Freak Stamps and the Craze for Government Printing Errors
The Kansas City Star notes stamp freaks as prized errors from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It cites rare two cent, 1869 two color issues, inverted center designs, upside down trains in 1901, Guam stamps, and green vs blue denomination misprints with values from hundreds to thousands of dollars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Buffalo
N. Y
Guam
Bank Note Company
Navy Department
Kansas City Star
Careful of the Fire in Southern Hotels
In smaller hotels across southern Italy and Spain travelers endure cold stays as landlords ration fuel with locked coal bins. A Granada landlord keeps a watchful eye on guests while servants limit the stove fuel, prompting shivering scenes and odd antics in the overheated rooms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Italy
Spain
Mr. Hart
Granada
Hugo and His Wife and the Dowsing Rod's Rise
The piece outlines Victor Hugo’s fervent after dinner monologue about God prayer and moral struggle, then shifts to a playful 16th century note on miners using forked willow rods for ore discovery, describing early beliefs about the dowsing gift and its spread across Europe.
Licorice Plant Growth and Harvest Traits
The licorice plant grows on a single green stem to about three feet with a small purple star shaped flower. First year root grows as a twisted string up to twenty feet, second year it becomes a woody substance when dry, and third year it gains commercial value. Digging occurs in winter after drying, with roots crushed under heavy stones by mules, similar to olive oil extraction.
A Witness Retorts After Curran’s Facade Remark
A courtroom exchange recalls Curran accusing a witness of scoundrelism in his face. The witness replies with a sharp quip that his face serves as a good mirror, highlighting Curran’s notorious and harsh countenance despite his renowned forensic skill.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Curran
Traveling in Russia on the Volga steamer
Captain T. Bentley Mott describes Volga river travel noting resourceful Russian passengers, independent setups for sleeping on ships and in sleeping cars, primitive yet clean third class quarters, and travelers moving like migrants with personal gear and improvised kitchens aboard.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
T. Bentley Mott
Scribner’s
A Wonderful Child John Stuart Mill’s Early Mastery
A brief portrait traces John Stuart Mill’s youth from Greek study at age three to political economy as his lifelong focus. It notes his self directed hours in learning French at fourteen, debate prowess by sixteen, Westminster Review contribution at eighteen, and late marriage at forty five. It includes his remark that he never was a boy and preferred nature’s course.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
M. Paul Stapfer
Mercure de France
Victor Hugo
M. Stapfer
Adele
Mrs
John Stuart Mill
Samuel Wellington
Westminster Review
Samuel Bentham
France
Mill
India Office
Divining Rod Origin Traced to German Mining Districts
The article notes the modern divining rod began in German mining regions, likely the Harz mountains. It attributes its first recorded use to the search for mineral lodes in the late fifteenth century, per Professor W. F. Barrett.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. F. Barrett
Germany
Harz
Discoverer of the Hudson River A Mixed Dutch English Tale
The article argues no single discoverer can be named for the Hudson River. It notes Verrazzano may have preceded Hudson by a century, while Hudson’s voyage in 1600 with Dutch sailors and the Half Moon ties the discovery to Dutch interests. The river’s name varies from Manhattan to North River to Riviere Van den Vorst Moritias.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hudson River
Verrazzano
Hudson
Manhattan
North River
Great River
Mauritas
Riviere
Dreadful Poisons and Their Incapacitating Fumes
A Chicago Chronicle excerpt reports chemists naming poisons like mercury methide dhatoora mercaptan as able to cause incurable insanity or death. It notes only two Italians could manufacture mercury methide and highlights the danger of such chemicals in unscrupulous hands while condemning concealment of knowledge.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
India
Chicago Chronicle
A Bit of Sicily Pa lermo Travel Sketch
A traveler praises Palermo as the most picturesque Sicilian town. He describes the port with rainbow colored sailing ships and mule carts while custom house officers loudly inspect goods. Amid the noise the scene ends with a sign and laughter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sicily
Palermo
Custom House
Sanitary Instinct in Child Dolls Sparks Debate
In a Baltimore American item a modern mother questions a child why she removes a doll’s clothes. The child replies she is checking the doll’s vaccination status to prevent contagion among other dolls.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baltimore
A Reasonable Hypothesis in Town and Country
A brief note in Town and Country references a humorous exchange about laughter and the location of the funny bone, mentioning Johnny and a playful dialogue. The fragment suggests a light human moment without a clear event.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Johnny
Nepper Trade Valued At Four Million Annually Worldwide
Report notes a global market around four million dollars for nepper goods each year, reflecting widespread informal trade. Officials consider regulation and import controls to curb illicit activity and improve data collection.
Borrowed Brightness and Baby Sayings Spark Silence
Mrs Nooned plans a book of her baby's smart sayings. Miss Sulfuric offers a title suggestion Borrowed Brightness, causing them to halt their conversation in the Louisville Courier-Journal note.
Her Quandary and Promises in a New Yorker Snippet
A New Yorker excerpt presents Jess in a dilemma over Tom who pledges to quit gambling if they wed while Jack threatens action if she refuses. The fragment hints at a tense love triangle and coercive dynamics surrounding marriage choices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jess
Bess
Tom
Jack
New Yorker
Slip of the tongue cited as worse than foot
A pithy Swift quip notes that verbal slips outrank missteps of the foot, contrasting speech error with clumsy movement. The remark frames language mishaps as more embarrassing or damaging than physical missteps in social life.
ISU seeks many buyers for Reid's yellow dent seed corn
The Agronomy department at Iowa State College solicits growers to receive limited pure bred Reid's yellow dent seed corn for experimental use. Each ear has been tested and packed to plant about one quarter acre. A 25 cent charge covers preparation and postage. Interested parties should contact the department with seed details.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Agronomy Department
Iowa State College of Agriculture
Ames
Reid
Holden
Inflammatory Rheumatism Cured by Pain Balm
William Shaffer a Denison Ohio brakeman lay bedridden weeks with inflammatory rheumatism. He tried many remedies then ordered Chamberlains Pain Balm from McCaw's bug store. In a week he could work again and felt joyful as a major sale by all druggists.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Shaffer
Dennison
Ohio
McCaw
Also Mentioned on This Page
Uncle Sam
Hugo
His Wife
England
Barrett
Europe
Steve Blacking
Northrup, King and Co
W. Hunter
Russia
Volga
Eeee
Judisch Bros
Reliable Rug Co
Loziers Flowers
J. N. Fowler
Ames, Lowa
Kz. Co. S
Kansas City Southern Railway
Kansas City
The
Gulf
B.D. Dutton
G. Warner
G. P
T. A
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!