Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: 1894

A ticket printed in 1894 by Pluck Print . Oyster and Turkey Supper At H. S. Keller's Hotel, Voganville, Pa. Dancing free. On Thursday evening, Dec. 20, 1894. Price $1.00 for gentleman only. Price $1.50 for gentleman and lady. Pluck Print.

"At last it biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder. Prov. 23-32." The verses that proceed this one in the Book of Proverbs place this quoted Bible verse in context and make it clear that this colorful Victorian-era card was intended as a temperance message: "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder." (Proverbs 23:29-32.) At the same time, the handwritten notation on the back of the card (see below) reveals that it also served as an attendance reward for a student who only missed a few days of instruction during the 1893-1894 school year. Handwritten on the back of this card: Katie Whitmyer, Mar. 22, 1894. School Opened - 120 Days Attended - 115½ Days Missed - 4½ L. S. Sahm, teacher

"The Divine Odalisque, Omene! Original Turkish dancer. Bijou Theatre, week August 27." A small ticket (or perhaps just part of an advertising card on heavier paper stock) for a performance by Omene the Divine Odalisque, an "original Turkish dancer," who appeared at an otherwise unidentified Bijou Theatre during the week of August 27 in an unknown year (see below, however, for a newspaper article that may reveal the location of the theater and the year Omene was there). The Odalisque When I first purchased this ticket a few years ago, I looked up the definition of " odalisque ," which Wikipedia describes as "a concubine in a Turkish harem." A writer discussing Omene in 1891, however, chose to provide a more oblique explanation of odalisque for newspaper readers: "You don't know what an odalisque is? Well, I might have expected it, but it is very embarrassing, nevertheless. It places me in a most awkward predicament. My duty, however, shall be done. I will tell you as mildly and gracefully as I can. An odalisque is a Turkish harem beauty, who wears very unconventional clothes and beatific smiles--with more of the latter than the former." (Alan Dale, " Askin and the Odalisque ," Evening World [New York], June 23, 1891, p. 3.) The Belly Dancer Although the meaning of odalisque was easy to track down, it was only recently that I was able to uncover much information regarding Omene herself. Rebekah Burgess Abramovich, who authored an article that appeared on a Metropolitan Museum of Art blog, summarizes the dancer's career this way: "Now entirely forgotten in the history of dance and entertainment, Omene achieved an incredible level of celebrity in the national press of the 1890s as an early practitioner of belly dancing on the American stage. She was best known, however, for inciting scandal." ( Forgotten Scandal: Omene, the Suicide Club, and Celebrity Culture in 19th-Century America , posted May 4, 2016.) Omene's belly dancing became so popular that she was featured on cigarette cards (see the 13 cards that Abramovich discusses in her article ) and sheet music covers (see the one for Omene Turkish Waltzes , which was "Dedicated to the Divine Turkish Odalisque"). Who Was She? Newspapers described Omene's scandalous dances and told about her romantic encounters and turbulent life, which supposedly ended in 1899 when she died from cancer (see, for instance, " Her Dance Is Ended: Omene, the Divine Odalisque, Breathes Her Last ," Spokane Daily Chronicle , April 27, 1899, p. 6). Abramovich's article points out, however, that Omene's claim that she was born in Turkey and other details about her life (and maybe even her death) were probably embellishments designed to promote her stage performances. It's not even clear what her real name was! But back to the ticket. After some more searching, I did locate a newspaper article (see below) that seems to match the details on the ticket. It announces an appearance by Omene on August 27, 1894 (same month and day on the ticket) at the Bijou Theatre (same venue name) in Reading, Pennsylvania (a city located in the same south-central area of the state where I purchased the ticket). Most of the article is an unattributed "eyewitness" account of Omene's dance. "Omene" at the Bijou Theatre The season at the Bijou Theatre will be opened on Monday afternoon, Aug. 27, with one of the greatest and costliest attractions that has ever appeared at this popular resort--"Omene" the wonderful dancer. An eye witness has described her performance as follows: "Beautiful, graceful, dazzling, fascinating, with the perfect form of a Venus, and all the tempting symmetry and velvety softness of the oriental beauty. Omene, the Circassian belle, has taken high rank as a danseuse and has scored the hit of her life in N.Y. She is described as 'the divine adalisque,' whose handsome face, matchless charms, and winning grace have made slaves of thousands. "Omene is a native of Stamboul [Istanbul]. She is the only Turkish danseuse now before the public. She executes the sensational dances of her native land with abandon and grace. It is the dance of the Turkish harem that Omene excels. This she accurately reproduces, even down to the costumes and scenery. She appears in a gorgeous costume that fairly dazzles the spectator, and brings to mind the highly colored pictures of the radiant east. "The scene reveals her with veiled face and jaunty fez, wrapped up in a long robe of gold, red, and black. She is attended by Eunochs, who suddenly take one garment after the other from her, even removing her sandals, leaving her entirely free for the dance. Omene enraptures every spectator on the stage [with] seductive dances of the harem and the wild voluptuous dances of her native land. Her whole appearance is an illustration of grace." (From the " Amusements " column, Reading Eagle [Reading, Pa.], Aug. 26, 1894, p. 2.)

As Wikipedia explains it, " Washington's Birthday is a United States federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February [February 16 in 2015] in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States. Colloquially, it is widely known as 'Presidents Day' and is often an occasion to remember all the presidents, not just George Washington [whose actual birthdate is February 22] or Abraham Lincoln, whose birthday is also in February [on February 12]. The term 'Presidents Day' was informally coined in a deliberate attempt to use the holiday to honor multiple presidents and is virtually always used that way today." Today, Presidents' Day is simply noted as a time for special store sales or--for some--a day off from work or school. In years past, however, George Washington's birthday was celebrated with special events, like this program of musical performances and recitations that was held at the Zion Lutheran Church in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in 1894. Washington Tea Given by the Luther Union, Zion Lutheran Church, Thursday, February 22, 1894, 7:45 p.m. Programme Hymn - "America" [For the verses, see the image above.] Instrumental Duett - Misses Knocke and Seidel Declamation - "Eulogy on Washington," Phillips - Mr. William Bomgardner Bass Solo - "The Bugler" - Mr. Chas. Barnitz Address - B. M. Nead, Esq. Collection Recitation - "Ode to America," Eliza Cook - Master Clarence Funk Violin Solo - "National Airs" - Miss Blanche Raysor Essay - "Martha Washington" - Miss Annie Hershey Vocal Solo - Miss Emma Meyer All are invited to remain for the reception.