more research randomness (i am sooo goofing off today) ~

[lookingland]

for those of you who don't know what this is, it's a purple heart. the kind George Washington invented and bestowed back in the day when men were men and presidents wore pigtails.

according to the history, we only have a record of three of these badges of valor being handed out during the revolutionary war, after which the "book of merit" went missing. maybe Washington handed out others. maybe he didn't. only two have survived down to us.

i've decided that george was a swell egg and definitely handed out others; particularly one to the bastard son of a british lord by the name of david huntington, because i need james to inherit one after the death of his grandmother (which later gets passed along to lewis if i remember correctly).

for a while i scrupled over playing loose with the rules on this one, but if we're just operating on "no knowledge of others" as opposed to "no others were given", then i think it's totally fair game.

history is sometimes convenient that way.

: D

Comments

[gwyn-hwyfar.livejournal.com]

That is a mighty pertiful (albeit unmanly by modern standards) Purple Heart.

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

i think if a man could wear buckles on his shoes and lace on his collar, this bit of frillery would be the least of his worries ~ hahahahahaha

: D

[rabiagale.livejournal.com]

*giggle* I think that men who who were brought up to ride horses and run other people through with swords probbaly didn't feel that their masculinity was threatened by silly clothes.

And I'd say, sure, go ahead and bestow the heart on your character. Just make sure he deserves it. :D

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

yes, i'll come up with some golliwhopper of a story to justify it. i think he was a good man, so i have no problem with him and george getting on all right.

and amen to men on horses with swords. no macho complexes there!

: D

[lanyn.livejournal.com]

I didn't know George Washignton originated the Purple Heart! Now that's fascinating!

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

i like george. he's still my favorite president.

: D

[sparowe]

I agree with your reasoning. *nods* :)

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

yay ~ thanks!

: D

[bachsoprano.livejournal.com]

Very silly question....is that an *actual* one, because I've been staring at the stitchwork and it's beautiful! I'm a bit stunned that a person could do that....

I vote for the no knowledge...if the Book of Merit went missing, how is anyone to know? (And, that begs the question.....where did the Book go? Hmm.....I smell a story there! *grin*)

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

that is, indeed, an actual one. back in the day when people bothered to make such beautiful things. so it's a piece of purple silk hand-embroidered with gold thread.

and yeah ~ there's a story!

hey ~ ! you're not supposed to be feeding my "write a colonial story" itch, you know. i'm not done yet with the current war du jour.

: D

[bachsoprano.livejournal.com]

Wow. I've done a little needlework in my time, but nothing remotely like that. Just beautiful....

hey ~ ! you're not supposed to be feeding my "write a colonial story" itch, you know. i'm not done yet with the current war du jour.

Mwhahahah! Eet ees all part of my eeeeevil plan.....

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

i find needlework totally fascinating as well ~ and lace tatting. i have a character who makes lace and it just astonishes me what delicate and precise and time-consuming work it is!

: D

p.s. you're naughty!

[bachsoprano.livejournal.com]

There's a tatting group here in town that sometimes gives demonstrations at country fairs and such (our community still has a healthy agricultural base and a real love for tradition, so there are a lot of people interested in keeping the old ways of doing things alive. Lots of Mennonites...which means lots of home crafts and good cooking!)....

p.s. you're naughty!M/i>

Not I! :D

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

ooooh that's so very cool.

back home our mennonites made cheese. i'm sure they did textiles too, but we just bought the cheese.

mmmm cheese....

: D

[akirad.livejournal.com]

There's something very beautiful and poignant about that little cloth purple heart. It's the antithesis of the brass and iron crosses and stars of other countries.

[lookingland.livejournal.com]

i hadn't thought of that ~ interesting point!

i've always been fond of the purple heart, even in its reincarnated form.

: D