Value of a city wife…

June 15, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

This article in the “Detroit Free Press” issue of November 8, 1946 needs no further explanation.

The Traveler… Ismay on “speed”… war of the roses…

June 4, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

I traveled today to Pawtucket, Rhode Island, by means of The Evening Times dated June 4, 1912. There I found that (J.) Bruce Ismay has been providing justification to the British court of inquiry on the speed possibilities of the Titanic. He was the chairman and managing director of the White Star Line and a survivor of the sinking of the Titanic.

Another front page article is entitled “Says Husband Sent Her Poisoned Roses”. Mrs. Rose Ebeling received poisoned roses from her husband one afternoon, this was after she had filed a bill for divorce against her husband, Fred. The fumes of the poison had overpowered the servant who opened the package. So to quote Shakespeare from Romeo and Juliet “…that which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…”

~The Traveler

If at first you don’t succeed…

April 13, 2012 by · Leave a Comment 

A post-Civil War issue of the New York Herald, October 2, 1865, had an interesting article regarding a young lady who was determined to elope… and the lengths her parents undertook to retrieve her… on more than one occasion.  Perhaps the 3rd time will be the charm.  Please enjoy:

Actual headlines…

September 10, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

We offer thanks to fellow collector Morris Brill for some of the following headlines which appeared in recent newspapers:

“Iraqi Head Seeks Arms”

“Cold Wave Linked To Temperatures”

“Man Struck By Lightning Faces Battery Charge”

“Many Antiques At Senior Citizens’ Sale”

“Lack of Brains Hinders Research””

“Prisoners Escape After Execution”

“No Cause of Death Determined Fro Beheading Victim”

“Teacher Dies; Board Accepts His Resignation”

“Experts Are Sure The Dow Will Either Rise Or Decline”

“Lucky Man Sees Friend Die”

“Voluntary Workers Strike For Higher Pay”


The Traveler… the passing of a signer… the sentencing…

August 15, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

In today’s travels, I found the Salem Gazette of August 16, 1811 carrying a very small notification of the death of the Honorable William Williams. He was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This also stated that he continued through life as a Washington federalist.

The back page featured a small “Anecdotes” article. One item had what some may consider as a very cruel and unusual punishment. “A Corregidor debating to what death to condemn a man who had committed a great crime, because it appeared to him that hanging was too little for the offence, his clerk, who had a scolding wife, said “Had we not best marry him?”.

~The Traveler

The Traveler… Standard Oil’s dissolution… “perfectly logical”…

August 1, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

Today I found myself in the The Christian Science Monitor dated August 1, 1911 where two front page articles caught my attention. The first is a bit of a continuation from a few weeks back,which was Standard Oil’s plan of dissolution being announced. The reorganization would involve the distribution of approximately 220,000 certificates representing 35 companies.

The other article was of Chicago’s aviation event which would have the largest purse ever offered, the prizes having a total value of $80,000.  A stadium (the largest at that time) would be built that would hold 60,000 persons. Some notables to be in attendances were: Glenn H. Curtiss, Tom Sopwith, J.A. D. McCurdy, John J Frisbie, Harry N Atwood, Charles Willard and others.

I also found a cute little story entitled “perfectly logical” which just says it all…

~The Traveler

Reporting a non-event…

July 2, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

It must have been a very slow news day as the “Boston American” of April 11, 1912 has a  bold headline (see below) proclaiming a non-event (see). Ironically, this was also the day after the Titanic set sail for its maiden voyage. Four days later the headline would be extremely significant.

What to do with Adolf…

June 25, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

With an historical perspective of the hunting of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden it is interesting to read this piece in the “Stars And Stripes” military newspaper of April 6, 1945, less than one month before the death of Adolf Hitler. They wonder what to do with him once captured…

The Traveler… “The Little Belt Affair”… Bonaparte putting up a “smoke front”…

June 6, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

Today’s travels landed on a nice surprise! The Middlesex Gazette dated June 6, 1811 carries a lengthy letter by Commodore John Rodgers to the Secretary of the Navy dated May 23, 1811.  This was referencing a confrontation between his frigate and a Britannic which at first would not identify itself, and then was revealed to be Little Belt. This incident furthered the tension between Britain and the United States which led to the War of 1812.

Also in this issue is the reporting that Bonaparte had established a public Manufactory of Tobacco and Snuff. This would be carried on by “a particular committee for the benefit of the public chest, or in other words for his own benefit, and that no private individual shall in future be concerned in the manufacture of these articles…” He would control what type and where all the tobacco would be purchased, etc.  Does it sound a little self-serving??

~The Traveler

Guess he was on a bad tour…

May 14, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

The front page of the “Columbian Centinel” of Boston, April 19, 1788, has a “Description–By a resident in the Island” of Jamaica. The writer must have taken much time & effort to be as unflattering as possible. It makes for some interesting reading:

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