Washington summer suburbs grow with national capital
George Alfred Townsend writes from Washington on the city’s summer appeal and suburban expansion. He notes hotel concessions at Fortress Monroe, investors from New York and New England, and the push for mountain-country retreats near Washington. He discusses public figures, roads to the northwest, and the quest for healthier air away from the midsummer heat.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wasnixaroys
D. C
New York
Nahant
Lenox
Orange
Morristown
Washington
Potomac
Amos Kendall
Gales and Seaton
Carlisle Patterson
Pearson
Francis P
Montgomery Blair
Georgetown
Boston
Plymouth
Waite Mountain
Fine Mountain
Whitney
District of Columbia
Baltimore
Frederick
Catoctin
South Mountains
Hagerstown
Cumberland
Jackson
Harrison
Clay
Washington City
New England
New York State
Ohio
John O. Evans
Syracuse
N. Y
John G. Moore
Waterville
Western Union
Ayward Hutchinson
Fur Seal Combination
Outwell
Treasury
Alaska
Pacific
Hutchinson
Fur Seal Islands
Sitka
Crosby Noyes
Maine
Blair
Adams
Virginia
General Washington
General Grant
Grant
Shepherd
Congress
Long Branch
Garfield
Maryland
Lincoln
Biltmore
West Point
Antietam
South Mountain
Harper's Ferry
Fortress Monroe
John Chamberlin
Chamberlin
Massachusetts
St. Louis
Price McGrath
Kentucky
John Morrissey
United States
Morrissey
McGrath
Old Point
Caleb Willard
Willard
Ebbitt
Phoebus
Adams Express
Fort
Shoemaker
Carlisle
Chambers
Government Beach
Monroe
Yhorge Alyred Townsend
The Wind Blew Him Out
A Detroit businessman fired a joking clerk after a lead pencil pun backfired. When asked to buy a blue pencil, the clerk quipped about saving expense by writing blue. The employer paused, then asked how to manage it, and the clerk answered with a pun that left him amused.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Detroit Free Press
Detroit
Vermont Revival Prompts Confessions of Sins in Montpelier Area
A citizen returning from a flight reports a religious revival in Under hill and nearby Vermont towns. Converts confess numerous sins, including a farmer's wife admitting she sold butter by apothecaries weight rather than avoirdupois, delivering twelve ounces per pound. Her husband vows restitution if it risks the poor house.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vermont
Montpelier
Underhill
Boston Girl Type Shines in Springfield Note
A Springfield Republican item extols a Boston type of girl described as lovely, pretty, and intelligent. The column notes the homeopathic celebration and the kir nness have drawn a fine display of charming young women, praising the Boston girl as possessing both beauty and wit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston Letter
Springfield
Boston
Dust Like Dudie's
Comic exchange features Sardonicus Jr caressing his upper lip and asking his father about the moustache. Sardonicus Sr notes the one good feature is that neglecting shaving for a month goes largely unseen by all but a close observer, highlighting a humorous sober moment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Detroit Free Press
Sardonicus, Jr
Sardonicus,Sr
A Horrible Example
A New York Sun humorous anecdote recounts a wife asking her eminent prohibitionist husband about a pleasant evening. He recalls a minor annoyance when he invited Weatherly to sing and he performed “She Little Brown Jug, Ok, Love Thee.”
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York Sun
Young Weatherly
A Cruel Device in Brussels Theatre Scheme
A Brussels manager reportedly devised an ingenious device to induce women visiting his theatre to divest themselves of valuables and leave the venue without resistance. Police investigate the unsettling method as authorities weigh charges.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brussels
Ladies Ban on Bonnet Seating Sparks House Notice
A vestibule notice allows only certain aged ladies near bonnets in the body of the house. As yet no lady has claimed the privilege, and the back seats’ access remains limited to listening.
Life in the Sandwich Islands Reveals Labor and Sugar Trade Realities
Charles E. Stone, a ten year resident, discusses sugar making in the Sandwich Islands. He describes high mill costs, agent profits, and low wages for common labor, with Chinese and Portuguese workers earning modest sums. He notes natives’ indolence, political interest, and a volatile lava story and lava flow gossip.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Portiana
Sandwich Islands
Charles E. Stone
United States
London
Iis
Stone
Lottery fraud exposed targets German speakers in U S
A Baltimore based scheme by Thiele and Co. promises Hamburg government lottery prizes to German residents in major cities. Letters in German and English claim large winnings and urge payment via American Express money orders sent to Hamburg, with a plain postage paid envelope. German consul Baron Von Nordenflycht calls it a most plausible swindle.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
CxicAco
United States
Messrs. Thiele & Co
Hamburg
Germany
Baltimore
American Xpress
American Express Company
Baron von Nordenflycht
Just Like Interviewing Blaine in Maine News
A traveler recalls witnessing a Maine farm exchange about corn planting. A boy explains they planted the yellow corn on shares, while noting doubts about the expected yield. The exchange reveals rural talk and odds of harvest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Blaine
Augusta
Illinois man named heir to $20 million fortune
M. E. Lux, a traveling salesman from this city, received official notice that he is one of eleven heirs to a $20,000,000 fortune left by Charles Lux of California. The April 18 announcement appears in a Chicago area report.
Epilepsy at wedding afterglow rattles midwestern ceremony
In a party lit by joy, Elias suffers a seizure as Christine pleads to keep him nearby. The rabbi and doctor discuss treatment and transportation, arguing whether to move him to a carriage amid wedding plans and a voyage the next day. Christine laments his seizure while Redwood questions the rabbi’s duty. The scene ends with Elias taken away and Christine left in tears.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Redwood
Elias
Christine
George
Look After Fences and Laying Pipes Origins of Political Slang
Senator John Sherman explains how phrases like look after your fences and layin pipes originated from his Ohio visit and a fence repair, noting a paper misquote sparked the former and laborers laying pipes inspired the latter. He recounts Democratic uses and a New York meeting's lights being put out as locotocos.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Sherman
Cincinnati Enquirer
South
the Treasury
Ohio
New York
Every Man Mis Own Amanuensis in Washington Letter
A Kansas City Journal item reports Mr. Painter and Professor Bell associate Alexander Graham with a perfected graphophone. The device records speech onto wax tubes, stores about 1000 words per tube, and can mail tubes for reproduction in any room. It promises personal amanuensis use, forgery prevention, and wider public adoption.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Kansas City Journal
Lainter
Alexander Graham
Bell Telephone Fame
Ealson
Edison
Post Office Department
Put Bells on His Hams. New Haven News Case on Trial
An amusing trial unfolds before Justice H. K. Hull as Martin Cliffora faces allegations in a New Haven News item.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New Haven
Justice & HK
Hull
Martin Cliffora
Boston Cooking School lecture on strawberry short cake and more
The Boston Cooking School held an extra request lecture detailing recipes for Strawberry Shortcake and rich cremes. It covers mixing dough with milk butter and baking, plus making fillings from whipped cream and strawberries. Also described are custards and frozen desserts, plus Potted Pigeons and Parker House style dressings with mayonnaise guidance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston Cooking School
Life's Too Short Poem by Emile Pickhart Mentor
A verse attacking persistent talkers and aggressive life insurance salesmen. The speaker advises replying with life’s too short to end their long discourse, urging a quick, witty escape from bore- proselytizing. The piece attributes the quip to Emile Pickhart and labels him mentor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scheme Financial
Two Maine Men Walk Twelve Miles To Rost Performance
Two Maine men walked twelve miles to rost performance. It had been eone, now, they could have heard sen, at home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bonnerville
Maine
Eone
Sen
Odd items mix of news and anecdotes from Michigan to Illinois
A collage of short notices from various locales includes a Marshall company seeking a man over 200 pounds, a Neoza reader who learned to read at almost 70, Easter feasts and odd deaths, a burglar found with a reading list, coustoms levies, a Wisconsin note on life, a rabid dog, a steer tossing a woman, and multiple minor curiosities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marshall
Mich
Susan Johnson
Neoza
John Crimmins
Brownsville
Cak
Jamestown
Michigan
Charles Johnson
Griffin
Arthur D. Davis
Chicago
Keokuk
Cedartown
Bay
Detroit
Wisconsin
Medical College of
Indiana
Indianapolis
Mary A. Spinker
Laura E. Boyd
Spartanburg
Texas
Louise Danforth
St. Louis
Japan
Potts
Woods County
Cincinnati
Augustus
Oakville
W.T
Tie
New Haven
Henry Clews
Wall Street
New York Sun
Tom-Ri-Jon
Jersey City
Avenger
Hoston
Jesuvius
Etna
Alabama
Lincoln
Tad Jeanine
Bready
Montreal
Mary
Kan
Chicago Mail
Four Chicago Artists Paint Christ Before Pilate for Gain
Four young Chicago artists, short of money, painted a copy of Muncaksy's Christ Before Pilate using photos as guides. The mural grew to twenty eight by seventeen feet with eight foot foreground figures. They expect to earn about $1,000 each from the venture.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
Muncaksy
Christ
Pilate
Ange
Tom
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
Curr
Eve Ea Ris B Ceing
St. Paul Pioneer Press
Barker's American Checker Player catalog and offers
Charles F Barker announces a Western tour for his checker department run by Isaiah Barker at No 8 Houghton street Cambridgeport MA. New book Barker's American Checker Player contains 179 pages with 534 variations and 35 critical positions, 22 by Wardwell and Lyman, priced 1 postpaid. Orders and related works Barker vs Freeman 30c Spayth American Draught Player 3.00. Special offer: three orders earns one free American Checker Player.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles F. Barker
Isaiah Barker
Houghton Street
Cambridgeport
Mass
Barker
Messrs. Wardwell
Lyman
Mayi
Freeman
Spayth
PFICO
Barker chess notes position 1297 draw by Black to move
In Cambridgeport Massachusetts Isaiah Barker presents Position No. 1297 with Black to move aiming for a draw. The page includes the solution to Position No. 1296 and lists several move pairs and scores such as 16.10 26.22 10 and 17.18 23.18 18.25 27.43 22 for reference, with W. winning later moves 20 1.&5 23.36 and 6. 9.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Isaiah Barker
Cambridgeport
Mass
Lane Mass
J. H. Denvir
Charles F. Barker
Barker
Ono
I Barker
Messrs. Butler
A. Smith
London
Smith
Butler
F. A
Glasgow
New London
Conn
J. Carroll
Ip. c
Calvert
Mr. Barker Defeats Denvir in Western Tear Showdown
Charles F. Barker, famed American checker champion, tour participant, won sixteen games against Chicago’s J. H. Denvir, the Western champion, by Barker 6 Denvir 0 drawn 7. The purse totaled 100 dollars, financed by the players in Chicago. Denvir praised Barker as the best opponent he ever faced, and Barker’s Chicago record shows 268 wins 3 losses and 17 draws. Barker carries a standing $500 challenge to any world player with potential $1000 if a match occurs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles F. Barker
America
United States
J. H. Denvir
Chicago
West
Barker
Denvir
Antiquity of the Came of Draughts Mentioned
A West Lothian Courier note cites J K Backhouse in the Aukland Chronicle about a Pilate's Palace pavement under Sisters of Zion Convent. The ancient Roman game of draughts is said to have been played there, with soldiers engrossed as Jesus’ fate unfolded nearby.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Palestine
J. K. Backhouse
Aukland Chronicle
Backhouse
Sisters of Zion
Pilate
Jesus of Nazareth
West Lothian
Chess and draughts reach Bolton in a Yorkshire frame
Mr J Birkinshaw, once a champion braucits and chess player, has left Leeds for Bolton. A draughts department opens in the Southern Guardian under editor A Morris, known in Yorkshire for promoting the game. The first column begins with an inaugural note.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. Birkinshaw
Leeds
Bolton
Genial John
Southern Guardian
Hants and
Dorset
A. Morris
Yorkshire
Blindfold Chess Contests Spark Tense Debate at Chester Post
The article notes upcoming handicap events and a blindfold display at Rowe's in Bot ham with eight games. It cites Mr Strickland and Mr Reed as leading figures, and queries when the Leeds player will face Reed for the world blindfold title amid delayed match arrangements.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
County Forum
Ana
Strickland
Rowe’s
Parade
Botham
E. Lord
Birmingham
T. Gilbert
Gilbert
Lord
Kkeed
America
Leeds
Reed
Chester Post
Mexican Insolence. Norweigan vessel forced to Progreso
News from Tamra Florida reports a clash with Mexican authorities after the Norwegian bark Brazaleria’s wreck cargo was seized and crew detained. The New York underwriters sent the schooner Nettie Blanche to assist, but Mexican customs later ordered return to Progreso with a customs inspector aboard. Captain Russell says he could not compel voyage. The inspector contacts Mexico. Washington reaction is unknown.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Braza
Eria
Russell
Key West
Progreso
Washington
Treasury Vaults Burdened by Massive Silver Gold Stock
The United States Treasury holds about 2000 tons of silver and 48 tons of gold in its vaults. A failed deficiency bill blocked a new steel vault, leaving Uncle Sam's cash storage at capacity. Transport costs between New York and San Francisco loom as a major expense, with recent shipments proving dangerous by ship. Secretary Fairchild faces finding a solution to guard excess cash efficiently.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pennsylvania Railroad
John Fox
New York
Washington
Washington City
John Lynch
Congress
Maine
Lynch
National Library
Astor Library
Pkpts
Sresent Hess Weal
Washinatonn
Treasury
Sam
San Francisco
United States
Specia
Fairchild
Destructive Virginia Cyclone Kills Family Near Windsor
A violent cyclone swept Isle of Wight county Virginia near Windsor Station on the Norfolk and Western railroad. John Wright his wife and daughter were killed when their house collapsed, other dwellings were blown down and trees uprooted. Reports of further damage and casualties follow with late details pending.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Prierspena
Virginia
Isle of Wight County
Windsor Station
Norfolk & Western
John Wright
Steady Decrease in Receipts from Dominion Lands
Ottawa reports show 1886 Dominion land receipts at 240,184 with 68,438 in refunds to settlers, reflecting a downward trend since 1882 to 1885. Government projections of 68 million by 1891 appear unlikely amid Northwest affairs mismanagement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ottawa
Ont
Dominion Lands
John Macdonald
Charles Tupper
Northwest
Public Service
Dominion
Princely Donation to Found Royal Victoria Hospital
Montreal April 18 Sir George Stevens baronet joins Sir Donald Smith in giving 1,000,000 dollars to found the Royal Victoria Hospital for Montreal's sick poor. Stevens rose from Scotland to work in dry goods and built wealth. he helped establish Canada Pacific Railway and was made a baronet last year. He also gave 60,000 dollars to McGill College for female education. The hospital fund aims 260,000 dollars for construction and 700,000 dollars for endowment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montreal
George Stevens
Donald Smith
Royal Victoria Hospital
Scotland
Canada Pacific Railway
Pacific
McGill College
They Granted the Request
A Cape Ann Advertiser item recounts halibut buyers competing for Georges when a shipmate fell overboard. A well known businessman cried not to sell until he surfaced, and his request was granted, halting the sale until he returned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cape Ann
No Need of Vaccinating Mis Sermons
A Sangerville preacher draws laughs as a loud but illogical figure to locals. A woman offers a sharp verdict on his sermon claiming it caused fear of contagion. Also notes the death of farmer Xavier Hozatte who died at sea and was buried aboard the Pieter de Connick after arriving from Antwerp on April 9.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Parker House
Dexter Gazette
Sangerville
Pieter de Connick
Antwerp
Xavier Hozatte
Iowa
Also Mentioned on This Page
Townsend
2 Hotel
National Capital
Dudie
Sandwich Island Life
Jane
Alfred Parlow
DeWitt Street
Parlow
Clifford
Rds
Yfe
Emile Pickhart
Neadec
Jesus
Champion of America
Chess and Checker Players
Checker News
Ury
Canadian Public Lands
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!