Antoinette Louise Clark
The Martian Landing of 1897, or as we now know it, the War of the Worlds, involved many people, including Antionette Louise Clark, whose contemporary was the brother of the renowned HG Wells himself. #WOTW #Martians
Antoinette (Toni to her friends) was a young medical student – one of the first of her era – heavily influenced by Grace Harwood Stewart, one of the first female doctors, and Millicent Fawcett, a noted suffragist #wedemandthevote
She was challenged by Wells’ brother, to keep a diary entirely in telegram style for a month. Despite the challenges, she kept the style throughout the Martian invasion. #memories
Her diary entries have been translated to current ‘text/tweet’ speak, for which telegram style was a forerunner, for ease of reading for the modern reader, since words such as Naloopen, or Empanel, are not in current usage. #technologyforthewin
Unsurprisingly, her twitter handle turns out to be @ToniWantsToVote, and her diary is a treasure trove of insight into the post invasion changes to society. She also sent some of her telegrams – we shall leave you to decide which ones #wedemandthevote #ihavepocketsinmytrousers
The first entry in Toni’s diary for June concerns her excitement at meeting Elizabeth Cadbury the previous night at a meeting of the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies.
Met @lizcadbury last night at #NUWSS meeting last night. Totes excited! #WeDemandTheVote! #buyCadburychocolate
Hope @hgwellsbro doesn’t forget the lecture on x-rays tomorrow! He promised to be the subject for the practical portion. #goodundiesessential #roentgenrules
@millifawcett gave me her visiting card. Fangirling right now. #WeDemandTheVote!
Can’t believe @hgwellsbro wore THOSE undies today. #facepalm #stripesaresolastyear Even @roentgenxray turned away.
#xrays are amazing! Could see @hgwellsbro femur clear as day! Differential diagnosis will be much easier now we can #seeallthebones!
There is no doubt medical science is in @roentgenxray’s debt. #science #bones #seeallthebones! #fixthefractures
Big meeting at #NUWSS HQ tomorrow night. @millifawcett will be speaking. Together we can #DemandTheVote! #equality #womenhavevoices
The #RationalDressSociety, founded in 1881, listed as its ‘Attributes of Perfect Dress’
- Freedom of Movement.
- Absence of pressure over any part of the body.
- Not more weight than is necessary for warmth, and both weight and warmth evenly distributed.
- Grace and beauty combined with comfort and convenience.
- Not departing too conspicuously from the ordinary dress of the time.
And finally had time to read today’s Chronicle. Surely the idea of life on Mars is #rubbish. @ogilvyastron certainly thinks so. #milliontoone
Big day on #fractures today. Great to be able to #seeallthebones, but we still have to know how to #fixthefractures Note to self: must keep #scaphoid intact. Nonunion is #notanoption.
@hgwellsbro looks a bit under the weather. Hope @graceharwoodstewart pulled up all right this morning. Got to love #craftbeer and #medicalscience talk!
@rationaldresssociety your divided skirts are amazing! #ilovethepockets #rodeabicycle in them. Also, great to wear during plaster casting workshop.
@hgwellsbro suggested more #drinkies tonight? Claims one can #study and #drink at the same time! #examsarecomingup.
Had to turn him down! Have @NUWSS meeting tonight. Told him I see him tomorrow morning, bright and sparky for #germtheory lectures. #WeDemandTheVote! #becomeanally Hint, hint!
@millifawcett is so inspiring! One day we WILL have the vote! #equality #WeDemandTheVote!
@hgwellsbro could be an ally, may need to bribe him with chocolates though. #WeDemandTheVote! #notallmen #wehavechocolate
There was a #reallyloudnoise when I was walking home in my #dividedskirts after the meeting. No-one knew where it came from? #mysteriousnoises #needtogotosleep #stillexcitedfrommeeting
Saw a strange light in the sky last night. @hgwellsbro doesn’t believe I saw anything. (Despite his brother being from #Woking) #strangelights #mysteriouslights
Could the light be #fromMars? #TheDailyTelegraph continues to run stories about goings in on #Woking @hgwellsbro hasn’t heard anything from his brother? Can you #lendcredence?
@lizcadbury’s chocolates were OMG delish! #buyCadburychocolate #supportthecause
Had to point out to @hgwellsbro that I wasn’t sharing #mychocolates unless he #becomesanally #equality has nothing to do with chocolate sharing
Will be #hot today according to Times.
Maybe there really are #martians? @hgwellsbro still hasn’t heard from #Woking?
#DailyChronicle?
#Martiansarereal
#milliontoonehashappened
#killingpeople
@hgwellsbro told me of fascinating discussion in #crammersbiology today. Sounds like the #Martians are unlikely to be able to move in our #gravity #wewillbesafe
Will we?
Must put a kit together #justincase – a few medical supplies, more #dividedskirts, and some high energy foods. #chocolateforthewin
@hgwellsbro is going to a music hall? #Martians have landed in Britain and he’s going dancing?
Just heard that troops are mobilising. Apparently the #Martians are still in their pit, though. #gravity WILL defeat them!
@hgwellsbro is heading to #Woking to #seetheThings? Is he mad?
#papers are incredibly worrying today. People have been #killed! #Martians have a quick firing gun. But they’re still in their pit #gravityiswinning – I hope?
#papers confirm that more troops have been mobilised. Also now there’s pine-woods burning. If they’re still in the pit, how is this happening? #gravity?
@hgwellsbro telegraphic communication with #Woking has been disrupted. Probably the #fires.
YOU OK STOP
@NUWSS has put the word out to get our acts together and organise #justincase Very glad I’ve started my emergency kit already. #antisepticssavelives #anasetheticscouldbenecessary
No further word from @hgwellsbro Hope he’s all right!
Why on earth did he head for #Woking?
#gettingworried #Woking #Martians
Many troops moving around #London today. Heard #loudsounds just now. Rumor says trains are stopped for #troops? Was that #artillery I heard? #emergencykit is ready. No word from @hgwellsbro #reallyworried
@NUWSS has called us in to organise assistance for vulnerable. #someonemustorganise #justincase #whereisthegovernment?
@hgwellsbro are you safe? #desperatetohearfromyounow
Tried to catch a train to @NUWSS HQ. Total disaster, walked instead. #notrainsrunning #chaos #artillery #troopseverywhere #iwaslate
#headlinessensational
#Martianskillingpeople
#battles
#arewewinning?
#armydeployed
@NUWSS has organised us into small groups. I’m with @lizcadbury and her #highenergysnacks, and also @graceharwoodstewart
#wehasskills
#dividedskirts
#pocketsarefull
@lizcadbury says there’s plenty of room so @graceharwoodstewart and I can turn it into an #infirmary if required.
Arrived at #queenannesmansion #Mansions is definitely the right name. Plenty of space, and well stocked with #cadburychocolate of course! On the tenth floor! #canseeallthethings!
Sky has turned the strangest colour. #skyofgold Feels #ominous
Now wondering if I should have stayed or gone. #fear #hope But one day #iwillbeadoctor so I #muststay for those who need help. #determination #iamwithfriends
Much activity at the army/navy auxillary stores. #easytoseefromfloor10 Sounds of #firing #guns #peoplepanicking Should we #goout? Should we #stayin? @graceharwoodstewart counsels waiting for more information. #whereisthegovernment?