Another Edwardian Invention

Think of Edwardian women next time you do the vacuuming. They were so thankful for this new invention that vacuum cleaner parties became very popular!

The first power-driven vacuum cleaner was invented by H.Cecil Booth, a British engineer in 1901. It was so large that it had to be mounted on horse-drawn carts. Using it involved extending the 100-foot hose through the windows! Before the invention of this modern new convenience, cleaning machines blew or brushed the dirt away. The new machine was used for all sorts of strange jobs, such as cleaning the dusty girders of the Crystal Palace. Booth formed his own company, specialising in industrial vacuum cleaners.

Murray Spangler invented the first electric vacuum cleaner in Ohio. William Henry Hoover's wife was so impressed with it that she showed it to her husband. He bought the patent rights and he also formed his own company. In fact, his name practically became synonymous with the vacuum cleaner.

Unfortunately, I couldn't watch this video. Some of you will be able to, however.

Edwardian Farm - The Vacuum Cleaner

One of New Zealand's Favourite Opera Singers

A tribute was being held for the great conductor, Toscanini. A ghost in the audience watched as the conductor held his concert. Flowers sent to her were placed in a darkened hotel room in Venice.

The ghost was the famous opera singer, Frances Alda.

More about Melba

Dr. Louise Mahler has a wonderfully interesting post on her blog about Dame Nellie Melba's business tactics.

Sarah Bernhardt's Two Princes

Sarah Bernhardt wasn't always 'The Divine Sarah'. She despaired at 18 of ever becoming an actress, let alone a great one. Her mother told her that her acting was ridiculous and the distraught girl resigned from The Gymnase. This was a theatre which showed light comedies.

Bernhardt decided to go on a trip. She may have gone to Spain. She fell in love with the Belgian Prince Henri de Lignes, the great love of her life. He wanted to marry her but his family persuaded her that he would lose his inheritance and be looked down upon by society if she accepted. She gave him up.

She did have his son, however. Bernhardt called him Maurice. When Maurice was much older the prince officially recognised him and offered him his name and a large fortune. He decided to remain 'Bernhardt'.

There is a legend that Maurice and his father were catching a train but they'd lost the tickets. The ticket officer told the prince that he'd never heard of him. However, he knew the name 'Bernhardt' so they got on the train!

The Prince of Wales

Did 'the Divine Sarah' and Edward, Prince of Wales have an affair? Her granddaughter said that they were the best of friends. We will probably never know.
However, his first acknowledged mistress, Lily Langtry, certainly got quite jealous of the frizzy-haired, beautiful Frenchwoman.

The prince and the young actress often dined together in Paris. He also showered her with expensive jewellery and loved to go to her performances. When she went to London in 1879 the air was buzzing with gossip about the couple.

Lady Cavendish complained that Bernhardt was 'shameless' yet she was invited everywhere. She probably wasn't very happy about the speculation that Bernhardt and the prince were involved!

The only evidence of an affair seems to be that they spent many hours together and Bernhardt told her theatre manager that she was late because she was with the prince until the early hours of the morning.

Syria Lamonte, An Australian Opera Singer

A young barmaid working at Rules Restaurant in London was invited to make the first recording on flat disc for His Master's Voice. She had an excellent and large soprano voice. The year was 1898 and the song was 'Coming Through The Rye'. Her name was Syria Lamonte and she was an Australian opera singer. (Please see Tony Locantro's note).

This is the myth. Syria Lamonte worked as a singer at the restaurant, not a barmaid. She is probably turning in her grave at the very thought!

Born in Sydney, Lamonte was trained in opera by two highly skilled teachers, Madame Chambers and Signor Checi. They also taught Nellie Melba. The young and beautiful soprano soon started getting musical engagements. She sang at the Tivoli in Sydney at the beginning of her career. The Sydney Morning Herald described Lamonte as having 'a fine soprano voice.'

Lamonte sang in various opera companies in Australia and visited many capitals and country towns. According to The Brisbane Courier, she made 'a very favourable impression' in the opera 'In Town' and 'her vivacious singing of 'The Gay Parisian' was warmly applauded.'

The young opera singer decided to try her luck in London. She sang at music-halls there as well as the restaurant. She was also engaged for the opera 'Lohengrin' in Berlin. Lamonte sang in many countries, including Russia and America. Eventually she came back to Melbourne where she retired.

(The Tivoli, Sydney from The Dictionary of Sydney.org)

The History of Whiteleys

This is a Victorian story rather than an Edwardian one. However, I am going to include it here anyway. Read about it here: The History of Whiteleys.

Australia's Idol

There was Australian Idol and there was also 'Australia's Idol'. Read about Nellie Stewart.