Anna Penn and Karen Aroche describe the ingredients of popular cosmetics in the late 18th century. Photo by Louise Krafft.
The Virginia Society for the Promotion of Useful Knowledge met on Sunday, March 22, at the Apothecary Shop in Alexandria. The society is led by science educator and living history instructor Dean Howarth and is comprised of students attending McLean High School. Each student studies the life and work of an 18th century thinker and reenacts that individual. Students demonstrated the use of an electrostatic generator in producing electricity, methods of producing a vacuum, described various medical remedies for ailments including blood-letting and leeches and popular cosmetics in the 1700’s. The original society was established in Williamsburg in 1773 with the aim of studying nature using empirical methods to advance scientific knowledge.
The society will be returning to the Carlyle House gardens on Garden Day, April 18.
Coming up on April 12 at the Apothecary Shop will be an afternoon with Mad Science. Group sessions start every 30 minutes between 1 and 4:30 p.m. The sessions last approximately 45 minutes. Tickets may be pre-ordered at www.shop.alexandriava.gov/events Prices are $6 per person, ages 5 and up. For more information visit www.apothecarymuseum.org or call 703-746-3852