FYI: A carriage ride through -a small portion of Central Park- today costs $100 plus tip. With regard to liveries, I had to laugh because there's that great quote from Edith Wharton's Countess Olenska who (sort-of) says "I find it so odd that we fought a war to throw off the manners and mores of the past, only to resurrect and repeat them here."
The third component of the creation of The New York Public Library was the Tilden Trust, left upon Samuel Tilden’s death. Tilden was a politician and former New York governor who ran for president and actually won the election by popular vote, but because of a political compromise lost the chance to become president. By all likelihood Tilden, who never married, was Gay and involved in a long term relationship with an associate from his law office Andrew Haswell Green, who is one of the most important movers and shakers in NYC history who is basically unknown today. A novel, The Great Mistake, that came out last year explores their possible relationship. Tilden’s Trust left money for the establishment of NYPL, but extended family members contested the will and greatly reduced the amount of money to create it. It was then that Green working as the executor of the estate who merged together the Lennox and Astor Libraries to make NYPL. Green had a knack for doing these things, he was one of the people who orchestrated the five boroughs becoming NYC, the creation of Central Park, establishing The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Natural History Museum and setting up the Zoo. In a bizarre twist of fate Green, as a very old man, was murdered by a gunman in front of his townhouse in a case of mistaken identity. The man had believed that Green had sexually molested a young woman he knew and murdered him in broad daylight with witnesses observing.This is three years before Pittsburgh’s Thaw murders Stanford White for molesting Nesbit. Green of course didn’t know this man or the woman, it was just a great mistake. I would love to see Tilden and Green emerge, even briefly, as characters in Gilded Age.
Regarding the footmen; it should be stated that it was considered more prestigious to be served by a man than a woman so in the grander establishments the footmen were a social marker. In England for the employers male servants were taxed as a luxury whereas female servants were not. Also the footmen's livery was provided by the masters since they would have had two sets each. The ordinary livery which was much like the white tie ensemble worn by the gentlemen and the brightly coloured state livery elaborately trimmed with gold braid, gilt buttons and worn with white gloves, white silk stockings, patent leather shoes with silver buckles and sometimes with powdered wigs. Given the ornate nature of the footmen's liveries the cost would have been well beyond the means of any employee. It was normally the only uniform that as a rule was provided by the employer as a mark of the family's distinction. One other point about Agnes bursting into the luncheon and the efforts of the ladies to do damage control; with McAlister being present it could take on a whole other dimension of social issues for her if it got out that Agnes has behaved in an inappropriate manner and the ensuing disgrace for her household. Quadrilles and debutante balls of the period were essentially speed dating. As it was not the done thing for a young lady to dance with the same partner twice at a ball and as it was one of the few instances where a couple could peak relatively freely without chaperones hovering we can understand why such dances were so enormously popular.
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FYI: A carriage ride through -a small portion of Central Park- today costs $100 plus tip. With regard to liveries, I had to laugh because there's that great quote from Edith Wharton's Countess Olenska who (sort-of) says "I find it so odd that we fought a war to throw off the manners and mores of the past, only to resurrect and repeat them here."
Wonderful as always. Thank you so much!
I've really been enjoying these after shows. Thanks so much for doing them!
Thanks for watching and commenting!
The third component of the creation of The New York Public Library was the Tilden Trust, left upon Samuel Tilden’s death. Tilden was a politician and former New York governor who ran for president and actually won the election by popular vote, but because of a political compromise lost the chance to become president. By all likelihood Tilden, who never married, was Gay and involved in a long term relationship with an associate from his law office Andrew Haswell Green, who is one of the most important movers and shakers in NYC history who is basically unknown today. A novel, The Great Mistake, that came out last year explores their possible relationship.
Tilden’s Trust left money for the establishment of NYPL, but extended family members contested the will and greatly reduced the amount of money to create it. It was then that Green working as the executor of the estate who merged together the Lennox and Astor Libraries to make NYPL. Green had a knack for doing these things, he was one of the people who orchestrated the five boroughs becoming NYC, the creation of Central Park, establishing The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Natural History Museum and setting up the Zoo.
In a bizarre twist of fate Green, as a very old man, was murdered by a gunman in front of his townhouse in a case of mistaken identity. The man had believed that Green had sexually molested a young woman he knew and murdered him in broad daylight with witnesses observing.This is three years before Pittsburgh’s Thaw murders Stanford White for molesting Nesbit. Green of course didn’t know this man or the woman, it was just a great mistake. I would love to see Tilden and Green emerge, even briefly, as characters in Gilded Age.
Great info. I am going to read the book. Thanks!
Fascinating! Thanks for sharing.
Wonderful research and program! I think the note came from Bertha as a dig disguised as a thank you for “lending” Bannister.
Oooh! Interesting theory!
Didn’t think of that! Interesting theory 🤔
Been enjoying these podcasts so much!!
We're glad you enjoy it-- thanks for watching!
This is so much more interesting that other podcasts about the show. Thanks so much!
Thank you for watching!
Fantastic!🚂
Regarding the footmen; it should be stated that it was considered more prestigious to be served by a man than a woman so in the grander establishments the footmen were a social marker. In England for the employers male servants were taxed as a luxury whereas female servants were not. Also the footmen's livery was provided by the masters since they would have had two sets each. The ordinary livery which was much like the white tie ensemble worn by the gentlemen and the brightly coloured state livery elaborately trimmed with gold braid, gilt buttons and worn with white gloves, white silk stockings, patent leather shoes with silver buckles and sometimes with powdered wigs. Given the ornate nature of the footmen's liveries the cost would have been well beyond the means of any employee. It was normally the only uniform that as a rule was provided by the employer as a mark of the family's distinction.
One other point about Agnes bursting into the luncheon and the efforts of the ladies to do damage control; with McAlister being present it could take on a whole other dimension of social issues for her if it got out that Agnes has behaved in an inappropriate manner and the ensuing disgrace for her household.
Quadrilles and debutante balls of the period were essentially speed dating. As it was not the done thing for a young lady to dance with the same partner twice at a ball and as it was one of the few instances where a couple could peak relatively freely without chaperones hovering we can understand why such dances were so enormously popular.
These are all really interesting and important points about gender in this period and in relation to the episode. Thanks for sharing!
Great commentary on this show. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. Now I will watch all your podcasts!
Thank you for not turning to baby talk at the end of the show lol.
😆
Thanks for the historical facts, it really helps with understanding the time period. Also I don’t have to Wikipedia so much.
You're welcome and thanks for watching the show!
Great discussion! Love learning about all of the history.👍
Thanks for joining us!
PS the comments are fascinating as well, finding out more historical facts by just reading the comments.
I bet Bertha left the note!
In real life would aunt Agnes really hire Peggy?