Reform ideas from leading Americans symposium 1889
A broad survey gathers views from Carnegie Cable Howe and Edison among others on needed reforms across religion education charity immigration and labor. The piece argues gradual social progress over sweeping single reforms and warns against indiscriminate charity as harming the poor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bacheller & Co
America
Tax Girone
Andrew Carnegie
Pittsburg
Penn
Frank Leslie
Sumner
Yale College
George W. Cable
R. Heber Newton
Augustin Daly
Julia Ward Howe
Franz Sigel
P. T. Barnum
General Greely
Abbe
Signal Service Bureau
Ely
Johns Hopkins University
Amelie Rives-Chanler
Virginia
Charles Dudley Warner
Edison
A. M. Palmer
Julian Trawthorne
Henry George
Hamilton
Patrick Egan
Erastus Wiman
Art training as essential in common schools
An editorial argues that art education should occupy as important a place as grammar or geography in the core curriculum. It asserts that without art and the true inspiration it provides, material splendor remains hollow vanity, urging reform in the education system.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hank Leslik
Professor Sumner at Yale on Tax Reform
Yale professor W. G. Sumner calls for abolition of all protected demands in the national tax system, praising no particular exemptions and urging sweeping reform.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Professor Sumner
Yale
W. G, Sumner
George William Curtis Names Political Reform
George William Curtis advocates major reform of political methods focusing on money regulation in elections electoral reform and ballot reform plus a prudent licensing system and civil service reform as key branches of the reform movement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George William Curtis
Glhonck
William Curtis
Fear and Courage in Peace Era Reforms Debate
The text argues that fear drives calls to modify ideal political principles and warns that peace time courage is essential to progress. It cites Heber Newton on land reform, labor hour reductions, education, land taxation, and public ownership, stressing political reform to curb money in elections and broaden political intellect and moral leadership.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Guenan W. Carre
Reform needs in divorce laws and elections, with education emphasis
Cited concerns call for tougher divorce law reforms to stabilize marriage and reduce electoral bribery. The author urges more religion in schooling and recognition of those promoting moral education, warning against nonreligious influence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daly Gays
Republic
Aveustiy Daxy
Miss Ward Howe Names Woman and Reform
Miss Jutta Ward Howe urges woman suffrage as the immediate reform during a period of political helplessness among women, highlighting the need for empowerment and equal political voice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jutta Ward Howe
Woman
Rage
Pure Ballot Reform Urged by Pension Commissioner Black
Pension Commissioner Black argues for a pure ballot as the essential reform to root out corruption and enable lasting change across society. He warns that funders and coordinators behind elections corrupt the system, urging society, church, and schools to unite in demanding reform.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Black
Joan OC
Brack
Henry George Tax Reform Praised as Major Change
Henry George argues the single tax reform will ease industry burdens and curb monopolies on essential production. He claims it will boost output, ensure fair wealth distribution, address labor issues, enable Christian ideals, and offer the masses real opportunity toward a larger civilization.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Henry George
Hunuy Grorcr
Great reforms urged include immigration limits and patriotism in schools
Jonn B. Hamilton, Supervising Surgeon General of the U.S. Public Health Service, advocates reforms such as restricting immigration, enforcing naturalization laws, and teaching patriotism in the classroom as a means to strengthen national policy and civic unity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hamilton
Jonn B. Hamilton
U.S. A
General Sige Acquisition of Unimproved Lands and Social Reform
An addressing piece argues for unity across nationalities in cities to reduce prejudice and class strife. It proposes using funds to acquire unimproved land for agricultural settlements supervised by public officers, offering unemployed workers refuge and training, with potential to convert settlements into valuable property and enable westward farming. It calls for more honest politics, deeper education, and shifting public funds toward social settlements rather than mere institutions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
City of
Newark
Jorace Greeley
Reform and Monopolies in a Republic Opinion Piece
Erastus Wimay argues for tempering pure competition with reform in markets and politics. He surveys railroads salt and petroleum sectors, praises Standard Oil’s cheap, safe oil, and warns that excessive rivalry harms the public while urging vigilant voting and honest leadership. He cites P. T. Barnum and Emerson on liberty and brains, urging citizens to own homes, avoid vices, and support honest associations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Republic
Emerson
P. T. Barnum
General Creely on a Citizen's Duty
A. W. Greely argues the foremost reform is to instill in every citizen the habit of voting at every election and to promote laws and methods ensuring an accurate ballot count across municipal state and national affairs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
General Creely
I A. W. Greely
Plea for Children From Amelie Rives Chantel
Amelie Rives Chantel urges focus on the welfare of children warning that vice sown in their minds yields future harm. She invokes the haunting memory of child selves as a call to protective action for all children who have lived or will live.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Amelin Rives
Reform to curb bribery in elections urged by Edison and Dupré Warner
A reform to prevent bribery in elections and require every candidate and election committee to publicly account under oath for every cent spent is deemed greatly needed. Wizard Edison advocates manual training in public schools as a crucial reform to advance the nation, supported by Tomas A. Edison.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cuantes Duprey Warner
Edison
Tomas A, Edison
Patrick Egan on Clerics and American Citizenship
Patrick Egan argues that Americans prize citizenship over European titles and calls for stronger libel laws, an amendment restricting soil ownership to citizens, curbs on foreign land speculation, and a reduction of religious intolerance while urging cooperation among Christian groups to promote temperance and charity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Patrick Egan
Europe
Ireland
United States
Patrick Hgan
Reform needed to curb unbridled competition in markets
The piece argues that unrestricted competition harms society more than it helps, citing wasted costs from price cutting and duplicated services. It warns large groups of industries suffer when profits drop from aggressive undercutting and notes the public bears consequences through higher living costs and wasted resources. It cites rail failures and heavy losses as evidence that competition can be dangerous in infrastructure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edward Atkinson
Boston
West Shore Railway
West Shore
New York Central
Hudson River Road
Busting a Coincidence at the Post Office
A Detroit Free Press note recounts a couple at a post office desk sharing a comic coincidence about writing to spouses. A man and a woman each discuss whether to tell their partner to come home, provoking a bystander’s quip about catching a liar while chasing a coincidence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Detroit Free Press
George
Arling
Wanamaker Receives First Salary in 80 Years in Philadelphia
Washington Special in Philadelphia Times reports John Wanamaker receiving a payroll total of 677.78 dollars for his salary since March 6. A clerk presented a large envelope of unused treasury bills, including hundreds, fifties, and twenties, which Wanamaker weighed with surprise before pocketing them.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wanamaker
Washington Special
Philadelphia Times
John Wanamaker
Mr. Wanamaker
Treasury
His Pa Was Ahead at the Cemetery Gate
A boy asks a gatekeeper if he saw anyone entering with a man and a woman. The man is his father and the woman his stepmother. They visited the grave of the boy’s mother, while the father hurries to leave, fearing his wife may react badly to the sight.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Detroit Free Press
Viet
Cothams Sunday Concerts MS Antahen Belt
Two minstrel performers lament a manager’s six week New York engagement. They note nightly shows with two matinees and Sunday performances, the need to dance a dog to sacred tunes and end lines with a back somersault amid a chaotic stage scene.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ganda
Artist in the City Free Lunch Scavenger
A dialogue frames a boy’s resilience and hunger as he proves readiness for an artist’s life. The mother asks if his son has the qualifications to be an artist while noting his endurance for days without food and knowledge of where free meals are available in the city.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Siam
China
India
Japan
Weather Service Bill Raises Public Alarm
In Philadelphia Record a reader notes the United States spends about 900000 dollars annually on weather service. The comic remark questions the value of the weather forecast given the quality of weather served to the public.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Winks
United States
Winks
Gossip About Siam King and His Harem Intrigues
Frank G. Carpenter tours Bangkok and the King Chulalongkorn, detailing the royal palace, the harem, and court life. He describes the king’s wealth, power, reforms, and the elaborate ceremonial setting, including gold trees, thrones, and the status of women in Siam.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carpenter
A Yankee Tar Upstages Dutch Sailors In Montevideo Display
In Montevideo harbor last April the US ship Nipsic and other warships watched Dutch sailors attempt to outrun American crews in a shinning contest. A Dutchman taunted the Americans from a yardarm while the Nipsic’s Jacketerson tried a daring headstand, splashing into the water. The Dutchman’s stunt drew cheers and a bold retort from the Nipsic crew as a well known sea insult rang out.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
San Francisco Examiner
United States
Montevideo
Sam
Jacketerson
Rane Ulled
She Was Crossly Insulted by a Traveling Man in Arkansas
Mandy Spillers, a colored woman, swore out a warrant against Zeb Snow for insulting her. The magistrate pressed for details as Spillers described the incident at the wharf yard where Snow allegedly grabbed her, then turned away and kissed another woman, an act she said insulted her deeply.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Arkansan
Mandy Spillers
Zeb Snow
Justice of the Peace
Judas
Apology on a Streetcar Fracas
In Chicago, Mr. Billus lurched in a street car causing a nearby woman to cry out as she was stepped on. He blamed clumsy feet while Mrs. Billus apologized, saying he mistook a woman’s foot for his wife’s. The incident ends with Shem’s retort about manners.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago Tribune
Mr. Billus
Mrs. Billus
Shem
Contained Family Tick of Guests Sparks Parlor Debate
Dialogue from a Toledo Blade piece shows Angelica pressing to invite Mr Finlay Place into the parlor despite a household distracted by cleaning. The mother and others argue over space and etiquette as a single chair becomes a point of contention.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Toledo Blade
Angelica
Foreign visitor debates American scenery and ruins
A dialogue between a foreign visitor and an American praises the country yet critiques its monotony. They discuss picturesque ruins and forts as contrasts to modern American scenery, reflecting cultural impressions from Philadelphia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dime Museum Ballet
Philadelphia
Expect Herring and You May Get Pie
Collier's Once a Week quotes a maxim on avoiding disappointment. It notes the danger of excessive hope and suggests despair follows grand, near sky high expectations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Collier's
Slim Buttes Raid and the Death of American Horse
A veteran recounts Crook’s pursuit of Crazy Horse’s Sioux after the Little Missouri clash. Describes a brutal march in rain on half rations, the rescue of Mills’s force, the capture of an Indian village at Slim Buttes, and the death of American Horse at the ravine, with Cody’s pardner Kunuffalo Chips present.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cody
Slim Buttes
Crook
Terry
Northwest
Sitting Bull
Yellowstone
Miles
Ogallallas
Brules
Little Missouri
Standing Rock
Bay
Missouri
Department of the Platte
Crazy Horse
Black Lilla
Sputeere
Wooms
Black Hills
Fort Lincoln
Onny Brook
Eae
Donny Brook
Goa
Red
Belle Fourche
Jampes
Phil Kearney
Anson Mills
Grand River
Colonel Stanton
Ato Bill
Techwatka
Anson
Fifth Cavalry
Mills
Gene
Merritt
Hmp
Rede
Leutenant
Rales
Ahea Mich
Cayrh
Shiemetal
Carr
Auigtly Nome
Anson Mill
Lever
Ben
Ward
Chunka Witko
Bis Py
Slim_ Buttes
Slim Ba
Bill
Hill
Iersman
Old Quartermaster
Mae White
Fort McPherson
Fort Grace
Chilo Clark
Charles Kuno
U.S. A
Superstitions Fuel Sailors Luck Under Ship Masts
Tales from New England sailors recount coins and gold under ship masts as charms. Old shipbuilders and mariners recall coins or jewelry hidden in keels or masts, believed to bless vessels and crews, with Friday sailings often avoided due to superstition.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Lfowners
RereRnen
Henry Geonoe
Jia
Reorer
Oto
Ce Tr
Civing
Herbert Spencer
Sioth
Julia
Newto
Renaidus
Heber Newton
Hipar Newton
Palmer
Julian Hawthorne
Julian Hawthubnee
F. Siott
Mse
Ana
Ae Ceure
Telia Uven
Down Dale
Standard Oil Company
Prank B
Thurber
State Senate Committee On Trusts
Merchants’ Association
Empire State
Erastus Wimay
Amelie Rives-Chantel
Charlies
Dudley Warner
New York
Siam's
Frank G. Carpenter
Bameron
Siai
Washington
State Department
Real
Maha Mongkut
Apseigne
Bangkok
Mandalay
Burmah
Maesty
Chulalongkorn
Las
Irene
White House
Currahe Lough
Land
Sia
Gearle
G. Carpenter
Redskins
New
James
Kidd
H Bane
Ramane
New Bedford
Nw & v
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!