Humors of exam papers and living anecdotes
A collage of humorous excerpts and anecdotes. Dr Haig Brown mocks examiners by parsing odd student answers about the Chiltern Hundreds and a cherub, then shifts to a Georgia court overheard funeral talk, a Boston teacher and cocoons, a Washington lunchroom misread bill, and a tale of Congressman Clayton in whisky prosecutions. Edison and Tesla tale ends with a long cafe meal and a request for another steak.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Haig Brown
City of London College
Georgia
Boston Transcript
Rhen
Washington
Clayton
Alabama
Jol
Henry
Thomas Edison
Nikola Tesla
Paris
Tesla
Edison
Hamed Julton
Fulton
Execution of Laud and the fall of Strafford in 1645
The Century recalls Archbishop Laud being beheaded on January 10 1645 after years in the Tower as part of the era’s grim temper. Morley notes the contrast with the Presbytery’s Jerusalem Chamber victory and the cautionary limits on Laud’s final ambitions amid a national catastrophe.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Laud
Jerusalem
John Morley
Strafford
Poor Babe Child Stolen Then Found Sleeping in Desk
A town youth proudly shows off his infant in a library. He leaves with a friend on business, forgetting the baby on the desk beneath a closing shutter. The nurse fears the worst, but the child is later discovered sleeping among ink bottles and writing tools.
Over the Telephone and Preparing Him for the Worst
A grocer seeks the owner of a call from a busy morning conversation about salt fish and pollock. Two scenes unfold a humorous miscommunication then a rheumatism patient at a spring recalls how optimistic reports soon turn to obituary notices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles
His Hint for a Raise in a Reading Room Tale
A Philadelphia Call anecdote recounted by a group of commercial men in a hotel reading room. A young assistant bookkeeper, praised for steady work, reveals he earns twenty dollars a week but only keeps half. The senior partner’s curiosity highlights wage inequity and potential for a raise.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia
Heredity Rules and Oddities In A Fractured Note
A fragment discusses heredity noting that 97 percent of deaf offspring from deaf parents are deaf while other offspring often regain hearing. It cites two hereditary laws about transmission and reversion to normal types. It also briefly notes temperament and a curious misstatement about bass drum notes being squid.
Notable 19th Century Miscellany From Paris Exposition Notes
A collage of reports covers Paris exposition plans and naval expansion, a Russian imperial train with cows for royal daughters, Alabama teaching certs, a Paris Geneva rail shortcut, and a stone map of France for 1900. Also noted are doll factories in Germany and Switzerland, onion remedies, and a Midwest legislative anecdote about Corn Row work and time use.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Salvation Army
Paris
Navy
France
Alabama
Geneva
Jura
la Revue Des Jeunes Jiilles
Cuba
Samoa
Atlantic
Germany
Switzerland
Italy
Vance
Tama Jim and the Cushing Manual in Iowa Corn Harvest
The future Secretary of Agriculture, James Wilson of Traer Iowa, recalled buying a copy of Cushing's Manual thirty years ago to learn parliamentary procedure as he began legislative service. He received an old sixteen mo volume with his autograph on the fly leaf, found during a corn harvest era when three men accompanied wagons of ears into storage.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cushing
Wilson
Iowa
Philadelphia
Saturday Evening Post
Threezien
Don t give up the ship origin story in Hartford Courant
The Hartford Courant reflects on the famous battle cry Dont give up the ship and questions of faith versus truth. A Boston editor Major Benjamin Russell is recalled through a daughter who shared anecdotes about the Chesapeake Shannon clash and the dying slogan being attributed to Lawrence and later confirmed by a newsroom anecdote.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hartford Courant
Lawrence
Benjamin Russell
Boston Sentinel
Chesapeake
Shannon
Massachusetts
Boston
Sentinel
Russell
Quaint Actions and Bright Sayings of Cute Children
A juvenile feature highlights Adrian who earns a cap and learns manners, bowing to ladies and removing his hat indoors, praised as a mark of gentlemanly behavior. Eskimo children in northland huts share clothing, routines, and story time in igloos, each child telling a tale after dressing dolls.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Northland
Punctuality and Proving Faithfulness in Work Life
A collection of anecdotes extols punctuality as a major factor in business success. Cyrus W Field credits being on time with earning millions and gaining trust, comparing punctuality to honesty. A firm head's decisive hiring follows a candid, alert youth who impressed with his timely demeanor. Another vignette ends with a child asking for pie, illustrating everyday family scenes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cyrus W. Field
Tribe Monthly
Martial Law in South Africa Reported by Private Letter
A private letter from Ladysmith published in the Birmingham Gazette describes martial law under Gen. White. It notes commandeering public buildings and private homes, including a finished house taken for headquarters, leaving a newly married couple to depart with twenty minutes to spare. The author reports fear and silence under the regime.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Birmingham
Blandslaagte
Gen. White
England
Child Tricks Boy With Worms In Menagerie Tale
In a European humorous vignette, a child pleads for a quarter to glimpse the big snake in a menagerie. The father offers a magnifying glass and suggests inspecting an angle worm instead, turning the moment into a quip about perception.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morris
Witty sayers on aging and courtship from the era
A short cheeky observation notes aging matters and romance with a quip about men seeking eligible partners. The piece contrasts male vanity in decoration with a light joke about women and suitors. The tone reflects humorous social commentary.
The Secret of It from St. Nicholas
A short quoted tale about a mother and son discussing eating and sharing a meal with a moral about remembering sunny days. The little diplomat explains that craving another piece shows a focus on crusts and the day’s outlook depends on how one opens their soul rooms to sunshine or gloom.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bobby
St. Nicholas
Would Be Cut Down
Willie five years old told a minister how his father got a new set of teeth. The minister asked what would be done with the old ones and Willie replied that mamma would cut them down so he could wear them.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Willie
Willlie
Did Not Worry Them Hum Orist Visitor Dialogue
A humorist's little daughter quips that her father is a willing man and untroubled by gossip. The visiting character notes how streams and others may judge him, but the child says they are used to him and worry less each day.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. J
Strams Gers
The Wrong Done Joseph and The Usefulness of Gloves
A Lund school teacher asks a pupil about Joseph and his brothers. The boy replies they sold him too cheap, revealing a youthful financier. Then Clara contemplates washing or wearing gloves before a walk, reflecting on cleanliness and manners.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Joseph
Johnny
Lund
Taking Baby's Picture Causes Photographer's Frustration
A family scene unfolds as a photographer tries to capture a smiling infant. Mother Aunt Jane and Sister coax the baby while the neighbor warns about a strange man. After jingling keys and crinkles of a birdie prop, the child finally smiles and the photographer sighs relieved.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jane
Baby
Cork tiles promise heat and sound proof floor coverings
Compressed cork, sold as viry cork, is touted as a superior nonconductive flooring. The tiles, free from cement and glue, are waterproof warm and germ proof and suitable for wainscoting or cork tile floors. Panels and sheets offer versatile uses including pulley coverings with higher power transmission than smooth iron surfaces.
Also Mentioned on This Page
Dr. Johnson
Rumauiz
Choler
Tama Jim
Adriaon
Adrian
Nina
Miss Nina
Humpty
Mamma
Small Bobby
South Africa
Clara
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!