The Mousetrap Police in Russia Described by Kennan
George Kennan explains in Century how secret arrests form mousetraps catching all entrants regardless of rank. Police keep lists of politically untrustworthy individuals and set traps in houses, enforcing nondiscretionary arrests after assassinations, with thousands seized in one night.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Kennan
France
Alezandre Degas
Ixon
Rue de Jerusaiem
Dumas
Preobraghevski
Sock and Buskin Origin of Theatre Terms
The expression sock and buskin stems from ancient theatre shoes. The soccus was a low shoe worn by comic actors, while the buskin, from the French brossequin, was a high boot worn by tragedians to appear taller. The succus reached the ankle and the buskin extended to the knee.
Flying High and Low in Aircraft Descent Techniques
The article explains descent control by adjusting wing plane angles to throttle downward speed and achieve a near-ground rest, noting inertia preserves velocity after engine failure. It discusses the risks of high altitude landings, the need to judge ground type, and that both very low and very high altitudes carry hazards.
Bavarian Cafe Proprietor Tongue Lashed Crown Prince
Kath Kobus, proprietor of a Munich cafe frequented by artists, confronted the German Crown Prince incognito with bold Bavarian vitriol. She insulted Prussia as he listened in stunned silence, then left as the prince, astonished and eager to remain unrecognized, did not linger.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kath
Murphch
Germany
Kathi Kobus
Munich
Kathi
Prussia
Dale
Washington Star
Crochet Buckle for Lace Belt in Black and White
A craft note explains making a lace belt buckle using Irish lace. Build a foundation from an oval or oblong form, cover with cotton wadding and silk, crochet separate towers, then sew to the buckle. Finish with a shaped openwork background and secure with small stitches for a neat, black and white belt accessory.
A Sigh From the Author About Proofreading
Miss Alice Louise Lee writes to her publishers confessing proofreading confusion. She voices worry that her corrections may be as unintelligible to the printer as the printer’s marks are to her and likens proofreading to a farmer confronting a rhinoceros cage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alice Louise Lee
Simple Home Remedies for Common Ailments
A vintage column offers inexpensive at home fixes for colds headaches and minor injuries. It prescribes ginger in hot milk for a cold hampers of soda and aromatic spirits to treat early symptoms and cautions turpentine for bruises burns and chest congestion.
Practical Household Tips From an Old Family Manual
Advice on preserving gloves with plaster tips to prevent wear and tearing. Instructions for making clothes balls from fuller’s earth with lemon juice and pear ash to treat spots, cleaning knives with potato, removing grease with coarse salt, and dampening coal with water to burn hotter.
Collapsible Straw Motor Hood Described in Vintage Passive Style
A new motor hood design uses soft flexible straw that folds and tucks into a pocket. The Quaker hood shown is gray and pink straw with pink taffeta facing and gray rose colored taffeta trim.
Cleaning Tips from a Vintage Household Guide
Practical household hints include borax water to restore glass shine, warm water for starched fabrics, and adding a touch of billing to soap suds for clearer glassware. A painter's brush helps dust crevices, mildew comes out with a weak chloride of lime soak, and blood stains fade in cold salt water then warm soap wash followed by boiling.
Stead and Spirits and a Bureau for Souls
A European obituary style sketch of William Stead, his belief in occult communication, the creation of the post office for spirits in London in 1909, and his use of the automatic hand with Julia as a medium, followed by notes on aquatic life and fish cinema.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. T. Stead
William Stead
Borderland
Mr. Stead
Julia
Stead
Miss Ames
Hell
Earth
Bureau of Communication
London
Boy’s breakfast banter prompts copyright idea
A year-old boy shares a remark at breakfast about good things. Knox interrupts noting the boy should have them copyrighted to prevent reproduction by others.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Borem
Knox
George Herbert Quotation About Usefulness and Presence
Noted aphorism emphasizes usefulness in action and the desire for ongoing pleasing company across effort and presence. The quotation frames value in service and companionship rather than mere possession.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George Herbert
Viles of Gem Thieves Show Clever Jewelry Tricks
A historical piece outlines how modern jewel thieves differ from clumsy bandits. It details techniques from false tags and imitation stones to decoys, wax in shoes, and sly trades involving children, with London and New York examples and survivor tips for jewelers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
West End
London
Dewly
New York
Also Mentioned on This Page
Police OF
Russia
Sock and Buskin
F. Martin Duncan
Royal Society of Arts
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