Folly on Perim Island A White House Story of a French Plan
A British governor foils a French move toward Perim in the Bab el Mandeb strait. After a staged dinner and clever ruse, Perim is occupied by the British and the French fortify a white house on the opposite shore, later abandoned as a symbol of the miscalculation and naval pride.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bab-el-Mandeb
Red Sea
Far East
M. de Lesseps
Suez Canal Company
Aden
Orient
Sokotra
Perim Island
Suez Canal
L’erim
Perim
Arabian
White House
Stilton cheese origins tied to Wichcote village claim
The Stilton cheese secrecy was once kept by the original inventors family who sold to Cooper Thornhill of Stilton. It likely should be called Wichcote cheese as it was first made in Wichcote village in Leicestershire about thirty miles east of Stilton.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cooper Thornhill
Stilton
Tim
Wichcote
Leicestershire
London Standard
Filipino girls toil early then win husbands by work
An American in Manila notes Filipino girls start labor young, bearing babies and carrying water, working fields and markets, with marriage bringing many children and lifelong care. As they age they rest quietly, their wrinkled brown faces reflecting a hard but peaceful life. A legend about wallaby was linked to childhood beliefs among local boys.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Manila
Islands
New York Tribune
A Queen Elizabeth Bedstead of Walnut and Gold
A 1581 wardrobe warrant describes a walnut bed for Queen Elizabeth with cloth of silver tester and valance, crimson satin headpiece, Venetian lace, ostrich feather decorations, and rich satins. Similar royal and noble beds appeared through centuries, with one Queen Anne lottery prize bed noted to cost over £3,000.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elizabeth
Venice
Bruges
London
Graft In The Household Bribe In Domestic Service
A Boston Herald observation notes graft as a business in households. A young matron recounts her maid and cook being bribed to betray her, with wage differences cited as the motive. The piece labels the act plain graft rather than bribery.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Julia
Boston Herald
Field Jokes About Hale With Watered Bottles at Luncheon
Edward Everett Hale enjoyed a joke by Eugene Field who hosted a Chicago luncheon in Hale's honor. Field, aware Hale was temperance minded, provided a table of bottles labeled whisky brandy and champagne that proved to be filled with water when uncorked.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Field
Edward Everett Hale
Eugene Field
Dr. Hale
Chicago
Wallaby Feast Sparks Cultural Snag in New Guinea
A traveler collects four wallabies in a sparse New Guinea region but finds native boys refuse to touch the meat while guides and servants eagerly partake. The incident, recounted in an English magazine, highlights differing cultural attitudes toward wallaby as a delicacy and a sport pursuit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New Guinea
Wallaby
The Origins of Lacemaking in Historical Legend
The article questions lacemaking's age, noting no proof before the fifteenth century and a famous Caspaccio painting from around 1523. It recounts a Adriatic legend of a fisherman and fiancée that inspired the first bobbin lace through weaving beads from petrified wrack grass after wartime separation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Academy
Venice
Caspaccio
Captain Lapalisse Heist Surprises Valencia Theatre Crowd
During a performance in Valencia a pickpocket stole actor Miralles gold watch from the stairs. Miralles shouted police and thieves but spectators believed the moment was part of the show and applauded. The thief escaped as officers froze.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Captain Lapalisse
Valencia
Miralles
Fin
Judge fixes value of wife in alienation suit
A joke from the Cleveland Plain Dealer recounts Jim Simpson disguising as Iain Abner Hawley to sue for alienating his wife's affections. Judge Musgrove allegedly awarded six cents as damages, deeming it the proper amount, while the wife reacted by throwing a chair and being jailed. the judge was reminded he was her first husband.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Zeb
Jim Simpson
Iain Abner Hawley
Jedge Musgrove
Jim
Singer and Orator Quote From Westminster Gazette
The Westminster Gazette recalls Dr. Macnamoere who says he would sing in Carmen rather than give speeches from the treasury bench noting the public favors a strong speaker over a singer. He reflects on public taste for rhetoric over melody.
Misers and marriage reform discussed in a salon chat
A minister declares plans to marry a reforming husband as Miss Beauti reports her date is the be coming miserly Mr Bandclipper. The exchange hints at social reform and personal faults in a witty parlour conversation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Miss Beauti
Bandclipper
Oldest of many girls replies with cold humor
The Philadelphia Ledger reports Madge, the eldest of several sisters, reacted to a newborn baby sister with a chilling remark after being told not to roughhouse. When urged that she might kill her sister, Madge coolly answered that there were plenty more in the house.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Madge
Philadelphia Ledger
Unchanging Sport in Britain Frames Deer Stalking
Field notes compare deer stalking to primitive hunting in the British isles noting the sport’s persistence and similarity to early quarry pursuit. The piece contrasts the hunter’s weaponry with the hunter’s instinct across eras.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
British Islands
When He Feels Safe
A reader notes that a man feels more secure when his views are endorsed by others, citing an example that an umpire gains certainty when supported by the crowd or colleagues. The comment reflects on confidence from social backing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bacon
Egbert
Yon
Kuroki the Clydesdale Stallion Impresses in American Shows
Kuroki foaled April 24 1908 bred by John Young Breckloch Malbeattie Scotland sired by Prince Shapely dam line Barons Pride Macgregor declared excellent sire of unusual excellence. He ranks among largest powerful Clydesdale stallions seen in American rings today. Won third at last year’s International in strongest aged stallions class. TEAMS 10 for season with return privilege for mares foal 20. Pasture 50 cents weekly pasture and grain 1.50 weekly. Due care but accidents at owner's risk.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prince Shapely
Colonel Holway
Scotland
Macgregor
Kuroki
J. H. Marshall
Marnham Hall
England
Stroxton Tom
Lady Smith II
Nailstone Coeur-de-Lion
Dapple Tom
Carleton Greystone
Truman Brothers
Marmion 22383 Draft Stallion Offered for Breeding
Marmion, a 1907 imported draft stallion from England, weighs a ton at three, winner of the 1909 Iowa State Fair best Shires show. Bred by W. A. Wright, Holbeach, England, imported May 1909 by Truman Brothers, Bushnell IL. Terms: $10 season cash or note, $20 to insure foal, pasture 50c weekly, pasture and grain $1.50 weekly. Due care.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dapple Ey
W. A Wright
Holbeach
Lincoln
England
Truman Brothers
Bushnell
Illinois
Lake Lancer
Southgate Marmion
Patterton Ree
Scarliffe Drummer
Fan
Kinharles
Bay
Don Carlos
Marmion
Advance Guard 459338 Advance Guard the Show Stallion
Advance Guard a bronze chestnut standing about 15 hands tall and weighing 1000 pounds. Sired by Inflator by Onward by George Wilkes, with dam Godiva by Egmont, and Advance Guard’s dam Vernie Wilkes by Robbie Wilkes. Won numerous harness and carriage classes from 1907 to 1909 in Louisville Iowa Minnesota Kansas and Chicago. Praised by judges as one of America’s greatest show stallions and expected to pass speed and form to offspring. Terms 25 dollars to insure mare with a kept mare, pasture 50 cents weekly, pasture and grain 1.50 weekly. Due care but owners assume risk for accidents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Advance Guard
Inflator
Onward
George Wilkes
Godiva
Egmont
Oak Park Horse Show
Iowa State Fair
Minnesota State Fair
Kansas State Fair
Chicago Horse Show
America
Dapple Tom Shire Stallion and Breeding Terms
Dapple Tom a well bred Shire stallion standing for a season at $10 cash or note within sixty days with return privilege if mare not foaled. Pasture 50 cents weekly, pasture and grain 1.50 weekly. Mare care is at owner risk. $20 to insure mare with foal.
Import of Hongreur Color Stallion by Burgess & Son
The article notes Hongreur Color a dark grey imported in July 1909 by Robert Burgess and Son of Wenona Illinois. It details lineage from Bechamnel to Violoneux and Coco and Bismarck Bee, plus mentions Limande Bor Courage and Paros lines. The stallion weighs about 2100 pounds at three and is offered for stud with a $20 service fee due March 1 1911, pasture at 50 cents per day and grain at 1.50 per week with due care but owner liability limits.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Burgess and Son
Wenona
Illinois
M. Forges
Department of Orne
Bechamnel
Sats
Violoneux
Layrat
Bismarck Bee
Panel
Oureux
Coco
Vieux Chassin
Nto
Mignon
Pean Gt Wag
Limande Bor Courage
Mien Nivelle
Paros
Rage
Coco Hey
le Blanc
Burg and Son
Snoop Livesy
Also Mentioned on This Page
Arabian Coast
Queen Elizabeth
Pia
Adriatic
Isles
Lagoon
John Young
Breckloch
Malbeattie
Dapple
Hongreur
Farm Department
Iowa State College
Ames, Iowa
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!