The Texarkana Museum System held a workshop in February for those who were wondering what the daily life of local women was like in the early 20th Century. Held at the P.J. Ahern Home, "How To Be An Edwardian Lady" was presented by museum curator Jamie Simmons and Discovery Center manager Burgandy Farris.
During the demonstration, Burgandy dressed in period costume and played the role of Mary Ahern, who was the lady of the house during the Edwardian Period (1900-1929). Jamie acted as Mary's servant, styling Mary's hair in a period style and describing what a servant would do throughout the day.
In the dining room, Burgandy and Mary discussed the menu for dinner guests, and Jamie described the china and placement of various serving dishes on the table. From the dining room, the presentation moved to the foyer, where blank calling cards were distributed for guests to fill in their information.
Paying calls and receiving calls were considered the most important tasks of an Edwardian Lady. Each lady had a certain day and times they were available to receive guests. In order to be accepted, one must first have brought her calling card by in advance. The servant of the house would collect the cards on a silver or glass tray in the foyer and inform the visitor of her lady's calling time.
The morning of her calling day, the lady would examine the cards in the tray and let her servant know which of the visitors she wanted to see, and those she did not want to see. She would then await her visitors in the parlor. Each visitor was allowed 15 minutes only. Upon arrival the servant would bring them to the parlor, or (in the case of those the lady did not want to see) they would be told the lady was not available.
There were many intricate rules involving calling cards and visitors, but as the country entered World War 1 and people had much more to think about, those rules became more and more relaxed until calling cards eventually went out of fashion for women.
Other topics discussed at the workshop
were beauty tips for the Edwardian Lady and the language of the fan. Most beauty lotions and creams were hand-mixed and included such ingredients as boric acid, witch hazel and mercury. Every proper lady carried a small fan with her everywhere, and placement of that fan was a code, of sorts, telling others whether she was happy, sad, angry or conveying secret messages.
The demonstration concluded with a tea party in the music room. Hot tea and finger sandwiches were served in authentic china cups and saucers. Small talk included news of the latest contraptions - automobiles and telephones, for example - and which neighborhood ladies were imbibing absinthe or laudanum a bit too much. n
(For information on upcoming events, visit texarkanamuseum.org online.)