Curious Facts From Curiosities And Natural History
The note pitch of the goat’s wings in flight equals two octaves above the highest piano note. Ancient manuscripts lacked accents and spaces until after the ninth century. Kaleidoscopes inspire stained glass designs for architects and manufacturers. Over half the world’s ships use English coal. 147,000,000 tons were sold last year. In some Australian gold fields gold persists at 650 feet depth. Bees may influence queen and maternal roles via food. Electric arc light is less dangerous than feared. Dead birds’ disappearance tied to ecological cycles. beetles aid air quality. Grave-digging birds and insects reveal nature’s undertakings in fields and woods. Orange-spotted beetles draw casual observers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Globe
Australia
Brrs
London Lancet
Writing On Space and the Editors War on Copy
A colorful excerpt surveys the long feud between writers and editors over copy length. It cites Dumas and others inventing the monosyllable paragraph, and recounts a New York weekly paying a popular female writer for long primer columns. The tale climaxes with Polydore Millaud forcing Rocambole to switch to stammering and dramatic mispronunciations when paid by the letter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Dumas
la Martin
Buloz
New York
Ponson du Terrail
Petit Journal
Polydore Millaud
Childhood Qualities Valued Differently Across Life Stages
The passage contrasts how society admires firmness and decision in adults yet resents similar traits in children. It argues that strong will in a child is often resisted or misdirected, while meekness is praised though it stifles growth and independence.
Natural outcome of past life and training in youth
The speaker argues that a person who later sins or errs is not inherently corrupt but a product of earlier life experiences and education. He cautions against moral shock at a grown child's failings, noting the long chain of influence from upbringing to behavior.
The Wooing of Sleep Explains Sleep Discomfort
A discussion on why striving to fall asleep backfires. Focuses on heightened senses, mental activity, and phantasmagoric imagery that arise when one tries to sleep. Advises against deliberate sleeplessness and suggests relaxing, quiet surroundings and natural letting go. The piece notes waking restlessness can lead to waking, with physical activity as a remedy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bedlinen
Tracking bootprints and wagon marks prove distance signs
The article explains how trackers read footprints wheel tracks and soil disturbances to locate paths. It notes indelible wagon marks in new country and signs from fire rain and dew reveal timing. It cites cattle counts and a 63.3 percent rise in Northwestern cattle over ten years.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ours
Caffreland
Scientific miscellany reveals odd cures and lunar atmosphere hints
Dr Luton of Rheims notes tincture of ergot with phosphate of soda causes laughter like refraction phenomena. Prof Alexander suggests a lunar atmosphere to explain the red limb during eclipses. Sand encroaches Shensi covering cities while ancient earthquake theories get playful scrutiny. A Spanish device uses three bells to expose conscripts cheating height. Dr Guttman reports pilocarpin as a diphtheria remedy, with rapid recoveries in eighty one cases over eighteen months.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Luton
Rheims
A. Kerber
Shensi
Yulin
Alexander
Anaxagoras
Aristotle
Pliny
St. Thomas
Aquinas
George Guttman
Favorite Prescription Endorsed by Buffalo Dr Prence
Dr Prence of Buffalo and customer G B Warenmay of Baltimore praise Favorite Prescription as the best remedy for female complaint. The letter also notes Jay Gould’s Iron Mountain wage cuts and the hiring of watchmen after labor unrest, alleging it harmed the railroad’s economy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
RV. Prence
Buffalo, N. Y
Warenmay
Baltimore
Jay Gould
Iron Mountain Railroad
Golden Medical Discovery and Language Curiosities Ad
The notice promotes a medical pamphlet from the Worlh's Dispensancy MEDICAL AssociaTION at Buttalo NY. It highlights Mezzoratti the Italian linguist who spoke many languages and recounts a priestly confession anecdote. It claims a gold standard discovery for scrofulous and virulent blood poisons available through druggists.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Worlh
Dispensancy Medical Association
Buttalo
N. Y
Mezzoratti
Crude Petroleum Cure Claim Ends With Caution
A fragment notes various clippings: Peck of Peck's Sun helped an elderly woman years ago, she died, leaving him $22,000 in bonds, prompting comments on charity and circulation. It also mentions a breach of promise case, a satirical remark about public favor, and a crude petroleum remedy versus Dr. Bull's Cough Syrup priced at 25.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Peck
Peck's Sun
Grandpa
Detroit Free Press
Free Press
Not the Way to Do Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla Ad
A 19th century ad proclaims Dr. Guysett’s Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla as superior to other tonics and purifiers. It claims doctors and druggists push inferior remedies for higher profit, urging readers to try one bottle to renew health. It lists Yellow Dock Sarsaparilla Juniper Iron Buchu Celery and Yalisaya bark as active ingredients affecting blood liver bowels kidneys and nervous system.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Guysett
Father and Son The Gun Phrase In Family Anecdote
A Steubenville Herald excerpt recounts a humorous quarrel over gossip about a father figure being called a gun. Harry asks if Papa is a gun, the father replies he is a man. Mr. June, who kisses Mary, jokes I ain't afraid of thet old son of a gun, prompting laughter.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Papa
Harry
Mr. June
Sister Mary
Steubenville Herald
Middletown Man Praises Yellow Dock and Sargaparilla
Mr Grorce M Wunrine of Middletown Ohio writes that years of general debility nervous prostration blood impurities dyspepsia painful urination weak lungs and catarrh have been relieved by Dr Guysett’s Yellow Dock and Sargaparilla restoring strength and health. He says he asked for more of the medicine and calls it wonderful.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Grorce M. Wunrine
Middletown
Ohio
Guysett
A Curious Mix of Wit Ads and Anecdotes From 1881
A New York street car conductor recalling a boy's coal throwing laments losing a day but refuses to worry, a Chicago doctor touts Safe Kidney and Liver Oma, a Boston-Chicago exchange jokes about Bronson Alcott's aesthetic eating, notices of a fortune for Dr Sykes and a Voltaic Belt trial promise, with medical cures and quirky quips from 1881.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
de Gourt
de Gompany
C. R. Sykes
Madison Street
Chicago
The Colors of the Sky Explained
Sir John Lubbock cites Tyndall on why morning sky is blue and evening skies glow red. As sunlight passes through more atmosphere at sunset, violet and blue scatter away, leaving yellow to red hues, painting both noon blue skies and sunset splendor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sir John Lubbock
British Association
Tyndall
Thrilling Courtship Amid Hidden Interviews
A strict father accuses his daughter of secret meetings with Charles Monsferrat de Montmorenci. The tailor explains spotting the pattern from a pants order unpaid by Montmorenci. The daughter pleads in tears as a wry note ends with a remark about Rhode Island milestones.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Charles Monsferrat de Montmorenci
Bruno
One Dose Sufficient and Various Patent Remedies
An 1861 advertisement bundle touts Piso’s Cure for Consumption as a one-dose cure for coughs, rough on rats, tar extracts for colds, cod liver oil by Caswell Hazard, Deavox hair products, Ancle Sam’s Condition Powder for horses and cattle, and other patent medicines. It emphasizes disease prevention and livestock health while urging buyers to consult druggists.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wilbur
A. B. Wilbur
Boston
CoLeviLuy
Piso
M. A. Atherly
Eilert
Caswell, Hazard & Co
N. Y
Ancle Sam
Rescued From Death by Hall’s Balaam Cure
Somerville resident William J. Coughlin recounts a long battle with lung disease starting in 1876, including a hospital stay and a hole in his lung. He credits Dr William Hall and Hall’s Gates for curing his consumption, claiming he feels better than in three years and urges others with diseased lungs to try the remedy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Wiliam J.coughlin
Somerville
Mass
Winuine Hall
Woddiam Hall
Also Mentioned on This Page
Milland
Baccara
United States
Ill
H. H. Wanser & Co
C. H. Hanks
Carl Pretzel
Bronson
Alcott
Bronson Alcott
Mr. Alcott
Brooklyn Eagle
Montier
Gen. Sherman
Voltaic Belt Co
Marshal, Mich
Anyerson
N. B
Rhode Island
Ne Ta
Wilbue
R.hunter
M.D
State St
Ree
H. HaLuert & Co
Portland, Ma
Valent. Bros
Janesville
Tome
Ae Otis
Jay Bronson
Detroit
Mich
la Binte
Congress of the Departments
W.G. Langan
Washington, D.C
Thomas H. Parsons & CO
Worthington, Mint
Aultman & Taylor CO
Mansfield.q
Zoe
U. EB
Dela. Aue
Philada
Sloan & CO
George Street
Cincinnati
F.A.M
Egypt
F. A.M. Redding
Broadway
Johnson
Jonnson & Co
Maas
Bangor, Maing
FRY & Shrubs
U.S
Ellwanger & Barry
Mount Hope
Jeremiah Wright
Marion County
W. Va
A. Digses, Marchant
Bowling Green
Merepira
Allen
Abe
Wt. A.graham & Co
Mnath
Freeman
Citzen
Mantra
Oakly
P.O
T. A. Slocum
Pearl
Johnson & CO
Bangor
New World
Agente
Ad National Publishing Co
Foote
Foor
Murray Hill Book Publishing Co
East 38x
Sree
New Youn Orr
James IF. Clark
Morenci, Mich
Deavox 83Th
Tor Bala
Iowa BR. R. Land Co
Cedar Rapide
Iowa
Oregon
Washington Territory
Pacifico Slope
Portland
Northern Pacific R. H
Great Columbia
Columbia River
A. L. Stokes
Gen'l Eastern Press
Clark St
Martiney
Heer
Martines
Monty Pi
Valles
Tanten
Dasthny
Vil
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!