Miscellaneous 19th Century Local Snippets and Anecdotes
Mrs Mackay reportedly offered Queen Isabella a set of china with the aim of gaining a Spanish title for Mr Mackay. Francis Simmns of Lafayette NY owns a 200 year old hand crafted German clock that still keeps time. J Brown of Claremont NH turned eighty by driving eight friends in a parade of eight gray horses to Windsor VT and back. Hartford widow Mexsitz funds twin charity gifts with silver porringers. Italians note Emperor William’s brusque talk, awkward riding, and dislike of macaroni.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Francis Smmmons
Lafayette
WN. Y
Germany
Oo. J. Brown
Claremont
New Hampshire
Windsor
Turwoman College Opens in Baltimore With Novel Training
A Baltimore college erected at 120000 dollars reports a successful opening with about 100 students enrolled. It adds two physical training departments, a novelty praised as much for women’s needs as for reform in education.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Turwoman's College
Baltimore
Dress reform leader advocates shorter gowns in snow
Mrs Miter, leader of the dress reform movement 93 advocated by Mrs Miller, urges shorter dresses for snow and slush conditions arguing short skirts look better than long ones held up. An Austrian decree targets roaming gypsy bands, calling them to account as they appear in the countryside.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mrs. Miter
Miller
Austria
Eastbound travelers faced with removal and sale of assets
The passage states that individuals arriving from the East are compelled to return under escort. They must bear all transport costs. if insolvent, their livestock and chattels are to be sold at auction to cover expenses. The text details enforcement and asset seizure to reimburse costs.
Printing of Rebel Lists for Scottish Excise Officials
Lorp Rosrterny plans to present to the Scottish Historical Society a volume titled Lists of Rebels transmitted to the Commissioners of Excise in Scotland. The 2500 plus names include rebel ranks occupations and residences with property values and noted acts of rebellion. The compiler calls the lists very valuable.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Lorp Rosrterny
Scottish Historical Society
Commissioners of Excise
Novel scheme catches unwelcome callers at office door
A Philadelphia news note reports a business man uses a detective camera opposite his door. An office boy photographs entering visitors, building a booklet of undesirable types for future training. The collection includes time wasters, bill collectors, and other troublesome characters common to everyday business.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Phinapel PutTa
The
Times
King Humbert Interacts Politely With Poor in Forli House
The Italian king tour included visits to working class homes where he greeted a Demo crat’s wife with a quip about permission to enter. The tale contrasts his courteous conduct with a note on royal misfortune tied to a cursed ring linked to Alphonso XII and Madrid’s Maid of Almudena statue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Humbert
Italy
Forli
Spain
Alphonso XII
Mercedes
Christina
Infanta del Pilar
Miss Many Gramnrr Garrett Richest Spinster in America
Miss Many Gramnrr Garrett sister of Robert Garrett of the Baltimore and Ohio line is described as the wealthiest single woman in the U S with B&O stock valued at eight to ten million dollars. Educated and prudent she steers clear of marriage for money yet runs her business quietly and stays feminine. She supports numerous Maryland charities by substantial, discreet endowments to homes for poor children and institutions aiding invalids and orphans.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Miss Many Gramnrr
Robert Garrett
Baltimore and Ohio Road
America
Miss Garrett
Garrett
Maryland
Yale student expelled over rope and basket scandal tale
A Yale College member was expelled years ago for using a rope and basket to raise young ladies to his room and lower them at dawn, sparking gossip. A dialogue recalls a morning witness who saw a girl in a basket fall as the rope broke. Lobsters planted on the Setternng coast are thriving.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Yale College
Jane
Setternng
Nely
Dumas on Le Sport and Historic Duels in Vaux Preface
The preface by Alexander Dumas to Baron de Vaux’s Le Sport treats dueling as the sole sport, weaving in vivid tales of his father and grandfather. It recalls the austere strength of earlier generations, notes dramatic feats, and suggests dueling as a social yet perilous pastime.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Alexander Dumas
Baron de Vaux
Compiegne
Nyle
Mrs Goulds Wealth and Her Sons Destiny in Wall Street
The New York letter traces Mrs Jay Goulds rise as heiress to a vast fortune, her joint fortunes with Jay Gould, and how she retained control of her assets. After a split, she demanded accountability, withdrew from active speculation, and invested over two million in government bonds. She is understood to intend leaving her personal fortune to her daughters.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jay Goulds
Pertane
Gould
Martin
Jay Goults
Hereford
Wall Street
New York
Luxury as a foe to sanitation in modern society
A Philadelphia Ledger clipping argues luxury fueled by wealth led to neglect of health and sanitation. It laments obsession with baths and comfort, warns of fever and malaria invading modern homes, and calls for sanitarian refuges based on true sanitary principles, contrasting with ancient emphasis on personal cleanliness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Ledger
Earth’s Age According to French Astronomer
French astronomer M. A. d Assier estimates about five hundred thousand years for the nebular and stellar period of Earth's existence and around twenty five million years for the period of organic beings, noting our planet was cold and lifeless at the start.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
M. A. d'Assier
Ancient Astronomical Quote On Moon and Sun Decline
Fragmentary note from Arhrsnsaw Traveler predicts the moon will be received and later fall to the dead sun, triggering a temporary outbreak of light and heat. The passage reflects speculative cosmology with mythic phrasing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Arhrnsaw
A Warming Pan Substitution Tale from Friends
In Schuylkill County a tale emerges of Daniel and Joshua two sedate Friends visiting a host family. Lacking a warming pan the hostess proposes comfort, Joshua suggests using improvisation. A sudden alert by the mother leads to a hurried wake up call and a rapid exit by Sally as guests are alerted.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Daniel
Joshua
Society of Friends
Evstone
Danyell
Sally
Schieylersville Herald
Metternich's Statecraft and the Continent's Peace Plan
Malleson analyzes Metternich as a master of restrained oppression who framed a legal veneer to curb rights while preserving autocracy. He portrays Metternich guiding England and rulers to restrain revolutions, defeating Napoleon, but failing to deliver genuine liberty. The essay ends noting the system perished with him, leaving no revival possible.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Metternich
Europe
Napoleon
England
Castlereagh
Italy
Prussia
Alexander
Col. Malleson
Turope
Descriptions of Large Elswick Rifled Cannon Powers
The Elswick breech loading rifled cannon weighs 110 tons with a 16.25 inch bore and fires an 1800 pound projectile using about 850 pounds of powder. It yields 53927 foot-tons of energy, 2128 feet per second muzzle velocity with 1000 pounds of powder, and 57680 tons energy. The Benbow will carry two such guns. Krupp furnishes three more weighing 1184 tons each. another gun, 139 tons, 15.7 inches, is under construction. Lighter projectile weighs 1630 pounds, 45 inches long, needing 1006 pounds powder and can pierce 45 inches wrought iron. heavier at 62 inches, 2314 pounds, can pierce 474 inches. Gen. O O Howard, American Magazine. The note closes urging cheerful disposition at meals, sleep, and exercise.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elswick
Benbow
Krupp
Gen
O. O. Howard
American Magazine
Two malfunctioning clocks spark a humorous tale
A Jewelers Weekly contributor recounts two unreliable timepieces on a mantelpiece. One runs fast, the other slow, causing misadventures from altered schedules to a misread town clock. The anecdote ends with a plan to swap the clocks for a Waterbury watch and a dog.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jewelers’ Weekly
Geo
Bob
George
Yaver
Waterbury
Prime movers outpace oar driven ships in Bramwell address
Sir Frederick Bramwell argued that prime movers dramatically outstrip hand labor for propulsion. He compared a 600 foot galley with modern liners, showing 19,500 hp requires 117,000 men to sustain twenty knots, far beyond any attainable muscle power.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
British Association For the Advancement of Science
Frederick Bramwell
Chhraresate
Choosing a Husband for a Steady Future
The author urges women to seek husbands with real earnings and work, not idle pretenders. He cautions against lazy men, those living off others, or those seeking status, and insists a faithful, industrious, and stable partner provides true comfort and independence.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Biller
D.D
A Pleasant Remembrance for Christmas Stockings
A landlady and her daughter plan a pleasant Christmas for boarding house guests. They propose stockings with small gifts for guests such as Mr Mouldy, Mr Palette, and Scribbler, while Mr Slowboy’s stocking would hold his unreceipted bill. The exchange blends humor with affectionate domestic details.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Ethel
Mouldy
Palette
Scribbler
She Held Her Temper in a Curtain Lecture
A woman asserts she never loses her temper while her husband teases her, comparing her restraint to a mustard plaster. The exchange ends with tears and a stormy mood, followed by a calm morning after the emotional scene.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mrs. Kaustick
Kanszick
Historical map of wars, universities, and early gas use
The text traces events from 1843 Canton opening to English traders to 1804 reforms in the Holy Roman Empire. It notes Bologna and Boulogne universities dating to early medieval times, the invention of gas lighting by 1792, Edgehill and Civil War era clashes, the Fronde during Louis XIV’s minority, and Maximilian I’s 1512 partition plan with later Rhine Confederation changes.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Canton
China
Croatia
Coloman
Hungary
Austria
Bologna
Fheodosius
University of Boulogne
Edgehill
Charles I
Parliament
Prince Rupert
Earl of Essex
Louis XIV
Germany
Maximilian I
Franconia
Bavaria
Upper Rhine
Swabia
Westphalia
Lower Rhine
Palatinate
Upper Saxony
Brandenburg
Confederation of the Rhine
Lost Manuscripts Found by Fateful Accidents
A London Spectator note recounts famous manuscript recoveries from damp monasteries to wine cellars and mummies. Poggio salvaged Quintilian, Tacitus was found in Westphalia, Propertius in a wine cellar, Homer fragments emerged from a mummy, Heliodorus Ethiopic rescued by a soldier in Hungary, and Magna Charta saved by a tailor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Gall
Poggio
Quintilian
Westphalia
Tacitus
Propertius
Heliodorus
Browning
Hungary
Robert Colton
London Spectator
Hair Market in Morians Described by Galignani
A vivid account from Galignani's Messenger depicts a human hair trade in Morians in the Lower Pyrenees. On alternating Fridays dozens of hairdressers gather, each with bright shears, buying hair from young peasant girls in a home’s best room. Prices range three to twenty francs. The seller hands over hair and money, the dealer pockets the tresses, and the girl often cries though she loves the money and hopes hair will grow again.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morians
Pyrennees
John Wesley Letter Against War in America 1775
A June 14 1775 letter of John Wesley discovered among Earl of Dartmouth papers protests the American war. Wesley, a high churchman, argues against force toward Americans noting they seek legal rights and urging reflection on past rulers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Wesley
Historical Manuscript Commission
Earl of Darmouth
Lord Darmouth
America
Rehoboam
Phillip NI
Charles I
St. James’ Gazette
Wealthy New Yorker Discovers She Needs No Crutches
An older unmarried woman in New York who broke a leg last winter relied on crutches during healing. After seeing a one legged man hobbling on improvised stilts, she gave away her crutches and walked away unaided, realizing she no longer needed artificial aid.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Also Mentioned on This Page
the Register
New Harmony, Indiana
William
Persia
Kom
Teheran
Shah
British Museum
Gladstone
William McIlvaine
McIlvaine
Brooklyn
Bancor
Bangorian
Dumas
Mother Earth
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!