Issue #256 - New Men On The Market: Who's Looking for a Wife in 1891?
March 29, 2021 – 1:31 AM
March 29, 2021 – 1:31 AM
Meredith Watchword's Society News | |
Meredith Watchword turns her attention to another well-known gentleman, and to the potential secrets his marriage may hold... | |
Residents of Bartonburg will already be aware that our investigation into the mystery of Melody Crouch struck a chord with Mr. Reuben Crouch, who, having had his more subtle outlets uncovered and presumably made less available to him, turned instead to street brawling. For anyone intrigued by the tale of a man ruining himself over an unhappy marriage, luckily our attention need not pivot very far at all to continue the theme. Our Cast of Characters: Mr. Arthur Pettigrew — a man born with every advantage society has to offer, who since reaching adulthood has systematically gone about squandering each and every one of them; Mrs. Desdemona Pettigrew — a woman whose brains may have been a bit addled by too much rough Quidditch play, as she made the rather dubious decision to marry Mr. Pettigrew and not even her friends could ever have called this a sound choice. The Tale Those close to Arthur Pettigrew may have noticed signs that he has been rather unhappy for the last six months at least, though anyone with only a passing acquaintance can certainly be forgiven for not having noticed because the symptoms look very like his usual brand of casual self-destruction, primarily drinking to excess in public places. What is more noteworthy of late is the fact that Mr. Pettigrew has once again taken up gambling, both at the Irvingly Casino (on nearly every night of the week not already occupied by Quidditch games and practices) and at the recent Moony-Wormtail boxing match, where, if rumor is to be believed, he lost a startling five galleons with a poorly placed bet. Those familiar with Mr. Pettigrew's history may know that this gambling habit was the cause of his ruination as a young man; his father's fortune and several properties passed into the hands of the unseemly individuals who run the betting books at such events. It was generally believed, however, that he had since seen the error of his ways, and that particularly in choosing to settle down with Mrs. Desdemona Pettigrew and start a family he had finally gotten his feet on the straight and narrow. So why return to his old habits now? A cautionary tale for any young woman who thinks she can reform a gentleman with a fraught history: perhaps you can, but perhaps it won't last. Arthur Pettigrew's devotion to his wife (and to protecting their shared assets) seems to have wavered during the past year. Did they squabble over her career, one may wonder? Mrs. Pettigrew rejoined the Quidditch League as a coach but quietly retired from the position immediately following the Quidditch World Cup. Do they, perhaps, disagree on the new Quidditch League regulations in the aftermath of that deadly match last fall? Does the answer have anything to do with the fact that Desdemona Pettigrew has more or less ceased to exist within society since the match? | In the commotion that followed the Quidditch World Cup and the death of Ethel Turnbull, the rumor that Mrs. Pettigrew was escorted out of the stadium in labor may have been overlooked — particularly when the Pettigrews had not been known to have been expecting and had no child to show for the troubles in the following weeks. Perhaps if you heard the rumor, you assumed it had been a mistake, or that someone had mistaken the woman in question for Mrs. Pettigrew — but given her husband's behavior and her subsequent withdrawal from society, I would wager there is another explanation. Arthur Pettigrew Arthur Pettigrew may be a man of many talents on the Quidditch pitch, but almost certainly has relatively few when it comes to emotional turmoil and comforting a grieving spouse. Rather than supporting his wife during this time of need, he looked externally for a way to handle his own feelings, and found it primarily in alcohol. With a deteriorating marriage and without the skills to mend it, Arthur Pettigrew appears to have found himself in the same position as his friend Mr. Crouch: a man desperately longing for divorce, but too much a coward to ask for one. Without the advantage of a convenient and mysterious illness to put him on the track to becoming a widower, though, what recourse was left to Mr. Pettigrew? He certainly could not divorce his wife while she was grieving, and be known in what few social circles are still open to him as a villain. If, on the other hand, his wife were to suggest it — if perhaps she had no choice but to suggest it, in order to provide for herself and for her daughter financially... well, his renewed interest in gambling makes a good deal more sense. He may have even lost the five galleons on purpose (though he would certainly never admit to as much) to speed along the process; his wife, after all, could not fail to notice such a sum missing from their household coffers. Should we wish Arthur Pettigrew godspeed as he attempts to dismantle his marriage from the inside? Even before he began squandering their money, most would have agreed that Mrs. Pettigrew would be better off without him. Society has never been kind to divorcees, but perhaps even this would be preferable to the poor Mrs. Pettigrew than trying to manage the outbursts of an emotionally stunted overgrown teenager while also raising a toddler and working through her own unspeakable grief. |
March 29, 2021 – 1:31 AM
Quiz: Where Should You Sail? The Santa Antonina is a luxury cruise liner which may sound familiar to you as it set sail from the port in Aberdeen two days ago. Cruises are more popular among muggles as they have yet to find a faster way to cross an ocean, but just because we've figured it out doesn't mean cruise ships are obsolete! On the contrary, unless you have considerable time constraints the journey can be as much of a vacation as your destination! There are some restrictions as to where one can travel by cruise ship as the need of a harbor is rather vital, but there are plenty of destinations that don't suffer from being woefully landlocked. Which one should you visit? A modern leisure cruise vessel at sea!
1. Which element is your astrological sign?A) Water B) Fire C) Earth D) Air 2. Which do you prefer? A) Tea B) Pumpkin Juice C) Wine D) Coffee 3. Which animal would you choose for a pet? A) Owl B) Bat C) Cat D) Toad 4. Which is your preferred mode of magical transport? A) Apparation B) Floo C) Portkey D) Broomstick and/or flying carpet 5. Which is your favorite season? A) Spring B) Winter C) Autumn D) Summer 6. Choose a dragon: A) Chinese Fireball B) Hebridean Black C) Antipodean Opaleye D) Swedish Short-snout Answers Mostly A's: Constantinople — a city that surely needs no introduction! If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting for? Mostly B's: New York — while lacking the imposing history of a city such as Constantinople, New York can instead boast of how modern it is by comparison! Mostly C's: Alexandria — a city rich in culture and steeped in history. Although the Great Library and lighthouse no longer stand, there is still plenty to see there. Mostly D's: Hamburg — a much shorter voyage than those mentioned above but a nonetheless enjoyable one if you're traveling in style. |
March 29, 2021 – 1:31 AM
New Men On The Market: Who's Looking for a Wife in 1891? | |
As the season rapidly approaches, old and new debutantes around Britain are scattering to brush up on their knowledge of society’s most eligible, with names such as Fitzroy Prewett, Jacob Farly, and Enoch Rosier common findings on the lists curated by daughters and their mothers. As a new batch of young graduates debut into society, it is important to remember that there are gentlemen who are deciding that this season will be one spent seeking a woman to make their bride. While it is impossible to know the inner most thoughts of these gentlemen, we have reasons to believe that the men on this list will soon be seeking a wife! Cassius Lestrange. The newly-appointed captain and seeker of the Chudley Cannons is a tad on the young side compared to most of the men on this list, but no doubt possesses the means required to support a wife. Mr. Lestrange’s elder brother married their cousin last summer, and with few other age-appropriate cousins it is likely that he will seek a bride from outside the family. Mr. Lestrange, apart from his quidditch career, is known to be less enthusiastic at social events, but we anticipate that will change during the upcoming season. Any debutante wishing to forge advantageous social connections should not let Mr. Lestrange’s aloofness dissuade them from pursuing his attentions; as a former Ravenclaw, we would not be surprised that Mr. Lestrange is a secret academic with a love of intellectual conversation! Savino Zabini Although our English-born readers might be less familiar with this branch of the family, the Italian-born Zabinis recently relocated to England for family business, bringing with them a perfectly eligible bachelor in the form of Mr. Savino Zabini. Twenty-five and possessing a handsome enough face to charm even an old widow, Mr. Zabini works for his grandfather’s company—and even more interestingly, is said to be seer. Ladies seeking his company should have a strong knowledge of their own birth chart, if not his; and if he believes the stars do not align in your favor, there is nothing to do but accept that you will never be his wife. Mr. Savino Zabini |
Leonid Fisk The middle brother of the obscenely large Fisk family, Mr. Leonid Fisk is the perfect husband for a woman who desires to be a part of a large family. Although two of his elder brothers have yet to be married, there is little reason to believe Mr. Fisk would wait; nearly thirty-years-old and with and with a dangerous job, it would not be unreasonable that Mr. Fisk might wish to marry simply to avoid the fate of his elder brother Mr. Julian Fisk, who lost a leg while on a curse-breaking expedition and has not since shown any inclination to matrimony. His family aside, Mr. Fisk is a former Hufflepuff, and is said to still embody the traits associated with the house. Loyal, kind, and something of an idealist, any woman looking to become his wife should not worry about his eyes wandering far from her. Mr. Frederick Prewett Mr. Frederick Prewett While society focuses heavily on the elder Prewett brothers, it would be unwise to forget the youngest! Mr. Frederick Prewett is twenty-seven years old and has a home of his own in Wellingtonshire—and if that is not an indication of being ready for matrimony, we don’t know what is! He works at the Ministry, though recently transferred to the Apparition Test Centre from the Improper Use of Magic Office. Mr. Prewett, also a former Hufflepuff, is said to possess a boyish charm and a good heart—although one still might question how he got himself roped into the illegal came of Creothceann that saw him imprisoned for a fortnight in 1884! Fortitude Greengrss Mr. Greengrass and his family recently left their mourning period after losing their father in late 1890, which made the twenty-four-year-old eldest son the patriarch of his family. The Greengrasses are an old family, and despite their modest accommodations it would be unwise for an up-and-coming debutante to discount Mr. Greengrass’ potential as their future husband. With one of the oddest jobs in the Ministry—an employee of the Spirit Division—there is no doubt that Mr. Greengrass would make an excellent conversational partner, likely with ghastly tales of uncooperative ghouls and angry ghosts. And if somehow that doesn’t interest you, we have reason to believe he possesses the secret to keeping his curls so soft and bouncy—they are lovely, aren’t they? |
March 29, 2021 – 1:32 AM
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