We're getting closer and closer to IT!
And so this week Victorian Vernacular is bringing you a trio of words and phrases all listed under a topic of general interest in the Gilbreth household, at least to the eldest Gilbreth girls: getting noticed by the opposite sex. This is also a matter of the utmost interest to Mr Gilbreth- as he would like his girls to have nothing to do with them!
This week's terms are:
"The last of the Seven Veils":
This refers to the fabled "Dance of the Seven Veils" which is best knows for an appearance itmakes in the Bible in conjunction with the story of John the Baptist- but as noted on Wikipedia... "The Dance of the Seven Veils is thought to have originated with the myth of the goddess Ishtar and the god Tammuz of Assyrian and Babylonian lore. In this myth, Ishtar decides to visit her sister, Ereshkigal, in the underworld. When Ishtar approaches the gates of the underworld, the gatekeeper lets Ishtar pass through the seven gates, opening one gate at a time. At each gate, Ishtar has to shed an article of clothing. When she finally passes the seventh gate, she is naked."
So, as far as Mr Gilbreth is concerned, if his daughters are wearing silk stockings- they might as well have removed the seventh veil!
"Painted women": Painted women refers to women who wore "paint" or as we call it, make-up. Times change, but when Mr. Gilbreth was growing up, most women never wore make-up, and those who did were considered women of ill-repute!
"Wallflower": A person who, because of shyness, unpopularity, or lack of a partner, remains at the side of the party or dance." (Webster's Dictionary)
The Gilbreth girls dread being wallflowers!
That's all for this week boys and girls!
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