Today:
You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.
As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.
Whilst working on Part III of my Opium War series (coming out on the Saturday Showcase tomorrow), I noticed something a little bit fishy about Extra Credits' description of the Battle of Chuanbi in November 1839. Namely, that it seems to be lifted more or less completely (albeit largely reworded) from the description of the battle in Bruce A. Elleman's Modern Chinese Warfare, 1795-1989. The various descriptions and the order of events follow exactly the same sequence as Elleman. Given that Extra Credits somehow refuses on principle to cite sources, even when asked (I mean, really?) I'm rather inclined to call them out for outright plagiarism.
Questions concerning my research: Would it be uncommon for a Congregationalist minister in New England to own a copy of Church of England's "Book of Common Prayer" in 1744, or would this have been standard in Congregationalist as well as Anglican churches in the colonies? I've read conflict accounts.
Second, relatively how expensive would a rather large and well bound copy of the 1715 version be at the time? As it was one of the only objects taken with a loyalist family in their flight from MA, I imagine it must have been fairly important.
Last, a copy I'm interested in has the birthdates of the family children written on the inside cover, which I know was standard practice. This copy does not, however, record the dates of their death suggesting that by the time they died, the family no longer had possession of this copy? Does this seem accurate?
Thanks for any insights fellow historians!
I expect the disarmament conference to come to nothing, and am in favor of that result, if the alternative means shearing more claws from our already depleted national defense. The outlawry of war is proven to have been an empty thought. I believe that the next few generations will see a continual series of wars, and the best thing to do, is to be prepared. America has no friends in Europe, or in Asia, or in the world. It seems to me that conditions are somewhat similar to those which produced the feudal age. The only nations which are likely to survive the dawning Age of Iron, are those which adopt a powerful military form of government. This style of government is not the kind to endure in such an age, because big business has its finger too much in the pie. It seems we must choose between a strong soviet government, and a strong dictatorship on the fascist style. Just as in the feudal days, men chose a strong baron or count to serve, for mutual protection. Personal liberty, it would seem, is to be a thing of the past. Individualistic independence must be sacrificed for national security. We must throw off the idealistic cloaks we have partially donned during the last generation or so, and recognize the naked bestiality of life. There is no question of right or wrong, but simply of necessity and survival. The strong will win, and might will rule, as it always has, and there need be no hypocrisy about it. Right or wrong, for instance, has little to do with the present Japanese-Chinese-Manchurian affair, as I see it. It is necessary to the existence of the Japanese nation that they expand into Manchuria, and eventually into China. It is necessary to the existence of other nations — America, for instance — that they are not allowed to expand. I am in sympathy with China, because the more Japanese forces they shatter, the less Americans will have to face when the eventual war comes. I am all for the building up of the armies and the navy, for the equipment of the forces with the most modern type of arms, and, if it seems necessary, of compulsory military training. The naked facts are — we must grind or be ground.
I am no student of events, but I consider at least these wars inevitable: a Russo-Japanese war; an American-Japanese war; a Russo-American war; a French-Italian war; and possibly a war in which Russia will be pitted against the foremost European powers. The world is a seething volcano.
While pulp studies really tends to focus on what folks like Howard and Lovecraft were writing in terms of fiction, their letters are also a great period piece as to the thoughts of everyday folks. The mindset is pretty alien to us in the post-WWII world, but Robert E. Howard and Lovecraft remembered World War I, and were living through the post-Versailles jockeying...it really is clear to see how events were building up to WWII in the minds of folks, even years before Europe broke out into war.
ok, hoping someone in this vibrant community might be able to help. i'm kinda new to reddit and have no idea where else to post this. this little guy hung on a wall in our house growing up. Even though i was raised a Jew i don't think it's inconceivable to be a symbol from Christianity. i /think/ i recall my (now deceased) father telling me that it's St. Paul. anybody recognize this guy by any chance?
[Imgur](https://i.imgur.com/MqUdqGv.jpg)
(Ottoman Empire) What happened to the sultan’s “wife”after the sultan died and she became mother of the new sultan (her son) also, what happened with his brothers/sisters?
It seems fairly common in the US for the same store to sell both pool tables and swimming pools. Does anyone know the history and/or reason for this?
It makes sense that they're both high end luxury leisure items, but then these same stores aren't generally selling leather recliners or massage chairs. Is it just because both items have "pool" in the name?
Off the top of my head, it would certainly save costs in phone book listings, and a store which carried only one probably got calls all the time for whichever "pool" thing they they didn't carry, which might make the market opportunity clear to the owner rather quickly.
Are there any recreation or retail historians who might be able to shed some light on this phenomenon?
Additionally, does anyone know if this specific grouping (or other homonym retail opportunities) occurs in countries which speak different languages? I know that private outdoor pools is much more common in America, so that might make more of a difference than the language difference in the pool table/swimming pool combination than the words used.
Really looking forward to Hasting's upcoming Vietnam book. Haven't consistently read about Vietnam in a long while so it motivated me to pick back up in preparation.
