Literal tar and feathers was cruel. Someone I know from my Grandpa's day was horribly burned by that, in a rural town. But poetic justice may run its course...in her picture, she's wearing red and black. And that's a message to any bees, alright.
Tar and feathers was used in the old days and times as a means of public humility. This was the means in by which the public could show its utter denouncement and utter disgust of a politicians dishonorable service and his dishonoring public trust while in office. This type of public display was to humiliate the recipient to the point the recipient, knew beyond any doubt that his actions and abuse of public trust would not be accepted or tolerated further. The fellow citizens who had elected said recipient, made sure that any honor which had been placed or bestowed to said politician, had been lost by his peers. Pine tar was the type tar used. You did not say what your acquaintance did to deserve this type of public disgust and humiliation? Pine tar is thought to exert its effect by reducing DNA synthesis and mitotic activity, which promotes a return to normal keratinisation. In addition, pine tar has been shown to be antipruritic, anti- inflammatory, antibacterial and antifungal. These properties make pine tar suitable for the topical treatment of eczema, psoriasis, seborrhoeic dermatitis and other dry, itchy, flaky or inflamed skin conditions. Now I said the pine tar statement as a joke. But, back in the day, when an elected Official, duly elected by his peers, knew if he was caught cheating the public or taking actions which were clearly wrong, while in office, could possibly receive such public humiliation. Not only that but the crook would sometimes be toted to the edge of town on a rail. As in O Brother where Art Thou..... Remember (Homer Stokes)? 😁😁😁
Ben Framed