Various Odd Facts and Anecdotes From History
A collection of curiosities ranging from textile yields and sleep growth in children to weather lore, royalty, industry and travel. Notable items include St Moritz slide timing, Louis XIV’s reign length, early artificial limbs in Egypt, and a magician Herrmann shooting trick with hidden bullets and a state-furnished pistol posse.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Arkanas
Credit
Florida
St. Moritz
Switzerland
France
Louis Xivi
Germany
Ponderings on Religion Athletics and Faith in Pauls Days
A sermon compares ancient athletic ideals with Christian faith, noting Paul’s caution that worldly contests offer little compared to true religious effort. It argues that devotion to sport, business, and society degenerates without prioritizing mind and heart toward God. The piece links prayer studies to modern Anglican ritual and devotion.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Dent
Paul
Beggar King Returns To City With $200 A Month
John Wadeigh known as the king of beggars returns after a year’s absence. He occupies well furnished flats and enjoys home life while frequenting the races and drinking liquor. His wife Irene solicits donations but uses them for cash, having previously deceived charitable organizations.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
John Wadeigh
Irene
San Francisco
Beg line polyglot dialect word from East End Yiddish source
Fragmentary prompt references a Beg line in a polyglot Yiddish dialect, allegedly broken by aliens of the East End in London. The text lacks a clear event, date, or identifiable subjects to confirm details or context.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
East End
London
Bumblebees Transform Clover Crops in Australia
Report notes that import of bumblebees from England to Australia boosted clover growth. Darwin highlighted their long proboscis and heavy bodies enabling efficient pollination. Popular Science News observes bees cost about 50 cents each but proved valuable to farmers.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Australia
England
Mr. Darwin
Popular Science News
Charity extends beyond giving to all in need
The text argues charity includes kindness, sympathy, and gracious behavior, not just material aid. It urges extending generosity to those around us who appear well off, since many who seem self-sufficient secretly long for genuine voice and support, and we cannot know whose need is most pressing.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Buffon
Jaythe
Thomas Carlyle
Bishop Brooks
Ruth
Gideon
Gideonite
Judy
School Times
Insults at the Table and Schoolyard Puns Across Papers
A fragmented snippet shows a cartoonish dialogue about insults at drinking, knotted jokes about abstinence, and school nicknames. It references Cincinnati Enquirer and Detroit Free Press style bits and a French phrase about attendance. The tone mirrors a broadside or comic wit column.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Detroit Free Press
The Lord's Prayer Reworked in The Bright Side Style
Fragmented text renders a devotional prayer with archaic phrasing and garbled lines. It centers on petitioning God in heaven for daily bread forgiveness and deliverance from evil, while attributing power and glory to God and invoking a modern editorial aside about habit and vigilance.
Mastery of the Bible Advised as Life’s Tree
William M Taylor urges thorough, systematic study of the Bible, praising it as the oldest and greatest book. He claims it houses historical narratives, noble poetry, lofty philosophy, honest biographies, and earnest letters, offering true religion and atonement.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
William M Taylor
Should Grow from Within
Rev M J Savage at the Unitarian conference argues infant churches should grow from within, not be coaxed into existence by outside aid. He says missionary work must foster natural movements into life capable of self support rather than relying on external building and funds.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
M. J. Savage
Unitarian Conference
Be a Good Samaritan Song Tally
Poem urging acts of mercy and charity in Jesus name. Encourages clothing, feeding, healing the needy and sharing the savior's love without regard to sect. Stresses kindness, neighbor love, and doing good for Christ’s sake.
Temptation and Teachings From Jesus Wilderness Trials
A Sunday School lesson analyzes Jesus temptations in the wilderness as told in Matthew 4 and Luke 4. It discusses how temptations test divine mission, the nature of each trial, and how Jesus answered with scripture to guide believers facing daily struggles.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Jesus
Galilee
Hihfather
Luke
Origin of the Buccaneers They Were Beef Traders Before Piracy
Frank R. Stockton explains in St Nicholas that early buccaneers began as beef traders or buccaneers from San Domingo who dried and traded beef. Spanish suppression pushed them toward maritime warfare, turning peaceful hunters into sea raiders against Spain, with later attacks expanding from sea to land.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Spain
Frank R. Stockton
St. Nicholas
Stockton
American
West Indian
San Domingo
Europe
Caribbean Sea
West Indies
West India
Tortoise Shell Composition and Size Descriptions
The tortoise shell is made of scales covering the shield, thirteen in number with eight flat and five curved. Four flat scales reach up to twelve by seven inches, nearly transparent and vividly variegated in red, yellow, white and dark brown. An average turtle yields about eight pounds of these scales at a thickness of one eighth to a quarter inch.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
France
Europe
Leo I
Vatican
Castel Gandolfo
Italy
New York Evening Sun
Borrowing Trouble as a Poor Business Habit
The piece argues that borrowing trouble is a harmful habit born of nerves and whimsy. It warns against imagining impending evils and urges focusing on reality rather than chasing shadows.
German Military Rudiment Shows Smoke ScreenAiming Device
The German army introduces a device to train musketsmen by creating smoke between shooter and target. The smoke is produced from furze and wet grass or similar means to mimic battlefield interferences with sight. The aim is to accustom soldiers to such conditions during combat. A lighter, unrelated observation notes women reading telegrams in papers elevates perceived literacy. Another aside links wash day to Sunday and cleanliness to godliness.
Also Mentioned on This Page
China
Egypt
St. Helena
Thomas Welby
Whitechapel
St. George’s
Hirishmen
Hier
Herrmann
Herrman
Himo
Oursunda
Mr. CO
Alesto
SwWisdom
St. Alban
Lord Jesus Christ
Ferry
Johnson
Wallace
Cincinnati
Enquirer
Mabel
Npn
Amalie
North
Ameti
Goth
Earth
Heaven
Ender i
the Bible
Sds
Satan
Matt
Buccaneers
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!