Little Rob Simpson and the Alligator Pete Tale
William Simpson of Pine Castle Florida recalls his son Rob taming a pet alligator named Pete who wore a copper ring. Pete disappeared for three years and returned as a larger alligator during a tale of fairy godmother intervention and a dramatic rescue. Rob rode Pete while crowds gathered to watch.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rob Simpson
Pete
William Simpson
Pine Castle
Fla
Lake Marie
Rob
Robert
Bob
New York Journal
Skeleton leaves for crafts with bleach and yeast
The Chicago Record explains making skeleton leaves by soaking large leaves in rainwater with yeast, washing away the soft tissue to leave ribs and veins. Bleach them to white by heating in a soap box with sulfur fumes for delicate, ash colored skeleton leaves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chicago
How I Do My Tricks by Harry Keller in Ladies Home Journal
The article describes a simple magic stunt using a copper coin a cork and a cambric needle. A coin is placed on wood blocks with a cork in between then the needle is forced through the cork and penny by a sharp blow. The trick relies on a hidden partial break of the needle above the cork.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harry Kellar
Ladies’ Home Journal
A Small Boy Trains Donkey With Lawn Mower Trap
A San Francisco Post note tells how a clever mission boy trains a stubborn donkey to back into a stable by using a lawn mower. The donkey, injured in the stable years ago, fears the mower but is lured toward the door as it is maneuvered by the boy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mission
The
San Francisco Post
The Key to the Box in a Teakwood Chest
A childlike fable in verse where a tiny key converses with a teakwood box. The key jokes about hiding in a chimney crack while the box jealously warns its worth. Years later the crack yields the old key, only to discover a bright new key in the lock, leaving the box regretful as it is already full.
Assassination Question Quizzes School Policy
A Philadelphia Press quotation shows a child asking his father if he has been assassinated. The line arises from a teacher’s demand that the boy stay home from school unless he has been killed to avoid smallpox exposure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Press
Dwarfs of Limousin: Harsh Climate Stunts Height
In the Limousin uplands between Correze and Haute-Vienne, a 75 mile long barren zone shows profound human misery and widespread illiteracy. Two thirds of men fall below 5 feet 3 inches, women three inches shorter. dwarfed by harsh climate, poor soil, boiled chestnut diet, and insanitary dwellings. Children born there but raised elsewhere grow normally.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Limousin
Correze
Haute-Vienne
Perigueux
Limoges
France
Popular Science Monthly
Do Clocks Get Tired
Mr Bill tops ponders clocks fatigue as a family clock, long idle, is revived by a child who briefly opens it and oils it. The clock resumes ticking, prompting reflection on whether timepieces tire and need rest.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Billtops
New York
Suni
Copper Horse Misidentified by Royal Visitor at Windsor
The Windsor scene recalls a guest riding to the copper horse at the end of the long walk, only to be corrected by the queen who reveals the statue is actually her grandfather. In another note, Lord R. urged visitors at a French exhibition to drink eau de vie.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Windsor
Castle
Cumberland Lodge
Lord R
Manchester Guardian
The Wax Knot: A Western Wedding Trial
A verdant couple seeks marriage in a western town. The groom offers wax as payment, claiming sixty cents worth remains, and asks the judge to marry as far as the wax allows. The judge agrees, jokingly, and performs the ceremony with the available wax. Sal seizes the moment with wit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sal
Lcan
Glass replaces gold in dental work and bells
The piece notes glass used as a dental substitute and for church bells. It mentions a new patented process making glass soft and malleable for teeth and reports glass bells that can be toughened for no cracking with a superior tone and deep green color. It also describes Siam’s palace with white walls enclosing temples, offices, seraglios, stables, troops, arsenal, theater, and elephants. It adds New York's summer ice consumption at about 20 percent artificial.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Record
King of
Siam
Christ Church Alexandria A Famous Old Virginia Church
Harper's Weekly notes Christ Church in Alexandria Virginia remains largely intact since 1773 with its Tuscan pediments Ionic interior and a history tied to George Washington and notable families. It recalls Washington owning pen No. 5 for the church, Civil War era occupancy, a Confederate soldier grave mound, and Lee's Sunday school connection.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alexandria
Christchurch
Wren
Christopher
George Washington
Christ Church
Washington
Bryan Fairfax
Thomas Lewis
Susannah Edwards
Virginia
Adamses
Herberts
Custises
Blackburns
Carlyles
Muirs
Broadwaters
Alexanders
Robert E. Lee
Harper’s Weekly
Telegraphs Bring Fortune to Early Chinese Stakeholders
A telegraph line from Peking to Shanghai sparks a fortune tale as Shanghai residents win a lottery, share tips, and a gullible gambler trades tickets for profit. A Shanghai merchant profits massively from telegraph guided rice market moves, prompting a shift in view toward telegraph usefulness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
China
Peking
Shanghai
Simple optical illusion mimics radiography with a feather
A photography correspondent explains a cheap Roentgen ray illusion. By holding a pheasant feather near the eye and viewing radiating ribs at the fingers held to the sky or window, flesh appears transparent with the bone visible at center. Gaslight works with ground glass to diffuse the light.
Sainted Lewis Galdy Esq. Burial Inscription at Green Bay
Dieu sur tout. Here lies the Body of Lewis Galdy Esq who died at Port Royal on December 22 1789 aged 80. Born in Montpelier France he left for religion and settled on this Island where an earthquake swallowed him in 1692 then another shock cast him into the sea he was miraculously saved by swimming until a boat rescued him. He lived long after in great reputation beloved by all and lamented at his death.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Green Bay
Tout
Lewis Galdy
Port Royal
Montpelier
France
Prisoner Tries to Speak, Avoids Contempt in Court
A prisoner tells the judge he would speak but risks contempt if he says what he wants. The exchange highlights the tension between speaking freely and courtroom decorum in a Harper's Bazaar vignette.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harper’s Bagar
Meeting in the key of G sparks a late night cue
A musician tells a friend to meet at 1 sharp in the night, then leaves alone into the dark. The brief exchange captures a moody, noir tone from a Cleveland Plain Dealer page.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Heat of the Earth argued by Lord Kelvin
Lord Kelvin proposes the earth could be white hot two thousand feet below or as cold as ice fifty feet beneath without altering current climate. He attributes ancient heat to a hotter sun.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lord Kelvin
A Woman's Wit and a Doctor's Velvet Office Transformation
A Detroit Free Press anecdote sketches Dr Blank a noted surgeon who rose from a shabby office to a velvet transformed clinic after his wife secretly financed the upgrade. The tale frames rivalries with other doctors and his reported remarkable operations, ending with his fame proving the wife pivotal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Blank
Detroit Free Press
Herrmann and the Cheat at a London Club
A London club tale reports Herrmann exposing a card cheat in ecarte. After a false name welcome, Herrmann challenged a guest and, accusing him of theft, revealed all four kings from his sleeve to prove the ruse and end the game.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herrmann
London
Ecarte
St. James Gazette
New Baby Dress Reform Lets Garments Be Worn All At Once
A novel dress reform for babies gains popularity by letting three garments be worn together. A flannel or crepeline princess slip with high neck and long sleeves pairs with a sleeveless mid garment and a nainsook dress, all fastened at the back by three buttons. The abdominal band remains sheer and loose while feet stay bare.
Punishment Motivated by Love In Family Conversation
A Chicago Post excerpt shows a parent explaining punishment to a child. The dialogue centers on affection and discipline, with the child questioning if spanking is an act of love and the parent affirming love as the motive while addressing the other parent. The tone reflects intimate domestic guidance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earth
Charles M. Dickinson
London Lady Seeks 1000 Pound Fee for Chaperon Duties
A young married titled woman in London offers to discharge the duties of a chaperon for three months at a fee of 1000 pounds. The notice calls for a payment arrangement and outlines the scope of the chaperon service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Washington Patents Surge in Kitchen Utensil Design
A large wave of patent applications has been filed in Washington for kitchen utensils with at least 7,688 patents recorded. The filings indicate a booming interest in new utensils and related innovations across the industry.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Also Mentioned on This Page
Katharine Pyle
St. Nicholas
Greater
Herrmann and the Cheat
Willie
Papa
Chicago Post
Suffolk
Boston
Flaynes
Victor
W. Henderson
South Acton, Mass
Maynard, Mass
Warner
Henry Shaughnessy
Concord Junction
Fablfts
Westerly
Quincy
Scotch
U. S. Fowler
Maynard
Albert
Black
Cyrus Adams
Middlesex South
Concord
County of
Middlesex
Commonwealth of
Massachusetts
Lincoln
Virginia Road
George Algeo
Michael Murphy
Said Murphy
Daniel L. Giles
Said Giles
Michael McCaffrey
Said McCaffrey
Saul Virginia
Said
Robert Alvreo
Said Black
Robert Algeo
James Hayes
Middlesex South District
Prescott Keyes
Gytus Auis
Tremont Street
Spee
Martha A. Faulkner
Acton
Jonathan K. W. Wetherber
South Acton
Mass
Joanna Hiensen
Sudbury
Charles H. Walcott
Wan
H. Peck
Stow
Fort Pond
Geo. W. Wheeler
Herbert R. Wheeler
Clinton St
Cambridge
T. F. Sheehan
Barrett’ S Mill Road
Mase
Teremiah Sheehan
S. Richardson
Concord Mass
Maynard’s Block
Horace Tuttle
Walden Street
J. C. Friend
H. S. Hapgood
Anterprise
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