Celine Dion Made a Tearful Comeback to the Stage
“I had promised myself not to cry.”
I Play Rocky Is Endearing, Despite Itself
The new movie from Green Book’s Peter Farrelly is a crowd-pleaser about a young Sylvester Stallone.
The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip Recap: Gag Order
Lisa can’t shake the feeling that her SLC castmates have ruined her chances of fitting in with the Girls Trip wives.
Cadbury Chocolates Commissioned by Queen Victoria in 1900 for British Soldiers Fighting in the Boer War
In late 1899, Queen Victoria decided to send a gift of chocolate to over 100,000 British soldiers serving in South Africa during the Second Boer War (1899–1902) to boost morale for the New Year of 1900.
The British chocolate industry was dominated by Quaker families (Cadbury, Fry, and Rowntree), who were strict pacifists opposed to the war. They initially refused to take payment or brand the tins for war efforts. Ultimately, they compromised by producing the chocolate for free, packed into unbranded or minimally marked tins.
The tin featured a profile portrait of Queen Victoria, her royal monogram (VRI for Victoria Regina Imperatrix), and the inscription: “I wish you a happy New Year – Victoria RI” alongside “South Africa 1900”.
Many soldiers cherished the tins as personal tokens from the Monarch and refused to eat the chocolate. As a result, several intact bars survived inside their original packaging for well over a century, occasionally surfacing at auctions and museum exhibits fully preserved (though long past edible condition).
George Owen Wynne Apperley: Late Romantic Painter of Spain and Morocco
George Owen Wynne Apperley (1884–1960) was a British painter associated with the late Romantic tradition.
Born on the Isle of Wight, Apperley trained briefly at the Herkomer School before developing a largely self-taught style. In 1917, he moved to Spain, settling in Granada’s Albaicín district, where he became known for his atmospheric portraits, landscapes, and figurative works inspired by local life and Mediterranean light. Political tensions later forced him to leave for Tangier, Morocco, where he continued to paint until his death.
Celebrated for his refined technique and romantic sensibility, Apperley is remembered as one of the distinctive British artists who made their careers in Spain and North Africa. These evocative works showcase the romantic vision and refined artistry of George Owen Wynne Apperley, a British painter deeply inspired by Spain and Morocco.
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| The Pretty Girl |
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| A Gypsy |
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| Beauty of Cordoba |
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| Card Player |
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| Castanets |