There she is...

Did you know the first Atlantic City Pageant was held held Sept. 7-8, 1921 in Atlantic City, N.J.?

Margaret Gorman

No? 

Now known as the Miss America Pageant, it began in an attempt to keep tourists in Atlantic City after the Labor Day weekend.

Representing cities and states, 16-year-old Margaret Gorman attended as Miss Washington, D.C., due to her "athletic ability, past accomplishments, and outgoing personality." Gorman was the grand prize winner of the three-foot Golden Mermaid trophy.

She was invited to join the Second Annual Atlantic City Pageant as honored guest Miss America, and is the only Miss America to receive her crown at the end of the year.

Of course I was interested to find out that no African American women participated until 1970, although African Americans did appear as slaves in musical numbers as far back as 1923.

Vanessa Williams became the first African-American woman to be crowned Miss America in 1984, but resigned from her duties after a scandal. The remaining seven weeks of the year were fulfilled by first runner-up Suzette Charles (who was biracial).

Personally, I find it fascinating (illogical?) that one year after the Nineteenth Amendment was passed (and ratified) finally giving U.S. women the right to vote, one of the longest running beauty pageants began.

Excuse me, organizers now refer to it as a scholarship pageant.

The Eighth Wonder of the World

- .... . / ..-. .. .-. ... - / - .-. .- -. ... .- - .-.. .- -. - .. -.-. / - . .-.. . --. .-. .- .--. .... / -.-. .- -... .-.. . / .-- .- ... / -.-. --- -- .--. .-.. . - . -.. / --- -. / .- ..- --. .-.-.- / ..... --..-- / .---- ---.. ..... ---.. --..-- / -.-. .-. --- ... ... .. -. --. / - .... . / .- - .-.. .- -. - .. -.-. / --- -.-. . .- -. / ..-. .-. --- -- / .. .-. . .-.. .- -. -.. / - --- / -.-. .- -. .- -.. .-

(The first transatlantic telegraph cable was completed on Aug. 5, 1858, crossing the Atlantic Ocean from Ireland to Canada!)

Why my excitement? The cable is one of the many underwater landmarks observed by the Nautilus in original steampunker Jules Verne’s 1869 novel, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea.

It would normally take at least 10 days to deliver a message by ship, but the transatlantic cable allowed an inquiry and a response within the same day.

Messages were sent by an operator using Morse code, a series of dots and dashes. The reception was bad on the 1858 cable, and it took two minutes to transmit just one character, which translates to about 0.1 words per minute.

On Aug. 16, 1858, the first message (which took more than 17 hours to transmit!) sent across the cable was, "Glory to God in the highest; on earth, peace and good will toward men."

Queen Victoria (have I mentioned that I like the Old Girl?) sent a congratulatory telegram to President James Buchanan through the line, expressing a hope that it would prove "an additional link between the nations whose friendship is founded on their common interest and reciprocal esteem."

Buchanan replied that, "it is a triumph more glorious, because far more useful to mankind, than was ever won by conqueror on the field of battle. May the Atlantic telegraph, under the blessing of heaven, prove to be a bond of perpetual peace and friendship between the kindred nations, and an instrument destined by Divine Providence to diffuse religion, civilization, liberty, and law throughout the world."

A new cable was installed in 1866 which could transmit eight words a minute — 50 times faster than the 1858 cable.

It wasn't until the 20th century though that message transmission speeds over transatlantic cables would reach even 120 words per minute.

Think about that the next time you complain about your slow internet connection or cell phone reception!

By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea!

I was tired of war and heat so I went to Cape Island (you know it as Cape May) New Jersey, for the Fourth of July.

Poppa's been there all summer working on a hotel for the railroad and they gave him passes so we could come visit!

I couldn't wait to try out My new Bathing Dress.

In My day, women wear ankle length dresses, long pants, and long sleeves. Weights are even sewn into the hems so we don't expose (gasp!) a leg!

See, we don't Frolic in the water as You Do. We enter the water, get wet, and get out. All very Modest, Docile and Demure. (And Boring.)

Thank Goodness we're not in England where they use Bathing Machines - roofed and walled wooden carts that roll into the sea!

I received many Scandalized Looks when My Bathing Dress was spotted, but I think they're Just Jealous.

 

Absinthe of presenthe

Bathing dress

Momma is still at camp with Big Sister. Don't tell, but I'm starting to miss them.  So, I snuck on Momma's friend Jennifer's computer.

I'm having fun staying with Jennifer...I have lots of new outfits, and I can even give you a preview of some of the Absinthe Accessories she is making for Me, including a new Pirate Hat! The next time I travel to the Caribbean, I will blend right in with the rest of Captain Jack Sparrow's crew.

Purple dres

But, new clothes aren't everything.

Since I promised Momma I wouldn't worry her friend by disappearing to another time, I'll show you some of My new things. There's a bathing costume, a dress in Momma's favorite Color Purple, and a silly sort of outfit Jennifer says her daughter wore in 1987. I'm not sure I believe her ... see for yourself!

Anti-gravity belt

I thought this purple dress was going to be too heavy, until Jennifer made Me an anti-gravity belt to help hold it up! It might come in handy during my travels too.

I hope Momma and Big Sister are having fun, but I will be very happy to see them tomorrow!

Silly outfit

Just can't get enough

Purple and Black Sailor Suit

Momma and I are in Prescott with my Big Sister visiting Momma's friend Jennifer. (Jennifer first met me at Comicon and now just can't seem to Get Enough of me.)  

Red, Black and White Whimsy

This morning we had my First Fitting of Three New Outfits!  


Jennifer's never made anything for anyone Quite Like Me so she's had to Experiment. What do you think so far?

Red, White and Blue Bathing Dress

(The crocheted clothes are a Bit Warm now but will Feel Wonderful once we return to Chilly Philadelphia.)

Momma and my Big Sister leave for Ankle Biters Camp this afternoon, but I shall be chilling with Jennifer while she Completes my new Wardrobe.

And see What Else we can get into while Momma's away....

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go

Momma is feeling Much Better after her Root Canal (but Sore!) and is Slowly getting ready for our Vacation next week in Prescott, Ariz.

(I'm packed but Neither she Nor my Big Sister are - hmph.)

Momma tells me that Prescott is Very Historic. It was founded in 1864 as the Territorial Capital of Arizona. Although the Capital moved to Tucson from 1867 to 1877, the Capital returned to Prescott at the end of 1877 and remained until it was moved permanently to Phoenix in 1889. (How does one Move a Capital?)

Momma and my Big Sister will spend a Couple of Days at camp (a former tuberculosis sanatorium!) while I relax with her friend Jennifer who is working on my Bathing Dress.

Then Momma will join Us for a couple of Fun-Filled Days of Rest and Relaxation! I Hope we can Visit the Sharlot Hall Museum while we are There.

Sharlot Hall was an Unusual Woman for her time. Born Oct. 27, 1870, she moved when she was 12 with her family from Kansas to the Arizona Territory. Sharlot briefly attended school in a log-and-adobe schoolhouse four miles from her family's ranch, then boarded in Prescott for one year of schooling in town.

In 1909 Sharlot was appointed Territorial Historian and became the first woman to hold territorial office. In 1927 Sharlot agreed to move her extensive collection of artifacts and documents into the log Governor's Mansion and open it as a museum.

The Governor's Mansion (built in 1864) is the oldest building associated with Arizona Territory still standing on its original location!

I can't Wait! 

She won't wear an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini

I am shocked, simply shocked.

What kind of girl do you think I am?!

When someone said I should wear a bikini (to show off Evil Wil Wheaton's signature) I thought it was something modern but modest like this below

(Which I can picture myself in.)

 

Not this at the right!

(Or worse!)

Only a Perfectly Awful Girl would be seen with that much skin showing.

Do you even know what we wear when we go bathing in 1864?

I do have some standards!

I am consulting with my dressmaker and shall let you know when we come up with a final product.