Real Autocrat of the Road Commodore Vanderbilt Role
McClure's recounts Commodore Vanderbilt as an 80 year old railroad autocrat who controlled railways single handedly. He spent millions on reconstruction and distrusted law and stockholders while denying public concerns and dismissing statutory limits in New York.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Commodore Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt
Commodore
Central
Law
Commadore
State of New York
John
Burton J. Hendrick
McClure's
New York club member puzzled by post office clue reveal
A Brooklyn club member received a monthly statement in an envelope with a transparent window that showed the club concert notice but concealed the recipient name. He questions how the post office could have identified the intended addressee without opening the envelope as it appeared to be mailed as sent.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York
Brooklyn
Peculiar Camel Tales From An Old Nile Camp
A fragment describes a camel’s odd dislikes and hates, noting a 1884 Nile expedition where camels died from crude red dye, and a British officer chased in blue pajamas. The passage paints a vivid, rough camp scene with growling camels and uneasy fatigue.
A Queer Census from India
From T P s Weekly a globe trotter recalls the Allahabad census listing odd self descriptions such as men who rode with threats of violence flatterers for gain hereditary thieves howlers at funerals ear cleaners makers of crowns for idols hereditary painters of horses with spots professional false witnesses and more The speaker notes such oddities might reflect a census of our own quirks too
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
India
Globe Trotter
Allahabad
Why Musicians Wear Long Hair
A barber explains musicians wear long hair to protect their delicate ears. He notes ears are sensitive and prone to cold and inflammation, comparing them to painters eyes and athletic players’ protective gear, justifying the mane as shielding.
Just Like a Man Observation on Laughter
A witty exchange contrasts the average man’s laughter with self reference. A woman observer notes the oddity while a sweet girl graduate questions it, highlighting how men often laugh at their own words. The dialogue frames social quirks through sharp, modern banter.
Young Litlefield Praised For Law Knowledge
An unidentified remark recalls Representative Litlefield of Malino as a young man who passed the bar exam with high praise from an old judge. The judge cited an intricate legal point he had studied, and publicly congratulated the young candidate on his profound knowledge of the law.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Litlefield
Malinos
Littlefield
Permitted to Whistle in Church by Reading Man
Reading man Harry P Bosson whistled in Worcester church during divine worship to raise money. He said he stayed awake and followed a minister's cue that anyone contributing 60 cents or more could whistle, and others joined in as collectors moved past. The Boston Herald reports this as a new church fundraising gimmick.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Harry P. Bosson
Reading
Worcester
Bosson
All Too Costly Garrick Stirs Sothern’s Tea Tragedy
A humorous anecdote recalls David Garrick during a benefit for HB A Sothern in a comedy where Garrick feigns drunkenness at Ada Ingot’s tea, wrecks the family china, and prompts the furious owner to later insist he must have been truly drunk to smash such heirloom porcellain.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
David Garrick
HB. A. Sothern
Garrick
Ada Ingot
Sothern
China
JUNK PUMP YIELDS GOLD COIN FIND IN WATKINS
John Roberts of Watkins in Schuyler county found four thousand dollars in twenty dollar gold coins hidden inside an old pump bought from Angelo Dupree a junk dealer. The coins dated as far back as 1888 and Roberts awaits rightful owner claims while offering to hand over the money, banked at Farmers and Merchants in Watkins.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Roberts
Watkins
Schuyler County
Angelo Dupree
Mr. Roberts
Roberts
Farmers’ and Merchants’ Bank
Utica
Unpleasant German Charity Collects Tobacco for Children
In cafes and beer halls across Germany a canister on each table serves as an alms box. Guests deposit the ends of their cigars, cigarettes, and tobacco, gathered to fund clothing for poor children at Christmas. The charity is described as malodorous and unsanitary.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Germany
Benefit of Gymnastics to Golfers
Capt. Hutchison of the Coldstream Guards cites gymnastic training as initially tiring but ultimately beneficial for golf. He notes heavy gym work hindered golf at first, yet strengthened wrist and forearm muscles and led him to shorten his swing and adopt the Vardon grip, improving his game.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hutchison
Coldstream Guards
London Standard
Revenue officer saves boy by shaking him free of coin
A frightened mother summoned a revenue officer after her son swallowed a quarter. He tied his horse and, lifting the boy by the heels, gave him a shake until the coin dropped out. The mother thanked him, joking that he is a doctor but he says he is a collector of internal revenue.
What He Meant At Sea Captain Exhibition
An old sea captain visits an exhibition and is curious about a large buzzer in the mechanical section. He asks how far it can be heard, and the deputy answers sixteen miles. The captain repeats disbelief, and the youth clarifies it is eight miles in each direction, not a single sixteen-mile reach.
Nugget Found in Australian Gold Field Walk
A man wandering Tarragulla district uncovered a nugget mistaken for a mushroom. The recovered gold valued at £60 highlights the prolific Nugget field activity and the humor of casual metal detecting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tarragulla
Debt settled eases uneasy meeting on street
A creditor recalls relief after a debtor finally paid a small amount owed for over a year. The narrator admits avoiding the debtor to spare both from the awkward reminder of the debt and now feels comfortable since repayment was made.
Snake In Archives Causes Worker's Demise
A disorderly report describes snakes appearing among dusty volumes in the house of peers archives causing panic. Documents later moved to underground minister of interior storage. a flat-headed snake allegedly bit a worker, who died in agony, leading to continued worker refusal to descend into the archives.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
House of Peers
Ministry of the Interior
Busyness the Refuge of Small Souls
A reflection on vitality and idleness contrasting restless work with a generous paced life. The author argues extreme busyness sinais deficiency of vitality and identity, while idleness reveals a broader personal appetite and purpose beyond conventional occupations. Robert Louis Stevenson is cited.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Robert Louis Stevenson
Fleeing Crew Abandons Schooner After Hoodoo Cat
The San Francisco Chronicle reports the fishing schooner Edrie planned to sail Friday at two, but a cross-eyed black cat triggered a mutiny as a sailor fled the hold. Amid the commotion the crew deserted, leaving the ship moored and the captain unable to rally them.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Edrie
San Francisco Chronicle
Melba and the Sick Child at the Savoy
The New York Telegraph recounts Mme. Melba once telling of a sick child on her Savoy hotel floor who listened to her singing. After recovering, the child ran to see the singer and pleaded to be allowed to meet the bird that sang so prettily.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Melba
Mme
Savoy Hotel
Mme. Melba
Beau Broadway
New York
Seeing the Show Sam Shubert’s rustic tale in Buffalo
A historic excerpt recounts Sam Shubert entering a theater by chance in Buffalo. He wanders into a billiard saloon, watches a new performance for an hour, then leaves. Asked if the show is over he says no it’s ongoing and the crowd keeps knocking along with the world.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sam Shubert
Buffalo
Thar
Also Mentioned on This Page
Pella Bakery
Holland Biscuits
John Vander Ploeg
Boston Herald
Portugal
Calumet Jesus
Food Exposition
Chicago
Reynolds
Henry Roorda
Fellows & Fellows
Distan
Femore
Ploen Wean
DRS. Fellows & Fellows CO
Walnurst
Des. McInes
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!