MINA HARKER'S JOURNAL
31 October.--Arrived at Veresti at noon. The Professor tells me that this morning at dawn he could hardly hypnotize me at all, and that all I could say was, "dark and quiet." He is off now buying a carriage and horses. He says that he will later on try to buy additional horses, so that we may be able to change them on the way. We have something more than 70 miles before us. The country is lovely, and most interesting. If only we were under different conditions, how delightful it would be to see it all. If Jonathan and I were driving through it alone what a pleasure it would be. To stop and see people, and learn something of their life, and to fill our minds and memories with all the color and picturesqueness of the whole wild, beautiful country and the quaint people! But, alas!
Later.--Dr. Van Helsing has returned. He has got the carriage and horses. We are to have some dinner, and to start in an hour. The landlady is putting us up a huge basket of provisions. It seems enough for a company of soldiers. The Professor encourages her, and whispers to me that it may be a week before we can get any food again. He has been shopping too, and has sent home such a wonderful lot of fur coats and wraps, and all sorts of warm things. There will not be any chance of our being cold.
We shall soon be off. I am afraid to think what may happen to us. We are truly in the hands of God. He alone knows what may be, and I pray Him, with all the strength of my sad and humble soul, that He will watch over my beloved husband. That whatever may happen, Jonathan may know that I loved him and honored him more than I can say, and that my latest and truest thought will be always for him.
Mina: "[Van Helsing] has been shopping too, and has sent home such a wonderful lot of fur coats and wraps, and all sorts of warm things."
Since this fur clothing was purchased in haste in a small town, it seems likely that the fur coats and wraps are made from local furs. Wolf fur was probably readily available, which seems somehow fitting. Other possibilities would be hare and rabbit fur, lambskin and sheepskin.
Posted by: Most Significant | October 31, 2021 at 03:19 AM
"Dr. Van Helsing has returned. He has got the carriage and horses."
There is no description of this carriage. I am forced to conclude that it was a completely unremarkable vehicle. It had to be large enough to carry Mina’s trunk, Van Helsing’s luggage, the furs, the provisions, and some firewood. It must also have a seat with a back, to allow the passenger to sleep sitting up as they travel.
Maybe it was something like this carriage in the Romanian Peasant Museum: https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/carriage-romanian-peasant-museum-dumbrava-sibiului-transylvania-found-many-pieces-inventory-76769079.jpg
Posted by: Most Significant | October 31, 2021 at 03:21 AM
Vampires, viruses, and vaccination by Jason Zinoman in the New York Times:
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/30/style/vampires-coronavirus.html
Posted by: Most Significant | October 31, 2021 at 12:32 PM