TIDBITS 01/11/04

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Arsenic ... Lipstick ... and Jewelry

Quick disclaimer folks. Though I present the info below in
a staged manner ... the following details as they relate
to makeup in the eighteenth century are factual. That said ...
let's go. And Happy New Year to you all.

Imagine the jeweler. He's just finished with a client. He feels a
headache coming on. A slight sweat forms on his brow. I want something
for my lady fair, said the client. I want something no one has. I want
something original. Money is no object. Surprise me. Surprise my
lady fair. You make her happy ... you make me happy. You make me
happy ... we do more business. Now go. Do. Make. Create. I shall be
back in a month.

Eighteenth Century: Get yer wafers, ladies and gennulmen. Get yer
arsenic wafers. Eat an arsenic wafer and achieve that white pallor
that will make you the envy of your friends. It poisons the blood and
the red hemoglobin cells. No matter if this brings less oxygen to your
organs. Beauty above all things. Step right up. You. Yes you with the
rosy cheeks. You don't want to look like that ... do you?

And so the jeweler wracked his brains. A ring would not do. He had
made too many for this customer. A pendant perhaps? No. Earrings?
No. A bracelet ... a watch ... a brooch ... some pearls? No and no
and no and no. A last guess. A stab in the dark. Rummaging around in
the recesses of his subconscious for an idea. Doesn't matter if you
grab it by the leg or the arm ... just grab and pull and it will
appear. And then ... he got hold ... tugged ... and presto gazatz ...
he had it.

Eighteenth Century: Step right up folks. Get some lipstick to go with
that newly acquired pale complexion. It's safe folks. It's made from
mulberry and seaweed ... and tinted with cinnabar--a poisonous red
sulfate of mercury. Don't lick your lips too much ma'am. Don't want
to ingest too much of that poison do we? Not after we've just taken
that arsenic wafer. Fetus? Did you say fetus ma'am? Mercury and
arsenic harm fetus' you say? Congenital deformities, you say?
Stillbirths ... miscarriages ... inborn deformities. Yes ... well ...
that may all well be ... but we won't know about that for some time to
come ... and in the meantime ... think of beauty. Beauty me lassies
.... man-made beauty above all things. Au-natural is for the peasantry
and the weak and the faint of heart. Step right up. Get yer lipstick.

A lipstick holder it would be. Yes. In 18 karat white gold perhaps.
Studded with diamonds. It would be unrivaled. Who in this world would
own such a thing. Who in their right mind would think of possessing
such a thing. Ah ... but once possessed ... one could prance about
showing off the uniqueness of the thing. Oh dear oh dear ... it's so
warm at the ball ... I simply must put on fresh lipstick. Dahling ...
would you please go into my purse and get me my diamond-studded ... 18
karat white gold lipstick-holder.

Eighteenth Century: An so ... for those of you who think of those who
tried to prevent women from wearing makeup through the ages ... think
perhaps it was not only from a prim and prissy attitude ... but
perhaps also from some knowledge of the harmful effects make-up of
yore had on the wearer.

As to our fictional jeweler ... someone did make that holder ... and
if not the most beautiful thing in the world ... the history of
lisptick and makeup is certainly fascinating.

For those of you who are new to this thing called Tidbits...may I
direct you to my home page at www.tyler-adam.com where you will scroll
down the left side menu till you get to the area that says Tidbits
Graphics ... and then click on the link that says: Lipstick ... where
you'll see an image of the 18 karat white gold diamond studded
lipstick holder.

And there ya have it.
That's it for this week folks.
Catch you all next week.
Benjamin Mark

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