Green Not Restful to the Eyes

1901

It seems as though cherished notions were no sooner on an apparently firm foundation than some inconsiderate iconoclast comes along and throws them down. People have for many years supposed that the color green was restful to human eyes and have been referred to the green grass and green foliage that nature has been so prodigal with for the benefit of weaned vision.

Now, according to a German professor of Berlin, nature wasn't thinking of human eyes when she made her profuse verdant display and that her color scheme was carried out absolutely regardless of the visual needs of humanity. He says that green does not protect the eye, and he denies that it has any beneficial effects whatever.

He declares that green paper, green shades, green glasses, green decorations and green umbrellas are all a mistake and that by increasing the green light we are simply provoking a nervous disturbance.

He says that each of the colors tires a different set of nerves of vision, and therefore looking at one particular color saves one set of nerves at the expense of another. The best method he says, is to dim all of the rays of light by smoked or gray glasses, which rest all of the optic nerves. — New York Herald.

The Regimental Colors

1904

At the bombardment of Fredericksburg, Virginia, during the Civil War, a Confederate soldier was taking sight for a shot at an enemy across the street. Just as his fingers trembled on the trigger a little three-year-old, fair-haired baby girl toddled out of an alley, accompanied by a big Newfoundland dog, and gave chase to a shell that was rolling lazily along the pavement. Major Stiles tells the story in "Four Years Under Marse Robert":

Burke's hand dropped from the trigger. There was the baby, amid the torrent of shot and shell, and on came the enemy. A moment, and he had grounded his gun, dashed out into the storm, swept his right arm round the child, gained cover again, and with the baby clasped to his breast and the musket trailed in his left hand, was trotting after the boys up to Marye's Heights.

Behind that historic stone wall all those hours and days of terror that baby was tenderly cared for. They scoured the countryside for milk, and conjured up their best skill to prepare dainty viands for her little ladyship.

When the struggle was over and the enemy had withdrawn, the Twenty-first Mississippi, having held the post of danger in the rear, was assigned to the place of honor in the van, and led the column. There was a long halt, the brigade and regimental staff hurrying to and fro. The regimental colors could not be found.

Buck Denman stood about the middle of the regiment, baby in arms. Suddenly he sprang to the front, swung her aloft above his head, her little garments fluttering like the folds of a banner, and shouted, "Forward, Twenty-first, here are your colors!" And without further order off started the brigade toward the town. Buck himself describes the last scene in the drama:

"I was holding the baby high, adjutant, with both arms, when above all the racket I heard a woman's scream. The next thing I knew I was covered with calico, and the woman fainted on my breast. I caught her before she fell, and laying her down gently, put the baby in her arms."

People Retain Belief in Amulets

1910

Superstitions That Once Were General Throughout the World Not Yet Entirety Gone

Faith in the virtue of amulets was well-nigh universal in ancient days; Lord Bacon says the historians had firm belief in them. Indeed, much of the art of medicine consisted in the direction for their employment. Gems, gold, stones, bones, bits of parchment with sacred writing, cylinders of stones, unicorns' horns, all of these would protect against the invading spirits or the influence of the evil eye.

This is the origin of countless popular superstitions that remain to this day. The form has been handed down, while the theories which prompted it have long since been lost sight of. This is why some people carry in their pocket a horse chestnut or a new potato to ward off rheumatism; this is why others tie around the necks of their children a tarred rope as a preventive against all the diseases common to children; this is why others think a gold chain will prevent quinsy sore throat, or a string of root beads worn around the neck will help children to cut teeth.

The coral beads which ease the troubles of teething children and the amber beads which cure asthma are beliefs which are firmly adhered to to this day. Pliny relates that Domitius Nero used to wear the hair of his wife on his neck, thinking it beneficial because it was amber colored. Amulets for teething are of very old date, and as red was a favorite color for an amulet, it can easily be seen how the coral necklace came to be so popular for infants who were teething.

Red was considered very potent in warding off the evil eye. In time of trouble, when the evil eye was especially triumphant, all the red tape in a certain county in England was brought up to ward off its baleful influence. The remains of this superstition still prevail, for many people believe that a red string around the neck is an excellent remedy for asthma, measles and mumps. The preservation of faith in red still exists, as is shown in the great virtues of red flannel, and the belief that the milk of the red cow is better than that of a cow of another color.

The German peasant, if he cuts himself, thinks he stanches the blood better with a red ribbon. This may be accounted for not only by tradition, but by the fact that blood would not form so startling a contrast when wetting a red ribbon as when wetting a white one.


They Really Believe It

Some people cling to the old-fashioned idea that a man must be a genius if he goes about with hair.

Now Futurist Face Powder

1914

Mauve, Yellow and Green Tints Made by Fashion's Leaders From Pearl Dust

The post-impressionist artists, painting, as they do, mauve, yellow, green, and brown flesh tints, have given a new idea to manufacturers of cosmetics. The fashionable woman may now tint her complexion in any tone as easily as she may assume a toilette in that color. One manufacturer is showing face powders in shades called violet yellow, emerald, old rose and ashen rose.

These new tints are recommended only for evening wear, as it is generally admitted that they would be too grotesque for daylight. The amazing thing, however, is that they really look well on the skin, and when applied give only the faintest suggestion of shadowy color. Thus, when the mauve powder is used, the shadows have a sort of purple bloom, which is rather becoming and lends softness to the face, accentuating in small degree the expression of the eyebrows and eyelashes, and also intensifying the color of the eyes. The purple tint is usually recommended for brunettes with blue or gray eyes.

Yellow powder is flattering to blondes, who need to intensify the yellow in their skins to correspond with the shadows cast from golden hair. This intensifies the type and makes it much warmer looking, therefore much more harmonious than if the face were tinted with either white or so-called flesh-colored powder.

The most difficult of all the new shades to conceive as having a place among beauty applications is the green powder. But through demonstration it is proved that certain types of coloring look well with the green tint, notably ashen blondes who have the reflection of green lights from the hair. This is also recommended for types too florid, whether blonde or brunette. It is said to give a cool, clean look to such skins.

The rose color is not at all the old fashioned flesh pink, but a sort of salmon tinted old rose. This is a color which would be well suited to a neutral brunette, as it would warm the type, giving body and a look of strength to the skin and a consequent health-like flush.

It is an interesting fact that these new cosmetics are made from powder of real pearls, a discovery of somewhat recent date, though for some time in quite current use in Paris.

Fishes in Sleep — Changing Color for Protection

1907

In Most Species They Experience a Change of Color

The way fishes sleep is a study which few people have taken up, but which is nevertheless very interesting. They are very light sleepers and frequently assume singular positions, but the most remarkable thing is the change of color which the majority of them undergo while asleep. Usually their spots and stripes become darker and more distinct when they have successfully sought temporary oblivion.

Sometimes the pattern of their coloring is entirely changed. The ordinary porgy, for instance, presents in the daytime beautifully iridescent hues playing over its silvery sides, but at night, on falling asleep, it takes on a dull bronze tint, and six conspicuous black bands make their appearance on its sides.

If it is suddenly awakened by the turning up of the gas in the aquarium it immediately resumes the silvery color that it shows by daylight. Naturalists ascribe these changes to the principle of "protective coloration" and point out that the appearance of black bands and the deepening of the spots serve to conceal the fish from their enemies when lying amid the seaweeds. — Buffalo Times.

Physician Declares Colors Have Influence on Nerves

1920

A New York physician who gives more credit to nature than he takes for himself in the cures he has wrought is a great believer in the effect of colors on the human race. Nature is the best teacher in these things, he says. You will find in your surroundings in the country no black and very little red. Blue and yellow are combined in the restful, reviving green. There is no doubt, the doctor contends, that the wearing of black has an evil effect on both health and spirits. It is the color of Saturn, the planet of gloom, misfortune, fatality and other evil things. If one wishes to be happy and brilliant, blue is the color to wear. The doctor says that the spirit of evil hates blue intensely and flies at the sight of it. Blue also calms the nerves and therefore it is a good color for room decorations.


Great Musicians of India Care Not for Worldly Things

To the Hindu, music, like sculpture and painting, is a sacred art. Music originated from Siva, one of the Hindu Trinity, and Saraswati is the goddess of music and of learning in general. As people look upon music as something sacred, so it has become a highly specialized art. Amateur musicians are not much encouraged. The public seem to say, "Do it well or don't do it at all; don't play false with music; it is too sacred for light treatment." The great musicians of India are generally ascetics. They care not for name, fame, or wealth. They live a life of comparative poverty. The Hindu is of the opinion that a voluptuous or a luxury loving person cannot be a great musician.

African's Teeth Passport

1922

When a man of Central Africa is asked from where he comes his answer is a grin. This answer is perfectly satisfactory, because his teeth are filed and sometimes colored to show to what tribe he belongs.

The women of the Felletah tribe stain their teeth blue, yellow and purple, leaving a white tooth here and there. These women are veritable "rainbows of fashion," with their contrasting colors. Sometimes the women stain their fingers, toes and hair also. Then they feel sure they are much more "dressed up" than any of their neighbors.

In time of war, or any kind of trouble among the tribes, the shaped or colored teeth are a good means of identification. A spy from another tribe can be detected immediately and will not be able to prove an alibi. The dental work is done when the African is very young, and marks him all through his life. — Detroit News.

Kindergarten — A New Method of Teaching Children

1874

Kindergarten is a term applied to Froebel's method of teaching children. Its object is to combine instruction with amusement so skillfully that the child shall be developed harmoniously in body and mind without fatigue and with only pleasurable effort.

This is accomplished by what is called object teaching. The child does not study books, but things, and is taught to give the name, the shape, the qualities, the colors, the uses, and perhaps the origin, of the various objects around him.

This method of teaching is admirably set forth in "Galkins' Primary Object Lessons." There are object-teaching aids, consisting of forms, cards with all the tints and shades of the various colors, and a great deal of like material that can be obtained at educational agencies.

The system is gaining ground in our large cities, and there are Kindergarten schools in New York and Boston, where teachers are trained in this new method.



Not anything should I destroy
Which others may for good employ
Not even tread beneath my feet
A crumb some little bird might eat.
— Children's Hour.

Black Wedding the Last Word in Ceremonies

1917

Even Blasé New York Sits Up and Takes Notice of Ebony-hued Marriage of Man-Milliner and Model

BY GEORGE MARTIN

NEW YORK, Jan. 22.—A black wedding, one of the most remarkable ceremonies ever performed in this country and one which made even blasé New York sit up and stare, was celebrated at the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, here, Monday.

It was completely black and the first wedding of its kind ever planned made the little fashion model, Eleanor Klinger, the bride of Ora Cne, designer.

From the limousine in which they threaded their way among the skyscrapers to the little church in 23rd street, to the handles on the silver service at their wedding breakfast, everything down to the most minute detail, was coal black.

Even the serving men were black; and everyone with any part in the ceremony wore black, including black gloves.

As the big black car whirled up to the curb at 9 o'clock, the driver who had a black mustache, twisted the black handle on the door and out popped the little bride and groom. They were dressed in black from head to foot. Cne, a handsome, stocky young fellow, a little below medium height, wore a single-breasted black broadcloth, cut business style and fitting close.

His collar was black and his string tie and his black silk shirt blended into his black vest.

The little bride, tripping across the sidewalk with her soon-to-be, wore black silk slippers, a black silk dress sparingly overlaid with black chiffon. Her wedding veil was a broad strip of black silk edged and overlaid with black tulle, ending in large bows.

This wedding veil and train are detachable, so, as the bridegroom explained, "it can be used either for mourning or evening."

The bride's corsage bouquet was of black pansies.

After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. Cne sped to their black wedding breakfast at the Cne appartment in Forty-third street. There Cne's black valet served black coffee, black bread, black butter (dyed), black bass, black raisins and blackberries.

The breakfast room was in black and white, with ebony furniture and black rugs. The silver service, from coffee set to teaspoons, was fitted with dull finished ebony handles. The porcelain service was black with an edging of white.

Cne — and his bride will begin a tour of the large cities of the country with their visit to Philadelphia Friday where Cne will address the Teachers' Institute of Domestic Science. Later they will go to Fort Wayne, Ind., Cne's home town, and to Omaha, Minneapolis, Nashville, Pittsburgh, Kansas City and later on the west coast.

—The La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, La Crosse, Wisconsin, January 22, 1917, page 5.

Note: The sentence "it can be used either for mourning or evening" might have a typo in it, but it makes a great pun, whether Cne meant it that way or not. Probably not.

Mistakes Rooster's Call for His Wife

1920

Thinks Fowl's Crowing Is Her Call to Dinner -- Bing!

LOS ANGELES, Cal. -- Because Hoaglund of Venice is a bit hard of hearing he faced a judge for disturbing the peace -- and there was no roast chicken dinner in the Hoaglund home.

He was spading in the garden. The rooster crowed. Hoaglund dropped his tools and went home for lunch. Mrs. Hoaglund said she hadn't called him. Then she did call him -- many things.

Arraigned before Recorder W. W. Rennie, after the battle, he explained the matter and Mrs. Hoaglund was appeased.

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 9.


Irishman Couldn't Even Detect Green

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- An Irishman who can't tell green when he sees it was rejected for enlistment in the U. S. Marine Corps here for defective color vision.

James Patrick O'Hara, born in the County Cork, insisted on picking brown skeins of yarn when told to select the green ones.

"What color is grass," ventured the examiner, "isn't that green?"

"No," replied the color-blind Irishman, "its color is not green; people call it green because is young and tender, but its color is brown."

--The Saturday Blade, Chicago, March 27, 1920, page 10.