What you thought you knew…

From early one in our education, we have learnt the difference between up and down, head to toes, front and back. Those are thing you will never mess up, confuse or even hesitate about, they are constant and unchangeable.

Then later on in elementary school there comes magnetism; North and South, like poles repel, unlike poles attract. These stringent rules of science are obviously never doubted, we’ve tried and we’ve tested them for ourselves. Further on, reading, delving into stories about distant lands and different times, a pirate looking for lost treasure or an explorer on a quest for a land to happen upon, compass in one hand, the other shielding from the light of the midday sun, the trusty eyes that scour the far horizons for a tell-tale speck. But never have they or we, ever, ever confused North for South. Maybe East and West but most definitely not the Earth’s Poles. Trusty and unchanging.

North is ‘Up’ and South is ‘Down’, no more, no less. Or so you think… first of all let’s look at the little needle we call a compass. This nifty navigational instrument utilizes a tiny internal magnet to align itself with the North pole pointing us in the right direction. But then wouldn’t the magnet’s north pole be seeking the planet’s south pole?

Yet it isn’t so. The needle does point to the North. Now, the best way to adjust the problem would be to flip around the magnet so that though the arrow points north, it’s the south pole would do the work.

But here comes the cream of the cake, the Earth’s Magnetic North pole is in Antarctica which is what we call the ‘South Pole’, while its Magnetic South Pole is where the Geographical North Pole exists.

This is what attracts the little magnet in a compass, therefore rendering it correct, but … the whole Earth…upside down?

Fascinating turn of events don’t you think?

19th century glamour

The billowing dresses, swirling in a kaleidoscope of colours upon the glossy, gleaming wooden floor in a rapid, intricate  movements, the music, violins and the strains of a harpsichord in harmony could be heard above the gleeful chatter emanating from the gay, lively, weaving bodies, unaffected by the heat that consumed the ballroom.

Clinks of glass and tinkling laughter filled the air like irregular punctuation, permeating the room, adding to the melodious undertone of the quartet on the podium on the far edge of the dance floor, unceasingly letting the music flow along with the rhythm of infinite footsteps as they dance the night in capital bliss.

Along the edges  of the hall, matronly chaperons and damely mothers stood, relentlessly eyeing their own, reading into every attention the young, wealthy potential suitors payed to their beloved daughters, dreaming of the day they may give their hands away in honourable marriage to gentlemen of possession, property and personality. Debutantes, gazed with unguarded fascination at the glamour of the balls and effortless socializing that they had yet to acquire.

Unheard by dancing folk, the clatter of hoofs on the cobblestones outside heralded the evening’s end as the families of recognition and stature departed leaving behind first impressions of lasting significance and memories to last a lifetime of dancing, flirting and friendship.