Global curiosities and odd facts from old notes
A collection of disparate snippets notes antiquated science, industry, and world trivia. It mentions eggplant fruit, Greek shorthand, England’s flower industry, a Maine inventor, a blade grip patent, Bible translation counts, a Kuia marriage custom, matches from Malaya, a 17th century machine gun, bright stars, sea sand movement, serology tests, the Great Eastern crossing, Roman funeral rites, Venice’s population, and a US oil camp boast in Tampico district.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
England
Maine
Central Africa
Atlantic
Venice
Tampico
Automatic Pistol With Flashlight Invented For Burglars
A new flashlight pistol combines a tubular flashlight with an automatic pistol. The pistol barrel sits along the flashlight tube and six shots of .24 caliber can be fired. The trigger is mounted on the side of the tube opposite the barrel per Popular Mechanics Magazine.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Popular Mechanics Magazine
Excessive Erudition in a Publicity Wish
A quote from the Chiggersville Clarion editor on publicity as an amiable weakness and the challenge posed by high-brow readers to editors and copy editors. The Birmingham Age-Herald cites the opinion about lengthy columns and scholarly references failing to connect with ordinary readers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Chiggersville Clarion
Okehs
Birmingham Age-Herald
Suggested a Pelican and a Soprano at Dinner
A Boston Transcript quip recalls a dinner party where a famous soprano performed with a birdlike trill. The humorous remark notes the singer’s “bill” being evident throughout the evening.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Briggs
Griggs
Boston Transcript
Evolution theory debate sparks playful senator quip
A humorous exchange features Senator Sorghum dismissing evolution as a waste of time and joking it flatters the chimpanzee, whose vote he says the animal lacks. The line reflects a light political moment in a feature on scientific debates.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senator Sorghum
Evolution of Style Shapes a New Season of Outerwear
A fashion writer notes the evolution of style guiding fall trends. Long coats replace capes with flowing lines and heavy Moroccan crepe fabric, while large beads shift to statement trims. Straight silhouettes remain dominant, with drapery and refined tailoring shaping everyday dress and evening gowns.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York Times
Graceful gown sleeves inspire lasting elegance
The description praises long folds and graceful appeal of a gown. It highlights sleeves made from extended fabric, especially those that connect to other gown portions to form flowing lines. Once this method is used, further trimming is unnecessary.
The Chic Summer Frock of Silk Crepe Seen in Midseason
Midseason Paris inspired silks appear in American designs with a navy silk crepe frock featuring half inch soutache braid and braided neck and sleeve trim. A tailored navy canton crepe dress uses self fabric panels and tan accents, with a cape yoke braided in a basket style for a distinctive touch.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Paris
Something to Think About by F. A. Dalker
In this reflection on great men, the author extols striving with courage and integrity. It lauds humility, self discipline, and steadfast faith as paths to eminence, urging youths to imitate such examples to inspire future generations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
F. A. Dalker
McClure
Hand Analysis for Business Success Learnings
A Wheeler Syndicate article describes palm reading for business success. It emphasizes a large well shaped top thumb phalanx for willpower and a strong firm hand indicating energy. The ring finger should have a long middle phalanx signaling a love of work.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Apollo
Bose
Wheeler Syndicate
Ina
IDDIES SIX By Will M Maupin
A short verse by Will M Maupin encourages endurance through music and faith. It emphasizes facing daily tasks with hope and perseverance, trusting God to provide and reward effort. The piece closes with a signature-like line and an unclear printer imprint.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Will M. Maupin
Education costs and rewards for lifelong learning
The passage argues education is cheap compared with other pursuits and valuable beyond money. It notes four year college costs but emphasizes that reading and thinking yield practical returns. It cites examples like Shakespeare and Twain, praising self schooling through libraries and persistent inquiry.
Immature to Seasoning Ideas for Cookery
A quirky column discusses aging and cooking, noting age is no barrier to learning and citing Gladstone and Goethe as examples. It mentions experimenting with dressings from sour cream and a recipe including cream, vinegar, salt, pepper, and mustard with careful stirring.
Salad Dressings and Variations Highlight Warm Weather Menu
The article describes preparing and varying classic dressings for salads in warm weather. It covers French dressing with oil and vinegar, mayonnaise with egg yolk, and boiled dressing with options like cream, noting proportions and mixing techniques.
Love at First Night or Wealthy Heiress Tale in Bulgaria
The tale centers on Boris of Bulgaria, a 27 year old king selling wine stock to Sofia hotels at two dollars a bottle. He has few servants and guards, no court functions, and his exile father once led luxury akin to a Chinese emperor amid imperial decline after war.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Boris
Bulgaria
Sofia
Tumblers Birth From Fifteenth Century Toys
A historical note describes weighted upright dolls or toys, known as tombols, popular in Italy and Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. Early tumblers were wood or metal and carved with inscriptions, and their design allowed them to rise when empty and stand upright when filled.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Italy
Europe
Germany
Also Mentioned on This Page
Macatawa
Michigan
Chicago
McClean Place
White House
Edward McLean
Washington
Sonny
Evan
Cornelius Vanderbilt
Sonny”) Whitney
Harry Payne Whitney
Yale
Evan Burrows Fontaine
Miss Fontaine
Young Whitney
Alice Jacckson
Canyon’ Camp
Yellowstone
Mount Washburn
Great National Park
Stuart
Washingtons
George Washington
Marquis Lafayette
Gilbert G. Stuart
Lafayette
W. D. Bristol
Lisbon
Malaya
Federated Malay Bratan
Holy Name Church
Parla
Tie Corp Diasens
Ameriea
Siehain
Mark @wain
Sueh
Chaves Diels
Mark
Dwain
Toth
Uwbrahan
John Biatco
Gladstone
Brillant
Goethe
Vetere
Weutern Newapapar Union
The
Wheelor Syndicate, Inc
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!