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anne-lister-adventures · 4 years

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Monday, 10 February 1840

8 3/4

1 1/2

Dawdling writing bit of rough draft of note to Countess Panin snowy morning Reaumur 8 1/2º in my room at 9 a.m. – Breakfast at 10 in about 40 minutes –

Hardly over before Colonel of the Engineers and Mrs. Gottman nice intelligent people called, and then Mr. Baehr, and then the General Gouverneur’s nephew and aide du camp Mr. Tolstoy and then the Prince de Georgia or properly Gurinsky so that it was 12 10/’’ by my watch (and as it appeared afterwards to be 3 hours instead of 2 1/2 hours too late) and 12 40/’’ by the day here the carriage having waited 3/4 hour –

Mr. Tolstoy had met us the evening we spent chez la Princess Tcherkasky – And saw us (tho’ we knew nothing about it) when we drove to tea at Aleschkowo (vide p.[page] 10) and told George to desire our Courier to bring us here in the part of the Town where all the nobility lived and not take us to any of the Inns in the basse ville – Tolstoy a gentlemanly intelligent fast-French-speaking young man –

Drove directly across the Oka (the verst-long bridge of boats taken away in the winters) a busy enough scene of laden traineaus and people – To all appearance terra-firma – Merely its valley-form to indicate the bed of the river – Drove straight to the Cathedral Church of St. Macaire – Lofty light and handsome rich handsome Iconostase and altar of solid silver given by the merchants that frequent the Fair which begins 15 July and lasts till 25 August O.S. – Large candelabra also en argent massif – Pavement of about 18 in.[inches] squared iron flags – Passed thro’ to the winter church in the large neat building the residence of the clergy at the back of the cathedral – The winter church a beautiful chapel covered vaulted roof painted in imitation of a lightly clouded sky – Effect warm and admirable – Here too rich, beautiful iconostase – Did not go to the Armenian church or Mahomedan Mosque –

The Pechersky Ascension Monastery (in the background), where the Church of St. Macaire was located.

Then to the Governor’s apartments – Large handsome house – The bel étage on a forest of open arcades – Then along the Dvor (Gastinoi Dvor) – Went into one of the shops – Consisting one large room below and a small one and above a good sitting room, and a small bedroom? and a cabinet – This shop lets for 800/- for the whole time of the Fair – But there are still better situations which let for 1000/- - the frontage seemed to be 3 arcades on one side and 2 on the other –

The merchants live in their shops – 2635 shops en pierre, and as was said afterwards chez le General Gouverneur 2600 en bois – All the pillars supporting the galleries of the Dvor are en fonte (cast iron) – And said the General Governor at dinner the length of the Dvor is just one English mile; and a person going into every shop and perfectly well knowing his way (so as not to go out of his way) will have walked 40 English miles at the end of his journey!

Extraordinary ville de boutiques – Bazaar par excellance ou se fait un commerce qui valait l’année passé £8,000,000 said the General Gouverneur at dinner for he said the rouble ought to be 25/- per 1£ but Mr. Marc would certainly be right in giving only 21/- this depending upon circumstances – But said the Governor the merchants always cachent la valeur actuelle – One might add 1/2 to their statement ∴[therefore] instead of 8 millions one should say 12 millions Sterling! – Could not imagine why the merchants should try to hide the real amount of value – No reason for their doing so – It made no difference to them – But they always did hide it –

Lower Bazaar in the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin (c. 1872)

The large handsome salle at the Governor’s apartments was intended by General Betancourt (a Spaniard the planner of the Dvor) for a Bourse – But no! That did not take – The merchants liked to settle an in their own private rooms; and some 8 or 10 millionaires in settling the price of the Tea, settled the price of every other article – People bought and sold according to the rate that should be fixed for the tea some much p.[per] c.[cent] without at all knowing what that would be till at the last – There were merchants that regularly bought tea to the amount of 6 or 8 millions, each! – The principal business is in tea, iron, and cotton –

On entering the winter church Tolstoy pointed to the height to which the waters rose in 1829 – Apparently about 3 ft.[feet] up the door-jamb – The damage done was considerable – But such a great rise was extraordinary – It had been once thought said the Governor (at dinner did not see him elsewhere today) to place the Dvor on the Kremlin Mountain (did Madame B-[Baehr] say it it was 75 or 175 ft.[feet] above the level of the rivers?) but this would not have suited the merchants – They could not have landed their merchandise with sufficient ease – Betancourt was was misinformed that the waters only rose 3 ft.[feet] above the present emplacement before its being raised but instead of raising 3 ft.[feet] it has been found necessary to raise 20 ft.[feet] in some places at an expense of 11,000,000/- but the present Emperor has been here twice and was so pleased with the Town ville, its situation, prospects &c. that he has taken it under his especial protection and spares no expense 17,000,000 more are now in progress of laying out in a large handsome house palace for the General Governor to be finished next summer (we saw it in the Kremlin) –

One beautifully proportioned Corinthian columned salle de reception) – entrepôts – Sundry additional levellings (gigantic ones already done) the new chaussée &c. &c. the chaussée to be finished in 2 years from this time – Done as far as Vladimir, and part done here – Begins by a magnificent quay along the Oka – The quays here and cloaque can only be seen in summer – The ville on one side the Oka, the Dvor on the other and then the Volga –

For the moment my idea of the ground and the junction of the 2 rivers is not nette (not quite clear) – But the ville as we looked from the Dvor and crossed the river is very picturesquely drawn in a long line along the high bank of the Oka crowned gits picturesque Kremlin – At the Kremlin, not a large enclosure, no cannon or sign of a fortress –

Saw the new Cathedral built in the old style and in commemoration of the old venerable cathedral containing the tombs of many of the princes of Souzdal and of Cosma Minim Souk-Hourouky, the patriotic butcher, stirrer up of the people and Prince Pojarski who rid their country of the Poles (about A.D. 1612) – A copy of the banner of the patriot troops marched under (a virgin 1/2 length with an inscription in substance pour la foi et pour le roi) hangs up en face du tombeau de Minine or rather of the inscription for the tomb is just below in the catacombs substantial lofty brick vaults, 3 corresponding to nave and side aisles – On the chalky rock, and dry as possible – We walked thro’ them –

This Cathedral lofty and handsome and très bien eclairée – The domed ceiling (the domes) in a blue pattern upon white (good effect) the side walls covered with fresco painting which contrasts well with the snow white polished scaglinola of the plain square huge Corinthian pillars that support the roof – The Iconostase rich as usual –

The Saint Michael the Archangel Cathedral of the Kremlin in Nizhny Novgorod. (image © A.Savin, WikiCommons)

We peeped into the Military Hospital room for 550 – About 450 patients there – all cleanliness and neatness here as in the hospital for poor old people of both sexes, and in the maison des fous – About 15 or 20 men and as many women there in all? – No noise – All still and orderly as if the patients were as reasonable as their keepers – One of the men on our going up to his room (the rooms perhaps 5 yards + 4 yards) came to the door-window (a glass window iron barred in each door) and said in Russian very quietly Ah! Je croyais qu’il était le General Gouverneur, mais ce sont des vagabonds!” – Mr. Baehr had joined us in the Kremlin Cathedral and went with us to the Hospitals – Very civil and intelligent – It seems he is Procureur –

It was now 3 by the Town clocks – Obliged to return – Home at 3 10/’’ – Dressed as quickly as we could – The carriage waited for us – At the Governor’s house at 4 1/4 or I think not later – The femme du General Gouverneur an agreeable, nice, good sort of aimable person – Dinner soon announced – Very nice good dinner soup and pâtés – A Marinade de Poisson – Round cotelettes de boeuf round a centre of spinach and little roast potatoes as big as marbles – Then Sterlet du Volga (stewed – Excellent garnished with pieces of lemon which one takes to correct the richness) then roast poulet or game and cucumbers handed round at the same time (salés) – Then a jelly – Then 2 plats of sweet meats (a large long excellent sort of plum and cherries), and then a little tumbler of chill-taken-off water in an empty glass saucer (nobody seems to wash anything but the mouth)and then retired to the salon – Coffee immediately – Sat a few minutes – Quite long enough for Madame B-[Baehr] evidently wished to retire to take her siesta, and said we should want repose –

Home about 6 10/’’ – Sat slumbering dared not undress immediately for fear of anyone’s coming – Tea about 8 – Had Domna put away all my things and it is now 12 25/’’ by the Town clocks just as I have written so far – Snowing in the morning till about or after 11 – Afterwards fine –

The 3 Lords Paget Clarence and 2 others were at the marriage of the Princess Marie and then here at the Fair last summer and afterwards with the Emperor at Borodino – 125,000 reviewed – 2 corps of the army – But very few of the guards there – The Lords P-[Paget] bought a great deal at the fair – Delighted with it – sorry they could not stay longer than 3 days – Promised to write to the B-s[Baehrs] but had not written – Mr. B-[Baehr] gave me a little set of views of the Dvor and promised me a feuille of the business done at the Fair last year – Very civil –

Reaumur 10 1/2º in my room now at 12 1/2 tonight – Mr. Tolstoy said we had more than Reaumur -20 on Thursday night – Thinks we had even as much as Reaumur -25º - no greater cold here than Reaumur -30º to 35º - No greater in Siberia than Reaumur -40 and difficult to measure this – Mercury freezes did the Governor say at Reaumur -35º and spirit of wine only marks 3 or 4 degrees plus bas –

[symbols in the margin of the page:] ✓c ✓c ✓c

[in the margin of the page:] Gastinoi Dvor at Nijeni

[in the margin of the page:] Nijni Gastinoi-Dvor

[in the margin of the page:] Kremlin at Nijeni

[in the margin of the page:] new cathedral service 1st dome in it 27 years ago

[in the margin of the page:] Dinner chez le General Gouverneur

Page References: SH:7/ML/E/24/0009 SH:7/ML/E/24/0010 SH:7/ML/E/24/0011

#anne lister code breaker #anne lister #ann walker #moscow to baku 1840

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starknight-dreams · 7 years

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But Never Doubt I Love - It’s Fixed

It was late that night after the bill had passed. Edward Drummond had had more than his fill of debating and arguing, his collar soaked through with sweat and his voice run hoarse from the effort of those damned corn laws. He stumped through the dark hallways alongside Robert Peel, both of them almost too exhausted to speak. As they broke into the cool night, they were

mobbed by enthusiastic supporters. Cheers of ‘hurrah’ broke the still air. Drummond tried to smile in acknowledgement, but he was tired to the bone. And yet… A small, glowing spark of excitement had lit within him from Lord Paget’s letter. Alfred’s letter. Was it alright to call him Alfred? Drummond remembered the signature so well. Yours, Alfred. He slipped his hand into his pocket and gripped the letter tight, not wanting to let go of such a precious thing. It was proof; solid proof that perhaps his foolhardy thoughts had not been totally unrequited.

“Are you sure I can’t take you home?” Peel’s voice broke through Drummond’s train of thought.

“Oh - thank you sir, but I have an engagement.” The spark of excitement was growing steadily, smouldering away in his chest. He tried to use the word engagement nonchalantly, as if it were something he cared nothing for.

“Thank you for stopping me making a fool of myself over Bentinck.” Peel chuckled ruefully. “Thank you.” Drummond shook Peel’s hand jovially. But suddenly, something seemed wrong. Drummond turned to see the crowd suppressing a man flailing about with a gun. It fired once, twice, flying towards the sky, the bullets meant for Sir Robert, surely. Drummond threw himself and his prime minister to the ground. But the scuffle was over as quickly as it had started. The parliament guards had seized the offender and his gun. Sir Robert looked shocked; he was almost comical in his fright. And yet as Edward stood up, Peel laughed shakily and told him, “You look just like a goldfish, Drummond. Quite a picture.” Edward helped Sir Robert up and saw the guards wrestling the man away. Peel clapped him on the shoulder, his face still a little grey from shock.

“I… I did warn you, sir. I did not think it would be such an immediate reaction.” Drummond said. Peel smiled ruefully.

“Nor did I. Well - I suppose - it is late, and I best get back home. Are you quite alright for your engagement?” Drummond started. He had forgotten, in the shock of the man with the gun, just what the evening held for him. The spark bloomed back within him, so suddenly he felt his palms begin to sweat with anticipation.

“Yes sir, I think I will be quite alright.” He smiled so widely that the prime minister looked curious.

“Well then. Erm, have fun. And keep it quiet! We don’t want any more violence, you hear me?” Drummond grinned even more and waved Peel’s carriage off. He took a moment to breathe deeply, looking up at the stars. Thank you, Lord, for not killing me off just then. He laughed quietly to himself. His Holy and Gracious God might not appreciate what he was about to do. Drummond set off along the road, walking briskly and yet more briskly as he thought about who he would meet. Lord Alfred Paget. He wasn’t sure he had ever heard a more beautiful name. His footsteps echoed down the dark, near empty streets. Ciros was barely a ten minute walk from parliament at an amble, and judging from his fobwatch he had clocked in at only six. The things I do for love . He smiled, and then wondered, as he stepped past the threshold of the restaurant, whether it really was love. Could it be? Alfred didn’t seem to think that friendship was the right term for it. And yet… well. There was simply no word for it. Drummond nodded to the waiter and stepped into the candlelit room. There were very few patrons here now; the bill had taken a long time to pass, and dinnertime really ought to have been over. His stomach rumbled just thinking about it. But as his eyes found what they sought, his stomach decided it wasn’t terribly keen on food anyway. It did a sort of twisted backflip and ended up in a clenched position, waiting for those blue, blue eyes to come ever closer. Alfred’s face came closer into view, though he was barely aware of even walking. It was like bathing in a ray of sunshine, really, except that it didn’t hurt to look upon. It did not hurt at all. He smiled (as if he could have resisted), and cleared his throat. Alfred looked up from where he was sitting at the table, his fingers idly stroking a petal on the floral centerpiece. He looked so surprised that Edward couldn’t help but feel a little hurt. Had he really been so sure he wouldn’t come? Alfred made to get up but his thigh collided with the table on his way, resulting in an awkward sort of crouch.

“Drummond! I wasn’t sure you would come.” He adjusted his seat and stood up properly, clapping Edward’s hand between both of his own. “I am so very, very glad of it. Tell me; did the repeal pass?” Drummond bit his lip as Alfred released his hands and sat down. He followed suit, putting the napkin in his lap and looking back up to those bright blonde eyelashes framing what seemed to be the sky. The time passed, and Drummond could not say how long it was.

“Er… Drummond?” Alfred coughed amusedly.

“Yes?” Edward replied automatically, shocked out of his trance.

“The repeal? Did it pass?” He cursed his own stupidity.

“Oh! Yes. Yes, it did. Sorry, I’ve been out of sorts since I…” Since I got your letter. “Since there was this fool of a man who tried to shoot at Peel and I! Can you believe it?” Alfred frowned in concern.

“Shot at you? But that sounds… Well, it sounds like a close shave.”

“Yes, yes… I suppose it was, really.” Alfred looked down at the flowers, then the candle, then back into Edward’s eyes.

“Well, I’m very glad you’re alive.” The men smiled at each other.

Read on at:

http://archiveofourown.org/works/12381414/chapters/28166424

#almond #victoria #alfred paget #edward drummond #alfred paget and edward drummond #gay victorian times #gay #gay ship #fanfiction #fix it fic #my gay babies #my heart #not dead #will be part of a continuuing series i promise #plz read #plz reblog

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musikmusing · 7 years

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TODAY’S SONG: SEVDALIZA HYPNOTIZES US WITH THE OTHERWORLDLY “HUMAN”

(By Regan Wojick for Atwood Magazine)

Art is powerful, provocative, controversial, and thought-provoking. Sevdaliza is the walking embodiment of art with no boundaries. Although she doesn’t have more than about a dozen songs out yet, the Iranian-born singer from Rotterdam has been an interesting figure to watch these past few years. Through her dark electronic beats, alluring vocals, and brooding lyrics, Sevdaliza has not only captivated listeners, but also thrust them into her unusual world.

Sevdaliza writes in a manner that feels like it could be her stream of consciousness, yet she’s totally capable of telling a coherent story in short, scattered lines. Similar to her music, aesthetically, Sevdaliza does not shy away from trying new things. Every music video she puts out is inspired by classic culture, referencing old films or even twisted reflections of life itself. No matter what the subject is, Sevdaliza never fails to put her own futuristic, yet vintage stamp on everything she puts out.

As more songs and videos are released, the artist does not get any less mysterious. In fact, when you think you might have come to catch a glimpse into who she really is, you really know nothing at all. Unlike other artists, Sevdaliza is quiet when it comes to interpreting her songs and videos; rather than spoiling her mystique, she lets her listeners decide who she is.

We live in a world where if you want to know everything about your favorite pop star, it’s just one Google search away. At times it feels like singers and musicians are popular products. We buy their music and idolize their super stardom. For some artists though, it’s about relating to a group of people and being the voice that they don’t have. Being in any sort of spotlight is strange. The center attention is somewhere that I never want to be, and I imagine being a famous artist is like… all the time. Sevdaliza sets out to question that type of consumerism and adoration, which makes her so compelling. In today’s money hungry industry, she is putting out art without selling herself out.

Sevdaliza’s latest production, “Human,” tells us the tale about a woman in our success and beauty-obsessed society. Underneath the power suits and outer shells we seek acceptance on, we all inhabit a soul. Obviously it is not just our physical anatomy that makes us human; on a philosophical level, all of us are able to make decisions led by our own conscious. Every human is navigating, trying to find a role in their own life.

“Human” is carried by dark, electronic beats, but what differentiates Sevdaliza from other electronic artists is her ability to capture an emotion, not only through her so-real-it-hurts lyrics, but also through the music itself. “Human” feels empty in some places, like the artist is looking to fill a void. Perhaps her feelings of emptiness are a result of the technology obsessed, anti-social consumer culture we now live in.

“It’s passing me by

Been in and out

And in front of my judgmental eyes

My precious disguise

Business so cold

Can’t cope with my own

How to not fail”

The video suits the song well as it takes an interesting perspective on the greed that has played a huge part in our world. It also centers in on the beauty standards that people, particularly women, are held accountable to. The clip is set inside an artistically beautiful hall that looks like it could have been a 19th century palace, yet the characters in the music video give it an odd, futuristic feel.

Sevdaliza first enters into clear view wearing a black robe as she wanders to the center of the hall. We quickly find out that she is the center of the (presumably) rich audience’s attention. Sevdaliza works as a sex symbol in the video. Men are seen sweating as she takes off her robe to reveal her clad attire, a beautifully jeweled bikini peace.

The piece she is wearing brings about the scent of classic Hollywood nostalgia. The outfit she dawns in the video is a nod to old-Hollywood actress, Debra Paget’s costume in the Indian Tomb, where she was also seen as an object of sexual desire. Every watcher looks at the woman with pure lust and a hint of curiosity in their eyes. Things are not what they seem as the camera pans out; it is revealed that the Sevdaliza has the legs of an animal (Think an upright centaur… ).

“I am flesh, bones

I am skin, soul

I am sweat, flaws

I am veins, scars

I am human

Nothing more than human”

When the mystery of Sevdaliza’s character in the picture is unveiled, it’s easy to question the feelings behind the men there, watching her. Do they think of the woman as a beast? Do they only see her as a sex symbol? The reasons they watch with such intrigue do not matter, however; they are still there, fawning over and judging someone that they do not see as their equal because she is different. She is just another way to entertain their minds and, more intimately, their sexual fantasy.

The “Human” video is strange and sultry. Sevdaliza holds an abundance of power as she dances in front of the men, looking them in the eye, without a hint of fear or anxiety. It is one thing to be sexually objectified and another to be sexy. As she does look incredible in the video, it also takes a look at how “different” people are viewed. People who are unique become centers of unwanted attention. Sevdaliza has fused the power of sexual desire with the anxiety of being different to make for a beautifully dark, twisted piece of art. “Human” is the lead single off Sevdaliza’s upcoming debut album, and we cannot wait to see what distorted version of reality she will create next.

Music Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t7SclAXoQw

(http://atwoodmagazine.com/human-sevdaliza/)

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