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Classes are over!!!

Here's a cheerful seasonal image of a British postman, collecting the mail, which undoubtedly contains many Christmas cards and greeting.


Ah. . . Classes are all finished for the term. All that's left to do now is collect a bunch of term papers next week, read them, determine grades, and then submit course grades in about a week's time. Still a bit of work to do, then, but not having to wory about planning daily classes is liberating, to say the least. The weather has turned cold here, and I even noticed more than a few snowflakes falling from the sky on my way home today. So, Christmas is definitely in the air.

A comment left here a few days ago by Jim "Alte Fritz" Purky gave me a fantastic idea. He used the wonderful word "chatchke" about my plans for developing a whimsical collection of mid-19th Century figures in imaginary uniforms. "Aha!" I thought. "That would be a wonderful name for a Stollenian general." Chatchke is a word I am familiar with, though I haven't heard it used in a long time, so a bit of research was in order. Here's what Wikipedia revealed:

Tchochke—originally from a Slavic word for "toys" (Ukrainian цяцька, tsyatska; Polish cacka, tsatska; Russian цацки, tsatski)—adapted to Yiddish טשאַטשקע tshatshke, "trinket", are small toys, gewgaws, knickknacks, baubles, trinkets, or kitsch. The term has a connotation of worthlessness or disposability, as well as tackiness, and was long used in the Jewish-American community and in the regional speech of New York City. A variety of spellings exist for the English usage of the term, e.g. tshotshke, tshatshke, tchachke, chachke, or chochke, because there is no standardized transliteration.

As I suspected. So, one General Peter von Tschatschke will shortly join the ranks of the Stollenian army. Von Tschatschke, however, will not wear a typical Stollenian dark blue general's uniform but, rather, one of his own devising. An unapologetic dandy, his detractors (and there are many) would say fop, Von Tschatschke usually appears in battle wearing a pink coat and breeches, faced purple along with a purple wasitcoat. In addition, this "uniform" is copiously laced with silver as is the good General's hat, which is also edged with white ostrich feathers. Needless to say, von Tschatschke's reputation precedes him! More details will emerge as this key Stollenian character takes shape in the coming days and weeks.


Comments

Rob Young said…
As I recall Peter Young used to wear a pink uniform when he was dressed up.....
Bluebear Jeff said…
Do you have a particular figure in mind? If so, which?


-- Jeff
Yes, pink it is! I have an RSM mounted officer all picked out (French, I think) for General von Tschatschke with his right arm raised overhead, and I just super-glued a sword into it. His ADC will be a considerably less flamboyant mounted officer with his right hand resting on his thigh, his own, NOT von Tschatschke's!!!

Best Regards,

Stokes
Fitz-Badger said…
I like it :)
Will look forward to picks of the General one of these days.

No snow here (So.Cal.), well, except for the mountains, although the weather has been nice and cool, even the possibility of rain next week. It is feeling like Christmas.
Ed said…
Wow, that's going to be loud.

Are you familiar with the term "ungepatch?" I probably spelled it wrong, but is Yiddish for "over the top" or "overdone."

I humbly submit that General von Tschatschke needs a suitable aide de camp...

Ed v. H-F
tradgardmastare said…
Traditional Tradgardland colour Stokes- an excellent choice if I may say so...
Alan
p.s I am enjoying th eChristmas images and chat too
Stokes,

Just a thought, but to suit such an obviously "flamboyant" individual, why not follow a practice that was often employed on the Continent? Check out SSM's Willie range under Late 17th Century for suitable eastern or asiatic mounted figures for the ADC, there are Polish and Turkish mounted figures and even a mounted Turkish Pasha. Then, if you use a slightly "dioramic" basing approach for Himself, ala DAF, you could also check out the Willie Harlequin range for a Blackamoor Servant, assorted harem girls, or even a Royal Eunoch. Napoleon was not the first European to use someone like Roustam as his faithful servant and bodyguard.

Bill

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