Frozen Charlotte

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Susan
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Frozen Charlotte

Post by Susan »

With the winter months upon and a chill is in the air, the holidays are fast approaching. And with it comes the parties of the season. I've been to one early holiday party, a toy drive for children, and noticed something interesting. Despite the cool weather at night, most of the young women wear these little slips of nothing dresses and barely wear a wrap or something over it when they arrived at the house! It brought to mind a poem I had read years ago of a foolhardy young lady that didn't dress appropriately for the cold weather with dire results.


As the legend goes, Seba Smith, a humorist and journalist, saw a small article in the New York Observer on February 8, 1840. The article read, "A young woman, whose name is given Miss ------, was frozen to death while riding twenty miles to a ball on the eve of January 1, 1840." Smith was taken with the story and penned the popular poem "Fair Chalotte". Later, the poem was picked up and set to music by William Lorenzo Carter. It is known by different names; Fair Charlotte, Young Charlotte, or the more popular Frozen Charlotte. And sometimes the words are changed, but, this version seems to be the standard:

Young Charlotte (Frozen Charlotte)
Now, Charlotte lived on the mountainside,
In a bleak and dreary spot;
There was no house for miles around,
Except her father's cot.
And yet on many a wintry night,
Young swains were gathered there;
For her father kept a social board,
And she was very fair.

One New Year's Eve as the sun went down,
Far looked her wishful eye
Out from the frosty window pane
As merry sleighs went by.

In a village fifteen miles away,
Was to be a ball that night;
And though the air was heavy and cold,
Her heart was warm and light.

How brightly beamed her laughing eye,
As a well-known voice was heard;
And driving up to the cottage door,
Her lover's sleigh appeared.

"O, daughter dear," her mother cried,
"This blanket 'round you fold;
It is a dreadful night tonight,
You'll catch your death of cold."

"O, nay! O, nay!" young Charlotte cried,
And she laughed like a gypsy queen;
"To ride in blankets muffled up,
I never would be seen.

"My silken cloak is quite enough,
You know 'tis lined throughout;
Besides I have my silken scarf,
To twine my neck about."

Her bonnet and her gloves were on,
She stepped into the sleigh;
Rode swiftly down the mountain side,
And o'er the hills away.

With muffled face and silent lips,
Five miles at length were passed;
When Charles with few and shivering words,
The silence broke at last.

"Such a dreadful night I never saw,
The reins I scarce can hold."
Fair Charlotte shivering faintly said,
"I am exceeding cold."

He cracked his whip, he urged his steed
Much faster than before;
And thus five other dreary miles
In silence were passed o'er.

Said Charles, "How fast the shivering ice
Is gathering on my brow."
And Charlotte still more faintly said,
"I'm growing warmer now."

So on they rode through frosty air
And glittering cold starlight,
Until at last the village lamps
And the ballroom came in sight.

They reached the door and Charles sprang out,
He reached his hand for her;
She sat there like a monument,
That has no power to stir.

He called her once, he called her twice,
She answered not a word;
He asked her for her hand again,
And still she never stirred.

He took her hand in his - O, God!
'Twas cold and hard as stone;
He tore the mantle from her face,
Cold stars upon it shone.

Then quickly to the glowing hall,
Her lifeless form he bore;
Fair Charlotte's eyes were closed in death,
Her voice was heard no more.

And there he sat down by her side,
While bitter tears did flow;
And cried, "My own, my charming bride,
You never more will know."

He twined his arms around her neck,
He kissed her marble brow;
His thoughts flew back to where she said,
"I'm growing warmer now."

He carried her back to the sleigh,
And with her he rode home;
And when he reached the cottage door,
O, how her parents mourned.

Her parents mourned for many a year,
And Charles wept in the gloom;
Till at last her lover died of grief,
And they both lie in one tomb.


At that time up until the 1920s, there was a small type of china doll that was alleged to have taken its name from the poem. You might call her the Ultimate Victorian Inaction Figure as a Frozen Charlotte doll was molded all in one piece, no moving parts. These dolls ranged in height from 1" to 4 1/2" and were priced starting at one cent for the smaller versions. I imagine Lizzie and Emma both played with Frozen Charlotte as she had quite a long life span. Here a few examples of the dolls:

Image
3" Frozen Charlotte circa 1850

Image
circa 1860

You can even order a reproduction Frozen Charlotte that was molded from a doll recovered from the 1856 steamboat Arabia wreck on the Missouri river. Here is the link:
http://www.shop.jnpa.com/Prod-157-1-22/ ... e-Doll.htm

And if you have a taste for the macabre, Mezco, the company that brought us the Living Dead Lizzie doll has their version of Frozen Charlotte.

Image

And last, but not least, we have Charlotte Russe, or Frozen Charlotte dessert:

To make a Frozen Charlotte dessert, line the sides and bottom of a springform cake pan (or other tin mold) with (24) ladyfingers. Soften a teaspoon and a half of unflavored gelatin in a little water. Whip 2 cups of heavy cream until stiff. Put the softened gelatin and 1/2 to 3/4 cup of sugar in a heavy pan and heat carefully until sugar dissolves. Flavor the whipped cream with vanilla or a couple spoonfuls of sherry or rum, then add gelatin mix slowly to cream while continuing to whip with a beater. Fill the lined pan with the cream mixture.
Freeze for several hours until set or overnight. Unmold and thaw slightly if very frozen. Serve with chopped nuts, more whipped cream, cherries, hot fudge sauce or fresh strawberries.

There is also a recipe online for Frozen Charlotte Glacé from the Fannie Farmer cookbook:

http://www.bartleby.com/87/r1421.html


Images from Ohiokids.org, hattonsgallery.com, shopwiki.co.uk
recipe from Imaginemaine.com
“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.”-Margaret Cho comedienne
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Harry
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Post by Harry »

Thanks Susan, hadn't heard of her story before. It's amazing what some people will try for vanity's sake.

On a side note, the title of your post "Frozen Charlotte" threw me. I have to take my kitty to Charlotte, N.C. Thursday and I thought a storm had suddenly blanketed the city. Whew!
I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world
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Post by william »

SAFE JOURNEY FOR YOU AND YOUR KITTY, HARRY!
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Harry
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Post by Harry »

Thank you, Bill, I appreciate it.

Didn't mean to divert the subject of Susan's post as it is an interesting one.
I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world
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Stefani
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Post by Stefani »

Susan, GREAT STORY! It would have made an excellent article for The Hatchet! :grin:
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Post by SallyG »

As a collector of antique dolls, I am familiar with Frozen Charlotte and the poem. Although I've never added any to my collection, they are charming little dolls, and I can imagine 1800's era children being captivated by them.
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Post by Stefani »

Maybe this is the spark for the Living Dead Dolls. Just a thought!
Read Mondo Lizzie!
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Post by Kat »

Thank you for the entertaining story, Susan!
And all the lyrics, recipes, pictures and links!
You know that would have made a nice confection for The Hatchet! Cool!
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Susan
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Post by Susan »

Thanks, gang! I thought I would do something creative as I recently have time on my hands; I just joined the ranks of the unemployed. I'm trying to keep upbeat about it and keep myself busy with things so as not to go crazy.

It amazes me at how maudlin the Victorians were, they seem to revel in these types of poems and songs and stories. Perhaps with Frozen Charlotte it is the moral of the story about vanity, and listening to your parents when they tell you to do something? If you liked Frozen Charlotte, you might enjoy another of Smith's poems that was set to music, its in the same vein. Its called The Snow Storm, you can visit this site and read the poem and also hear the song and music.

http://www.iath.virginia.edu/utc/sentim ... tormf.html
“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.”-Margaret Cho comedienne
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Post by Kat »

Uh boy! Not you! They worked you to distraction for a year and then laid you off!?<<<GROWL>>>>Image

So sorry that happened, Susan! You're worth more than that!
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Susan
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Post by Susan »

Thank you, Kat. Its just the economy, no work coming in, my boss and I tried our darndest. We spoke with past clients, visited some that had even a small chance that they might need us, etc. We had to shut down. My poor boss, Brenda, even asked me, which I had no answer for was whether she, as a small business owner, was eligible for unemployment? Shes chosing to look at this as a setback, but, from what I've read, things will get even worse long before things get better. She seems to think that she will be able to have me come back to work in January, but, I'm not holding my breath. Maybe its a blessing in disguise and I'll find something new that won't take so much time and energy. :grin:
“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.”-Margaret Cho comedienne
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Post by Harry »

I'm sorry to hear that, Susan. Don't let it ruin your Christmas. You are too bright and creative to be out of work for long. Will be rootin' for you.
I know I ask perfection of a quite imperfect world
And fool enough to think that's what I'll find
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Susan
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Post by Susan »

Thank you, Harry. You're very sweet to say, its so nice to know that there are so many wonderful people on this Forum. :grin:
“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever.”-Margaret Cho comedienne
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Post by Kat »

It's nice to have you back with more time on your hands! But not like this... Eeek!

Yes we're rooting for you!Image
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