Umpire’s toughest calls in baserunning mischief and tricks
Recalls oddball field rulings from early baseball days. Treadway’s foul line drive at Brooklyn’s old Kustero park sparked a debate after Gaffney ruled foul, with Nick Young backing the umpire amid protests. Other tales recount worms used to disrupt plays and a snake trick on Tommy Tucker, leading to disputed outs and unwon games.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Kustero Park
Brooklyn
Philadelphia
Perambulators
Nick Young
Chicago
Washington
Joe Cantifion
Senators
Joe
Benators
Jegers
John
Cantilon
Younuny Tucker
Bill Dahlen
Bill Everett
Tom
Dahlen
West Side
Everett
Gilbert and Sullivan humor in a footnote mischief
In early Gilbert and Sullivan days managers saw them as sure winners in comic opera. A young woman in a Pinafore troupe wrote to Gilbert about marrying a well placed suitor, then changed plans twice. After a third letter said she would wed a titled lord, Gilbert joked about her marriage and added an asterisk with the line Here insert the name of the happy man.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gilbert
Gilbert & Sullivan
Lord
Cornwell
Elis
Lin
McWilliame
Beverly
Miss Beverly
McWilliams
Cornwell Refuses Bribery Charge as Secret Help Surfaces
In Cornwell's office McWilliams presses for support in the upcoming election and reveals a $5,000 bribe attempt tied to Hendricks. Eleanor Beverly exposes the plot, confirming the check's origin and defending Cornwell, while Cornwell denounces bribery and asserts his integrity. A later scene recalls college students disrupting a Benjamin Butler speech with a planned stunt.
The Spirit of Dancing Through London’s Past
The London Times contrasts medieval and modern customs noting widespread dancing from queen to milk maid and festive May Day joy. It recalls dances such as the danse au violet and Vas de Brabant, many with singing and courtly rituals, and asks when England’s merry dancing spirit faded and mixed kissing began.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
London Times
London Saturday Review
Facetious French Railway Criticized for Window Kisses
A humorous note describes a French railway scenario where a passenger lady in a carriage throws kisses from the window. staff remind that passengers must not fling any object from carriages, enforcing strict safety rules on the train.
A Quaint Case From Long Ago Brother Quackenboss Narrates
A quirky tale presents Brudder Lonzo Bimmelick quarrel in a church scene with his wife Sis Claudine, a fatal plan, a wall message P I X N I, and a comic outcome about gender arguments. The piece blends dialectal narration with a later note on coffin shapes in English cookery history and a reference to Petruchio.
Edible Coffins and Early English Pastry Making
A historical note traces pastry evolution from ancient orientals using flour oil and honey to medieval changes. Butter eggs and salt entered pastry, expanding methods and ingredients during the early middle ages, marking a shift in English cookery practices.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Europe
Lost Sovereign Trick on London Cabby
A humorous London Tit-Bits item recalls a cabby outsmarted by a passenger who pretends to lose a sovereign. The tale closes with notes on British officials and their odd methods to cope with work stress, including Lowe, Gladstone, and Palmerston.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London
Govereign
Piccadilly Circus
Bayswater
J Gay
Cabby
Wide Awake and Insomaia Case T:
The dialogue notes a patient diagnosis of Insomaia given by a doctor. It hints at the patient being under treatment and discussed by companions Fuddle and the physician, emphasizing the unusual medical term.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Fuddle
Also Mentioned on This Page
Joe Drors
New York
Castoria
Bears
Gastoria
Ball Field Stories
Treadway
Tommy Tucker
Ana
Tucker
Tommy
Jack Stratton
Dallas
Syeamore Valley
Lynn
Sycamore Valley
Buteh Carpenter
Buteh
Boller
Trek
Sidiall
Byepmore Valley
Minneapolis ‘Tribune
Eleanor Grafter
Bolitheabossa
Fils
Sr. Cornwell
Lipper
Erhuly
MecWilliams
MeWwll- Name
Mc Wiliams
Hendricks
Gerafter
McWilliama
Mendricks
West
Butler
Wilt
Howard Graves
Emmet County Land and Abstract Co
Estherville, Iowa
Jands
Emmat Co
Estherville Stata Bank
W. W. Fullam
R. I
Bank OF Estherville
F. H. Rhodes
Brother Quackenboss
Scudder Bimmelick
Brudder Lonzo Bimmelick
Dar
Sistah
Claudine
Brudder Lonzo
Jerrymire
Brudder
Shea
Indy
Bradder Lonzo
Bradder Sonfo
Sutkin
Great Britain
Robert Lowe
Exchequer
Randolph Churchill
Palmerston
James Paget
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!