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The Odd Women
Chapter 1 THE FOLD AND THE SHEPHERD
'So to-morrow, Alice,' said Dr. Madden, as he walked with his eldest daughter on the coast-downs by Clevedon, 'I shall take steps for insuring my life for a thousand pounds.'
It was the outcome of a long and intimate conversation. Alice Madden, aged nineteen, a plain, shy, gentle-mannered girl, short of stature, and in movement something less than graceful, wore a pleased look as she glanced at her father's face and then turned her eyes across the blue channel to the Welsh hills. She was flattered by the confidence reposed in her, for Dr. Madden, reticent by nature, had never been known to speak in the domestic circle about his pecuniary affairs. He seemed to be the kind of man who would inspire his children with affection: grave but benign, amiably diffident, with a hint of lurking mirthfulness about his eyes and lips. And to-day he was in the best of humours; professional prospects, as he had just explained to Alice, were more encouraging than hitherto; for twenty years he had practised medicine at Clevedon, but with such trifling emolument that the needs of his large family left him scarce a margin over expenditure; now, at the age of forty-nine—it was 1872—he looked forward with a larger hope. Might he not reasonably count on ten or fifteen more years of activity? Clevedon was growing in repute as a seaside resort; new houses were rising; assuredly his practice would continue to extend.
'I don't think girls ought to be troubled about this kind of thing,' he added apologetically. 'Let men grapple with the world; for, as the old hymn says, "'tis their nature to." I should grieve indeed if I thought my girls would ever have to distress themselves about money matters. But I find I have got into the habit, Alice, of talking to you very much as I should talk with your dear mother if she were with us.'
Mrs. Madden, having given birth to six daughters, had fulfilled her function in this wonderful world; for two years she had been resting in the old churchyard that looks upon the Severn sea. Father and daughter sighed as they recalled her memory. A sweet, calm, unpretending woman; admirable in the domesticities; in speech and thought distinguished by a native refinement, which in the most fastidious eyes would have established her claim to the title of lady. She had known but little repose, and secret anxieties told upon her countenance long before the final collapse of health.
'And yet,' pursued the doctor—doctor only by courtesy—when he had stooped to pluck and examine a flower, 'I made a point of never discussing these matters with her. As no doubt you guess, life has been rather an uphill journey with us. But the home must be guarded against sordid cares to the last possible moment; nothing upsets me more than the sight of those poor homes where wife and children are obliged to talk from morning to night of how the sorry earnings shall be laid out. No, no; women, old or young, should never have to think about money.
The magnificent summer sunshine, and the western breeze that tasted of ocean, heightened his natural cheeriness. Dr. Madden fell into a familiar strain of prescience.
'There will come a day, Alice, when neither man nor woman is troubled with such sordid care. Not yet awhile; no, no; but the day will come. Human beings are not destined to struggle for ever like beasts of prey. Give them time; let civilization grow. You know what our poet says: "There the common sense of most shall hold a fretful realm in awe—"'
He quoted the couplet with a subdued fervour which characterized the man and explained his worldly lot. Elkanah Madden should never have entered the medical profession; mere humanitarianism had prompted the choice in his dreamy youth; he became an empiric, nothing more. 'Our poet,' said the doctor; Clevedon was chiefly interesting to him for its literary associations. Tennyson he worshipped; he never passed Coleridge's cottage without bowing in spirit. From the contact of coarse actualities his nature shrank.
When he and Alice returned from their walk it was the hour of family tea. A guest was present this afternoon; the eight persons who sat down to table were as many as the little parlour could comfortably contain. Of the sisters, next in age to Alice came Virginia, a pretty but delicate girl of seventeen. Gertrude, Martha, and Isabel, ranging from fourteen to ten, had no physical charm but that of youthfulness; Isabel surpassed her eldest sister in downright plainness of feature. The youngest, Monica, was a bonny little maiden only just five years old, dark and bright-eyed.
The parents had omitted no care in shepherding their fold. Partly at home, and partly in local schools, the young ladies had received instruction suitable to their breeding, and the elder ones were disposed to better this education by private study. The atmosphere of the house was intellectual; books, especially the poets, lay in every room. But it never occurred to Dr. Madden that his daughters would do well to study with a professional object. In hours of melancholy he had of course dreaded the risks of life, and resolved, always with postponement, to make some practical provision for his family; in educating them as well as circumstances allowed, he conceived that he was doing the next best thing to saving money, for, if a fatality befell, teaching would always be their resource. The thought, however, of his girls having to work for money was so utterly repulsive to him that he could never seriously dwell upon it. A vague piety supported his courage. Providence would not deal harshly with him and his dear ones. He enjoyed excellent health; his practice decidedly improved. The one duty clearly before him was to set an example of righteous life, and to develop the girls' minds—in every proper direction. For, as to training them for any path save those trodden by English ladies of the familiar type, he could not have dreamt of any such thing. Dr. Madden's hopes for the race were inseparable from a maintenance of morals and conventions such as the average man assumes in his estimate of women.
The guest at table was a young girl named Rhoda Nunn. Tall, thin, eager-looking, but with promise of bodily vigour, she was singled at a glance as no member of the Madden family. Her immaturity (but fifteen, she looked two years older) appeared in nervous restlessness, and in her manner of speaking, childish at times in the hustling of inconsequent thoughts, yet striving to imitate the talk of her seniors. She had a good head, in both senses of the phrase; might or might not develop a certain beauty, but would assuredly put forth the fruits of intellect. Her mother, an invalid, was spending the summer months at Clevedon, with Dr. Madden for medical adviser, and in this way the girl became friendly with the Madden household. Its younger members she treated rather condescendingly; childish things she had long ago put away, and her sole pleasure was in intellectual talk. With a frankness peculiar to her, indicative of pride, Miss Nunn let it be known that she would have to earn her living, probably as a school teacher; study for examinations occupied most of her day, and her hours of leisure were frequently spent either at the Maddens or with a family named Smithson—people, these latter, for whom she had a profound and somewhat mysterious admiration. Mr. Smithson, a widower with a consumptive daughter, was a harsh-featured, rough-voiced man of about five-and-thirty, secretly much disliked by Dr. Madden because of his aggressive radicalism; if women's observation could be trusted, Rhoda Nunn had simply fallen in love with him, had made him, perhaps unconsciously, the object of her earliest passion. Alice and Virginia commented on the fact in their private colloquy with a shamefaced amusement; they feared that it spoke ill for the young lady's breeding. None the less they thought Rhoda a remarkable person, and listened to her utterances respectfully.
'And what is your latest paradox, Miss Nunn?' inquired the doctor, with grave facetiousness, when he had looked round the young faces at his board.
'Really, I forget, doctor. Oh, but I wanted to ask you, Do you think women ought to sit in Parliament?'
'Why, no,' was the response, as if after due consideration. 'If they are there at all they ought to stand.'
'Oh, I can't get you to talk seriously,' rejoined Rhoda, with an air of vexation, whilst the others were good-naturedly laughing. 'Mr. Smithson thinks there ought to be female members of Parliament.
'Does he? Have the girls told you that there's a nightingale in Mr. Williams's orchard?'
It was always thus. Dr. Madden did not care to discuss even playfully the radical notions which Rhoda got from her objectionable friend. His daughters would not have ventured to express an opinion on such topics when he was present; apart with Miss Nunn, they betrayed a timid interest in whatever proposition she advanced, but no gleam of originality distinguished their arguments.
After tea the little company fell into groups—some out of doors beneath the apple-trees, others near the piano at which Virginia was playing Mendelssohn. Monica ran about among them with her five-year-old prattle, ever watched by her father, who lounged in a canvas chair against the sunny ivied wall, pipe in mouth. Dr. Madden was thinking how happy they made him, these kind, gentle girls; how his love for them seemed to ripen with every summer; what a delightful old age his would be, when some were married and had children of their own, and the others tended him—they whom he had tended. Virginia would probably be sought in marriage; she had good looks, a graceful demeanour, a bright understanding. Gertrude also, perhaps. And little Monica—ah, little Monica! she would be the beauty of the family. When Monica had grown up it would be time for him to retire from practice; by then he would doubtless have saved money.
He must find more society for them; they had always been too much alone, whence their shyness among strangers. If their mother had but lived!
'Rhoda wishes you to read us something, father,' said his eldest girl, who had approached whilst he was lost in dream.
He often read aloud to them from the poets; Coleridge and Tennyson by preference. Little persuasion was needed. Alice brought the volume, and he selected 'The Lotus-Eaters.' The girls grouped themselves about him, delighted to listen. Many an hour of summer evening had they thus spent, none more peaceful than the present. The reader's cadenced voice blended with the song of a thrush.
'"Let us alone. Time driveth onward fast, And in a little while our lips are dumb. Let us alone. What is it that will last? All thing' are taken from us—"'
There came an interruption, hurried, peremptory. A farmer over at Kingston Seymour had been seized with alarming illness; the doctor must come at once.
'Very sorry, girls. Tell James to put the horse in, sharp as he can.
In ten minutes Dr. Madden was driving at full speed, alone in his dog-cart, towards the scene of duty.
About seven o'clock Rhoda Nunn took leave, remarking with her usual directness, that before going home she would walk along the sea-front in the hope of a meeting with Mr. Smithson and his daughter. Mrs. Nunn was not well enough to leave the house to-day; but, said Rhoda, the invalid preferred being left alone at such times.
'Are you sure she prefers it?' Alice ventured to ask. The girl gave her a look of surprise.
'Why should mother say what she doesn't mean?'
It was uttered with an ingenuousness which threw some light on Rhoda's character.
By nine o'clock the younger trio of sisters had gone to bed; Alice, Virginia, and Gertrude sat in the parlour, occupied with books, from time to time exchanging a quiet remark. A tap at the door scarcely drew their attention, for they supposed it was the maid-servant coming to lay supper. But when the door opened there was a mysterious silence; Alice looked up and saw the expected face, wearing, however, so strange an expression that she rose with sudden fear.
'Can I speak to you, please, miss?'
The dialogue out in the passage was brief. A messenger had just arrived with the tidings that Dr. Madden, driving back from Kingston Seymour, had been thrown from his vehicle and lay insensible at a roadside cottage.
For some time the doctor had been intending to buy a new horse; his faithful old roadster was very weak in the knees. As in other matters, so in this, postponement became fatality; the horse stumbled and fell, and its driver was flung head forward into the road. Some hours later they brought him to his home, and for a day or two there were hopes that he might rally. But the sufferer's respite only permitted him to dictate and sign a brief will; this duty performed, Dr. Madden closed his lips for ever.
Chapter 2 ADRIFT
Just before Christmas of 1887, a lady past her twenties, and with a look of discouraged weariness on her thin face, knocked at a house-door in a little street by Lavender Hill. A card in the window gave notice that a bedroom was here to let. When the door opened, and a clean, grave, elderly woman presented herself, the visitor, regarding her anxiously, made known that she was in search of a lodging.
'It may be for a few weeks only, or it may be for a longer period,' she said in a low, tired voice, with an accent of good breeding. 'I have a difficulty in finding precisely what I want. One room would be sufficient, and I ask for very little attendance.'
She had but one room to let, replied the other. It might be inspected.
They went upstairs. The room was at the back of the house, small, but neatly furnished. Its appearance seemed to gratify the visitor, for she smiled timidly.
'What rent should you ask?'
'That would depend, mum, on what attendance was required.'
'Yes—of course. I think—will you permit me to sit down? I am really very tired. Thank you. I require very little attendance indeed. My ways are very simple. I should make the bed myself, and—and, do the other little things that are necessary from day to day. Perhaps I might ask you to sweep the room out—once a week or so.'
The landlady grew meditative. Possibly she had had experience of lodgers who were anxious to give as little trouble as possible. She glanced furtively at the stranger.
'And what,' was her question at length, 'would you be thinking of paying?'
'Perhaps I had better explain my position. For several years I have been companion to a lady in Hampshire. Her death has thrown me on my own resources—I hope only for a short time. I have come to London because a younger sister of mine is employed here in a house of business; she recommended me to seek for lodgings in this part; I might as well be near her whilst I am endeavouring to find another post; perhaps I may be fortunate enough to find one in London. Quietness and economy are necessary to me. A house like yours would suit me very well—very well indeed. Could we not agree upon terms within my—within my power?'
Again the landlady pondered.
'Would you be willing to pay five and sixpence?'
'Yes, I would pay five and sixpence—if you are quite sure that you could let me live in my own way with satisfaction to yourself. I—in fact, I am a vegetarian, and as the meals I take are so very simple, I feel that I might just as well prepare them myself. Would you object to my doing so in this room? A kettle and a saucepan are really all—absolutely all—that I should need to use. As I shall be much at home, it will be of course necessary for me to have a fire.'
In the course of half an hour an agreement had been devised which seemed fairly satisfactory to both parties.
'I'm not one of the graspin' ones,' remarked the landlady. 'I think I may say that of myself. If I make five or six shillings a week out of my spare room, I don't grumble. But the party as takes it must do their duty on their side. You haven't told me your name yet, mum.'
'Miss Madden. My luggage is at the railway station; it shall be brought here this evening. And, as I am quite unknown to you, I shall be glad to pay my rent in advance.'
'Well, I don't ask for that; but it's just as you like.'
'Then I will pay you five and sixpence at once. Be so kind as to let me have a receipt.'
So Miss Madden established herself at Lavender Hill, and dwelt there alone for three months.
She received letters frequently, but only one person called upon her. This was her sister Monica, now serving at a draper's in Walworth Road. The young lady came every Sunday, and in bad weather spent the whole day up in the little bedroom. Lodger and landlady were on remarkably good terms; the one paid her dues with exactness, and the other did many a little kindness not bargained for in the original contract.
Time went on to the spring of '88. Then, one afternoon, Miss Madden descended to the kitchen and tapped in her usual timid way at the door.
'Are you at leisure, Mrs. Conisbee? Could I have a little conversation with you?'
The landlady was alone, and with no more engrossing occupation than the ironing of some linen she had recently washed.
'I have mentioned my elder sister now and then. I am sorry to say she is leaving her post with the family at Hereford. The children are going to school, so that her services are no longer needed.'
'Indeed, mum?'
'Yes. For a shorter or longer time she will be in need of a home. Now it has occurred to me, Mrs. Conisbee, that—that I would ask you whether you would have any objection to her sharing my room with me? Of course there must be an extra payment. The room is small for two persons, but then the arrangement would only be temporary. My sister is a good and experienced teacher, and I am sure she will have no difficulty in obtaining another engagement.'
Mrs. Conisbee reflected, but without a shade of discontent. By this time she knew that her lodger was thoroughly to be trusted.
'Well, it's if you can manage, mum,' she replied. 'I don't see as I could have any fault to find, if you thought you could both live in that little room. And as for the rent, I should be quite satisfied if we said seven shillings instead of five and six.'
'Thank you, Mrs. Conisbee; thank you very much indeed. I will write to my sister at once; the news will be a great relief to her. We shall have quite an enjoyable little holiday together.'
A week later the eldest of the three Miss Maddens arrived. As it was quite impossible to find space for her boxes in the bedroom, Mrs. Conisbee allowed them to be deposited in the room occupied by her daughter, which was on the same floor. In a day or two the sisters had begun a life of orderly tenor. When weather permitted they were out either in the morning or afternoon. Alice Madden was in London for the first time; she desired to see the sights, but suffered the restrictions of poverty and ill-health. After nightfall, neither she nor Virginia ever left home.
There was not much personal likeness between them.
The elder (now five-and-thirty) tended to corpulence, the result of sedentary life; she had round shoulders and very short legs. Her face would not have been disagreeable but for its spoilt complexion; the homely features, if health had but rounded and coloured them, would have expressed pleasantly enough the gentleness and sincerity of her character. Her cheeks were loose, puffy, and permanently of the hue which is produced by cold; her forehead generally had a few pimples; her shapeless chin lost itself in two or three fleshy fissures. Scarcely less shy than in girlhood, she walked with a quick, ungainly movement as if seeking to escape from some one, her head bent forward.
Virginia (about thirty-three) had also an unhealthy look, but the poverty, or vitiation, of her blood manifested itself in less unsightly forms. One saw that she had been comely, and from certain points of view her countenance still had a grace, a sweetness, all the more noticeable because of its threatened extinction. For she was rapidly ageing; her lax lips grew laxer, with emphasis of a characteristic one would rather not have perceived there; her eyes sank into deeper hollows; wrinkles extended their network; the flesh of her neck wore away. Her tall meagre body did not seem strong enough to hold itself upright.
Alice had brown hair, but very little of it. Virginia's was inclined to be ruddy; it surmounted her small head in coils and plaits not without beauty. The voice of the elder sister had contracted an unpleasant hoarseness, but she spoke with good enunciation; a slight stiffness and pedantry of phrase came, no doubt, of her scholastic habits. Virginia was much more natural in manner and fluent in speech, even as she moved far more gracefully.
It was now sixteen years since the death of Dr. Madden of Clevedon. The story of his daughters' lives in the interval may be told with brevity suitable to so unexciting a narrative.
When the doctor's affairs were set in order, it was found that the patrimony of his six girls amounted, as nearly as possible, to eight hundred pounds.
Eight hundred pounds is, to be sure, a sum of money; but how, in these circumstances, was it to be applied?
There came over from Cheltenham a bachelor uncle, aged about sixty. This gentleman lived on an annuity of seventy pounds, which would terminate when he did. It might be reckoned to him for righteousness that he spent the railway fare between Cheltenham and Clevedon to attend his brother's funeral, and to speak a kind word to his nieces. Influence he had none; initiative, very little. There was no reckoning upon him for aid of any kind.
From Richmond in Yorkshire, in reply to a letter from Alice, wrote an old, old aunt of the late Mrs. Madden, who had occasionally sent the girls presents. Her communication was barely legible; it seemed to contain fortifying texts of Scripture, but nothing in the way of worldly counsel. This old lady had no possessions to bequeath. And, as far as the girls knew, she was their mother's only surviving relative.
The executor of the will was a Clevedon tradesman, a kind and capable friend of the family for many years, a man of parts and attainments superior to his station. In council with certain other well-disposed persons, who regarded the Maddens' circumstances with friendly anxiety, Mr. Hungerford (testamentary instruction allowing him much freedom of action) decided that the three elder girls must forthwith become self-supporting, and that the three younger should live together in the care of a lady of small means, who offered to house and keep them for the bare outlay necessitated. A prudent investment of the eight hundred pounds might, by this arrangement, feed, clothe, and in some sort educate Martha, Isabel, and Monica. To see thus far ahead sufficed for the present; fresh circumstances could be dealt with as they arose.
Alice obtained a situation as nursery-governess at sixteen pounds a year. Virginia was fortunate enough to be accepted as companion by a gentlewoman at Weston-super-Mare; her payment, twelve pounds. Gertrude, fourteen years old, also went to Weston, where she was offered employment in a fancy-goods shop—her payment nothing at all, but lodging, board, and dress assured to her.
Ten years went by, and saw many changes.
Gertrude and Martha were dead; the former of consumption, the other drowned by the overturning of a pleasure-boat. Mr. Hungerford also was dead, and a new guardian administered the fund which was still a common property of the four surviving daughters. Alice plied her domestic teaching; Virginia remained a 'companion.' Isabel, now aged twenty, taught in a Board School at Bridgewater, and Monica, just fifteen, was on the point of being apprenticed to a draper at Weston, where Virginia abode. To serve behind a counter would not have been Monica's choice if any more liberal employment had seemed within her reach. She had no aptitude whatever for giving instruction; indeed, had no aptitude for anything but being a pretty, cheerful, engaging girl, much dependent on the love and gentleness of those about her. In speech and bearing Monica greatly resembled her mother; that is to say, she had native elegance. Certainly it might be deemed a pity that such a girl could not be introduced to one of the higher walks of life; but the time had come when she must 'do something', and the people to whose guidance she looked had but narrow experience of life. Alice and Virginia sighed over the contrast with bygone hopes, but their own careers made it seem probable that Monica would be better off 'in business' than in a more strictly genteel position. And there was every likelihood that, at such a place as Weston, with her sister for occasional chaperon, she would ere long find herself relieved of the necessity of working for a livelihood.
To the others, no wooer had yet presented himself. Alice, if she had ever dreamt of marriage, must by now have resigned herself to spinsterhood. Virginia could scarce hope that her faded prettiness, her health damaged by attendance upon an exacting invalid and in profitless study when she ought to have been sleeping, would attract any man in search of a wife. Poor Isabel was so extremely plain. Monica, if her promise were fulfilled, would be by far the best looking, as well as the sprightliest, of the family. She must marry; of course she must marry! Her sisters gladdened in the thought.
Isabel was soon worked into illness. Brain trouble came on, resulting in melancholia. A charitable institution ultimately received her, and there, at two-and-twenty, the poor hard-featured girl drowned herself in a bath.
Their numbers had thus been reduced by half. Up to now, the income of their eight hundred pounds had served, impartially, the ends now of this, now of that one, doing a little good to all, saving them from many an hour of bitterness which must else have been added to their lot. By a new arrangement, the capital was at length made over to Alice and Virginia jointly, the youngest sister having a claim upon them to the extent of an annual nine pounds. A trifle, but it would buy her clothing—and then Monica was sure to marry. Thank Heaven, she was sure to marry!
Without notable event, matrimonial or other, time went on to this present year of 1888.
Late in June, Monica would complete her twenty-first year; the elders, full of affection for the sister, who so notably surpassed them in beauty of person, talked much about her as the time approached, devising how to procure her a little pleasure on her birthday. Virginia thought a suitable present would be a copy of 'the Christian Year'.
'She has really no time for continuous reading. A verse of Keble—just one verse at bedtime and in the morning might be strength to the poor girl.'
Alice assented.
'We must join to buy it, dear,' she added, with anxious look. 'It wouldn't be justifiable to spend more than two or three shillings.'
'I fear not.'
They were preparing their midday meal, the substantial repast of the day. In a little saucepan on an oil cooking-stove was some plain rice, bubbling as Alice stirred it. Virginia fetched from downstairs (Mrs. Conisbee had assigned to them a shelf in her larder) bread, butter, cheese, a pot of preserve, and arranged the table (three feet by one and a half) at which they were accustomed to eat. The rice being ready, it was turned out in two proportions; made savoury with a little butter, pepper, and salt, it invited them to sit down.
As they had been out in the morning, the afternoon would be spent in domestic occupations. The low cane-chair Virginia had appropriated to her sister, because of the latter's headaches and backaches, and other disorders; she herself sat on an ordinary chair of the bedside species, to which by this time she had become used. Their sewing, when they did any, was strictly indispensable; if nothing demanded the needle, both preferred a book. Alice, who had never been a student in the proper sense of the word, read for the twentieth time a few volumes in her possession—poetry, popular history, and half a dozen novels such as the average mother of children would have approved in the governess's hands. With Virginia the case was somewhat different. Up to about her twenty-fourth year she had pursued one subject with a zeal limited only by her opportunities; study absolutely disinterested, seeing that she had never supposed it would increase her value as a 'companion', or enable her to take any better position. Her one intellectual desire was to know as much as possible about ecclesiastical history. Not in a spirit of fanaticism; she was devout, but in moderation, and never spoke bitterly on religious topics. The growth of the Christian Church, old sects and schisms, the Councils, affairs of Papal policy—these things had a very genuine interest for her; circumstances favouring, she might have become an erudite woman; But the conditions were so far from favourable that all she succeeded in doing was to undermine her health. Upon a sudden breakdown there followed mental lassitude, from which she never recovered. It being subsequently her duty to read novels aloud for the lady whom she 'companioned,' new novels at the rate of a volume a day, she lost all power of giving her mind to anything but the feebler fiction. Nowadays she procured such works from a lending library, on a subscription of a shilling a month. Ashamed at first to indulge this taste before Alice, she tried more solid literature, but this either sent her to sleep or induced headache. The feeble novels reappeared, and as Alice made no adverse comment, they soon came and went with the old regularity.
This afternoon the sisters were disposed for conversation. The same grave thought preoccupied both of them, and they soon made it their subject.
'Surely,' Alice began by murmuring, half absently, 'I shall soon hear of something.'
'I am dreadfully uneasy on my own account,' her sister replied.
'You think the person at Southend won't write again?'
'I'm afraid not. And she seemed so very unsatisfactory. Positively illiterate—oh, I couldn't bear that.' Virginia gave a shudder as she spoke.
'I almost wish,' said Alice, 'that I had accepted the place at Plymouth.'
'Oh, my dear! Five children and not a penny of salary. It was a shameless proposal.'
'It was, indeed,' sighed the poor governess. 'But there is so little choice for people like myself. Certificates, and even degrees, are asked for on every hand. With nothing but references to past employers, what can one expect? I know it will end in my taking a place without salary.'
'People seem to have still less need of me,' lamented the companion. 'I wish now that I had gone to Norwich as lady-help.'
'Dear, your health would never have supported it.'
'I don't know. Possibly the more active life might do me good. It might, you know, Alice.'
The other admitted this possibility with a deep sigh.
'Let us review our position,' she then exclaimed.
It was a phrase frequently on her lips, and always made her more cheerful. Virginia also seemed to welcome it as an encouragement.
'Mine,' said the companion, 'is almost as serious as it could be. I have only one pound left, with the exception of the dividend.'
'I have rather more than four pounds still. Now, let us think,' Alice paused. 'Supposing we neither of us obtain employment before the end of this year. We have to live, in that case, more than six months—you on seven pounds, and I on ten.'
'It's impossible,' said Virginia.
'Let us see. Put it in another form. We have both to live together on seventeen pounds. That is—' she made a computation on a piece of paper—'that is two pounds, sixteen shillings and eightpence a month—let us suppose this month at an end. That represents fourteen shillings and twopence a week. Yes, we can do it!'
She laid down her pencil with an air of triumph. Her dull eyes brightened as though she had discovered a new source of income.
'We cannot, dear,' urged Virginia in a subdued voice. 'Seven shillings rent; that leaves only seven and twopence a week for everything—everything.'
'We could do it, dear,' persisted the other. 'If it came to the very worst, our food need not cost more than sixpence a day—three and sixpence a week. I do really believe, Virgie, we could support life on less—say, on fourpence. Yes, we could dear!'
They looked fixedly at each other, like people about to stake everything on their courage.
'Is such a life worthy of the name?' asked Virginia in tones of awe.
'We shan't be driven to that. Oh, we certainly shall not. But it helps one to know that, strictly speaking, we are independent for another six months.'
That word gave Virginia an obvious thrill.
'Independent! Oh, Alice, what a blessed thing is independence! Do you know, my dear, I am afraid I have not exerted myself as I might have done to find a new place. These comfortable lodgings, and the pleasure of seeing Monica once a week, have tempted me into idleness. It isn't really my wish to be idle; I know the harm it does me; but oh! if one could work in a home of one's own!'
Alice had a startled, apprehensive look, as if her sister were touching on a subject hardly proper for discussion, or at least dangerous.
'I'm afraid it's no use thinking of that, dear,' she answered awkwardly.
'No use; no use whatever. I am wrong to indulge in such thoughts.'
'Whatever happens, my dear,' said Alice presently, with all the impressiveness of tone she could command, 'we must never entrench upon our capital—never—never!'
'Oh, never! If we grow old and useless—'
'If no one will give us even board and lodging for our services—'
'If we haven't a friend to look to,' Alice threw in, as though they were answering each other in a doleful litany, 'then indeed we shall be glad that nothing tempted us to entrench on our capital! It would just keep us'—her voice sank—'from the workhouse.'
After this each took up a volume, and until teatime they read quietly.
From six to nine in the evening they again talked and read alternately. Their conversation was now retrospective; each revived memories of what she had endured in one or the other house of bondage. Never had it been their lot to serve 'really nice' people—this phrase of theirs was anything but meaningless. They had lived with more or less well-to-do families in the lower middle class—people who could not have inherited refinement, and had not acquired any, neither proletarians nor gentlefolk, consumed with a disease of vulgar pretentiousness, inflated with the miasma of democracy. It would have been but a natural result of such a life if the sisters had commented upon it in a spirit somewhat akin to that of their employers; but they spoke without rancour, without scandalmongering. They knew themselves superior to the women who had grudgingly paid them, and often smiled at recollections which would have moved the servile mind to venomous abuse.
At nine o'clock they took a cup of cocoa and a biscuit, and half an hour later they went to bed. Lamp oil was costly; and indeed they felt glad to say as early as possible that another day had gone by.
Their hour of rising was eight. Mrs. Conisbee provided hot water for their breakfast. On descending to fetch it, Virginia found that the postman had left a letter for her. The writing on the envelope seemed to be a stranger's. She ran upstairs again in excitement.
'Who can this be from, Alice?'
The elder sister had one of her headaches this morning; she was clay colour, and tottered in moving about. The close atmosphere of the bedroom would alone have accounted for such a malady. But an unexpected letter made her for the moment oblivious of suffering.
'Posted in London,' she said, examining the envelope eagerly.
'Some one you have been in correspondence with?'
'It's months since I wrote to any one in London.'
For full five minutes they debated the mystery, afraid of dashing their hopes by breaking the envelope. At length Virginia summoned courage. Standing at a distance from the other, she took out the sheet of paper with tremulous hand, and glanced fearfully at the signature.
'What do you think? It's Miss Nunn!'
'Miss Nunn! Never! How could she have got the address?'
Again the difficulty was discussed whilst its ready solution lay neglected.
'Do read it!' said Alice at length, her throbbing head, made worse by the agitation, obliging her to sink down into the chair.
The letter ran thus:—
'DEAR Miss MADDEN,—This morning I chanced to meet with Mrs. Darby, who was passing through London on her way home from the seaside. We had only five minutes' talk (it was at a railway station), but she mentioned that you were at present in London, and gave me your address. After all these years, how glad I should be to see you! The struggle of life has made me selfish; I have neglected my old friends. And yet I am bound to add that some ofthem have neglected me. Would you rather that I came to your lodgings or you to mine? Which you like. I hear that your elder sister is with you, and that Monica is also in London somewhere. Do let us all see each other once more. Write as soon as you can. My kindest regards to all of you.—Sincerely yours,
'How like her,' exclaimed Virginia, when she had read this aloud, 'to remember that perhaps we may not care to receive visitors! She was always so thoughtful. And it is true that I ought to have written to her.'
'We shall go to her, of course?'
'Oh yes, as she gives us the choice. How delightful! I wonder what she is doing? She writes cheerfully; I am sure she must be in a good position. What is the address? Queen's Road, Chelsea. Oh, I'm so glad it's not very far. We can walk there and back easily.'
For several years they had lost sight of Rhoda Nunn. She left Clevedon shortly after the Maddens were scattered, and they heard she had become a teacher. About the date of Monica's apprenticeship at Weston, Miss Nunn had a chance meeting with Virginia and the younger girl; she was still teaching, but spoke of her work with extreme discontent, and hinted at vague projects. Whether she succeeded in releasing herself the Maddens never heard.
It was a morning of doubtful fairness. Before going to bed last night they had decided to walk out together this morning and purchase the present for Monica's birthday, which was next Sunday. But Alice felt too unwell to leave the house. Virginia should write a reply to Miss Nunn's letter, and then go to the bookseller's alone.
She set forth at half-past nine. With extreme care she had preserved an out-of-doors dress into the third summer; it did not look shabby. Her mantle was in its second year only; the original fawn colour had gone to an indeterminate grey. Her hat of brown straw was a possession for ever; it underwent new trimming, at an outlay of a few pence, when that became unavoidable. Yet Virginia could not have been judged anything but a lady. She wore her garments as only a lady can (the position and movement of the arms has much to do with this), and had the step never to be acquired by a person of vulgar instincts.
A very long walk was before her. She wished to get as far as the Strand bookshops, not only for the sake of choice, but because this region pleased her and gave her a sense of holiday. Past Battersea Park, over Chelsea Bridge, then the weary stretch to Victoria Station, and the upward labour to Charing Cross. Five miles, at least, measured by pavement. But Virginia walked quickly; at half-past eleven she was within sight of her goal.
A presentable copy of Keble's work cost less than she had imagined. This rejoiced her. But after leaving the shop she had a singular expression on her face—something more than weariness, something less than anxiety, something other than calculation. In front of Charing Cross Station she stopped, looking vaguely about her. Perhaps she had it in her mind to return home by omnibus, and was dreading the expense. Yet of a sudden she turned and went up the approach to the railway.
At the entrance again she stopped. Her features were now working in the strangest way, as though a difficulty of breathing had assailed her. In her eyes was an eager yet frightened look; her lips stood apart.
Another quick movement, and she entered the station. She went straight to the door of the refreshment room, and looked in through the glass. Two or three people were standing inside. She drew back, a tremor passing through her.
A lady came out. Then again Virginia approached the door. Two men only were within, talking together. With a hurried, nervous movement, she pushed the door open and went up to a part of the counter as far as possible from the two customers. Bending forward, she said to the barmaid in a voice just above a whisper,—
'Kindly give me a little brandy.'
Beads of perspiration were on her face, which had turned to a ghastly pallor. The barmaid, concluding that she was ill, served her promptly and with a sympathetic look.
Virginia added to the spirit twice its quantity of water, standing, as she did so, half turned from the bar. Then she sipped hurriedly two or three times, and at length took a draught. Colour flowed to her cheeks; her eyes lost their frightened glare. Another draught finished the stimulant. She hastily wiped her lips, and walked away with firm step.
In the meantime a threatening cloud had passed from the sun; warm rays fell upon the street and its clamorous life. Virginia felt tired in body, but a delightful animation, rarest of boons, gave her new strength. She walked into Trafalgar Square and viewed it like a person who stands there for the first time, smiling, interested. A quarter of an hour passed whilst she merely enjoyed the air, the sunshine, and the scene about her. Such a quarter of an hour—so calm, contented, unconsciously hopeful—as she had not known since Alice's coming to London.
She reached the house by half-past one, bringing in a paper bag something which was to serve for dinner. Alice had a wretched appearance; her head ached worse than ever.
'Virgie,' she moaned, 'we never took account of illness, you know.'
'Oh, we must keep that off,' replied the other, sitting down with a look of exhaustion. She smiled, but no longer as in the sunlight of Trafalgar Square.
'Yes, I must struggle against it. We will have dinner as soon as possible. I feel faint.'
If both of them had avowed their faintness as often as they felt it, the complaint would have been perpetual. But they generally made a point of deceiving each other, and tried to delude themselves; professing that no diet could be better for their particular needs than this which poverty imposed.
'Ah! it's a good sign to be hungry,' exclaimed Virginia. 'You'll be better this afternoon, dear.'
Alice turned over 'The Christian Year,' and endeavoured to console herself out of it, whilst her sister prepared the meal.
Chapter 3 AN INDEPENDENT WOMAN
Virginia's reply to Miss Nunn's letter brought another note next morning—Saturday. It was to request a call from the sisters that same afternoon.
Alice, unfortunately, would not be able to leave home. Her disorder had become a feverish cold—caught, doubtless, between open window and door whilst the bedroom was being aired for breakfast. She lay in bed, and her sister administered remedies of the chemist's advising.
But she insisted on Virginia leaving her in the afternoon. Miss Nunn might have something of importance to tell or to suggest. Mrs. Conisbee, sympathetic in her crude way, would see that the invalid wanted for nothing.
So, after a dinner of mashed potatoes and milk ('The Irish peasantry live almost entirely on that,' croaked Alice, 'and they are physically a fine race'), the younger sister started on her walk to Chelsea. Her destination was a plain, low roomy old house in Queen's Road, over against the hospital gardens. On asking for Miss Nunn, she was led to a back room on the ground floor, and there waited for a few moments. Several large bookcases, a well-equipped writing-table, and kindred objects, indicated that the occupant of the house was studious; the numerous bunches of cut flowers, which agreeably scented the air, seemed to prove the student was a woman.
Miss Nunn entered. Younger only by a year or two than Virginia, she was yet far from presenting any sorrowful image of a person on the way to old-maidenhood. She had a clear though pale skin, a vigorous frame, a brisk movement—all the signs of fairly good health. Whether or not she could be called a comely woman might have furnished matter for male discussion; the prevailing voice of her own sex would have denied her charm of feature. At first view the countenance seemed masculine, its expression somewhat aggressive—eyes shrewdly observant and lips consciously impregnable. But the connoisseur delayed his verdict. It was a face that invited, that compelled, study. Self-confidence, intellectual keenness, a bright humour, frank courage, were traits legible enough; and when the lips parted to show their warmth, their fullness, when the eyelids drooped a little in meditation, one became aware of a suggestiveness directed not solely to the intellect, of something like an unfamiliar sexual type, remote indeed from the voluptuous, but hinting a possibility of subtle feminine forces that might be released by circumstance. She wore a black serge gown, with white collar and cuffs; her thick hair rippled low upon each side of the forehead, and behind was gathered into loose vertical coils; in shadow the hue seemed black, but when illumined it was seen to be the darkest, warmest brown.
Offering a strong, shapely hand, she looked at her visitor with a smile which betrayed some mixture of pain in the hearty welcome.
'And how long have you been in London?'
It was the tone of a busy, practical person. Her voice had not much softness of timbre, and perhaps on that account she kept it carefully subdued.
'So long as that? How I wish I had known you were so near! I have been in London myself about two years. And your sisters?'
Virginia explained Alice's absence, adding,—
'As for poor Monica, she has only Sunday free—except one evening a month. She is at business till half-past nine, and on Saturday till half-past eleven or twelve.'
'Oh, dear, dear, dear!' exclaimed the other rapidly, making a motion with her hand as if to brush away something disagreeable. 'That will never do. You must put a stop to that.'
'I am sure we ought to.'
Virginia's thin, timid voice and weak manner were thrown into painful contrast by Miss Nunn's personality.
'Yes, yes; we will talk about it presently. Poor little Monica! But do tell me about yourself and Miss Madden. It is so long since I heard about you.'
'Indeed I ought to have written. I remember that at the end of our correspondence I remained in your debt. But it was a troublesome and depressing time with me. I had nothing but groans and moans to send.'
'You didn't stay long, I trust, with that trying Mrs. Carr?'
'Three years!' sighed Virginia.
'Oh, your patience!'
'I wished to leave again and again. But at the end she always begged me not to desert her—that was how she put it. After all, I never had the heart to go.'
'Very kind of you, but—those questions are so difficult to decide. Self-sacrifice may be quite wrong, I'm afraid.'
'Do you think so?' asked Virginia anxiously.
'Yes, I am sure it is often wrong—all the more so because people proclaim it a virtue without any reference to circumstances. Then how did you get away at last?'
'The poor woman died. Then I had a place scarcely less disagreeable. Now I have none at all; but I really must find one very soon.'
She laughed at this allusion to her poverty, and made nervous motions.
'Let me tell you what my own course has been,' said Miss Nunn, after a short reflection. 'When my mother died, I determined to have done with teaching—you know that. I disliked it too much, and partly, of course, because I was incapable. Half my teaching was a sham—a pretence of knowing what I neither knew nor cared to know. I had gone into it like most girls, as a dreary matter of course.'
'Like poor Alice, I'm afraid.'
'Oh, it's a distressing subject. When my mother left me that little sum of money I took a bold step. I went to Bristol to learn everything I could that would help me out of school life. Shorthand, book-keeping, commercial correspondence—I had lessons in them all, and worked desperately for a year. It did me good; at the end of the year I was vastly improved in health, and felt myself worth something in the world. I got a place as cashier in a large shop. That soon tired me, and by dint of advertising I found a place in an office at Bath. It was a move towards London, and I couldn't rest till I had come the whole way. My first engagement here was as shorthand writer to the secretary of a company. But he soon wanted some one who could use a typewriter. That was a suggestion. I went to learn typewriting, and the lady who taught me asked me in the end to stay with her as an assistant. This is her house, and here I live with her.'
'How energetic you have been!'
'How fortunate, perhaps. I must tell you about this lady—Miss Barfoot. She has private means—not large, but sufficient to allow of her combining benevolence with business. She makes it her object to train young girls for work in offices, teaching them the things that I learnt in Bristol, and typewriting as well. Some pay for their lessons, and some get them for nothing. Our workrooms are in Great Portland Street, over a picture-cleaner's shop. One or two girls have evening lessons, but our pupils for the most part are able to come in the day. Miss Barfoot hasn't much interest in the lower classes; she wishes to be of use to the daughters of educated people. And she is of use. She is doing admirable work.'
'Oh, I am sure she must be! What a wonderful person!'
'It occurs to me that she might help Monica.'
'Oh, do you think she would?' exclaimed Virginia, with eager attention. 'How grateful we should be!'
'Where is Monica employed?'
'At a draper's in Walworth Road. She is worked to death. Every week I see a difference in her, poor child. We hoped to persuade her to go back to the shop at Weston; but if this you speak of were possible—how much better! We have never reconciled ourselves to her being in that position—never.'
'I see no harm in the position itself,' replied Miss Nunn in her rather blunt tone, 'but I see a great deal in those outrageous hours. She won't easily do better in London, without special qualifications; and probably she is reluctant to go back to the country.'
'Yes, she is; very reluctant.'
'I understand it,' said the other, with a nod. 'Will you ask her to come and see me?'
A servant entered with tea. Miss Nunn caught the expression in her visitor's eyes, and said cheerfully—
'I had no midday meal to-day, and really I feel the omission. Mary, please do put tea in the dining-room, and bring up some meat—Miss Barfoot,' she added, in explanation to Virginia, is out of town, and I am a shockingly irregular person about meals. I am sure you will sit down with me?'
Virginia sported with the subject. Months of miserable eating and drinking in her stuffy bedroom made an invitation such as this a veritable delight to her. Seated in the dining-room, she at first refused the offer of meat, alleging her vegetarianism; but Miss Nunn, convinced that the poor woman was starving, succeeded in persuading her. A slice of good beef had much the same effect upon Virginia as her more dangerous indulgence at Charing Cross Station. She brightened wonderfully.
'Now let us go back to the library,' said Miss Nunn, when their meal was over. 'We shall soon see each other again, I hope, but we might as well talk of serious things whilst we have the opportunity. Will you allow me to be very frank with you?'
The other looked startled.
'What could you possibly say that would offend me?'
'In the old days you told me all about your circumstances. Are they still the same?'
'Precisely the same. Most happily, we have never needed to entrench upon our capital. Whatever happens, we must avoid that—whatever happens!'
'I quite understand you. But wouldn't it be possible to make a better use of that money? It is eight hundred pounds, I think? Have you never thought of employing it in some practical enterprise?'
Virginia at first shrank in alarm, then trembled deliciously at her friend's bold views.
'Would it be possible? Really? You think—'
'I can only suggest, of course. One mustn't argue about others from one's own habit of thought. Heaven forbid'—this sounded rather profane to the listener—'that I should urge you to do anything you would think rash. But how much better if you could somehow secure independence.'
'Ah, if we could! The very thing we were saying the other day! But how? I have no idea how.'
Miss Nunn seemed to hesitate.
'I don't advise. You mustn't give any weight to what I say, except in so far as your own judgment approves it. But couldn't one open a preparatory school, for instance? At Weston, suppose, where already you know a good many people. Or even at Clevedon.'
Virginia drew in her breath, and it was easy for Miss Nunn to perceive that the proposal went altogether beyond her friend's scope. Impossible, perhaps, to inspire these worn and discouraged women with a particle of her own enterprise. Perchance they altogether lacked ability to manage a school for even the youngest children. She did not press the subject; it might come up on another occasion. Virginia begged for time to think it over; then, remembering her invalid sister, felt that she must not prolong the visit.
'Do take some of these flowers,' said Miss Nunn, collecting a rich nosegay from the vases. 'Let them be my message to your sister. And I should be so glad to see Monica. Sunday is a good time; I am always at home in the afternoon.'
With a fluttering heart Virginia made what haste she could homewards. The interview had filled her with a turmoil of strange new thoughts, which she was impatient to pour forth for Alice's wondering comment. It was the first time in her life that she had spoken with a woman daring enough to think and act for herself.


text:
Britain launches milkshake that helps fight Alzheimer's
A milkshake said to contain "memory boosting" nutrients that reduce symptoms of early Alzheimer's went on sale in Britain Monday.
The drink contains nutrients like those found in breast milk, the Daily Mail reported.
The milkshake came after a decade of research into a formula said to improve the brain function of people in the early stages of the disease.
Taken 125 ml once a day, the drink "Souvenaid" has ingredients that work together to boost brain cells important for memory.
It contains omega 3 fatty acids, the nutrient found in fish which is known to be good for the brain.
It also contains two other compounds normally present in blood -- uridine, produced by liver and kidneys and found in breast milk, and choline found in meat, nuts and eggs -- along with B vitamins.
Studies carried out by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggest it helps improve memory performance after six months in people with mild Alzheimer's who are not taking drugs.
However, a study on people with moderate Alzheimer's who were on prescribed medication found no improvement, the daily said.
Around 800,000 people in Britain live with dementia, of which Alzheimer's disease is the most common form. - IANS

subset: commoncrawl


text: GiftsByMeeta Offer Get 15% Off on Rakhi Gift Hampers. Rakhi gifts have got even more exciting this time with the collection that has been introduced from GiftsbyMeeta. Hampers in best colors and items have been brought in Rakhi gifts for this year's celebration. Rakhi gift hampers with several items for everyone in the house would get the complete festival in just one buy. Get the variety of items with the quality and style that is worth an addition, get the easy shopping done with the items that are freshly designed according to the mood of the celebration. Get the quality items to make sure that the celebration goes with an ease. Include the colorfully traditional rakhis with all the essentials and edibles in one basket or trays. Send Rakhi gift hampers online to all the places in India with the amazing hampers that have been brought for the quality deliveries. use GiftsByMeeta coupon code required get this offer.


text:
A Good Relationship is when two people accept each other's past, support each other's present, and love each other enough to encourage each other's future. So don't rush love. Find a partner who encourages you to grow, who won't cling to you, who will let you go out into the world and trust that you will come back. This is what true love is all about.
1 Comment
A false relationship is when people cheat you after knowing who you are and the values you hold so strong so they know you won't walk away. Even worse are those quit abrubt blaming your values and you insane.


text:
Of all the mysteries baked into ABC's addictive television hit How to Get Away with Murder, the one we're most curious about is this: How did a 26-year-old bit player from the Harry Potter films become the crown prince of Shondaland?
British-born Alfred Enoch (who stars as Wes Gibbons, the good-natured law student turned unlikely killer) had never been to Los Angeles before shooting Murder. Sure, he'd done Shakespeare in London's theater scene and basically photobombed seven Potter films, taking Ginny Weasley out for butter beer and dancing with Hermione. But even Alfred admits his profile was seriously low: "When someone says, 'Oh, you're Dean Thomas from Harry Potter!', my first thought is, You've seen those movies several times."
The London native submitted his ABC audition by tape, thinking the recording was probably bound for someone's desktop trash bin. Yet here he is, filming what is currently one of TV's most-tweeted-about shows. According to his costar Viola Davis, you'd never know that Alfie (which is what his friends call him) is new in town: "He's so confident and self-assured. He has such incredible integrity about his art. It looks like he's been around the world and back," she says.
To be sure, Alfie, who studied Spanish and Portuguese at Oord, takes his work seriously. He's famous for maintaining his spot-on American accent at all times, much to the surprise of his girlfriend. "She finds it pretty strange," he says. "But I don't want to slip! It helps, doing it all the time. It means there's no change of gear for me."
This is basically how the actor operates. The dude's genial yet totally against the grain. When friends told him he'd need a car to survive in Los Angeles, he insisted on taking the bus. He still refuses to join Twitter, calling himself a "Luddite" who wasted too much time on Facebook to fall down that rabbit hole again. Alfie's nonconformist attitude even extends to his style. "I have this strange notion that clothes should be fun," he says, calling an "Adidas onesie" his favorite piece of clothing. "It's effectively a ski suit. It looks like something straight out of the nineties. I should be rocking a Kid 'N Play high-top haircut. It's slightly bananas."
But there is one way in which Alfie—who refuses to give away any Murder spoilers, except to say the rest of the season deals with the fallout from his crime—has acclimated to West Coast living: He's embraced activities like hiking. "Hiking seems like such a dramatic turn of phrase, doesn't it? Like, you set off with a backpack and go into the wilderness. But the hike up to Griffith Observatory is nice. The view is amazing." Alfie wishes he had more time to "sample L.A. life." Isn't there some Hogwarts spell that lets you be in two places at once? He laughs. "See, that's the problem. They kept all that under wraps."


text: 17 Nov2016 How to end an interview with me in 60 seconds Written by Simon Wilkins. Posted in Uncategorized When I created my business in 2002, I wanted to differentiate from the majority of recruiters and headhunters who serve the housebuilding sector. This was achieved early on, just by tweaking a few things. Luckily for me, I had first-hand experience of how candidates are treated and managed by various companies. It was this great disappointment that fuelled my ambition. Continue Reading No Comments


text:
Looking for a unique, low cost headboard? Why not make one yourself? Follow this simple tutorial to add some personality to your decor.
1. Cut the panel to the size you want – just use the bed frame to figure out the width. What about the height? That depends on the look you want. To add a touch of "wow," we suggest you go for a tall – more imposing – headboard.
2. Unroll the cotton onto the board, leaving a little extra on all four sides. Put down several layers for a more comfortable headboard.
3. Staple the cotton to the wood panel.
4. Spread the fabric over the cotton and cut off the excess on each side, leaving 2-3" (5‑8 cm) all around.
5. Staple the fabric to the back of the panel. When you get to the corners, wrap it tightly around – just as you would for a gift.
6. Attach the headboard to the wall.
To create this decor:
Happy DIY!


text:
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Borrowed from French bathyscaphe, from Ancient Greek βαθύς (bathús, "deep") + σκάφη (skáphē, "little ship"). Coined in the 1940s by Auguste Piccard (1884–1962), the inventor of the bathyscaphe.
bathyscaphe (plural bathyscaphes)
- A self-propelled deep-sea diving submersible for exploring the ocean depths, consisting of a crew cabin similar to a bathysphere suspended below a float filled with a buoyant liquid such as petrol.
- 1972, Oceanology, American Geophysical Union, volume 12, issues 4–6, page 931:
- The fact that the bathyscaphes are self-propelled makes it possible to use them to study the ocean microstructure in the horizontal, although the experiment should include temporal changes, which can be achieved either by using associated buoy stations or using a second suspended bathyscaphe.
- 2001, Robert D. Ballard; Malcolm McConnell, Adventures in Ocean Exploration: From the Discovery of the Titanic to the Search for Noah's Flood, page 216:
- It's ironic that when Piccard built his first bathyscaphe in the 1940s people assumed the revolutionary design had evolved from his famous stratospheric balloon. In fact, the reverse was true. In fact, Piccard's prototype bathyscaphe FNRS-2 (named for the Belgian national research foundation), which underwent sea trials in the Atlantic off Senegal in 1948, did possess all the attributes of a clumsy underwater balloon.
- 2005, Eric Gottfrid Swedin, Science in the Contemporary World: An Encyclopedia, page 297:
- After World War II, engineers built specialized submarines called bathyscaphes to survive the intense pressures of the deep ocean. A pioneer in bathyscaphes was the Swiss-born Belgian physicist Auguste Piccard (1884–1962), who had set the world altitude record in a balloon in 1932. Having turned his attention to the sea, Piccard and his son, Jacques Piccard (1922– ), built a bathyscaphe called the Trieste after World War II.
- 1972, Oceanology, American Geophysical Union, volume 12, issues 4–6, page 931:
Related terms[edit]
self-propelled deep-sea submersible
See also[edit]
From Ancient Greek βαθύς (bathús, "deep") + σκάφη (skáphē, "little ship"). Coined in the 1940s by Auguste Piccard (1884–1962), the inventor of the bathyscaphe.
Audio (file)
bathyscaphe m (plural bathyscaphes)
Related terms[edit]
See also[edit]
Further reading[edit]
- "bathyscaphe" in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).
- English terms borrowed from French
- English terms derived from French
- English terms derived from Ancient Greek
- English 3-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- English terms with audio links
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- en:Watercraft
- French terms derived from Ancient Greek
- French terms with audio links
- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French masculine nouns
- French countable nouns


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An on board society: The Mary Rose
In 1963, historian and amateur diver Alexander McKee began searching for wrecks of historic ships in the Solent. He soon began focusing on one in particular that he judged to be 'the most important shipwreck in North Western Europe'. This was the Tudor warship Mary Rose.
Built in Portsmouth, England, for Henry VIII in 1510, Mary Rose soon saw action in naval engagements against the French in 1512 and seems to have been highly successful. She was reportedly unusually fast and manoeuvrable for a vessel of some 600 tons. But the importance of Mary Rose lies in much more than historical association. This ship represented fundamental changes in the processes of design and construction of large ships that were occurring throughout Northern Europe at this time. The reasons for these changes reach deep into society in which medieval Europe was becoming modern.
As states like France, Scotland, Spain, England, Denmark and Sweden became increasingly competitive at sea, ships became increasingly important economically, militarily and politically. Technologically the principle changes were the adoption of a method of construction known as 'carvel' (believed to derive from the Portuguese ship type 'caravella') and the steady increase in the number and size of guns carried aboard. Carvel technology proved more suitable for building large ships and their frame-orientated hulls were less compromised when built with a series of lidded gunports near the water. These gunports enabled the ship to carry a far greater weight of ordnance lower in the ship for greater stability.
Later in life, after being repeatedly repaired and rebuilt as all wooden ships are, Mary Rose was heavier and carried an even a greater weight of heavy guns. This had certainly made her less stable and on July 19th in 1545, fighting against an invading French fleet in the Solent, she heeled too far, took water in through the gunports and capsized. Strenuous attempts to salvage the ship failed and she was abandoned.
The site was lost from memory until discovered by the pioneer divers John and Charles Deane in 1836. During the next four years they recovered various materials including some of the great guns, longbows and other items. But after they finished their operations the site was once more forgotten – until Alexander McKee started his search.
Having little to go on, at first the search seemed hopeless. The first break was locating the charts left by the Deanes, now in Portsmouth Museum. Their operations seemed to have been exactly where a contemporary painting of the battle of the Solent showed the sunken Mary Rose to be. He concentrated his search in this area but the seabed was flat and featureless and the visibility often less than a metre.
McKee then had another piece of luck. He read that Professor Harold Edgerton from MIT was to demonstrate his new sidescan and sub-bottom sonar systems for potential customers in the UK. He wrote to Edgerton and suggested that a specific area of the Solent might be an interesting location to test the new equipment. Remarkably, during 1967 and '68 both Edgerton's sonars did indeed detect anomalies that later proved to be the wreck of Mary Rose.
From 1971 when the first timbers were seen, the project embarked on eleven years of underwater excavation and recording. McKee quickly realised that he needed an archaeologist to direct the work and so Margaret Rule, then Director of the Fishbourne Palace Museum, joined the team and learnt to dive. By 1975, the young Keith Muckelroy had become her Deputy Director and the first deep trenches down to the keel had been dug. By 1978, trenches at the bow and stern had demonstrated that what was left of Mary Rose survived as one coherent unit. This would not only make total excavation worthwhile as much of the contents would be in situ but make the salvage of the hull possible as well. To that end the Mary Rose Trust was formed in 1979 its aims being to recover the hull and its contents and preserve them for all time.
There followed another four years of almost full time excavation that steadily transformed our understanding of life at sea in the early 16th century. Many of the astonishingly well-preserved objects lay where they had been stored or used, revealing how an early Tudor warship was organised and used both as a weapon and as a symbol of royal power. But if archaeology is fundamentally about people, then one of the most fascinating aspects of Mary Rose is the glimpse we get of her on-board society of more than 400 people.
We see where particular members of the crew such as mariners, gunners, navigators, carpenters and cooks, worked, ate, slept and fought. We also see how they were fed according to their professional and social status, as well as how their illnesses and injuries were treated by the barber-surgeon. In the process many of our prior expectations were proved wrong. Everything from the hull form and construction of the ship to the personal possessions of the crew revealed new information, not just about life at sea but of the period in general. This is because Mary Rose was in use at a time when specialisation of equipment for use at sea was in its infancy. In later periods almost everything was 'navy issue' including domestic items.
While some items on Mary Rose bore a broad arrow or Henry's initials HR (Henricus Rex), denoting that they were purchased with his money, many more were the same as those that would have been found ashore: clothing, musical instruments, books, sun dials, tankards, combs, games such as backgammon and dice, knives, fishing equipment and even Rosaries. It is precisely because so many of these humble, personal objects no longer survive elsewhere that the Mary Rose collection is so important in providing us with an unparalleled view of Tudor life. At the same time it is in the timbers, the navigation instruments, the weapons and the rig of Mary Rose that we see a key stage in the development of the ocean-going ships that were to become so important in an increasingly global world.
As the excavation drew to a close towards the end of 1981, the decision was made to press ahead with the recovery of the ship. The salvage method involved drilling the hull at specific locations to install bolt packs that would both reinforce the hull and provide lifting points. Tunnels were dug under the ship to install the backing plates and the bolts were then connected by wires to a steel lifting frame placed on the seabed over the ship. Hydraulic jacks were then attached to the lifting frame, raising it millimetre by millimetre, the ship suspended beneath it on the wires. A huge crane 'Tog Mor' was then used to transfer the hull into a steel cradle. On October 11th 1982, the whole assemblage, weighing 600 tons was raised into the air, placed on a barge and towed into Portsmouth harbour. In all nearly 30,000 dives had been carried out involving nearly 600 people, the largest ever underwater excavation.
A new phase now began in earnest in which the ship needed to be stabilised and conserved while a museum was constructed to present the ship, its contents and its story to the public. Active conservation treatment involved spraying the ship with polyethylene glycol, so the first museum which opened in 1984 was in a nearby building. The long term aim was one day to re-unite the ship and her contents and this was finally achieved in 2013 with the opening of an impressive new museum constructed around the ship itself. When visiting the Mary Rose museum you are only a stone's throw from where she was originally built.
© University of Southampton, 2017


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Do Better For Both Your Bottom Lines
Community plays a big role at Innovative. We actively cultivate a tight-knit and fun-loving staff well-equipped to solve problems for our customers. But we also dedicate ourselves to giving back to the community around us. We're proud to be partners in a number of fundraising events and charitable organizations throughout the state of Minnesota, including our own InSports Foundation.
Our work in the community has taught us a thing or two about running a successful non-profit operation, and that's expertise we're ready to put to work for you.
- Consolidate ordering for your whole workplace with one supplier
- Partner with a dedicated service staff that knows how your business works
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Innovative IN Non-Profit:
As an independent company, we make sure we keep our partnerships lean, flexible and efficient. That's the best way to make every dollar count, and when there's a good cause on the line that's more important than ever. Rely on Innovative in the following areas:
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Contact one of our service specialists today, to find out how Innovative can go all IN to help you achieve all of your charitable goals.


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And after that post I received tons of emails filled with tons of questions.
Somehow, many of the questions correlated to one another. So, I have decided to answer the top three (main asked) questions.
"Why do I feel as if I never have enough time to do my homework read my notes r even finish my readings?"
"Sorry for bothering you, but this is a question that I ask myself each day from elementary school til today, on how to use my time properly?"
"The due dates are always to close to one another"
"Less time to finish everything and I don't know what to do"
Two years ago in highschool, I too faced problems with managing my time properly. However, as year went by I learned to manage time better by creating a monthly calendar that lists important due dates for assignments, tests, projects and etc. This helped me to plan ahead. Or if you want you could also create a weekly calendar, time to time I use this method especially during the exam periods. This type of calendar will be filled with tasks that you can complete each day. Also, another tip when you create a list if would be helpful if you label them by the due dates and also how much each items worth so you can decided on what to more important.
The second most requested questions is based on "too much reading"?
"I hate to read but now I don't have a choice for grade 8, what can I do?"
"I am going to college and I am an international student living in the states. What should I do to improve my reading habits"
"I can't believe, I am in college already! How ever, I was wondering if you can give me any tips on how to improve my reading strategies this year"I too something complain that reading suck but during this summer break I ended up spending most of my time reading books, comics and magazines. My tips for reducing your reading load is that as soon as you receive the course syllabus, start by breaking down the semester's reading materials. Also spend about five hours each week per course for reading and note taking. Plus, take notes as you read or you will forget everything later. I find reading really helpful to pass time while I am taking the transit home and etc.
My response from my point of view:
My response from my point of view:
The third most requested questions "what do you think are the main top mistakes that students make in school?"
My response from my point of view:
My top five mistakes made by students (and me) are:
1) Procrastinating
2) Skipping classes
3) Not knowing how to study
4) Not making the efforts to change some habits (like leaving everything to the last minute)
5) Not using the resources giving by the teachers/professeurs
So, as I mentioned earlier this is my top three questions mainly asked questions. Hope my response help you and also remember that these answers are all from my point of view/ from my experience.
Well, have a lovely day
to those who have already started school
will be going back to school this year
Good Luck
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By Harija


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A collaborative process between Dysart Council and Committees, Sticks and Stones Productions, HCDC, Trillium and the Province has allowed the creation of a series of short videos about Dysart et al. Some are entertaining, some are meant to promote the area and some are meant to educate and inform. Go to the video tab to have a look today and share them with anyone you think might be interested. While there are several videos posted already, there are still more to come, so check back once in a while to see what's new....Read more Comments are closed
Monthly Archives: August 2014
Doors Open Haliburton
The Village of Haliburton celebrates turning 150 this year! Doors Open Haliburton provides a wonderful opportunity on September 6th and 7th to learn about and celebrate the rich history of our vibrant community. Join us to get a behind-the-scenes look at some of our historically and architecturally significant buildings. For a list of sites and times visit www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/Haliburton...Read more Comments are closed
AUGUST 15 2014 The County of Haliburton is disappointed in the announcement on OPP Billing Reform. Although members of Council are pleased that Commercial, Industrial and Institutional (C I & I) properties are included, policing costs in Haliburton County are going to more than double over the next five years with no change in service. There is concern with some comments made by Minister Yasir Naqvi: The Minister's statement that there are policing enhancements in cottage country during the summer is incorrect. In fact, while call volumes increase due to a greater number of people in the County, there are no extra officers assigned to this area. Secondly, due to the inaccessible nature of many private cottage roads in the winter, seasonal properties cannot be patrolled year round. Finally, Haliburton County's current cost per household is due to low crime rates....Read more Comments are closed


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Best Practice
Be careful with the terms that you use in presentations
One of the most frequent misuses of terms is "bottoms up" instead of the correct "bottom up." Bottom up refers to an upward movement, reversed hierarchy, or building from a foundational level. Bottoms up is a common drinking phrase. The opposite is top down, which doesn't get misused as often – stay away from "tops down." Another misused term is "stand-along" instead of the correct "stand-alone." Misused terms tend to briefly tear your audience's attention away from you and your message.
Make sure you proof for word usage along with the more common search for spelling and grammar errors.
Also, be careful about making up words and phrases. Sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. The word "bluechipiness" was used in a presentation. The audience smiled in appreciation because it painted a vivid mental picture. The word bounced around the office and showed up in presentations for a short while after that, but didn't have staying power. Overuse of these types of terms seem gimmicky.


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• Processor: Intel Core M-5Y51 1.10 GHz / 2.60GHz Turbo Processor
• Storage: 128GB SSD
• Display: 12.5" Full HD Touchscreen Display (1920 x 1080) Resolution
• Graphics: Integrated Intel HD Graphics 5300
• Operating System: Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit
- Thin & light
- Great battery life
- Solid build quality
- Reversible and detachable tablet
- Full size VGA/Ethernet ports
- Higher-spec models could be costly
Intel Core M Processor
With a 2.60GHz Turbo Processor power-consuming tasks and multi-tasking will be a breeze, allowing you to work longer hours if needed. The Portégé Z20T also has an impressive battery life, with a maximum battery life of over 12 hours, so you can take it out for the whole day without the need to tag a charger along.
The professional features of the laptop are mirrored in the sleek design; it has a stylish magnesium alloy chassis along with a sturdy build. You can take this laptop on business trips without a second thought as its only 21mm thin and super light. The laptop can be compared to the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro; however, it has the addition of a screen and keyboard detachment which gives you the option of working in tablet mode for a Friday movie marathon.
It weighs 1.51kg which seems slightly weighty for an Ultrabook; however this is because the tablet and keyboard both have separate batteries, which is what allows you to detach the device. Slight weight is also added by the microSD slot, a micro HDMI port and a micro USB2 connecter. It is still light enough to use with one hand, when making use of the tablet mode.
The keyboard of the Portégé Z20T has large keys and is designed to be slightly angled, which allows efficient and comfortable typing – great features that make writing lengthy assignments easier!
The Portégé Z20T-B-107 has a 12.5" Full HD touchscreen display which is matt and non-reflective. This is great as it means you can work without issues in any lighting, whether you're in direct sunlight or in a dark room. With this device you can benefit from full PC performance even when using it in tablet mode as the performance of the device extends between both modes.
The tablet has a screen resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels which is low in comparison to Android tablets and iPads; however it is quite high in comparison to standard Windows tablets and laptops.
This Toshiba Portégé laptop has extensive connectivity options which allow you to connect to all the peripherals you need, making it the ideal device whether you're using it at the desk, during a business meeting, as an on-the-go companion or whilst giving a presentation. If you're presenting or using the laptop for entertainment after a long day at work, you can easily connect to a larger screen with the help of the HDMI or RGB ports.
If you're using the device for professional or educational use you'll have several documents you need to keep safe and secure – doing this is a no-brainer with the Toshiba Portégé as a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and Intel Active Management Technology (AMT) which allows data protection and makes monitoring and maintaining your device easier.
Special Features:
Toshiba has included the option of a stylus with this device which is great for note taking and drawing – ideal for students! It is stated to be a pressure-sensitive stylus which is a useful feature to have on a device that is already feature-packed. The stylus allows you to allocate different brush strokes, and it also has an impressive eraser on the opposite side.
Prefer writing over typing? Not to worry, as the Portégé has an impressive integrated handwriting recognition feature option which allows you to write, and automatically converts that to digital text! The Toshiba Portégé has all the right features to make work life more productive. Additionally, the option to use it as a tablet as well as a laptop makes this device stand out amongst others; giving you the flexibility to work the way you want.
We hope this review has helped give you a better idea of the Toshiba Portégé Z20T-B-107, prior to you making a purchase. We prefer the laptop mode as the tablet mode makes it slightly heavier in comparison to other tablets, as well as overheating which is not an issue when in laptop mode. Not quite up your street? Not worry, at Laptop Outlet we have an extensive rage of Ultrabooks which you can have a look here.
Want to be updated on the latest tech news or love reading in-depth device reviews? Be sure to check out our blog regularly.
*Please note: all prices are subject to change without notice and all offers are subject to availability.


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Learning Abroad Is for Everyone
The Department of German, Nordic, Slavic & Dutch boasts many accomplished and well-traveled students of world languages and cultures. Their experiences are as vast and vibrant as the languages they study, and their relationship with the culture surrounding their respective language is enhanced by the real-world connections made as they study alongside native speakers. The GNSD department encourages all of its students to learn abroad if they can and provides advising and scholarship support to help students make their dreams a reality.
Undergraduates and alumni discuss their learning abroad experiences, reflecting on favorite memories and the ways that studying another language and culture has enriched their educations, career paths, and personal lives. They also share details about how they made their trips possible as well as advice for students thinking about going abroad. A common refrain emerges from their stories: learning abroad is life-changing and worth the pursuit.
A Changed Perspective
Living Your Coursework
Abigail Bauer is pursuing a German, Scandinavian, Dutch major and a minor in Swedish. Reflecting on a previous trip to Europe, she explains that "learning abroad makes real the history you learn in the classroom" because it creates a personal, tangible connection. She adds that learning abroad aids in personal development by helping you gain "new confidence to explore other places and their cultures," and looks forward to returning to Germany this summer.
An Experience for Everyone
Chelsea Spencer is a senior majoring in German, Scandinavian, Dutch (with an emphasis in German) and global studies and minoring in biology. During her time abroad, Spencer maximized her time by traveling, volunteering, and living with a native German family. Spencer reflects that studying abroad can work for anyone, regardless of their schedule or budget, and adds that "it's an experience unlike any other."
Finding Authenticity Abroad
Molly Tynjala recently graduated with a major in English and a minor in political science. Driven to learn more about her heritage, she began taking Finnish classes as a sophomore and discovered a deep appreciation for Finnish language and culture. The Finnish Connection Scholarship she received allowed her to explore the country firsthand. "The support of donors means the world to me," she says. "It illustrates to me that other people still have hope for the future and have faith that young people will achieve remarkable things."
This story was written by an undergraduate student in CLAgency. Meet the team.


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The Pregnancy Period Of A Surrogate Mother
Surrogacy is a trend that is becoming more and more popular by the day. Surrogate mothers are the option when gay couples would like to have kids. A surrogate can also be required when the woman in a regular couple cannot conceive or does not want to conceive. Even though surrogacy has been fully embraced in some counties and cultures, some do not recognize it and some even consider it unacceptable.
When you want to have a baby via a surrogate mother, it is important to go through the terms of the contract carefully first. This way, you are able to avoid conflicts that may occur after the baby is born. You may also want to consider the health of the surrogate mother, their environment among other factors depending on your preference. Application for surrogate mother is a process too that you need to consider.
The pregnancy period of a surrogate mother is pretty much similar to the pregnancy period of a normal woman. This is because the baby will get affected by whatever the surrogate mother does when it is still in the womb. Some of the most important things to look out for during the pregnancy period of a surrogate mother include the following:
The basic principles still apply where the surrogate mother has to eat a lot of fruits and vegetables, Whole grain foods and dairy products that are low on fats are also recommended. Some of the things to avoid during the pregnancy period of a surrogate mother include seafood that is high in the levels of mercury.
Tuna, swordfish and even sharks are some of the sea fish that a pregnant surrogate mother should stay away from. Undercooked sea food like sushi and other proteins like eggs and meat should also be avoided. Large quantities of liver, processed meats and unpasteurized dairy products should also be avoided.
It is important that the surrogate confirm with the doctor before she begins using any medicine during her pregnancy period. This is because some medicines may interfere with the development of the baby. Hot saunas and tubs and even X-rays are just but some of the things that a pregnant surrogate mother should avoid.
During the pregnancy period, it is also important that she undergoes a detoxification program. Some of the things that the surrogate mother should detoxify from her body include caffeine and other herbal medications. The caffeine can either be in coffee, tea and even chocolate. It is important that the caffeine levels are kept down.
Bleaches, coloring and hair dyes should also be avoided because they have been linked to cancer in the children that are born to the women that use these products during pregnancy. Any kind of beer and alcohol, tobacco and other substances should also be avoided because they contain harmful chemicals that may negatively affect the baby.
It is also very important to include regular exercises in her daily routine. Swimming, jogging and even running are some of the recommended exercises for pregnant surrogate mothers. However, it is important that the women do not go to extremes, like running up to 3 miles or engaging in exercises that require them to lay on their back for a long time.


text: A.R.E. Weapons is a noise-rock band from New York City. Formed in 1999 by Matthew McAuley, Brian F. McPeck, and Ryan Noel, A.R.E. Weapons has been described as hardcore electro-rock. Their live shows are noted for their aggressiveness and confrontational style.Rough Trade was encouraged to sign the band after Pulp's Jarvis Cocker heard A.R.E.… Leer Más


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Norwegian Fjord Landscape
The Geiranger fjord and the Nærøy fjord in western Norway are the two only sites listed on the UNESCO list solely because of the landscape. The two fjords are listed as classic examples of the western fjord landscape in Norway. In addition to the spectacular nature, where glaciers and waterfalls meet majestic mountains and soaring waterfalls, the old cultural landscape consisting of small farms and houses give the area an extra dimension.
Bryggen in Bergen
In the beautiful city of Bergen, you will find the next world heritage site on the list. In the middle of the historical centre of the city, you can find the old wooden wharf established by the Hanseatic League in the 1300s. From the mid-1300s until the mid-1700s, Bryggen was the headquarter for the Hanseatic trade union between Germany and Norway, where trade products such as dried fish, salt, beer, jewelry and grain were exchanged. This historical trade post has burned down several times, but rebuilt every time. Much of the current buildings date back to the 1700s, and stands as a reminder of what wooden urban structures in Northern Europe looked like during the time of the Hanseatic League, several hundred years ago.
Urnes Stave Church
Some of the oldest wooden structures in the world are the Norwegian stave churches. In the Middle Ages, between 1000 and 2000 stave churches were located in Norway, but today only 28 remain, with Urnes stave church being regarded as the oldest. Beautifully decorated in wooden carvings and inscriptions, it is a must-see for all history and architecture aficionados. Urnes stave church is located in the region of Sogn og Fjordane, and is open to the public every day of the week.
Røros Mining Town
In 1980, the mining town of Røros was listed on UNESCO's list of world heritage sites. 333 years of mining and urban agriculture had created a very distinctive city on the mountain plateau of central Norway. The mining town has preserved much of its original traits with street patterns built in the 17th century and tree houses from the 1700s and 1800s. The scenery in the area is beautiful and majestic, with possibilities for paddling through the woods through old lakes as well as hiking across the plateau.
Alta Rock Art
Next on the list is the Alta rock carvings and paintings. By far the oldest, this world heritage site on the list is located near the city of Alta in northern Norway. The exact age of the rock paintings is not known, but they are estimated to be around 4000-6000 years old, making them the most important historical evidence of the hunter-gatherer society in the Arctic. The over 6000 rock carvings and 50 rock paintings are depicting a wide variety of motives, from humans and animals, religious pictures and geometrical figures. The Alta rock paintings were added to the UNESCO world list in 1985.
Rjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site
Added in 2015, the two industry towns of Rjukan and Notodden are the most recent Norwegian addition to the world heritage list. These two towns located in southeastern Norway were regarded as pioneer towns in the early 1900s, in the period, which is described as the second industrial revolution in northern Europe. Dams, railways, ferries and power stations are evidence of the booming epoch of the area. At one point in time, the world's largest power station was located in Rjukan. Rjukan was also the location for the famous Operation Gunnerside during the second world war when Norwegian saboteurs destroyed the heavy water factory, believed to be important for the German attempts of creating an atomic bomb.
The Vega Archipelago
With over 6000 islands and islets, the Vega islands on the coast of northern Norway is a remarkable sight. The foundations for the modern Norwegian state was laid here when the first settlements were made over 10,000 years ago, with the creative use of the resources in the area. The many islands in the Vega archipelago made the UNESCO world heritage site list because it "reflects the way generations of fishermen-farmers have, over the past 1500 years, maintained a sustainable living in an inhospitable seascape near the Arctic Circle, based on the now unique practice of eider down harvesting, and it also celebrates women's contribution to the eider down process." The Vega Archipelago was added to the world heritage list in 2004.
The Struve Geodetic Arch
In 1855, the German astronomer Friedrich Georg Willhelm von Struve finished a project to map the exact size and form of the earth. By setting up a chain of survey triangulations all the way from the Black Sea to the city of Hammerfest in Norway, this could finally be measured. In Norway, we can find four points of measurement created by Struve: The meridian statues in Hammerfest, Alta and two in Kautokeino. The establishment of the Struve Geodetic Arch took over 40 years, and it was the first international project the state of Norway took part of.
Photo one: Øyvind Heen - Visitnorway.com
Photo two: joaquinaristii/Foap/Visitnorway.com
Photo three: Espen Mills/Matlangsnasjonaleturistveger.no/Visitnorway.com
Photo four: Thomas Rasmus Skaug - visitnorway.com
Photo five: CH - Visitnorway.com
Photo six: Ian Brodie/visitrjukan.com
Photo seven: Anton Ligaarden/Visitnorway.com
Photo eight: Christian Roth Christensen/Visitnorway.com


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Lavender Organic Shea Butter Body Creme - small
The benefits from using Shea Butter are many. It is naturally rich in Vitamins A, E, and F and also offers a low level of UV protection approximately SPF 6. Vitamins A and E help to soothe, hydrate, and balance the skin and can reduce wrinkles and other signs of aging. Vitamin F contains essential fatty acids that can help protect and revitalize damaged skin and hair. Shea Butter is an intense moisturizer for dull or dry skin on the body or scalp. Our Shea butter creme is Grade A unrefined certified organic which keeps all the properties stated above in the butter. We only add Vitamin E and Rosemary extract for preservatives and organic or natural essential oils for the scent. This butter is scented with Lavender for a soothing calming experience with your butter. ****cannot ship in June, July and August because of sensitivity to heat***
Directions: Shea butter can be applied to any part of the body that needs to be moisturized. A little goes a long way! Upon application, your skin will be slightly greasy, but that greasiness will disappear after about 10 minutes as the Shea Butter absorbs into your skin leaving it feeling soft and conditioned.
Ingredients: Unrefined Organic Shea Butter, Lavender Essential Oil, Vitamin E, and Rosemary Extract
Bulk Pricing:
- Buy 3 - 6 and pay only $5.00 each


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School Council
Our school council has an important role to play in gathering the opinions of all pupils on aspects of their education and school life.
Members of the school council are elected at the beginning of each academic year. It is made up of a representative from each class and two members from the residential units. The council meets regularly to raise issues and propose ideas that help to shape and improve the school.


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Wer wir sind
Nomad Digital is the world's leading provider of passenger and fleet connectivity solutions to the railway industry. Founded in 2002, and headquartered in the UK, currently serving more than 80+ global customers - in more than 40 countries - Nomad designs, builds, deploys and manages passenger Wi-Fi and on-board passenger infotainment systems. Nomad also provides remote online condition-based monitoring and maintenance solutions for optimising fleet management, operational performance and improving fuel economy.