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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Deskman on Thursday 01 February 18 15:38 GMT (UK)

Title: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Deskman on Thursday 01 February 18 15:38 GMT (UK)
Any help with the xxx here much appreciated.

either returning to office or reading. Had small talk with Mr Bowker last night & with sundry & divers country people, old man next door comes & talks now & then but conversation difficult as he is most terribly deaf. Read Spectator at Breakfast this morning. Noticed idea how important mental qualities were in a women in addition to her beauty, to permanently please, story of Lætitia & Daphne. Miltons description of beautiful Eve, begins not to

The folks here are brightening my transcription from dark uncertainty to wonder. Thanks.

Text in bold shows amends following help
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 01 February 18 16:05 GMT (UK)
  So   permanently please/pleasant

??
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Gadget on Thursday 01 February 18 16:11 GMT (UK)
Just wondering if it is To rather than So. To permanently please  sounds better!

Gadget
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: JenB on Thursday 01 February 18 16:13 GMT (UK)
Noted idea how important mental qualities were in a woman to the spectator, her beauty,

I don't see the words marked in red in the text  :-\
I see:
'Noted idea how important mental qualities were in a women in addition to her beauty' ('in addition to' having been inserted between the lines of the original text)

The word 'spectator' only occurs in the previous line  :-\
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Deskman on Thursday 01 February 18 16:19 GMT (UK)
That is splendid Gadget. I had misread the l of 'please' so was stuck. It really reflects The Spectator tone.
I shall amend the script above 'to permanently please'
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: arthurk on Thursday 01 February 18 16:22 GMT (UK)
Noted idea how important mental qualities were in a woman to the spectator, her beauty,

I don't see the words in red in the text at all.
I see:
Noted idea how important mental qualities were in a women in addition to her beauty' ('in addition to' having been inserted in the original text)

I agree with JenB on this - though I think it's Noticed rather than Noted.
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: JenB on Thursday 01 February 18 16:24 GMT (UK)
I think it's Noticed rather than Noted.

Yes, you're right  :)
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Deskman on Thursday 01 February 18 16:29 GMT (UK)
Jen B and arthurk that is so kind.
Apologies for my clumsy misreads.
I'm pleased to amend to
'Noticed idea how important mental qualities were in a women in addition to'
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Pennines on Thursday 01 February 18 20:16 GMT (UK)
Do you think the section starting 'had small talk with Mr Bowker last night.....'   should carry on to say 'and with Lundy and discuss county people'

As if Lundy is another person present. It doesn't seem to make sense if the word is Sunday.

Also it looks more like 'county' than 'country'.

I stand to be shouted down of course and I am told frequently that I need to go to Specsavers!
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Karen McDonald on Thursday 01 February 18 21:19 GMT (UK)
Do you think the section starting 'had small talk with Mr Bowker last night.....'   should carry on to say 'and with Lundy and discuss county people'

As if Lundy is another person present. It doesn't seem to make sense if the word is Sunday.

Also it looks more like 'county' than 'country'.

I stand to be shouted down of course and I am told frequently that I need to go to Specsavers!

I was wondering whether it was Lundy, too!   8)

As regards county/country: I think it looks like counting. When you compare the end of the word with "reading" on the line above... But why would they be counting people?!  ???

Karen
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Deskman on Thursday 01 February 18 22:36 GMT (UK)
Dear Pennines and Karen McDonald, I thank you for your thoughts and suggestions.
Some context might help. I understand that Mr Bowker is the vicar in the village. The writer, who is new to the village, is a Baptist who has attended the Anglican church having failed to find a local non-conformist chapel. Now he has found and attended the struggling Baptist chapel and he is keen to preach there the next Sunday. He is to become friends with the vicar and family, occasionally dine at the vicarage, read his newspaper and play chess with him.

I cant find any name like Lundy. I currently think 'Sunday' is right but wonder about much else. Is 'discuss' 'diverse'?

Thanks for your help. I will continue to review the script.
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Bookbox on Thursday 01 February 18 23:01 GMT (UK)
Could be ... & with Sundry & divers country people ?
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Deskman on Thursday 01 February 18 23:29 GMT (UK)
Bookbox, you do have an eye for this. I think 'with sundry & divers count(r)y people' is so elegant. Pennines and Karen McDonald have challenged me on this and had such great ideas. I'm grateful to you all.
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Karen McDonald on Friday 02 February 18 08:10 GMT (UK)
I think Bookbox has alien powers...   ;)

Karen
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Deskman on Friday 02 February 18 09:06 GMT (UK)
Karen, I agree that Bookbox is a  marvel. I unwittingly did refer to Bookbox's eye - is this the one eye of an alien?
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Bookbox on Friday 02 February 18 09:19 GMT (UK)
Rumbled at last  :(
Title: Re: 1889 diary p7 Bowker & Spectator
Post by: Pennines on Friday 02 February 18 13:16 GMT (UK)
Bookbox ---- what a good 'spot' that was. Reading it again your suggestion makes sense.

I wouldn't dream of calling you an alien though --- just a clever s*d! (Hope I get away with that).