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Nostradamus on the Civil War…
November 19, 2011 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
The “Stockton Daily Independent” newspaper of Oct. 28, 1861 includes an article headed: “A Strange Prophecy” concerning Nostradamus & the Civil War. In 1609 he predicted: “…About that time (1861) a great quarrel and contest will arise in a country beyond the seas…The war will not cease for four years…” and more (see).
Keep in mind it was in 1861, just 6 months after the start of the Civil War, that the write noted: “…in no way consoling for us poor devils and wretches…who will have to suffer this war for four years. Let us hope that the astrologer was mistaken, at least on this point.” (see) But the prediction would be true. The Civil War would run almost exactly 4 years after its beginning.
“Nursery Rhymes” on the Civil War…
November 12, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
Parody songs are not uncommon on the airwaves today, particularly around Christmas time. Apparently adapting words to fit an existing tune–or poem–is nothing new as this May 17, 1865 issue of “The Springfield Daily Republican” shows (see below). These were certainly not the high-water mark of the varied Union responses to the end of the war:
The Traveler… the President’s State-of-the-Union address… a wife’s rebuttal…
November 7, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I traveled to the Columbian Centinel dated November 9, 1811 where I found the second page of this issue contained James Madison’s state-of-the-union message which was delivered on November 5th and is signed in type: JAMES MADISON. In the message, he reflects on the past year. He closes the address with “I cannot close this communication without expressing my deep sense of the crisis in which you are assembled…“. As we know we would soon be in the War of 1812.
Under a heading of “NOTICE” (see below) is an unusual, albeit difficult to read, posting for this time period. It is from a wife in response to a “notice” that had been posted earlier by her husband. From the reading of this, I think that he should have thought twice before making public notice!! The editor was kind enough to reprint her husband’s initial appeal above her response.
~The Traveler
Ten Golden Rules…
November 5, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of “The British Workman” from 1856, our item 541456, contains a list of “Ten Golden Rules” which are as appropriate today as they were over 150 years ago:
Mark Twain on Mark Twain…
October 29, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This item, originally appearing in the “Edinburgh Scotsman” was picked up by the “Jerusalem News” issue of March 20, 1920.
Advice to the working men of England…
October 22, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The very first issue of: “The British Workman” from London, our item 541456, offers advice from Lord Palmerston, a British statesman and two-time Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, which included forward-thinking comments no the use of tobacco. The comments on alcohol are very appropriate today as well:
The Traveler… we’ve come a long way baby…
October 17, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
This week I traveled to The Woman’s Journal of October 14, 1911. This issue was celebrating after waiting two days for the outcome of the California election on the 
suffrage vote… “reading first with despair, then with growing hope and finally with jubilation the conflicting reports that came over the wires… Praise God. Victory ours. Four thousand majority.” The front page contains a photo of the Statue of Liberty with six stars surrounding her. These represented the states which have passed the “equal suffrage” — Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Washington and now adding California.
The 1848 Seneca Falls Convention is traditionally viewed as the beginning of the Women’s Rights Movement. It was not until June 4, 1919 that Congress sent the proposal for the 19th Amendment, the woman’s right to vote, and then it was not until August 18, 1920 that the final ratification was passed, by the vote from Tennessee. It was a long road, but “we’ve come a long way baby” since then!
~The Traveler
How Sitting Bull got his name…
October 8, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This interesting tidbit appeared in the “Pittsfield Sun“, Massachusetts, March 16, 1881 issue:
The Traveler… the dam burst… the judge “solomonizes” it…
October 3, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
In the travels of The New York Tribune dated October 3, 1911, I found several reports on the destruction of the town of Austin, Pennsylvania. This occurred just a few days prior and was the result of the breaking of a fifty foot high and thirty foot wide concrete dam which then flooded this small town, destroying everything in its path.
In contrast to the above tragedy… A bit of an amusing story is included of a court case which involved the owners of two cows, each of which became the mother to a calf. They wanted to have the court decide which rightfully owned the calf. The magistrate literally took to the fields (the pasture) and “solomonized” his decision by the conduct of the cows and the calf. See image for details.
~The Traveler
Newspaper publisher shows his bias…
October 1, 2011 by TimHughes · 1 Comment
This curious item appeared in “The Weekly Crescent City” newspaper from New Orleans, August 15, 1841. He goes to some length to show the value in paying for a subscription…