Lizzie Borden Society Forum

The proof has been approved and the new issue looks great!

You can order your copy of the latest issue of The Hatchet: A Journal of Lizzie Borden & Victorian Studies for only $14.95 plus shipping at our print on demand partner, Create Space!

Order here!
https://www.createspace.com/3368712

Here are images of the Table of Contents:

YES: Very elegant cover.

A hard copy just arrived today. There's nothing like holding and reading one right from your hand. It's sort of like meeting Cheryl Tiegs and not just seeing pictures of her on a computer screen.

Well, it's not that good.

At least I can run my fingers through a copy of the Hatchet. I'm sure Cheryl would not agree to the same.

I love your poem Ms Allen. I'm doing my old building over and reading it fits the moment right well. Nicely done kiddo.

Well, I got to go wash the axe. Now, where did I put those Band Aids?

Love that cover! Thanks for spotting that letter that we all may enjoy. Kudos! I ordered a print copy and can hardly wait for it to come.

Seeing the picture of Nance O'Neill and looking at her pictures at this thread viewtopic.php?t=3123&postdays=0&postorder=asc&&start=0
it brings to mind an old Chicago Tribune archived and undated article that I read. It was about "Bonny" Blanche Bates who said that she went to school with Nance, and that she was drawn to her artistically. She supposedly described Nance as "gaunt, pale, ethereal, and angular and silent with unfathomed and unharnessed emotions."

Providing Cheryl Tiegs still has hair, mb.

k

I invited the artist pal of mine who did the Lizzie portrait, Mark Venaglia, to lurk here a bit to see how many nice comments about the cover there have been.

I was just curious whether anyone had gotten a chance to read my piece on Eliza Fenning?

Got my hard copy and am digging in with relish.

I thought the cover was really, really good. It's something different, and it's spooky. I thought the back cover was great, too. I thought it was very fitting and, again, spooky.

I enjoyed the "Buzz", "Forum" and "Outspoken", as always. Thank you for the link to the Edmund Pearson New Yorker article. I'll go there!

I loved the Nance O'Neil article by Kash! I thought it was an excellent article that was well-written and polished well. I didn't know Nance had a sister! I wonder what she died of at such a young age. The photos were fabulous! There were lots of tidbits in it that I had never heard before, and what a source found in Marie Cruzzetti-Lintz.

I read the whole article almost at one sitting. I thought the research was very well done. I liked how the article used peoples' quotes - and critics' quotes. It really brought a good picture to me how she appeared on stage.

BTW Kash, I read the first half of your fictional piece in the last "Literary Hatchet". I thought it was brilliant. I hope to read the other half maybe today. I thought it was a really beautifully written piece.

I so enjoyed Stefani's article on her new Lizzie note find. It was thrilling (to me anyway). It's amazing how you find new stuff. Congratulations on this fabulous find. Were it not for you, it could have remained in the museum without it being brought to light for Bordenites to enjoy. There are so few notes of hers. I do wonder where the museum got it?

I was very interested in how Stef pulled the Tilden-Thurber incident in to the repair of this "porceline" piece. Veddy interesting ... I hadn't thought of that until Stef brought it up in her article. It seems that it would be almost too coincidental if it were not the same one. But the papers wrote, in regard to Tilden-Thurber, that someone brought the porcelain in to Tilden-Thurber to be repaired. Then again, the articles on the T-T incident were frustratingly different from one another. Good thinking, tho, on an interesting possibility.

I thought Aurora Lewis's poem, "Jack", was nice - and fitting to 'The Hatchet'.

Allen, I look forward to reading your article - and your poem. I was happy to see you had contributed to the issue. I'm also looking forward to reading Denise Noe's article on the FR Police Department. I think it's an excellent topic. And David Marshall James has a story in this issue. I've loved all his stories, and I'm anxious to read this one, that I have a feeling just from the author's name will be good. Thank you Stef for putting such a stellar issue together.

I really enjoyed the "Cover Story" by Mark Venaglia. I think it's a different kind of article for 'The Hatchet' (I could have missed others on art). To read from the artist what the painting symbolized was wonderful.

I like the fact that he's a "green" artist.

I went to his website, and it's lovely. (Of course the pansies got me ...) I loved his work. I don't know much about art, other than I know if I like something or not. His lively use of color and his ability to make the faces of living things so lifelike I thought was impressive. He seems to take his subjects a step further than just a painting. I notice a difference in his work that stands out from many others.

Aww ... I can imagine what he would do with a portrait of my dog.

Thank you, Mark, for sharing your work and words with us. I hope others will visit your website to see the beautiful pieces you've done.

I was swept away by Michael Brimbau's poem on page 40: "The Enemy's Love". I think he pours his heart and soul into his poetry - the subjects good ones and his words well-chosen. I hope never to see a copy of 'The Hatchet' that doesn't have at least one of his poems in it.

"Mourn for the Living" by A.L. Bixby on page 41 I thought was great. For some reason it sounds a little familiar. I thought it was a very beautiful poem. I really enjoy his poems in 'The Hatchet', maybe most of all. I hope his poems continue to be in 'The Hatchet'.


I was thrilled to see an article about "Parallel Lives" by Stef (page 42). Of course I was looking for clews about the contents of the book. And she does tell us the approximate length of the book. But most interesting was her description of her task as creator of its index. It's probably a complicated subject, but as with her lectures, she writes/talks to the reader in an easy to understand way. I seriously doubt that anyone will have any trouble with the index she is creating. Hats off to the curators of the FRHS for choosing her for the job.

I liked Melissa Allen's "The Proof is in the Dumplings" on page 46. What a catchy title . I had not heard of this crime before. The topic itself was engaging. The writer made it all the more so.

The only thing that I might have done differently would have been to let the reader know earlier where it occurred. I kept waiting for it and was surprised to finally read it took place in England. It didn't take anything away from the story, tho.

The information given about Mr. Turner as a suspect was good stuff. It was horrible to learn this was overlooked. Tho there were some reasons why the accused was named, I don't think it was fair for Mr. Turner's possible part in this crime to just be neglected.

I tend to believe that Eliza didn't do it. There were some very good reasons given that make me lean toward her innocence. I don't think her motive was strong enough to make a person do it.

Thank you, Melissa, for a most interesting case and another mystery.

"An Interview with the Writer of Lizzie" (page 53) I thought was interesting and different. That picture on page 52 was scary. The "facts that were recently divulged to Mr. Dunn" drives me crazy. First secrets to be told in "Parallel Lives" - now something in this movie. I gotta see it.

I've always liked Gary Busey and look forward to seeing the role he plays. I hope it premieres in Fall River and hope I get the chance to see it.

I read "Mesdemoiselles of French Street in 'Nance, Perchance'" by David Marshall James (page 63) and so enjoyed it. It was hilarious in part, creative, and really well written. I liked the character of the waitress. I think the character of Nance was, in my mind, possibly close to how she really was. At least, I could picture it as a possibility. Very entertaining!

I liked Melissa Allen's poem on page 69, "Memorial", very much. Has this been published before? It sounds familiar. I am happy to see Melissa back in The Hatchet again.

Thank you augusta, I'm happy that you found the case as interesting as I did. I thought it was pretty fascinating stuff. Although, I guess I got a little too wrapped up in the when and how, and maybe took a little too long getting to the where. Sorry about that. I'm also leaning towards Eliza's innocence.

I read Denise Noe's Lizzie Whittlings, "The Story of the Fall River Police Department", with interest. I thought it was a good overview of the subject. I thought it could have been more detailed but then how long would the article run? I was happy to see the subject appear in "The Hatchet".

I thought Kat's poem, "Smoke", on page 79, was very good, tho I didn't understand some of it (my fault, not hers). I think it was deeper than I have understanding of poetry for.

Hi, Melissa! It was so good to see you in "The Hatchet" again. Yes, the case you wrote about was so interesting. You're good at finding good stuff. I thought you wrote it extremely well. Well, when I did get to the part that said it took place in London, I was real surprised It didn't hurt the article any. And it obviously passed muster since it wasn't changed by Stef. Just my own opinion. Please do keep your articles and poetry coming. Both are so enjoyable.

Loved the cover and the story -- great work, Mark Venaglia. I would love to see the actual rendition, especially to view those eyes.

I really liked the article about Nance by Katleen Carbone, and the pictures were fabulous. It was very well-written, and it brought out so many things I had never heard about her.

Of course I had to jump to the article about the letter first off. So intriguing. Now to know what was the pocelain -- frustrating! Very interesting article and so glad to be able to to enjoy your finds, Stef. And the artilce about indexing and all it involves was very interesting to me. I don't believe I had even an iota of what efforts it requires to complete a satisfactory index.

Melissa Allen's article, The Proof is in the Dumplings was very good and also very sad. My first thought was that those who ate the dumplings were struck with food poisoning. The jury accepted that poison was administered and that Eliza was the one who administered it. Apparently there was no defense team to help her which may have helped change their minds, I felt she was most likely wrongfully convicted as many still are in this day.

Sherry Chapman's Who Said That was fun and relaxing to me, and I did quite well but admit to guessing on several.

More to read and thanks to all who contribute to this fine journal.