Books REbound (Updated)

Last evening, the girls and I met with The Bible Binder and his good wife Polly for supper. The Bible Binder, has agreed to bind up two of the books from my collection.

The smaller being Plain Concise Practical Remarks on the Treatment of Wounds and Fractures by Doctor John Jones, and the greater volume being a copy of the 1725 edition of The Practical Surveyor by mr. Samuel Wyld.

It will be fantastic to be able to carry these with me in the field once they bear their more appropriate covers. In the meantime, enjoy these images of their progress, if you please.

The books in question, surrounded by some of the tools of the book binder's trade.

The Treatment of Wounds and Fractures sans its old cover!

Treatment of Wounds and Fractures in the book press, where it will stay all night.

The latest image from the Bible Binder who wrote: "I got up this morning, took your book out of the book press, and wire brushed the rib cords on the inside of the book. Photo shows after the cords have been wire brushed. Next I glued the fanned out rib cords and put them back in another book press...

After it dries for several hours I can begin to put the leather on. I may be able to do that tonight or tomorrow. I will not be able to start the paper back until after Wed. My paper cutter is out to be sharpened. I have to cut boards for that book. I used your hard back book's own boards."

"Here is the next step." he continues, "The leather is glued to the spine. The strings tied on both sides of the cords help the leather take the form around the cords. The glue will need to dry for several hours. Next the leather will be glued to the from and back boards, then mitered, and glued on the inside of the back boards. After that I will do some tooling on the leather on the spine and front cover. After that I will apply new end paper."

The volume in question with the leather on the cover.

My friend the Bible Man says, "I am finished with this book all but the end papers. I am going to put some thick end papers in the front and back."

You can see ALL of the images of the steps involved in the Bible Binder's journal...

A LETTER OF INTENT

I have posted this about, but wanted to also publish it here for you fair readers...

My dear friends,

I write today you to tell you of my intentions for this coming year so as to spare you any confusion or frustration when next you encounter me. If you have perused my journal of late, you may have discover'd my intention to remain 'in character' during my travels for the coming year.

There is no doubt in my mind that this could be difficult for me, but also for those around me; and I do not wish to alienate any of my friends or compatriots. Things will not be much different, I imagine, then they have been in the past... you've all met the Doctor during YOUR travels, and know the agreeable sort of fellow he can be.

I want to ask that you all help me to do this by not trying to 'snap me out of it' by mentioning a bunch of modern stuff to me whilst at an event. I believe that enough of you have my email address and are friends with me on various forums, message boards and social networking sites... that any out of character conversation can safely take place there at any time.

I tell you now that if you attempt to talk to the Doctor about movies, internet, cellphones and the like, he will be terribly confused.

I daresay I will go one step further and challenge YOU to give your interpretation and character some thought this winter. It's no fun if I don't have a few of you to play along!

Special thanks to everyone that has encouraged me (verbally & otherwise) to do this over the last few months, I look forward to the additional research that I need to do over the fall and winter to get me where I need to be... and the Doctor looks forward to meeting you in the year to come. This has the potential to be a really fantastic learning experience!

Allow me to present my compliments to you and yours; and if, in any of your affairs, I can render you any acceptable service, I beg you will use that freedom with which I wish you to command, my friends,

Yr Humble & Most Obt Svt,
The Doctor

HOW THE DOCTOR WAS BORN part 2

So next up, it was time for me to really take a good hard look at what the public saw when they looked at me. I've always been very visual, it's the nature of my 21st century occupation... so I always like to examine pictures of myself after events so I can see what the public saw, so that I can try to improve on it. You know, like when a football team reviews game film.

What follows is a (very humbling) series of images from past events that will illustrate the evolution of the early Schoolmaster into the present Doctor.

Oh sweet mother! I cringe when I see this poor fellow, thankfully, there aren't many pictures of him floating around. This image is of me as the 'Schoolmaster' at an event in 2003 or 2004. Horrible white cotton shirt, frilly polyester neck stock, buff colored linen waistcoat with poured pewter buttons and a pair of buff colored linen breeches. I am also wearing quite possibly the WORST looking tricorn ever. I also have an unfashionable beard for the period.

Sometime later, 2004-2005 you can see, the same buff colored breeches (which looked filthy ALL the time), same buff linen waistcoat and another in a string of horrible white cotton shirts. I'd also grown my hair out in an attempt to look more 'period'. In other pictures from this event/period, you can see that I was wearing my garters on the outside of my breeches at the knees.

Please make note, I have on a modern ring on my right hand, as well as my modern glasses. Ugh!

Improvements? Sure! I ditched that wretched hat from before. I hated that OLD hat so much I almost completely refused to wear a hat of any sort for a long time.

This as taken in May of 2007 as I went to lend aid to a wounded fellow. I was still wearing stockings and shoes at this point, but as you can see here, one of the shoes had gotten sucked off my feet as I ran through a puddle. I knew right then it was time to ditch the shoes for boots.

Improvements? No more cotton shirt, the one above is a natural colored linen shirt. This is that same buff colored linen waistcoat that I started out in... but I'd dyed it in walnuts along with the original buff breeches to make them dark. It looked great and hid all the stains from projects past. I'd also replaced the pewter buttons on the waistcoat with black leather buttons (not visible in this picture). Pictured above is actually a NEW pair of breeches made for me that are a greenish color.

Still sporting sideburns, modern (shorter) hair and NO hat at this point. I have on period repro specs here, but they didn't do me much good given that the lenses are SO small.

I really turned a corner (in my opinion) when I purchased my wig. I was never really content with my 18th century appearance before... I just always felt like a guy with a modern haircut with funny clothes on. The minute I got my wig out of its box, it just clicked. I took one look in the mirror, and thought, "There's the 18th century guy I've been looking for".

I know it sounds silly, but it really does make a huge difference in your appearance, it even made me like wearing my hat again. So much so, I bought a new one and fixed it up into a tricorn myself!

Ugh, looking at pictures of yourself can be embarrassing... but it's a great way to really analyze what the public sees, and what you want to improve about your clothing, hair, etc.

To be continued...

TREPANNING at FORT BOONESBOROUGH

Special thanks once again to Doc Muzzy for making and posting this. And also thanks to mr. Goodwin, AKA 'Pit', who sat still for the surgery.

HOW THE DOCTOR WAS BORN

or
How I created my first person interpretation

I'm not saying this is what YOU must do in order to create your first person interpretation... it's simply what I have done to get where I am.

I haven't always been the Doctor you know... when I started down this road I was the Schoolmaster. I couldn't hunt, fish, carpenter, blacksmith, shoot, soldier, farm, sew or birth babies... which made me worse than useless on the frontier. Schoolmaster seemed like a natural fit at the time.

I was giving a tour at Mansker's Station to two nice women from Scotland. They were very into me being in first person, and were playing along nicely... when they asked the question that really set me on this course...

"Where are you from?" They asked in their thick Scottish accents.

"Well," I replied in my normal southern accent, "I'm from England."

"You don't sound like you're from England." they smiled.

And they were absolutely correct, I DIDN'T sound like I was from England at all.

On my way home that afternoon, I began to toy with an English accent, which, thanks to my mother and her acting ability, wasn't too terribly difficult. She had coached me in high school when I was in a play in which I had to use and accent for my character. I was dreadful as an actor, having to remember lines that didn't mean anything to me... well that's a story for another time... where was I? Oh yes-

On top of that, I like to watch alot of BBC programs, so I've heard it plenty. So I began speaking aloud in the car while I drove, in my English accent. I talked to other motorists, I talked to myself, I repeated lines from my favorite BBC programs, I repeated parts of the Mansker's tour I usually gave... all in the accent. I did this for about three weeks. Lots of alone time on the morning and afternoon drives and no cell phone!

Then I started getting brave, and began using it on the phone to tele-marketers, and while ordering things at the drive-thru window... you know, on complete strangers... just for the practice.

Then came the day that I felt brave enough to actually use it on the public during tours. What a strange and glorious feeling! I discovered things about using the accent, like that I could say virtually ANYTHING to the public and they found it fascinating...

My early 'Schoolmaster' interpretation turned into 18th century baby-sitting, so my attentions turned toward the fellow who was at that time the fort Doctor. He was portraying Doctor Thomas Walker. I would act as his surgeon's mate when he did his faux surgeries, and I was instantly inthralled with it.

As is oft wont to happen, our Dr. Walker was insulted and treated shabbily and left the 18th century for more the pleasant environs of WWII, and sold his medical gear to the site. No one really knew much about the instruments besides me, so I was approached about becoming the new fort Doctor.

After a little additional research and reading, I took it on with great gusto!

I read alot of period books, and watched alot of historical TV shows and movies from which I have managed to pick up a manner of speech that the public takes as correct for someone of the period. My motto for 18th century speech is, "Why say it in four or five words when you can stretch it out into two or three sentences?"

Give some thought as to where your character came from. Ask yourself, what is my country and town of origin? What do people from there sound like? How long have I been in the colonies and how would that effect my accent?

And most of all, once you arrive at an accent, study it on audio and video, copy it, practice it, and then practice it some more! Your goal ought to be to make it sound as authentic as you can make it...

Now, go practice, and I'll post more later!

...to be continued

Schoenbrunn Village slides

Out-of-character

warning to you gentle reader, the journal entry that follows is written entirely in an 'out-of-character' manner that may be found troubling by those with weak constitutions or who are easily confused by such things. If you fall into these categories I will urge you to read no further...



So my busiest season draws to a close and it gives me pause to do what I usually do about this time every year... reexamine my online journal and my interpretation as 'The Doctor'. I've had some fantastic adventures this year and traveled far and wide. I've logged alot of miles and worn out the tires on the TARDIS (the name the girls and I have affectionately given to our blue Chevy Uplander).

The Two Doctors

We traveled to Fort Niagara and met the good Doctor Clift and young John, the injury-prone grenadier. We befriended Capt. Jack and Sgt. McBee and traveled to Schoenbrunn Village. We even visited new places for the first time like Fort Boonesborough & Blue Licks. We've had al sorts of fantastic adventures!

That being said, it's time for a change...

No real changes to the journal here... I've got it right about where I want it for now, but my interpretation needs a little something.

My pet peeve at events that I attend are reenactors who talk about modern, 21st century stuff right in front of the public. This really spoils the 'time travel' effect that I believe that we should strive to achieve at living history events.

I've heard and seen a little bit of everything as far as this 'spoilage' goes, from reenactors eating and drinking out of styrofoam cups and bowls (totally guilty), talking about internet, websites, cel phones (slightly less guilty) to having modern items strewn about their camps.

As noted above, I am guilty of some or all of these things in varying degrees. I find it irksome in others, but I am harder on myself about it than anything. That being said, I have decided that it's time to take 'the Doctor' to the next level.

Therefore, I have decided that in the coming year I will attempt to:

-Make sure I always have appropriate vessels in which to take my meals. I've been kind of lax on this in the recent past... and I think that this will be the easiest thing on my list to remedy. I own correct vessels, I just hate to carry them. :) The sight of a guy with his cup tied to his belt just seems so "Ren-Fair" to me, perhaps I can come up with a more creative solution.

-Eliminate modern paper money and my modern wallet in favor of more 'correct looking' gold dollars in a drawstring pouch. I saw Doc Muzzy with a similar pouch full of gold dollars and quarters, and it looks fantastic! I always hate buying things at events and pulling out modern paper dollars...

-And finally, the toughest of them all... I would like to try to stay in character as the Doctor 24/7 at events for the benefit of the public and other reenactors. There are SO many little simple things that I can do to kick this off that I don't already do... like bowing to people, that's easy, but a hard habit to get into. I have no doubt that this will take lots of time and patience on MY part, and will be very difficult.

My thinking here is this, I've done (and continue to do) all this research... I've invested all this money in clothes and gear, why not take it a step further? Heck, I'm so close to being there anyway... My main concern is that I don't want to disorient or put off the public (or other reenactors for that matter) who don't get what I'm doing. I understand that not all public (or reenactors) dig the first person thing.

I would love to hear YOUR comments and suggestions, let me know what YOU think!

LOCUST GROVE

Got in at sunset on friday.

Visited with Sgt Cushing and his lady-friend. The Sergeant discussed with me the idea of my joining his newly forming military unit in which I would act as the surgeon. He informed me that it would involve a change of wardrobe and I would be an OFFICER! Can you imagine it fair reader? The Doctor as an officer? Fantastic! It would be a most interesting and welcome change for certain. I already have my stylish black suit of new clothes all picked out.

Stopped by the tavern called "His Lordship's Beef", where I had taken a majority of my meals at the trade fair past and encountered a large group gathered around the cook fire. Among them was the Widow C. Black of Black's Coffeehouse. I was pleased to finally be able to make a face-to-face meeting with her.

The Widow Black and the Doctor outside mr. Boone's tent.
Image by Kathy Cummings. See additional images from the fair at Graphic Enterprises.

Afterward, I went next door to the large tent of mr. D. Boone of Kentucky.

He invited me in for a drink and discussion. I took a chair as mr. Boone lit some candles, feeling quite merry, I inform'd him that if he were to light any more candles, I would feel obliged to hold his hand and give him a kiss. mr. Boone and I laughed about this and he repeated the jest to other visitors that came and went.

I spent a rather cool evening sleeping in the wagon, wool blankets wrapped around me in the manner of a caterpillar in his cocoon. My feet were cold, but my dreams were warm.

A letter to a scoundrel

India Ink on cream coloured faux linen stock.

A recently completed letter for mr. B.L. Rhodes.

The body reads:

November 12th 1763

To Mr. C. Johnson from Mr. Robt. Hubbard

Sir,
Your Conduct of late has been of such a ignoble Character towards me that it must have my satisfaction. Your unwarranted Attentions towards my Wife and Daughters are of such a scandalous Nature as to cause friction, not only in my own House, but also the Community at large.

Also, Your Commentary about me was delivered in such a calculating way, so that I would not be present to address this Calumny. When I returned, You fortuitously absented Your Self so that I might not locate you. You seem more than Willing to Slander me, but not to my very Face. How dare you Sir! To violate the sanctity of my Home, Slander my good name, Cheat me of my Goods, and then retreat to a Place of Safety demands that We should meet.

The man, my Second, who hands you this Note will make the necessary arrangements for this meeting. Should you be Brave enough to appear, I will Show you the meaning of my Words.

Also, Jenny, my House Slave, is the Mother of a Mulato Child. I do not find it necessary to affix the blame upon you, as the Abomination bears your very Countenance. Know Sir I shall sell this Disgracful Creatur at the first Opportunity.

I am Sir,
Robt. Hubbard
New Bern

THE LATEST OFFERING

One piece (Servant copy) Indenture paper.
India Ink of cream colored faux-linen paper. Click to enlarge.

INDENTURE PAPERS
Prices for the various documents:

One piece (Servant copy)
All handwritten with wax seals: $50
Printed with handwritten bits and wax seals: $40

Two pieces (Servant and Master copy)
All handwritten with wax seals: $80
Printed with handwritten bits and wax seals: $60

Sgt. McBee's Unfortunate letter

A letter I wrote for Sergeant McBee some time ago, you may recall him from my recent adventures to the area of Schoenbrunn Village.

The folded letter, sealed with Black wax on the back

SCHOENBRUNN VILLAGE FAIR in images

images by Cindy Y. Northup

SCHOENBRUNN VILLAGE COLONIAL FAIR part 2

The Cooper cabin

In the small hours of the morning, I placed the last of the dry firewood on the fire and prayed it would last long enough for us to go out and fetch more later on when it got warmer out. I could just see the first light of the day through the cabin window as I settled in to try to get a few more precious minutes of sleep.

The girls and I awoke to Sgt. McBee's knock at the cabin door, letting us know that breakfast was ready. We rose and dressed and I bundled the girls in their bed-jackets and cloaks. Lucy has gotten so big that she was forced to make due with her father's heavy gray wool over-shirt.

We were treated to a magnificent meal of eggs, meats, fried potatoes and assorted pastries.

I gave two detail'd surgical demonstrations for the benefit of the publick during the course of the day. Lucy and I moved the table out into the grass near the dogtrot of the cabin, so that the instruments could be seen by all. Lucy, as she has gotten older, has become a great help to me in my practice... tis a shame that the Lord did not see fit to give me sons to pass on the Art & Mystery of my profession to. But things upon the frontier are not as strict as they are back in polite society, and this allows Lucy to assist me to a certain degree. I dare-say, she could remove a musket ball from a wound as well as I! I have already taught her the first rule of a surgeon's mate and make her repeat it for me on command, "Mind your fingers!"



The girls explored the village over the course of the day and made new friends. I tended the table and discussed my instruments and methods with visitors as they pass'd by.

Captain Jack informed me that the girls and I were invited to the 'Williamsburg' style supper to be held in the schoolhouse that evening. I had been past the schoolhouse several times over the course of the day and watched its transformation into a grand dining hall, compliments of the fines ladies who had spent the day working at it.

We were met at the entrance by the doorman who took my name and escorted us to our places. The hall was warm and lit with a myriad of candle lanterns, a spectacular transformation. Two long tables covered in fine, white tablecloths dominated the floor.

Our meal consisted of a large green salad, a bowl of peanut soup, Turkey, Yams and Tomatoes (although I was hesitant to partake of the tomatoes as they are part of the deadly nightshade family), and a dessert of Apple Dumplings with a sweet, warm caramel sauce.

Sergeant McBee was also one of the honoured guests and we sat close to one another at the great table. We discussed our travels and such, and after our courses were served and cleared away, I pulled from my pocket a deck of cards for a little One & Thirty. I also invited another gentleman who dined beside us to join in our merriment.

Sgt. McBee on the left and our card playing companion who obviously needs a few more cards in order to reach the desired 'One & Thirty'. Rose and Molly look on.

Sophie, my youngest, entertained several of the wives in attendance by
singing and making the little 'Ensign Boggs' dance.

We ended up playing so many rounds of One & Thirty, that Rose and Molly even joined in with us. Rose enjoyed saying 'Have it' and getting cards, usually landing far above the designated 'One & Thirty' required to win the game.

SCHOENBRUNN VILLAGE COLONIAL FAIR

I demonstrated again at Traveller's Rest for their 'Trade Days' event that they hold every year at this time. Publick attendance was fair despite the dismal and wet weather on Thursday, and unseasonably cold conditions on Friday. On Friday I wore every article of clothing I owned in order to combat the cold, including my apron over my wool coat. When this fail'd throughout the day, I would march about the table I used to display my instruments. The cold gives rise to thoughts of my next appearance at Fort Boonesborough in November and what the weather might be like then. I will have to remember to pack my heavy wool cloak to the Kentuckee region.

Directly after our departure from Traveller's Rest on Friday, the girls and I began our long and arduous journey toward Schoenbrunn Village in the upper portion of Ohio, upon the occasion of their very first Trade Fair to be held there. The girls slept thought large portions of the trip.

We arrived late, well after most civilized people would be abed. Capt. J. Johnson and Sgt. L. McBee, knowing that we would be arriving very late, left a note for me on the front gate to knock loudly to rouse them. They woke and took me out to the 'Cooper' cabin where we would be staying. The cabin consists of two large rooms separated by a dog trot, but in readying it for my arrival, Capt. Jack discover'd that the fireplace in the bedroom had a hole in the stone at the base, and to build a fire in it would invite disaster.

I dragged the tick over to the office where the good sergeant had built a fire, and made up a big bed on the floor in front of the fire. I brought the girls in out of the wagon one by one, put them in their places and tucked them all in soundly.

My night was spent tending the fire, interrupted only by brief bouts of restless sleep.

Image courtesy of Glenn Tharp

Loudoun October Garrison part 2

Saturday October 10th- Morning came, as it is so oft wont to do, and I arose and dressed in my red woolen uniform.

A steady stream of publick came and went, asking their questions.

Two chickens escaped their pen at the top of the hill by the Commander's house and there was quite a lively bit of entertainment in watching as their keepers attempted to catch them.

Hill and Newell

I arranged Lt. Anderson's desk and chairs in the infirmary so as to be able to entertain, and shortly thereafter arrived Corporal Hill and Private Newell to play cards with the deck so graciously given to me by Pvt. Kirby. We played One & Thirty, and my luck was rather poor. At one point I grew so disgusted that I tossed the cards down on the table and one fell between the gap in the floorboards to be lost forever beneath the Infirmary.

For a bit of entertainment, I danced the "ensign" while mr. Hawkins played his pipe.

Evening brought the Cherokee peace chief "Little Carpenter" into the barracks for a visit. He sat by the fire and told stories of his people late into the night.

Little Carpenter