Theodore Hook The Greatest Practical Joker in His Day
A portrait of Theodore Hook as a child prodigy and famed practical joker. Early fame, theater access, and bold stunts are described, including the gilded eagle prank and knocker and bell-handle tricks. A dinner party ruse ends with Hook announcing his own identity to guests.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lst of
iLeodore Hook
Hook
Fend
John
Stook
Plano
Terry
Theodore Hook
Sting
Mauritius
New York Press
The Skyrocket Firework Detailed Construction
The ely rocket uses sulphur, charcoal and saltpeter in a rough 14 26 60 mix. A paper case holds powder with a chokehole fuse, a conical head with stars or crackers, and a stick directs flight. Ignition drives gases downward to launch the rocket upward.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ely
Pearson
Habit and Virtue in Odd Factory Misadventures
A zigzag extract from Harpers Weekly notes quirks of daily life. A shirtwaist worker endures a long seam job that tests nerves after years of steady routine, while a Pennsylvania clergyman-era house party Easterly humor centers on a young man’s bread tasting at breakfast.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Harpers Weekly
The Greed For Gold Debate
A mournful speaker laments greed for gold while Sirius Barker counters that widespread desire blocks chances to profit. The Washington Star quotes the exchange as a commentary on shared pursuit amid limited opportunity.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sirius Barker
Washington Star
Lydia Darrach and the Loxley house tale in Philadelphia
The Loxley house at Little Dock and Second streets in Philadelphia is linked to Lydia Darrach and a famed, debated eavesdropping tale said to have aided Washington's army. Though later historians question the episode, the legend persisted from Major Garden’s manuscript cited by the American Quarterly Review in 1827 and 1828.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Darrach
Whitefield
American Quarterly Review
Philadelphia Ledger
Brief call for durable paper to preserve history
A German writer argues that modern newspapers will degrade as paper disintegrates, comparing an 1821 Napoleon obituary and a Sedan surrender article printed later on fragile stock. He urges printing a representative set of books and newspapers on sturdy paper for future generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Napoleon Bonaparte
Sedan
Young Folks Kept Within Bounds in Chief Justice Marshall Era
A biography anecdote shows discipline for youths in Marshall's day. Nieces hosted visitors, but Uncle Joseph enforced order. Every 4 pm, he bowed and announced dinner, with rules keeping young men away from unmarried girls unless vetted by parents.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Virginia
Marshall
Judge Marshall
Joseph
Gravitation Explained and Its Far Reaching Power
The article explains how centrifugal force in a rotating wheel drives plant growth toward the center while gravity pulls roots downward. It notes Earth’s immense centrifugal motion but credits gravitation as the overmastering force, whose nature remains unknown. Understanding it could transform navigation, engineering, and science.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Earth
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Admiral Faces Unprepared Answer At Sea
In a deep Rio de Janeiro harbor a chain broke free, alarms sounded, and an admiral demanded discipline from the young man in charge. The captain and Alfred pressed him to explain, but the reply left the admiral stunned and stammering. The moment shifts the old sea power’s balance as a sharp rebuke becomes a teaching moment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rio Janeiro
A. T. Mahan
Alfred
Observance of Easter date changes up to 1752
The article traces Easter dating from its early days to the Nice Council of 825, notes England’s 669 rule, and explains how Gregorian reform caused a 1752 adjustment. It explains the rule: Easter is the first Sunday after the full moon on or after March 21, with fixes if the full moon falls on a Sunday.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Nice
England
Queer Names in Colonial Attitudes Spark Debate
A Cincinnati Enquirer excerpt quotes a law student arguing that Chinese families give “queer” names to children and slaves. He contrasts girls named Cloudy Moon and Spring Peach with boys named Practical Industry and Complete Virtue, while noting enslaved people bear names like Not For Me and Joy to Serve, highlighting racial and social hierarchy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jenny
Matilda
Cincinnat! Enquirer
Sitting on a High Hat Novelty Test
A clubman explains a weight bearing trick using a silk hat. Placing the hat crown down on a flat surface with a plank across the rim, one can sit on the hat to test its strength as long as the hat is undamaged and weight is applied gradually. The idea, cited from the Philadelphia Record, emphasizes hat quality over a specific person.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Record
Onion Cure For Dropsy Reported Successful
A letter from the Exchange notes that eating onions frequently helped a patient with dropsy. The patient, once abandoned by several physicians, ate onions like apples and was completely restored to health. Five years later there has been no recurrence.
Anticipated healing powers of American medicinal roots
The article extols American forests for medicinal roots with Dr. Pierce urging free mail distribution of a book. It claims cures for indigestion fever heart ailments and women’s ailments using native extracts. It notes production without alcohol or habit forming drugs and promises full ingredient list on each bottle wrapper.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Buffalo
Pierce
Also Mentioned on This Page
Denton Journal
Noward Mealvex Benc. H. Johnson
Melvin & Johnson, Publishers
Lydia Darrach
Andersontown
Carroll
Carroll Adams Co
Seeeaen
A. J.flayes
Indiana
Bill Heads
The
Denton, Maryland
Georgia Exp
J. Borcrixo & Son
Baltimore
H. N. Starns
Bolgiano
Paragon
S&10c
J. Bolgiano
J. Harry Rose
Likes
Mollin's
Wilmington
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!