Goal for the Day: Locate Your Shelter

With devastating weather swirling around much of the world, it’s a good time to take an inventory of places in your home which will provide you with shelter from the elements. Around here, tornadoes are always a threat. That’s why it’s important to find a place in your home which will provide protection in the event of a tornado or other force majeure.


If you don’t have a basement or other specific tornado shelter, an interior closet often makes for a good shelter. You’ll want to find a place which is free from windows and glass and that will be sturdy enough to stand during violent winds or destruction.

Once you’ve identified your safe place, as a precaution, it’s a good idea to put a supply of blankets, tools, flashlights and even bottled water in that spot should you need them. We always hope that we’ll never need to take shelter, but if we do, it’s a comfort to know that you’re well prepared.

Object of the Day: A Souvenir of the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary, 1935

Always a symbol of strength and dedication to the Empire, King George V was, in reality, greatly weakened by the First World War. For a decade, he suffered from ill health—complications from a fall from his horse, the ravages of a lifetime of smoking, and an assortment of other illnesses stemming from both.


In 1935, King George V and Queen Mary reached the anniversary of their twenty-five years on the throne. His Majesty was not to see the completion of another year. He died 259 days after their jubilee. On January 20, 1936, King George V was administered a lethal dose of cocaine and morphine so that his death could be reported in the morning newspapers. His last words, as the nurse administered the injection, were “God Damn You.”

Upon his death, Queen Mary bravely soldiered on as her ne’er-do-well son, “David,” became King Edward VIII. Mary, like her husband, didn’t feel that David would be a suitable king, and witnessed her son’s abdication of the throne and the ascension of her more favored son, “Bertie” as King George VI. Always devoted to the Empire, Mary died shortly before the coronation of her granddaughter as Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

In my collection of Royal souvenirs, I have several pieces which commemorate the Silver Jubilee of King George V and Queen Mary. This particular mug is unusual in that I’ve never seen another example of it. The bottom of the mug is marked simply in green, “Made in England.” The front of the mug shows portraits of George and Mary wearing their Imperial crowns. The frame surrounding their oval portraits contains Classical images of power. The to the right of Mary is a figure of one of the Graces, to the left of George is a ship representing Britain’s naval power. The whole is quite colorful and appealing—a fitting tribute to twenty-five years of struggle and triumph.

Mastery of Design: An Enamel and Diamond Mourning Ring, 1787

This gorgeous ring of gold, enamel, rose-cut diamonds, rubies, emeralds and amethysts is inscribed on the reverse, “Cease thy tears, religion points on high/ CS ob.25 Jan 1787 aet 70/ IS ob. 18 Sep 1792 aet 72” and was made in honor of a deceased couple who died at the ages of 70 and 72 respectively.


Such mourning rings were worn in England as a reminder of the deceased. The jeweled design of dropping flowers in an urn was a common symbol of mourning and one that was easily recognized. With its gold bezel and carefully-set stones, the ring’s workmanship is particularly fine and demonstrates the triumphs of late Eighteenth-Century jewelers.

Humanitarian of the Week: Monica Horan

While we best know her as Amy MacDougall-Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, in real life, Miss Horan is a dedicated wife to Phil Rosenthal (the show’s creator) and mother of their two children. Prior to her role on “Raymond,” Miss Horan made a name for herself in a variety of parts both on stage and in television throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. In 1990, Rosenthal spotted Horan in a play at their alma mater, Hofstra University, and quickly fell in love with her. They married after her conversion to Judaism.


Since Everybody Loves Raymond ended, we’ve not had many chances to see Monica Horan in new roles. Miss Horan has devoted her life to her family and to helping others. Recently appointed to The Board of Trustees of Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. Along with Rosenthal, she managed the Rosenthal Family Trust which provides scholarships and grants for high school students. Additionally, Miss Horan and her husband are involved with Inner-City Arts, Survivors of the Shoah Visual History Foundation and the EveryChild Foundation.

For the many years of laughter Miss Horan has brought to all of us and for the many more years of joy and opportunity she’ll bring to deserving children and families, Monica Horan is out “Humanitarian of the Week.”

Her Majesty’s Furniture: The Sèvres Coffer and Table, 1824

Table and Coffer
French, 1824
The Royal Collection

Among the magnificent items purchased in Paris for King George IV by his baker, François Benois, is this gorgeous coffer and table of oak and ebony. What sets this apart from other similar pieces of furniture in the Royal Collection is the inclusion of nineteen porcelain panels by Sèvres. Set in gilt bronze the panels show: 4 pastoral scenes, 2 mythological subjects, 2 birds, 2 still lifes, a trophy and 8 trellis panels in gold on a blue ground.


Supported by four tapering legs with brass fluting, the table holds the coffer which is mounted with white marble and a pierced bronze gallery on three sides. This set was used in St. James Palace until the death of George IV when it was moved to Windsor Castle.

Film of the Week: Torch Song, 1953

It’s Joan Crawford. It’s Joan Crawford in Technicolor. It’s a ginger Joan in Technicolor in blackface. It’s wrong. It’s campy. It’s a little scary, too. It’s Torch Song!

By 1953, the self-proclaimed “Queen of the Movies,” the “shop girl who made good” had already been dubbed as “Box Office Poison” and released from her contract at Metro. In 1943, she was recruited by Warner Brothers where she had basically been hired to annoy Bette Davis. She wasn’t really wanted at Warners either. Before her triumph in Mildred Pierce, director Michael Curtiz said, “She comes over here with her high-hat airs and her goddamn shoulder pads... why should I waste my time directing a has-been?" Still, Crawford proved herself with Mildred Pierce, winning the Academy Award for her performance and reestablishing her career. Once again “Hollywood Royalty,” Crawford seemed to be back at the top, but it wasn’t for long. For some reason, she never had the knack for getting the juicy parts that Davis was offered.

In 1952, Crawford asked to be released from her contract at Warner Brothers. For awhile, she acted as an independent performer. This didn’t prove to be too economically good for her. Luckily, by 1955, she had married Alfred Steele of Pepsi and was rolling in all of that soda money—until she bled him dry and he died, but that’s a different story.

One of the first films Crawford made during her freelance period was 1953’s Torch Song which brought her back to Metro Goldwyn Mayer. She must have felt somewhat triumphant coming back to MGM as a star. What a pity that it’s such a strange and jarring picture.

Largely publicized as Crawford’s first appearance in Technicolor, the studio made sure that Joan was as brightly-colored as possible in the film. Dressed in loud, sparkling costumes designed to match her newly hennaed (and peculiarly rigid) hair, Crawford swaggers her way through this odd musical which finds her, later in the picture, in blackface. Why? I’m not sure. By ’53, this was surely not a form of entertainment which was still in vogue or even, really, acceptable. The reasons for this seem to be purely visual. The shocking image of Crawford removing her dark wig to reveal her red hair curling from her painted brown face is bizarre, and, yet, artistically interesting.

The whole picture is, actually, artistically interesting, but simultaneously dreadful. Directed by Charles Walters, the film also stars Michael Wilding (who was married to Elizabeth Taylor at the time) with Harry Morgan (billed as "Henry Morgan"), Gig Young (who would soon marry Elizabeth Montgomery), Marjorie Rambeau, Dorothy Patrick, Eugene Loring, Maidie Norman and James Todd. It’s the story of an embittered, tough Broadway diva (Crawford at her masculine best) as she struggled with the fact that she’s aging as well as the fact that she’s never found true love. She has a complicated relationship with her blind pianist (Wilding) who is the only person who tells her the truth. Throughout all of this confusion, she sings quite a bit. To be sure, all of Crawford’s vocals were dubbed. The singing was supplied by India Adams.

It’s just odd. But, sometimes you want to see an odd Joan Crawford movie. It’s worth watching as a glimpse into the sort of campy pictures that were given to “Hollywood Royalty” in the mid-1950’s. Just don’t watch it if you have a fever. I don’t think that would be healthy.

Punch's Cousin, Chapter 252

“Giovanni?” Charles exclaimed. “You…you stabbed him?”


“He lunged at me with a knife,” Robert explained, his hands still shaking. “We struggled and I wrestled the blade from his hand. He came at me again and, in his velocity, was impaled on the knife. He crumpled to the ground.”

“He deserved it.” Charles sighed. “I should not say it of my own brother, but he was a monster. He deserved it—and worse. Is he dead?”

“I don’t know.” Robert wailed. “I ran in here.”

“Of course, Robert.” Adrienne said softly, handing Colin to Marjani and going to her brother-in-law. “Come, let’s wash your hands.”

“No.” Robert pulled away.

“Dr. Halifax is correct.” Charles said. “We can’t just leave Giovanni in the street. We must do something with him.”

“That’s just it!” Robert moaned. “I did nothing! I did nothing! I’m a physician. It’s my duty to assist all men who are harmed. I took an oath. It’s my duty! And, yet, I harmed him and I did nothing to save him. I ran!”

“Calm yourself, Robert.” Adrienne said softly.

“I had a duty!” Robert said, his eyes welling up with tears. “Primum non nocere! First, do no harm!”

“Help me, Charles,” Adrienne whispered, turning to look for the footman. However, he had already left the room.

“Went downstairs.” Marjani shook her head. “Can’t blame him—villain or no, the man’s still Charles’ brother.”

“I must go, too.” Robert said quickly. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Stay here, Robert.” Adrienne argued.

However, Robert ignored his sister-in-law’s pleas. He rushed down the narrow stairs—shocked to find Charles returning.

“Where’s your brother?” Robert asked.

“Gone.” Charles shrugged. “Nothing but a pool of blood left behind.”

“Marie,” Robert gasped. “She’s got him.”

“There’s an unholy alliance—whether or not my brother lived—to have his body in control of Marie Laveau will not benefit any of us.” Charles muttered.

Meanwhile, Ulrika Rittenhouse limply allowed Arthur to slip her dressing gown past her arms and over her shoulders. He laughed as he tied the robe closed in front of her.

“Gotta say,” Arthur grinned, “I don’t mind you like this. All slack-jawed and passive. Sure, you’re not as beautiful as when you’re fueled by your anger, but you’re certainly much more agreeable.”

Ulrika grunted—unable to speak clearly from the potent herb that Arthur had given her.

“Now, then, Pet.” Arthur chirped. “You gotta get your words goin’. You’re no good to me just droolin’ and spittin’.”

Ulrika teetered backward, but Arthur caught her before she fell. He took her hand and squeezed it violently. He knew that his grasp must have hurt her, but she did not respond at all.

“Say, I could get used to this.” Arthur guffawed.

“Listen, Ginger, you’re goin’ to lead me to the diamond. Understand?”

Ulrika walked unsteadily forward with Arthur still grasping her hand.

As they approached the door, Arthur paused as he heard someone approaching Ulrika’s bedroom. A knock on the door made Arthur’s heart race.

“Now, what?” Arthur mumbled to himself.

At that very moment, Cecil took a deep breath and sat down on the bed next to the body of the man he knew as both Mr. Punch and Julian, Duke of Fallbridge. “So,” Cecil began. “You call yourself Mr. Scaramouche?”

“I do.” Scaramouche answered, extending his neck rigidly.

“You’re different than Mr. Punch and His Grace?”

“I should say I am.” Scarmouche said stiffly.

“Are you new?”

“Hardly.” Scaramouche clucked his tongue.

“But, this is the first I’ve heard of you. Neither His Grace nor Mr. Punch has mentioned you.”

“Are you surprised? Punch is no better than a naughty child and the other one—His Grace, as you call him—is a coward.”

“Shall we talk for a moment?” Cecil asked, unsure of how to continue and wishing that Robert was with them. Robert would have known how to handle this unexpected shift.

“Talk? What makes you think I’d want to talk with you? You don’t interest me.” Scaramouche responded curtly.

“Why?” Cecil grunted. “I say, I mean, what do you want?”

“Shall I give you my list” Scaramouche hissed. “Shall I regale you with the litany of the crimes I’ve endured? Would you like to hear what I’m owed?”

“You’re quite an angry fellow, aren’t you?” Cecil sighed.

“You have no idea!” Scaramouche shouted.

“Would it be possible to mollify you?” Cecil shrugged.

“Perhaps,” Scaramouche scowled.

“And how might I do that?”

“You can begin by returning my property.” Scaramouche frowned.

“Your property?”

“Beginning with my dog!” Scaramouche bellowed. “Where’s my Toby?”

“In the kitchen with Meridian.” Cecil responded.

“My Toby is with the servants?”

“Yes.” Cecil nodded.

“Fetch him for me! Immediately!” Scaramouche demanded. “And, then, we shall begin to sort through the inventory of things which I am owed.”



Did you miss Chapters 1-251? If so, you can read them here.