Young maids Gretchen and Katchen in playful antics
In a whimsical scene from St Nicolas, Gretchen and Katchen are two bright maids with blue eyes and flaxen hair. Gretchen schemes a cherry picnic with Katchen, Fray Green-Eyes, and their cat acquaintance, while Katchen remains calm. The tale contrasts their lively personalities and ends with vivid imagery of a vine arbor and a playful plan.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Etchen
Katchen
Myse
Green
Gretchen
Helen Gray Cone
Nicholas
The Giant Stride An Amusing Exercise Device
An article describes a homemade exercise device called the giant stride. It explains selecting a straight young hickory, cutting a square top, and attaching an iron ring to prevent splitting. It notes driving an iron pin for the pivot and emphasizes the device's healthful value for boys.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frank
Giant stride apparatus for swinging around a pole
Detailed construction of a two person giant stride device from Youth's Companion describes setting a vertical pole, a crossbar rope saddles, and a hand piece to enable circular swinging around the pole. Steps include ground clearance, hole sizes, and attaching looped ropes with carpet saddles for support.
English Legal Puns Show Wit in Courtroom Anecdotes
A collection of legal puns and quips from English judges and lawyers. The pieces illustrate wit in proceedings with lines about leading questions, the right to deal with witnesses, and playful rhymes about the chancellor's kitchen.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Frederick Thesiger
Sir Frederick
Littledale
John Campbell
John
Walter Scott
Joseph Gillon
Edinburgh
Joseph
Sir Walter
Gillon
Eldon
Arthur Piggott
Jeckyll
Sir Arthur
Billy the San Francisco’s goat captivates sailors at sea
The Navy flagship San Francisco hosts Billy the ship’s privileged goat idolizing about four hundred sailors. The goat’s antics replace formal stiffness with playful mischief aboard the Pacific coast battleship. The vessel’s origins tie to San Francisco, which sent gifts and silverware noted in the ward room.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Franciso
Uncle Sam
Jack
San Francisco
North Atlantic
Billy
Pacific Coast
Valparaiso
Cape Horn
Fun for the Boys A Wooden Fish That Swims
A simple pine wood fish is carved painted black and white to resemble a fish. In saltwater it floats on its back showing the dark top. in freshwater it rolls over exposing the white underside. The effect relies on liquid density, not magic.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
Amiel
Littlejohn
New York
Hawaii
Camp Fire Stories and Grant Word Origins
Longstreet presses Union lines at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge as Grant’s peace etching and the famous phrase Let us have peace are recounted. Personal portraits and wartime action mix with the tale of Grant’s presidential acceptance letter drafting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gen. Grant
Washington
Gen. Dent
N. St
F Streets
Hawley
Gen Grant
United States
Grant
Gen. Rawlings
Travel Time From Here to Goobertown
A dialogue from Harper's Bazar explores travel time to Goobertown. Stranger asks how long it takes by car, horse, walking, and Native explains speeds vary and no exact timing is given. The exchange humorously notes delays depend on pace and mode of travel.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Goobertown
Harper’s Bazar
Parker
Dawson
Nellie Hansom
Gotrox
Buffalo Courier
Macaulay
the Bazar
Atheneum
Harper's Bazar
Mel
Northumberland Co
Pierce
W. L. Douglas
Doctor You Cough More Easily This Morning
Patient says I ought to I practiced all night. Hallo.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Katchen
True Heroism and a Sergeant's Courage in Battle
A Civil War era tale recounts a sergeant named Fred Marsh refusing to take command to reassure a mortally wounded lieutenant. The captain was wounded as the unit retreated under heavy fire, Marsh aiding wounded, then steadying the line and urging his men forward amid Confederate assault.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rudolph Kelker
Pittsburgh
Pennsylvania Volunteers
Evans City
Butler County
Fred Marsh
Fred
Lieut
Billie Haight
Company I
Haight
Kim
Chicago
Inter Ocean
Wit and Wisdom and a Rabbit Pen Craft Scene
A collage of quotes and jokes appears alongside a detailed eighteenth century style description of building a rabbit pen. The article narrates a DIY project with diagrams and steps showing box construction, roofing, a pit for burrows, and the final warm, clean enclosure painted in dark red and white for a lawn display. The craft piece ends with notes on maintenance and aesthetics.
Creamy custard dessert with nutmeg and macaroon topping
Five egg yolks beaten with sugar and nutmeg, stirred with cream into a foamy custard. Spoon into china cups set in a water bath, boil gently, chill until ice cold, then top with grated macaroons. Vanilla can substitute for nutmeg. Detroit Free Press.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Detroit Free Press
Town taxes cited for high rents in New York Weekly
In a dialogue from a New York Weekly piece, a city man questions rent levels in an incorporated town. A villager notes that despite lacking metropolis status, taxes still push costs upward.
Ingenious Self-Opening Poultry House Contrivance Described
The Farm and Fireside notes a simple spring mechanism by which hens can exit a poultry house automatically at daybreak. A platform triggers a weight that releases a staple and drops a door, letting fowls out while keeping the coop secure at night. Designer Mr. Smith M. Evans of Alabama endorses its effectiveness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smith M. Evans
Alabama
Also Mentioned on This Page
Gretchen and
Wiine
Capricor
Magicienne
Lieut. Kimball
Don C. Seitz
St. Nicholas
California and
Oregon
Department of Agriculture
California
Arizona
Thrilling Story OF the War
Longstreet
Frank A. Burr
Philadelphia
Thirty-eighth
Ohio Infantry
Twenty-first Ohio Infantry
Chicikamauga
Missionary Ridge
Rossville
Colt
Enfield
Aim
Lamb
Johnie
Micky
Cincinnati Enquirer
Rappahannock
Lee
Mosby
University of Chicago
Ambherst
Oakland
Alameda
England
France
Germany
Italy
Spain
Russia
Sidney Lear
H. Bowman
Vermont
Yale
Cornwell
University of the City of New York
Harvard
University of Pennsylvania
WIT and Wisdom
Fidelity
Horace
Boston Bulletin
Lamartine
Kitty
Tom
Puck
Tommy Tinkle
Eddie
Bruyere
Detroit Tribune
Cecil
Charlotte Bronte
Willie
Pretty Rabbit
Rabbit Pen
N. Y
K&s
Invalides’ Hote
Main Street
Buffalo
Galen Wilson
Royal Baking Powder CO
Wall
Mr. Blunt
Robess
Ram’r Horn
Ram Orn
de Jinks
Harlem
Tuerz
Ram
Dante
Cappi
Bronson
ST. Jacobs Oil
Sciatica
Santa Claus Soap
Soa
THE
Nkfairbank Company
Tage
Ldovany
Planet Mills
W. Lake St. Chicago
Ageenyeon
AN. K
Tate
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!