Snapping Fingers Across Memory Thoughts
In a New Orleans Times-Democrat feature, a curious observer notes how many people snap fingers or exhibit other physical movements to recall a near-forgotten name or fact. He questions whether such actions aid memory, suggesting a close mind body link and a physiological basis for memory aided by gesture. The piece compares finger snapping to other gestures like foot patting or lip biting as common strategies to conjure the target image from brain cells.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roper
New Orleans Times-Democrat
The Stingiest Man in Bramville Keeps Coat Off
John Briggs visits the stingiest Bramville resident who blows out a candle to talk in darkness. After a lengthy meeting Briggs leaves wearing the host’s coat, waistcoat, collar, and necktie as a joke on saving wear while unseen.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bramville
John Briggs
Mr. Briggs
Nature’s immunity to ingested poisons and venoms
The passage argues external poisons do not harm when swallowed. It notes venom from vipers and South American envenomed arrows has been ingested safely if lips and mouth remain unwounded, citing Humboldt’s record of a person swallowing venom from four Italian vipers without ill effects.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ayer
J. H. Fires
Colorado
Colo
Cater CO
Lowell
Mass
The Fish Would Not Wait
A Scotch laird hosts an English guest during fishing season. The novice hooks a fine salmon, slips into the river, and a keeper, noting the guest cannot swim, gaffs him to shore while the laird exclaims to mind the fish and hold the rod, the fish will wait.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Donald
Browning Declines Explaining Poem Passage
A curious person pressed Browning to explain a difficult line from his own poem. The poet laughed and said he did not know what it means, advising the inquirer to consult the Browning society for clarification.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Egion
Mr. Browning
Whortleberry Demands Best Clothes Cash Down
In a terse exchange Whortleberry presses Mr. Cutaway for a new suit, insisting he pays cash and wants the best. Cutaway replies he cannot furnish the desired attire, concluding with a curt farewell.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Whortleberry
Cutaway
No Use to Whine Habits and Advice on Work Ethic
A Medical Talk piece contrasts constant whining with productive effort. It likens whiners to idle people, praises two women for contrasting lives, and urges readers to quit whining, brace up, and engage in meaningful work to foster growth and social acceptance. The tone is cautional and prescriptive.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ile
Tle
Glad Surprise Ends With Hair Oil Revelation
A husband plans a playful ruse to fetch bicycle oil from a secret desk drawer for his wife sewing by lamplight. He hints at a hidden stock, but she reveals the oil was long gone three months earlier, and a lock of her hair lies in the drawer. The moment blends humor with domestic mischief in a New York Times vignette.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shuttlebotham
Oranges as Whisky Antidote Recalls Notable Reform Tale
An eastern merchant recalls a Washington Post report about an unusually strong whisky habit. A young man, after a rejected path of drinking, quit suddenly and married the woman who urged restraint. He then used orange consumption to curb cravings, claiming thirty to forty oranges daily, with orange juice helping reform.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atate
Washington Post
Cooks customs and Christmas kitchen lore from old times
A Boston Journal excerpt traces ancient cooking superstitions from stirring melted butter to tossing Shrove Tuesday pancakes. It notes sun worship origins of stirring, family participation in pudding rituals, and England’s quirks like nine-knobbed cakes, fire offerings, cross buns, and a mince pie superstition.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scotland
Westminster School
England
Boston Journal
The Automatic Burglar
Mrs Jawkins fears burglars in the house and wakes Mr Jawkins. He investigates and confirms a robbery report. The supposed burglars turn out to be the gas meter clicking like a cyclometer as it registers gas with no jet burning anywhere.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William
Mrs. Iawkins
Coaxing the Trout Fishing Upstream or Downstream Debated
The article contrasts two trout fishing methods with river currents. Advocates of upstream casting argue it reduces trout visibility and fatigue from wading, while downstream fishing supporters say longer casts and current help flies appear lifelike and entice wary fish. Old anglers adapt by using both approaches depending on water depth and flow.
November wedding rites in Trolland courtship days
The London Mail reports Trolland November customs in four Sundays of fete days: review, decision, purchase, and possession marking matrimonial progress. A wedding tale recounts Kate who misdirected a package to Miss Kate, care of Mrs Royal hotel, showcasing wit in a moment of absentmindedness during her honeymoon.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Trolland
Holland
Kate
the Royal Hotel
London Mail
His Selection
Dean Pigou recounts a satirical tale from his anecdotes about ordination candidates. A candidate answered that the Bible supports celibacy claiming priests were slain and widows absent from lamentation, with a later note that another rendering says widows were not lamented.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dean Pigou
Applause by Hissing Across Cultures
The passage notes that hissing carries different meanings by region. In west Africa natives hiss when astonished, in the New Hebrides at beauty, Basutos hiss to applaud orators, and in Japan a hiss signals reverence. In the United States the hiss denotes disapproval only.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West Africa
New
Hebrides
When to Wind Your Watch Keeps Steady Time
During night hours the watch is quiet and unmoved in the vest. Winding in the morning tightens the mainspring for the day, preventing looseness when you handle the watch in daily city activities. A relaxed mainspring causes slight time variation.
Easy to Cure Insomnia Joke Out of New York Weekly
Mrs Slimpurse tells Doctor her husband is ailing again and suffers insomnia. He lies awake worrying how he will pay her last bill, a wry exchange captured in the New York Weekly vignette.
Misquoted remark sparks discussion on common phrases
A Detroit Free Press reader quotes a lecturer who critiques how intellectuals miss the point of familiar sayings. The item notes the phrase 'but that's another story' and references Rudyard Kipling and a well known speaker, illustrating over familiarity with quotable lines.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rudyard Kipling
Detroit
Iree Press
Undertaker Claims medical profession title in dispute
A Brooklyn Eagle excerpt shows a plaintiff’s attorney asking a witness about his profession. The witness clarifies he follows the medical profession but admits he is not a practicing physician, stating he is an undertaker.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Plaintiff
Brooklyn Eagle
A Setback on Mount Ararat Inspires Trout Fishing
Noah and Shem, emerging from the stranded ark, discover a pretty pool on Mount Ararat where trout swim. Shem exclaims at the chance to fish, while Noah, tired of salt cod, agrees, noting they have only two worms.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Noah
Shem
Mount Ararat
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Whisky
Surmpeng LP
Dr. Pierce
Aus
Paurray
SAN Mars
Florida
Sam
The
Ste
Denton
A. T. Reichman
Baltimore and Eastern Shore Transportation Company
Wee Eal
McIze
Baltimore
Spear’s Wharf
Cambridge
Chantank Kingston
Gilpin’s Point
Treweee
Turkey Creek
Todd
Liowncd Y
S. B. Downes
Colston
Crosby Frisian Fur Company
Min Street
Rochester
N. Ye
G.K. Ebling
Ridgely, MD
Murderhill River
Philadelphia
Frederica
Nathan H. Maxson
Webb 5S Landing
Bowers
Wlod
Tayama
G.W. Spurry
Milford
Gomeg
Chester
Boweir’s
Fadelphia
Philadel
Phia
Frederica & Phila. Nav. CO
Frederica del
JAS. T. Quinlan &C
Camden Street
Baltimore, MD
Pliny Fisher
Attorney-At-Lawv
Denton, MD
Fletcher Clark
Attorney-At-Eaw
Baston, MD
P. Covey
Tuckahoe
Downes’ Best
Downes
Ernest Downes
Hillsboro, Md
White Dove
Samuel Lewis
T. Fred Garey
Queen Anne’s Railroad CO
Downsord
Daily Ex. Sun
R.m
Love Point
A. H
A.M
Tr. M
P.M
Queenstown
Centreville
Revenge Mills
Queen Anne Wees Denton
da Cane Hickman
Greenwood Alee
Ellendale
Milton
Mo, C. Bosley
L Pass
Luther Tucker & Son
Albany, N.Y
Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington RaiLroad
Delaware & Chesapeake Railway
Washington
Wilmington
Clayton
Kenton
Hardy
Slaughter
Marydel
Henderson
Goldsboro
Greensboro
Ridgely
Queen Anne Cordova
Chapel
Elaston
Poxford
Lyv
Ween
Atterbury
R. Woon
Gen’l
Geo. W. Boyd
Buckingham Sive
R P. Hall & Co
Nashua
N. Charles St
Maryland
Burrsville Hardware Store
Sis
Sol
Poe
Uae
Ay Harvey
Burrsville
Denton National Bank
Ppa Obs
Pega
Thos. W. Jones
Oneida
Oscar Clark
Hughes Lumber and Coal Co
R. T. Carter
Masonic Building
Kent County Mutual Insurance
Dover
Delaware
L. Irving Jones
Greeneboro
John T. Carter, Jrr
Alex. Noble
Preton, Md
Lsell Insurance
Pennsylvania
Home
New York
Planters’ Mutual
Washington County
Gilbert Hagadone
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