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Darwin’s “other” sons…
July 11, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The Ogden Junction newspaper from Utah, dated September 6, 1873, includes this small comic tidbit making light of Darwin’s theory of evolution.
Definition of “half drunk” and “whole drunk”…
July 4, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The Massachusetts Spy newspaper of Worcester, dated July 21, 1830, includes in interesting tidbit on the intoxication levels of four young surgeons in London.
A 19th century alternative to divorce…
June 27, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The “New York Transcript” newspaper of March 19, 1836 included an article reporting divorce cases in New Jersey. More than just reporting the news, the editor chose to take considerable license in expressing his own opinion, providing a bit of comedy for us more than 170 years later.
The trek from boyhood to manhood…
June 20, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The Boston Evening Transcript of July 21, 1862 has an interesting article on the front page headed “Youth And Manhood”, which is the writer’s reflection upon how–for him–the step from youth to manhood was a singular, notable
“Today we are children; tomorrow we are not. Today we stand in life’s vestibule; tomorrow we are in the temple… awed… humbled… and smitten…”
Although a bit morose in tone, it is nicely written and worth sharing.
Charles Dickens on newspapers…
June 15, 2009 by TimHughes · 3 Comments
The Boston Evening Transcript of July 21, 1862, has a front page article “Charles Dickens on Newspapers”, a speech he delivered in London at the Newsvenders’ Benevolent Institution. The lengthy speech takes two-thirds of a column and is filled with witty comments, and ends with: “…The newsman is to be meet with at every turn, on steamboats and in railway stations; his profits are small…he is indispensable to civilzation and freedom, and he is looked for with peasurable excitement every day…”.
Male chauvinism has its drawbacks…
June 13, 2009 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
The newspaper with a curious title of “The Tickler” from Philadelphia, January 22, 1812, contains a comical little item at the bottom of the back page. Little “treats” such as these may be found throughout old newspapers. See the photo.
Reducing old maids and increasing the population…
June 6, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The Connecticut Courant issue of Hartford dated October 18, 1790 contains a curious piece taken from a Virginia newspaper, noting that:
“…a serious petition is now drawing up…stating arguments in favour of polygamy, from the plain principles of reason: and praying that a man may legally marry two wives. This, it is thought, will be the most effectual means to extirpate the numerous race of old maids, and increase the population of the United States…”
Editors take note: be mindful of photos accompanying headlines…
June 4, 2009 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
The “Second Extra” of the Atlanta Journal newspaper of November 22, 1963 has a curious–if not macabre–combination of headline and photo. As would be expected of an “Extra” of this date, the large & bold headline proclaims: “KENNEDY KILLED” but immediately beneath it is a photo of a street sweeper pushing his bucket which has a pair of trousers & boots protruding from the top, with the caption: “Sweeper Means What He Says”.
One might excuse the editor, for I’m sure that in rushing this edition to the streets as quickly as possible the planned headline was removed and the Kennedy death report quickly inserted with little thought as to what else was scheduled for top half that day’s edition. But it serves as an important lesson to budding newspaper editors everywhere: be mindful of what what might accompany an article or photo.
Census with a bit of flair…
May 23, 2009 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
“The Alaska Times” newspaper from Seattle, W.T. (Washington Territory), May 14, 1871, contains a very colorful front page article with a simple heading: “Alaska” which reports a census for Sitka. Enjoy reading how the inhabitants were categorized.
Davy Crockett survived the Alamo?
May 16, 2009 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
The report shown appeared in the “Staunton Spectator” newspaper of Virginia, May 5, 1836. Accuracy in reporting the news certainly wasn’t any better back in 1836. Have you ever found similar inaccurate reporting?