To Give the Lady the Wall

            A hundred years ago good manners were a sign of wealth and breeding.  Probably hundreds of books were written on the subject.  These gave advice on every situation one could possible encounter and were indispensable for the newly rich who wanted to enter into High Society.  Demonstrating proper etiquette was a good way to indicate that you belonged.  Having the right amount of money was not enough.  In a lot of ways High Society in America was even more conscious of their behavior than their European counterparts.  Europeans used the age of their family lineage as the determining factor in deciding who belonged to the “in” crowd.  For Americans this was not really a very viable option.  With the country only 100 years old bragging of their long familial lineage was not that impressive. Organizations like The Daughters of the America Revolution certainly tried, and continue to do so today, but with mostly limited success.  Money and lots of it was, and continues to be, the first factor in considering who are “the best people.”   Once this primary consideration met then families could move onto establishing their identities as members of High Society.  Good Breeding was identified with good manners.  Someone who was ill bread would demonstrate this through their lack of knowledge regarding proper etiquette.  Frequently fathers who founded great family fortunes employed tutors to educate their children in the etiquette of High Society.  Gaining entry for their offspring into a club they themselves could never really hope to belong. 

            Good Etiquette dictated every situation and every action of someone’s life.  Nothing would so quickly mark an individual as a member of the best people as their conversation.  The art of conversation was considered one of the most important skills one could possess.  To be able to properly carry on a conversation required one to be witty, intelligent and demonstrate some knowledge of what is going on in the world.  Even expressions of strong emotions whether it be anger, boredom or even passion were strongly discouraged.  Presenting the appearance of being pleasantly cheerful regardless of ones true feelings was absolutely essential.

            Even greeting someone on the street was fought with possible pit falls for the uninitiated.  For example when greeting a gentleman with whom a lady is acquainted, regardless of the level of intimacy, a lady would give a small bow which the gentleman would return.  Failing to return the greeting was the height of rudeness.  If a gentleman wishes to speak with a lady with whom he is acquainted, because of course he would never venture to speak to a lady whom he has never been introduced, when he encounters her on the street he would not detain her but turn and accompany her in the direction in which she is headed for the duration of their conversation then return to his own destination.  A lady should never stand on the street to converse with a gentleman.  To be seen doing so could lead to speculation regarding her character.  When walking with a lady the gentleman should always “give the lady the wall” thus placing his person between the anything that may be splashed up from the street by passing vehicles and the lady.  It is easy to forget in our day of modern sewer systems and storm drains just how truly disgusting the streets could be.

            When one thinks of complicated etiquette noting strikes fear into modern society quite like being seated at an extremely formal dinner which seems to be include every possible version of silverware and dishware available.   This was no less true at eh turn of the 20^th century when an average small family dinner, among those who could afford it, included a minimum of five courses and a large formal dinner could last for several hours and include dozens of courses.  Using the wrong fork with the wrong dish or even holding the utensil incorrectly could mark a person as one who didn’t belong.  It was considered essential that this be part of the educational curriculum for children of high society. 

            Although we like to think of ourselves has having moved beyond these measures of breading and on to the more enlightened idea of judging a person for themselves we have not.  Etiquette is still a powerful indicator of who belongs and who does not.  Those who forget this do so at their peril. 

Filling Holes - Schenley Park

            I have given my self deadline in which to have my book ready.  Whether it is possible or not remains to be seen.  I am shooting for the end of August.  Three months may not be enough time but if I am going to ever finish my book a tighter deadline is demanded.   I have always worked better under tight deadlines than the when ever you finish is fine type.  This is the single largest reason, I think, that people don’t finish their masters and PhD degrees.  But I digress.  I have described the current state of my book as a block of Swiss cheese.  It is recognizable as cheese but full of holes.  I do have a recognizable storey but the historical detail I am striving for is mostly missing.

            In an effort to fill in some of the larges holes I spend a good part of my time researching the parks in Pittsburgh.  I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the beautiful green spaces Pittsburghers now take for granted were just becoming a reality in the 1890’s.  The view of Pittsburgh in this period was once famously described as looking like hell with the lid off.  The fires from the Iron, Steel and Glass factories put so much smoke into the air that it was not always possible to see probably one of the most famous views of the city looking down on the Golden Triangle and North shore area from Mt. Washington.  The creation of Green Space, much like Central Park in New York, was intended to give the residents of Pgh a peaceful place to get away from the factories and crowded inner city.  It is highly unlikely that the people who would have benefited the most from these garden spots actually had time for such frivolous activates.  Most mills ran 24 hours a day and many other supporting businesses kept similar hours. 

            Never the less the parks created at this time remain.  Probably Pittsburgh’s largest Schenley Park was a gift to the city from Mary Schenley.  Although she lived primarily in England, having defied her father and created an international scandal at the age of 15 when she ran away and married 43 year old Captain Edward Wyndham Harrington Schenley.  She never forgot her home and in 1889 she gave the city 300 acres and sold the city a further 120 acres at a greatly reduced rate.  Schenley Park started out mostly as a baron space.  Today it is so completely filled with trees and wide open grassy spaces that it is difficult to imagine the area as anything other than the lush green space it appears today.  William Falconer the fist landscaper supervised the planting of thousands of trees and probably millions of flowers.  Given the natural feel of the park it is hard to see his original design but it must have been a stunning effort to transform the completely baron land he started with.  One can almost see the middle and upper class families enjoying the space for taking the air and holding picnics.  The park even hosted the city’s first automobile race.  The park returns to that heritage in mid July when it hosts the Pittsburgh Vantage Grand prix.  The park is also home to the Phipps Conservatory as well as the Main Carnegie Library. 

            I plan to spend next week researching the neighborhoods of Pgh.  More to come. 

In The Beginning

I am writing my first book.  I still find that statement to be rather pretentious.  To get over this idea my husband suggested that I blog about what I am doing.  Although I think he is crazy I have my whiskey sour and am going to give it a whorl.  I am writing my first book and this blog is intended as a way to practice writing as well as give me an outlet to explore the things I find and stop driving my family crazy talking about all the things I find fascinating.  I mostly started writing my book to release the creative energy that had built up since I finished grad school.  I have found that this is a wonderful way to utilize all the research skills I developed in school, while at the same time the freedom to write and research what I want rather than have it dictated to me by my professor is amazing.  My book is set in turn of the century Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.  The last century that is.  I picked Pgh (for so the locals abbreviate it Pittsburgh being rather cumbersome for continued writing) for two reasons.  First it hasn’t been over done.  The last thing the world needs is yet another book about vampires.  Secondly I live here.  I moved here five years ago immediately after I got married.  Literally the day after we returned from our Hawaiian cruse we put all our stuff in a truck and moved across the country to Pgh.  It is a truly beautiful place whether the hills are covered in green leaves or snow, for a girl from Orange County California it is an almost magical place of seasons and weather. 

           

            As for the time period there was really only one choice.  It had to be some time during the heyday of Pgh.  As a trained historian I have always been attracted to earlier times.  I am thankful for modern medical care and can not go more than 20 minutes with out checking my cell but love the perceived glamor of so called earlier times.  I have mentally divided the history of Pgh into 4 periods.  The beginning, the discovery of Pgh by George Washington to the end of the Civil War, Industrialization, the time of Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick among others, the rust belt years and rebirth i.e. the last 15 years.  For me the choice of the industrial age didn’t even require thought there is so much going on in the period that the options are almost unlimited.  While I am working on my first book really it’s a series of books.  Mysteries to be specific.  Mysteries are my favorite kind of relaxation reading.  I love the puzzles and the unlimited possibilities available to the mystery author.  So far I have solid plot lines for 3 books and ideas for 4 more.  The more research I do into the area and the period the more ideas come to me.  

            So now I spend my free time thinking about writing and researching.  It has been a great distraction from my every day job and if some day it is published great, but really I am doing it for myself.  It is my intention to blog about what I learn and anything else I find that interests me weekly.  Check back for more to come.