Legend of Scylla Besieging Megara Ends in Tragic Transformation
An ancient tale recounts Megara under siege by Crete. Princess Scylla, moved by love and ambition, sacrifices the purple lock to aid Minos, flees the city, pleads for mercy, and is transformed into a bird as the fleet sails away, with an eagle watching for vengeance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Megara
Hades
Scylla
Nisus
Minos
Crete
Scyla
Psyche Curtain Prompt Story From A Delaware Fish Dinner
A theater visitor cites a Philadelphia tale where a party of western schoolteachers sees a boat labeled Psyche and jokes that it spells fish, recalling a fish dinner by the Delaware River. The remark appears in the New Orleans Times-Democrat.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West
Philadelphia
Delaware
New Orleans Times-Democrat
Jerrold and Thackeray Banter and a Swim Lesson
The piece repeats witty jabs from Jerrold about Thackeray including digs at lectures a mug and a broken nose from school years. It notes Thackeray sponsoring a child and a remark on Romanization during tractarian times. A Chicago Tribune excerpt extols swimming as essential exercise for health and vitality.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jerrold
Thackeray
Thack
Northampt on bank robber taints Baltimore umpire tale
A Barnum recounts a Baltimore game where Artie Latham charged near Tucker at home plate after a disputed call. Tucker scored on a misplayed ball while Latham claimed a bank robbery, derailing Barnum’s reputation in Baltimore as the Northampton bank robber. Trainers and jockeys exhibit similar superstition about places and luck, with riders carrying talismans and avoiding certain tracks as a rule.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George W. Barnum
Artie Latham
American Association
Baltimore
St. Louis
Brooklyn
Tom Tucker
Silver King
King
Tucker
Latham
Bushong
Artie
Mo. Barnum
Mr. Barnum
Northampton
Old Man Marries Third Time After Two Wives
A streetcar overheard exchange reports Uncle Daniel, eighty seven, married again. He has three widowed daughters Maria Rebecca Eliza to keep house, yet evaded their watchfulness to court. He explained in a letter that he decided to wed a third time because two wives had been good.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mel
Daniel
Maria
Rebecca
Eliza
Donkey Thirteen Adverts Across Fence Fraternal Call
A local tale depicts a donkey entering a store and questioning the proprietor about advertising. The animal claims to have seen the shop’s ad on a fence near its pasture and implies the store should advertise in a broader paper read by more people. The feeble joke underscores a drive for better advertising.
What the Fly Was Doing in Aunt Maria’s House
A hoarded Indianapolis anecdote contrasts a prim spinster aunt with a bustling niece’s lunch. The spinster’s immaculate home contrasts with her brother’s lively brood, where a fly’s presence becomes a humorous tale. The piece highlights idealized housekeeping versus daily family life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Indianapolis
Indianapolis Journal
Rheumatism Secondhand Satire in a Family Tale
Mr Queercase jokes about rheumatism by describing it as a family burden carried by his brother. The tale exaggerates affliction to provoke sympathy as he recalls his brother’s night yelling, bed disruptions, and joint discomfort. The humor hinges on a secondary form of rheumatism described as energizing and petrifying to the narrator.
The Laugh of a Woman
A critic observes that women laugh more discreetly than men, preserving their appearance and manners while enjoying humor. Feminine laughter is described as pleasant and musical, often heard across water and in the breeze, with few exceptions among men.
Irish lad answers unknown call at Dr Blank's house
A playful tale describes Patrick the Irish lad answering a wire after instruction from Dr Blank. When a call comes in in the absence of the couple, Patrick asks who is there and replies It’s me, sor, leading to the line And who’s me. Shure, and how should I know, who yez are.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Swinney & Company
Patrick
Ho Who Hesitates Is Leat
A Colorado mining camp tale notes an old negro named Uncle Bill who plans to travel but will halt halfway at a cousin’s village. He hesitates there, falls ill with pneumonia, and dies, illustrating the proverb.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Colorado
Bill
Uncle Bill
New York Times
Indication of Poetry and Affection in a Conversation
Willie Wishington asks if writing poetry to a young woman is wise Miss Cayenne questions sentimental poetry He believes poetry might signal special affection if she does not laugh at it in the Washington Star excerpt
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Willie Wishington
Miss Cayenne
Ashington Star
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J. H. Nichols
West Denton
Smith & Walls
LAW Building
Armour’s Animal Fertilizers
Armour & Co
Armour's Farm and Garden
C. F. Smith
Denton
J. Calvin Smith
Greensboro
John T. Stevenson
Ridgely
Armour Fertilizer Works
Chicago
Ill
Rerive
Nuttle Hardware Co
New Downes
Main and
Fourth Sts
Coats
Wright
W. R. Wright
Jerrold and Thackeray
Chicago Tribune
Barnum
Art—Latham
Blank
England
Folkestone
Brighton
Lewes
Fred Archer
London