Lizzie Borden Society Forum

I was jus wondering what if any were Lizzie's hobbies were. Does any body know? I mean, did she like to garden, read books, what? Before and after the murders is what am wondering about. We do do know that before the murders she did like to go to church and teach Sunday school classes, and part of the temperance movement, but what about after the murders?

Wasn't she also an animal lover as well? That's what I've read, anyway...

Yup, she was. From what I read, in her will, she left some money to an animal shelter or something like that.Thought maybe she liked to garden or something like that.For awhile when she and Emma first moved into the Maplecroft she did alot of entertaing the actor types. And from what I read, Emma wasn't to thrilled with that. Back then, acting was like one step up from prostitution. And she eventually moved out, and I think Lizzie quit entertaining the actors and such. Just seems as quickly as it started, it stopped.

Lizzie led a fairly cloistered life after the trial, she likely avoided public interaction, at least in Fall River. I think she enjoyed the theater but she probably attended in one of the larger cities nearby. I read somewhere that she attended the Columbian Exposition in Chicago after the trial, so she may have traveled a bit. If she used an alias and kept a low profile, she might have traveled anywhere and gone unnoticed. When she was at home I expect she enjoyed reading and her animals. I haven't seen anything about Lizzie and Emma visiting the farm in Swansea after the trial, but maybe they spent some time there. I imagine she could do gardening on a grand scale there, as well as keep a variety of critters.

If I had been Lizzie, there's no way I would've stayed in Fall River-I would've preferred to move somewhere far away, like Europe, and just start all over again.

I think, too, if she did travel, she probably used an alias. I mean , the trial was a sensation back then, so everyone heard of her, so she might not want have been stared at. And possibly to, hotels and the like might not have reserved a room for her, even if she was aquitted.I think I would have moved somewhere else to like Canada or the Virgin Islands or something, where nobody knew my name or face.

When I think about it, I wonder if Lizzie would have lived any differently if she had moved away? If she disappeared from Fall River, curiosity would have been aroused. If that fact had made the newspapers nationally or internationally, people might have questioned who that woman was who moved in about the time Lizzie disappeared. It could be that sooner or later someone would make the connection, and she would be no better off than if she had stayed in Fall River. There were photographs of her as an adult, she might have been found by someone determined to locate her, even if she lived several places temporarily after disappearing and before settling permanently. She might have been forced to live more or less the same way she did at Maplecroft.

If Lizzie moved away and was found out, there might well have been some unwanted sensationalism involved. People might not have been content to leave her alone as they did in Fall River. Maplecroft might have been the lesser of two evils. In my opinion, having to live like that should have given rise to an effort to pursue the person responsible for the murders. That is, of course, unless she knew who the murderer was.

OOOH, nice...This is very informative; I am going to go back and read some of these in greater detail. It sure gives you a real idea of who the real Lizzie was.

I did a started a thread about this sort of thing, and got feedback suh as reading, Fruit and Flower mission-type work, but mainly lots of readingm letter writing, sewing, and all those odds and ends. Although Im sure our gals were not much for parlour games.

Remember, it is documentated that Lizzie also worked out liftin weights and boasting of her strength at a local gym.

Sometimes I feel like I can hear her talk to me.

Well, the song about Lizzie Borden by pop artist BKL is available to hear streaming at weee.myspace.com/bklmusic. It's called "Don't You Know My Name?" from the Lizzie Borden Conecept EP Recording by BKL/Manzil

And... as for this upcoming miniseries (finally, thank ya Lawd!), let's see what they come up with when it comes to portraying Lizzie and her hobbies. I don't see her as much of a card player or (even) a Bible reader.

Thoughts?

BrianKLoftin wrote:
Remember, it is documentated that Lizzie also worked out liftin weights and boasting of her strength at a local gym.

Just curious where you read this?

I've always wondered if Lizzie traveled abroad much after her acquittal.

I just can't see Lizzie putting forth enough energy to lift weights! She was a lady, and conducted herself as one, and in those days that would have been very unlady-like.

kssunflower wrote:

BrianKLoftin wrote:
Remember, it is documentated that Lizzie also worked out liftin weights and boasting of her strength at a local gym.

Just curious where you read this?

I've always wondered if Lizzie traveled abroad much after her acquittal.

It's on the last page of the Witness Statements and comes from that impeccable source (ahem), Edwin D. McHenry, he of the infamous Trickey-McHenry news article.

Wasn't Lizzie the woman who wrestled under the name of "Chopper Borden" for a time? I don't have a source for that, but it might have been Brownnnnnnnn...

Yooper wrote:Wasn't Lizzie the woman who wrestled under the name of "Chopper Borden" for a time? I don't have a source for that, but it might have been Brownnnnnnnn...

Wow, and I thought she was a lady!! lol

shakiboo wrote:I just can't see Lizzie putting forth enough energy to lift weights! She was a lady, and conducted herself as one, and in those days that would have been very unlady-like.

Victorian ladies did do some workouts...but the "weights" were actually very light that they used in combination with calesthenic type exercises.

i am with shakiboo, I can't see Lizzie doing weight lifting. I can't see her lifting a finger to make a bed.

Lizzie, sweatin' to the oldies!

From McHenry's statement:

"... I was with them both two hours, and elicited the following; Lizzie Borden has been practicing in a gymnasium for a long time, and she has boasted of the strength she possessed, not to these people, but to others. The place where she practiced was supposed top be in the Troy Block. ..."

I suppose I could envision Lizzie attending an exercise class if enough members of the Fall River Social Register were also in attendance. I could see her exercising to improve her social position sooner than entertaining the ambition to become a lumberjack, although she may have had some credentials along the lines of the latter.

Yooper wrote:I suppose I could envision Lizzie attending an exercise class if enough members of the Fall River Social Register were also in attendance. I could see her exercising to improve her social position sooner than entertaining the ambition to become a lumberjack, although she may have had some credentials along the lines of the latter.

lol....