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What Is Ben Franklin's Letter on Choosing a Mistress? · Ologies

Ologies

Broomology (BROOMS) with Cate O’Connell-Richards

Whisks and witches. Bristles and Shakers. Potions and prisons. From making brooms to jumping them, teacher, author, broomsquire, and Broomologist Cate O'Connell Richards gives us the overlooked history of how that broom got in your garage. So light a candle and tuck in for fibers, harvests, how-tos, angel wings, hawktails, besoms, labor laws, Broomcorn…

Notes

  1. What Is Ben Franklin's Letter on Choosing a Mistress? at 30:09

    Alie Ward says Ben Franklin's 1745 letter to a friend, now titled advice to a friend on choosing a mistress, tells him to prefer old women to young ones. Full answer

  2. When Did Witches on Broomsticks First Appear? at 1:04:16

    Alie Ward says women on broomsticks first appear in manuscripts in the 1400s, and two works from the church in the 1480s changed European history and concepts… Full answer

  3. Does Ergot Poisoning Explain the Salem Witch Trials? at 1:10:45

    Alie Ward says ergot poisoning is unlikely to explain the Salem witch trials. Full answer

  4. What Are Cinnamon Brooms? at 1:15:01

    Alie Ward calls a cinnamon broom a fibrous plant material soaked in cinnamon oil for a period of time. Full answer

  5. How Close Is a Broom Making Class? at 1:23:20

    Alie Ward bets a broom making class sits within a couple of hours' drive. Type broom making class and look near you, then go make a day of it. Full answer

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