I can't resist a hat

Biana Duhamel was a singer and actress. She was seduced by the Baron de l'Espée, who built her a villa which was little more than a gilded cage to keep her in at his disposal. She left him.

The Rolling Bridge, Saint-Malo

 

 This “Bridge” has always fascinated me. It was pulled by chains along the sea bed on what looks like very fragile legs. I wouldn’t like to have been on it on a stormy day. Here the tide is out so that you can see the entire workings of the bridge which connected Saint-Malo to Saint-Servin from 1873 until 1922. The bridge was closed after being hit by the Norwegian ship, Brawn.

Reminds me of the inventions of W. Heath Robinson

Women at work

Looking at the quality of this postcard, I would say that these women were at work between the wars. Their job was to sort the coal. Can you imagine how dangerous working in a coal mine would have been wearing long dresses or skirts?

Easter and April 1st

It seems that in 1907 Easter and April 1st fell together, hence the fish and the egg.  Happy Easter and I hope that you don't get caught out tomorrow on April Fool's Day.

The Decline

Le Déclin was sculpted by Léopold Steiner around 1895. It was placed overlooking the Père Lechaise cemetery.

I’m afraid that this beautiful, but sad statue seems to have come to a sad end. The detective work has been done here.

Anyone for Ice-cream?

It’s comforting to know that even 100 years ago you could find some refreshment on a hot day. The enlargement shows the word ‘Sorbets’ on the side of the motorized carriage.

Yellow Roses

I looked up the meaning of yellow roses on Wikipedia and they seem to represent a lot of negative emotions: jealousy, infidelity, a broken heart, dying love and extreme betrayal. These roses were sent in 1902. The correspondence is full of news and finishes with affectionate kisses but is not signed.