Ventilating Hat Spin Mayhem in Shoreditch
A narrator recounts a grim tale of becoming a vented hat tester at Wilkins shop in Shoreditch. He describes poverty, the lure of quick pay, and the brutal humiliation as a crowd watches a torture-like process for amusement. The piece ends with the narrator’s vow of possible future reckoning with Wilkins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paulyer
Wilkins
Casna Wilkins
Shoreditch
Mr. Wilkins
Shoredutch Church
Shoreditch Church
Favo
C. I. Wills
Romance of a London Doctor Debt Paid by Gifts
A London medical man recalls a romantic repayment of a £50 debt. A American-accented man and his wife visit, recounting the doctor’s kindness to the wife, thenPresent a jeweled Malacca cane and offer land in America as payment. The tale ends with the promise of wealth from the land if kept.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Biness
Tam
America
Lenton Lancet
I don't care as foe to children warned in verse and tale
A moral poem warns Little People against the phrase I don't care. It frames the expression as a thief of time, candor, and friendship, urging children to guard their words and stay true to themselves. A story later shows Ollie fishing with grandma, finding a trout, and sharing joy with family.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Armstrong
If I Had Only Stopped to Think
A cautionary tale from New York suburb life follows Joe a thoughtless boy whose actions endanger his sister Jessie after a rough game leads to her back injury and death. Now a grown man he recalls the tragedy and the lifelong remorse, uttering the refrain Oh if I had only stopped to think. C A Lackhaussee in Christian Enquirer.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joe
Jessie
Thave
New York
Sle
Job
C. A. Lackhaussee
Christian Enquirer
One Trout for Little Jennie Jenks in the Orchard
A boy crew from Honey Sweet tree country plans a trout treat for Jennie Jenks who suffers typhoid fever. Jack Ted and Ollie fetch bait and tackle and head to the west branch to catch a trout for Grandma Lane to deliver, hoping to comfort Jenny with a meal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jack
Ted
Ollie
Gramma
Tie
Grandma
Road Bridge
Grandma Lane
Grandpa Lane
Jenny Jenks
Ada Carleton Stoddard
Jenny
Gils
Repression as virtue and a Columbus exhibit in Paris
The piece outlines repressing unkind thoughts as a virtue and advice to endure pebbles of insult for self improvement, citing Ruth Ashmore from Ladies' Home Journal. It then notes a Paris exhibition reproducing Columbus voyage imagery with a basined ship and pantomime. The Boston Transcript mentions a birthday gift dilemma where Lucy jokes about Harry offering himself.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ruth Ashmore
Ladies’ Home Journal
Paris
Christopher Columbus
America
Columbus
New World
Harry
Lucy
Boston ‘'Transcript
Potatoes kept for seed in a self built airtight potato house
A farmer recalls building a 12 by 16 foot potato house raised off the ground to protect seed stock. He describes double walls with sawdust insulation, a ventilated roof, a movable bin, and lamp heated sweating to maintain a 40 to 50 degree range. He reports seed potatoes lose about 10 percent to rot and shrinkage and notes this method preserves seed quality.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cincinnati
Clover growing an invaluable farm asset for soil and hay
The article extols clover as vital for soil fertility and as a versatile crop. It stresses proper soil preparation, plowing and harrowing, and warns that careless sowing leads to poor germination and wider crop losses. It notes clover’s influence on subsequent crops and praises skilled sheep feeding.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Colman
Stock lice remedy in kerosene emulsion formula
A practical kerosene emulsion recipe to kill stock lice. Dissolve hard soap in boiling water, add kerosene, and agitate in a pump to form a creamy emulsion. Dilute before use, apply with a sponge, and spray hen houses with a 1:20 emulsion for pest control. Claims instant death to lice and minimal hair damage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Orange Judd
How to Break a Colt By Courage and Patience
Practical guidance from Colman's Rural World on gentling a colt. Emphasizes courage and a calm disposition, using measured whip use, timing, and consistency. Advises protecting trotting gait with boots, addressing toeing, and avoiding balking by letting initial speed progress before gentle correction.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Colman
Blue Grass Seed Gathering Tool Description
This section describes a hand tool used largely in Kentucky to gather blue grass seed. The one handed tool catches seed heads with bottom teeth, collects seed in a box, then emptied for repeated operation. After drying, chaff is removed by flail or outdoor sun exposure. For small quantities a scythe or mowing machine can harvest then same drying and threshing steps.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kentucky
Orange Judd
Rat-Proof Corn Mouse: Zinc Strips Stop Rats at Home
A reader describes building a corn house resistant to rats. They added mortar bricks and oyster shells between sleepers, extended the floor, and left vents under the eaves. To stop rat entry they nailed an eight inch zinc strip around the house over the door and below the eave opening, which effectively blocked access.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
N. BR
Homestead
Also Mentioned on This Page
Gazetil
Bere
Soul
Tile
Walt
Jody
Honor
Emma Huntington Nason
Nota
Flaweur
Pickwick
Owl
Boidger
Loldger
Thad
Wiedle
Aly
Jennie Jenks
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!