The Sidebars of History
By the end of the coming weekend you will probably be sick of hearing about the 100th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Titanic. The tired tales of technological arrogance, of noble men stepping aside for women and children and the cowards who didn't, of third class steerage passengers who didn't stand a chance, etc., etc., etc.
I was preparing to produce one of my parody Photoshops - I had the notion that "OWS" could have easily stood for "Occupy White Star" (White Star Lines being Titanic's owner) when I came across this iconic image that I had seen a million times before:
This is Ned Parfett, a 16-year-old newsboy hawking his papers outside of the White Star offices just off Trafalgar Square the morning after the tragedy. Crowds gathered around the line's three main offices in London, Liverpool and New York for word about potential survivors.
Instead of altering the photo I became interested in young Ned. Like so many boys born in the mid-1890s, Ned was destined to become part of England's "lost generation" that would reach the prime years of their young adulthood just as the First World War would begin to consume the continent. One of four brothers from Cornwall Road, Waterloo to join the British Army for King and Country, Ned served with distinction, winning the Military Medal for gallant conduct.
On October 29th, 1918, less than two weeks before the Armistice, Ned was granted leave. He went to the Quartermaster's office to collect some clothing when the stores were destroyed by a German artillery shell. He was only 22 and the only one of the four brothers that never came home. Ned remains in France at the British War Cemetery at Verchain - Maugre.
The building where newsboy Ned was photographed still stands but the flag that flies on it is not the corporate red banner with the white star. Instead, it is the Lone Star flag of the State of Texas. It is now a Tex-Mex restaurant called the The Texas Embassy.
If there is one thing that we should latch on to in these tragic tales it is the impermanence of it all. Great companies rise and fall, great nations can squander their wealth and power into irrelevance, and brave men can be reduced to weathered grave stones. As the November elections loom, we're headed into our own ice field of debt and political spinelessness and America will either change course or charge full speed ahead.
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Nov '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
Now I'm gonna be like pensive all afternoon.
Re: The Sidebars of History
Not only does EJHill patiently (and quickly) execute my constant requests to put dignified and accomplished writers and thinkers into silly scenarios, he can write too. Great post, my friend.
May '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
Beautiful.
Sep '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
If you ever find yourself in Halifax, Nova Scotia with an afternoon free, discover the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
The bodies of the dead recovered from the Titanic--as well as many of the living--were found by crews of cable-laying ships from Halifax. The Titanic exhibit is fascinating--as are the rest of the exhibits, including lots of information on life at sea in the Maritimes over the past 400 years.
Definitely well worth the visit.
May '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
By chance I snapped a picture of the place in London last fall. My sister-in-law is a native Texan and I thought it would give her a chuckle. Thanks for the rest of the story.
Oct '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
"November elections loom, we're headed into our own ice field of debt and political spinelessness and America will either change course or charge full speed ahead."
We're doomed. There is no political will to do what is needed until after we hit the iceberg.
Jun '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
The only thing that can bust through complacency is emergency. Barack will probably win this year -- the only good thing to come from it is that he will probably hasten the emergency before we have turned into mush. I hope....
Mar '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
Fastflyer: "November elections loom, we're headed into our own ice field of debt and political spinelessness and America will either change course or charge full speed ahead."
We're doomed. There is no political will to do what is needed until after we hit the iceberg. · 2 hours ago
Agreed, Fast. People just aren't going to do the necessary thing until they have to. And the great worry here is, when it finally comes, what course will Americans decide? Back to limited/small government with low spending, or do we completely drive over the cliff and head to Marxville?
BTW, looking at your avatar... were you a Vark driver?
Dec '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
The Texas Embassy isn't bad, for European Tex-Mex. (I had "Mexican" food once in Venice, Italy - it was a joke.)
The Texas Embassy is named in part because the building once served as the diplomatic outpost in Britain of the Republic of Texas. (So the story at the restaurant goes, anyhow.)
Jul '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
Excellent, excellent post.
I heard the voice of Paul Harvey reading the copy.
"And now You know the rest... of the story."
Re: The Sidebars of History
"I had the notion that "OWS" could have easily stood for "Occupy White Star" (White Star Lines being Titanic's owner)"More apt than you know, EJ - J.P. Morgan was the Titanic's owner.
Apr '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
1% Vindicated
"recently discovered letters seen by the Telegraph absolves Sir Cosmo and Lady Duff Gordon of bribery and cowardice."
“I took off my nightgown which was underneath my padded dressing gown,” she writes, “put on my chemise and my thick silk drawers and my woollen drawers. Then I put on a warm silk vest with long sleeves. I deliberately thought I would not put my corsets on in case that if I got into the water I should not be able to swim, and put back my warm dressing gown and on top of that… and then I put on my little warm motor hat.”
The Duff Gordons’ separate, dramatic accounts reveal that Lucy and her secretary Laura Francatelli, far from elbowing others aside, turned down places in two departing lifeboats for women and children because they refused to be separated from Sir Cosmo. Lady Gordon threw her arms around her husband’s neck and stood her ground"
The deck was empty of people when they saw a third, smaller boat, known as the captain’s emergency boat, appear before them"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/titanic-anniversary/9202821/Titanic-survivors-vindicated-at-last.html
Edited on April 14, 2012 at 1:47amApr '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
Stuart Creque: The Texas Embassy isn't bad, for European Tex-Mex. (I had "Mexican" food once in Venice, Italy - it was a joke.)
The Texas Embassy is named in part because the building once served as the diplomatic outpost in Britain of the Republic of Texas. (So the story at the restaurant goes, anyhow.) · 2 hours ago
Benito's Hat, a chain, is much better, as are other places. They also give less to support to Democrat activists and organizations.
Nov '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
EJ, you made me weep.
Dec '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
America is charging full speed ahead, friend Hill. America always had its share of the complacent. I believe that during the Revolutionary era, popular support hovered well below 50%, something like 25%.
What a 25%. We're the shining city on the hill for the entire world, comprisng the people that came from all over the world. Plus the same baggage in perhaps slightly lower percentages than the rest of the world.
I remember my entire upbringing, the lines wrapped around blocks of people wishing to legally immigrate to this country, all over the world.
We rob them of their guiding light, when we get distracted and frustrated. We don't really have that right. Our ancestorss managed to get here and make things better for us whiners.
We can take days off, I suppose, but we can never forget what it took our ancestors to get here and create this.
There is no chance that chance alone got us here. Our forefathers worked to place us here. We are the permanence. We are the haven.
It's good to know that you and the rest of y'all are out there.
Nov '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
Wonderful story, Brother Hill. How sad to think of that fine young man dead at the beginning of peace.
WWI is, in my estimation, the source of a very great deal of our present misery. The West almost committed collective suicide in those dreadful years and lost, perhaps forever, its sense of confidence and optimism.
Aug '10
Re: The Sidebars of History
From the offices of G.L. Watson :Management will redirect inquiries , as soon as we plug this ho...............
May '11
Re: The Sidebars of History
When sentenced to time in London, I've eaten at the Texas Embassy as a sort of nod toward home. It's not bad. Totally off topic, there is a decent Thai restaurant across the street from the Texas Embassy.
Continue on with the Titanic discussion.
Jan '12
Re: The Sidebars of History
549 residents of southampton died in the Titanic.
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/174417/ghosts-of-titanics-crew-haunt-southampton-100-years-on
A maritime museum opened in Southampton earlier this month. It is worth a visit if you are going to on a cruise from Southampton which is the biggest cruise terminal in Northern Europe.
http://seacitymuseum.co.uk/
Apr '12
Re: The Sidebars of History
Poignant and thought provoking posting.