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December 29, 1888, via British Newspaper Archive. Note that this "Christmas Number" features
two cases of murder. |
I don't think anything symbolizes the Strange Company Spirit of Christmas quite like that lazy and not-quite-right-in-the-head blogger's best friend, the "Illustrated Police News." Let's spend this Christmas Eve with some images from that august publication that provide a heartwarming glance at some memorable Yuletides from the past.
To start with, here is a "Christmas frolic" that, frankly, looks like an illustration from "Fifty Shades of Gray":
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December 31, 1898 |
"Upstairs, Downstairs" IPN style. Yeah, I think we can all agree which group seems to be having the most fun.
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January 1, 1898 |
Let's face it, haven't we
all wanted to do this to carolers?
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January 8, 1887 |
Ah, the good old days, when you couldn't go to Christmas church services without constantly stumbling over seduced-and-betrayed ladies clutching their pitiful, starving offspring.
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December 31, 1898 |
Soldiers celebrate the holiday in their army barracks by cheerfully beating the crap out of each other. Naturally, this being the IPN,
it doesn't end well.
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January 8, 1887 |
Of course, murder was a favorite pastime at civilian Christmas gatherings as well.
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January 4, 1896 |
The posh parties used pistols, but the more plebeian gatherings settled for saying it with their fists.
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January 9, 1892 |
Burglars found themselves joining in the holiday fun, too.
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January 9, 1886 |
If your fellow guests didn't do you in at Christmas parties, the decorations surely would.
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January 4, 1896 |
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January 9, 1897 |
And, finally, Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without cozy scenes of prison, the workhouse, and doomed castaways.
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December 28, 1878 |
Happy holidays, gang. May you
not have an Illustrated Police News Christmas.
I wonder if the Illustrated Police News ever despaired over a genuinely happy Christmas?
ReplyDeleteAt any rate, may everyone at Strange Company have a strangely joyous and merry Christmas!