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The Panama Canal Opens in 1914… a question…
September 10, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
Many are familiar with the Panama Canal and its profound impact on international trade and travel, however, few are aware of the great cost paid – in effort, dollars, and loss of life, in order to bring it to fruition. Still, after decades of suffocating labor, the canal opened in 1914. Trivia buffs may know of the Alexandre La Valley (a floating crane) – which became the first self-propelled vessel to pass from one end to the other , and others are able to recall the United States steamship, Ancon, as being the first large vessel to make the trip.
Trivia Challenge: What about the impact of the canal on military interests? While the intention of the canal was one of peace, which country has the distinction of being the first to have one of its warships pass through the canal? After you’ve made your best guess, go to the August 18, 1914 Boston Evening Transcript to see if any of you are correct. If so, feel free to brag about your knowledge by contacting me through e-mail. Good luck. To-date, “0” people have guessed correctly.
September thru time (50, 100, 150, 200, & 250 years ago) – 2018 edition…
September 7, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
What news was reported in the month of September – 50 (1958), 100 (1918), 150 (1868), 200 (1818), and 250 (1768) years ago? Such a walk back through time via the eyes of those who read the daily and weekly newspapers of the period can be quite revealing. This is why we often say, “History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.” The following links will take you back in time to show the available newspapers from the Rare & Early newspapers website. There’s no need to buy a thing. Simply enjoy the stroll.
World Series bound… Before the “Curse of the Bambino”… The Traveler…
September 3, 2018 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I journeyed to New York City by way of The New York Times dated September 1, 1918, where I found that the Boston Red Sox had won the American League Pennant. “The Two Rival Managers & Their Shock Troops Primed for the World’ Series Clash This Week.” “Boston clinched the American League pennant by winning the first game of today’s double header from Philadelphia, 6 to 1, with Ruth holding the visitors to three hits… (Babe) Ruth’s all around play, including his terrific double to deep centre field, which just missed entering the bleachers, was the feature of the first game.”
Babe Ruth would end up being traded to the New York Yankees in December, 1919, in a very controversial trade. This would also be the last World’s Series that the Red Sox would win until 2004, sometimes dubbed “The Curse of the Bambino.”
~The Traveler
Announcing: Catalog #274 (for September, 2018) is now available…
August 31, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
- Catalog 274 (in its entirety)
1500-1799 (full view OR quick-scan/compact view)
1800-1899 (full view OR quick-scan/compact” view)
1900-2015 (full view OR quick-scan/compact” view)
- Noteworthy Catalog 274 ($250+)
- Combined Catalogs (current, w/ remnants of previous)
Don’t forget about this month’s DISCOUNTED ISSUES.
(The catalog links above will redirect to the latest catalog in approx. 30 days, upon which time it will update to the most recent catalog.)
Nobody like me, everybody hates me… 1863…
August 27, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · 44 Comments
Nobody likes me, everybody hates me
I think I’ll go eat worms!
Big fat juicy ones
Eensie weensy squeensy ones
See how they wiggle and squirm!
Down goes the first one, down goes the second one
Oh how they wiggle and squirm!
Up comes the first one, up comes the second one
Oh how they wiggle and squirm!
I bite off the heads, and suck out the juice
And throw the skins away!
Nobody knows how fat I grow
On worms three times a day!
Nobody likes me, everybody hates me
I think I’ll go eat worms!
Big fat juicy ones
Eensie weensy squeensy ones
See how they wiggle and squirm!
When a child sings, “Nobody Likes Me,” rarely does it inspire the reaction (from those within listening distance) hoped for. The reality is, the child may be down in the mouth, but they’re likely not going to eat worms. After all, who would do such a thing? Of course we forget the times throughout history when many have chosen to do so as a result of severe famine, long sea voyages (where food was scarce – and refrigeration was limited), and of course, in the present as a means of what we often call entertainment on a plethora of reality television shows. Speaking of the latter, when such is put upon others against their will, the result is no laughing (or entertaining) matter. Perhaps it is the contrast between a willing act and one which is unjustly perpetrated upon others which drew my attention to the following article found in the New York Daily Tribune, September 3, 1863: 
PS Please don’t respond with comments stating this post was in bad taste. I realize the song itself is sung with tongue firmly planted in cheek – just for fun.
Who’s Who in Newspapers? Karl Marx edition…
August 23, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The 6th installment of Who’s Who in Newspapers:
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton… Babe Ruth, Jesse Owens, Vince Lombardi… John Wayne, James Dean, Katharine Hepburn – these individuals, among many, are easily recognizable. However, there are quite a few historical figures who, while having adorned the pages of many a newspaper, are far from household names, or, if they are, their connection with historic newspapers might be a bit of a surprise. Such is the case with Karl Marx. While his name is well-known, few are aware he was a foreign correspondent for the New York Tribune before his name became synonymous with socialism and communism.
Feel free to peruse the following chronological list of newspapers to explore his articles, and a few others which were written about him:
KARL MARX
Snapshot 1864… Washington and Lincoln for President…
August 20, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
The following snapshot comes from the New York Tribune, November 11, 1864…
Surprise! Mary really did have a little lamb…
August 13, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
We recently came across an article in The Farview Echo (an interesting title in and of itself) which caught our attention. It certainly causes one to ponder how many other nursery rhymes and children’s songs have roots in historical facts and/or events. Apparently Ring Around the Rosie (Ring a Ring o’ Roses) is not the only such ditty with a past. Enjoy.
August thru time (50, 100, 150, 200, & 250 years ago) – 2018 edition…
August 9, 2018 by GuyHeilenman · Leave a Comment
What news was reported in the month of August – 50 (1958), 100 (1918), 150 (1868), 200 (1818), and 250 (1768) years ago? Such a walk back through time via the eyes of those who read the daily and weekly newspapers of the period can be quite revealing. This is why we often say, “History is never more fascinating than when it’s read from the day it was first reported.” The following links will take you back in time to show the available newspapers from the Rare & Early newspapers website. There’s no need to buy a thing. Simply enjoy the stroll.
The Traveler… time to build…
August 6, 2018 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
I journeyed today to London, England, by the way of The London Gazette of August 6, 1668. I found an article “Yesterday arrived the Concord of this place in 6 weeks from Barbado’s [sic], from whence the came in company of about 20 sail of Merchant Ships under the Convoy of the Dover and Assurance Fregates. They tell us that the Inhabitants of Bridgetown are busily employing themselves for materials for the rebuilding of that place, and have emploied many ships for the transpiration of timer from New England.”
In reading about Bridgetown on Wikipedia, I found that Bridgetown is the only place outside the present United States that George Washington visited (he did so in 1751). He was 19 at the time and his half-brother Lawrence Washington went along with him. The George Washington House still stands and is on their historic registry.
~The Traveler