Random Clippings and Witty Observations From America and Abroad
A collage of brief items and quips touches on peace of mind in Montana, a Mississippi wife killing claim with sardines, a German kaiser wish, echoed by humor about wealth and poverty, and remarks on public figures like Edgar Saltus, Andrew Carnegie, and Jerome K. Jerome. It notes political shifts in Argentina, Manchuria, Amelie Rives in a suit, Boni de Castellane’s illness, and a New York horse docking bill, plus chatter about talking machines in Honduras and Russia’s domed politics.
Woman’s death cited over gray hair in head
A Pennsylvania woman allegedly killed herself after discovering a gray hair and reportedly believed she would be better off dead than living.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pennsylvania
Shaw backs spelling reform and naked English idea
George Bernard Shaw advocates spelling reform and a simplified English, asking if Boston reformers have considered presenting English in a naked form. The note links Shaw's stance to potential local reform discussions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Bernard Shaw
Boston
Phelps-Stokes Says Ambition Should Not Spoil Boys
J. G. Phelps-Stokes argues that telling boys they may be President spoils them, noting many would rather be Jim Jeffries than hold office. He emphasizes practical values over lofty fame.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
J. G. Phelps-Stokes
Jim Jeffries
Cat in Rescue of Inmates Sparks City Interest
In Philadelphia a large black cat alarmed inmates in a burning house and guided them to safety, an act hailed as a remarkable moment of intervention and devotion as firefighters battled the flames.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Count Boni de Castellane to relinquish claims for regular pay
The statement suggests Castellane would surrender all rights to the children if he could guarantee that the payments would continue on their former regular schedule. He indicates a preference for stability over continued dispute.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boni de Castellane
Boni
Boston Man Reflects on Woman Suffrage Beliefs
A Boston man is asked if he believes in woman suffrage and responds that most women are as fit as many men to vote. He offers a measured view praising women's capability while acknowledging debate on full enfranchisement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston
Russian Premier Suggests Interior Minister Could Have Him Hanged
Witte accuses Dournovo of capability to have him hanged by simple request, noting the minister could assign the act to another. The exchange reveals tensions between Russia’s top leaders and the interior ministry amid political strain.
Chicago to Open Bank For Day And Night Service
Chicago plans a new bank open around the clock except Sundays Christmas and New Year’s Day. The facility will operate continuously for business, offering full service while remaining closed on major holidays.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
London doctor extols night air as free of microbes
A London physician declares the night air free of germs and good for any who breathe it. The remark arrives amid light humor suggesting the doctor may spend long hours outdoors and run through excuses for staying out late.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
If I Were King and Mind’s Lines of Least Resistance
The author questions how faithfully the mind tends to take the path of least resistance in human experience. He reflects on whether most thoughts and decisions follow the simplest route rather than deeper analysis, prompting consideration of cognitive habits.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
MacCarthy
Soldier Recovers Copy of Paradise Lost Dropped at Antietam
A former army captain recovered a copy of Paradise Lost dropped on the Antietam battlefield over forty years ago. The note wonders if the finder ever managed to read it through.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Federal Army
Antietam
Admitted State Stars Wait A Year To Flag Change
The fact that a new state’s star is added to the U.S. flag only after a year from the Fourth of July following its admission reflects a delayed ceremonial update rather than immediate inclusion. This practice marks the country’s orderly expansion into its national banner.
Fittings and Adornments For the Summer Cottage
A Brooklyn Eagle style piece outlines summer home trends from Willow furnishings to mission wood accents. It highlights quick availability of imported novelties such as a canopy topped lawn chair and matching draperies, with emphasis on natural tones and coordinated wallpapers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brooklyn Eagle
Canadian Swim Aid Device Uses Vaned Frame For Propulsion
A new Canadian invention attaches to the swimmer to enlarge pushing area and improve stroke. Light hinged vanes in a buoyant rectangular frame adjust with water flow on leg movement, with a linked sandal toe action to enhance propulsion.
Water for House and Stable Plan for Shared Water System
A Montreal Herald described method to supply both a house and a stable with water using a single cistern around the well. It explains siting, digging a circular concrete cistern, framing, cement mixing ratios, and piping to the lower-level stable, with emphasis on avoiding pumping and ensuring level bottoms.
Dictionary Fences and Synonym Talk in a Kentucky Tale
A Washington Post anecdote recalls Representative Richardson of Kentucky citing a dictionary driven by a friend who studied synonyms. The tale shows how a word like stipulation was misapplied to political fences, revealing the humor of language and political phrases.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Richardson
Kentucky
Washington Post
A Philadelphia broker adapts auto travel with horse tow
A Philadelphia real estate broker, after weeks of coaching, drives into the country with an auto tows it home by a family horse. A passerby scorns the plan calling the horse asphyxiated as the broker mutters the vehicle is exhausted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
The
Humane Society
Philadelphia
Harper’s Weekly
The Undertaker and Doctor Swap a Trade in Village
In a New York suburb a young doctor opens a store for his office. The undertaker who is also a hardware dealer offers a pay later deal. The doctor receives a receipted bill and learns his favors have built laughter in the barber shop. The odd bargain ends with mutual cheer and a sidelong joke about debts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Not Successful as a Nurse
An acquaintance turned physician recalls a minister case in Harvard where the minister’s wife claimed nursing skill by noting she had nursed her father mother and sisters to death. The doctor points out the contrast between her efforts and the patients’ outcomes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harvard
Boston Herald
Brief Offer From Book Agent Sparks Quick Deal
A book agent asks for five minutes with a busy businessman. The man quotes ten dollars a minute. The agent offers twenty five dollars to avoid the meeting, noting a five dollar commission if the sale occurred.
Patrick Sherry and the Turkey Ye Want Joke
The story recalls Patrick Sherry of Lynn Massachusetts a shoe maker who faced strikers demanding higher wages. After failed talks he called a conference before his shop and abruptly ended it with I see girls its turkey ye want but its yellow meal ending the dispute with a quip about yellow meal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Patrick Sherry
Lynn
Mass
Emerald Isle
Sherry
Mr. Sherry
Count in Disguise Chauffeur Wins Heiress and Fortune
The Count de Impecune, in despair over a snub from a fashionable heiress, disguises himself as Gaston Prunes and becomes her family's chauffeur. Within two weeks the heiress Hildegarde elopes with him and grants an income of 1,000,000 dollars, with a reconciliation hoped for.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Count de Impecune
Gaston Prunes
Hildegarde
St. Patrick’s Day Gift Inspires Quiet Deeds
A man buys tea for a woman on St. Patrick’s Day and praises fresh shamrocks grown on the cold sod. She thanks him for the thoughtful gesture and notes the dew on them, while he hints the payment will settle tomorrow.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Erin
Worlds Progress Measuring Sea Depths by Electricity
Norwegian engineer Berggraf develops a method to measure ocean depth without sounding leads. It uses perpendicular sound waves, a transmitter, receiver, and timepiece to gauge travel time, calculating depth from known sound speed.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Berggraf
Substitute for Platinum Discovered by Baltimore Inventor
Charles H. Birmingham of Baltimore announces a grayish white metal as a substitute for platinum. Described as malleable and ductile with similar gravity and atomic weight, it could flood the market and halve platinum prices, benefiting electricians, machinists, chemists and dentists.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles H. Birmingham
Baltimore
Coldest Temperatures Recorded in Northern Hemisphere
A Siberian region near Werchojansk once registered 69.8 degrees below zero. Russian artist Borrisoff later matched this in Nova Zembia after finding two thermometers in an explorer's cache. One indicated a maximum of 15 degrees and a minimum of 70 degrees below freezing, marking a thirty year low.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. N. Shaw
Siberia
Werchojansk
Borrisoff
Nova Zembia
Straits of Matouchin
Hofer
Concrete Wall Fillers and Material Quantities
The inquiry asks how much Portland cement stone and gravel are needed to build a 9 foot high wall 70 by 35 feet and which wall is best: gravel and cement only or a mix including cement gravel and stone filler, with reasoning on performance and suitability.
Concrete Wall Mixture Ratios and Material Savings
An article describes cement gravel and stone filler proportions for a concrete wall. It notes that using stone fillers strengthens the wall and reduces cement use, with one fifth of the wall as fillers for a two foot thick wall. It provides a mix rule a barrel of Portland cement eight parts gravel to one part cement with fillers yields forty cubic feet of wall.
World's Biggest Bridge May Rise in Quebec
The article notes the Quebec cantilever bridge over the St Lawrence River will span 1 800 feet making it the world’s largest. It compares with the Williamsburg suspension bridge at 1 600 feet and the Brooklyn Bridge. the Forth railway bridge has two spans of 1 710 feet each.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Quebec
St. Lawrence
Williamsburg
East River
Brooklyn
Forth Railway
Also Mentioned on This Page
Choteau, Teton County, Mont
Mississippi
Coros
Edgar Saltus
Bernard Shaw
America
Saltus
Mr. Carnegie
Andrew
Quintana
Alcorta
Jerome K. Jerome
Manchuria
Amelie Rives
Amelie
New York Assembly
Wood
Ceiba
Honduras
Castro
Russia
Uncle Sam
Jed Room Table
Monstreal Herald
Turkey
Walter
Ile Worlds
Earth
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!