Nine Days Wonder Kemp Original Jester Dancer
A Harper's Weekly summary recalls William Kemp the Jigger and Jester as the original nine days wonder. Kemp danced from London to Norwich, 125 miles, with bells on his legs and ribbons on his jerkin, entertaining along towns like Romford and Chelmsford. He was celebrated by the Norwich mayor with money and a lifelong pension, and reportedly later in life aspired to vault the Alps.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Kemp
Kemp
London
Norwich
Oaks
Eliza
Beners
Bodhuan
Oxford
Romford
Chelmsford
Sudburry
Mockland
Burford Bridge
Alps
England’s Broad Arrow marks crown property since ancient times
The Broad Arrow identifies English crown property across items from castles to uniforms with a penalty of 200 pounds for removal. The mark’s origin is lost to history, likened to ancient branding practices such as Athens and Samos.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
England
Athens
Samos
How to Clean a Carafe Deep Inside
A housekeeper owner presents a quick carafe cleaning method from the Philadelphia North American. Fill the bottle with a spoonful of hydrochloric acid or spirits of salts and swirl so every part is rinsed. The hardened deposit washes away immediately with a final rinse in clear water.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Sandy and Janie Wander After Street Confectioner Stop
In a casual street scene Sandy meets his girl Janie by a confectionery window. He jokingly asks what she will have for the night and suggests they both take a walk together, pausing before a stroll through the town.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sandy
Janie
How Photographic Plates Are Made and Cut
A London Answers report explains the production of dry photographic plates. Glass sheets are cleaned on a dual‑sided automatic line, rinsed by continuous water, and dried. A gelatin emulsion coats the plates, kept liquid by heat and cooled to set. Plates travel on a conveyor, are heated and cooled, then separated for sizing. Finally diamond-point guides trim plates to standard dry plate sizes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
The Pill and the Coating in a Paris History Debate
A public reception sparked a dispute between Joseph Savador historian and Jules Landeau novelist over their roles in history. The novelist quoted that reading history is like a pill needing sugar coating to be palatable, while the essayist countered that coating hides the cure and claimed authorship of the facts would not endure without his sugar coating.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joseph Savador
Jules Landeau
Eau
Microbes and Man and Youthful Immunity
The piece argues that a person in good shape with fresh air and exercise can resist many microbes encountered in youth. It notes skepticism may arise but suggests scientists are likely right about immune resilience. It warns that decline in health makes one vulnerable to germs.
Chinese Nomads of the Western Border
A London Graphic description of roaming tribes on the plains of western China living in felt tents. They rarely visit towns, trade is their main contact, and the tents are snug in summer but cold in winter with door frames much smaller than English houses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Asia
London Graphic
The Reasons For Enlisting
Two soldiers on picket recount why they joined the army. Tom says he enlisted because he had no wife and liked war, while the other, who had a wife and preferred peace, also enlisted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tom
The Bishop and the Bells Anecdote from New Orleans Clergy
A New Orleans clergyman recalls Bishop Newman of Washington and a costly set of chimes hung for dedication. The bells arrived early with Biblical inscriptions but the ringer struggled, misplayed the first stroke, and the bells’ tone proved incompatible, leading to silent years and replacement. The New York Times account preserves the tale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Orlans
Newman
Washington
Wade
Boston
B & Messenger
Bisons
Impass
New York Times
The Value of System in Personal Efficiency
A Success Magazine quip by Rison Swett Marden argues that a simple disciplined system can double a person's power to learn and act. He notes many busy individuals waste time repeating tasks due to disorganization and could save substantial time with decisive, prompt use of their faculties.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Scripline
Rison Swett Marden
Success Magazine
A Qualification By Rastus on Neighborliness
A humorous vignette from Success Magazine portrays a new minister judging Rastus as unsociable. The exchange centers on neighborliness and loving one’s neighbor, with Rastus replying that he sees neighbors as often as they see him and not particularly fond of himself.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rastus
Dominie
Pahson
Not Her Worry as Husband Receives Mysterious Note
A fragmented excerpt describes a woman questioning her husband about a note from a dressmaker. The speaker doubts the note’s significance but suspects foul play as she contemplates events around him. The passage ends abruptly with unclear context.
Master Ned in the Pound Cattle Escape Tale
An Irish master, awakening early to check his fields, discovers six of his cattle missing and blamed on his overseer Ned. Ned confesses that six of the master’s carts were in Skinnean Pound, leading to the master’s humiliation and a vow to abandon early inspections. The tale ends with the overseer stepping aside and the care of property given to Corneill Magazine.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Animas
Neds
Farly
Ned
Skianogan
Corniill
Centenarian Cooker Claims No Work Before Breakfast
A reporter covers a 104 year old cook celebrating his birthday. The centenarian quips he has never worked a lick before breakfast, a remark a son-in-law urges to include. The Cleveland Plain Dealer notes the odd claim and plans to fact check.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Medieview
Cleveland Plain Dealer
A Proposition on Boarding House Rooms and Prices
A Philadelphia Times note describes Ammons boarding houses as popular with many boarders. A landlady shows a stranger a larger room with two windows and tries to keep price equal by keeping one window closed and shutters drawn. The piece reflects common lodging practices and pricing tactics of the period.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ammons
Philadelphia Times
Child asks secret question in Philadelphia Times joke
A boy asks his mother if a woman can keep a secret and the mother explains it’s a joke by his father. He asks her to keep his misbehavior secret, requesting not to tell his father he wasn’t good that day.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Phaladelphia Times
Domestic Pleasantry Questioning Brains in Manuscript
Mrs Gimlet asks what is in her husband hand and he answers with bravado that it is brains. She retorts she knew he did not carry them in his head, prompting a witty exchange.
Absentminded Geniuses and Their Odd Obsessions
A collection of anecdotes on famous minds like Newton, Rouelle, Munster, Buxton, Ampere and Gioia illustrating extreme absentmindedness. The tales show how deep focus on work can lead to missing ordinary around us and even cause surprising mishaps.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David Brewster
Newton
Ronelle
Rouelle
Bishop Munster
Buxton
London
Garrick
Ampere
Lombroso Silys
Gioia
Ainslee
A Promising Lad at Bennett Buck’s Hardware
Miss Ellis visits Bennett Buck’s hardware store and negotiates for a hand bellows for her fireplace. At Mary Baker’s, a young helper offers a bellows for a dollar and promises to fill it with wind, joking about the buyer’s strength. Mrs Lane comments on the scene with a wary tone.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Miss Ellis
Bennett & Buck's Hardware
Mrs. Lane
Mary Baker
Amusing mishearings at a wedding and more
A Chicago Record article fragment recounts humorous misheard remarks about a bride’s teeth and a dentist joke at a Mast Seventy airth street wedding. The piece mentions a trio of witty exchanges amid a luncheon outing, with fragments about etiquette, money, and married life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Airth Street
Dib Weton
Cleveland Pan
Little Experiment in Hypnosis Ends With Oaths and Oysters
A Victorian tale fragment describes Edgar hypnotizing Maud to reveal her heart. She confesses love for Ed, then halts, and, as the scene breaks, a young girl wakes, smiling about oysters and lost chances in a hazy ending.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Maud
Edgar
London
The
Pioneers and Weavers Discuss Shared Frugal Life
Fragmented text recounts a meeting among early pioneers and workers, noting temporary modest arrangements and a discussion of living in a single house. Mentions Mr Carnegie, a Neynan weaver, and a shuttle team. Details are unclear but suggest planning and shared expenses.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Andrew Can
Carnegie
Fergie
Westi
Fragmentary plant description from Sumalis Sir reference
A garbled OCR passage describes a large global native plant with yellowish white petals, stamens forming a cup, and petals details. Mentions measurements such as petals three quarters of an inch and a cup width, plus scattered notes about margins and projections.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sumalis
Stanford Mailes
Fragmented OCR tale echoes urban myth tellers
An antisitic style narrative recounts a rambling origin tale with garbled dialogue and disjointed phrases. The obscured text mentions a person named Tomlin and vague references to duty, fear, and an ongoing party drama.
Mouths of the Animal World Show Clever Natural Tools
The text describes mouths and feeding adaptations across animals and insects. It mentions jaws with hooks, piercing fluids, and specialized structures like saws and siphons. It notes how creatures use these features to extract food and interact with their environment, highlighting variety in natural design.
Taximeter Convention Recalled From Ancient Paris Source
A fragment recalls an ancient taximeter convention learned from a Parisian source dating back to pre Christian times, noting its long historical roots and obscure origins.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Hos
Hindhron
Chicago
Asa
Saad Tomlin
Raltinsians
Yesterhide
Sussnre Sf Cee Fb
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