Shove over and make room in the handbasket, will you?
We have been very naughty…but these just called out for macros.
(ETA: Yes, they’ve been swapped out for new versions using the approved lolcat font.)
25 September 2007
Everyone’s a critic
Alert Janeite Lisa sent us a link to an article in the Bath Chronicle about some controversy over a reenactment of a public hanging that was part of the Jane Austen Festival in Bath.
Major John Guest has labelled a mock hanging that took place during the launch weekend of the Jane Austen Festival an “appalling spectacle”.
Major Guest, from Stonehouse Lane in Combe Down, was in the city centre when he saw the dramatic stunt in Queen Square and decided to challenge organisers.
He told the Chronicle: “A public execution was staged in Queen Square, complete with gallows and a realistic body hanging from a noose.
“The public were encouraged to witness this foul recreation and I observed several instances of children, with re-enactors dressed as soldiers, posing for photographs in front of the swinging corpse.
“This was a foul obscene stunt, with as far as I can recall absolutely no connection with Jane Austen’s books.
“When I intervened and challenged the organisers during this sickening display I was asked to leave.”
The Festival organizers pointed out, quite correctly, that theft of as little as one shilling’s worth of goods was a hanging offense in Jane Austen’s day; indeed, her aunt, Mrs. Leigh Perrot, stood trial for shoplifting some lace and could have been sentenced to hanging as a result (though because of her age and wealth, such a sentence would likely have been changed to transportation to Australia). It seems to us like a not terribly pleasant though definitely a part of life in Jane Austen’s time.
And a note to Major Guest: Jane would not have approved of your being a buttinsky and disrupting the event, either. Next time, try writing a strongly-worded letter after the fact.
Speaking of wet shirts
Alert Janeites Chantel and Franka let us know about these photos from S&S08, including the promised wet-shirted wood chopping scene.
Willoughby makes us feel old. What is he, twelve? And we don’t think it’s completely accidental that New!Edward bears a striking resemblance to Old!Edward.
Well, snark and drool away.
