Masterpieces

Spotted on a trip to Big Lots: made-in-China emery boards, decorated with images from famous paintings.

Why were these graphics chosen? The images would have been easy to come by, for one thing. While I wouldn't expect the manufacturer to have given it thought, it could be that the images are in the public domain—or they might seem to be, due to being famous.

A pretty Renoir woman and a couple of other designs fit the "beauty product" category well enough.

There was also the Demoiselles D'Avignon model.

Sister J. bought two designs, which I got to scan later.


I know some women react dramatically to nail breakage, but—
really, now:


These products make the case for never leaving home without a camera.

Especially since one of the designs that got away was this Van Gogh.

Tiger Of The Month Club: April

This handsome duo get into the spirit of the spring pagan rites—
with a basket full of pysanky!

Frate Indovino: April Astrologer

"Publicity," says our cartoonist, "costs us dearly!"

The theme continues with the opposing quotes connundrum: is publicity/advertising "the soul of commerce" [H. Ford], or, "commerce of the soul" [M. Marchesi]?

Though I suspect the possibility of some false cognates, Google Translate wants to tell me that a look at the skies deems this month favorable for all human activities that are intellectual and sensitive...

Even without the reminder of being innundated by "publicity," I don't expect the planets to win out on this.

Among Frate Indovino's earthly advice is a monthly section for Donne, beginning with some cliché under the heading, "It is Said Of Women"...

This month:

Nelle donne s'ammira la virtú – ma la civetteria piace di piú!

This seems to be, "Women admire virtue but love coquettery the most"...

Followed by what thought were chocolate recipes—those would occupy the coquettish women productively.

Then I ran the text through the translator: the section is several paragraphs of instructions for removing chocolate stains, fresh or old, from all kinds of fabrics.

Which must be the almanac's secret to a happy home: Mamma feeds everyone chocolate and keeps busy cleaning up after them...