Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Fresh Eggs in California

San Francisco, 
1853


In late 1852, the clipper Golden Eagle set sail from Boston on her maiden voyage, bound for California.1 Rounding Cape Horn during the supposed calm of the Antarctic summer, the ship encountered rough seas that split the bow, causing it to return to Rio for a month of repairs. By the time she arrived at the Golden Gate, it was the spring of 1853. Sailing past the new lighthouse on Alcatraz Island, still waiting for its revolving lantern to arrive from France, the great clipper finally docked at a multinational city of 40,000 inhabitants who came to seek their fortunes.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Dining at a Love Hotel in the Gilded Age

New York City
ca. 1892


Women were a popular motif on cigar boxes in the late nineteenth century. They were often portrayed as angels, warriors, or voluptuous goddesses. However, it is rare to find a label that features a female nude since the cigar boxes with these images were seemingly intended for brothels. The Victorians were adept at being discreet whenever they strayed from their strict moral code espousing sexual restraint. Not surprisingly, ephemera that reflects this part of their private lives can be scarce. A case in point is provided by a menu from a little-known hotel called “The Palette.” Operating in New York during the Gilded Age, it was patronized by members of upper class who were leading double lives. This obscure hotel, which was never mentioned in contemporary newspapers or magazines, remains something of a mystery. The cuisine and prices on the menu indicate that its dining room was in a league with Sherry’s and Delmonico’s.