This elegant lady is Miss Helen Dacre, who knows a thing or two about how to make a splash at a costume party. How cunning she looks with a little tin bucket and shovel on her head! I am not sure what she has pinned to her dress, but I'm sure it ties in with the beach in some way.And when she does stroll on the beach, she can use her bucket to scoop up some medicine and make a nice profit to put towards future costume ideas.
The American Medical Association will explain: there was, around the year 1909, a company in Westchester, New York (just north of New York City) which sold something called Health Grains.
Health Grains came in a nice little tin, and you were to roll a teaspoonful of the grains around in your mouth - don't crunch on them! - and then swallow them. They were supposed to be a digestive aid after meals - rather like Tums, only grainier.
And sandier, too. The AMA analyzed them and found out that Health Grains were actually beach sand, mixed with rock candy syrup.
The Seaside Belle cigarette card is from the NYPL Digital Gallery. The information on Health Grains is from the AMA's book Nostrums and Quackery (Chicago, 1912), pp 690-91.
9 comments:
Does she really have a shovel and bucket on her head? What a hoot! www.satisfiedsole.com
Wow. Now that's a fashion statement! As for what's pinned to her dress, looks like a tiny mandolin to me. Doesn't really go with the shovel and pail, though. She really needs a ukulele for beachwear.
Pam - Looks like she really does! :)
Tori - It does look like a mandolin. But you are right, a ukelele would be better, lol
What a fantastic card!!!! Wish I could see an up-close pic of what she has on her dress. It short of looks like a large vinaigrette but not sure....
grouse and badger - I know, it is great! There's a whole costume series it belongs to, but I haven't looked at any of the others yet. And that DOES look just like a vinaigrette. Is she planning on making salad at the beach??
How did she attach the shovel and bucket to her head? *confused*
Hairball - I think they must be all tied up with the ribbon somehow, but it looks like it was very tricky. And also that she had better not move her head too much! :)
AW! Helen makes a cute little bucket-head!
The Health Grains story is hilarious.
Bill - She does look pleased! And beckethead is just the word, I think! :)
Post a Comment