The Christmas seal story behind Holboell and Bissell
The article traces Einar Holboell of Copenhagen and Emily P. Bissell of Delaware as the originators of the Christmas seal. Holboell proposed a small benevolent stamp in 1903 to fund tuberculous care, while Bissell helped launch the idea in 1907 via the North American in Wilmington. The movement grew nationwide, raising millions and aiding tuberculosis relief, with prominent endorsements and a lasting impact on mortality.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Elmo Scott Watson
Einar Holboell
Emily P. Bissell
Postal Service
Postal Department
Christian IX
Holboell
Louise
Hol‘poell
Charlotten Zund
Copenhagen
Leigh Mitchell Hodges
National Tuberculosis Association
Philadelphia
Wilmington
Little Delaware
Red Cross
Delaware Red Cross
North American
Delaware
Jacob Riis
E. A. van Valkenburg
Wanamaker’s
Washington
Pennsylvania
National Red Cross
Roosevelt
Root
Taft
Baltimore
Cardinal Gibbons
Miss Bissell
Bissell
Western Newspaper Union
Quartet on Waterfront Stirs Night at Sea
A quartet of revelers sang on the waterfront one moonlit night when the tenor fell off the dock into the bay. The leader did not notice the accident but detected a discord as one voice disappeared. The bass later announced the missing singer, adding that Jack is off quay.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jack
Dog Acts Queerly as Dog Day Season Ends
A quip suggests a dog misbehaving as the dog-day season ends. The exchange notes strange behavior and humorously questions whether the dog understands seasonal change.
Applause of the Hour In Hidden Choir Recall
A nostalgic verse recalls an operatic band that once sang with glee and now receives applause for a revived cheer led by a central figure. The text hints at memory, performance, and communal cheer without detailing events or names.
No Fly in Soup Prompt Causes Restless Vacation Wish
A Brooklyn Eagle cartoon caption shows a diner asking to have a cook add a fly to his soup because he is on vacation and cannot afford a camping trip. The waiter replies that there is no fly, prompting the diner’s lament.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Brooklyn Eagle
Widow with Two Children Faces Sudden Loss
Neighbors return from a funeral express sympathy for Kate. They note the challenge of being left a widow with two children and remark that she knew his risk as a pedestrian when they married.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kate
Salesman Notes Odd Dingy Visit After Portable Wireless
A salesman tells his wife he will drop by the doctor tonight amid nagging ear noises all day. She retorts that he left his sample case at home and took his portable wireless set, a line echoing a passing show remark.
Scraps Flamé Social Exchange About New Doctor
A stout lady greets Mrs Maxton and learns a new doctor has replaced old Sawbones. The unnamed acquaintance says the new physician is delightful and cheerful, and takes life easily, prompting polite small talk about local changes.
Read It and Weep Sweep Up Oscar Burr
A humorous jumble of phrases about cleaning up Oscar Burr. It mentions a tire thrown at sixty per and jokes about Buncrust eggs stamped with name and date laid to show freshness. The text highlights Henmore Farms Dairy branding and an optimistic claim about egg freshness a week ahead of issue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Oscar Burr
Henmore Farms
The Shem Battle Captain Chats With Sgt Bjones
A military‑style dialogue shows a captain warning about an imaginary enemy at 300 yards while Sgt Bjones replies from behind an imagined rock 20 feet high, illustrating wartime banter and morale.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Smiff
Sergeant Bjones
Bjones
Busy Needle: office banter on getting work done
In the office the speaker is nicknamed the Busy Needle for always finishing tasks. A colleague agrees, noting that real progress comes only after a proper push.
Turned Out Blind
A humorous quip about blind dates. the exchange frames the date as awkward and unfulfilling, with a witty punchline that contrasts expectation with outcome. No named individuals or concrete events are provided.
Poor Salute Fails To Hit Royal Visitor
Report on a royal visit notes a grand gun salute misfired as the guest escaped unharmed. The occasion was deemed a failure though the ceremony proceeded with traditional pomp and ceremony.
An Achievement In Language Recitation and Spelling
A student is praised for long study and mastery in language recitation and spelling. The verse highlights disciplined effort and a talent for reciting and spelling a complex college cheer.
Autumn Leaves in Our Favorite Books
A reflective verse on mournful autumn leaves pressed within beloved books. The speaker laments the somber mood when cherished pages carry pressed foliage, linking seasonal decay to sorrow in literary keepsakes.
Terrible Make-Up Exchange Sparks Father Son Moment
A terse dialogue centers on a self-made man as a father questions his son's appearance. The exchange probes identity and pride, ending with a charged glance that hints at deeper tension between generations.
Out of the Army Now GIs on a Major Operation
A surgeon remarks the mission will be a major operation while a former doughboy grins and declares he will go the limit. The exchange captures wartime bravado and the return of servicemen to civilian life.
Tramp Trouble Foreshadowed by Football Praise
A Washington Star remark has Farmer Corntessel answering a question about his son’s educational progress. The mother’s approval follows seeing him in a football game, with a remark that there will be no trouble with tramps when he’s living at home.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Farmer Corntessel
Washington Star
Reason Enough Lawyer Why Do You Want a Divorce
The woman quips she wants a divorce to marry again, while the man plays along. The humorous exchange turns on a mock legal framing and playful, lighthearted banter about remarriage.
The Servants in the House Engaged by Mrs Newgilt
Mrs Newgilt reports hiring 14 servants for her town house this month. Mrs Littleflat says she engaged more than twice that number for her apartment, but none remained engaged.
Rough Road Cow Puncher Fights Starring Bucking Brawl
Dialogue captures a rough rodeo moment as two cow punchers clash in a lively exchange about a bucking steer. One rider notes the animal’s erratic ride while the other confirms the wild bucking action, evocative of a rodeo seating rumpus.
Campaign cartoon remark stirs chuckles in Washington
Senator Sorghum quips about political cartoons as his wife weighs in from Washington. The exchange, cited by the Washington Star, playfully contrasts personal appearance with public scrutiny in a light political moment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Senator Sorghum
Washington Star
You Know His Type Blinks Best He Does His Best
A compact cartoonish line caption notes a character named Jinks whose lamp lights are dimmed and whose actions mirror his own limited view, suggesting a humorous self awareness of failing glow and the comedic topography of his personality.
Judge Little Denounces Jazz Bands in Dublin Hearing
In Dublin, Judge Little condemned jazz bands during a case to restrain late performances. He described a jazz band as a form of hell and envisioned a trades department occupied by loud music and devices where those who led them would listen for eternity, citing the London Mail.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Judge Little
Dublin
London Mail
Bright Boys and The Sporting Man
A brief schoolroom quip shows Briggins recalling he stood among the bright pupils, while the Sporting Man retorts that many stumble when leaving their class. The exchange captures a sharp, humorous contrast in social satire.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Briggins
Sporting Mans
Also Mentioned on This Page
Merry Christmas
Sir Walter Raleigh
Sir Walter
Hollywood
Dore
North Abertoon
California
Colonial Trading Co
Broadway
New York City
Nomah
Boschex
Omaha
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