Porter as Sailor in Navy History
In Grant’s first term Secretary Borie delegated to Admiral Porter who banned four blade screws to favor sails, hindering steam efficiency. Porter’s later claims added to misjudgments about Roach cruisers and sail power, a recurring theme of stubborn naval fashion. A technician recalls fringe fashion critique and the episode of avoraks tunics, showing culture and engineering intersect.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Porter
Grant
Navy
Borie
Admiral Porter
Roach Crufeers
Naval Committee
Desert Tortoise of California Desert Revealed
A Suburban Life writer notes desert tortoises often cluster in water scarce areas. Each carries two large water sacs and can hold liquid. They travel fast and climb rocky slopes, using their tail and hooked head to grip rock and haul their bodies upward.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
California
Desert
The Wise Eskimos and Amundsen Dress Adaptations
Captain Roald Amundsen writes of Eskimo dress in The North West Passage. Expedition members had grown accustomed to the clothing and adopted it, noting practical reasons for every element. The passage reflects on why Eskimo garments fit Arctic needs.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Roald Amundsen
Northwest Passage
Amundsen
Letter Opened on Gender and Grammar
A humorous exchange from London Tit-Bits features Sam Smith praising his son Tommy’s grasp of grammar. Tommy correctly identifies gender for father as masculine and mother as feminine, and neuter for a teapot, prompting Sam to praise the boy while noting the mispronunciation.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sam Smith
Tommy
Tom
Sam
Ailus
London
Resentment at bar over credit and cash refusal
An old taper asks for “on-tick” whisky credit in a London Telegraph anecdote. The publican refuses credit but offers sixpence. the man pays nothing, pockets the coin, and exits with a haughty air, leaving the bar without service.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London Telegraph
George means business, says daughter in jest
In a Chicago Inter Ocean quip a mother teases her daughter about name meanings. The daughter concedes George signifies business, joking that George told her so last night. The light exchange highlights playful family banter over names.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George
Charles
William
Chicago
Inter Ocean
Apt Pupil Lesson Turns To Business Family Tale
A humorous Atchison Globe snippet recalls a father and son in a shop, the son now teaching the father the business after months of training. The piece notes a cross worker would earn more if he kept a good nature, reflecting on the human side of small business life.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Atchison Globe
Engaged at last after a perilous confession
A woman writes to a close friend revealing a terrible blunder that led to her engagement with Bob. She recalls manipulating him and enjoying his humiliation, then recounts a train voyage misadventure that nearly exposed their relationship. Bob pressures a definite answer as they plan to wed in April, with the narrator inviting the friend as first brides maid. LET D DENNING.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bob
Alice
Sue
Lillie
Lille
D Denning
Expensive dollar tale ends in humorous repayment note
A town tale recounts a generous dollar given to a child that was saved for candy. The child’s father tracked the gift on his cuff, returning thirteen dollars as the months passed, and finally sent back a curt note with a check for one dollar. The piece also lists local ad blurbs and a counterfeiting notice.
Dollar Fish and Three Sabbaths in Tangier
A New York Sun item notes the dollar fish or young moonfish seen rarely in tanks, described as pearly, edge-swimming creatures named for their coin-like size and color. The Tangier piece reflects a traveler’s view of three sabbaths in a city with Muslim, Jewish, and Christian observances, highlighting flags marking prayer times and daily religious rhythm.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Aquarium
New York Sun
Tangier
Morocco
Raw York Pont
Also Mentioned on This Page
L. C. Doolittle
Waterman
the Vindicator
Tosdal’s
H. H. Tosdal
Brownell Jacobson
Grover
Iowa
Bows
Stock Township
Foley
Williams & Andersons
Bank of
Estherville
Heck’s Store
New York
M. M. Heck
North
6Th St
Howard Graves
James Espeset
Emmet County’ Land and Abstract Company
Abatinobe
Tatatow
Boas Cy Done
Oie Books
Ketherville
Namic
W. W. Fullam
Phane
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!