Transformation and the Diamond Heist in Africa to Scotland Yard
A man abandons America for South Africa seeking renewal, works in the Kimberley diamond mines, and backslides into danger on a wagon journey where a Yorkshire thief robs him of a diamond. A curate heroically aids, revealing himself as Jack Sharp of Scotland Yard who captures the culprit and retrieves the gem. The tale shifts to a discussion of Atlas and map lore.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
America
South Africa
Africa
Kimberley
Lfe
Jack Sharp
Scotland Yard
England
Sharp
Mercator
Charles V
Germany
Atlas
Zeus
Shakespeare
Warwick
Gloucester
Samuel Birch and the Turtle Soup Legend of Cornhill
A portrait of Samuel Birch, famed purveyor of turtle soup in London, who ran the Cornhill shop famed since Waterloo era. He was an orator, militia colonel, and author whose plays and books were once popular. His daughter married Lamartine and his line produced scholars, yet his fame rests on popularizing turtle soup in London society.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Marshal Tureen
London
Samuel Birch
Birch
Cornhill
Waterloo
Marshal F Green
Lamartine
Fons
West End
Corthill
Argonaut
Reign of the Dandies and Dress Decline
In a historical musing on fashion and social status the piece notes a shift from breeches and silk stockings to trousers, recalling Wellington’s Almack's ban and Gladstone at Oxford. It cites a remark by Gladstone about dress change among the modern audience versus his own era and the cost of dressing a wealthy audience member.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Duke of Wellington
Almack’s
Gladstone
Oxford
G. W. EH
Russell
Betwenn
A Faat Train Observation of Railroading Woes
A narrator recalls a rail journey with a moving picture man at speed. The truthful man complains about safety and technique, noting a line exposure difficulty and lingering discomfort with the setup. The anecdote closes with a wry comment about the crowd and field of view.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jim
The Burglar's Prayer at East Bengal Caste Meeting
Sir Herbert Risley described a Bengal caste of professional burglars at the Royal Anthropological Institute. They practiced a ritual that drew on earth deity worship, marking a ground space a man would cut his arm upon to pray for a dark night and successful theft and escape.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Herbert Risley
Bengal
Royal Anthropological Institute
London Standard
No Whiskers on Hia Sea Food
A fragment from the New York World recounts two colored porters resting in a downtown office building. One jokes about mushrat while the other clarifies his seafood preference, noting only lobster as fancy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York World
Puzzled Mother and Child Exchange Lunch Time Question
A brief dialogue shows a mother explaining sardines as fish then a child asks how the cans are opened. The exchange includes stage directions and a playful reference to Lonadon Ideas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Mabel
Truth and Bell Tone in Philly Record Quip
A playful Philadelphia Record snippet quotes a wise guy who calls truth clear as a bell and a simple mug who notes a title isn’t always tolled. The exchange captures streetwise humor and local flavor in brief dialogue.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Philadelphia Record
Not Gerious. Grave charges Against Senator Jinks Reported
A terse exchange cites allegations against Senator Jinks as grave, sparked by a whispered report about sexton’s bills. The fragment hints at political intrigue and fiscal disputes tied to the senator’s名.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gerious
Jinks
Sexton
The Blue Ribbon Pumpkin Folklore of Unity Village
Moses Smith founded Unity in a western state, but a battle over prize pumpkins split the village. As families grew rival blue ribbon pumpkins for the county fair, fear and pride divided the town, the church faltered, and a circuit rider left with the town renamed Difficulty. The tale mirrors a caution about unity and community priorities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Moses Smith
Unity
Moses
Esch
Luraber
Aaron Tompking
Felix White
Samuel Davis
What He Heard John and the Quiet Morning Affair
John of Newburg returns home late to a wife less charitable and a sympathetic friend. The wife calls a confidant who shares details of the husband’s conduct. A misdialed call leads to a brief, awkward interruption as a male friend overhears before abruptly ending the line.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John
Newburg
Allance
New York Press
The Wind as a Motive Force in Practical Use
London Spectator argues wind holds untapped potential beyond sails and toys. It compares wind power with tides and electricity storage, suggesting feasible wind based electricity lighting could emerge despite variability.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
London Spectator
The Clover Shoe Clerk
A humorous anecdote from the New York Sun describes a shoe clerk who dryly fits a customer with a pair of shoes to match rubber overshoes, explains the need to protect the fit, and ends with the customer buying both shoes and rubbers, paying C O D.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New York Sun
Goldest of queer fishes in sargasso sea lore
The frogfish dwells among gulfweed in the Sargasso Sea. It uses its modified pectoral fins as arms to cling to vegetation and can change color to match its surroundings. It lays eggs in a jelly mass that swells with water, forming a raft three to four feet long and two to four inches wide.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Sargasso Sea
mid-Atlantic
New York World
Parnell downfall tale from Mrs. O’Connor recollections
Recollection recounts Parnell as a brave figure whose fall is called one of history’s most pathetic. It recalls a rumored exchange about how to trap him with a romantic plot involving two women, ending in his undoing through personal entanglement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Parnell
T. P. O'Connor
To Discourage Him
A comic exchange from Chicago News features a wife challenging her husband about smoking a birthday cigar. He answers that he will save the cigars until their Willie is ready to learn the habit, turning a smoker’s lesson into a family moment.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
George
Willie
Chicago News
Wife doubts husband after truth is revealed
A Toledo Blade quotation notes a wife lacking confidence in her husband after she caught him telling the truth recently, leaving her unable to outsmart him.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Toledo Blade
Patient Father-Dearie Glove Incident Report
A brief exchange describes a baby gnawing on a glove and a father confirming ownership. The dialogue notes the child's teething moment and the parent’s reassurances in a domestic scene.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dearie
Deazie
Nauge
Got It Right New Reporter High Priced Machine
A fragmented dialogue shows a reporter and judge discussing a costly machine. The exchange includes remarks about turning and anxiety, with a misattributed quote from Confucius reflecting a theme of fear versus action.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Terrepin
Life Saved at Death's Door by King’s New Discovery
Wellington Tex resident W. KR Patterson credits Dr King’s New Discovery with saving his life after a long battle with severe cough and lung trouble that dropped him to 100 pounds. He now weighs 187 pounds and remains well. The ad touts the remedy for coughs colds influenza asthma croup and lung troubles with trial bottles and a guarantee. Chamberlain's Cough Remedy is recommended to prevent or lessen croup in children and is sold by S H Williams.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
W. KR. Patterson
Wellington
Tex
SH. Williams
Also Mentioned on This Page
Euskin
M. Quad
Confucius
DR. King
S. H. Williams
Patent Office
Greeley
Patents
U. S. Patent Office
Washington,d. C
Paul H. Graves
Gruver, Iowa
Langren & Peterson
James Espese
Emmet County Land and Abstract Company
Estherville, Iowa
Emmet CO
Estherville State Bank
Chamberlain
H. Williams
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!