A L Clark (Toni) – The 1897 War of the Worlds

01-Jun 10:00 @ToniWantsToVote

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

01-Jun 10:15 @ToniWantsToVote

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

01-Jun 17:00 @ToniWantsToVote

Hope @hgwellsbro doesn’t forget the lecture on x-rays tomorrow! He promised to be the subject for the practical portion. #goodundiesessential #roentgenrules

01-Jun 17:30 @ToniWantsToVote

@millifawcett gave me her visiting card. Fangirling right now. #WeDemandTheVote!

02-Jun 17:00 @ToniWantsToVote

Can’t believe @hgwellsbro wore THOSE undies today. #facepalm #stripesaresolastyear Even @roentgenxray turned away.

02-Jun 17:30 @ToniWantsToVote

#xrays are amazing! Could see @hgwellsbro femur clear as day! Differential diagnosis will be much easier now we can #seeallthebones!

02-Jun 18:00 @ToniWantsToVote

There is no doubt medical science is in @roentgenxray’s debt. #science #bones #seeallthebones! #fixthefractures

02-Jun 18:30 @ToniWantsToVote

Big meeting at #NUWSS HQ tomorrow night. @millifawcett will be speaking. Together we can #DemandTheVote! #equality #womenhavevoices

02-Jun 21:00 @ToniWantsToVote

Asked @hgwellsbro to go out for drinks. @graceharwoodstewart is in town and he said he’d like to meet her.

Also, bought myself some new #dividedskirts from @rationaldresssociety and can’t recommend them enough. #socomfy #ihavepockets

02-Jun 21:05 #RationalDressSociety

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.

02-Jun 23:30 @ToniWantsToVote

And finally had time to read today’s Chronicle. Surely the idea of life on Mars is #rubbish. @ogilvyastron certainly thinks so. #milliontoone

03-Jun 08:00 @ToniWantsToVote

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.

03-Jun 08:30 @ToniWantsToVote

@hgwellsbro looks a bit under the weather. Hope @graceharwoodstewart pulled up all right this morning. Got to love #craftbeer and #medicalscience talk!

03-Jun 17:00 @ToniWantsToVote

@rationaldresssociety your divided skirts are amazing! #ilovethepockets #rodeabicycle in them. Also, great to wear during plaster casting workshop.

03-Jun 17:30 @ToniWantsToVote

@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!

03-Jun 21:30 @ToniWantsToVote

@millifawcett is so inspiring! One day we WILL have the vote! #equality #WeDemandTheVote!

03-Jun 21:32 @ToniWantsToVote

@lizcadbury gave me chocs! #buycadburychocolate

03-Jun 21:35 @ToniWantsToVote

@hgwellsbro could be an ally, may need to bribe him with chocolates though. #WeDemandTheVote! #notallmen #wehavechocolate

03-Jun 22:07 @ToniWantsToVote

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

04-Jun 17:08 @ToniWantsToVote

Great lecture on #germtheory today. @listersantiseptics was there in person! The great man himself spoke on #antisepsis. Can’t believe #London was so #hostile to him initially. #antisepsissaveslives

04-Jun 17:45 @ToniWantsToVote

Saw a strange light in the sky last night. @hgwellsbro doesn’t believe I saw anything. (Despite his brother being from #Woking) #strangelights #mysteriouslights

04-Jun 17:50 @ToniWantsToVote

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?

04-Jun 18:07 @ToniWantsToVote

@lizcadbury’s chocolates were OMG delish! #buyCadburychocolate #supportthecause

04-Jun 18:10 @ToniWantsToVote

Had to point out to @hgwellsbro that I wasn’t sharing #mychocolates unless he #becomesanally #equality has nothing to do with chocolate sharing

04-Jun 23:03 @ToniWantsToVote

Spent the rest of the evening listening to @marieradiumcurie and her husband @pierreradiumcurie #science #womeninscience #sheisamazing

05-Jun 07:30 @ToniWantsToVote

Will be #hot today according to Times.

05-Jun 09:00 @ToniWantsToVote

Maybe there really are #martians? @hgwellsbro still hasn’t heard from #Woking?

05-Jun 10:00 @ToniWantsToVote

#DailyChronicle?

#Martiansarereal

#milliontoonehashappened

#killingpeople

05-Jun 18:00 @ToniWantsToVote

@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?

05-Jun 18:40 @ToniWantsToVote

Must put a kit together #justincase – a few medical supplies, more #dividedskirts, and some high energy foods. #chocolateforthewin

05-Jun 20:00 @ToniWantsToVote

@hgwellsbro is going to a music hall? #Martians have landed in Britain and he’s going dancing?

05-Jun 20:43 @ToniWantsToVote

Just heard that troops are mobilising. Apparently the #Martians are still in their pit, though. #gravity WILL defeat them!

05-Jun 20:50 @ToniWantsToVote

@hgwellsbro is heading to #Woking to #seetheThings? Is he mad?

06-Jun 08:10 @ToniWantsToVote

#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?

06-Jun 08:20 @ToniWantsToVote

#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?

06-Jun 09:00 @ToniWantsToVote

@hgwellsbro telegraphic communication with #Woking has been disrupted. Probably the #fires.

YOU OK STOP

06-Jun 10:15 @ToniWantsToVote

@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

06-Jun 13:30 @ToniWantsToVote

No further word from @hgwellsbro Hope he’s all right!

Why on earth did he head for #Woking?

#gettingworried #Woking #Martians

06-Jun 14:00 @ToniWantsToVote

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

06-Jun 14:05 @ToniWantsToVote

@NUWSS has called us in to organise assistance for vulnerable. #someonemustorganise #justincase #whereisthegovernment?

06-Jun 14:10 @ToniWantsToVote

@hgwellsbro are you safe? #desperatetohearfromyounow

06-Jun 17:00 @ToniWantsToVote

Tried to catch a train to @NUWSS HQ. Total disaster, walked instead. #notrainsrunning #chaos #artillery #troopseverywhere #iwaslate

06-Jun 18:00 @ToniWantsToVote

#headlinessensational

#Martianskillingpeople

#battles

#arewewinning?

#armydeployed

06-Jun 18:03 @ToniWantsToVote

@NUWSS has organised us into small groups. I’m with @lizcadbury and her #highenergysnacks, and also @graceharwoodstewart

#wehasskills

#dividedskirts

#pocketsarefull

06-Jun 18:04 @ToniWantsToVote

Am feeling #fearful, but also #determined. Meeting @lizcadbury and @graceharwoodstewart at Liz’s flat in #QueenAnnesMansions. Good high point for easy viewing, but large building so hopefully #wewillbesafe and #roomforrefugees

06-Jun 18:05 @ToniWantsToVote

@lizcadbury says there’s plenty of room so @graceharwoodstewart and I can turn it into an #infirmary if required.

06-Jun 19:40 @ToniWantsToVote

Arrived at #queenannesmansion #Mansions is definitely the right name. Plenty of space, and well stocked with #cadburychocolate of course! On the tenth floor! #canseeallthethings!

06-Jun 19:42 @ToniWantsToVote

Sky has turned the strangest colour. #skyofgold Feels #ominous

06-Jun 19:43 @ToniWantsToVote

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

06-Jun 19:45 @ToniWantsToVote

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?