Farmhouse Intrigue Tests Dirk and Mattie on Prairie
Dirk faces social pressure from his fraternity and classmates as Mattie Schwengauer, a plain farm girl, becomes central to his guilt and longing. Selina presses for her invite to events, including Thanksgiving, while Mattie enjoys simple farm life before a later, uncertain return.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dirk
Selina
Mattie
Illinois Prairie
Mattie Schwengauer
Meena Bras
DeJong
H—T
H’m
Edna Ferber excerpt shows family values clash at university
In a scene from So Big, Selina champions Mattie Schwengauer as a vital part of a university education. Dirk argues against the nontraditional friend, while Selina defends Mattie as someone who teaches and broadens perspective beyond youth. Mattie declines Selina’s Thanksgiving invitation.
Dirk DeJong Contemplates Architecture and Family Talks
Dirk contemplates studying architecture in the East while Selina cherishes winter fireside talks at the High Prairie farmhouse. Their exchange touches Paula’s allure, Dirk’s Dutch roots, and Selina’s views on Chicago homes amid plans for his education and Selina’s warmth against a fractious social scene.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Miss Lodge
Dirk
Selina
High Prairie
Solelg
Dirk DeJong
Simeon Peake
Frantc
Pervus DeJong
Maartje Pool
Roelf
Selina DeJong
Geertje Pool Vander Sijde
Paula
I. C
North Shore
Chicago
August Hempel
Abraham Lincoln
Tobh
Arabian Dancing Girls
A traveler describes Arabian dancing girls as born to the profession and trained by mothers from infancy. They lack formal schools, perform with uncovered faces, wear heavy voluminous skirts, and rely on bold accessories like bangles and chains for charm.
Greeks Paint The Greeks Used Preservative Paint On Ships
Pliny notes boiling wax and painting ships to protect wood from sea wind and sun. Romans seldom matched Greek mural decoration in buildings though Pompeii ruins show surviving frescoes. Colors were bold red yellow blue on dark backgrounds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pliny
Pompeii
Carrier Pigeon Tale From World War I Romanticizes a Snack
A fogbound 1918 raid tale claims a Rainbow division unit carried a homing pigeon while others wore gear. The pigeon bearer reached the colonel with a message stating in rough handwriting I am tired of carrying this damn bird. The vignette blends humor with a soldier’s burden amid wartime tension.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
No Man's Land
The Pride of a Creative Genius in a South Carolina Court
A colored man faced a mayhem charge in a South Carolina court where Exhibit A showed a severely mutilated victim. The judge condemned the brutality as demonic and the defendant admitted feeling the devil urging him as he cut the victim’s nose and threatened more.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
South Carolina
Dawn of Understanding and a Hippo Potamus Suit
A Tennessee man large in stature plans a $10,000 libel suit after a neighbor called him a hippo potamus in a two year-old incident. He waited to learn about a Ringling Brothers circus in Knoxville before acting.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Tennessee
Ringling Brothers’ Circus
Yis Tiddy
Knoxville
Also Mentioned on This Page
Edna Ferber
Doubleday
Page & Win Service
Muttle
Twelfth Street
Midwest
Euphemia Hollingswood
Eugene
Paula Arnold
Julie Arnold
Prairie Avenue House
Prairie Avenue
Julie
Weill
Aug Hempel
Arnold Menage
Cleopatra
Dean
Ohio
C. A. Foughty
Taylor St
West Liberty
Doan
Doan’s
Forst
W. H. Forst
Scottdale, PA
Aspirin
Bayer
Pearl &J
N. Y. Adv
Bellars
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!