SOTD 2024-06-19 Juneteenth and the state that almost wasn't part of the Civil War
- Brush: Semogue 830
- Razor: Gillette - New short comb
- Blade: Dorco - ST-300 (2nd use)
- Lather: Declaration Grooming - Persephone
- Post Shave: Declaration Grooming - Persephone splash
- Bowl: Captain's Choice Standard Copper Bowl
It wouldn't be right if I didn't simp for all of my favourite soaps; I've already done so for 3/4 of them, so all that was left was Persephone.
Based out of Ferndale in the state of Michigan, Declaration Grooming came up with the best sandalwood scent my nose has ever experienced.
I thought about saving this soap for "sandalwood day", but then someone might get nitpicky and say that they list pomegranate ahead of sandalwood...
Well I have a backup plan for that, don't you worry!
I wanted to go all out with the quadfecta of soap, splash, balm, and EdP - but sadly, the EdP seems they only sold it on their own website and don't ship products with alcohol outside of the USA.
So I watched as the last bottle sold out while I cried on the inside.
At least I was able to order the splash that finally stocked at a retailer that would ship to Canada;
It only took 2.5 months of daily searching "Persephone" on every retailer that ships to Canada to see if it was in stock.
After a short while I only need to type the letter "D" on my phone's keyboard before it starts autosuggesting "Declaration Grooming Persephone".
So at the moment I'm anxiously awaiting a the long-awaited restock of Persephone splash to go with my stock of soap and liniment.
No longer will I have to gingerly ration my 10ml sample of Persephone splash!
Hopefully my stock will last me until the next run of Persephone is made and I'm able to get my hands on a bottle of the EdP!
So with that shameless plug of the greatest sandalwood scent in the universe out of the way, I have decided to tell you all a story.
You don't have to listen, but I know you will because who doesn't love history?!
Today's story is the story of how Michigan almost didn't take part in the Civil War.
In fact, it almost didn't end up part of the Union at that time!
The reason for that is a sparsely populated frozen tundra that borders it to the North known today as "Canada".
You see, in 1812 Canada conquered the state of Michigan. We also apparently burned Chicago to the ground while we were at it.
The intention was to give Michigan over to the natives to have their own country; especially since they had joined forces with Canada to defend against the American invasion.
(The Americans thought that because the British were busy fighting Napoleon that Canada would be easy pickings, so they invaded us first)
Sadly, both the native general and the Canadian one who had both agreed to the terms were killed in battle.
So the British made us give back Michigan to the Americans. They eventually joined the war too to back up the Canadians.
Because there was one thing that the early 19th century British (and I guess Canadian too) liked more than burning cities to the ground (Washington DC and everything between Norfolk to Baltimore where they were finally stopped):
Selling stuff for a profit!
Apparently the Americans were really attached to Michigan and wanted it back and threatened never to buy any more tea and biscuits from Britain ever again if they didn't give it back.
Maybe Britain learned their lesson about Americans and buying tea.
The British apparently also gave America back Maine; even I learn something sometimes!
And so that's the story of how Michigan has British capitalism to thank for why it's part of the United States today and could side with the Union forces during the Civil War to put an end to slavery.
The End.
Edit: Memes go here.
Put it in the wrong place before.