Peck's Bad Boy in Havana and Holland Misadventures
In Havana Cuba the narrator recalls Holland as disappointing yet honest with kindly queen and happy couples. He and his father ride wooden shoes, chase a dog team, and marvel at Dutch resilience noting strong, humorous people and peculiar commerce before recounting travel mishaps and a bucket-shop caution.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Holland
Cuba
Havana
Heaven
Maine
George W. Peck
Wisconsin
Peck*’n Sun
Peck
Bad Boy
Joseph B. Bowles
Greaser
Helland
Belgium
Wilhelmina
Hay Box Cooking and Cuban Hopes in Cuba Letter
A reader describes hay as a heat retainer to cook stew and boil meat by packing warm crockery in hay, praising labor-saving meals. The letter reflects on Holland, money trust, and brutal Cuban views, condemning Yankee and Spanish influence while recounting a Cuba trip with satirical, rambling anecdotes and a final sign off from Hennery.
Forsythe Scouts Hold Off Indian Attack at Beecher Island
In 1868 a force of 50 scouts led by Brevet Brig. Gen. Forsythe and Lieut. Beecher repelled a 1,500 strong Indian assault along the Republican and Arickaree forks. Roman Nose led the attack. several officers and men were killed or wounded. A monument at Beecher Island is planned for 1905, funded by Kansas and Colorado legislatures, with a park donated by the United States.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Saline
Solomon Rivers
Kansas
Sheridan
Military Department of the Missouri
National Tribune
George A. Forsythe
Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Republican Valley
Army of the Cumberland
Twentieth Corps
Joe Hooker
Atlanta
Hickory
Resaca
Peach Tree Creek
Dr. Moore
Col. Forsythe
Roman Nose
Forsythe
George Oaks
George
Harge
Col. Carpenter
Tenth Cavalry
Colorado
Beecher’s Island Memorial Association
Ray
Col
Grand Army of the Republic
Denver
United States
General Crawford and the Bread Thief at War’s End
The tale recalls General Crawford who halted a brigade court martial after two bread thieves were caught. He spared the thieves as punishment loomed, recalling mercy shown to a prisoner in Buenos Ayres. The crowd’s restraint broke as he recalled that kindness and punished the bugler for rough handling.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wellington
Crawford
Costello
Whitelocke
Buenos Ayres
Block Island Notes From Old New England Seaport
The Block Island locale is described as grassy with no snakes and Celtic residents from Worcester Boston and Providence supply most summer visitors. About 1200 natives live there. Mackerel price three cents a pound while swordfish sells for four cents at the dock and about a dollar at hotels. A cemetery grave marks 1687 and the birth date of a woman predates Shakespeare’s death. The first Block Island citizen was born the year Shakespeare died and lived to 102. Mariners’ lives at sea framed by a recent tomb inscription. Modern wrecks are steel and rarely salvaged. Transportation ties to New York persist with horse cars remaining two in use.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Great Britain
England
W. L. D. Cary
Great Britain and Ireland
William I
Kingdom of the Calf of Man
Rocky Coast Line
King Cary
California
William
Hughes
Liverpool
Calf of Man
Mr. Hughes
Isle of Man
Flatbush
Edward
O’neil
Bushell
Mary
Ard
Holland
Dad
Amsterdam
Milwaukee
Bank of Holland
Cuba
Havana
Maine
Uncle Sam
Republic
Wisconsin
Block Island
Worcester
Boston
Providence
New York
New
Shakespeare
Retriever brings trout to shore on riverbank walk
A retriever owned by Mr. W. Churchill of High Wycombe England accompanied on a riverbank stroll along the Wyck River when the dog suddenly dashed into the water and returned with a fingerling trout in its mouth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. Churchill
High Wycombe
England
River Wyck
Thames
Keep Women Out of Dog Hospitals
In New York dog hospitals many wards bar women to keep dogs calm. Doctors believe the sight of a woman unsettles dogs, making them homesick or distracted, so male staff are preferred to maintain patient morale and comfort.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Hasty Theater Marriage Surprises Boston Globe
A young couple left a matinee with a impulsive marriage plan to surprise everyone. The joke hints they may divorce later, leaving the surprise to fade.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boston Globe
Fraudulent Orator Exposed by Neighbor Critique Tale
A cautionary note describes a man who denounces others with tearful theatrics. The story warns readers to beware of deceitful rhetoric and trustworthiness in public figures.
Mole Habits in Burrowing and Surface Openings
The mole mostly clears loose earth from its underground runs, pushing soil ahead with its forehead when the tunnel reaches the surface. It also ejects solid plugs showing the tunnel openings, and only then removes earth to clean the burrows for regular use while hunting or traveling underground.
Government rate control debate voiced by Stax
A prejudiced opinion quotes Dustin Stax arguing that government intervention in railway rate fixing would disappoint both stockholders and the public. He notes under the current system stockholders are content, but state involvement would fail to satisfy all parties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dustin Stax
Washington Star
Cause and Effect Quip Noted in Philadelphia Press
A witty exchange from the Philadelphia Press recalls Mrs. Newbride noting her ailing husband and later preparing a dainty dish. The speaker infers a prior meeting, playfully confirming the mistaken recollection.
Very True Men Who Affect Virtues Have No Affection
A concise aphorism notes that those who pretend to uphold virtues lack true care for them, suggesting cynicism about performative morality and genuine moral commitment.
Joke in the South African War Letter Censor
A soldier punished by a strict censor plans revenge by hiding a quip under a stamp. The censor spends time steaming the stamp to read the note: Was it hard to get off.
Clever Thief Steals Clock From Singapore Court
A Chinese man carrying a ladder entered a police court in Singapore and bowed to the judge. He removed a valuable clock from above the judge’s seat tucked it under his arm and left. The clock disappeared during the court session and was not returned.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Singapore
Remarkable 1750 Newmarket Wager For 1000 Guineas
Theobald Taaf, Esq. offered 1000 guineas against the Earl of March and Lord Eglinton to deliver a four wheel carriage drawn by four horses at 19 miles an hour. The run completed in 53 minutes 27 seconds with two jockeys controlling the vehicle.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gentleman’s Magazine
Newmarket
Theobald Taaf
Earl of March
Lord Eglinton
Sherman tale of a country home toilet visit
A Lippincott's Magazine story recalls General Sherman stopping at a country house where a tin basin and roller towel served for ablutions. For two mornings a boy watched his efforts, and on the third day after the toothbrush and other items were used, the boy asked if the traveler was always that much trouble to himself.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Maine
Dad
Gen. Sherman
Lippincott’s Magazine
Color Changing Fish and Reptile in Bermuda Waters
Students at the Bermuda biological station observe color changing abilities in local marine life. The grouper shows a wide chromatic range while an octopus mimics the exact brown or gray rocks it rests on to escape pursuit.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bermuda Biological Station
Japan's public schools and student-teacher counts
The White Book shows Japan has 27,138 public schools with 5,084,099 students taught by 108,360 teachers. Enrollment rose from 29 percent in 1872 to 59 percent in 1893, with major growth after the 1894-1895 China-Japanese war.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Japan
Empire
Also Mentioned on This Page
William Cary
Oakland
Cal
Isle of the Calf of Man
Robinson Crusoe
William L. D. Cary
Mr. Cary
Congress
Hall Caine
Cary
Edward VII
Great Britain and the Isles
India
Brissiz
Oakland Cal
Rex
Br Waters
West Rocket Kingdom
S. G
Man
King
Madison Street
San Francisco
Walian LL Cary
THE
Little Kingdom
Pegks Bad Boy
Groad
Isle of Pines
Island of
Perdition
Express Company
Hennery
Beecher’s Island
Block Island Notes
Mole
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!