Some notes from Over to Candleford

 

Queen Victoria on the throne the country scene is only a little over fifty years distant from us in time, but in manners, customs, conditions of life it is centuries away…the cottages were like the dwelings of the poor had been for generations, except for some minor details  this was the eighteen eighties

Bycicles on roads to themselves, like railway trains …high wheel, and tiny one behind, hence ‘bycicle face’ tortured expressions – still, they were figures of fun, nobody would belive that in a few years there would be at least one bycicle in every one of their houses

 

Humor like this servant, called girl, who is about 50, always called girls also cousin Johnny may go to Eaton but Laura thought she heard ‘eaten’…then her father said I doubt it will be good enough, they will have to build a new school for Johnny…girls said to Laura such a good talk, but they did all of it, then told stories about boyfriends, the boys unaware of this aledged connection

 

Link to Untouchables this uncle detrmied to fight alcohol

Link to Rasnov

 

Reading a waste of time one must not sit idle so link to Umberto and eternity backwards

Ideas were slowly percolating, weekly newspaper found its way, by purchase or borrowing – I see it in the newspwaper, so it must be true

Laura’s father was a stonemason and earned more money than the farm workers, though he received little more than unemployment wages now – this was for 35 years employed by a firm, from six in the morning till five

Their fortune had already been mapped out for them. Edmund was to be apprenticed to a trade – a carpenter’s, their mother thought, cleaner work, and more respected

Laura was to go as a nursemaid under on of her mother’s old nurse friends, then in time she would be head nurse herself

People had more money in Candleford, water from the tap…girls, women more appreciated there than in village

Strict rule children should be seen, but not heard

Over to Candleford title refers to the trip they take there, an adventure, like going to Paris, or maybe Kala Lumpur today…Polly, the mare, was not cooperative and funny scolding ‘damn that mare’

Lark Rise the village where they live apparently and Candlefore like some small town, say Rosenau to Brasov

the trip to Candleford marked the end of Laura’s childhood

she discovered books in the attic Pamela – which is on the 1,000 list

doctor upset by the conditions, eight in a room and such

woman blacksmith took care of business before her father died, but others thought unwomanly, not known of a woman blacksmith

 

Borrow old Polly and the spring cart

When asked how long in the house Laura said years and years though it was just seven for her

Edmund has said always, though his always was just five years

Their mother had told them the greatest mistake in life is to be born poor, they did not realize they had made that initial blunder

People were penniless for days towards the end of the week

 

Humor ‘two heads better than one’ ‘that’s why fools get married’

 

The discussion of their own and their neighbours affairs took the place occupied by books and films in the modern outlook

Water communal well, sanitation back of garden light cnadles and paraffin lamp

 

Laura and brother Edmund

 

It was thought nothing of walking six seven miles, there as no other way of travelling, except the carrier’s cart. It was thought quite dashing to ride with Old Jimmy, but quite extravagant, for the fare was sixpence.

Most people preffered to walk and keep the sixpence, and spend it when they got there

But then bycicles appeared and people thought they should not be allowed on the roads, they were dangerous

 Soldiers went to places like India, Egypt…only three holidays, there was no wireless, no cinemas, no excursions, or motor coaches or dances in village halls in those days

Laura tried to color her hair, but then it became brown by itself

The killing of the pig, poor animal had been scratched before, she cried over the dead pig

You can’t afford to be on bad terms with anybody, in a small place like this

Patti drank

This other one, Gertie, had been a housemaid at one of the country mansion and been spoiled by the fact that they had man servants there, she would boast about her conqusts, this one time, the butler danced with her or something

 

Relatives have this servant, all those were called girls, even if this one was about fifty

They argue over Ireland the jest send them one ship of guns and one of alcohol, then they will kill each other and spare us the trouble – one for independence the other for England

Is that a slum? Don’t talk aloud, people with live in a slum don’t like to hear that

Uncle Tom has workshop where he makes boots to order – liberal man

Aunt Ann gave herself away with every breath

When they go to learn Ethel is a bully, aggressive, violent

 

Asked to stay with cousins in Candleford, so they walk 8 miles to candleford

Diffrennces between Lark Rise and Candleford girls appreciated here and less in the village and more

Woman with 18 cats