer rather than the pioneering jazz musician. “The grounding in music I had covered classical, light and dance music,” she recalled in an interview in 1974. “I certainly didn’t hear anything about jazz in those days.” Born into a musical family in South Shields in 1925, she picked up tenor sax swiftly and was touring wartime Britain at just 16 with the all-girl Don Rico’s Ladies Swing Band, adding singing, dancing and Gracie Fields impressions to her repertoire. Clive Somerville When the Blitz forced a return to the North East to join Peter Fielding’s Ballroom Orchestra, she chanced upon sax supremos Keith Bird and Derek Neville, then stationed at the local RAF base. They bought her 10 jazz records for her 17th birthday and taught her the rudiments of the genre. She never looked back. “His resilience over the past few years was astounding,” Mark David Once the bombing abated, the war provided unbounded opportunities, even if a female sax player was something of a novelty in 40s Britain. “It was “Rod was hugely respected and immensely popular with members of the orchestra, conductors and audience alike,” said the LSO, in a warm tribute. “He will be missed for his ever-welcoming friendliness and brilliant playing.” © David Redfern/Getty Images tributes wartime and everybody was so hard up for players they had to give me a job,” she recalled. She took full advantage, playing jazz all over the capital, from bottle parties in bombed-out basements, to the 100 Club and the BBC, working with Denis Rose, Ted Heath and Art Pepper, among many others. After briefly fronting her own band, a call from Humphrey Lyttelton in 1957 changed the course of her career. Their long collaboration produced the album Kath Meets Humph, the man himself marvelling at her “huge, booming sound, imbued with total originality and commanding presence”. “A huge, booming sound, imbued with total originality,” Humphrey Lyttelton Kathy also enjoyed the “amazing… very gratifying” experience of teaching at London’s City Literary Institute throughout the 60s and 70s, while continuing to delight audiences with solo and collaborative performances, until her retirement in 2004. She was, as many observed, a true original. Clive Somerville Tributes Robert Masters with a young Nigel Kennedy Martin Lister © Isifa/Getty Images A musician, songwriter and producer for more than 25 years, Martin Lister died unexpectedly in May. As a session man, programmer and producer he worked with artists such as Mel B, Beverley Knight, Gabrielle, Paul Carrack and Peter Andre, and played a major role in the BBC show Fame Academy, recording songs at short notice. But it was as a member of German synth pop band Alphaville that he was perhaps best known. Joining in 1995 when the band began to play live shows more regularly, he was at first the band’s keyboard player and musical director, but in time became an integral part of the act, writing songs for many of their later albums. Alphaville’s lead singer Marian Gold remembered Martin as “a marvellous keyboard player, a competent and gifted composer of music and a most precious friend”. Roy Delaney Arthur Jerrom One of the best British steel guitarists. Steel guitarist Arthur Jerrom has passed away. Performing under the stage name Jerry West, he was reputedly Slim Whitman’s favourite steel-guitarist and played in the country singer’s band during the 60s, touring Australia and New Zealand. He also played with country greats such as Willie Nelson and Hank Locklin, and formed his own band, Spinning Wheel, who found success in the 50s and 60s touring US bases in the UK, entertaining homesick servicemen. It was while serving in the Navy that Jerrom learned to play steel guitar, practising during his months at sea. After he was discharged he joined The Tumbleweeds, playing alongside bassist Dave Peacock, later one half of Chas & Dave. He later gigged with Rod Clarke and Terry Edwards, with whom he formed Spinning Wheel. Garrick Webster Martin Lister: keyboard whiz for Alphaville John Leach Steve Dawson John Leach, composer of soundtrack and library music and player of exotic instruments such as santur, koto, cheng, kantele and cimbalom, has died aged 82. Steve played trumpet and flugel horn, and had been a well known face on the London music scene for more than 30 years. His close understanding of brass playing in the jazz and Latin spheres helped guide the development of many musicians from their first tentative steps with the horn all the way through to becoming professional players. The sound of the Cold War spy movies. © Getty Images Synth pop maestro and member of Alphaville. Robert Masters Sublime violinist and music educator. English violinist Robert Masters has died at the age of 97. A fellow of the Royal Academy, which he first attended at the age of 16, he specialised in music education. He was instrumental in helping Yehudi Menuhin found his School in Surrey, where he also tutored a young Nigel Kennedy. “There is no other person with whom I have shared as many ideas on the violin, on interpretation, and on music in general,” Menuhin wrote. “We have shared so many ideas on the violin,” Yehudi Menuhin Robert performed at the Coronation in 1953, and was director of the Bath International Music Festival. He helped assemble Menuhin’s violin ensemble. While touring in Australia, he met his wife Noel, and later emigrated. He passed away in Sydney, and soon after his death the Menuhin School performed Fauré’s Requiem in his memory. Garrick Webster Born in London in 1931, John was evacuated to a musical family during the war, and started learning the piano at 10. Upon leaving school he learned flute at Trinity College of Music. By the age of 21 he had played for the Sadler’s Wells Ballet Orchestra, D’Oyly Carte Opera and the Liverpool Philharmonic. While playing in Liverpool he spotted an opportunity that would help make his name. John noticed that the players brought in to play the Hungarian dulcimer-like instrument the cimbalom were unaccustomed to orchestra work, so travelled to Budapest to have lessons. This brave move paid off, and soon he was the go-to guy for cimbalom work, most famously appearing on the opening credits of the The Ipcress File and many other great movie soundtracks. Roy Delaney Brass maestro and much-loved teacher. As well as becoming a regular face in the bands at West End shows, Steve recorded with artists as varied as Mezzoforte, Jimmy Page, The Style Council and The Cure, and within the Latin-jazz scene he worked extensively with Roberto Pla, Alex Wilson, Omar Puente and The Big Three Palladium Orchestra. Steve had also been developing an advanced trumpet, called Ursa Major, with Leigh McKinney at Eclipse Trumpets. Over the last two years Steve had been fighting a battle with a rare form of brain tumor. His last project was to record a song for the recent World Cup, with any profits from its sales going to a brain cancer charity. Sadly Steve never got to see the full fruits of his labours, as not long after recording, his condition worsened, and he left this world on 16 June. Roy Delaney The Musician • Autumn 2014 47 Kenneth Thorne Multi award-winning TV and movie score composer. Born in Norfolk in 1924, Kenneth Thorne cut his teeth playing piano with the big bands, before turning to composition in his late twenties. He began to score music for the movies in 1948, and worked on films including The Beatles vehicle Help!, Inspector Clouseau, The Bed Sitting Room, Hannie Caulder and How I Won The War, as well as classic British TV series The Persuaders, R3 and The Zoo Gang. But perhaps his most well-known work came when his friend and “Over his career he collected a string of awards nominations, and won an Oscar.” 1848 Kendrick Partington Lifelong musical educationalist. Born in Nottingham, Kendrick learned to play the organ at a local church while in his teens, and received advanced tuition from Boris Ord when he went to study at Cambridge. He started out in teaching as assistant director of music at Malvern College, and regular co-conspirator Richard Lester hired him to recompose the original John Williams scores for the action blockbusters Superman II and Superman III. Over his career he collected a string of awards nominations, including Best Original Score at the Grammys for Help! and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Music And Lyrics at the Emmys for A Season Of Hope. But he topped the lot with a prestigious Oscar win for his score of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum in 1966. Known as a kind and gentle man, he passed away at his Californian home in July, and is survived by his wife Linda, and twin daughters Emily and Claire. Roy Delaney after a period as director of music at Wellington School in Somerset he moved back to Nottingham in 1957 to take up the same role at the city’s High School. He was organist at St Peter’s Church in the city centre until 1994, and founded the St Peter’s Singers, recently celebrating its 25th anniversary with members past and present. Roy Delaney Alan Sparkes Session guitarist who sat in behind many greats of stage and screen. Alan began his professional career playing at the Gaiety Ballroom in Grimsby. He began learning guitar in 1956 and was largely self-taught, but by 1968 he had graduated from dance bands at the regional ballrooms to getting booked for sessions in London. During the 60s and 70s he backed acts such as the Bee Gees, The Dubliners, the Bay City Rollers, Barbra Streisand and André Previn, and toured regularly with James Last. He was a regular on movie soundtracks and could play virtually every style of music, from jazz to country and western and folk. Later he turned his skills to TV, playing The Musician • Autumn The Musician • Autumn 2014 2013 Freddy Adamson Popular big band drummer and friend of the stars. Freddy hailed from a small village in Yorkshire. After working locally in Hull he joined the Jack Parnell Big Band, and drummed with many well-known big bands of that time, including those of Oscar Rabin, Eric Winston, Ken Mackintosh and Vic Lewis. He worked on many top West End musicals, touring Scandinavia with the original production of West Side Story, as well as Sweet Charity, Godspell and the ill-fated Kay Hurwitz Inspirational viola player and educational pioneer. Described by everybody who knew her as a formidable character, Kay was a viola player, chamber musician and educationalist who kept working well into her eighties. The wife of renowned violinist and leader of the English Chamber Orchestra Emanuel Hurwitz, Kay was a founder member of the Melos Ensemble under her husband’s leadership, and they were both regulars at Aldeburgh. Twang. He accompanied top artists of the day both at home and abroad with Engelbert Humperdinck in Las Vegas, and had a long and happy association with Bruce Forsyth for over 20 years. He was an enthusiastic mentor to students, and always advised them to read. Moving to Walmer, he played regular Sunday Concerts on the Royal Marines Memorial Bandstand. Freddy died on the 15 April after a long illness. He leaves Jean, his supporter and fan of nearly 60 years. Jean Adamson In 1967, she set up the Youth Music Centre in Hampstead, which went on to become one of the best respected Saturday morning music schools in London, and was a regular tutor on the Monterosso string courses in the 1970s and at the Dartington Summer School. More recently she gained an unexpected late bloom of fame among Harry Potter fans after a poster for a Mozart concert she once gave was seen on a bulletin board in Hermione Granger’s bedroom. Roy Delaney on shows as diverse as The Two Ronnies, Top Of The Pops and as part of Laurie Holloway’s band on Parkinson. After developing serious heart problems in 2003, he retired to France with his wife Val, where he still managed to organise regular jam sessions. Sparky was a great all-round musician and a good friend. His humour and sheer exuberance was infectious and could brighten up the dullest of sessions. I shall miss him greatly, as I’m sure will many others in the music business. Mike Townend The MU also notes the sad passing of saxophonist Johnnie Gray. A full tribute to Johnnie is now available on the MU’s website. notices Your Executive Committee and Regional Committee nominations VAT Place of Supply of Services – changes due in 2015 Members are alerted to impending changes to VAT rules, coming into effect on 1 January 2015. Paid-up members will have received their printed copy of The Musician Extra from their Regional Office during August or early September. This contains information on standing for any vacancies on their own Regional Committee (RC) plus standing for any vacancies on the national Executive Committee (EC). The changes only affect B2C transactions where the customer is a private person based in another EU member state. The changes apply to supplies of telecommunications, supplies of broadcasting services – including radio or television programmes transmitted over a radio or TV network and live broadcasts over the internet; and to supplies of e-services – including video on demand, downloaded apps and music downloads. Nominations for Regional Committee Nominations for the Executive Committee Candidates for a Regional Committee must be nominated by another member of their Region. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must have held MU membership for at least one year immediately prior to the date of nomination, as well as be a resident, or undertake the majority of their work as a musician, in the region in which they are nominated. Candidates for the Executive Committee must be nominated by another member of their Region. To be eligible for nomination, candidates must have held MU membership for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to the date of nomination, as well as be resident, or undertake the majority of their work as a musician, in the region in which they are nominated. Nominations must be made using the form contained in your Extra (photocopied if necessary) and must be received by the Regional Organiser at or before the appropriate Regional AGM, details of which can be found in your Extra. Nominations must be made using the form contained in your Extra (photocopied if necessary) and must be received by the Regional Organiser at or before the appropriate Regional AGM, details of which can be found in your Extra. Full details of the elections can be found in the autumn issue of your Musician Extra and on the Union’s website: theMU.org Currently, where these services are supplied to private customers in other EU member states, UK VAT should be charged. In the new year it will be necessary to charge VAT at the local rate where the customer belongs. This can be done by registering for MOSS (Mini One Stop Shop) which allows for all such transactions to be accounted for on a single return submitted online to HMRC. In the case of broadcasting services, if an MU member arranges a live broadcast of a concert on the internet, and private persons pay to watch it, then this would appear to be caught by the new rules. In the case of e-services, music downloads are affected by the new rules so if the MU member has a website and charges people for downloading content, then supplies to private persons in other EU member states would be caught by the new rules. The new rules only affect MU members who are VAT registered. Members are advised to contact their accountant in the first instance, while further help can be obtained from HW Fisher.co.uk. In the meantime, more details and documentation can be found at theMU.org The Musician in audio and on CD In addition to providing The Musician on CD to visually impaired musicians upon request, the large print versions of The Musician Extra, plus all documents provided by the MU, including rates and advice leaflets, can be requested in large print. The Musician • Autumn 2014 49 © Blend Images/Alamy “The scheme was designed for use by all members of the Union, no matter what side of the business they are on.” in particular to allow policy holders to make personal contributions outside of contracts, and starting personal contributions now will obviously help improve retirement prospects. Contributions can be made on a regular or ad hoc basis and at a level you want. MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR UNION 50 Saving for the future A flexible, competitive Personal Pension Scheme designed specifically for musicians. The Musician explains what it can offer… Since the relaunch in 2000, the Musicians’ Union Pension Scheme (MUPS) has established itself as the first choice in pensions for musicians working in the UK in theatre, television and radio. Designed specifically for the needs of working musicians, the MUPS is the only stakeholder-compliant pension scheme into which participating employers will contribute. Administered by Hencilla Canworth, the MU’s preferred insurance advisers, the scheme’s funds are managed by AVIVA, the UK’s largest insurance group. MUPS offers great flexibility, with policy holders contributing only when they want to. The scheme has been designed The Musician • Autumn 2014 Is there something that we do within the MU that you would like to know a little more about? Or perhaps there is an element of your professional life that you need a little advice on? Either way, we might be able to help. Drop us your questions to the appropriate address at the front of the magazine, or via Twitter @WeAreTheMU Reassuringly, MU members who sign will have full control of their involvement in the scheme, as only they have access to their pension fund. It is also possible to consolidate existing pensions into one place, as they can be transferred into the scheme. On top of that, it comes with a low and simple charging structure. Company contributions Many high profile employers are part of the scheme, and make a contribution alongside that of policy holders. These include Birmingham Royal Ballet, Society of London Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Royal Opera House, Royal National Theatre, BBC, ITV and the ENO. Recently the scheme has expanded to cover Subsidised Repertory and Commercial Touring Theatre. But MU members do not have to be attached to a professional orchestra or ensemble to take part in the scheme. Part-time and freelance musicians also have access to MUPS, and Hencilla’s advisors will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do to join – and what the benefits are likely to be. What’s in it for me? So who can join the scheme? Andrew Barker of Hencilla Canworth explains: “The scheme was designed for use by all members of the Union, no matter what side of the business they are on. We have solo artists, band members and orchestra members in the scheme. The key benefits include access to a quality product, a product into which members can make regular and one-off personal contributions, and of course the additional benefit of contributions made by production companies, if they are working under a qualifying MU agreement. Anyone can join – they just have to be over 16 and under 75.” Further information For more financial advice, and information on any of the other great benefits offered by the MU, visit theMU.org. For more specific pensions advice, go to Hencilla Canworth’s site at hencilla.co.uk. member benefits Have you registered for your MU benefits? While membership of the MU offers a wide range of free services, there are a number of benefits that you need to register or apply for. MU website To fully access our website — theMU.org — you will need to register on your first visit using your membership number. Instrument and equipment insurance For £2,000 worth of free musical instrument and equipment cover, register for the scheme by calling Hencilla Canworth on 020 8686 5050. Motoring service The MU Family Motoring and Accident Aftercare Services provides 24/7 cover. —Register now via telephone or the web. w mu.freerecoveryplus.co.uk Contract advice — before you sign Receive professional advice on the terms and implications of any complex agreements via our Contract Advisory Service. Contact your Regional Office to find out more. Partnership advice Are you due a royalty payment from us for the use of any of your recordings in television programmes, films or adverts? Are you the next of kin of a musician who used to receive royalties from us? The Musicians’ Union pays royalties to a growing number of musicians for the secondary exploitation of their recordings. In most cases we know which musicians performed on the recording and already have their contact and payment details, so the royalty income can be distributed straight away. However, there is a certain amount of income we have collected that we cannot distribute as we have not been able to identify who performed on the recording; or we do know the names of the musicians but we have been unable to trace them or their next of kin. If you can assist the Musicians’ Union with line-up information or contact details, visit musiciansunion.org.uk/ advice-downloads/royalties Here, you will be able to find more information on the types of royalty income we collect, as well as lists of musicians and recording line-ups we are currently trying to trace. musiciansunion.org.uk/ advice-downloads/royalties If all the members of your group are already MU members, or decide to join, we can offer free partnership advice and an agreement. Contact your Regional Office for more information. Medical assistance The British Association for Performing Arts Medicine delivers specialist health support to musicians. Visit bapam.org.uk Musician’s Hearing Services (MHS) MHS offer a top range of hearing related services for MU members. For an appointment, call MHS on 020 7486 1053. w musicianshearingservices.co.uk Full details of all the benefits of membership can be found in your MU Members’ Handbook. MU Sections 2014 To join, contact the relevant MU Official. Live Performance Section Dave Webster National Organiser – Live Performance 60 – 62 Clapham Road London SW9 0JJ T 020 7840 5512 F 020 7582 9805 E [email protected] Music Writers’ Section Ben Jones National Organiser – Recording & Broadcasting 60- 62 Clapham Road London SW9 0JJ T 020 7840 5557 F 020 7793 9185 E [email protected] Orchestra Section Bill Kerr National Organiser – Orchestras 61 Bloom Street Manchester M1 3LY T 0161 233 4002 F 0161 236 0159 E [email protected] Recording & Broadcasting Section Ben Jones National Organiser – Recording & Broadcasting 60 – 62 Clapham Road London SW9 0JJ T 020 7840 5557 F 020 7793 9185 E [email protected] Teachers’ Section Diane Widdison National Organiser – Education & Training 60 – 62 Clapham Road London SW9 0JJ T 020 7840 5558 F 020 7582 9805 E [email protected] Theatre Section Dave Webster National Organiser – Live Performance 60 – 62 Clapham Road London SW9 0JJ T 020 7840 5512 F 020 7582 9805 E [email protected] The Musician • Autumn 2014 51	i don't know
Spiny, Clawed and Slipper are varieties of which creature?	Lobsters, Lobster Pictures, Lobster Facts - National Geographic Size relative to a tea cup Please add a "relative" entry to your dictionary. To many, it may seem that the lobster’s most natural habitat is on a large, oval plate between a cup of drawn butter and a lemon wedge. In fact, only a few of the hundreds of types of lobster are caught commercially. But those few species are some of the most heavily harvested creatures in the sea, and generate a multi-billion-dollar industry, with more than 200,000 tons (181,436 metric tons) of annual global catch. The lobsters that most people know from their dinner plates are the American and European clawed lobsters Homarus americanus and Homarus gammarus. These are cold water species that live on either sides of the northern Atlantic Ocean. There are also tropical lobsters that are widely consumed, but these are generally clawless varieties called spiny and slipper lobsters. Lobsters are ten-legged crustaceans closely related to shrimp and crabs. These benthic, or bottom-dwelling, creatures are found in all of the world’s oceans, as well as brackish environments and even freshwater. They have poor eyesight but highly developed senses of taste and smell. They feed primarily on fish and mollusks, but will consume algae and other plant life and even other lobsters. Female lobsters carry their eggs under their abdomens for up to a year before releasing them as larvae into the water. The larvae go through several stages in the water column before settling on the bottom, where they spend the rest of their lives. They generally prefer to live in self-dug burrows, in rocky crevices, or hidden among sea grasses. Lobsters must shed their shells in order to grow, and some species can live to be 50 years old or more, growing continually throughout their lives. Lobsters have not always been considered chic eats. In 17th- and 18th-century America, they were so abundant in the northeast that they were often used as fertilizer. Laws were even passed forbidding people to feed servants lobster more than twice a week. However, improvements in U.S. transportation infrastructure in the 19th and 20th century brought fresh lobster to distant urban areas, and its reputation as a delicacy grew. Populations of commercially important lobster species are thought to be declining, and overfishing, particularly of clawed lobsters in Europe, is taking a toll. Additionally, pollution is causing shell rot and other illnesses in normally disease-resistant species.	LOBSTER
Which is the most southerly 'Sea Area' in the 'Shipping Forecast'?	Fast Facts About Lobsters By Jennifer Kennedy Updated August 29, 2016. When you think of lobster, do you think of a bright red crustacean on your dinner plate, or a territorial creature roaming caves in the ocean ? Despite their fame as a delicacy, lobsters have fascinating lives. Learn more about this iconic marine creature here. Maine Lobster. Jeff Rotman/The Image Bank/Getty Images 1. Lobsters are invertebrates. Lobsters are marine invertebrates , the group of animals without a notochord . Like many invertebrates, lobsters protect themselves with their hard exoskeleton. This exoskeleton provides structure to the lobster's body. continue reading below our video 10 Best Universities in the United States Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Cuba. Borut Furlan / WaterFrame / Getty Images 2. Not all lobsters have claws. There are two kinds of lobsters. These are commonly referred to as clawed lobsters and spiny" lobsters, or rock lobsters. Clawed lobsters include the American lobster , a popular seafood, especially in New England. Clawed lobsters are generally found in cold waters. Spiny lobsters do not have claws. They do have long, strong antennae. These lobsters are generally found in warm water. As seafood, they are most often served as a lobster tail. Lobster among rocks. Oscar Robertsson/EyeEm/Getty Images 3. Lobsters prefer live food. Although they have a reputation for being scavengers and even cannibals, studies of wild lobsters show that they prefer live prey . These bottom-dwellers feast on fish, mollusks, worms and crustaceans . Although lobsters may eat other lobsters in captivity, this has not been observed in the wild. Man holding a large lobster at a restaurant in Shediac, New Brunswick, Canada. Barrett & MacKay/All Canada Photos/Getty Images 4. Lobsters can live a long time. It takes an American lobster 6-7 years to get to an edible size, but that is just the beginning. Lobsters are long-lived animals, with estimated lifespans of over 100 years. Lobster close-up. Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images 5. Lobsters need to molt to grow. A lobster's shell can't grow, so as the lobster gets bigger and older, it molts and forms a new shell. Molting occurs about once a year in an adult lobster. This is a vulnerable time in which the lobster retreats to a hiding spot and withdraws out of its shell. After molting the lobster's body is very soft and it can take a few months for its shell to harden again. When fish markets advertise soft-shell lobsters, these are lobsters that have recently molted. World's Largest Lobster, Shediac, New Brunswick. Walter Bibikow / Photolibrary / Getty Images 6. Lobsters can grow to over 3 feet. Ok, they're not as long as the 35-foot " World's Largest Lobster " in Shediac, New Brunswick, but real lobsters can get pretty big. The largest American lobster, which was caught off Nova Scotia, weighed 44 pounds, 6 ounces and was 3 feet, 6 inches long. Not all lobsters are this big, though. The slipper lobster , a type of clawless lobster, may be only a few inches long. Caribbean Spiny Lobster, Leeward Dutch Antilles, Curacao,. Nature/UIG / Universal Images Group / Getty Images 7. Lobsters are bottom-dwellers. Take one look at a lobster and it's obvious that they can't swim too far. Lobsters do begin their lives at the surface of the water, as they go through a planktonic stage. As the tiny lobsters grow, they eventually settle to the ocean bottom, where they prefer to hide in rocky caves and crevices. Female Lobster Carrying Eggs. Jennifer Kennedy	i don't know
The number equating to 1 followed by 100 zeroes is known as a what?	Names for Large Numbers Using the Dictionary Names for Large Numbers The English names for large numbers are coined from the Latin names for small numbers n by adding the ending -illion suggested by the name "million." Thus billion and trillion are coined from the Latin prefixes bi- (n = 2) and tri- (n = 3), respectively. In the American system for naming large numbers, the name coined from the Latin number n applies to the number 103n+3. In a system traditional in many European countries, the same name applies to the number 106n. In particular, a billion is 109 = 1 000 000 000 in the American system and 1012 = 1 000 000 000 000 in the European system. For 109, Europeans say "thousand million" or "milliard." Although we describe the two systems today as American or European, both systems are actually of French origin. The French physician and mathematician Nicolas Chuquet (1445-1488) apparently coined the words byllion and tryllion and used them to represent 1012 and 1018, respectively, thus establishing what we now think of as the "European" system. However, it was also French mathematicians of the 1600's who used billion and trillion for 109 and 1012, respectively. This usage became common in France and in America, while the original Chuquet nomenclature remained in use in Britain and Germany. The French decided in 1948 to revert to the Chuquet ("European") system, leaving the U.S. as the chief standard bearer for what then became clearly an American system. In recent years, American usage has eroded the European system, particularly in Britain and to a lesser extent in other countries. This is primarily due to American finance, because Americans insist that $1 000 000 000 be called a billion dollars. In 1974, the government of Prime Minister Harold Wilson announced that henceforth "billion" would mean 109 and not 1012 in official British reports and statistics. The Times of London style guide now defines "billion" as "one thousand million, not a million million." The result of all this is widespread confusion. Anyone who uses the words "billion" and "trillion" internationally should make clear which meaning of those words is intended. On the Internet, some sites outside the U.S. use the compound designation "milliard/billion" to designate the number 1 000 000 000. In science, the names of large numbers are usually avoided completely by using the appropriate SI prefixes . Thus 109 watts is a gigawatt and 1012 joules is a terajoule. Such terms cannot be mistaken. There is no real hope of resolving the controversy in favor of either system. Americans are not likely to adopt the European nomenclature, and Europeans will always regard the American system as an imposition. However, it is possible to imagine a solution: junk both Latin-based systems and move to a Greek-based system in which, for n > 3, the Greek number n is used to generate a name for 103n. (The traditional names thousand and million are retained for n = 1 and 2 and the special name gillion, suggested by the SI prefix giga-, is proposed for n = 3.) n = triacontatrillion This process can be continued indefinitely, but one has to stop somewhere. The name centillion (n = 100) has appeared in many dictionaries. A centillion is 10303 (1 followed by 303 zeroes) in the American system and a whopping 10600 (1 followed by 600 zeroes) in the European system. Finally, there is the googol , the number 10100 (1 followed by 100 zeroes). Invented more for fun than for use, the googol lies outside the regular naming systems. The googol equals 10 duotrigintillion in the American system, 10 sexdecilliard in the European system, and 10 triacontatrillion in the proposed Greek-based system. The googolplex (1 followed by a googol of zeroes) is far larger than any of the numbers discussed here. Return to the Dictionary Contents page . You are welcome to email the author ([email protected]) with comments and suggestions. All material in this folder is copyright &COPY; 2001 by Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Permission is granted for personal use and for use by individual teachers in conducting their own classes. All other rights reserved. You are welcome to make links to this page, but please do not copy the contents of any page in this folder to another site. The material at this site will be updated from time to time. November 1, 2001	Googol
In which US state is the Klickitat River?	3.2.1 - Large Numbers Large Numbers Plexing & The Googol Series 1 followed by ... When trying to come up with a really large number the first instinct is usually to write 1 followed by a lot of zeroes, or to define a number as 1 followed by a lot of zeroes. This is precisely what we are going to do now. Only we are not simply going to define some large number. Rather we're going to define the process. Basically we want a function that takes "n" as input, where n is a natural number (counting number), and returns 1 followed by "n" zeroes as output. We will call this, for lack of a better name, the "plexing function". We now define: plex(n) = 1000000000 ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 00000000 with "n" zeroes We can write this more succinctly using exponential notation: plex(n) = 10^n We now have a simple but powerful tool to generate some very large numbers. The Googol Using our new function we now define the "Googol" in the following way: Googol = plex(100) = 10^100 = 10,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 A Googol is 1 followed by a hundred zeroes. In the illion system A googol can also be named "ten duotrigintillion" in the short scale or "ten sexdecilliard" in the long scale. The story about how this number got coined tends to go something along these lines. Sometime around the 1920s or 30s, depending on the account, the American mathematician Edward Kasner was trying to come up with a name for 1 followed by a hundred zeroes in order to interest children in the wonders of mathematics. On a walk with his nephews he asked them for suggestions. Nine year old Milton Sirotta suggested calling it a "googol". Amazingly the name has stuck and become universally recognized, even garnering enough acceptance to make it into the english dictionary. To give us some sense of perspective on the size of a googol, the sun contains only about 10^57 sub-atomic particles. How many sun's would we need to have a googol particles? To find out we simply divide a googol by 10^57 right? So we obtain: (10^100)/(10^57) = 10^(100-57) = 10^43 It would take 10^43 suns! Still not impressed? Well consider this. That means we would need about ten million trillion trillion trillion suns! There aren't even that many stars in the observable universe! There are only about 10^80 sub-atomic particles in the observable universe. That means we would need about a hundred million trillion observable universes to have a googol particles. Pretty insane. Another way we could think about it would be to ask how much volume a googol particles would actually take up. Recall that most of the cosmos is empty space. What if we were to condense matter to the point where particles were pressing up against each other. 10^-18 meters is sometimes given as the diameter of a proton. Let's assume that every sub-atomic particle has about this radius. How large would a sphere packed solid with a googol sub-atomic particles be? To find out we can use the formula for the volume of a sphere and solve for the radius. We can say V = (4/3)pir^3 The volume will be equal to (10^100)(10^-18m)^3 since we have a googol subatomic particles. Let's see what we can obtain for the radius: (10^100)(10^-18)^3 = (4/3)pir^3 10^100 * 10^-54 = (4/3)pir^3 10^46 = (4/3)pir^3 r^3 = (3/4)pi10^46 r ~ 2.8668 x 10^15 Incredibly this sphere would have to be about 5.6 quadrillion meters across! That would be about a half a light year in diameter. That is WAY bigger than the entire solar system. It would be about 300 million trillion times the volume of our sun. That's a lot of particles! The Googolgong Interestingly, as a kid I never knew about the googol. For me the largest numbers I knew about were the centillion, which was 1 followed by 303 zeroes, and the unfathomable "googolgong". As I remember it me and my friend were being picked up by her father after elementary school. I must have been talking about large numbers, because I had recently got interested in the subject for the first time. Her father than mentioned something about a number scientists had defined called a "googolgong". He said it was something like 1 followed by a hundred thousand zeroes. My mind was blown away trying to contemplate the "googolgong". This was probably an important impetus for the project that soon followed: An attempt to go way beyond the googolgong in an attempt to reach the infinite. What is particularly funny in retrospect is that the number a "googolgong" was entirely an invention of misinformation. To the best of my knowledge there had never been such a number as a googolgong until he had spoken of it. Obviously he must of heard about the googolplex (which we will get to next). Not only did he say the name incorrectly but he botched up the definition too! Its also interesting to note that it is significantly smaller than a googolplex, which just goes to show how ordinary people often fail to catch the full import of a large number definition. This being said however, the hearing of that number has forever left an impression on me. It sounded off a gong in my head that rung seemingly without end for quite a while after. After "learning" of the googolgong I was hooked on the subject of large numbers, and that fascination has continued to this day. If scientists had come up with the googolgong (another erroneous and riddiculous detail) then I could best the scientists by coming up with even more tremendous numbers. But before we get ahead of ourselves lets try to come to terms with the "googolgong". Firstly we formally define it as: Googolgong = plex(100,000) = 10^100,000 This number is NOT merely a thousand times a googol. Rather it's a googol raised to the power of a thousand! That's a Googol googol googol googol googol ... ... ... ... ... ... googol googol googol where you have to say a googol a thousand times. This is easy enough to prove: googol^1000 = (10^100)^1000 = 10^(1001000) = 10^100,000 So what does this mean in terms of scale? Are we going to need at least a googol observable universes to have enough particles? Nope, it's much much worse. You see, if an observable universe (also known as a hubble volume) only contains 10^80 particles, then having a googol of them would only amount to: 10^80 * 10^100 = 10^(80+100) = 10^180 10^180 particles. Not even close. To reach a googolgong particles we are going to need a much more radical description. To reach a googolgong particles envision this: Imagine a hubble volume, floating in a vast sea of infinite darkness. Now imagine it shrinking down to the size of a sub-atomic particle as we zoom out to larger and larger scales. Imagine also that there are many hubble volumes floating around in the local space, and as we zoom out there are more and more of them. Now imagine a truly vast space in which there are as many hubble volumes as there are particles within a hubble volume. That is, we can imagine we have 10^80 hubble volumes floating around. You can even imagine that this is just another universe in which each particle is itself a universe of our scale! Yikes! But that is only 10^160 particles so far. Now imagine that this "2nd order hubble volume" is just a merely sub-atomic particle in a third order hubble volume! Now we can imagine a 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th order hubble volume, and so on. How many orders would we have to go to reach a Googolgong particles? Well the 1,250th order hubble volume would contain roughly a Googolgong particles! Now go back to what we said a googol particles would be. We would need about a hundred million trillion hubble volumes. However this would only be a tiny part of a 2nd order hubble volume. Yet you would have to go out to 1250 orders to reach a googolgong. A googolgong is not a couple billions or trillion times larger than a googol. It is completely in another league. If you haven't considered these ideas before they can get pretty dizzying. This however is pretty much business as usual in the world of large numbers, and we've only just begun. Next we will consider the googolplex! The Googolplex According to some tellings of the "googol and googolplex" story, it was milton sirotta who also coined a googolplex and defined it as 1 followed by as many zeroes as you can write before getting tired. Edward Kasner being a mathematician however would never settle for such an inpercise definition, yet he must have found the possibility of a number still larger than a googol intriguing. He therefore decided to have a googolplex defined as 1 followed by the largest number he had come up with, which was a googol of coarse. Some tellings also say that Kasner had come up with a googolplex as an afterthought. Whatever the case may be a googolplex has also established itself and found its way into dictionaries. We can therefore define the googolplex as follows: Googolplex = plex(googol) = plex(10^100) = 10^(10^100) Perhaps you see now why I chose to call this a "plexing" function. We can use the -plex as a root that when added to a number generates 1 followed by that many zeroes. Thus a googol-plex is by definition 1 followed by a googol zeroes. A lot of impressive things have been said about a googolplex, and they are all more or less true, with no exaggeration neccessary. Here are some of the more popular illustrations of its size. Perhaps the most common thing said about the googolplex is that you could NEVER write it out fully in decimal notation no matter how hard you tried. That in itself is a little hard to grasp at first. Surely its a simple matter to write it out in decimal. Afterall we can write a googol in decimal right? Yes, but can you write out a googol of anything, let alone a googol zeroes? That's the point. Even in decimal notation it would contain an exponential number of symbols so that it would be quite literally unwrittable. Perhaps your still not convinced. Heres the part where some number crunching is usually carried out to bring the point home. Well here it goes: Let's just say for argument sake that you can confidently write out about two zeroes every second. Okay. That means in one minute you can write out about 120 zeroes. Not a bad start. In an hour you could theoretically write out 7200 zeroes. Better. Of coarse your not likely to be able to keep up that pace and we still have a LONG LONG way to go. In a day of none stop writing you could perhaps get out anywhere from 86,400 to 172,800 zeroes depending on how well you can keep it up. I doubt even 80,000 would be possible because your wrist would probably want to fall off after just a few hours, but were just saying for arguments sake. Even after a day you still would have made only an infinitesimal fraction of progress, but lets continue anyway. Nobody ever accomplished anything by being a quiter right? So perhaps you set aside an entire week to write out the googolplex once and for all and show the world that it is possible. Well you'd be lucky to get close to 600,000 zeroes, and that's assuming you average about 1 zero per second. That's without time for sleeping or eating, not to mention the amount of paper and ink you would need. Let's be a little more realistic. Even under the best circumstances your going to need at least, say, 4 hours of sleep each day, and at least an hour each day for eating. It's also not likely that a human can sustain 19 hours of writing at such a feverish pace. Let's say you need to take about a half hour break for every hour of writing. That means an average of about 1 zero per second during your working time. At this rate you might be able to get up to 480,000 zeroes. Even this is a rather extreme quota for a week however and perhaps beyond human endurance. So to be on the safe side let's say a person might get up to a 100,000 by their first week. Great! Certainly impressive, but is a 100,000 really significant compared to a googol. No, not at all. hmm. So perhaps at least a year would be needed? Well a year is only about 52 weeks, so in theory a person could only write about 5,000,000 zeroes in that time. Millions of zeroes. That means that one could certainly write out a googolgong with enough money, patience, time, etc. But that's still a freaking drop in the bucket compare to writing out a googolplex. In fact even if a person lived to be a hundred an wrote out 10 million zeroes per year, he/she would only manage to get to about a billion zeroes. A billion is only 10^9, and this is no where close to a googol. Perhaps if enough people worked on it, it would be possible? Well even if we had everyone in the world (about 6.8 billion people) writing zeroes for a lifetime we still would only get about a million trillion zeroes, or 10^18 zeroes. This barely scratches the surface. This is of coarse ignoring the fact that you would need enough paper and ink to write out those 10^18 zeroes. Okay, perhaps we couldn't write it out within our lifetime, but how long would it take to write out a googol zeroes? That's a valid question. Well let's just say for argument sake that instead of writing it out you got a printer to print it out. Let's say it can print a line of 50 zeroes about every 2 seconds. How long would it take to print out a googolplex? A hopelessly long time of about 10^91 years. What?! That's barely smaller than a googol itself! Well actually it's about a billionth of a googol, but I know what you mean. This time scale is so long that the universe would have to be about 10^81 times its current age in order for the printer to have enough time. Hopefully your are now fully convinced of the futility of trying to write out a googolplex in decimal notation. But there is also a much more basic reason why writing out a googolplex is clearly impossible, besides the amount of man hours it would require. We wouldn't even be able to stuff all of the stacks of paper that a googolplex would be written out on into the observable universe! That may seem totally incredible, but it pays to recall that there are only 10^80 sub-atomic particles in the observable universe. You might recall however that most of the universe is empty space, and we were able to compact a googol particles into a sphere with a diameter of about half a light year. Couldn't we somehow fit a googol zeroes in the observable universe then? Well here is some number crunching for the skeptics. Firstly we need to find the volume of the observable universe. A good way to come up with an estimate is to let the radius of it be as many light years as the age of the universe. Currently the age is estimated at about 13,000,000,000 years. The speed of light is about 300 million meters per second. Combining this all into the formula for the volume of a sphere we obtain: (4/3)pi(3e86060243651.3e10)^3 ~ (4/3)pi*(1.23e26)^3 ~ 7.79 x 10^78 m^3 So the volume of the observable universe is about 7.79x10^78 cubic meters. So how much space would a single zero take up. Well it depends how large or small its written, but we can assume that a zero can be written on a half centimeter square without much trouble. Paper can be as thin as about a tenth of a milimeter. Multiplying these dimensions in meters we obtain: (0.005m)(0.005m)(0.0001m) = 0.0000000025 m^3 That's incredibly small. Yet when we divide the volume of the universe by the minimal volume required for each zero we obtain only about 10^87. That means we can't stuff more than about 10^87 digits into the universe. Maybe 10^88 if we write it really small on really thin paper, but that's it. We aren't going to make it to a googol. If we can't even write out a googolplex, what possible hope to we have of imagining the size of the number itself! Well remember how we described multiple levels of hubble volumes within hubble volumes like a series of babushka dolls to explain the size of a googolgong. Well to reach a googolplex particles we would not go to the 1,250th order hubble volume, but would have to ascend to a maddeningly high 125,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000, 000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000th order hubble volume. That's 1.25x10^98 orders! That is the truly insane magnitudes we are talking about. I doubt you've heard the googolplex described in this way before, but I think this really brings out the other worldliness of these numbers. The Googol Series: The Googolplexian and Beyond... The googolplex is often cited as the "largest named number" because it is universally recognized. This is a somewhat questionable claim on account of many other numbers with well established names, such as skewe's number, and graham's number to name a few. Also a googolplex is really just the very beginning of the large numbers game. Consider this, if we can have 1 followed by a googol zeroes, why not 1 followed by a googolplex zeroes! Now we'd need to go up to the googolth order hubble space just to have enough space to write out the damn thing, let alone have that many particles! Some names have been suggested for this number, such as the "googolplexian", a "gargoogolplex", or the "googolplexplex", but none of these work very well in my opinion. There does seem to be some concensus that a "googolduplex" is probably the best choice. This is the term that Jonathan Bowers, myself, and many others use. Essentially its a shortening of "googolplexplex" by using the latin prefix for two. Notice how we can define a googolduplex: Googolduplex = plex(googolplex) = plex(plex(googol)) = plex(plex(10^100)) = plex(10^(10^100)) = 10^(10^(10^100))	i don't know
Slieve Donard, the highest point of Northern Ireland, is in which range of hills?	Slieve Donard,Mourne Mountains \| Walking and Hiking In Ireland The County Tops – Number 5: Knockmealdown, County Waterford The County Tops: Number 7: Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains, County Down In the latest article from the County Top Series, Paul O’ Connor takes a walk up Slieve Donard in the magical Mourne Mountains to visit the highest point in County Down and the province of Ulster. Wonderfully dramatic, rugged and varied, the Mourne Mountains are quite simply a hill walker’s delight. Boasting a compact ring of 12 mountains above 600 metres and many other smaller hills, the range can undoubtedly lay claim to offer something for everyone, from the casual stroller to the seasoned hill walker alike. With several well defined paths, numerous stunning rocky tors, magical views and of course the legendary and epic Mourne Wall , this is one range that you simply must visit and explore. It’s no wonder that the Mourne Mountains are one of the leading locations in Ireland for walking holidays. There are many great mountains to choose from in the Mournes such as Slieve Binnian with its distinctive tors and amazing views over Silent Valley or the mighty Slieve Bearnagh offering a magnificent platform from which to take in the impressive panorama of this classic range. It is Slieve Donard however that claims the title of highest mountain in the Mournes. At 850 metres, it is also the highest point in County Down and the entire province of Ulster. In fact, the nearest point of land that is higher than the summit of Donard lies on the northern slopes of Lugnaquilla in County Wicklow. The mountain is named after Saint Donard, known in Irish as Domhanghairt or Domhanghart. The saint was a disciple of St. Patrick who is said to have built a prayer cell at the summit of the mountain in the 5th century from which he could guard the surrounding countryside. Legend has it that the saint never died, instead becoming a perpetual guardian of this great mountain. Cairn on summit of Slieve Donard It was in 1896 that the Irish songwriter Percy French immortalised the Mournes in verse. Looking at the stunning and imperious outline of Slieve Donard towering high above Newcastle and the Irish Sea, it is entirely possible that it was this very vista that the songwriter had in mind when penning the line ‘Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea‘. It is possibly Donard’s position as the high point of the Mournes and Ulster that make it the most popular and busy of the Mourne Mountains wil hill walkers. Another probable factor is it’s accessibility from Newcastle along the tried and tested Glen River track. On any given day and especially at weekends, crowds of people make their way up to the saddle between Donard and Slieve Commedagh before picking their way up the steep slopes to the top of the mountain. Indeed, so popular is the Glen River route that steps have been installed at several points along the track in an effort to prevent erosion. View of Slieve Donard from Cove Mountain For this walk however, we will take the Bloody Bridge route which follows the river of the same name rising steadily to the Bog of Donard before a steep and demanding climb to the summit of Slieve Donard itself. Though not as well defined as the Glen River track, this route is much less crowded and for me, far more enjoyable. Getting There Travelling to the Mournes from the South was made a lot easier with the opening of the M1 motorway and this situation will be further improved on completion of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge project . Until such time, you will need to take the motorway as far as the Newry exit before taking the scenic A2 road along the coast through Warrenpoint and on towards Newcastle. The Bloody Bridge car-park is located by the Irish Sea about three miles before Newcastle. We advise getting hold of the Mournes Activity Map if you plan on doing any walking in the Mournes. Where To Stay If you provide walker friendly accommodation in the Mourne Mountains, why not Contact Us to advertise your business on this page. The Route From the car park, cross the A2 road and pass through a small gate and a wooden squeeze stile before following a path on the right-hand side of the Bloody Bridge River. The old Bloody Bridge lies away to the left consisting of a stone arch over the river. The name comes from a massacre in 1641 when Protestant prisoners being led between jails in Newry and Newcastle were killed at the instigation of Sir Conn Magennis, whose family gave Newcastle its name. Continue along the right bank of the river and after a kilometre, pick your way across it and join a track which eventually leads to the site of an old quarry, one of several abandoned quarries in the Mourne Mountains. These quarries provide evidence of what was once a very important industry in the local area. Stone was quarried and transported down the hills on carts to Annalong, Newcastle and Kilkeel from where it was shipped out on ‘stone boats’. This famous granite was exported world-wide and was used to pave the streets of Belfast as well as many UK cities. A few working quarries remain today and granite from the Mournes has been used in the 9/11 British Memorial Garden in New York. From the quarry, continue to climb along a grassy track until you meet the Mourne Wall at the bog of Donard. For anyone walking in the Mournes for the first time, this is a real ‘wow moment’ as the views open up across the wall to the high Mournes including Slieve Binnian , Slievelamagan, Cove Mountain, Slieve Beg, Slieve Commedagh and our ultimate destination, Slieve Donard. Stile at the Bog of Donard on a winter’s morning Turning right at the Mourne Wall , you are now just 1 kilometre from the summit of Slieve Donard but you still have the steepest section of the walk ahead of you with a punishing gradient of around 1 in 3. At this point, some people choose to walk on top of the wall to avoid some wet and boggy stretches. This feat is made possible as the wall is at its stoutest and most impressive along this stretch. Looking like a scaled-down version of the Great Wall of China, it stretches for more than 35km crossing over 15 mountains and walking it’s length is a challenge in itself . Up close, you can’t help but be impressed by the massive effort that must have been spent on its construction, a project that lasted over 18 years. Built between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners to enclose the water catchment in the Mournes, the wall serves as a very useful navigational aid to walkers today. Walking The Mourne Wall After several false summits, you will eventually catch sight of the lookout tower marking the summit of Donard. The tower, which is crowned with a trig point, is one of three along the course of the Mourne Wall . The summit is also marked by a large cairn with a smaller one lying around 100 metres to the North. If you get the weather, the views from the summit of Slieve Donard are quite exceptional. Lying just a few kilometres from the Irish Sea, it offers extensive views along the coast and on a clear day, the Isle of Man is visible along with parts of Scotland. To the northwest lie Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains while the Belfast and Antrim hills can all be seen to the north. In optimum conditions, the view South will include the distant outline of the Wicklow Mountains. View from Donard to Commedagh and Bearnagh The summit of Donard is also a superb location from which to study the other peaks of the Mournes. At the tower, the Mourne wall takes a sharp turn heading downhill and across to the impressive bulk of Slieve Commedagh. Further afield are the impressive tors on Slieve Bearnagh backed by Slieve Meelmore and Meelbeg. Next comes Slieve Loughshannagh, Muck and rugged Slieve Binnian . Lying in the shadow of Commedagh is the inner spine consisting of Beg, Cove and Slieve Lamagan. Looking back down on the Bog of Donard, the wall seems endless as it snakes below Chimney Rock Mountain towards the Annalong Valley. This really is an amazing and inspirational panorama consisting of so many beautiful mountains in such a compact space, each worthy of exploration in its own right. Shower behind Commedagh viewed from Donard From the summit, it is simply a case of reversing your route to follow the wall down the steep slopes of the mountain to the Bog of Donard before turning left and following the track back to the car park at Bloody Bridge. Another option would be to continue down to the saddle between Donard and Slieve Commedagh before taking the popular Glen River track back to Newcastle. However, this option would necessitate some road walking. Various other options are available and you may be able to work the Brandy Pad, a former smugglers’ path, into your choice of route. Whatever route option you choose to take for your descent, it’s highly unlikely that you will surpass the record time set by fell-runner Ian Holmes. The Bingley Harriers athlete took a barely credible 14 minutes 16 seconds to descend from the summit of Slieve Donard to Donard Park in Newcastle back in 2000! “This really is an amazing and inspirational panorama consisting of so many beautiful mountains in such a compact space, each worthy of exploration in its own right.” Conclusion Whilst not the most exciting of the Mourne Mountains to walk, Slieve Donard is still more than worthy of a visit. This is certainly one of the busiest hills you will visit on your round of the County Tops but don’t let that put you off as you will be well rewarded by the stunning panoramic views from the summit. Save this one for a clear day if possible and we suggest you incorporate it into a longer route if time and fitness allow. Distance: Circa 10km	The Mountains of Mourne
The eighteenth century 'Kingdom Of Two Sicilies' consisted of Sicily and which other kingdom?	Slieve Donard,Mourne Mountains \| Walking and Hiking In Ireland The County Tops – Number 5: Knockmealdown, County Waterford The County Tops: Number 7: Slieve Donard, Mourne Mountains, County Down In the latest article from the County Top Series, Paul O’ Connor takes a walk up Slieve Donard in the magical Mourne Mountains to visit the highest point in County Down and the province of Ulster. Wonderfully dramatic, rugged and varied, the Mourne Mountains are quite simply a hill walker’s delight. Boasting a compact ring of 12 mountains above 600 metres and many other smaller hills, the range can undoubtedly lay claim to offer something for everyone, from the casual stroller to the seasoned hill walker alike. With several well defined paths, numerous stunning rocky tors, magical views and of course the legendary and epic Mourne Wall , this is one range that you simply must visit and explore. It’s no wonder that the Mourne Mountains are one of the leading locations in Ireland for walking holidays. There are many great mountains to choose from in the Mournes such as Slieve Binnian with its distinctive tors and amazing views over Silent Valley or the mighty Slieve Bearnagh offering a magnificent platform from which to take in the impressive panorama of this classic range. It is Slieve Donard however that claims the title of highest mountain in the Mournes. At 850 metres, it is also the highest point in County Down and the entire province of Ulster. In fact, the nearest point of land that is higher than the summit of Donard lies on the northern slopes of Lugnaquilla in County Wicklow. The mountain is named after Saint Donard, known in Irish as Domhanghairt or Domhanghart. The saint was a disciple of St. Patrick who is said to have built a prayer cell at the summit of the mountain in the 5th century from which he could guard the surrounding countryside. Legend has it that the saint never died, instead becoming a perpetual guardian of this great mountain. Cairn on summit of Slieve Donard It was in 1896 that the Irish songwriter Percy French immortalised the Mournes in verse. Looking at the stunning and imperious outline of Slieve Donard towering high above Newcastle and the Irish Sea, it is entirely possible that it was this very vista that the songwriter had in mind when penning the line ‘Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea‘. It is possibly Donard’s position as the high point of the Mournes and Ulster that make it the most popular and busy of the Mourne Mountains wil hill walkers. Another probable factor is it’s accessibility from Newcastle along the tried and tested Glen River track. On any given day and especially at weekends, crowds of people make their way up to the saddle between Donard and Slieve Commedagh before picking their way up the steep slopes to the top of the mountain. Indeed, so popular is the Glen River route that steps have been installed at several points along the track in an effort to prevent erosion. View of Slieve Donard from Cove Mountain For this walk however, we will take the Bloody Bridge route which follows the river of the same name rising steadily to the Bog of Donard before a steep and demanding climb to the summit of Slieve Donard itself. Though not as well defined as the Glen River track, this route is much less crowded and for me, far more enjoyable. Getting There Travelling to the Mournes from the South was made a lot easier with the opening of the M1 motorway and this situation will be further improved on completion of the proposed Narrow Water Bridge project . Until such time, you will need to take the motorway as far as the Newry exit before taking the scenic A2 road along the coast through Warrenpoint and on towards Newcastle. The Bloody Bridge car-park is located by the Irish Sea about three miles before Newcastle. We advise getting hold of the Mournes Activity Map if you plan on doing any walking in the Mournes. Where To Stay If you provide walker friendly accommodation in the Mourne Mountains, why not Contact Us to advertise your business on this page. The Route From the car park, cross the A2 road and pass through a small gate and a wooden squeeze stile before following a path on the right-hand side of the Bloody Bridge River. The old Bloody Bridge lies away to the left consisting of a stone arch over the river. The name comes from a massacre in 1641 when Protestant prisoners being led between jails in Newry and Newcastle were killed at the instigation of Sir Conn Magennis, whose family gave Newcastle its name. Continue along the right bank of the river and after a kilometre, pick your way across it and join a track which eventually leads to the site of an old quarry, one of several abandoned quarries in the Mourne Mountains. These quarries provide evidence of what was once a very important industry in the local area. Stone was quarried and transported down the hills on carts to Annalong, Newcastle and Kilkeel from where it was shipped out on ‘stone boats’. This famous granite was exported world-wide and was used to pave the streets of Belfast as well as many UK cities. A few working quarries remain today and granite from the Mournes has been used in the 9/11 British Memorial Garden in New York. From the quarry, continue to climb along a grassy track until you meet the Mourne Wall at the bog of Donard. For anyone walking in the Mournes for the first time, this is a real ‘wow moment’ as the views open up across the wall to the high Mournes including Slieve Binnian , Slievelamagan, Cove Mountain, Slieve Beg, Slieve Commedagh and our ultimate destination, Slieve Donard. Stile at the Bog of Donard on a winter’s morning Turning right at the Mourne Wall , you are now just 1 kilometre from the summit of Slieve Donard but you still have the steepest section of the walk ahead of you with a punishing gradient of around 1 in 3. At this point, some people choose to walk on top of the wall to avoid some wet and boggy stretches. This feat is made possible as the wall is at its stoutest and most impressive along this stretch. Looking like a scaled-down version of the Great Wall of China, it stretches for more than 35km crossing over 15 mountains and walking it’s length is a challenge in itself . Up close, you can’t help but be impressed by the massive effort that must have been spent on its construction, a project that lasted over 18 years. Built between 1904 and 1922 by the Belfast Water Commissioners to enclose the water catchment in the Mournes, the wall serves as a very useful navigational aid to walkers today. Walking The Mourne Wall After several false summits, you will eventually catch sight of the lookout tower marking the summit of Donard. The tower, which is crowned with a trig point, is one of three along the course of the Mourne Wall . The summit is also marked by a large cairn with a smaller one lying around 100 metres to the North. If you get the weather, the views from the summit of Slieve Donard are quite exceptional. Lying just a few kilometres from the Irish Sea, it offers extensive views along the coast and on a clear day, the Isle of Man is visible along with parts of Scotland. To the northwest lie Lough Neagh and the Sperrin Mountains while the Belfast and Antrim hills can all be seen to the north. In optimum conditions, the view South will include the distant outline of the Wicklow Mountains. View from Donard to Commedagh and Bearnagh The summit of Donard is also a superb location from which to study the other peaks of the Mournes. At the tower, the Mourne wall takes a sharp turn heading downhill and across to the impressive bulk of Slieve Commedagh. Further afield are the impressive tors on Slieve Bearnagh backed by Slieve Meelmore and Meelbeg. Next comes Slieve Loughshannagh, Muck and rugged Slieve Binnian . Lying in the shadow of Commedagh is the inner spine consisting of Beg, Cove and Slieve Lamagan. Looking back down on the Bog of Donard, the wall seems endless as it snakes below Chimney Rock Mountain towards the Annalong Valley. This really is an amazing and inspirational panorama consisting of so many beautiful mountains in such a compact space, each worthy of exploration in its own right. Shower behind Commedagh viewed from Donard From the summit, it is simply a case of reversing your route to follow the wall down the steep slopes of the mountain to the Bog of Donard before turning left and following the track back to the car park at Bloody Bridge. Another option would be to continue down to the saddle between Donard and Slieve Commedagh before taking the popular Glen River track back to Newcastle. However, this option would necessitate some road walking. Various other options are available and you may be able to work the Brandy Pad, a former smugglers’ path, into your choice of route. Whatever route option you choose to take for your descent, it’s highly unlikely that you will surpass the record time set by fell-runner Ian Holmes. The Bingley Harriers athlete took a barely credible 14 minutes 16 seconds to descend from the summit of Slieve Donard to Donard Park in Newcastle back in 2000! “This really is an amazing and inspirational panorama consisting of so many beautiful mountains in such a compact space, each worthy of exploration in its own right.” Conclusion Whilst not the most exciting of the Mourne Mountains to walk, Slieve Donard is still more than worthy of a visit. This is certainly one of the busiest hills you will visit on your round of the County Tops but don’t let that put you off as you will be well rewarded by the stunning panoramic views from the summit. Save this one for a clear day if possible and we suggest you incorporate it into a longer route if time and fitness allow. Distance: Circa 10km	i don't know
What product sponsors the TV programme 'Loose Women'?	TV Sponsorship: a brand’s best friend \| Thinkbox TV Sponsorship: a brand’s best friend 2008 TV Sponsorship: a brand’s best friend Posted on: July 29, 2008 Winner of ‘Best Paper’ at Media Research Conference 2008. Thinkbox’s pioneering research with Duckfoot uncovers the inner workings of sponsorship; revealing how and why sponsorship works and the ways in which its impact can be best measured. In Brief TV sponsorship is booming. The market was worth over £190m in 2007 according to Carat – up 8.5% on 2006. The growth is set to continue as sponsorship becomes an increasingly hot advertising property and demand for opportunities soars. However, in spite of this escalation, relatively little is known about how sponsorship works and how it creates value for the advertiser. On an anecdotal basis, there’s a barrage of case studies demonstrating sponsorship’s ability to generate business effects such as sales and future purchase intention. How it does that though has remained largely unknown until now. Thinkbox’s innovative research with Duckfoot sought to dig below the surface of sponsorship to deconstruct how and why it works and how it differs from spot advertising. We also wanted to underpin the measurement metrics that allow practitioners to best unlock the value of their sponsorship campaigns. In order to inform the research and validate the findings, we also created a unique cross-industry working group. Comprising of key figures from different areas of the industry, the working group fed into each stage of the project and helped ensure a balanced perspective. Key Points Sponsorship has a greater impact on the emotional/implicit mind than the rational/conscious mind The stronger the viewer’s relationship is with a programme, the more effective sponsorship is in driving positive emotions towards the brand Bumpers need to facilitate the relationship between the brand and programme Sponsorships work better over time Sponsoring brands can enjoy ‘brand rub’ and adopt the personality traits of programmes Sponsorship makes brands famous and increases purchase intent, favourability and ‘for me-ness’ In Depth The research comprised of a number of stages. The first stage was qualitative. Groups of viewers were interviewed about different types of TV content and their relationship to that content. They were also questioned at length about several live TV sponsorships and television sponsorship overall. An online quantitative survey was then used to assess 1,600 respondents’ attitudes to a number of brands and live sponsorships, focussing in particular on their attitudes to brands, their awareness, how the sponsorships related to the advertisers and the programmes. We also examined the perceptions of both the programme and the sponsor to see how closely the two were aligned and if any transfer of personalities had occurred. A wide range of sponsoring brands and categories were included in the study including Domino’s and The Simpsons, Toyotal Aygo and T4, Loose Women and Maltesers, Wrigleys and Hollyoaks, Bombadier English Bitter and Al Murray’s Happy Hour, Pedigree and Dog Rescue, and Comparethemarket.com and Channel 4 Drama. Next we conducted a lab-test test to examine how the sponsorship bumpers, and particularly the creativity of the bumpers, worked in relation to standard spot advertising. Finally, a relatively new technique, Implicit Attitude Testing (IAT), was employed to test how sponsorships affected respondents on a sub-conscious level. The technique was featured in Malcolm Gladwell’s book, ‘Blink’ and helps reveal the strength of automatic association we have between concepts that we are unable to reveal on a conscious, rational level. In this case, it pitched competing brands against one another to assess how they performed against several key measures. It was ideal for assessing how sponsorships had shaped implicit associations of brands that would usually be unreachable through more cognitive based research methods. The Results: Sponsorship works most effectively on the implicit/emotional mind Perhaps the most fundamental finding is that sponsorship has a far more profound effect on the emotional, implicit mind than on the rational/conscious mind. This is unsurprising when you consider the shorter time-lengths of sponsorship messages. Indeed the lab test confirmed that sponsorship bumpers do not convey significant levels of brand information or instil particularly high levels of emotion in the viewer even when they are creatively linked to the programme and placed within the right context. Instead their power comes from the association made between the sponsor and the programme (thus making it more difficult to track). The qualitative work confirmed this. Sponsorship is very much an accepted part of the television landscape. Overall, viewers appreciate sponsorship’s role as ‘break punctuation’ and have a more positive view of sponsorship than of spot advertising. Spots ads are viewed as a ‘harder sell’ whereas in many cases, sponsorship is seen as divorced from the ad break – many respondents failed to distinguish it from the programme and felt it acted as a marker and set the tone for the coming programme. The viewer’s relationship with the programme is key The stronger the viewer’s relationship is with a programme, the more effective sponsorship is in driving positive emotions towards the brand. Fans of programmes were more likely to like the sponsor of their favourite programmes than less involved viewers. Intention to purchase increased by up to 9% for fans (4% on average), brand favourability rose by up to 8.5% (4% on average) and how ‘for-me’ respondents perceived the sponsors to be rose by up to 12% (5% on average). Unsurprisingly, the way that advertiser entered into the programme-viewer relationship was an integral part of the sponsorships’ success. Bumpers need to facilitate the relationship between the brand and programme The best results come about when the sponsorship bumpers successfully introduced the brand into the emotional relationship that the viewer had with their programme. Where there was a more of an obvious link between a sponsorship bumper’s creative content and the programme content, the brand performed better across all the key measures. Likewise, when there was a more obvious link between the brand itself and the programme, the brand performed better. If this link was not as obvious, then the sponsorship creative needed to work harder to establish the link or the sponsorship needed time and repetition in order to embed in viewers’ minds. Sponsorships work better over time Generally, the longer a sponsorship has to establish and maintain the relationship between the programme and the brand, the better it performs. In this study longevity was the real key to value - as we saw in the case of Domino’s Pizzas which had been sponsoring The Simpsons for over a decade. Across the study, purchase intention, ‘for me-ness’ brand favourability and fame all increased with the length of the sponsorship. Longevity was particularly important when the fit between the brand and the programme was subtle. Short-term sponsorships could work well, however, particularly when the link between the programme and the sponsoring brand was quickly apparent to the viewer. If the link wasn’t obvious, the creative had to work hard to establish the relationship early-on in order for the sponsorship to unleash its full potential. This was the case for Bombadier where the link to Al Murray’s Happy Hour was instantly apparent to most viewers. The effects of that campaign were felt earlier than the other newer sponsorships. Brands adopt the personality of programmes The research found that brands can take on aspects of the personality of the programmes that they sponsor. We’ve termed this ‘brand-rub’ as the programme aspects literally rub off on the brand. The phenomenon was particularly pronounced for fans of the sponsored programmes who tended to use words to describe the brand that were more closely aligned to the programme than non-fans. However, overall, the personalities tended to merge for less involved viewers, just to a lesser degree. An example of this was Bombadier English Premium Bitter. Fans of ITV’s ‘Al Murray’s Happy Hour’ chose the words ‘funny’, ‘light-hearted’, ‘enjoyable’ and friendly’ to describe the programme and they also used the same words to describe the brand – suggesting that the personalities of the two had morphed. This pattern was repeated across the campaigns and demonstrates the effects that sponsorship can have on the implicit, emotional mind. There was also qualitative evidence to support this. Fans of The Simpsons who viewed the programme on Sky One and regularly saw the Domino’s sponsorship felt the link between the two was inherent and that he family were often shown on-screen eating pizza. However, viewers of The Simpsons on Channel 4 (which is not sponsored by Domino’s) failed to see the connection, instead associating the cartoon family with doughnuts. Sponsorship makes brands famous By associating brands with television programmes, sponsorship bestows fame on the advertiser and can create a sense that brands are bigger and better known than they really are. In fans’ minds, brand fame can be increased by up to 10% (3% on average) through television sponsorship. Strand sponsorships were particularly successful in increasing levels of brand fame, most likely driven by the increased repetition of the bumper and the wider range of programmes sponsored. Toyota Aygo’s sponsorship of TV drove perceptions of fame up nearly 10% in comparison to non-viewers and comparethemarket.com saw similar results. This finding replicated the qualitative work where the majority of respondents perceived that sponsorship was more costly than spot advertising with sentiments such as “only big brands sponsor’ and “it must cost a hell of a lot of money to sponsor a television programme”. There was also an element of prestige instilled by television sponsorship, as two female respondents commented, “you think, ‘wow, they’ve done well to get on tele’” and “it’s not just normal programmes they sponsor, it’s always the top selling programmes”. This backs up the IPA’s work ‘Marketing in the Era of Accountability’ by DDB Matrix that showed fame to one of the key drivers of brand profitability and TV to be one of the key elements in achieving and maintaining brand fame. Sponsorship shouldn’t be measured and appreciated in the same way as spot advertising Given that sponsorship works through its association with the programme and that the effects are felt most strongly on the emotional and implicit mind, then tradition explicit, recall-based methods of evaluation are destined to fall short of the mark. For this reason, the value of sponsorship could be slipping below the measurement radar and perhaps most importantly, advertisers could be failing to optimise the impact of their investment. Summary In summary, Thinkbox’s work with Duckfoot demonstrated what many of us in the industry suspected – that sponsorship has a far greater impact on our implicit mind and emotions that on our rationale and consciousness. Sponsorship can effect how viewers feel about brands, how relevant they perceive them to be, their likelihood to buy and ultimately it bestows a degree of stature and legitimacy to brands in a way that only television can. Sponsorships work harder over the long-term, particularly where the ‘fit’ between the programme and brand is less obvious. But ultimately, new or old, the relationship between the viewer, the brand and the programme is crucial and the sponsorship bumper is the key component in facilitating and maintaining the relationship between the three facets. When these elements harmonise, the impact on the brand can be significant. Relevant search terms: brand rub, association, fame, bumpers, idents, long-term, branding building	Maltesers
What is the most northerly area in the Shipping Forecast?	TV Sponsorship: a brand’s best friend \| Thinkbox TV Sponsorship: a brand’s best friend 2008 TV Sponsorship: a brand’s best friend Posted on: July 29, 2008 Winner of ‘Best Paper’ at Media Research Conference 2008. Thinkbox’s pioneering research with Duckfoot uncovers the inner workings of sponsorship; revealing how and why sponsorship works and the ways in which its impact can be best measured. In Brief TV sponsorship is booming. The market was worth over £190m in 2007 according to Carat – up 8.5% on 2006. The growth is set to continue as sponsorship becomes an increasingly hot advertising property and demand for opportunities soars. However, in spite of this escalation, relatively little is known about how sponsorship works and how it creates value for the advertiser. On an anecdotal basis, there’s a barrage of case studies demonstrating sponsorship’s ability to generate business effects such as sales and future purchase intention. How it does that though has remained largely unknown until now. Thinkbox’s innovative research with Duckfoot sought to dig below the surface of sponsorship to deconstruct how and why it works and how it differs from spot advertising. We also wanted to underpin the measurement metrics that allow practitioners to best unlock the value of their sponsorship campaigns. In order to inform the research and validate the findings, we also created a unique cross-industry working group. Comprising of key figures from different areas of the industry, the working group fed into each stage of the project and helped ensure a balanced perspective. Key Points Sponsorship has a greater impact on the emotional/implicit mind than the rational/conscious mind The stronger the viewer’s relationship is with a programme, the more effective sponsorship is in driving positive emotions towards the brand Bumpers need to facilitate the relationship between the brand and programme Sponsorships work better over time Sponsoring brands can enjoy ‘brand rub’ and adopt the personality traits of programmes Sponsorship makes brands famous and increases purchase intent, favourability and ‘for me-ness’ In Depth The research comprised of a number of stages. The first stage was qualitative. Groups of viewers were interviewed about different types of TV content and their relationship to that content. They were also questioned at length about several live TV sponsorships and television sponsorship overall. An online quantitative survey was then used to assess 1,600 respondents’ attitudes to a number of brands and live sponsorships, focussing in particular on their attitudes to brands, their awareness, how the sponsorships related to the advertisers and the programmes. We also examined the perceptions of both the programme and the sponsor to see how closely the two were aligned and if any transfer of personalities had occurred. A wide range of sponsoring brands and categories were included in the study including Domino’s and The Simpsons, Toyotal Aygo and T4, Loose Women and Maltesers, Wrigleys and Hollyoaks, Bombadier English Bitter and Al Murray’s Happy Hour, Pedigree and Dog Rescue, and Comparethemarket.com and Channel 4 Drama. Next we conducted a lab-test test to examine how the sponsorship bumpers, and particularly the creativity of the bumpers, worked in relation to standard spot advertising. Finally, a relatively new technique, Implicit Attitude Testing (IAT), was employed to test how sponsorships affected respondents on a sub-conscious level. The technique was featured in Malcolm Gladwell’s book, ‘Blink’ and helps reveal the strength of automatic association we have between concepts that we are unable to reveal on a conscious, rational level. In this case, it pitched competing brands against one another to assess how they performed against several key measures. It was ideal for assessing how sponsorships had shaped implicit associations of brands that would usually be unreachable through more cognitive based research methods. The Results: Sponsorship works most effectively on the implicit/emotional mind Perhaps the most fundamental finding is that sponsorship has a far more profound effect on the emotional, implicit mind than on the rational/conscious mind. This is unsurprising when you consider the shorter time-lengths of sponsorship messages. Indeed the lab test confirmed that sponsorship bumpers do not convey significant levels of brand information or instil particularly high levels of emotion in the viewer even when they are creatively linked to the programme and placed within the right context. Instead their power comes from the association made between the sponsor and the programme (thus making it more difficult to track). The qualitative work confirmed this. Sponsorship is very much an accepted part of the television landscape. Overall, viewers appreciate sponsorship’s role as ‘break punctuation’ and have a more positive view of sponsorship than of spot advertising. Spots ads are viewed as a ‘harder sell’ whereas in many cases, sponsorship is seen as divorced from the ad break – many respondents failed to distinguish it from the programme and felt it acted as a marker and set the tone for the coming programme. The viewer’s relationship with the programme is key The stronger the viewer’s relationship is with a programme, the more effective sponsorship is in driving positive emotions towards the brand. Fans of programmes were more likely to like the sponsor of their favourite programmes than less involved viewers. Intention to purchase increased by up to 9% for fans (4% on average), brand favourability rose by up to 8.5% (4% on average) and how ‘for-me’ respondents perceived the sponsors to be rose by up to 12% (5% on average). Unsurprisingly, the way that advertiser entered into the programme-viewer relationship was an integral part of the sponsorships’ success. Bumpers need to facilitate the relationship between the brand and programme The best results come about when the sponsorship bumpers successfully introduced the brand into the emotional relationship that the viewer had with their programme. Where there was a more of an obvious link between a sponsorship bumper’s creative content and the programme content, the brand performed better across all the key measures. Likewise, when there was a more obvious link between the brand itself and the programme, the brand performed better. If this link was not as obvious, then the sponsorship creative needed to work harder to establish the link or the sponsorship needed time and repetition in order to embed in viewers’ minds. Sponsorships work better over time Generally, the longer a sponsorship has to establish and maintain the relationship between the programme and the brand, the better it performs. In this study longevity was the real key to value - as we saw in the case of Domino’s Pizzas which had been sponsoring The Simpsons for over a decade. Across the study, purchase intention, ‘for me-ness’ brand favourability and fame all increased with the length of the sponsorship. Longevity was particularly important when the fit between the brand and the programme was subtle. Short-term sponsorships could work well, however, particularly when the link between the programme and the sponsoring brand was quickly apparent to the viewer. If the link wasn’t obvious, the creative had to work hard to establish the relationship early-on in order for the sponsorship to unleash its full potential. This was the case for Bombadier where the link to Al Murray’s Happy Hour was instantly apparent to most viewers. The effects of that campaign were felt earlier than the other newer sponsorships. Brands adopt the personality of programmes The research found that brands can take on aspects of the personality of the programmes that they sponsor. We’ve termed this ‘brand-rub’ as the programme aspects literally rub off on the brand. The phenomenon was particularly pronounced for fans of the sponsored programmes who tended to use words to describe the brand that were more closely aligned to the programme than non-fans. However, overall, the personalities tended to merge for less involved viewers, just to a lesser degree. An example of this was Bombadier English Premium Bitter. Fans of ITV’s ‘Al Murray’s Happy Hour’ chose the words ‘funny’, ‘light-hearted’, ‘enjoyable’ and friendly’ to describe the programme and they also used the same words to describe the brand – suggesting that the personalities of the two had morphed. This pattern was repeated across the campaigns and demonstrates the effects that sponsorship can have on the implicit, emotional mind. There was also qualitative evidence to support this. Fans of The Simpsons who viewed the programme on Sky One and regularly saw the Domino’s sponsorship felt the link between the two was inherent and that he family were often shown on-screen eating pizza. However, viewers of The Simpsons on Channel 4 (which is not sponsored by Domino’s) failed to see the connection, instead associating the cartoon family with doughnuts. Sponsorship makes brands famous By associating brands with television programmes, sponsorship bestows fame on the advertiser and can create a sense that brands are bigger and better known than they really are. In fans’ minds, brand fame can be increased by up to 10% (3% on average) through television sponsorship. Strand sponsorships were particularly successful in increasing levels of brand fame, most likely driven by the increased repetition of the bumper and the wider range of programmes sponsored. Toyota Aygo’s sponsorship of TV drove perceptions of fame up nearly 10% in comparison to non-viewers and comparethemarket.com saw similar results. This finding replicated the qualitative work where the majority of respondents perceived that sponsorship was more costly than spot advertising with sentiments such as “only big brands sponsor’ and “it must cost a hell of a lot of money to sponsor a television programme”. There was also an element of prestige instilled by television sponsorship, as two female respondents commented, “you think, ‘wow, they’ve done well to get on tele’” and “it’s not just normal programmes they sponsor, it’s always the top selling programmes”. This backs up the IPA’s work ‘Marketing in the Era of Accountability’ by DDB Matrix that showed fame to one of the key drivers of brand profitability and TV to be one of the key elements in achieving and maintaining brand fame. Sponsorship shouldn’t be measured and appreciated in the same way as spot advertising Given that sponsorship works through its association with the programme and that the effects are felt most strongly on the emotional and implicit mind, then tradition explicit, recall-based methods of evaluation are destined to fall short of the mark. For this reason, the value of sponsorship could be slipping below the measurement radar and perhaps most importantly, advertisers could be failing to optimise the impact of their investment. Summary In summary, Thinkbox’s work with Duckfoot demonstrated what many of us in the industry suspected – that sponsorship has a far greater impact on our implicit mind and emotions that on our rationale and consciousness. Sponsorship can effect how viewers feel about brands, how relevant they perceive them to be, their likelihood to buy and ultimately it bestows a degree of stature and legitimacy to brands in a way that only television can. Sponsorships work harder over the long-term, particularly where the ‘fit’ between the programme and brand is less obvious. But ultimately, new or old, the relationship between the viewer, the brand and the programme is crucial and the sponsorship bumper is the key component in facilitating and maintaining the relationship between the three facets. When these elements harmonise, the impact on the brand can be significant. Relevant search terms: brand rub, association, fame, bumpers, idents, long-term, branding building	i don't know
What is the name of the group of Conservative back- benchers who meet weekly when Parliament is in session?	Rushing around… \| The Norton View The Norton View Posted on May 12, 2011 by Lord Norton Been a reasonably busy week, hence fairly light blogging. Here’s a few super pseudo tweets to cover what I’ve been doing. Monday: Into the office on campus and then the train to London: get to Westminster in time for divisions on the Public Bodies Bill. Chair a meeting of the Conservative Academic Group addressed by David Willetts, the minister for universities. Catch the last train back to Hull. Tuesday: Morning spent teaching final Parliament seminars of the semester, then back to London. Just miss one vote in the House, but present for four more. (The Government are defeated on an important amendment to the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill because six Conservative peers join the Opposition and cross-benchers in voting for it.) Have a meeting, then back into the chamber. I speak on an amendment moved by Lord Grocott and then move my own. For the Opposition, Lord Falconer says he is persuaded by my argument. The minister isn’t yet persuaded. May need to come back to it on Third Reading. Wednesday: Meeting of the Constitution Committee. We discuss our report on the process of constitutional reform, prior to taking evidence next week from the Deputy Prime Minister. I then have a meeting of the peers in our office with the Leader of the House. Have a meeting of the executive of the Association of Conservative Peers, followed by a meeting of the Association, addressed by Lord Wei. I attend the weekly meeting of the 1922 Committee, addressed by the Prime Minister. Then it is off to the Hansard Lecture given by Shadow Leader of the House, Hilary Benn (see my preceding post): he is dreadful in discussing the Lords. Someone says afterwards that my body language said it all. Back to the House for a division on the Police and Social Responsibility Bill: the Government lose, on a key provision on elected police commissioners, because 13 Liberal Democrats (and 4 Bishops) vote for the amendment. There is then a procedural wrangle, with two adjournments. Thursday: I chair a well-attended meeting of the Campaign for an Effective Second Chamber. I spend time in the chamber before going to the Institute for Government for a lunchtime seminar and launch of the Institute’s report on the first year of coalition government. Panel of Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Nick Boles MP, Peter Riddell and Will Straw. After they have spoken, Lord Adonis, who is chairing, invites questions. Two Labour MPs ask questions, so for balance he invites me to put a question. (I hadn’t planned to say a word.) I ask about relations between the two chambers. Before the panel can answer, Lord Adonis invites me to report on the position in the Lords in the light of the coalition. I give an overview of what is happening, including my analysis of the 16 defeats now suffered by the Government. Back to the House for a late lunch and then a meeting with the publishers and Professor Bill Jones to discuss preparations for the eighth edition of Politics UK. I meet Baroness Thomas of Winchester and Lords clerk Kate Allen to discuss the Public Bodies Bill in preparation for evidence we are giving next Tuesday to the Public Administration Committee in the Commons on the changes made to the Bill. Tomorrow the House is sitting. I need also to prepare material for next week: I have another amendment to move to the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill on Monday and the appearance between the Public administration Committee on Tuesday, plus a rather full diary of meetings to keep me occupied the rest of the week. Oh yes, and a mass of essay marking to complete. That’s the task for the weekend. And yes, I know these are more than super pseudo tweets. Jumbo pseudo tweets? Okay, just ordinary paragraphs… Like this:	1922 Committee
The Pacific island of Bora Bora is owned by which country?	Rushing around… \| The Norton View The Norton View Posted on May 12, 2011 by Lord Norton Been a reasonably busy week, hence fairly light blogging. Here’s a few super pseudo tweets to cover what I’ve been doing. Monday: Into the office on campus and then the train to London: get to Westminster in time for divisions on the Public Bodies Bill. Chair a meeting of the Conservative Academic Group addressed by David Willetts, the minister for universities. Catch the last train back to Hull. Tuesday: Morning spent teaching final Parliament seminars of the semester, then back to London. Just miss one vote in the House, but present for four more. (The Government are defeated on an important amendment to the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill because six Conservative peers join the Opposition and cross-benchers in voting for it.) Have a meeting, then back into the chamber. I speak on an amendment moved by Lord Grocott and then move my own. For the Opposition, Lord Falconer says he is persuaded by my argument. The minister isn’t yet persuaded. May need to come back to it on Third Reading. Wednesday: Meeting of the Constitution Committee. We discuss our report on the process of constitutional reform, prior to taking evidence next week from the Deputy Prime Minister. I then have a meeting of the peers in our office with the Leader of the House. Have a meeting of the executive of the Association of Conservative Peers, followed by a meeting of the Association, addressed by Lord Wei. I attend the weekly meeting of the 1922 Committee, addressed by the Prime Minister. Then it is off to the Hansard Lecture given by Shadow Leader of the House, Hilary Benn (see my preceding post): he is dreadful in discussing the Lords. Someone says afterwards that my body language said it all. Back to the House for a division on the Police and Social Responsibility Bill: the Government lose, on a key provision on elected police commissioners, because 13 Liberal Democrats (and 4 Bishops) vote for the amendment. There is then a procedural wrangle, with two adjournments. Thursday: I chair a well-attended meeting of the Campaign for an Effective Second Chamber. I spend time in the chamber before going to the Institute for Government for a lunchtime seminar and launch of the Institute’s report on the first year of coalition government. Panel of Lord Wallace of Tankerness, Nick Boles MP, Peter Riddell and Will Straw. After they have spoken, Lord Adonis, who is chairing, invites questions. Two Labour MPs ask questions, so for balance he invites me to put a question. (I hadn’t planned to say a word.) I ask about relations between the two chambers. Before the panel can answer, Lord Adonis invites me to report on the position in the Lords in the light of the coalition. I give an overview of what is happening, including my analysis of the 16 defeats now suffered by the Government. Back to the House for a late lunch and then a meeting with the publishers and Professor Bill Jones to discuss preparations for the eighth edition of Politics UK. I meet Baroness Thomas of Winchester and Lords clerk Kate Allen to discuss the Public Bodies Bill in preparation for evidence we are giving next Tuesday to the Public Administration Committee in the Commons on the changes made to the Bill. Tomorrow the House is sitting. I need also to prepare material for next week: I have another amendment to move to the Fixed-term Parliaments Bill on Monday and the appearance between the Public administration Committee on Tuesday, plus a rather full diary of meetings to keep me occupied the rest of the week. Oh yes, and a mass of essay marking to complete. That’s the task for the weekend. And yes, I know these are more than super pseudo tweets. Jumbo pseudo tweets? Okay, just ordinary paragraphs… Like this:	i don't know

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