THE MAN IN LOWER TEN
by Mary Roberts Rhinehart
c. 1909
Lawrence Blakely was a lawyer in Washington, DC, traveling by train to Pittsburgh to obtain a deposition from an ill client. For the return trip, he booked a sleeping berth in the seventh car: Lower Ten. When he went to that berth to go to sleep, he found it occupied by someone, and therefore, at the porter's suggestion, took Lower Nine. During the trip, the man in lower ten was murdered. The murder was discovered when Lawrence reported to the porter that his valise and clothing were stolen, and he quickly became a suspect in the murder. Heading into the next station, the train crashed, killing most occupants. Lawrence escaped the crash, along with a young girl who turned out to be the granddaughter of his client. Of course, the story takes a few twists and turns before reaching its conclusion.
Again, the hidden notes about life in 1909 are very interesting. The train trip from DC to Pittsburgh must have been 12 to 14 hours long, whereas I'm certain I could drive it in 6 to 7 hours today. Pittsburgh is described as shrouded in smoke, and it wouldn't be the same without the smoke. Electricity still doesn't seem to run 24/7; instead, the book refers to oil lamps at night. And amusingly (and today, illegally), Lawrence was very upset about losing his valise, because it was made from the hide of an alligator which he had shot himself in Florida.
This was another excellent book, and since it's available for free, you ought to try it!
The top is a "cotton leopard burnout"; the second is a cotton voile, and the bottom is a cotton with velvet flowers. I think I'd like to play with the red and white floral first; maybe it will be inspiration for this weekend!
Happy Weekending, everyone!
10 comments:
Pretty fabrics... I esp like that bottom one!
I am loving your recommendations, each and everyone. You have great taste. Just downloaded this one Thanks.
Love the fabrics. I hope in the next couple of months I will have a room where I can set up my sewing machine, get to work and not to have to put everything away all the time!!
Have a great weekend. Diane
Free on Kindle!! My favorite three words.
Pink leopard!
You've gotten me all into these books where we see the turn of the last century through the eyes of those who were there, rather than stories told in retrospect, i.e., through a modern lens. It's rich.
By the way, for the un-kindled, you can get free books online at project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1869/1869-h/1869-h.htm#2HCH0001
Off to download the book.
Love the fabric selections too. I have a cream and raspberry skirt very similar to the middle fabric.
Oh, I really like that bottom piece of fabric. Looks quite regal. Sewing today here at our house!
Thorsday Book Review (on Friday) me visiting on Saturday...
Sounds like a good book Marjie. I always enjoy when you can relate with the environment of a book as much as its characters.
I can actually envision you in that fabric which of note for me since I am so not a sewer, lol...
Thanks for sharing...
The painting inspired the mermaid story. :) It's weird--I hate illustrating my writing but write stories off my paintings. But once I've written it, I can't paint it.
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