Mark Twain's Near Death Swim Tale in Hannibal
Albert Bigelow Paine recounts Mark Twain nearly drowning in Hannibal Missouri while learning to swim in Palmyra or Bear Creek. Twain recalled a near miss in the Mississippi during a 1902 visit, pausing at the shore before crawling to safety with sand beneath his knees.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Albert Bigelow Paine
Mark Twain
Palmyra Creek
Bear Creek
Mr. Paine
Hannibal
Paine
Mississippi
Time Comes For Sergeant In Burmese Jungle
A British infantry sergeant stationed in a Dacoit plagued Burmah district secretly carries a revolver as he dresses for a jungle stroll. His corporal questions the choice, but the sergeant replies that while the gun won't save him now, he might encounter a Dacoit whose last day has arrived.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dacoit
Burmah
Chester relic of bridle to curb women's tongues
A grimly comic scold's bridle from Chester's horse racing era is shown in Walton-on-Thames parish church. The device, inscribed Chester presents Walton with a bridle to curb women's tongues that fall too idle, is preserved in a case from oak felled for 1884 bell rehanging.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chester
Walton-on-Thames
Walton
Auber Visitor Questions New Post-Impressionism
A near sighted guest enters the studio and notices a recently used palette. He comments on the abrupt shift toward post impressionism and jokes about not informing friends. The exchange reveals humor about artistic trends.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
TY Auber
D’auber
Joneses Stir Fuss and Feathers in Town Topics
In the quip from Town Topics the Joneses are noted to receive fuss and feathers respectively, with jokes about social fuss surrounding the couple. The item portrays social commentary in a light, humorous tone.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joneses
Jones
Fragmentary dialogue quoted in a playful exchange
A sequence of brief lines features wordplay about an actor friend doing a queer deed and joking about a crook becoming straight plus a reference to real estate and astronomical hints about a comet and the dogstar.
Opened Her Up Cowpuncher Laughs at Car’s Faulty Trigger
Cartoon caption shows a rancher new to motoring quipping that the car pulled the wrong trigger. The cowboy exchange uses humor about mechanical mishaps and vehicle behavior.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Puck
What Becomes of Watches and Hats Through Time
A reflection on discarded watches and the fate of old timepieces juxtaposes a memory of a silver watch with the rise of the gold watch. It then traces how hats became a lasting custom from a 1449 Rouen scene after Charles II’s entry, noting gradual accessibility across social classes. The text also recalls Emerson’s literary talk of memory loss and waning faculties with a quiet, intimate vignette.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Watch
Home’s Watch
Charles II
Rouen
Saving Habit Sparks Housekeeping Trust
A New York settlement worker uses a quirky savings method to teach thrift. He tells Jones to save two thirds of his wages and gives the remaining third to his wife Lisa to manage the household, highlighting a comic twist on budgeting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Jones
Lisa
Maple Syrup Myth Makes Home Market Debunked
A farmer insists he sells about 8,000 gallons of maple syrup nationwide. An observer questions if selling locally would cut packing needs. He clarifies he only has four or five maple trees on the farm.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States
Publisher Confesses Role Amid Reader Quotes
In a brief quotation, a publisher admits being a publisher, not a reader, while noting titles that helped them most. The exchange cites The Pirate's Bride Why Did She Jilt Him and The Mystery of the Man With Pink Eyebrows as standout books.
Bird Mothers Teach Fledglings Song Lessons
A wren with a nest near a country house teaches fledglings by example. The mother sings her full tune then guides each youngster as they attempt to follow, restarting when a pupil falters until several nestlings eventually finish the melody. Lessons occur daily for some time.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mamma Wren
What Ails the Pew The Pulpit and Public Opinion
The piece argues public opinion governs whether preachers speak out on hard topics. It suggests many ministers stay quiet because congregations do not encourage discussion and may resent outspoken preaching. The question is framed: what ails the pews?
Minutes and Months Exchange in Court
In a courtroom exchange the first employer is asked how long Gotrox's son has worked in their office and replies about half an hour. The judge clarifies that he has been with them six months.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gotrox
Red Nose Mike Finds No Food from Kind Stranger
A kind old lady asks a hungry man if he has eaten and learns Red Nose Mike has had no food today. The exchange centers on aid offered or refused as the scene unfolds with plaintive dialogue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Red Nose
Mike
Untimely Interruption Between Two Characters
A fragment shows a sudden interruption as one asks memory of a prior request. The exchange shifts to a light moment with a request for a nickel.
The Common Feat Spirits Act Trick
A street duo mocks fakirs by claiming they can conjure spirits then reveal a different trick that makes them disappear. The exchange hints at illusion over mysticism and plays on audience skepticism.
Lucky Horseshoes and a Joking Exchange
A humorous exchange between patrons and a waiter features a joke about luck tied to horse shoes and a breakfast egg. The back and forth plays on timing and superstition in a casual setting.
Dark prophecy and marriage line in playful dialogue
A fragment shows a dramatic forecast about a dark future paired with a joking vow to marry a brunette. The exchange mixes foreshadowing with flirtatious humor in a concise, staged banter.
Copper King Warned: Miner Faces Danger Rumor
A whispered warning cautions to stay clear of the so called mineral king described as dangerous. The exchange asks why the man is considered a threat and speculates about his copper head reputation.
A Good Crop Dialogue on Digging and the Sea
A short exchange features two men discussing digging for wealth and braving the sea. One declares wealth is the prize from the soil while the other trusts his sturdy old tub against the sea's wash.
BOWED WITH SHAME Home Team Loses Amid Lingering Suspicion
A terse exchange hints at scandal as the home team suffers defeat while a spouse’s rumored entry through a back door raises questions. The fragment preserves a tense mood and suggests private indiscretion affecting the outcome.
At the Art Exhibit
A visitor misreads a straw stack as a tornado while a curator identifies it as a painting titled Jacob Wrestling With the Angel by a distinguished Cubist, highlighting interpretive differences at the exhibit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jacob
Anecdote from Yonkers State observance
Read as a brief exchange from Yonkers Statesman where a daughter recalls her father asking if her parents were pleasant to live with. The line hints at family dynamics and daily life dialogue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Yonkers
Drawing It Fine in a Rough Exchange
A father explains a phrase to his son noting the difference between spring fever and sheer laziness as a lesson in discernment.
Perhaps Mine Named From Provoking Question
A remark on naming a mine the Perhaps mine reflects uncertainty about its profitability. The phrase suggests the venture may pay or may not, illustrating cautious speculation by explorers. No additional facts or context are provided in the text.
Two Heads at Home Spark Spouse Tug of War
A light ribbing exchange shows Briggs and Griggs debating headship in the home. Briggs argues teamwork over tradition while Griggs insists both spouses seek leadership, highlighting marital dynamics in a humorous exchange.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Briggs
Griggs
Adjectives as a Solution to Young Speech
Life magazine laments narrow vocabularies among youths and argues that schools misteach English. The piece notes the limited wording of young men and women and suggests adding adjective-focused classes to broaden expressive power.
Flattery at the Philadelphia Record
A quirky item notes how flattery, not bills, can function as a valuable asset in the satire of Tommy and his father, reflecting newspaper humor from Philadelphia.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tommy
Philadelphia Record
Counterfeit Talk and Suburban Lot Notes
A fragmented clipping mentions counterfeit remarks and a dated error. It notes a joking exchange about a counterfeit piece and a remark that it would have been noticed long ago. The piece also references Dillberry and dabbling in suburban lots, with a remark that most are under water.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
le Rire
Dillberry
Also Mentioned on This Page
Mountain Club
North
Georgia
Cratg RR
Arnold
C. C. Kerrs
Dahlonega Feed & Livery
Lees
College Street
G. H. Moore
Prorr
Daily Hack
Gainesville
M.G. Head & Co
Piet
QUEER
Dogstar
Her
America
Emerson
Germany
J. K. Tlosmer
North Georgia Agricultural College
G. R. Glenn
Dansonega
U. S. Army
W. B. Townsend
Atlanta
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