Philomena the Mermaid

written by Rosa Morgan

Once upon a time under the deep dark sea there lived a pair of merpeoples. Philomena was the most beautiful mermaid of the Seven Seas and Faustus was the most powerful.

It mattered not to Philomena that her every wish was Faustus' command and that he offered her his kingdom and the largest pearls of his treasure, for she did not wish to be anyone's bride, not even the Lord of the Sea, Poseidon, himself.

 It must be understood that merpeople are immortal whilst in their watery home, but will find their grave if they venture on land. Despite the dangers, Philomena was inexplicably drawn to the two-legged creatures.

In truth, the willful mermaid often found herself riding a ship's bow wave, luring the sailors to follow.

In the Indian ocean off the coast of the Seychelles, Philomena heard tell of a ship's imminent passage and its cargo heavy with William Lasson's Hair Elixer. Salt water can wreck havoc on one's locks and so she was determined to purloin a few boxes for herself and friends.

The enchanting Philomena delighted in the pomade's illustrious effects; her tangled tresses no longer resembled Medusa's mane. However her reverie was cut short by the alarming cry of a man, for her procurement of hair restorer had resulted in the sinking of a ship and its human occupants.

Swimming to and fro, she found the waters filled with men struggling for survival, and so, she and her companion mermaids swam to their rescue, delivering each and everyone to the safety of the shore. And so dear reader, if perchance you visit the Isle of Galveston on the coast of Texas, I urge you to sit by the water's edge and study closely the white crested surf where you may espy the lovely Philomena.

Visit Mermaid Cottage of Galveston

Victorian Vehicles

Salutations Gentle Reader,
I hope you enjoy these delightful conveyances.



Brougham
Hard topped and small enough to be pulled by a pair of steeds, the Brougham was considered a staid choice for the Victorian middle class.

Barouche

For the man of means and able to convey four passengers.  In Sense and Sensibility Mrs. Gatewood boasts that her brother owns his own barouche.

Phaeton
Named after the mythical Phaeton, who nearly set the earth on fire while attempting to drive the chariot of the sun. Fast and dangerous, this minimal bodied carriage had no side protection, thus a gentleman's trousers or lady's skirt was easily soiled by flying mud.

Curricle
 Drawn by two horses, this light-weight carriage quickly became the prime choice for the fashionable young man about town, eager to demonstrate his driving skills.

Landau
Named after the German city where it was first produced, the Landau was a social carriage with facing seats.

 Town Coach 
This closed carriage was used by only the very rich and the nobility put their coat of arms on the door.

Gig
Drawn by one horse, a gig was the popular conveyance in the countryside.

Dogcart
This vehicle had a ventilated box under the seat for putting one's hunting dogs in when driving to the fox hunt.





 Hansom


The Victorian taxi cab with the driver sitting behind the cab and the reins passing over the top.

Gold State Coach
An enclosed, eight horse-drawn carriage used by the British Royal Family and has been used at the coronation of every British monarch since George IV.