You can’t make these things up. In my ceaseless mining for details of the lives of my Civil War veterans I encountered this announcement in the Central Lake Torch of November 1, 1900:
I thought I should save it for a November post, but what if I forgot? I forget everything. So here it is. If I remember, I’ll run it again next fall when hunting season begins.
To make up for reminding you that it is still underwear weather out there, here is a nice cheery photo from Margie Guyot. She writes that she saw her first crocus yesterday. This isn’t it, as she says the photo came out blurry. This is from last year. Waste not want not.
Margie also claims that it is going to reach 40° F. out there today, and that she is making a bottle tree along her driveway. I am looking forward to seeing both of those things. Now I’m off to see what I can find that would make a good 5k (3.1 miles) run/walk Around Here.* I’m thinking Margie’s driveway is an option.
(*I almost forgot. I found a 5k training schedule on the Mayo Clinic site. This is a seven week schedule for a rank beginner who wants to do a 5k run, but it will make you feel better about yourself if you already go for a lot of walks. And remember, the First Annual TLV 5k is a run/walk, your choice.)
Torch Lake Views 
P.j. grath
March 30, 2011
It is 39 degrees here, and I did not (ssh-h-h!) wear tights under my jeans today! Here’s something Civil War for you, Gerry:
Gerry
March 30, 2011
Faulkner was right. It isn’t even past.
Sybil
March 30, 2011
Now winter is ending, does that mean I do not have to wear underwear any more 😉
Gerry
March 30, 2011
Well. My mother filled me with a perfect horror of having disreputable looking underwear on in the event of an accident. Odd that I wasn’t worried nearly so much about the likelihood of accidents themselves, but I digress. Anyway, Mom never said anything about no underwear. Perhaps we have a solution to several problems at once.
Jane Louise
March 31, 2011
My dad told us his mother used to sew them into their long johns in December, not to be taken off until the spring thaw. I rather doubt this story. I think it was just a threat to make us wear our leggings and galoshes.
Gerry
March 31, 2011
Sometimes it just doesn’t do to inquire too closely into these matters! I used to wear snowpants and boots, of course–OK, I still do–but I was also burdened with long knit stockings that I had to wear with a garter belt. Talk about your instrument of torture. Little girls have no idea how lucky they are to be able to wear nice comfy tights and nice comfy pants to school in the winter. And I have a very good idea how lucky I am to live in an age of miracle fabrics.
kiwidutch
March 31, 2011
The mind boggles LOL. Does this mean they went commando all summer long?
… and a walking skirt that doesn’t sag? what difference would there be to a walking skirt and a normal skirt then? ….and sag? (does that mean stretch?)
Of course telling men that they could also buy their axes, chains and saw bits here will naturally remind them that it’s the prefect opportunity to buy undies as well LOL.
Gerry
March 31, 2011
Welllll . . . it was 1900. This was an even colder and snowier place in 1900 than it is now. So in this context Underwear really means long johns. I, um, have no idea what, if anything, went under the clothes they wore in the summer. There’s another fascinating avenue of research for an aspiring graduate student.
Ladies wore long skirts in 1900. Period. When those got wet in the rain they must have been awful to drag around. I don’t know for sure, but I’m going to guess that the advertised Rain Proof Walking Skirt was made of something like waxed cotton. Something else for the graduate student to look up in the 1900 Sears catalog.
Cameron’s was indeed a comprehensive emporium, and well-suited to the market, Underwear, axes, cant hooks and all.
Gail McPherson
March 31, 2011
If thats all the women of the 1900’s had to worry about saggin. Then they were in better shape then me. Ha, I should walk everywhere like they did and I would not sag. Having a nice sun shiney day down state today also.
Gerry
March 31, 2011
‘Morning, Gail! They sure did walk everywhere. So in a way, our 5k run/walk on April 10 will be a way of reconnecting with that ol’ get up and go spirit. I hope you’ll join us, in person or virtually. Hmm. This reminds me that I need to arrange for a sag wagon.