The Passing Bell Through History and Custom
The article traces bells as death signals from the Middle Ages to post Reformation England and beyond. It explains beliefs that bells drove away evil spirits, called souls to prayer, and were tied to rank and wealth in tolling. It notes shifts after the Reformation to less superstitious practice and a tolling custom before burial, with regional variations in knell counts among England Scotland and the United States.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jesus
Mr. Douce
Queen Elizabeth
Jacobs
Belle
England
Spain
Durand
Scotland
America
United States
John W. Wright
St. Louis Republic
Ghastly Idol on Tai Shan Described by Missionary Writer
A Missionary Recorder piece details Tai Shan in Shan tung where pilgrims visit a mummy of an old Taoist from the Chuen Lung era. The corpse sits cross legged on a pedestal with plaster mask, glass eyes, and a red and white Chinese robe, titled the “Dried Up Taoist” by locals, yet called the venerable immortal by visitors.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Missionary Recorder
Tai Shan
Shantung
Chuen Lung
Plebs
Japances Gnestte
Buffalo Bill's Father a Frontier Post Saver Tale
An Denver reminiscence recounts how old Bill Cody, father of the famed showman, defended a trading post on the Arkansas frontier. Facing a Cheyenne Arapaho Kiowa assault, he manned a stockade cannon charged with mule shoes and nails, firing from the top of the post as Indians crossed the bridge. The single shot defeated the assault, preserving the ranch and earning wary legends about Buffalo Bill’s supposed alliance with the spirits.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Buffalo Bill
Denver
Buffalo Bill” Cody
Old Man Cody
Plains
Arkansas
Fort Larned
Cody
Bill
Denver News
Emil Pfeiffer Names Martenfeldt as Pigs in Clover Culprit
Cambridge researcher Emil Charles Pfeiffer asserts that Martenfeldt, a student of physiological psychology, is responsible for the Pigs in Clover atrocity. The narrative traces experiments on tactile sensitivity and reaction time influenced by Helmholtz, including plate glass and pasteboard rings altering perception.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Emil Charles Pfeiffer
Cambridge
Martenfeldt
Helmholtz
Cerebellum
Marienfeldt
Herman Meyer
Philadelphia
C. M. Crandall
Tor
Origin of Language Theories Keep But Darwin Cites Imitation
A survey of historic claims on the origin of language notes Hebrew, Syriac, and other tongues as candidates for paradise speech. It cites Goropius Dutch, Kemp Swedish, and Eve French tales, then endorses Darwin’s view that language arose from imitation and modification of natural sounds aided by gesture and cries.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Goropius
Paradise
Andre Kemp
God
Adam
Adar
Eve
Gabriel Ezro
Darwin
Wedgewood
Farrar
Schleicher
Max Muller
Witchcraft trials in Deccan and Bombay scorch villagers
Calcutta Dispatch reports widespread witchcraft accusations in India. In Chennai village Jaluho two shepherds were tortured after being found guilty, teeth torn, heads shaved, buried alive up to neck, wood and fire used, and skulls roasted. Some thirty others were jailed. A Bombay case involved blaming an old woman for deaths and illness, beaten with a thick stick.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Deccan
Chennai
Jaluho
Bombay
Calcutta
London Times
Big pay of freaks in dime museums revealed
A Philadelphia Record reprint outlines the money earned by museum freaks. Albinos, skeletons, midgets like Lucia Zarate, dog faced and giant varieties command weekly salaries from 25 to 900 dollars, with Japan’s performers among the top draws. Singled out are oddities such as woolly babies, Aztecs, booted foot performers, and trained animals, highlighting the mercantile value of human curiosities.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Gamin
Ageum
Lucia Zarate
Japan
Armieas
Philadelphia
Reporter Tales and a Southern Welcome
A veteran journalist recalls a strange midnight call at a Chateau avenue house where three young women sought to see what a reporter was like. The prankish venture ends with a punchline about what sort of man a reporter is. Also recounted is a Shreveport scene where a troupe of southern capitalists meets an elderly auntie who distributes nickels to a crowd of excited children, prompting a census attempt that proves unnecessary.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
St. Louis
Chateau Avenue
the Democrat
Annie
Cincinnati Enquirer
Shreveport
Jak
Pete
Rastag
Jule
Liga
Hall
Waterville Sentinel
Lewister Journal
Also Mentioned on This Page
Ayer
Ayers
Peter Christensen
Sherwood
Wis
T. F. Adams
Holly Springs
Texas
R. D. Jackson
Wilmington
Del
Ayer's
Emma Keyes
Hubbardston
Mass
Kiser
Rock House
Ayer’s
J. G. Ayer
W.&t. Smith
Geneva
Tequila Tonic Export CO
Franklin St
Ubbicargo, Il
Johnson & Siegfried, Warren
Penn’a
Merck Drug Store
Morris & Mullen
Scofield Block
Warren
Svenska
Market St. St. Philads
E. Gately&co
Scott's
Worl
Alt
Scott & Bowke
N.Y
Paine
Ministre
J.T. Core Lane
Waris, Bicnasceor &Co
Burlington
B.A. Dow
Burlingtom
Peter
Greenland
Water Street
Episcopal Church
Episecopal Church
High Street
Hazel
Laural
Peter Creenlund
W. H. Pickett & Co
H. A. Jamieson & Co
Sherman
Dewett
Steve Ranges
Syracuse
American Baw Co
Warrepa
Western
New York
Penn
A,r.r
Philadelphia & Erie & R
Sheffield
Erie
Marya
Erie Mail
Exile Mail
Pennsylvania Railroad
Ts Tase
Warren Eastwared
Shefield Express
Sunjey
St. Marys
O. Express
Sunbury
Harrisburg
Lancaster
Baltimore
Washington
Pulman
Philadelhia
Williamsport
Kane
Erie Express
New
Ie Express
Chas
BE. Pugh
J.B. Wood
L Men
Pass
Pennsylvania
Act of Assembly
Johnson, Lindsey & Parmlee
P. B
Pittsburg
Out City
Meopolis
Bagie Rock
Tionesta
Hickory
Runkey Ville
Tidionte
Hompson
Irvington
Allan
P. Mia
Kinzus
Corydon
Onoville
Wolf Ryan G
Cer
Red House
Aleto An Ce
Carroltas
South Vandalia
Alezhen
Mia M. Pot
My Geo
Gatchell
J. A. Fellows
Hachunge Street
Buffa
Lefford
Arren
Farnsworth
Larendon
Nderwood
Almont
Wood
East Bran
Junction
Garfield
Pasaenrs
Oil City
Titusville
Garland
RB. R
Ridgway
Vanderarift
Feld
Danham’s Mill
Pemengert
Dunham's Mill
Clarendon
A. D. Wood
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!