Playing Post Office

In 1847, a 5-cent and 10-cent stamp was released from the post office. They were the first self-adhesive stamps issued and called "LICK and STICK." This inspired the children's kissing game, Post Office. Rules below.

Post Office Rules:

1. Divide the group into two: Boys(A) and Girls(B).

2. Group A goes into another room, such as a bedroom, which is called "the post office."

3. Each person from the stationary group(B) individually visits "the post office"—once there, they get a kiss from every member in the room. They then return to their original room.

4. Once everyone in the first group (A) has taken a turn, the other group (B) begins sending members to the first room. In this way every member of both groups is guaranteed a kiss from every member of the opposite group.

Recipe for LICK and STICK

1. Mix the gelatin and the water together in a pan.
2. Heat the mix over a medium heat until the gelatin is dissolved.

3.Add the peppermint extract and let the mix cool.

4. Paint a thin layer onto the back of any picture, envelope and let it dry.

Okay.. now go have some Lick and Stick fun.

Sick? Put on a Flannel Shirt and Eat Some Onions.

This week I'm so utterly sick.. not really.. but I'm pretending to be more sick than I really am. But... here are some old time killing germs techniques that can get you back on your feet fast.

1. Flannel

That's right, saddle up to buy a flannel shirt and some flannel sheets. Red flannel was say to work the best at getting rid at rheumatism and back pain.

And now for the science: Other than using flannel to keep you warm, Alum was used in the drying process when making red flannel. Other than alum's drying properties, it has medicinal and cosmetic properties as well. Alum has long been used as an astringent after shaving or waxing. It's also a main ingredient in deodorant, combating underarm bacteria all day long, all day strong. Alum is also included in vaccines to help the body fight better the germs in those vaccines. Why do you think Paul Bunyan was so strong?

2. Skunk Oil or Bear's Oil

I guess this is where the "spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down" saying comes from. It was traditionary, to cure a cold, place a few drops of skunk oil onto a teaspoon on sugar and swallow it. Although, if you didn't want to eat it, you could do Bear's Oil.. which is second best. Then you rubbed it on your chest to make your breathe easier apparently. And as much as you're thinking how awful skunk oil must smell, it really doesn't smell too bad. Skunk oil is obtained from some glands in the skunks back--not it's stink glands. These glands store fat for the skunk in the wintertime when it goes to hibernate.

There is no science behind this one, children. Although, It is said to have a warming sensation when rubbed on the skin. If you do find some info... please comment below.

Note: if you're into rubbing things on your chest and have not skunk oil or bear oil... you can use butter, an bird oil, lard, turpentine, or any other greasy thing you have around your house.

3. Onions

This one is good 'cause I love onions... especially caramelized. And seriously, a lot of old time remedies having to do with onions include sugar. The most popular way to include onions into your sick diet is to make Onion Syrup.

Onion Syrup

Dice a large onion in a bowl and layer it with two or three table spoons of sugar.

Let sit a couple of hours and drain the sugar-onion water in a a vial.

You now have onion syrup.

Take one tablespoon every 2 hours.

And now for the science: Onions are a good source of fructo-oligosaccharides, which means, they fight the growth of bacteria esp. in the colon. They also help cardiovascular health and fight cancer.

If you hate eating onions, you coule always tie them around your neck to ward off colds, or slice them and put them in your shoes before putting your shoes on. That'll help. Still wanting French Onion Soup.. X-tra cheese.

Source: Janos, Elisabeth. Country Folk Medicine: Tales of Skunk Oil, Sassafras Tea and Other Old-time Remedies. Guilford, CT: Lyons, 2004. Print.

Happy Thanksgiving!

You too can make Pilgrim vs Indian outfits out of paper for this Thanksgiving. Copy and blow up the below pattern for Pilgrim. Indians should go tanning and wear a flap over their genitals and a headband wiwith a feather. :D

Cocaine Tooth Drops

COCAINE

TOOTHACHE DROPS

Instantaneous Cure! Price 15 Cents.

Prepared by the Lloyd Manufactureing Co.

219 Hudson Ave., Albany, N.Y.

For sale by all Druggists

(Registered March 1885.) See other Side.

The Real Black Friday

Every year, after filling their bellies with caloric goodness, American housewives wake up at the crack of way-too-damn-early to purchase as many discounts their minivan can hold. That day is called Black Friday -- a 1960's tradition to go out and shop 'til you drop and then some. Now, when I think of Black Friday, I always think about it having a negative conotation since black uaully means darkness and all things bad. But, black, in the 1960's version of Black Friday actually represents being in the black. Back when accounting ledgers were done by hand, RED used to mean you were loosing profits, and BLACK meant you were making profits. And the fact that it was the largest purchasing day of the year meant all of your accounts were in the black again. $_$ cha-ching!

Here at Victorian Supremacy, we're not so cheerful. Black Friday hasn't always meant Black Friday. Before today's meaning of glorified consumer indulgence, Black Friday meant an American Banker and American Financier's glorified day of over indulgence. In 1869, Jay Gould and James Fisk made an attempt to corner the gold market. Not just a little try.. but I very good try. It was a good enough try to cause gold prices to skyrocket and scare the American public into a Financial Panic on September 12 1869. By buying all the gold on the market, Gould and Fisk increased gold prices from $130 to $160 in a matter of weeks. When the government caught wind of their scandal, Fisk and Gould were ordered to sell $4,000,000 of their gold and buy government bonds instead. This massive selling caused a huge drop in the markets and the financial crisis that we call today the original Black Friday.

The Perfect Victorian Tree Decorations

Wax Tapers  aka Open Fire

Wax tapers are basically long really long dipped candles.  The lights on a Christmas tree represent the stars in the night sky. You can learn the ins and out and how to make your own wax tapers here.  Just don't burn the house down.  But open fires weren't the only dangerous thing Victorians put on a dead tree in their living room.

Tinsel aka Lead

Tinsel was originally made of real silver in the 1600's. Later, since silver tarnsihes, it was manufactured from tin. There are two types of tinsel: Icicle tinsel and Garland tinsel.
Icicle tinsel is a strip of metal that has been twisted and hangs like an icicle from the tree branches.

Garland tinsel is what we think of tinsel today -- the messy metallic strings that rest on the tree boughs. Metallic tinsel strands were made mostly from fool's gold which made it really expensive to throw over a tree.  Along with fool's gold, tinsel was also made from lead. It is still eaten by pets to this day. Safe Stuff this tinsel is.

buy official Victorian icicle tinsel HERE.

Various Food Items - Popcorn, Cranberries, Marzipan aka Stuff that Tastes Like Crap. 

Since Christmas tree was a mostly German inspired tradition, and since Marzipan is a german invention, it was used to decorate the Christmas Tree.  Marzipan is traditionally shaped into shapes resembling fruits and placed on the tree.

Stringing together Popcorn and Cranberries is a traditional family pastime at Christmas still. the Popcorn resting on the boughs of the evergreen looks like fresh snow and the Cranberries, as the deteriorate,  would probably give off a nice smell.. much like in medieval times with those clove oranges (See Pomander).