(November 27, 1843-September 30, 1888) The third recognized victim of Jack the Ripper. Known as "Long Liz" by friends later in life, for her last name and lanky physique.
Born Elisabeth Gustafsdottir to a peasant family west of Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike the other victims, Liz turned to prostitution early in life and at five-foot-five, with her dark brown hair, grey eyes, and angular features, she was a striking woman. She was known among Gothenburg police and gave birth to a stillborn daughter in April, 1865. In 1866, she moved to London as a domestic servant and in 1869 she married John Thomas Stride, a carpenter 13 years older than her. Their marriage was stormy and they separated at least twice, for the last time in 1881.
After leaving Stride, Liz lived in a dosshouse and lived off of charity handouts in addition to sewing, housekeeping, and occasional prostitution. From 1885 until her death, she had an on-and-off relationship with a dockworker, Michael Kidney. While described as "calm" and "sober", Liz was arrested several times for drunk and disorderly conduct and she and Michael were often at each other's throats.
Born Elisabeth Gustafsdottir to a peasant family west of Gothenburg, Sweden. Unlike the other victims, Liz turned to prostitution early in life and at five-foot-five, with her dark brown hair, grey eyes, and angular features, she was a striking woman. She was known among Gothenburg police and gave birth to a stillborn daughter in April, 1865. In 1866, she moved to London as a domestic servant and in 1869 she married John Thomas Stride, a carpenter 13 years older than her. Their marriage was stormy and they separated at least twice, for the last time in 1881.
After leaving Stride, Liz lived in a dosshouse and lived off of charity handouts in addition to sewing, housekeeping, and occasional prostitution. From 1885 until her death, she had an on-and-off relationship with a dockworker, Michael Kidney. While described as "calm" and "sober", Liz was arrested several times for drunk and disorderly conduct and she and Michael were often at each other's throats.
Elizabeth Stride often told acquaintances that she'd lost her husband and two of her nine children in the sinking of the "Princess Alice" in 1878 and another survivor had kicked her in the mouth as they swam to safety, causing her to stammer. While Liz was missing the teeth in her lower left jaw, Thomas Stride actually had died of tuberculosis in 1884 and they had no children. This story was most likely to elicit sympathy and financial aid from others.
At 12:35 AM, Liz was seen speaking with a man in Dutfield's Yard, next to the International Working Men's Educational Club on Berner Street. At about 1 AM, Louis Diemshutz, the steward of the club, pulled into Dutfield's Yard with his pony and cart when the pony was startled by something in the darkness and refused to go farther.
Diemshutz dismounted the cart, knelt in front of his horse, and struck a match; he saw Liz Stride lying in the dirt with her throat cut and bleeding.
Beyond the throat wound, Liz had not been injured and her clothing was undisturbed, unlike Polly Nichols and Annie Chapman. Perhaps she was not a Ripper victim, perhaps the Ripper meant to go farther when the arrival of Diemschutz interrupted him. Having botched this killing, Jack had to flee. Leaving the East End and crossing into the City of London, he happened upon Mitre Square... and another victim, Catherine Eddowes.
At 12:35 AM, Liz was seen speaking with a man in Dutfield's Yard, next to the International Working Men's Educational Club on Berner Street. At about 1 AM, Louis Diemshutz, the steward of the club, pulled into Dutfield's Yard with his pony and cart when the pony was startled by something in the darkness and refused to go farther.
Diemshutz dismounted the cart, knelt in front of his horse, and struck a match; he saw Liz Stride lying in the dirt with her throat cut and bleeding.
Beyond the throat wound, Liz had not been injured and her clothing was undisturbed, unlike Polly Nichols and Annie Chapman. Perhaps she was not a Ripper victim, perhaps the Ripper meant to go farther when the arrival of Diemschutz interrupted him. Having botched this killing, Jack had to flee. Leaving the East End and crossing into the City of London, he happened upon Mitre Square... and another victim, Catherine Eddowes.
by Lorelili October 08, 2012
The Gaelic word for "man", that is, an adult male. Pronounced "fair", with a light trill to the 'r'.
Has no likely connection to the English word meaning fright/apprehension.
Has no likely connection to the English word meaning fright/apprehension.
by Lorelili March 20, 2006
A sexually promiscuous woman. May or may not be paid for sex, depending on whether is a prostitute or a slut.
Paris Hilton, the Grand High Slattern, paraded on the red carpet in her usual belt/miniskirt sans underwear and her almost nonexistant top.
by Lorelili May 04, 2007
A character in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. Cosette is the illigitimate daughter of Fantine, who had to leave her in the care of the Thénardier family while she worked to support Cosette. Unknown to the illiterate Fantine, the sociopathically cruel Thénardier family abuse the little girl and make false claims about her health so that Fantine will send more money to them. The money is then used for their own expenses and to spoil their own daughters, Eponine and Azelma, while Cosette is treated as a virtual slave... until Fantine's death, when her former boss, Jean Valjean, comes to rescue Cosette, bribing the ruthless Thénardiers to let her go. From there, Jean Valjean and Cosette escape to Paris.
Nine years later, at age seventeen, Cosette is a beautiful, well-bred young woman and doted on by Papa Valjean. Trouble begins when she runs into Marius Pontmercy, a young nobleman and student, and they fall in love. Valjean, worried about his discovery by Javert and about his adoptive daughter's safety, tries to thwart the budding love affair until he realizes that she's no longer a little girl and he has to let her go; out of love for her, he saves a wounded Marius from the barricade. She and Marius eventually marry before Valjean dies, leaving his life story to her.
Nine years later, at age seventeen, Cosette is a beautiful, well-bred young woman and doted on by Papa Valjean. Trouble begins when she runs into Marius Pontmercy, a young nobleman and student, and they fall in love. Valjean, worried about his discovery by Javert and about his adoptive daughter's safety, tries to thwart the budding love affair until he realizes that she's no longer a little girl and he has to let her go; out of love for her, he saves a wounded Marius from the barricade. She and Marius eventually marry before Valjean dies, leaving his life story to her.
Cosette's character is much stronger in the book and the depth of her romance with Marius a major emotional focus while Eponine is a peripheral character, although no less sad and pitiful.
Cosette is the peripheral character in the musical, almost one-dimensional while Eponine's presence is much stronger and shares the pathos with Fantine.
Cosette is the peripheral character in the musical, almost one-dimensional while Eponine's presence is much stronger and shares the pathos with Fantine.
by Lorelili July 28, 2011
A makeshift factory where men, women, and children slave for twelve hours or more a day for almost no money in crowded, dirty, dangerous conditions under the iron fist of unscrupulous managers just so that rich children get the toys that they want for their birthdays and for Christmas and so that their parents and older siblings get nice clothes and cool gadgets.
Nike, Banana Republic, the Gap, among others, use sweatshops. Sweatshops are everywhere, from Thailand and Honduras to New York and Los Angeles, often virtually enslaving workers.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire on March 25, 1911, in New York killed 146 clothing makers, most of them young immigrant women, some of them as young as thirteen. 62 of them jumped nine floors to the street below in their effort to escape the fire. And the patterns are being repeated today around the world.
The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire on March 25, 1911, in New York killed 146 clothing makers, most of them young immigrant women, some of them as young as thirteen. 62 of them jumped nine floors to the street below in their effort to escape the fire. And the patterns are being repeated today around the world.
by Lorelili March 02, 2010
In music, this refers to the best-sounding and most comfortable range for a singer (or an instrument), to the color and quality of the voice.
A singer's tessitura depends on where their voice sounds the strongest (and most comfortable);
Sopranos and tenors sound the strongest and most at ease in their high notes but weaker in their low notes;
Mezzo-sopranos and baritones sound weaker and less comfortable in their high notes but strongest and most comfortable in mid-range and strong in their low notes;
Contraltos and basses sound the strongest and most comfortable in their low notes and weaker in their high notes.
A singer's tessitura depends on where their voice sounds the strongest (and most comfortable);
Sopranos and tenors sound the strongest and most at ease in their high notes but weaker in their low notes;
Mezzo-sopranos and baritones sound weaker and less comfortable in their high notes but strongest and most comfortable in mid-range and strong in their low notes;
Contraltos and basses sound the strongest and most comfortable in their low notes and weaker in their high notes.
Tessitura is a good determiner of voice type; range alone does not tell where a voice sounds its best and vocal color on its own does not determine either of those.
Sopranos and tenors generally sound bright, contraltos and basses generally sound dark, and mezzo-sopranos and baritones are of medium color. But a singer can sound as bright and sunny as a soprano and have a contralto tessitura or another can sound like a baritone yet have the tessitura of a tenor.
Sarah Brightman has a bright, lightweight voice and the tessitura of a soprano.
Allison Crowe has a heavy, rather dark voice and the tessitura of a soprano.
Idina Menzel's voice is lightweight, has a bright color and the tessitura of a mezzo-soprano.
Annie Lennox has a dark, heavy voice and a contralto tessitura.
Sopranos and tenors generally sound bright, contraltos and basses generally sound dark, and mezzo-sopranos and baritones are of medium color. But a singer can sound as bright and sunny as a soprano and have a contralto tessitura or another can sound like a baritone yet have the tessitura of a tenor.
Sarah Brightman has a bright, lightweight voice and the tessitura of a soprano.
Allison Crowe has a heavy, rather dark voice and the tessitura of a soprano.
Idina Menzel's voice is lightweight, has a bright color and the tessitura of a mezzo-soprano.
Annie Lennox has a dark, heavy voice and a contralto tessitura.
by Lorelili July 04, 2011
To be thoughtful. To think about something. Often in a dreary or depressing manner.
After Lord Byron, poets are usually thought of as having a very gloomy, brooding personality.
After Lord Byron, poets are usually thought of as having a very gloomy, brooding personality.
Christian and Erik are a cute couple... but they're so different at times! Christian's the bubbly one, Erik's the brooding one.
by Lorelili June 27, 2005