Curious Anecdote of Soult and Louis Philippe at Tuileries
Victor Hugo recounted a tale during Louis Philippe's reign in which Marshal Soult and the king discussed bearing arms against France and a possible execution. The king claimed he would have been shot if Cortachure and the Duc d'Orleans plan had succeeded, while Soult said he merely wanted to compromise him.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marshal Soult
Louis Philippe
Victor Hugo
Tuileries
Cadiz
Marshal
Cortes
France
Orleans
Spelling Lesson Sparks Quiet Reflection
A fourteen year old student misspelled fifteen percent of words in a spelling test. The tutor urged repeated study to prevent recurrence, while the boy half jokingly mused that he might not live long enough to memorize them all.
Her Tongue Metaphor Sparks Genteel Debate
A dialogue mocks figures of speech as speakers note how women are described with plant and berry metaphors. The punch line reveals the true focus on a woman’s tongue described as a scarlet runner, in a witty exchange about language and perception.
Letters of Junius authorship debate discussed
The article reviews the enduring question of who wrote Letters of Junius. It notes Mr Chabot’s scholarly work on the mystery and a balance of evidence pointing toward Sir Philip as the author.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Junius
Chabot
Philip
When the Wind Blows Breeze Through the Town
A brief note describes a light wind at ten miles per hour producing a breeze. It notes the wind’s gentle effect on streets and trees, with calm weather implications for that day. No injuries or major events are reported.
Burning a Diamond by Focused Sunlight Demonstration
The article describes an 1814 experiment where a diamond placed on a platinum cup inside a glass globe was exposed to concentrated sunlight using two convex lenses. The setup burned the diamond after several cycles, producing a bright scarlet glow before the diamond was completely consumed, marking a first known instance of a diamond burning.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Homand
Michael
Puzzling Weight Differences Explained
A trivia item asks which is heavier a pound of feathers or lead. Answer: the same weight in avoirdupois. Feathers vs silver: feathers heavier due to avoirdupois versus troy weight. An ounce comparison shows silver heavier in troy than in avoirdupois.
Moonlight Brightness Question Sparks Curious Thought
A reader note explains that full moonlight is about nine times brighter than half moonlight. It cites reflection on the moon’s surface and its phase between first quarter and full, noting higher reflectivity on the lunar area west of the meridian.
Nighttime Parlor Scene Tells of Hidden Talk
Little Bobby overhears his father and Mr Sparks discussing late at night. Bobby whispers that Mabel is sitting on Sparks, implying a playful misunderstanding and a tense late hour exchange in the parlor.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bobby
Judge 7 eye dge You are charged with ry
Prisoner-Not Oe hettine, in de chicken coop deals fart eben locked, in de secon' piece, dar waz no burglar alarm, in de third place, dar waz no bulldog, an', in de fourf dar was wo traps. Now, tain't ry et all, boss, dat's nendin' chickens, an' t be it . Y yo'nelf.
Pair Proposes Thing in Odd Wedding Offer
A gentleman asks to sit the daughter and proposes marriage to share expenses. The exchange hints at a troubling arrangement as the suitor negotiates financial terms and the daughter’s guardianship is implied.
Shrapnel Shell Case Design and Flight Mechanics
A historical discussion on shrapnel artillery cases detailing ignition timing, driving caps, and the explosive charge. It explains shell acceleration to 1700 feet per second, case strength requirements, and material properties including 135000 psi tensile strength, 110000 psi elastic limit, and 25 percent area contraction per inch of elongation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Shire
Anaemaeas
Witte Toe
Obesity Saved England’s Liberty and the Habeas Corpus Act
A London Chronicle summary claims obesity influenced the passage of habeas corpus into law. It narrates a comic episode where a very fat lord was mistaken for debates on the bill, triggering a house majority decision in favor of the measure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
England
Bishoy Regen
Gonere
Lord Norris
London Chronicle
Ancient Enamels and Early Glazing Traditions
The article notes early glazes resembling enamels from Babylonian bricks dating to the seventh or eighth century BC. It cites a soda glass base in Babylonian glaze, parallels with Egyptian glazes from the sixth century BC, and suggests Greek and Etruscan familiarity with enameling long before classical times.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Babylon
Need to Call Him In Curious Exchange
A terse dialogue fragment shows a curious person seeking full details at new events. The speaker insists on identifying a person by relation while another responds with a vague parental line and a misdirected exchange.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Erie
Allus
St Peter’s In Rome and the Cathedral’s Great Build
The article outlines the long evolution of St Peter’s in Rome from its founding to completion, noting three and a half centuries of effort and eighteen popes involved. It cites a late seventeenth century cost of about 50 million dollars for the core plan, excluding artistry and additional elements by Pope Pius and the Villa Angelo era.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Peter’s
Rome
St. Peter's
Pope Pius Ee
Angelo
Brevity of Bets and Feats Feature in Odd Challenges
The passage lists unusual bets and feats such as hopping races, finger strength with a wooden match, lifting an egg between hands, and Blindfolded standing for five minutes. It notes pace comparisons in hopping and the difficulty of completing certain wagers, suggesting bets rely on strength and balance.
One Railway Line as Straight in Autocratic Rule
The excerpt notes Emperor Nicholas I rejected a deviating railway plan that would bend to cities and obstacles. He ordered a straight line between two capitals, arguing a straight route is the shortest distance. The tale, from Macy’s Curious Bits of History, illustrates centralized power shaping infrastructure.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Burg
Moscow
Nicholas I
Macy’s
Your Life Practice For Precision In Tuning
A reflective piece compares tuning a violin to personal discipline. It describes patient, precise control to reach accurate pitch with no string breaks. The author emphasizes steady pressure and relaxed muscles returning to stable tone after each note.
Dreaming chase ends with injury to Newark resident
In a dream sequence a north end resident Mr. Miggs is chased by a bull across a pasture and leaps to a fence. He lands on a wall and breaks a toe, leaving him on crutches this week as reported by the Newark News.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mr. Miggs
North End
Miggs
Newark News
Why Willie Refuses More Slaps in Sunday School Tale
A humorous WHJ excerpt shows a Sunday school scene where Willie explains learning to turn the other cheek after being struck. He notes he can only offer one cheek since the other was hit first, prompting a pained teacher reaction.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Willie
Ladies’ Home Journal
Langley Bolometer Impresses with Infinitesimal Heat Sensitivity
Harper's Magazine reports Professor Langley’s bolometer using a platinum thread and delicate galvanometer that can detect temperature changes as small as one hundred millionth of a degree. The device, rivaling the reach of the spectroscope, measures heat from celestial sources like the moon and stars.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Langley
Langley Bolometer
Harper’s Magazine
Angler Superstitions Across Bohuslan Sweden
In Bohuslan Sweden anglers fear a monster fish omen. Malm Smitt notes fishermen cut lines to avoid misfortune if the creature surfaces. Nilsson recalls a belief that the fish signals doom with death as the extreme outcome.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sweden
Bohuslan
Malm Smitt
Nilsson
Origin of the Postal Card in Austria 1869
In 1869 Professor Emanuel Herrmann proposed an open stamped card to replace sealed letters. He presented the idea to the Austrian post director on January 26, and his son quickly supported it. Within a month authorities produced 1,000,000 postal cards, creating a vital communication tool.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Emanuel Herrmann
Vienna
Tatler
Mistaken Courtesy on Irish Train Car MixUp
An elderly Irish countrywoman boards a Dublin bound train in a first class carriage with her basket. A conductor, surprised by the scene, challenges her in a brusque manner, highlighting class and scene of travel aboard the early service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dublin
Mayflower Ship Sinks After Long Service
The Mayflower, a west country clipper schooner, sank after years of service in the cotton trade. Four people questioned her fate after the East India voyage era, as reported by Tatton Standard.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
East India Sonar of India
Tatton Standard
When Muscle Was Needed In The Stone Age
A playful caption notes a New Year morning in the stone age with Hairy Head asking Strongarm for a crowbar to take home and “turn over a new.” The fragment hints at a humorous historical comic tone from the Youngstown Telegram.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Strongarm
Hairyhead
Youngstown
Also Mentioned on This Page
Clarence Butt
C. R. Chapin
P.F. Hawkins
DR. A. M. Davis
Ferguson's
J. C. Price
U. S. Natl
E. P. Dixon
John 8. Rankin
U. S. National Bank
Littlefield & Romig
Physicians and Surgeons
Thos. W. Hester
Dixon Building
White
Res
Blue
Newberg
Oregon
F. H. Wilson
Edwards
Sechaba Gas
G. E. Stuart
Gregory Building
Main St
Haynie
Chiropractic
1St St
A. E. Wilson
First St
Carmen
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