Christmas in Five Points and a true Christmas tale
A historical reflection contrasts New York Five Points crime era with a Christmas mission story. It recounts how Rev. Van Meter aided but faced threats to educate street children, and the dramatic reunion of a lost child with his mother through the Harrison family. The piece also depicts old time Christmas customs in rural America and the rise of urban philanthropy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Five Points
W. C. van Meter
Paradise Square
Sally
Bill
George
George Smith
George Johnson
Ory
Harrison
Sarah
Charlie Ross
Mr. Harrison
Mr. van Meter
Broadway
Central West
Cincinnati
Louisville
St. Louis
Ohio
Tennessee
America
A Christmas Without Spending Money in Early America
A historical column recalls a frugal Christmas practice in which families celebrated Nativity scenes without gifts, trees, carols, or public pageantry, noting that such austerity was once common across much of the United States.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
United States
Slick hustler duped five men at Syracuse in a wedding ruse
A Chicago horseman conned five men at the New York Central depot in Syracuse by promising to marry a widow within an hour for a $500 stake. The plan collapsed when the supposed bride and groom were revealed as already bound by marriage, leaving the men defrauded.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Syracuse
New York Central
Chicago
New York Sun
Cuticle Word Play and Freckles Riddle Highlighted
A Maine country teacher recalls a spelling lesson where a girl mispronounces cuticle as cu tick le and finally recalls the meaning after being prompted about what covers hands and face. The Congo district is noted as developing tobacco suitable for cigars with flavorful, supple leaves.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Maine
Knowlton
San Pontes
Congo
Brussels
Tobac
A Miners Christmas in Colorado Snowbound Camps
In the Rocky Mountains over 1,000 miners spend Christmas two miles above New York City level, cut off by snow. They share meals in frugal cabins and two pards, sing Home Sweet Home, and think of loved ones as a mortgage haunts a father. A lone sick man may be cared for by a son or friend while bankers loom over debts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York City
Colorado
Arctic
Rocky Mountains
Grace
Denver Cor
St. Louis Globe-Democrat
An Unnatural Mother Exchange and Family Quarrel Snippet
A fragmented dialogue excerpt features a child noting a mean act by a Texas mother who put the speaker in long trousers to save on stockings. The exchange shifts to a scene with Clara and a back-and-forth about Christmas presents and a quarrel signal.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Texas
Charles
Preventing Blindness in Newborns Warned by Washington Doctor
A Washington physician warned the Medical Society about newborn ophthalmia causing widespread blindness. He cited U S and European data, urged public awareness, and proposed issuing simple eye care cards for new mothers and early doctor visits to prevent vision loss.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Washington
Medical Society
Star
Europe
United States
General Fund
Commonwealth
England
Ophthalmological Society of
United Kingdom
Dog Wins Five Day Ranch Watcher Bet
A ten year old shepherd dog born in Montana and raised by a Mexican sheep herder on a ranch in Ventura County carried out five days of unattended duty. The dog fed the flock, led sheep to pasture and returned them to the corral as instructed. The dog’s owner paid $100 after the bet was proven successful.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Montana
Messra
Schiappa Pietra
Ventura Gazette
Also Mentioned on This Page
THE
Monmouth Review
Soxwoul
Illinois
Santa
E. H. Earon
David A. Curtis
American Press Association
Cutely
Rockies
Jacque
the Tribune
Henry James
Arthur Stedman
Bookbuyer
Constance Fenimore Woolson
Crawford
Fellimore Cooper
Claremont
N.el
Mme. Chegaray
Cleveland
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!