Bears as Signs and Other Fragments of Urban Life
A collage of amusing vignettes about New York City life. Furriers use stuffed bears as store signs because they endure weather and draw trade, while other animals fail. Anecdotes include Charles Dana’s yacht story for a Nebraskan reporter, Don Quixote tapestries, Don Quixote Spanish lesson humor, a king’s joke about reading Don Quixote in Spanish, a German restaurant gag about salt pickles and thirst, a pulpit gift remark, a father son gag about proving misbehavior, and a cowboy boast about enemies and guns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Central Park
New York Press
Charley
Dana
Charles A
New York Harbor
Elgilian
Bryce
Mr. Lodge
American Commonwealth
Emerson
Carlyle
Rollin Lynde Hartt
Atlantic
New York Tribune
Remark sparks wagging tongues over cement biscuits
A Philadelphia Record item cites a witty exchange where a young wife calls a rival a tramp for saying her biscuits were like cement, and the young husband retorts perhaps he wanted to become solid.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Record
Willie and Little Bob in a Dumb Contest
A brief dispute unfolds as Willie and Little Bob spar over knowledge. Family pride and taunts light the exchange, showing generational contrasts in a witty, era tone.
Blue Blazes the Michigan Monster horse tale
An uncivil horse tale recounts Blue Blazes a red roan whose fury grew from cruel treatment. From farm to streetcar to wagon he wrecked property, kicked drivers, bit, and fought gray horses, earning headlines as a famed equine outlaw across Michigan towns from Muskegon to Alpena.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sewell Ford
Michigan
Blue Blazes
Torses
Muskegoule
Manistee
Alpena
Quaint London Legacies on Medieval Sermon Values
Reports from the charity commission in London reveal historic sermon valuations in parishes. Donors like Thomas Bright and James Wood bequeathed sums for sermons with specified payments to ministers clerks and sextons, plus charitable provisions for the poor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Charity Commission
County of London
Thomas Bright
David Gtttin
Lott
John Ireland
John Winn
St. Bennet
Paul's Wharf
St. John
James Wood
St. Nicholas-Cole-Abbey
Bowyers
Jay
St. Michael Bassishaw
Edward Heytin
London News
Modern Mexico as described by a theatrical tour guide
The text critiques Mexican social and commercial practices with humorous observations. It notes mislabelled roles like chamber maids as men and varied pricing of goods, including coffee, meat, and produce. It mentions railways, street cars, and different classes of cod and a shift to metric pricing, alongside fashion trends and holiday entertainments in a satirical tone.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rex
Minny
Mexico
Discovered Gold Diarist Tales and Tea Drunkards
A fragmented excerpt recalls gold discoveries in California in 1848 and Colorado in 1858, with accidental finds fueling myths of wandering prospectors. It also critiques tea drunkenness as a social vice and includes a light anecdote about a poor suitor and a married couple relying on affection amid hardship.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
California
Colorado
Thayer
Citornia
Debating Letter Writing Says Talley Warns Doubts Rise
A fragmentary exchange quotes Talley urging decisiveness on letter writing amid doubts and humor about eclat and expense. The text includes remarks by Bulwer and references Cyntha and Mr Newrocks in a playful discourse.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Newrocks
Cyntha
Talley
Rand
Bulwer
Also Mentioned on This Page
Chicago & North-Western
North Sound
Iowa
Minnesota
Paul
South
Towa
Des Moines
Chicago
Milwaukee
Iowa Central
Defart
Harke & & Cohenour
Attorneys AT Law
Algona
Ullavan
McMahon
Swepting
Onar & Fellows
Bancroft
Algona Ofice
Algona State Bank
Bancroft Ofice
Kennedy
P. Harrington
L. J. Dickinson
TON & Dickinson
Cotant & Cotant, Fe
Kossuth County Bank
Seo
B. Cotant
D. Hinchon
Ohney
Jiohn
Galvin Hie Algona
M. Galbrait
Atorney AT Law
John Galbraith Block
Isda
M. J. Benefice
Algons State Bank
Dodge Street
Ead J. Gay
E. & F. Drug Store
C. D. Fellows
Halse Block
East Gull Street
Cc H. Cretzmeyer
John Galbraith
C. Selbert
Beaton, Block
L. Bist, D
Glasier
D. D
Devereadz
Entist
John
Ebe
Sayers
Algona, Ta
W. H. Ingham
Theo
Chrischilles V-Pres
Lewis H. Smith
Kossuth County State Bank
Algona, Iowa
Capital
J. &. Smith
J. B. Jones
T. Chrischilles
J. W. Wadsworth
Barnet Devine
Ambrose A. Call
D.H. Hurcuins
V-Pres
At. K. Ferguson
Cashier
A. Palmer
Ass’t Cash
di Butebina
Ve Swottin
John J. Ferguson
Gardner Cowles
A. Spencer
Wm. K. Ferguson
Algons, Jawa
Fira Prouit
Securiti
General Banking
Algonad State Bank
Dinzerons
A, D. Clarke
Pres't
CO. Duugs
Y. Pags's
T. H. Lantay
Geo. L. Galbraith
Frep Minne
Myron Bohenck
J. W. Binchon
B.J. Murvagu
Mancia Haun
Frank van Exoenys
Cyshier
Peoples Savings Bank
St. Benedict
Bella Loans
K. J. Murtagh
Martin Rahm
Joseph Isb
Frank Audorfer
Frank van Erdewyk
Don Quixote
Loula XV
Chevalier
Madrid
Louis
Cage
Willie
Cactus
Dhurrah
Bob
Baltimore News
Myr. Precise
Mrs. Precise
Mr. Precise
Mexigo
Soia
George
Chicago ‘Tribune
Galbraith’s Shoe Store
Madelia
Cate
Jas, Patterson
Bourne’s
North Iowa Lumber Co
Oregon
Washington
Missouri River
San Francisco
Los Angeles
Portland
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!