Dining on Books and Bizarre Eating Feats Through History
A quirky historical note surveys authors and figures who had to eat books or manuscript matter to satisfy punishments or rites. It cites Barnardo Visconti forcing papal delegates to gnaw a bull of excommunication, creditors demanding a note be eaten, and other extreme examples from various cultures and eras.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Bull
Barnado de Visconti
Izaac Volmar
Bernars
Saxony
Philip Oldenburger
Miller's Worm Powders Promises Cure for Infant Worms
Advertises Miller's Worm Powders as a remedy for infant worms, claiming prompt treatment prevents lasting weakness and constitutional harm. It asserts the product clears stomach and bowels, repairs organ injury, and prevents recurrence.
Irate Woman Confronts Chauffeur Over Dead Dog
An incident ends with a chauffeur stopping after a speeding run when a dog is struck. A furious owner berates the motorists, calling them murderers of her dog, prompting an attempt to pacify with a joke or tone. The exchange reveals anger and tension in the confrontation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Madan
Sax
Circus man defies fear of spree after marrying snake-charmer
A skeptical observer notes that the circus man shows no fear of a spree's effects, questioning why he should fear after marrying a snake-charmer. The remark hints at a bravado born of unusual nuptials and public spectacle.
Doing a Man's Part For Our Cause Suffragette Wordplay
A fragment shows a suffragette worker’s death and a man replying he supports one of the movement’s most enthusiastic members. The terse exchange underscores tensions around suffrage activism and male allies.
Lost Code Reflects Witty Exchange Between Napoleon Sherman
An odd dialogue unfolds with Napoleon questioning a move by General Sherman. Sherman quips that Carnegie has abolished war and theologians have abolished hell, provoking reflection on far reaching changes and provocative ideas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ananias Club
General Sherman
Napoleon
Carnegie
Hell
Sherman
Pantry Door Mystery in Sunday Exchange
A brief dialogue shows Wille asking his mother if she trusts him after being good on Sunday. She replies she trusts him but reveals the pantry door remains locked, prompting curiosity about what is hidden inside.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wille
Echoe
Willie
Wife seeks missing husband in wary maid tale
A concerned lady questions a house maid about her husband’s whereabouts. The maid, cautious, answers she is unsure and hints at uncertainty about the master's location. The exchange suggests a domestic mystery unresolved at the moment.
Misquoted Lines Across History and Literature
The piece surveys common misquotations from Bible verses and speeches. It cites Fenimore Cooper misattributing scripture, misreadings of Habakkuk and Headsbur, Roosevelt and Washington quotations, and Sir Walter Scott paraphrase errors. It highlights how original meanings get distorted over time.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fenimore Cooper
Cooper
Theodore Roosevelt
Washington
Congress
Othis
Walter Scott
Pirate-like album sales spark dutiful printing room revolt
An instalment agent sells albums on terms of 25 cents down and per week, but printers refuse to pay any weekly instalment. The foreman questions the agent, the crew declares no quarter, and the agent leaves. Later aboard a train, a man boasts about his no-sickness diet of corned beef and strict routine, until another passenger interrupts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Little Rock
Arkansas
Arkansan
Where Colleges Fail to Build Citizen Spirit Through Work
The piece argues that expanding high school or university agricultural teaching benefits the nation little. It warns that knowledge gained after sixteen lacks unselfishness and tends toward self interest. It stresses that experts must learn by doing to balance mind and body through practical, communal work.
Son of the house questions caller about his cos father
The exchange shows a son probing a caller about a family matter. The caller affirms his actions and expresses pride in his genealogy while the son questions the method used, revealing tension within the household.
Army Scoutmaster Receives Homebound Help Offer
Major Bangstick of the Indian Army writes to his scoutmaster promising aid with field work and 50 on, noting drills have changed since his last home visit and asking to be kept up to date.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bangstick
Indian Army
Hocace
Man Sues After Injury From Dropped Iron Load
A plaintiff files suit against a company alleging gross carelessness. He was carrying a heavy iron piece when an employee blew a quitting whistle, causing him to drop the load on his foot and suffer damage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bill
Saskatchewan Woman Praises Dodd's Kidney Pills
Mrs. Edgar Cowen of Caesarville Saskatchewan testifies that Dodd's Kidney Pills are beneficial. The article notes kidney strain from scarce female help in new country and claims the remedy restores health by cleansing blood, promoting pure blood and wealth.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Caesarville, Sask
Prairies
Dodd
Great Lakes
Rockies
Edgar Cowen
Mrs. Cowen
Inheritance of Dairy Power Through Pure Bred Sires
Dairying experts urge testing programs to boost milk yield by selecting pure bred sires. They argue cows bred to a strong milking bull produce superior progeny, and the continued use of top sires could add about 1200 pounds of milk per cow. Cooperation among cow testing associations is encouraged to rotate sires and prove heredity’s value.
Incurable Ringbone Cure With Liniment Seller
Moise Derosce of St. Phillippe Quebec narrates a horse deal begun at $30 for a horse with ringbone deemed incurable. The animal was cured with one dollar of Minard's Liniment and resold for $35, yielding a stated profit of $54 from the liniment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Minard
Cinematograph Used to Teach Musketry in Vienna
A Vienna report describes a cinema used for musketry instruction. Soldiers fire at a battlefield image projected on a screen. after each shot the film pauses while a backlight reveals the hole’s position relative to the target.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Vienna
Idle curiosity example from a shoe clerk inquiry
The passage cites an idle curiosity by a twelve dollar weekly shoe clerk who asks about the price of mobile tires. It uses this as a definition of idle curiosity and presents a fatherly admonition to his son.
Imaginary Lines Stir School Promoted Talk
A boy explains the equator as an imaginary line while a railway financier repeats the idea. Aunt asks about promotion and a neighbor boy is noted as getting promoted more often because his father is promoted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Great Railway Financie
Bobby
Primitive navigation ships French fishers to Newfoundland banks
The article notes 789 French vessels fish on Newfoundland banks with 242 fitted in Normandy and Brittany. Captains navigate without chronometers, using latitude observations and soundings to reach port safely. about 7,500 men fish, leaving in March for 14 to 45 days and earning on average no more than 150 dollars for seven months.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atlantic
Newfoundland
Columb
Normandy
Brittany
English Channel
France
Ingenious Brazilian Frog Builds Water Nest Fortification
A Brazilian tree frog crafts a circular mud nest at pond bottom forming a solid two inch thick wall that narrows toward the top and rises above water like a volcanic crater. The tube like enclosure provides air light access for eggs and young until they can fend for themselves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brazil
A Sure Remedy for Youthful Limits in Politics
The story recalls M. Poincaré’s early political career when a rival mocked his youth. He replied that he would do something each day to erase that disadvantage, signaling steady reform despite his age.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
M. Poincaire
Unnamed Candidate Misidentified by Sworn Audience
Two Black men near the crowd at a campaign speech debated the speaker’s identity. After about ten minutes one asked his companion who the candidate was, and the other admitted he did not know the name but noted the speaker “recommends hisself most highir.”
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sambo
Don’t You Adore Ibsen? Conversing in Crafty Rivalry
A Chicago girl presses admiration while a Boston damsel quips she does not always grasp Ibsen. The light exchange hints at differing tastes and social banter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ibsen
Chicago
Boston
Marine Eye Remedy Enters Market With Eye Care Products
Murine Eye Remedy Co of Chicago promotes Marine Eye Remedy for red sore watery eyes and irritated lids. The line includes Liqui 25e priced at 8c and Meurine Eye Salve in a 25¢ tube, with free mail order books, marketing an eye tonic for all eye care needs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Murine Eye Remedy Co
Chicago
Make or Break Them in Courtroom Exchange
A witness in a case is examined by the plaintiff’s counsel and then by the defense for cross examination. The lawyer presses the witness on his occupation asking if he polishes or moves pianos. The exchange reveals the witness is a piano finisher with a more definite description sought.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smith
Silence Prison of Lisbon Torture Chamber Described
An exchange reports inmates in a Lisbon area prison endure extreme punishment in a five story wing built like a wheel. Cells are coffinlike and silent, with masked inmates in shrouds allowed out once daily. About 500 prisoners face severe confinement, many lasting under ten years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lisbon
Portugal
The Brighter Side of Failure’s Humble Insight
An optimistic speaker notes one satisfaction in failure and prefers honesty over boasting. A sympathetic friend draws out the self-made man idea, highlighting humility as the wiser response to setbacks.
Oyster Dilemma at Dinner Sparks Quick Conscience
An unexpected visit by the Youngs disrupts a Bailey dinner. Mrs Young explains there will be scant oysters and Helen is told to keep quiet. Hearing of the shortage, Helen spots a small oyster in her broth and asks loudly if Mrs Young should also have it, revealing the social tension at table.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Baileys
Mother
Helen
Windsor
Ontario
Early settler noted for prompt bills every month
A respectful mention of a gentleman described as an early settler. He is said to be under forty years old yet punctual, paying his bills on the first of each month.
Bus Conductor Demands Westminster Abbey Ride
The conductor waits at the steps while no passenger alights. He asks a man at the top if he wants Westminster Abbey. The man answers yes, and the conductor retorts that he cannot bring the abbey on the bus.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cotor
Westminster Abbey
Lawyer Offers Defense For Ras In Rural Theft Case
Georg, a lawyer, asks Ras if he wants defense and whether he has money. Ras says he has a mule, a few chickens, and a hog or two. Lawyer notes those assets will cover the accused thefts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Georg
Ras
Rastus
Potatoes and Pow Potatoes as Perpetual Motion Foe
The piece predicts potatoes will triumph as a future fuel source amid rising coal and petrol costs. It argues potatoes can produce alcohol to power engines, suggesting a perpetual motion vibe where the earth endlessly grows potatoes to back future energy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William Cobbett
Real Gratitude in Ohio Relation Sparks Old Romance
A man in Ohio left all his money to the woman who refused to marry him years ago, a gesture the writer calls real gratitude. The column argues pessimists misread modern chivalry and romance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daily Papers
Ohio
Fragmentary street scene hints at shoe pile
Readable lines note many old shoes on the street this morning raising questions of a possible event or incident. Wry aside suggests a wedding or a cat fight as the imagined cause.
Rose Threatens Kiss or Die In Tempest
In a tense exchange Rose declares he will kiss me or die amid a storm of emotion. Marie questions the claim and notes Rose lacks life insurance and pities his elderly mother.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Rose
Marie
Questioning women's dress sense and impact on industry
The remark challenges women's attire choices and posits that sensible clothing would threaten half the world's industries, implying broad economic consequences from fashion decisions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smach
Forty Heroines Compete for Leads in Dramatic Club Sketch
A dramatic club faces a dilemma as forty young ladies audition for lead roles. The sketch writer notes the clash of ambition and plans to assign parts to showcase each talent while preserving balance on stage.
Browne and Towne Rebut Popularity Myths
Browne comments that a man must be a terrible liar to be popular while Towne questions why eighty. Browne replies that no man gains popularity by truthfully revealing himself.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Browne
Towne
Unclear teamwork exchange during game innings
A brief chat captures a fan asking for the score as two players arrive in the fifth inning. The response is Nothing to nothing, with a cheer that nothing has been missed.
No Hope Subbubs Garden Fails Despite Neighbors’ Chickens
Mr Subbubs fears garden failure as Mrs Subbubs cites lack of interest from neighbors and their chickens. The dialogue hints at community indifference and poor yields, with a touch of humor about the birds.
Parmelees Vegetab Pills Offer Relief for Dyspepsia
The piece extols Parmelee's Vegetab Pills as effective relief for dyspepsia caused by stomach and liver dysfunction. It contrasts them with other touted remedies and asserts long standing value through years of use.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Parmelee
Portrait Painter Promises Speaking Portrait
A careful artist tells a prospective customer he can paint a portrait of the wife that will speak. The customer asks if it could instead be a still life. The exchange reveals the artist’s anxious precision and the odd demand.
No-Longer-Than-Life Charade Of Giving
A reflective observation on generosity and sustainability notes that while giving is preferable to receiving, most people cannot maintain such a practice forever.
Good Advice From A Young Lawyer In A Local Case
A young lawyer newly practicing here was hired by a criminal with only $5 and a weak defense. The client received blunt guidance from his father and then from the lawyer who advised him to hire a more experienced attorney after hearing the story.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sid
Window Cleaning Comment Sparks Neighbor Dispute
Bridget insists the windows are properly cleaned on the inside while bragging she left the outside dirty so the Jones children cannot look out, revealing a petty dispute over privacy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bridget
Jones
Envious Boss Fires Pester Employee Again
Mrs. Pester jokes about keeping employment by never being fired while Mr. Pester recalls being fired today and laughs at the boss’s enthusiasm in terminating him.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mrs. Pester
Mr. Pester
Tired and Weak Dr Chase's S and Nerve Food
A short health tonic advertisement touts Dr Chase's medicine claimed to restore strength and nerve vitality. It promises quick relief for weakness and fatigue using advertised ingredients and testimonials from satisfied users.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Wilson
ADDN
SRA Comfaa
Limiter, Reniveei
Www
N. U
Lawie
Tiger
Mamma
Dodds
Saskatchewan
Moise Derosce
St. Phillippe, Que
Nitro Club
Canada
Remington-Arms-Union Metallic Cartridge Co
Windsor, Ontario
Tetley
Eddy
Mr. Subbubs
Mrs. Subbubs
Dr. Chase
Ers
Edmeson, Bates & Co
Toronto
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