tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post846440248278407450..comments2024-01-24T01:27:11.111-05:00Comments on Café Muscato: Three Notes on an Ill-Spent LifeMuscatohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-19554218704438662342013-10-23T22:50:32.253-04:002013-10-23T22:50:32.253-04:00Each of the entries you quoted has its rewards. T...Each of the entries you quoted has its rewards. The cigar bands, of course -- covertly salacious; the remark about her constancy; and the offhand "common jewels", which reminded me of a striving soubrette I worked with in years long gone who claimed she never wore "costume jewelry", saying "all my stones are real".<br /><br />What it must have been like to converse with this man . . . Piet Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-47446262688583792042013-10-23T19:59:24.138-04:002013-10-23T19:59:24.138-04:00That “matchstick” crack certainly says something a...That “matchstick” crack certainly says something about the Duke!Robertanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-77357663225127570922013-10-23T19:21:54.486-04:002013-10-23T19:21:54.486-04:00I'm so glad you caught that - a wonderful litt...I'm so glad you caught that - a wonderful little twist just thrown in there. It's the kind of offhandedly brilliant writing that informs the whole book.<br /><br />Given how much other writing Lerman did - reviews, essays, etc. - I wish there were a collection of his journalism. Probably less revealing/bitchy/funny, but doubtless good stuff of its time.Muscatohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04657061324487851341noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-1454913775499936372013-10-23T17:13:14.117-04:002013-10-23T17:13:14.117-04:00What an interesting choice of words: "surpris...What an interesting choice of words: "surprisingly constant". Mr. Lerman was certainly incisive.Piet Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-40601737698857732092013-10-23T14:56:48.233-04:002013-10-23T14:56:48.233-04:00Actually that little tidbit about the matchstick/c...Actually that little tidbit about the matchstick/cigar would confirm that rumour about the Duchess having learned her partigular skills in a Chinese brothel; she in fact spent a year or so in Shanghai, staying with rich friends; no doubt the higher-end prostitutes/hostesses would have been intrigued by her, and would certainly have shared their particular skills! I can confirm that such a skill was certainly part of any high-end Chinese courtesan's repertoire, even at that late date! .<br /><br />Sufiyanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-71811227902076204382013-10-23T09:41:06.787-04:002013-10-23T09:41:06.787-04:00oh dear. Grandmother Liggett viewed her as quite ...oh dear. Grandmother Liggett viewed her as quite the role model. Over the years she mimicked the hair, the fashion and the jewellery (mostly in costume form). We got the general attitude as well, however she DID exceed Mrs S in spouses.<br />Weston Liggetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05039774234698785555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7218985326921858943.post-39713685252172574832013-10-23T01:01:15.057-04:002013-10-23T01:01:15.057-04:00Two lives devoted to the full pursuit of the trivi...Two lives devoted to the full pursuit of the trivial. But as dear Noel observed, in the end she was a great gift to the British people, for she spared them from the reign of Edward VIII. Vera Hruba Ralstonnoreply@blogger.com