18th-Century Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 37

[cahn]

More diaries of our favorite 18th-century Prussian diary-keeper have been unearthed and have been synopsized!

January 18th: Blessed be thou to me! Under your light, my Prince Heinrich was born!

Comments

[selenak]

20 Minuten auf 3 Uhr."

It's a bit old fashioned, but also related to more modern slang. For example, "Viertel vier" isn't 4:15, it's 3:15, since it hails from "viertel auf Vier". So yes, it means 2:20.

FW dragged out the time for his favourite palace, Wusterhausen till late November, too, but having been in both, I think Sanssouci is less warmth/cold insulated.

(Knobelsdorff: Not my fault!)

[mildred_of_midgard]

Thank you!

"Viertel vier" isn't 4:15, it's 3:15

See, that I knew,

since it hails from "viertel auf Vier".

...but that I didn't know. TIL!

but having been in both, I think Sanssouci is less warmth/cold insulated.

FW: See, this is why you gotta take your architectural cues from the Dutch, who prioritized comfort over conspicuous consumption!

(Knobelsdorff: Not my fault!)

Heee! Well, apparently Colbert's objections about Versailles were overridden by Louis, so you're in good company, Knobelsdorff.

(Versailles: also impossible to heat.)

ETA: I am reminded that while Louis XIV suffered sleeping all night in the state bed for the sake of his majesty, Louis XV, less majestic as well as less heroic, would apparently be put to bed by his nobles in the state bed, then sneak off to a smaller, easier to heat nook, sleep there, and sneak back in the next morning in time to be "woken up" in the state bed.

I'm with you on that, XV!