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Old Photographs, Recognition, Handwriting Deciphering => Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition => Topic started by: Deskman on Tuesday 06 February 18 01:11 GMT (UK)
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Any help with picking through this wreck of a text here is much appreciated. Anything in red is either unknown or very suspect.
"room at the concert hall – nearly every body
at concert except in bob seats “dressed” fortunately
I had put on my swallow tail on spec so had
not a repetition of my uncomfortable feelings at
Judas Maccabeus Reading."
The bold text is thanks to help here.
Fine folk here are brightening my transcription from dark uncertainty to wonder. Thank you.
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I truly can't go past 'try bog' ;D
Was the term 'bog in use among 'the set' in the late 1880's?
"room at the concert hall – nearly try bog
at concert except in bob seats “dressed” fortunately
I had put on my swallow tail on spec so had
not a repetition of my uncomfortable feelings at
Judas Maccabeus Reading."
Bob Seats = cheap seats? Bob = shilling?
Not sure how to read 'dressed'? an unwritten comma before or after maybe, but it overall reads to me like he had worn his swallow tail coat (suit) in the hopes doing so was the right thing to do in case a certain situation arose, ie: 'on spec' and it was a good move, because it led to him avoiding the 'repetition of my uncomfortable feelings' - which may be something to do with the ability to go to the loo.......bog ;D ;D ;D ??? ::)
Cheers
AMBLY
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Thank you AMBLY for your useful thoughts and entertaining flourish; ;D ;D ;D ??? ::)
Emboldened I have found contemporary references to 'bob seats'. Three fine examples attached that support your suggestion. Cuttings courtesy British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
I'll now look at bogs :-\
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Well there it is ;D, interesting reading in itself - that's Bob sorted, good finds there!
Intrigued to know what happened at the "Judas Maccabeus Reading" - guess that may remain lost in time...
Might be a bit far to travel - but you could try and recreate the scene as it were ;D
http://www.reading.gov.uk/article/10429/Reading-Festival-Chorus-perform-Judas-Maccabaeus-by-Handel
Cheers
AMBLY
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https://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/24/messages/385.html
Some bog theories there....
Cheers
AMBLY
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Oh, good heavens. ;D
It certainly does look like "bog". Unless it should be "boy". ???
Ang on a mo. I've just had an idea.
This is a bit of a long shot, but what about body:
(...nearly every body at concert, except in bob seats, "dressed"... ???)
His handwriting in this one is particularly challenging...
(Instead of "fortunately", we have "fortunaly" <or "fortunaty" without crossing the "t">, for example.)
It could theoretically be every body... It makes sense, as regards what comes after it.
Karen
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ooh Karen, you might have cracked it ;D
That makes perfectly sensible reading - and I for one can 'see it' now.
Gosh Darn, was fond of the 'bog' theory too ;D :P ::)
Cheers
AMBLY
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That is splendid Karen McDonald.
I was thinking it was every but could't get past bog
Now the sentence works in full. Like AMBLY - I see it.
There are 12 'body's in the diary. Another example below.
I am reasonably confident I have found the 'Judas Maccabeus Reading' and I think the discomfiture can be explained. The author attended Kings Road Chapel, Reading from about Sept 1882 to Sept 1885 and again in May 1889. He was a great joiner-in , a singer and by the late 1890s the secretary of a town's choral society.
The inaugural concert of the Kings Road Chapel Choral Society was held in its school room on 8 May 1883. The performance was of Judas Maccabeus. Our man, articled away from home and aged 17, may well have been in the choir (almost 100 performers) and felt underdressed not having swallow tail. Reviews follow. Both the chapel and school room are lost under Reading Central Library. AMBLY's forthcoming concert is the best recreation we can hope for.
Thanks again AMBLY and Karen McDonald
News cuttings courtesy British Newspaper Archive (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) © THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
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All sounds good! And the "body" matches the new scan. Yippee! ;D
Shame about bog, though. Sorry, AMBLY - I rather liked that, too. :P
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;D ;D
Applause all round !!
And thanks for posting the topic Deskman, and the corresponding contemporary snippets - very interesting - a slice of life back in time.
Cheers
AMBLY