Performing Goats and a London Aquarium Professor
An interview with Prof. Matthews, owner of performing goats at the London Aquarium, reveals training methods using bridle-like gear, long patience, and deodorization. He notes goats are trained one trial at a time, take about eighteen months to perfect, and live about twelve years, with no whip used. He compares goats to other acts and recalls training mishaps with improvised stilts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Matthews Tetla
Matthews
Lassed
Ross
Mr. Matthews
London
Pranks of Wood Rats In Florida Home
A whimsical Florida tale from Mrs. Latham of Meco recounts two wood rats that nested near her home after the Oak Ledge fire. The creatures, large eyed and gentle, carried seeds, hid food in pillows, moved corn and oats, nicked beehive fixtures, and even buried pecans on Mrs. Latham’s bed, eliciting lighthearted tolerance from neighbors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Florida
TE. Latham
Meco
Oak Ledge
Parrots in Royal Courts and a Boston Glebe Tale
A historical account recounts famous parrots from Queen Elizabeth to O Keefe and Polly. The Royal chatterer Polly entertained nobles, saved by a ferryman, and earned the king’s favor after a God Save the King performance. O Keefe kept Polly close, and the bird’s skin is in Oxford’s museum. A Philadelphia Polly sang in German and English, befriended a mute, and helped raise orphaned kittens and fox cubs with adopted children on a porch.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hing
Polly
Cetus
Nimeil O'Keefe
Ilis
Ile
Royal
George
Mardly
O'Neele
O'Keefe
Iida
Mseum
Oxford
Philadelphia
Biel
Butt
Boston
SmarTEST of Cats Mrs Muggins Kills Rats for Glory
Cincinnati Tribune recounts a suburban family claim of their cat Mrs Muggins as the country’s smartest cat. The cat follows the father’s evening floor-walking routine, paces lines, rolls over, and waits to be praised after delivering a great big rat to the sitting room.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mugelas
Cincinnati Tribune
A Small Youths Retreat Pompous Schoolmaster Folly
A humorous vignette describes a pompous schoolmaster who scolds a well fed boy on manners. The boy retorts that he is fed because the master teaches him, highlighting wit over pedagogy in a brief, old time tone.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marie Lemon
Schoulumster
Umbrella Stops Aggressive Bull Attack on Narrow Path
A man walking a shortcut across a pasture lot faced a charging bull. He opened an umbrella in the bull’s face, which caused the animal to pause, retreat, and flee. The incident notes that the defense is not infallible and should not be relied upon.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Taissell
Hortford
Conn
Mansfield
Whipple Green
Mansfeld Station
Sim
Fle
Devoted Storks Rescue Two Nestlings in Fire
In Lowenborg a barn burns trapping two stork chicks. A mother stork flies into the blaze to save one, then returns for the other as flames rise. Both parents guard and nurse the wounded birds with help from the Rathaus, a physician, and neighbors. The tale ends with the couple leaving together at dawn.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lowenborg
Stark
Alligator in New York Flat Becomes Neighborhood Talk
A South American brought alligator now resides in a New York flat, housed in a top floor ion tank with steel wire top. Mr Alexander and his family of children care for the pet while neighbors watch for developments. the detailed fate of the reptile remains uncertain as long as it stays safe in its high cage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
South America
Alligator
Alexander
South
Mr. Alexander
Unis
Philadelphia dog and the penny bun caper
A Philadelphia dog, once sent each morning with a penny in its mouth to buy a breakfast bun, faced mischief when a baker’s aide misused the helper. The dog returned the penny after a hot bun incident, then sought another shop. the caper ended with the dog never returning to its original master.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cuntam
Napoleons Table Manners Noted By Guests
The account recalls Napoleons dining speed and strict etiquette as guests, including Eugene de Beauharnais, left early while others lingered. Napoleon corrected a prince who claimed to dine first, demonstrating his control over the table and timing during meals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tie
Napolevon Honiparte
Sin
Thas
Minjesty
Eugene de Beauharnais
Napoleon
Hares and Rabbits Hair and Hide in Winter Color Change
A natural history note explains hares and rabbits possess two types of fur, dense soft underfur and coarse guard hairs. Summer coats turn brown from spring shedding, while fall turns white as winter nears. Species spend winters in protected burrows or rocky refuges to evade predators such as wolves and hawks.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mernadiy
Tepis
The Woodpecker Hunt As Told By Hornaday
A naturalist recounts how a man hunts woodpeckers using stealth and patience. The bird hides in logs, brush, or crevices, freezes like a flame when danger nears, and darts away at the slightest provocation. Details describe the bird’s bold, rapid flight and winter diet of bark, twigs, berries, and buds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Inter
Hornaday
St. Nichols
Caging Wild Beasts At Jamraehs London Zoo
A visiting writer describes the transfer of Bengal tigers from a confinement box to a larger cage at a London animal establishment. The piece notes the dangers of captivity, details the careful, staged movement of the animals, and questions the ethics and practicality of box to cage transfers and the handlers' methods.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jamraeh'n
London
Jamrach
Tam
Ava
Kimmy
Hota
Hupper
Sid
Mink
Iota
Tour O'Elocte
Stornopen
Tils
Why She Didn't Link A Vittle Party Tale
A garbled tale from a child’s account recounts a children's party where laughter erupted and one toy fell apart. The narrator notes multiple kids laughed and a line about a twig and a ring appears amid the confusion, with the child explaining why they did not laugh.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Otter Prizly
Geol Peronas. Story in a quaga avitas drab
A garbled English passage describes a tale with a blind man and two others carrying objects in their mouths. The narrative mentions a region where they live, noting that people have shown interest and curiosity, with a sense of how they are perceived by locals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Geol Peronas
Fragmented quote from Harper's Young People text
A garbled excerpt attributes a terse exchange to Volly and a devil figure. The line suggests a misheard conversation about honesty and action, with no clear event, date, or participant details from the historical source.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Volly
Paying Gull and Beatey at the College Play
A confused report describes a distinguished professor, his failed game and lost tamper, and a humorous exchange about small fares and timing. The tale mentions college danger and a request to a polite interlocutor about paying for a game.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Beatey
Ann
Respectful Pussy Cat Terrorizes Visitor in Household
A long tale from the Boston Transcript describes Blossom the cat resisting an uninvited guest. The cat’s loyalty to its mistress is shown by multiple feisty acts, including scalding, pillowcase clawing, and hiding until the intruder leaves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hossom
Blossom
Dassy
Canine life saver saves sailors with Newfoundland dog
A Newfoundland dog on a Kent beach saved eight shipwrecked sailors from a sinking vessel. The dog retrieved a rope tied to a wood plank, then dragged it to shore, forming a line of communication and enabling all aboard to be rescued. The feat impressed observers and was recounted in Our Dumb Animals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lydd
Kent
Englant
Wong
Ile
Ino
Crent
Working for a Tip Dusy Waiter Draws Pen into Page
A humorous description notes a waiter who signs with one stroke, drawing attention as he fulfills a lemonade order after fifteen minutes. It mentions the waiter’s intense effort and a cartoonish scene where a napkin, ribbon, and pompadour appear in the drawing, while shading under the feet is not in the main image.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mesr
Pat Mejalnter and Seoteluuuna Toast Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott figures attend a dinner honoring Sir Walter Scott. Z Ta Mieaduin or Me Mueaduin proposes a toast to the French Sir Walter Septet, praising the paving inventor Macadam as the colossus of roads. The scene ends with Sir Walter rising and toasting Macadam.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Walter Scott
Pat Mejalnter
Z. Ta Mieaduin
Seoteluuuna
Walter Septet
Waller
Salt and ancient salt lore in a child's playful essay
A fragment recounts a boy's humorous salt essay and mentions salt myths from ancient times. It notes a Mexican king who blocked enemies from salt and a Meslen goddess linked to salt. The piece ends urging gratitude when using salt.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Muxica
Meslen
Damsel Recalls Tiny Trial In Local Verse
A fragmentary poem excerpt depicts a Lewiston youth and a city boy reacting to a robin and a sparrow with simple, devout phrases. The aged speaker and the boys share a quaint rural tone, reflecting on a small domestic scene and moral simplicity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Larpor
Pooyla
Also Mentioned on This Page
Willy WA
Soliloouy
Tiova
Timscut
Opper
St. Niehoina
Tryin
Canine Life Saver
Enthastasa
Lome
Alamma
This is just the beginning! Our collection holds over 300 years of history, including rare newspapers, obituaries, marriage records, birth records, and so much more—most of which you won’t find anywhere else!