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Damaged by kissing…
March 5, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The following, regarding a young woman in Rochester, New York, appeared in the “Democratic Watchman” newspaper from Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, dated February 16, 1877:
A double palindrome…
February 26, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
While creating and using palindromes can be fun, the following takes the science to a whole new level. This “super palindrome”, found within the June 8, 1877 issue of “Democratic Watchman” (Bellefonte, PA), appeared on our radar just a few weeks ago. While some believe such word play to be evitative, we are convinced it is our civic duty to bring it to light”:
The Traveler… Black Beard, somewhat live… “Wonderful Woman”…
February 24, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
This journey found me traveling to Boston via The Repertory dated February 22, 1811. I was instantly attracted to the front page of this issue when I spied “BLACK BEARD — The Pirate” front and center. I knew the time frame for his name would not 
be fitting which made me look even more so! I found that this was actually a five-act comedy musical about this monstrous pirate, of which they took some liberty in the story line as stated in the article. Inside the issue is an advertisement of the play.
Two headlines in the advertisements attracted my attention, “The Wonderful Woman!”, which I thought would have been unusual for that time period. The one was of a book being available about the life of Ann Moor, Tutbury, England, who had for more than three years lived entirely without food. The other advertisement was of a correct likeness, in wax, of Mrs. Moor, that was just added to the Columbian Museum. Was this the early beginning of the liquid diet fads or what??
~The Traveler
Contrary to modern science…
February 19, 2011 by TimHughes · 2 Comments
The following appeared in the “Democratic Watchman” of Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, in the issue of December 2, 1877:
Searching for a husband…
February 12, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
The following thought appeared in the “New York Illustrated News” of July 23, 1853. While many newspapers chronicle engagements, marriage, etc., this snippet stood out as a fitting warning to young men with cold feet. I believe the first word should be “Popping” and not “Poping”:
The Traveler… traveling to Rio de Janeiro… part of the “health test”??
February 10, 2011 by The Traveler · 1 Comment
I decided to take my travels a like further back in time and to a place that always intrigued me. Through letters from Boston and Philadelphia, The London Gazette dated February 12, 1711 reported on a vessel that had been shattered from Rio de Janeiro. The French had landed and were being beaten off with the reinforcement of eight thousand men from the mines… the French retreated.
In my readings, I see numerous “An Act..” within newspapers, but found this one quite unusual. “An Act to enable John Lord Gower, Baron of Stitnham, an Infant, to make a Settlement upon his Marriage.” I wonder what the terms of the settlement were??
Last, the back page had an announcement about “The Corporation of the Amicable Society for the Perpetual Assurance-Office” for the Affidavit of the Health. The way the announcement read, this may have been part of the qualification testing… if you understood it all, then you were in good (mental) health.
~The Traveler
Perhaps we should increase the size of our coffins…
February 5, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
I’m sure most have read about the origins of the phrases, “Saved by the bell”, “Dead Ringer”, and “Graveyard shift”. This interesting tidbit, which appeared in the “Scientific American Supplement” of February 3, 1906, might have offered yet another solution:
Thoughts on “weight of people” in 1866…
January 29, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This item from “Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper” of July 7, 1866 provides some interesting thoughts on the weight of people, as “analyzed” in 1866:
The Traveler… first land, now from the sea… just skating by…
January 27, 2011 by The Traveler · Leave a Comment
Today I decided to travel to the 20th century and found The Atlanta Constitution dated January 27, 1911. In this issue was coverage of the first American seaplane. This marvelous feat took place in San Diego and was flown by Glenn Curtiss, landing it lightly on the water in front of the hanger-on shore.
Another article of “transportation” that made big front page news was “Skaters, Beware! How About Autos?” which featured a large cartoon illustration. It seems that side-walk skating by the children in Atlanta was against the law and the police had been threatening to arrest them. The children took matters into their hands, writing to the Mayor expressing their concerns on the terrible auto driving that was occurring but nothing being done about it. The Mayor was introducing a revision to the ordinance so that the children could skate again. Look what happens when youth put their minds to it!
~The Traveler
A brief mourning period…
January 22, 2011 by TimHughes · Leave a Comment
This item appears on the front page of “The London Chronicle” from England, February 23, 1765: