Illustration of muffler styles from Shakespeare’s time, from “Illustrations of Shakspeare, and of Ancient Manners with Disserations,” by Francis Douce.
Before the automobile was invented, the term muffler was an entirely different item than a metal tail pipe. It was, instead, an object of clothing, worn to keep dust, dirt, or the extremes of sun and cold from the mouth and face. Though commonly thought interchangeable with the common neck scarf, the muffler was specific to covering the nose, mouth, and chin.
The word is an old English one, in common use in Shakespeare’s time (he died in 1616). The ‘muffler‘ is mentioned in his Merry Wives of Windsor that he published in 1602.
In the reign of Charles I (1625-1649) it was common for the ladies to wear masks which covered the eyebrows and nose, holes being left for the eyes. Sometimes, but not always, the mouth was covered, and the chin guarded with a sort of muffler then called a chin-cloth; these were chiefly used to keep off the sun. Continue reading
New Hampshire was called “First in the Nation” for many years when our national primary elections truly happened first. Some say that tradition lives on. But in current day politics where several states allow you to pre-vote and caucus events occur earlier, that title may be ebbing away.
Manchester NH Athlete, Legendary Skiing Coach and Promoter, Sports Commentator & Hall of Famer: Robert P. “Bob” Beattie (1933-2018)
A youthful Bob Beattie in his favorite element (1964).
Robert P. “Bob” Beattie was born 24 January 1933 in Manchester, New Hampshire, the son of Robert A. & Katherine S. (Prime) Beattie. He died 1 April 2018 in Fruita, Colorado. He was raised in Manchester, attending the local schools, and graduated from Central High School in 1950. In 1940 his family was living at 97 Lexington Street in Manchester NH, and Robert Sr. worked as a salesman for a “roofing concern.”
Bob majored in education at Middlebury College in Middlebury Vermont, graduating in 1955. While there, he lettered in three sports: football, skiing, and tennis. In 1955 he competed in cross country skiing, and the following year he coached at Middlebury. In a February 1957 newspaper article about John M. Beattie and his brother Robert, the Burlington Free Press stated: “careful on pronouncing that last name. It’s Bee-ah-tee, with the accent on the ah.”
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