Water is Water and Other Household Puzzles
A humorous household exchange at breakfast turns on why water is water as Mrs Billikins and her husband spar over knowledge and tradition. The scene shifts to a broader note on social norms in Istanbul society, where women rarely speak to strangers despite public presence, and Turks continue strict, evolving customs in public life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mrs. Billikins
Mabel
Billikins
Papa
Tommy
Chicago Ledger
Mourad III
The Exact Time on a Streetcar Watch Tale
A boy on an Austin street car carries a timepiece and accurately answers a stranger asking for the exact time. He notes two minutes to three, then to a quarter past three, in a playful Siftings epigraph. A Baltimore banker endorses Red Star Cough Cure for hoarseness with safe, nonopium formula.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sonny
Austin
Tervas Siftings
Charles T. Krebs
Madison Avenue
Baltimore
Maryland
The Rage for Relics and Its Endless Craving
A Losion Advertiser piece notes relic collecting persists despite modern progress, spanning autographs, saints’ hair, letters, and historic mementos. It cites Abbotsford napkin rings, olive wood from Palestine, and Carlyle and Longfellow estates, highlighting zeal, while warning against monomania and public annoyance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Walter Scott
Abbotsford
Albany
Maine
Palestine
Portugal
Europe
St. Peter’s
Carlyle
Longfellow
Hughenden Manor
Lord Beaconsfield
Hawarden
Losion Advertiser
Advice to a Farmer at Crooked Creek Kan Ducks and snapping turtles
A Crooked Creek Kansas farmer seeks editor Heath and Home for advice on protecting ducks from snapping turtles seen as ruling the creek. The letter inspires humorous remedies: elevate the creek muzzle the turtles trade ducks for chickens evict creek tenants summon De Lesseps stock the creek issue bonds and relocate stock water and freeze them out following railroad practice.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Crooked Creek
Kan
Heath and Ciome
de Lesseps
The Water Cure Curiously Told by a Colonel
A New York Graphic joke recalls a colonel who claims hiccup relief through a daily bath of water. He also recounts trying vinegar whisky port wine and even tucking keys down his back to cure hiccups.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Louisville
New York Graphic
Can't Escape Fate and Cholera Debate in a Fragment
The passage recalls two peasants in a Catania garret who die after an earthquake and dog attack. It notes M Thomasi Crudell's view that cholera prevention by quarantines is impractical and urges sanitary reform and even cremation of contaminated clothing. It ends with a character's puzzled remark about an old sock.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Catania
M. Thomasi Crudell
Palermo
William
Excitement in Rochester over Dr Henson cure
A Cleveland Herald summary reports Rochester letters validating Dr J B Henson’s claim that Warner's Safe Cure cured his Bright's disease. The correspondence includes Rochester officials and clergy endorsing the statements as true and urging belief in the remedy's effectiveness.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Cleveland
Rochester
N. Y
Democrat and Chronicle
J. B. Henson
N.Y
Warner
J. G. Henron
M. D
Co. Ek. Parsons
W. Purcen
Union
Aderretiser
W. D Snvarn
Fex
Monroe County
Edward A. Frost
FE. J. Fenner
Em, Davy
Congress
Joan S&s MonrGan
Monroe Co
Hiram Sincey
W. Cc. Rowley
John van Vooruis
Qo the Hanor
Living Church
Chicago
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
J. LB. Henson
Bright
Henson
Tsraun Foorr
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Mark Twain Nervousness and a Train Car Routine
A Philadelphia News item describes Mark Twain as extremely nervous, needing companions to keep busy and avoid sitting still, with two reserved train seats in the smoke room and mid-car. The piece notes his aversion to tobacco smoke once he stops producing it and his constant movement throughout the day. It then shifts to a health ad urging readers to use Hop aster’s Stomach Bitters to prevent sickness by treating early symptoms of dyspepsia, malaria, rheumatism, constipation, and liver issues, stressing early care and avoidance of neglect.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Clemens
Philadelphia News
Bull
John Bull
Thrilling Texas tales and jokes headline mixed ads
A reader recalls a quarrel tale from Texas while another recounts a rattlesnake tail joke. The page also advertises Prematune cures and a Grand Union Hotel option in New York City with strong pricing and service claims for travelers and families.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York City
Grand Union Hotel
Grand Central Depot
Grand Union
Inauguration Train Rates and Early 1900s Health Ads
Pennsylvania lines offer low first class round trip fares to Washington for the March inauguration. From Chicago to Washington and return is $20 with Pullman cars. details through C W Adame. Also ads tout Dr Pierce remedies for female health and vitality, and Pneumonia treatment with Compound Oxygen guidance.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
E. A. Ford
Pennsylvania Lines
Pittsburg
Pennsylvania
Washington
Cleveland
Ford
Chicago
C. W. Adame
Clark Street
Cough Remedies and Patent Medicines Promoted in Local Notices
A collection of patent medicine pitches and product promotions appears, highlighting Brown's Bronchial Traches praised for coughs and colds, Athlophoros touted as a household blessing through Morris O Williams's family, Carboline hair restorer praised for soft silky hair, and Dr Isaac Thompson's Eye Water advertised with price details.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Morris O. Williams
West Exeter
N. Y
A. RK. Williams
Athlophoros Co
Wall Street
N.Y
Also Mentioned on This Page
Missouri Pacific
Erie
Atlantic
Great Western
Mark Twain
Texas
Lone Star State
World's Dispensary Medical Association
Hulfala, N. Y
Puck
Dr. Pierce
Richelleu
A. Linecola
Williamsport
Pierce
Philadelphia Chronicle
Horsford
BR. Staushalter
St. Louis
Lydia E. Pinkham
Criren
Keau
Tun Vourah Bell
Drs. Starkey & Palen
Girard St
Philo
Gault House
Clinton and
Madison Streets
Union Depot
Hoyt & Gates
Brown
Kev
D. Watcing
Walton
Ind
Isaac Thompson
Reo
Drugetata
Dealera
Rapresa
Charles A. Vogeler Company
Baltimore, Maryland
V. BA
Fiy
BATNL
Fanvriven
ELY Brothers
Vitories
Bart
LB Bros. Jansavilie
Bingham
Washington, D
Luis Toursgur
Smith
Allen
Appison
A.J. Hileman
Addison
Colbom
Esa
Somerset
Astoria
H.C. Mooney
Cruzgiat
Burrill H. Davis
J. N. Harris & CO
Preps
Cincinnati
Ohio
Aurora
Kane Co
Lebanon
New Yor
Yokohama International ‘Lea Co
Madison
Wis
J.C. Hoffiman
Jefferson, Wisconsin
Almanar
H.W. Buckbeel
E. State Street
Rockford, IN
United States
Western News Co
Franklin Street
R. H. Shumway
Rockford St
Geo. E. Brown & Co
Anglesea
Exmoor
Ea Faineuropean Sea
England
Holland
Mee
Waterbury
Mos Raey
Alofa
L. Smith &O
P. O. Addrras
T. A. Slocum
Pearl St
New York
NA. Salze
Kidder
Iby Mail
Stowell & Cay
Charlestown
C.N.U
Lynn
Mass
Sor Saleat Druggiste
J. Em. Taylor & CO
Dearborn Street
R. U
Lorillard
A. J. Powell
Woodbridge St
Detroit
Mich
Laugh
Hagan
Man and
Beast
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!