Bananas and the Court of Curious Tales
A scattered fragment discusses banana growth noting fruit grows upward and is cut unripe for shipping, then ripens from the stalk. It shifts to a humorous anecdote about a guest smashing glasses and a waiter joking about Lord Macaulay. It ends with a tale of English court pageantry and a farmer and his son at the crown court.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lord Macaulay
St. James’ Gazette
England
Thomas Edward Crispe
A K. C
Crown Court
Cleasby
Feather
Freaks of a Genius Visit a London Tavern
A tall pale gentleman with bushy eyebrows enters a London tavern. The waiter brings bread cheese and ale without invitation. After lunch he sits upright and stares, then suddenly shatters an empty glass on the floor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
A Friend In Need
Dialogue from Chicago News features Algie and Fred discussing promoting Algie’s good points to a pretty cousin while Fred recalls arguing with her for two hours yesterday about Algie’s perceived foolishness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Algie
Fred
Chicago News
Eccentric Paving Tales From Royal Courts
In Harper's Weekly an account recalls eccentric paving choices by rulers and nobles. Maximilian II Bavaria reportedly laid burnished copper plates, Louis XV used silver squares in Versailles court, and a gold sun tablet marked the monarch's emblem. A Milanese noble supposedly tiled a palace courtyard with stones from many lands, inscribed with their origins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Maximilian Humanuel
Bavaria
Louis Viv
Versailles
Louis
Louise de la Valliere
Louise
Milan
Europe
America
Asia
Africa
Australia
Harper’s Weekly
Sinister Bastille Domino Game for Louis XVII
A relic described as a domino set made from Bastille pieces was given to the dauphin before Versailles departure. The queen reportedly cried to Mme Campan, “What a sinister plaything to give a child.” The ominous object, among other revolutionary items, is kept in Paris.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Versailles
Mme. Campan
Paris
Personal Paragraphs From Ames and Surrounding
Local notices list Ames residents and visitors including Geo Alvesta at Webster City, Prof Stevenson and wife returning from Wisconsin, B A Madsen at UC Berkeley, and many family visits and travels. Also noted are readings, church events, library closure for Chautauqua, and multiple small notices about real estate, births, and local commerce.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Geo. Alvesta
Loughran & Bauer
Webster City
Ames
Prof. Stevenson
Lake Caganda
Wisconsin
B. A. Madsen
University of California
Agricultural Department
Charles Dallemand
Des Moines
Frank Spence
Denver
Beastly twick and a broken vow in Chicago News
In this brisk dialogue Algernon and Percy discuss Miss Giltcoin and a broken promise. The excerpt mocks a lawsuit for nonsupport as a clean case, noting the sharp Metropolitan voice of the Chicago News.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Algernon
Such Is Fame Exchange Between Mrs Bluehose and Mrs Malaprop
A humorous exchange discusses a new boarder described as literary. Mrs Malaprop notes the man’s books and papers litter his room, implying he is a heavy reader and organizer none. The dialogue highlights nickname and character contrast in a domestic scene.
Aching Voids and the Hollow Tooth Joke Exchange
A Chicago Tribune exchange features Brooks and Rivers debating a playful phrase about an aching void. Rivers repeats void language and Brooks muses on a hollow tooth and a head ache as a punny thread.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brooks
Rivers
Chicago Tribune
Pathos and tragedy haunted by laughter’s force
The passage argues laughter interrupts pathos and tragedy, preventing overwhelming emotion. It claims humor salvages the human response, turning sorrow into a tolerate or even humane experience, and implies laughter can shield people from despair.
Memorable date in Roman history cited by class
A classroom exchange asks which date stands out in Roman history. A student replies Antony and Cleopatra, highlighting a memorable moment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Antony
Cleopatra
Warner's White Wine of Tar Still Sold at Same Price
A vintage ad claims Warner's White Wine of Tar remains at the same price as before. The note credits J. BE. Cagwin as the distributor and promotes it as a universal remedy for coughs colds asthma and related ailments.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chamberlain
Warner
J. BE. Cagwin
Book on Dr Shoop Night Cure Quietly Promotes Demand
An advertisement promoting Dr Shoop's Night Cure for women asserts soothing antiseptic suppositories provide quick relief. The book is offered for free with an address to Dr Shoop in Racine Wisconsin at Cagwin's Drug Store.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Read
Des Moines
Methodist Hospital
Hollister
Joel BE. Cagwin
Dr. Shoop
Shoop
Cagwin
Also Mentioned on This Page
Tilden
Att Tilde
Tilden Store
Kim- Ne
Risy
Koo
Colo
Mrs. Meredith
Ernest
Atlantic
F. E. King
Grand Avenue
Fred Munn
San Diego
Calif
B. E. Buckwell
Vera
Florence
Decorah
Iowa
Greer
Clara Ohmart
Guthrie
Oklahoma
Lucy Cox
Oklo
Mac Minn
O. H. Hagen
Lena Hyatt
Gilbert
J. Hoagland
Mabel Ware
Oskaloosa
Joel Cagwin
Thompkins
Safford
Cooper
Chicago
University
I C. Bishop
Public Schoole
Nebraska
Bishop
Mona Fowler
Genevieve
Hazel Allen
Royal Harvey
Nevada
Glenn Lainson
Kenneth Hollingsworth
Marshalltown
J. N. Fower
BE. £. Sowers
Frank
Helen Stone
Maxwell
Lula Ellis
Clinton, Montour
Marshal Town
Zika
Cedar Rapids
M. W
Dr Templeton
Bertha
Mildred Herr
Mrs. Vaughn
Kansas City
Mackinaw Islands
New York Sun
John Lanning
Pleasant Grove
Bouge and
Almsad
Times Office
Bauge & Alm’s
C. F. Rosengren
Payne
Story Street
Ames City
John Kintzley, Jr
Watertown
S. Dak
District Court
Story County
Hannah RK. Schooler
Harrison C. Schooler
State of Iowa
Hannah R. Schooler
McCarthy & Luke
Lynch
Clark Avenue
College
D. A. Nash
F. W. Morgan
Cambridge
E. F. Burton
Duff
C. L. Liverly
Union National Bank
Main Street
Chautauqua Grounds
Burnett Street
Were
Bell Telephone System
Iowa Telephone Co
Pho
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!