Sparks Family Happenings and a Janitors Illusion
The Sparks move into a new Chicago flat and face comic domestic chaos. Four year old Tommy eats painter’s paint claiming painter’s pie is good, prompting doctor and druggist drama and a lesson from the neighbor painter. Janitor William, a former cavalryman, earns affection by loyal acts, including window washing and home fixes, and the couple contemplates suburban life. Rosa the maid becomes a bridge to a happier ending as romance and work bind the building together.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
RS. Sparks
Tommy Sparks
Mr. Sparks
Sparkses
Tommy
Mrs. Sparks
Helen
Jonah
Mr.Sparks
Willn
Henry
the Sparks
Eliza
Dante's
Employment Bureau
Sparks
William
Fourth Cavalry
Henry Sparks
Chicago
Rosa
Frances
Hunt
Mr Sparks
Nuisance at the Table in a Woman's Home Companion Sketch
In Mary Stewart Cutting style, the piece portrays Mr Brentwood as well born and educated yet socially disruptive at table. His family endures a barrage of homely jokes and puns whispered to guests while he samples dishes with suspicious scrutiny and quips about butter bread soup and potato salad.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mary Stewart Cutting
Brentwood
Theodora
Ellen
Mr. Brentwood
NEAT TRICK WITH MATCHES FOR YOUNG FOLK
A simple indoors amusement using a 100 match heap. Players alternate taking up to ten, aiming to reach numbers 12 23 34 etc by adding 11 each step. If you start, you secure a win by forcing these totals. even if the opponent starts the result remains favorable.
Whittle Ball in Box Frame Sparks Park Whittling Surge
An epidemic of whittling in Fairmount park Philadelphia centers on the ball in a box frame toy. Thirty seven men were found whittling during a park stroll as fascination grows from a simple chip cutting method and a finished ball in a frame is shown in the illustration.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fairmount Park
Philadelphia
Spelling reform urged by St Andrews scholar at Dundee meeting
Sir James Donaldson urged phonetic spelling at the British Association for the Advancement of Science meeting in Dundee. He argued current English spelling is absurd and burdens learners, noting phonetic systems in French German and Dutch as examples. He blamed compositors for rigid spellings and said reform would ease education. Donaldson is a noted author on Greek grammar and religious topics.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
British Association For the Advancement of Science
Dundee
James Donaldson
University of St. Andrews
United College of St
Sir James
China
How to Spin Handkerchief Trick Explained
Instructions describe a conjuring method where a handkerchief is borrowed and spun on a stick. A needle protrudes from the stick end, allowing the cloth to loop and spin while staying on the stick as it is whirled.
Neat Little Parlor Trick Demonstrated
A brief marvel describes bending the second finger of the left hand forward and joining the tips of the first and third fingers behind it. The trick asks to move the second finger between them without releasing them or using the thumb or any aid.
Riddles From A Nostalgic Page
A collection of light hearted wordplay asking about skirt length poker costs coals ashes and a fountain riddle about growing old double faced silk threads and deceiving friends wedding ring a button and a left shoe riddle about order and a hen laying eggs only in the daytime with a German phrase at the end.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cork
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!