New Page #28!
Actually, Eben has been there all week. Camped out with a sleeping bag, 5 Hour Energy drinks and a singular focus to crush Alan's high score on Angry Birds before the Oration begins.
On March 5th, 1770, a fight broke out on the icy streets of Boston and British soldiers fired into a mob of civilians, killing five people. At the time it was known simply as “The Massacre.” Today we call it the Boston Massacre. Every year after, an Oration was given to commemorate the event. Joseph Warren had given the second one in 1772 and in 1775 was chosen again– the only orator to give the speech twice in the event’s 13 year history. (After the Americans won Independence in 1783, they stopped the tradition.)
In 1775, for the first time since the Boston Massacre, the British Army was back in town. Tensions were high on both sides. Rumors spread that there were plans to assassinate Sam Adams or Dr. Warren if things got out of hand.
Thousands turned up at the Old South Meeting House to hear the Oration. It was standing room only, and the crowds were out the door. One little spark would set off the powder keg of tension that Boston had become. British Officers stood in the front of the room to keep the peace, convinced that another mob riot was about to be incited by Dr. Warren’s speech. Sam Adams kindly showed the officers to their seats, offering them some hospitality and tried to keep the unruly crowd in check.
It’s no wonder Bea’s parents were reluctant to let her go! And it’s no wonder Aunt Mary tried to talk Joseph out of it.
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“Actually, Eben has been there all week. Camped out with a sleeping bag, 5 Hour Energy drinks and a singular focus to crush Alan’s high score on Angry Birds before the Oration begins.”
Yes. Oh yes.
I was wondering when Angry Birds would get into this!
and if that’s who I think it is climbing, he’d better be careful, lest he have a wardrobe malfunction :)
O_O – I know I fangirl over him and all, but THAT…would be awkward.
If Joseph has any sense he’d have something on underneath the toga. You know, in case he has to remove it in order to a make a hasty exit. Hard to run in a toga!
True. Even the Romans wore the toga more as outerwear than anything else.
This is something interesting about the Toga in the Roman Republic and which could also explain why Joseph Warren wore the toga to the oration: “Because the toga was not worn by soldiers, it was regarded as a sign of peace. A civilian was sometimes called togatus, “toga-wearer”, in contrast to sagum-wearing soldiers. Cicero’s De Officiis contains the phrase cedant arma togae: literally, “let arms yield to the toga”, meaning “may peace replace war”, or “may military power yield to civilian power”.
What my hands are typing: LOL!!! i love the bit about Eb being camped out all week…..I can seriously believe it!!!
What my head is thinking after seeing the climbing panels: togatogatogatogatogatogatogatogatogatogatogatoga!!!!!!!!!!!! *drool* (yes, I have been DYING to see this next page! Now can Fri get here a lot quicker????)
I’m glad I’m not the only one with a toga chant stuck in her head. :D
Maybe after his speech they’ll do a kegger. Those Brits should mellow out a bit once they’ve got some “Flip” in ‘em. Better take away their pistols, though, just in case!
Oh wow…people getting out of hand with their guns on an anniversary oration for the Boston Massacre – now THAT’S what I call irony.
My point exactly. Booze and guns. NOT a healthy combination!
lol which version of Flip though???
Whichever packs the most “punch”!
hmmmmm……I was thinking one that had to be stirred with a flamming hot poker…that may or may not have rust on it.
I love the part with Eben beating Alan on Angry Birds and it sure don’t look in VI
PAUL! PAUUUUUUUL!!! Thank you, Lora! :) :) :) :) :)
I remember seeing pictures of El Massacreo in school. At the time I wasn’t that impressed, since five people only…..but in light of everything else I now know…yeah.
Also, angry birds? Se magnifique.
….and here’s you-know-who’s line of thought: “Please don’t let the window be locked, please don’t let the window be locked, please don’t let….”
INCENTIVE CAPTION!!!
Jack: “Hey baby, hey baby, you so fine baby….”
NUMBER 2!!!!
Jack: “If you think a colony is what you poop out of…..you might be a redcoat.”
NUMBER 3!!!
Jack: “Hey man, can my friend here borrow that when you’re done with it? He’s trying to put a whole uniform together, you see, and he still needs a coat.”
lol – wow…your entire comment was absolutely priceless, but my favourite part has to be the whole “Please don’t let the window be locked!” moment. :)
Ha! My favorite part is the “trying to put a whole uniform together” bit. :P Brent made my Wednesday…as usual. :)
This made me laugh, too. Where did Alan get that uniform…?
No, in all honesty, men deserted the British army during the occupation of Boston. Folks in the countryside would help them escape. Not all of them made it though, and the punishment was quite severe.
If you *were* deserting, I’m sure you’d be eager to get rid of your red coat, though!
yeah, a military flogging was not a pretty sight.
I heard they had the drummer boys do the actual flogging. Probably because young boys were less likely than adults to inflict REALLY severe wounds?
I actually did some research about British army flogging for a fiction book set in the Revolutionary War I am writing. No, it definitely was not a pretty sight! One soldier received 700! lashes with a cat o nine tails for stealing a beehive! And when the British 73rd Foot flogged a man in occupied France in 1814, disgusted French citizens protested against it. I would too! Imagine what your back looked like afterwards.. OW!!!
OMG! You could actually KILL somebody with those things if enough force was applied. No wonder they often had drummer boys do it.
And that’s if your CO didn’t just pull out a gun a shoot you as a coward for trying to run during battle.
@Half Moon – looking at my options…I think I’d rather be shot.
Unless they decide to be REALLY cruel and deliberately make it a non-fatal wounding shot. In which case you’re likely in for a world of hurt!
Dang it, Lora – way to drag out the big reveal for the toga scene! And I was getting all excited to see it too when I saw the title for this thing.
Oh well, I guess that’s what the voting incentives are for. *shrug*
*pouts* That’s -not- what vote incentives are for apparently. Friday it is then!
HA!
Oh well, the actual VI was rather neat, too.
This is so wonderful! TOGA PLEASE!
I haven’t been so excited for an update in a long time!
HAHAHA… the build up! XD
Also, I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure pairing those shoes with a toga is something of a fashion no-no.
I don’t know. It could be an avant garde fashion statement to pair two wholely different eras of history like that. :P
Also just try finding authentic reproduction Roman footwear in1775 Boston!
*begins to giggle hysterically and doesn’t think it’s the medication’s fault*
Are you still sick? :(
In a bad way. :-P
Bad meaning a virus and the good way meaning…..well, our usual crazzzzy selves? ( and I once again blame you cuz I’ve got a head cold!!!)
Sinus infection from HELL. I’ve in bed sleeping all day.
Those are the WORST. Feel better soon! <3
ouch! get better soon!
Yeah, THAT would really bite!
TOGGGGAAAAA! XD Oh goodness, when I saw the climbing sequence I literally squealed out loud.
And then when I heard Eben and the others say, “I wonder where he is.” I am like, “He is climbing the darn window! With a Toga on!”
Oh this is getting good! :D
According to Warren’s medical books, Sam Forman says in his bio that Dr. Warren saw six patients that morning before the Oration! No wonder he was late.
I hope he put the toga on AFTER seeing the patients, because otherwise I can just imagine what they would have been thinking!
*like!* :D
Patient: O.o Ummm…. Doctor???
Joseph: What? Oh, I’m going to a speech later. Pay me no mind. Now, stick out your tongue and say, “Aaahh.”
Oh, and I forget to mention…. I KNEW that was Paul Revere!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Another fangirl squee!!!!!!!
:D Lora, if you continue drawing too much amazing 18th century men whom I love, you are going to make my heart stop. It is a good thing Lafayette did not come to America until 1777 or else I would be a basket case by now! Ha ha ha ha ha.
Anyways, great scene as usual Lora!
I’m actually praying the comic keeps going so we get to meet our little French friend…..<3
Until then there’s always LK’s Henri. He’s little AND French. Oh, wait. You kind of had something ELSE in mind, didn’t you? Whoops, My mistake!
Henri ftw!
awww I still love Henri!!!!!!!!! But yeah….Lafeyette is one of my history crushes………<3
Suave, dashing, courageous, freedom-fighting European nobleman in a snappy 18th century uniform? Put it all together and yeah, I suppose the Marquis DOES have a certain fangirl attraction.
@David
LIKE!!!!!!!!
that….and i love french accents…….<3 <3 <3
TOGAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! I am so excited for this. The fangirl in me is squeeing at the prospect.
Also, quick question: My history professor and I were talking about the Salem witch trials the other day, and the topic of Reverend John Hale came up. Was he really Nathan’s great-grandfather?
Nathan Hale’s family has a connection to the Salem Witch Trials but I’m fairly certain it was on his mother’s side.
Salem Witch Trials? Hmm, I wonder how we could use THAT?
Wikipedia, the lies you tell me!
It’s been a long time since I did all my research on Hale. I’d look in a more reputable source to find your answer!
Last time I was on wikipedia’s Nathan Hale page it just made me angry so I never went back, lol.
Hahaha! I’m not the only one then…
Hench why I didn’t even look at it when writing my Nathan essay…
What is bad about the Wikipedia web page about Nathan Hale? It seems fine to me, or am I missing something?
I’m with Amber. It is a little focused, with all the attention on his enlisted years, but that’s (probably) not entirely a bad thing.
I haven’t been there in a long time. Maybe someone edited it and it’s okay now…?
There used to be some wrong “facts” on there.
Great Update! I can’t believe Bea’s parents let her go to the oration! But makes for a good story and some cute Alan and Bea moments.
From the description Lora gave of that event I wouldn’t really blame her parents if they DID keep her from attending!
Yeah, personally, I’m with Mrs. Whaley on this one!
This person climbing the side of the building? Clearly he believes himself to be Spider-Man. Minus the web-shooters. And the red and blue tights. But give it time.
Yay, Paul! I knew I recognized those eyebrows. It’s a testament to your talent, Lora, that you draw historical characters we can actually recognize.
Love Eben’s camp-out. Now he just needs to hold up a lighter and yell “Freebird!”
And what is it about colonial-style buckled shoes? They make feet look so… cute. Or maybe Joseph just has cute feet. I’ll bet that’s it.
You’ve just had a fascination with his feet since Copley kept them hidden all these years, lol!
I wonder if Eben is more the camp out for the new Star Wars film kind of geek, or camp out for the new iPhone….?
I don’t know about “cute feet”, but I’ve always thought buckled shoes just looked “quaint”.
I had to share this with all you guys in case some people didn’t know, but Assassin’s Creed III is taking place in the American Revolution! :D So excited! Had to let people with one of my fav comics know this little tidbit.
28 Days til My BDay and looking forward for a good update on that early Friday
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