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Although few local Janeites took up the challenge of writing a limerick based upon an Austen book or character, the entries received could definitely be described as "something very entertaining." None could be described, in the words of Miss Bates, as "very dull indeed." In order to avoid favoritism, we decided to submit the entries, identified only by number, to an impartial judge, who looked for witty content, dexterity of meter and rhyme, and a good punch-line. To borrow a phrase from Jane Austen, a limerick should be "light, and bright, and sparkling." The judge's comments are appended to each limerick in italics.George Wickham, a rascal most scurvy, Turned Northamptonshire quite topsy-turvy. He ogled Miss King-- But offered no ring. "An heiress--but spots! And not curvy." much of the plot into five lines and makes good use of Lydia's description of Miss King, with a bit of embellishment well matched to Lydia's coarseness.
Here are the remaining limericks — Great Fun!
An awareness Miss Morland found puzzlin'. But he rode hell-for-leather, So they'd be always together, Reading novels, perused by the dozlin. --Judith Judson Those of us who tried in vain to produce a few amusing lines should be comforted by the thought that Jane Austen herself was a poor writer of humorous verse, her mother being far superior in this respect. HERE IS OUR RECENT CHAPTER HISTORY TO REVIEWCELEBRATE JANE! We celebrated not only Jane Austen's birthday but the 25th anniversary of the founding of the DC Chapter of JASNA. The Brunch: A varied and sumptuous buffet brunch with unlimited champagne was enjoyed by more than 75 DC Janeites!. The Presentation: Laughter and Liberty in Pride and Prejudice. Dr. Lorraine (Lorrie) Clark gave a light-hearted and insightful examination of laughter in Pride and Prejudice and the characters' attitudes about the permissibility of laughter. Passages from the novel and video clips from adaptations enlivened the presentation. Tudor Place Tour and Picnic |
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Wonderful program for the birthday event. Our speaker was Linda Slothouber. Her topic: "Elegance and Simplicity: Wedgwood on Jane's Table and in her Novels" Linda is a member of the Wedgwood Society of Washington DC and a collector of Wedgwood and other early English ceramics. She studied literature at the University of Virginia. And she is a JASNA member.
The year 1775 saw the birth of two English treasures: Jane Austen, and the typically blue-and-white ceramic known as Wedgwood jasperware. By the time Jane came on the scene, Josiah Wedgwood was already famous, having produced dinnerware for the tables of two queens and revolutionized the business of pottery-making. Linda Slothouber will explain how Wedgwood shaped the world in which Jane lived. This presentation will identify the Wedgwood products Jane would have known and discuss references to Wedgwood in Jane's novels and letters. Linda will display examples of early Wedgwood from her collection.
Our program addressed the five things a Jane Austen heroine (or hero) needs to know as discussed by our speaker: Margaret C. Sullivan. Margaret is the author of The Jane Austen Handbook: A Sensible Yet Elegant Guide to Her World and the Editrix of AustenBlog.com. She is a life member of JASNA and serves as webmaster for the Eastern Pennsylvania Region.
"Have you ever wondered how Jane Austen's heroines knew how to do those intricate dances? Who ran those big houses with all those servants? How they put together their elaborate outfits? Or how they traveled from country house to London before planes, trains and automobiles?"
Jane Austen wrote for an audience of her contemporaries who knew all these things, so she did not go into much detail, but 21st century readers need a little help. We learned details of how the heroines (and heroes) of Jane Austen's novels functioned in their everyday lives, and enhanced our understanding of their motivations and actions. It was a most learned and enjoyable meeting."Mistress Rosalie Calvert" welcomed more than 30 DC Janeites to Riversdale House Museum on a lovely May day for an afternoon program of educational and entertaining Regency-era demonstrations, concluding with a delicious tea.
Riversdale House, a National Historic Landmark stucco-covered brick plantation home, was built between 1801 and 1807. It was begun by Henri Stier, a Flemish aristocrat, and completed by his daughter Rosalie and her husband George Calvert, grandson of the fifth Lord Baltimore.
The Federal style mansion has particularly fine interior decorative detail. Restoration of Riversdale House is a work in progress. Several rooms are ready for interpretation; others are in the process of being restored to their late-eighteenth century stateliness.
JASNA President Joan K. Ray repeated her charming Milwaukee AGM slide lecture The Woman Who Came to Dinner: Jane Austen and Country Homes in Visits and Letters.
We also enjoyed a buffet with a large variety of absolutely tasty offerings and unlimited visits to replenish your favorite selections.
We were royally entertained by Sarah Emsley, who teaches "Jane Austen and the Idea of Civil Society" at Harvard University. She discussed the Uncharitable Jane Austen. as exemplified in Persuasion by Mrs Musgrove's "large fat sighings over the destiny of a son, whom alive no one had cared for."
Sarah's talk was based on a chapter from her forthcoming book Jane Austen's Philosophy of the Virtues. Her talk drew questions and comments from her rapt audience.
We are pleased also to report that the Sunday Brunch provided by the Army/Navy Country Club was excellent.
Did you know that a chance encounter at the 1984 AGM in St. Louis led to the formation of JASNA-DC? We celebrated our first Jane Austen birthday that December 16th with eight Janeites in attendance. From there we have progressed to our current membership of some 225.
In 1989 we began publishing our newsletter, The Austen Scribbler. We hosted the 1990 AGM with the theme of Sense and Sensibility and it was a huge success. We presented two performances at the AGM of the musical Elinor and Marianne by JASNA-DC member the late Paula Schwartz and Neil Moyer. Our most popular break-out session was led by Washington Post journalist the late Mary McGrory.
From the successful 1990 AGM we were able to contribute substantial funds to restoring and maintaining several of our Austen interests in England, including Chawton Cottage. We have continued our relationship with Chawton Cottage and in recent years have sent $5,000 to maintain and conserve Jane Austen's music books there.
Our 2004 20th anniversary celebration on December 11th was another great success; every seat was taken in the Embassy Suites Hotel Ballroom! JASNA President Joan Ray, our guest speaker, entertained with an illustrated talk on the several facets (irony, satire, etc.) of Jane and her novels. And Joan always made us gasp and chuckle knowingly when she flashed the picture of Fitzwilliam Darcy (Colin Firth) on the screen — and she did this often!
We were a full house of Janeites gathered together to reminisce about Paula. Many of us shared our memories. We especially appreciated Paula's neighbor who, at 95 years of age, knew Paula the longest and loved her the best.
We enjoyed selections of the music she wrote with Neil Moyer for Elinor and Marianne and An Accident at Lyme. Neil was also with us to help us relive our enjoyment of Paula's work.We celebrated Jane Austen's 228th birthday with luncheon and a slide presentation on the 2003 AGM in England.
Several of our chapter members traveled to Winchester and Chawton for the 25th anniversary meeting of JASNA. We enjoyed a well presented slide show of this wonderful weekend. Highlights of the weekend included an Evensong Service in Winchester Cathedral commemorating Jane Austen. The service was attended by Princess Alexandra, who appeared regal in the photograph. The day in Chawton included a tour of Jane Austen's house as well as Chawton House Library.
A report on our chapter project, restoring Jane's music manuscripts, was also be given. Our coordinator, wearing white cotton gloves, was allowed to hold the actual music that Jane played on her piano forte so many years ago!
We joined together (nearly 60 Janeites) at the Army/Navy Country Club in Arlington for another exciting session with "old" friends and "new" friends to enjoy learning more about our favorite author.
The sales table opened at 11:30 a.m. and there was another edition of Joan's famous raffle! Our menu featured either salmon or quiche; almost everyone took salmon.
Our program was a video about The Real Jane Austen. narrated by Anna Chancellor, Miss Bingley in the A&E version of Pride and Prejudice. While the audio was "so-so" at best we enjoyed learning about the everyday life of Jane and her family.
We had another full house for the meeting at the Embassy Suites Hotel. We had a marvelous time reviewing and remembering the Toronto AGM. Everyone who attended Paula's breakout session on Heathcliffe versus Darcy was still singing her praises!
Our speaker, Ann Morrissey, presented us with thirty titles on What to Read When You've Read All of Jane Austen. There were many more women than men authors. She covered Ann Radcliffe, Elizabeth Gaskell, Edith Wharton, Barbara Pym, Charlotte Bronte, John LaCarre and Rachel Brownstein among many others. Of course, some of us who believe the bumper sticker "I'd rather be reading Jane Austen" would just switch to another of her six and go on reading Austen!
Our luncheon choices, chicken or pasta, were excellent. Our thanks to the JASNA-DC Committee, chaired by Betty, for a fine Happy Birthday Jane Day.
"Lady Catherine will not think the worse of you for being simply dressed. She likes to have the distinction of rank preserved."
Mr. Collins — Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 29
"Mr. Gardiner was a sensible, gentlemanlike man, greatly superior to his sister as well as by nature as education. The Netherfield ladies would have had difficulty in believing that a man who lived by trade, and within view of his own warehouses, could have been so well bred and agreeable."
Pride and Prejudics, Chapter 25
We returned to the Army/Navy Country Club, Arlington, to enjoy a humorous talk by Professor William Kemp, Mary Washington College, who shared his thoughts on the British class structure during the Regency period — "a confusing situation with middling people (like the Austen family) moving about the boundary between commoners and the gentility." He also discussed the Regency class ambiguity in Jane Austen's novels.
On a rainy Saturday last December, we were welcomed by the warm and cheery Army Navy Country Club in Arlington and had a most enjoyable luncheon with our usual "Toast to Jane" in anticipation of her birthday. We also made our bids in the successful silent auction and essentially cleared the auction table of sale items.
Paula Schwartz's lecture on Novels and Sundries: The Libraries Where Jane Austen Borrowed Her Books was a hilarious success. Her presentation led to a spirited discussion period about literary trash and who wrote it in the past and who is writing it now.
News: Our silent auction was a success! We sent some $1,500 to Chawton Cottage to help restore Jane Austen's sheet music. Thanks to all who donated items and to all who bought items.
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