Global glimpses of late 19th century affairs and ideas
A mosaic of brief notes covers debt in China, expansion of the Canadian Pacific, Mexican authors, legal bills on bar admission for women, railcar wheel innovations, accidents in Fall River, a German prince amid socialist talk, Peruvian irrigation schemes, a lucrative Sugar Trust payment to John Parsons, textbook errors about Central America, police strikes versus burglars, and life insurance for children. The items reflect global economic, legal, and social tensions and curiosities of the era.
Colorado Philosopher and a Sad Burro Tale
A rugged reflection from a Colorado philosopher about a lean, hungry burro. The poem laments labor, weariness, and human indifference, contrasting a nomad’s hardship with those who avoid work while the animal endures.
Mary Saves Express in Dam Break River Tragedy
Mary Sexton defies a raging storm and a dam threat at Long Lake to save engineer John Manning and the express. She toggles a spur switch at Downer’s Bend, guiding the locomotive away from the doomed pass. John appears at the window as the train passes, and Mary collapses. Three months later the couple wed in Hornellsville.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joan
Mary Sexton
John Manning
Mary
John
Long Lake
Long Lake Pays
Mornellsville ‘Station
D. L
Hornellsville
Mortality Camp
Downer’s Bend
Ornellsville
Jasg
Long Lake Dain
Express
Downer’s
Mioe
John Manhing
Sexton
T. J. Piicer
David Sexton
John S. Manning
New York Ledger
How Edison Became Deaf and Early Journalism
The account traces Thomas A Edison’s ear injury at age fourteen after he published a biting paragraph in a Port Huron society newspaper. A confrontation caused him to be dropped into water, injuring a drum in the ear and rendering him permanently deaf on that side. Edison says the episode cured him of journalism ambitions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edison
Thomas A. Edison
Port Iluren
Mich
Mr. Edison
New York World
Chicken in Cream and Sandwiches From Old Cookery
A wartime style recipe page outlines a fried chicken with cream dressing, sandwich ideas using French bread and potted ham, and a chicken soup with giblets and rice. It includes a famous tomato cucumber onion salad method with oil and red wine vinegar, plus tips on poultices and brass cleaning.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston
Six New States Mark Ocean to Ocean Line Shown
The article notes Wyoming and Idaho admitted on July Fourth, forming the forty four states and completing a continental chain. It details Idaho and Wyoming origins, sizes, populations, and Wyoming’s pioneer status granting women full citizenship. It compares territorial limits and future state formation, then includes a Spokane Falls anecdote on Native canoe making along Puget Sound.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atlantic
Pacific Ocean
Wyoming
Idaho
Tdaho
Washington
Montana
Pennsylvaniay
Idakota
Union
Jso
Mississippi
Florida
Iowa
Texas
Harrison
Nore
District of Columbia
Indian Territory
Oklahoma
Arizona
New Mexico
Utah
Alaska
Empire
Mississippi River
House of Representatives
Senate
Cat saves wounded soldier in battlefield tale
During the Crimeangara retreat a young French soldier and his cat Pussy are joined in danger. The cat stays by his side after a severe wound, licks his blood and helps him survive until a surgeon arrives. Pussy accompanies him to hospital and is pampered by care and meals, becoming a notable mascot.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Eoldier
Eamp
New York Merchant Teaches Clerks A Lesson In Music
A Sixth Avenue dry goods merchant reprimands clerks by hiring an itinerant musician for the store. He ignores them in the morning then arranges for the musician to work from one to twelve, charging one dollar to begin at one. The boss smiles as customers arrive and explains the music is for the clerks’ benefit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
New ]York
Kmp
New York Sun
Andrew Carnegie's Anaxims Maxims and Image
The text praises Andrew Carnegie, noting his influence in industry and offering maxims such as avoid drink avoid speculation avoid endorsements and aim high. It portrays Carnegie as genial and capable, with a personable appearance and a knack for song speech and storytelling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Andrew Carnegie
Ma Carnegie
An Important Discovery on Rail and Bridge Shock Phenomenon
An ingenious observer notes that when trains strike a bridge the shock first registers in the cab of the engine. The effect mirrors a loaded freight train and a pile of ties set up for road agents. the initial impact travels slowly to rolling stock, later prompting trimming of trains to save costs. The piece then shifts to a profitable scheme by padrone run lodgings in New York.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Emda
Accomes
Fashion Notes and Beauty Tips from The Era
A collage of fashion commentary notes from The Era, detailing Princess of Wales influence on feather boas, hat trims, and basques, with fashion critiques from London to Chicago. It includes advice on self-millinery, mud-clearing tonics, perfumed oils, and a Hartford Courant yarn about a Pueblo girl named Josephine, alongside Paris trends and London styles.
Color Blind Employees in Railroads Raise Safety Alarm
A newspaper summary notes that color blindness among railroad workers prompts calls for universal testing. Studies show color vision defects influence signaling errors and accidents, with higher prevalence in men and near total rarity in women. Some urge broader boarder testing for maritime and rail crews to reduce collisions and misinterpretations of lights.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States
Pennsylvania Railroad
New York News
Electric cabs and moonlit weather drift through science notes
A miscellany of scientific scraps covers electric cabs in Germany and uranium as a rare metal, sunspot causes, a 19 12 knot cruiser in France, fogs at full moon, cement frost resistance, veterinary progress, and rapid Morse code signaling. It also notes eye health cures, lighthouse telegraphy, recovered sight, novel musical membranes, and tooth naming system.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Siemens Ia
T O
Lagiah
Williams
Jeffersonville
Penn
Waits
California
Old Baldy
Mount
San Antonio
Catalina Island
Royal Society
London
England
Also Mentioned on This Page
Canadian-Pacific
New Brunswick Railway
Acean
Ocean
Mexico
Chicago Times
Doe
New Hampshire
Marilla Ricker
Dover
N. J
The
Fall River
Maas
Alfred Bell
Cameroon
West Africa
Bremen
Bell
Times-Demcrat
Cameroons
Peru
Portland
Oregon
John E. Parsons
Sugar Trust
Guatemala
San Salvador
Frank Vincent
Central America
Salvador
Vincent
Republica del Salvador
London Mercury
Great Britain
House of Lords
Peterborough
Colorado
Charles F. Allen
Cosmopolitan
Edward J. Law
N. Y
Sarlem
Wormian
Susan Brown
Suean
Chicago News
Childran
Puget Sound
J. H. Mallett
Melena
Spokane Falls
Wash
Aimes
Twaii
Treahldoy
London Graphic
Detroit Journal
Hartford Courant
Laguna
Pueblo
Josephine
Wien
Joséphine
Mosi Lemoiselles
Fashion Notes
Paris
St. Andre du Poirier
France
Germany
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!