# thevictorianbookofthedead olympics internationalnursesday birdday batappreciationday easter christmas dontspoilthevictorious folklorethursday

1881
A young wife lost her husband, who was about 70 years old.
“But how did you come to marry a man of that age?” asked her friend.
“Why,” said the young widow, “you see, I only had the choice between two old men, and, of course, I took the oldest.”

5 19
2021-08-15

Hist! Went the Corpse: 1889 A cunning plan to shake off a mother-in-law who, to quote the corpse, is a "holy terror. Worse than ten parrots and the hydrophobia."
https://t.co/aHeFINPMm2

0 4
2021-08-11

Death's best Olympic events: Wrestling, boxing, dressage (on a pale horse)

Death Giving George Taylor a Cross Buttock, William Hogarth, c. 1750
1827 Death in the ring defeats all comers.
Mid-17th c lindenwood carving

6 24
2021-08-02

1871 A little ten-year-old miss told her mother the other day that she was never going to marry, but meant to be a widow, because widows dressed in such nice black, and always looked so happy.
https://t.co/r17M0nMdz4

2 7
2021-07-20

1878 second mourning costumes.
Personal collection.

2 12
2021-06-01

During the Great War, the nurse facing down death or murdered by the enemy was a popular theme in art, inspired both by Nurse Edith Cavell and the heroism of thousands of unnamed nurses in the field.
Former eBay listings

6 12
2021-05-13

Doves were a popular addition to funeral flowers. Could be bought or hired for the occasion.

3 13
2021-05-05

Is it too early to post about bunnies?
Illustration by Charles Copeland for Pinocchio, 1904

23 81
2021-03-31

Those who have second sight say when a shroud is seen about a person, the time of his death is judged according to the height of the shroud upon his person. The higher it is toward the head, the sooner his death will be.

4 7
2021-03-07

"Posing the Corpse"--for a joke, so the corpse can accuse a malefactor, or join in the fun of the wake.
https://t.co/7nIQI7be7r

1 7
2021-03-04

1886 Mr Brown died and left a widow. She did not long mourn, but bestowed her hand (she had no heart) upon Dr. Ward, who attended her husband in his last illness. The townspeople are very indignant and will take up her husband's remains for examination.

4 10
2021-02-23

Watch out for too much punch! The Last Drop, Thomas Rowlandson, 1801

https://t.co/8WrpUy89CR

4 14
2020-12-19

The final novel is out tomorrow of Time Lord Victorious and Mutually Assured Destruction audio is out now. I’m going to start with the novel then the audio. I urge doctor who fans not to spoil the ending of the novel and the audio.

1 5
2020-12-09

The night-watch over a corpse and a sinister aural haunting. I do love a ghost story that includes mourning customs. https://t.co/OR4QlGXayg

11 40
2020-10-14

Reported in 1896
The funeral procession must not cross a river.
Baldwinsville, N. Y.

2 6
2020-08-20

1883
A colonel was courting an Austin widow.
A friend asked the widow how she spent her days.
“Most of my time is taken up with general duties.”
“General Duties! You fickle creature. What will the colonel say when he finds the general cutting him out!

1 3
2020-08-12

A cane made of "Wood of Grant's Funeral Car." This might be the Albany funeral car (top photo) or the New York City funeral car (below)
https://t.co/QLyZk9Z2xs

0 2
2020-08-08