"The Scientific American recommends as a substitute for a hot whisky punch of a cold night, the following: Put three or four lumps of sugar, with half a tea-spoonful of cayenne pepper, in a tumbler, and fill up with hot water. When the sugar is dissolved, drink. It is not only pleasant to the palate, but warms the whole body more effectually and quicker than spirits."
~From The Standard. (Clarksville, Tex.), January 15, 1859
"In Cincinnati, the other day, a woman, Madame Betha Van Griefschinn, was arrested for false pretenses. The complainant was a domestic, named Barbara Hammond. It appears that Madame advertised for sale, at $2, a receipt which, if faithfully followed up, would 'make the homeliest the handsomest,' and Barbara, who was decidedly homely, had invested. The receipt run as follows: 'Take half a gill of hyena's blood, the yolk of two ostrich eggs, an ounce of gold dust, and a pearl as big as your thumb nail, dissolved in vinegar; mix into paste and spread upon the face every night before going to sleep. The effect is astonishing.'" ~From The Standard. (Clarksville, Tex.), January 15, 1859
But can Ms. Hammond PROVE it doesn't work?
"Early in the long reign of the Tokugawa shogunate, women were forbidden to appear on the stage in Japan. That was the Puritan period of Japanese history and the shoguns decided that women on the stage corrupted the country's morals. The prohibition resulted in the development of a remarkable group of men who impersonated women.
"During the centuries this art was so richly developed that today it is difficult for one to believe that some of the actors are not women. Secrets of the art have been handed down from father to son. Great impersonators who had no sons adopted capable boys and trained them from childhood.
"The greatest living male 'actresses' are Baiko and Utayemon, both more than seventy years old. They still essay the roles of young and beautiful geisha girls, and Japanese audiences are so pleased with their art that they forget the ravages of age."
~From Corsicana Democrat and Truth (Corsicana, Tex.), January 13, 1927
"A gentle, husbandless creature in Illinois writes to a lawyer who advertised that he would provide companions for unmarried persons: 'My Dear Mr. ----- This is to certify that I am a widow with thirteen children born, and have had three husbands, each of whom died in peace in his own way. I have a small farm, and would take another husband yet, if I could find a young one; no old, bull-headed sardine need apply, he will not be taken in. Ten dollars will be given to you to produce the man."
~From Intelligencer-Echo (Austin, Tex.), December 28, 1874
"This is probably the most remarkable picture every published of any member of the royal house of Morgan. The girls are Mabel Morgan Satterlee and her sister, Elizabeth, daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert L. Satterlee. Their mother is the daughter of J.P. Morgan.
~From The Day book. (Chicago, Ill.), 27 Dec. 1912. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
The Day book. (Chicago, Ill.), 27 Dec. 1911. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
The Day book. (Chicago, Ill.), 27 Dec. 1911. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
"White friends of C.C. Spaulding, one of the largest figures in Negro business in the country, are giving him solid support in his fight against C.C. Arnold, vice president of the Southern Tariff Association. Arnold is said to have invited Spaulding to become a member of an honorary group which would oppose movements in the present congress to enact legislation inimical to southern producers.
"After Mr. Spaulding had consented that his name might be used, and had refused an invitation to a quasi-social affair, it was learned by Arnold that Spaulding is a Negro, president of the Mechanics and Farmers Bank of this city and Raleigh; President of the North Carolina Life Insurance Company, chairman of the executive board of the National Negro Business League, and a member of the Southern Interracial Commission. In fact, it turns out that Mr. Spaulding, though a Negro, is all mixed up in money and in a first rate position to join in just such a fight as had been outlined by Arnold.
"Spaulding has admitted his willingness not to serve with the commission, but is unwilling to confess that he did anything wrong in accepting the invitation, claiming that the people he represents need just protection as organizations similar to the Southern Tariff Association afford, and meeting the declaration from Arnold that 'White and Black' do not mix in the South, with the response that they do join hands for economic, civic and welfare improvements in North Carolina.
"Arnold asserts Spaulding did wrong by not letting him know he is a Negro when he accepted the invitation to join the group 'opposed to congress.'"
~From The Dallas Express (Dallas, Tex.), December 29, 1923
"WANTED. A WIFE --A young gentleman of Canyon City desires a wife, she must be kind, affectionate, gentle, obedient and a good cook, first class patcher and darner, must have some money, not necessarily a beauty as the advertiser is handsome enough for both, she must not be over six feet high or weigh more than 150 pounds, not particular as to color of hair or eyes, provided eyes are straight and hair is not red, must be under twenty years of age. References and photos exchanged. Address, STEPHEN HOWARDSON, Care The Stayer."
- The Stayer. (Canyon City, Tex.), Thursday, December 12, 1901
"Dear Santa Claus: I want for Xmas a elephant, a monkey, a horse, a clown, a man, a train and some candles. Please send them to your friend Lee Feemster."
"Dear Old Santa Claus: I thought I would write and tell you what I want for Xmas. I want a tricycle, teddy bear, candy, oranges and some apples and that is all I want. Your little friend, Guy Gililland, 6 years old.
"P.S. You don't have to bring mamma anything she has got a Majestic range."
- The Hereford Brand (Hereford, Tex.), December 20, 1907
"Dear Santa Claus: Please bring me one doll that can say 'papa' or 'mamma' and a family of 'teddy bears' six will be enough I think. From your friend, Eva Rowan.
"P.S. I used to live in Missouri be sure and bring them to Texas for I dont want to go back there. Eva."
- The Hereford Brand (Hereford, Tex.), December 20, 1907
"Dear Santa Claus: I live on South First street. I want a little pig, bank, to put my money in, and a pair of loud colored socks to wear when I get to be a man, and bring me a tricycle, and some fruits. My girl lives way over on the north side and I want you to bring her a rubber dolly. Her name is ______ ________. Please bring my little playmate Edgar Graves a big mule that balks. From your friend. Thomas Beaty."
- Abilene Daily Reporter (Abilene, Tex.), December 19, 1909
"Dear Santa Claus: Please go to Mr. Johnson's drug store and he will tell you what to bring me. Don't forget mamma and papa. Your little friend, Lucile McAlister."
Mr. Johnson knows what's up.
"The Westerly Echo gives the following recipe for the fever and ague: --Take a raw egg, break it in a tumbler, cover it with vinegar, and drink altogether an hour or two before the time for chill, and the you will never be annoyed with that pestilence which is so fatal to the human family--the fever and ague."
~From The Texan Mercury. (Seguin, Tex.), December 24, 1853
"We have heard, says the New Orleans Delta, a good deal of talking during the last few days about a chicken with a human face, at the house of Madame Martin, in Conde Street, near St. Philip. We paid no attention to the droll stories which we heard, but at length we were so pressed that we determined to see for ourselves. At the place mentioned we saw a chicken, having instead of a beak, a nose and mouth exactly conformed to those of a human face; the nostrils, the separating cartilage, the lips, tongue, chin, are all there. It was indeed a most singular lusus naturae."
~From The Northern Standard. (Clarksville, Tex.), December 23, 1848
"An extraordinary ride undertaken by a young woman named Margaret Brice McNamara for revenge, is reported from Australia. The young woman considered that she had received some injury at the hands of a police trooper named Power, and resolved to pursue him in order to seek revenge. She disguised herself as a bushman, and obtained a pack horse. She carried a loaded revolver with her and had traveled 4700 miles on horseback when she was arrested at a place called Quorn before she had had an opportunity to accomplish her purpose."
~From The Daily Cosmopolitan (Brownsville, Tex.), December 16, 1884
