Welcome Guest Author Penny Zeller

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Howdy, y’all!

Penny here.

I am so honored to be a guest again on Petticoats & Pistols. This time, I’m taking us on a “look” into the past regarding eyeglasses.

In my book Love on the Horizon, our hero, hunky farmer Timothy Shepherdson, discovers he needs spectacles—ones far better than those he purchased from a traveling peddler that only seem to blur things even more.

I researched spectacles in the late 1800s and discovered eyeglasses were not seen as a positive. Instead, for men, especially, they indicated one was elderly or frail. I expounded on that for Timothy, a handsome young farmer in his twenties who did all he could to avoid wearing his new Brazilian pebble spectacles.

Eyeglasses, just as today, were pricey. Today, we can expect to pay $200-$500 per pair. In the late 1800s, fourteen-karat gold eyeglasses ranged from $4.50 to $8 per pair. Timothy, as a poor farmer, could not afford such an extravagance. Thankfully, he was offered a pair of Brazilian pebble glasses for $2.50.

Lorgnette glasses were popular, especially for women. These include a handle to be held to the face with one hand. Because they were not “fixed” on your nose with handles wrapped around your ears, they could be discarded at any time. Would Timothy want such a pair?

Miss Tudor’s titter echoed in the small room. “Oh, Father, you know a man such as Timothy Shepherdson would not cotton to a pair of lorgnettes.”

Timothy had no idea what the doctor was talking about. “I’m afraid I’m unfamiliar with that type.”

Dr. Tudor, who had joined his daughter in her amusement, temporarily sobered. “You may be aware of opera glasses.”

“I’m afraid I’ve never been to an opera.”

“Lorgnette spectacles possess a handle, and you hold them up to your face.”

Timothy could do nothing to hide his shock. He tugged on his collar, wishing it were looser around his neck. “My apologies, sir, but that will never do. I work long hours on my farm, and I need both of my arms.”

I found an interesting article regarding proper etiquette at a horse show from 1897. It mentioned that lorgnettes were available with a special design for the show, a design that included a “long silver handle formed of a miniature whip”. According to the article, “This lorgnette will be all the vogue at the Horse Show.” It’s priced at $7.50.

Traveling opticians were popular in those days. However, through my research, it seemed that these doctors felt the need to clarify that they were not fly-by-night snake oil salesmen who would sell you an expensive pair of eyewear, then disappear the next day, never to be seen again. Timothy had already been down that route with the unscrupulous peddler.

I found it interesting in an advertisement from 1894 that it must have been important for potential patients to know the optician’s age, as it is referenced that Professor Arnold is 59.

I’m super excited about the release of Love on the Horizon on October 28.

When Magnolia Davenport finally sets foot in the small town filled with friendly people and a slightly aggravating, but kind and handsome man who needs spectacles, will she find the new beginning her heart craves? I invite you to take a trip to Horizon, Idaho, in this tender romance that reminds us that God is the Author of new beginnings.

Go here to snag your copy of Love on the Horizon.

I’m giving one lucky winner their choice of a paperback or ebook of Love on the Horizon. (Limited to U.S. residents only). In Love on the Horizon, Magnolia, whose dream it has always been to open her own bakery, realizes that dream when she moves to Horizon.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment in answer to this question: if you were living in the 1800s, what would be your profession?

Thank you for joining me today.

As a special gift, be sure to snag An Unexpected Arrival, a Wyoming Sunrise novelette, for free by going here.

 

Penny Zeller is known for her heartfelt stories of faith-filled happily ever afters. Her books feature tender romance, steady doses of humor, and memorable characters that stay with you long after the last page. She is a multi-published author of over three dozen books and is also a fitness instructor, loves the outdoors, and is a flower gardening addict. Penny resides with her husband and two daughters in small-town America and loves to connect with her readers at her website at http://www.pennyzeller.com

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70 thoughts on “Welcome Guest Author Penny Zeller”

  1. Based on my hobbies and career today, I probably would’ve been a teacher (women used their sewing, knitting, crocheting and such skills as part of their houswife duties) or a married mom at home.

    Thanks for running the giveaway; print books are the absolute best gifts.

    • Hello, Mary! I have always admired those who could sew, knit, and crochet.

      You are so welcome regarding the giveaway. I agree, print books are wonderful as there is nothing quite like holding your latest read in your hands and getting some “therapy” from the smell of a new book. 🙂

  4. I would work in a mercantile, bakery, or restaurant. If I were married, I would probably be busy at home and not have time to work somewhere else.

  5. I would be a writer…some things don’t change, but I would’ve done it in secret while I was a housewife and mother. I’d have sent my stories and maybe newspaper articles or editorials with a man’s name or my initials because I’m a woman and no publisher or newspaper would’ve taken me seriously.

  7. Probably a sewist or a rancher’s wife.

    My eye doctor had an antique cabinet full of lenses and antique glasses on display in his office.

    • Oh, wow, Denise. That would have been something to see all of those antique glasses—and what a neat thing for an eye doctor to include at their practice! We recently visited a museum, and they allowed us to pick up and inspect the spectacles. Such cool pieces of history!

  8. I always wanted to be a school teacher. My dream was shattered when my vision got worse. I have several issues with my eyes so this blog was very interesting. I can hear Timothy and his need but not want for glasses. Too funny.

    • Oh, Carrie. I’m so sorry about your vision. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. Ha ha, yes, Timothy was quite stubborn (and a bit prideful, too). It didn’t help that his brother, who is a pastor, did a sermon series on pride, lol.

  9. Welcome Penny! I’ve enjoyed your books! I’m thinking I would have been on a farm doing it all. Gardening, taking care of the animals, sewing(making quilts, clothes, etc). I can’t see me in a town/city anywhere since my family came from south GA and north FL. No where near what I did as a career today! Although I grew up on a farm. I’ve worked as a telephone operator, worked in several positions/departments in banking, and retired 29 years from the school system. As a paraprofessional, registrar, and last position was bookkeeper. All in small towns. Penny, it’s kinda hard to know how or what would have been our careers 150 years ago. But, it is nice to wonder and imagine! Also, I have stigmatism in my right eye. Since I didn’t know the difference until 8th grade, I guess I would have been without glasses until I was older…if ever. Heh.

    Wishing you the very best! And I have Forgotten Memories in my Kindle Library now to read.

    • Hi Tracy! How interesting that you worked as a telephone operator. I bet you have some stories to tell! Thank you for adding Forgotten Memories to your Kindle library. 🙂

  10. If I were living in the 1800’s, I’d be a school teacher in a 1 room schoolhouse! I’ve always been interested in one room schoolhouses and have visited some and read about them. How interesting!

  11. Thank you for being here today. Thanks for the interesting post today. I am also one of those that could not only have glasses with a holding stick. I would need something that stayed on my face because I get pretty busy with my hands. If I lived in that time I would love to work as a seamstress/sewer or on a ranch.

  18. I always thought that being a Harvey Girl sounded interesting. My husband thinks I would have been a great southern Belle, running a plantation.

  28. Hi Penny, welcome back! We’re so happy to have you. I love your post. I’ve written only one character who wore glasses and I had the hardest time remembering to put them on her. She ran an orphanage and didn’t live in town but she was shunned because she was the hangman’s daughter. I once had to wear glasses but after I got my cataracts removed, I didn’t need anything. Although I found I have trouble reading so I’ve gotten some just for that. I tell you, I felt so free after getting my cataracts off. Your new book looks so interesting. It’s a very pretty cover.

    • Hi Linda! Loved your post about forgetting to put the glasses on the character. That gave me a good chuckle because it’s so easy to do! Thank you so much for your kind words about the cover. The designer captured Mags perfectly. 🙂

  30. I am 78 years old and my grandfather alongside his father made spectacles in late 1800s. They were wire rimmed and free of any plastics or rubber. I have a couple of pairs that he made. Most were for people as they aged although they were made to a prescription of sorts. My characters have had to rely upon their use in various books. I loved the advertisement and the age thing. Probably to seem like a real live person was behind the company.

  31. Such an interesting article. I have a pair of gold wire rimmed glasses that belonged to my grandmother. I really cherish them, not for their value, which is probably not much, but because they belonged to her.

    I think I would have been a seamstress if I had lived in the 1800s. I love to sew.

  32. I’d be a teacher if single and practical, but most likely a mother and homemaker since that is what I have done in real life. I love to do needlework such as embroidery, so if there was a possibility to do that for profession, that would be my preference.

  42. Thank you so much for the copy of An Unexpected Arrival. I enjoy mail order bride stories.
    If I were alive back in the 1800’s I would likely have been a teacher. I don’t think many areas had libraries, but that would be my other choice.

  44. I would be a school teacher. I love being surrounded by kids and teaching. I taught 44 years in churches.

  45. I would have been a scandalous one and worked with the young horses. Perhaps shoving my hair under a hat, strapped my breasts down and posed as a man of few words. That few words post would have been my downfall…?

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