William M Ewarts as a Wit and His Jokes
A portrait of William M Evarts known for wit and blunt humor with anecdotes from his time as secretary of state. One tale recalls transferring a consul to a bleak northern Sweden posting for a health concern and a later elevator incident over a smoking sign witnessed by a senator. The New York Tribune recounts the episodes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William M. Ewarts
West Indies
Sweden
Mr. Evarts
Department of State
Secretary of State
New York Tribune
Goats Swallow Address Tag On Potomac Boat Trip
A Cleveland traveler recalls a Potomac River voyage where a colored deckhand notices a goat chewing the ship tag with the delivery address. The remark captures a moment of humor as the goat swallows the tag, leaving the destination unreadable.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
National Capital
Potomac
Virginia
Maryland
Lake Erie
Cleveland Leader
Counterfeit Dollar Scam Foiled on City Car Ride
A conductor recounts trapping a drunken passenger using a counterfeit half dollar passed as fare. The plan involved exchanging a fake coin for a real dollar, then splitting the proceeds, but both conductors end up with a counterfeit silver dollar instead. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports the ruse.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Zoo
Eden Park
Cincinnati Enquirer
Baleg a Eating Elephant
A vivid description of a ritual where naked tribespeople feast on an elephant carcass, tearing flesh with knives and spears, amid blood and chaos. The scene ends as only bones and vultures remain, with the narrator noting the savage spectacle before the Royal Geographical Society.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baleg
Royal Geographical Society
Senator Sorghum Advises Front-Row Credit in Politics
The Washington Star quotes Senator Sorghum telling a young man studying politics that staying ahead means claiming credit early. He cautions against waiting for applause after reforms are enacted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senator Sorghum
Washington Star
If eggs would only grow on egg plants
A whimsical aphorism from the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader notes the impracticality of eggs growing on plants and mocks the notion that an incubator could replace a hen’s role, suggesting the need for hens to remain in business.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sioux Falls
Parson Adds One to One and Divorce Judge Subtracts One
Chicago News reports a riddle style update in which a parson adds one to one yielding two and the divorce judge deducts one from one leaving two. The item notes a playful legal quip without further detail.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago News
Toothache on the Seventh Street Car
A Seventh street car tale catches a well dressed man groaning in toothache. A fellow passenger advises a dentist with laughing gas, while the sufferer resists and reveals a dental past. A Washington Post fragment also ponders millionaire indecision and a lawyer's lesson from his son’s case.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jerusha
Washington Post
Fiddled Into Office In 1848 Oswego Congress Tale
The Washington Star recounts Major Cochran, a near 80 year old son in law of General Philip Schuyler, who claims he "fiddled himself into congress" after a river launch party in Oswego New York. The anecdote links political luck to a fiddle performance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Taylor
Tennessee
Lossing
Oswego
N. Y
Major Cochran
Philip Schuyler
Congress
Adama
New York
Young Cochran
Schenectady
Washington Star
Preferable to Have Her Talk in Quiet Evening
They recall a pleasant evening as two men trade reminiscences. When asked what his wife said on returning home one man replies nothing. The other remarks he would rather dodge words than other things in a wry New York Mail and Express tone.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rascal
Pop
Detroit Free Press
New York Mail and Express
Parson Cuts Sermons Short With Lawn Gnome Quip
A preacher once told his flock that every blade of grass holds a sermon. The next day a parishioner teased that he was cutting sermons short by mowing his yard, echoing the parable with a playful barb.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago News
Possible Explanation of It From a Chicago Post Quip
A cartoonish quip suggests Willie Jenkins misbehaves on Thursdays while Mrs. Jenkins attends a mothers meeting about child education and discipline. The remark frames the behavior as a routine consequence of parental guidance sessions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Willie Jenkins
Dream of Purgatory Reflects on Advice Given
Huddleston recalls a nightmare where he is in purgatory and forced to do all the things he told friends he would do if in their positions. The remark comes during breakfast after a morning discussion with his wife, as cited in Brooklyn Life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Huddleston
Purgatory
Brooklyn
Man who has no money to buy food quoted
A terse editorial line from the Atchison Globe notes the paradox of a man lacking money yet not striving for fame by extreme fasting. The remark highlights the conflict between want and ambition in public discourse.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atchison Globe
Horses Wounded in Battle And Aftercare
A Pearsons Magazine note explains battlefield veterinary duties. It states veterinary officers and aids treat or slaughter wounded horses when human life is not at risk and outlines post battle euthanasia and hospital line procedures for injured animals.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Royal Army Medical Corps
Ted Cross
Army Veterinary Department
Peargon
A Dry Smoke Habit Advises Smokers
A New York Herald idea promotes a "dry smoke" where an unlit cigar rests between the lips. It claims the practice reduces actual cigar use without major harm and can help inveterate smokers cut down, though initial enjoyment may be limited.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York Herald
One Thing Needful Irate Father Drama
A short Chicago News gag depicts a clash between a young man and an irate father after a rough night. The youth asks for the returned torn trousers piece caused by stairs and a dog during a harsh incident.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago News
Dinner tease sparks memory in Spatts household
In a chat with Bloobumper, Spatts recalls a dinner from last evening that impressed him, while Sammy Spatts playfully reminds him he told Mr. Taddells about it at dinner yesterday, in a Detroit Free Press style exchange.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Spatts
Bloobumper
Sammy Spatts
She Walked on Him. A Punchline From the Press
A playful exchange in the Philadelphia Press features a man recounting a proposal attempt that ends with the woman treating him like a sidewalk joke. The quip turns on her taking him for a stroll rather than accepting the offer.
Man from Mansfield Recounts Kidney Cure Relief
Ira W. Kelley of Mansfield Pa recovered after two years of kidney trouble following unsuccessful medical treatment. He credits Foley's Kidney Cure with relief and urges others to try it. Also noted is hair work by Mrs I Wetteland with contact at the second house east of the Catholic church.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ira W. Kelley
Mansfield
Foley
Ilden & Loughran
I. Wetteland
Catholic Church
Webster and the Plow at Marshfield
The Lewiston Journal reports Daniel Webster hosted farmers at Marshfield for a ceremonial christening of a giant Boston plow. Webster urged dawned oxen to pull as he shouted Then let her rip, prompting laughter while crowds watched the soil be ripped. The plow now sits atop Boston’s Faneuil Hall market as a notable landmark.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Webster
Daniel Webster
Marshfield
Boston
Miles
Cincinnatus
Wright
Mr. Webster
Faneuil Hall
Lewiston Journal
Also Mentioned on This Page
Lenox
Newport
Adirondacks
Europe
Philadelphia Press
Bigelow & Smith’s
Oor Liebso
O. K
Frank FE. Bellamy
Union National Bank
Ames
Iowa
Spring & Soc
M. Jay Adams & CO
J. B. Elliott & Son
Iowa Central
R’y Co
Marshalltown
St. Paul Mail
St. Paul Express
Mason Oarsail
St. Louis
K. C. Mai
Peoria
Peoria Mall
P. Barry
Guana Ieeluamer
Little Bros
Real Est T. and Insurance
Minnesota
South Dakota
Boswotu
H Westerman
T. MoLare
Westerman & Mlai
David
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