The History Cellar

1820 Delaware Fee Man Captured and Beaten

2010-03-15T15:36:00.008-04:00

BALTIMORE June 1st 1820 - On Friday night last in the vicinity of the town of Salisbury, Md. the noted kidnapper Dean Marvell, of Delaware, with an associate by the name of Curtis Stene, ware decoyed and apprehended by the Protecting Society of Salisbury, and have been safely committed to the jail of Somerset County. They were taken in the very act of delivering to the purchaser a free negro man, whom in securing, they bad inhumanly beaten. They acknowledge the negro to be free, and say that his name is Peter Chance, of Wilmington, Del.

history

1837 Lauriat's Balloon Ride East Boston to Duxbury

2010-03-11T09:30:00.006-05:00

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From the Christian Register and Boston Observer, July 8th 1837, this article details a balloon ascension from East Boston to Duxbury Bay in Massachusetts. Lewis A. Lauriat was born on the island of Guadalupe in the French West Indies. Colonial records give his date of birth as October 13, 1785 (although his obituary following his death on October 31, 1858 gives his age as 92.) He may have been educated in France (where he was supposedly elected Professor of Chemistry at the College of Marseilles), and came to the United States in 1806. He married and subsequently worked as a gold-beater. In the mid-1830s he began a number of hot-air balloon ascents, and became recognized as one of the pioneers in this field. Lauriat voyaged around Cape Horn to California in 1849, where he worked as an assayer and as a merchant. He returned to Boston briefly but came back to California, where he died in Sacramento.¹

The following is quoted from the 1838 Boston Almanac: On July 4th 1837, everything went off well, the wind was northwest, and the day was one of the finest of the season. Every one seemed to participate in the festivities of the occasion. In the afternoon [Louis] Lauriat ascended from East Boston in his balloon. He passed over Duxbury, and landed safely on the flats beyond that town, in about an hour after he left the amphitheater. His greatest height was 17,000 feet. The evening was mild, with scarcely a cloud above the horizon. Crowds of people soon filled the Common, where they witnessed fireworks that surpassed any thing of the kind ever seen in Boston.

¹ California State Library.

MORE INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF BALLOONING:

history

1872 Harriet Beecher Stowe Serious Accident

2010-03-10T16:58:00.003-05:00

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This small piece is from the New York Weekly Reformer, Watertown NY, March 7th 1872.

In the 1870's Harriet Beecher Stowe who authored Uncle Tom's Cabin, wintered in Mandarin, south of Jacksonville on the St. Johns River. In Mandarin, Stowe created an integrated school in for children and adults. This was an early step toward providing equal education in the area and predated the national movement toward integration by more than a half century. ¹

¹Harriet Beecher Stowe, http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Harriet_Beecher_Stowe&oldid=349076174 (last visited Mar. 10, 2010).

1820 Boston Execution for Piracy News Report

2010-03-08T22:32:00.001-05:00

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From the Columbian Register, Boston MA, dated June 24th 1820.

EXECUTION - On Thursday last, sentence of death was executed in this town, on William Holmes, Edward Rosewaine, and Thomas Warrington, alias Thomas Warren Fawcett, for the crimes of piracy and murder committed on board a prize schooner under one of the South American flags, some time since.

The criminals left the jail about 10 o'clock in an open wagon, accompanied by the Rev. Mr. Larasey. They were preceded by a Deputy Marshall, and two Deputy Sheriffs, on horseback, Marshall Prince in a carriage, accompanied by Sheriff Austin, of Middlesex, and a carriage with Surgeon Austin, of the U.S. Navy; and follows by a car in which were their coffins; and the procession was closed by a Deputy Marshall, on horseback. The prisoners were clad in new sailor's dress, and appeared very suitably impressed with their situation. They were all young men, one born in the U.S. one in England, and the other in Scotland. On arriving at their place of execution, the Marshall read their death warrant; and then addressed the spectators in his usual impressive and compassionate manner; and the execution took place about twenty minutes before twelve. Holmes and Rosewain appeared to die easy; but Warrington who was extremely stout and robust man, struggled some time, and had a hard death.

The spectators were extremely numerous and orderly. As the procession was passing our streets, the bell of the Old South tolled a solemn knell. The bodies have been delivered to the surgeons for dissection, agreeably to the sentence.

1844 Cure for Deafness Advertisement

2010-03-08T10:41:00.003-05:00

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Here is a advertisement from 1844 from Lowell, MA for a cure for deafness from Cooper's Ethereal oil.

Ethereal oil is a volatile liquid consisting of equal volumes of heavy oil of wine and ether. A example of a authentic bottle it came in is below. One ailment that baffled medical science in the 19th Century was deafness. Quack medicine preyed on the fact there was no cure and dealt products such as below that were not tested or proven. Many ailments took time to prove whether it worked or not however with deafness it was apparent quickly. The patient could either hear better or not. Many of these dealers depended upon one time, first time, hard of hearing customers knowing that they were more than likely not coming back.

1816 Horrible Tragedy During Amusement Show

2010-03-05T14:49:00.001-05:00

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From the American Centinel, Philadelphia PA, October 11th 1816:

A real tragedy was exhibited at Sacket's Harbor, a few days since, before a large company of spectators. Attached to the show bill of a wire dancer, appeared an advertisement of an Italian sailor, who promised to exhibit wonderful feats, such as the spectators had never before seen. Curiosity attracted a very full house. After the first had performed his part of the entertainment, the sailor entered, called for a blank and pillow, and laid himself down upon the floor. All eyes were turned towards him in anxious expectation, when he drew from his bosom a pistol, clapped the muzzle to his ear, and blew out his brains! This closed the entertainment.

As horrid as this deed appears, the deluded man who became its victim had undoubtedly anticipated as much eclat, as he does, who deliberately goes out to shoot his friend, or to be shot - in a duel, And if there are shades of difference in the two crimes, the self-murder is the least criminal.

1835 Cincinnati Slaves Purchasing Freedom

2010-02-28T19:52:00.003-05:00

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From the Friend Newspaper dated June 20th 1835.

Liberated Slaves.— A writer in the Cincinnati Journal says: “From a recent investigation, there are, as nearly as can be ascertained, 1,129 emancipated slaves in this city; 476 of this number have purchased themselves at the total expense of $215,518.52, averaging for each $452 77. If any one wishes to know what slavery is, let him go and sit by the side of these persons, and listen to their tale of suffering and wo. If he doubts whether slaves, if liberated, can take care of themselves, let him here learn what perseverance and self-denial is, as he looks at the desperate struggles of these people to buy their own bodies and those of their children. And let it be remembered, that these efforts are made while crippled and loaded with the disabilities of slavery and negro prejudice. Many of them are now trying to buy their friends, whom they have left behind. From the same investigation, it is ascertained that the above number of individuals have 163 parents, 68 husbands and wives, 346 children, and 1,569 brothers and sisters, who are still trembling beneath the frowns of a task-master; and they appear to feel in regard to them just as other people feel.”

1952 Health Insurance Rates Blue Cross Blue Shield

2010-02-22T11:15:00.005-05:00

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These are the quarterly rates for Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Insurance in 1952. Blue Cross started in 1929 and covered hospital services, Blue Shield started in 1939 and covered physician's services. According to the Handbook of Texas, the first plan ever offered gave teachers 21 days of hospital care for $6.

1880 Oklahoma's David Lewis Payne in the Indian Territory

2010-02-21T18:25:00.004-05:00

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A singular spectacle has been witnessed during the week on the northern border of the Indian Territory. A colonizing expedition, headed by one Payne, and consisting of recruits gathered from many states under a sort of military discipline (being divided into eight companies, with a major in command, and not lacking a chaplain), endeavored to enter that part of the Territory to which the Indian title has been extinguished in favor of the Government, and which now goes by the name of Oklahoma, from Kansas. Unfortunately they were watched and accompanied in their movements by a cavalry force across the line, whose commander warned them not to enter in defiance of the President’s proclamation. Although their answer was defiant, and they declared they would proceed at all hazards unless stopped by act of Congress, they wisely chose an east and west line of march in place of a southerly one, What made their situation all the more harrowing was the reports that at a little distance trains were going in by the fifties, while from Texas and Arkansas other squatters were entering unopposed, so that the fat of the land would be occupied before they could arrive on the scene, the fact that many of them had abandoned Western and Southern Kansas almost in a starving condition, on account of severe droughts, seemed in their eyes to establish their right to disregard the President’s authority; but their incapacity to cope with the troops gradually told upon their spirits and their organization. Payne was deposed, and a cool head among them was despatched to Washington for relief,’ Not a few among them have been convicted of previous trespassing, and have been fined for it, but harsher treatment seems necessary for these lawbreakers. They held religious services on Sunday as Cromwell’s soldiery in Ireland might have done, ad doubtless with that confidence in a kind Providence which led a ruffian’s mistress the other day in this city, after furnishing him with red pepper for the policeman’s eves, to bid him
trust in God and he would probably pull through.

1848 Lowell MA Hair Salon Advertisement

2010-02-19T09:52:00.003-05:00

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From the Lowell Daily Journal & Courier, August 1848, an advertisement for a hair salon in Lowell, MA by a Henry Reinewald. Hair in the 19th Century was as diverse as the garments they wore. Some evening fashions consisted of curls down in back or on the shoulders. As a general rule in the 19th Century, a female who decided to wear her hair down was not thought of as a "lady". Only juvenile girls wore their locks down.

1816 Thatcher's Island Lighthouse Rockport Dwelling House Proposal

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From a early New England newspaper dated September 16th 1816.

Dwelling-House on Thatcher’s Island.

PROPOSALS will be received until the 12th instant for building a stone DWELLING HOUSE for the use of the Keeper of Thatcher’s Island Light House, of the following materials, dimensions and description:

A Stone Dwelling House, thirty-feet long, twenty feet wide, one story of eight feet high, divided into two rooms sixteen feet by twelve each, with an entry six feet square and a porch in the rear, ten feet by twelve in the clear, as high as the eaves of the house, (with a chimney, fire place, and an oven in one end) to be lathed and plastered, and to have a double floor.

The stairs to be in the entry to go into one of garret chambers, which are to be lathed and plastered. There is to be a chimney near the middle of the house with a fire place to each room also, oven in one room, and iron or stone mantle trees cellar under the house, with sufficient walls well stoned, six feet high, and two feet laid up with good lime mortar. The walls of the house & porch to he two feet thick and laid up in lime mortar, with split undressed stone. The roof to be rectangular, the boards of which to be jointed and halved, and well seasoned, and covered with like good shingles. A sufficient number of windows well glazed, with shutters and the proper fastenings; also the doors to be hung on iron hinges, with thumb latches, and are outside doors to have good locks, The inside walls and ceilings to be lathed and plastered, with one coat of good lime mortar, and all the floors be doubled and nailed through. The wood work to he painted inside and out with two coats. The walls of the house to be well pointed with lime mortar and white washed twice over.

H. A. S. DEARBORN,
Superintendent of Light Houses in the State of Massachusetts.
Custom-House, Boston, Sept. 2nd, 1916.

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1857 Carmel NY Harlem Railroad Accident

2010-02-16T14:01:00.002-05:00

From the NEW YORK TRIBUNE dated February 6th 1857. This took place somewhere around Carmel, NY.

SERIOUS RAILROAD ACCIDENT ON THE HARLEM RAILROAD - The Albany Express Train which left this city at l pm, on Saturday, met with a serious accident near Towner’s station, about 80 miles from the city. The train was composed of locomotive, tender, baggage oar, and three passenger car, under the charge of Mr. Hills, Conductor. A broken rail which had been fractured by the frost on the passage of a previous train was the cause of the accident. The engine and lander passed over the injured rail in safety, but the baggage car and first passenger oar were thrown off the track; the second passenger car was thrown on its aide, and the third turned completely upside down. There were at the time about one hundred and twenty-five passengers on board. The scene for a time was one of the wildest confusion, the air being rent with the cries and groans of the injured. Conductor Hills, though considerably injured, barring sustained severe contusions on his left side, arm and back, broke through one of the windows and dispatched signal lights on the road about a mile distant from each end of the disabled train, in order to prevent the occurrence of further accident. The male passengers in the first car having escaped uninjured, forthwith set about relieving those in the other cars, and after considerable delay all were got out, when it was found that several had recieved serious if not fatal injuries. A lady about 45 or 50 years of age had her left arm badly fractured, beside being otherwise injured. A gentlemen about 40 years of age was found to be insensible and badly out and bruised. The injuries sustained by these two passengers are of such a nature that their recovery is considered doubtful. Two gentlemen were taken from the wreck, each with a broken leg. Four more were next taken out suffering severely from cuts and contusions about the head end body. The remaining passengers in the car thrown on its side, and the car turned upside down were more or less injured about the head and body. Cushions were taken from the cars and beds made, on which the injured were placed and made as comfortable as possible. The uninjured passengers were unremitting in attention to their less fortunate travelers. The conductor having done all is his power for the temporary comfort of his passengers, got aboard the engine and proceeded to Paterson Village, several miles distant, where he procured a car and returned to the scene of the accident. The disabled and injured were taken to Pawlings and comfortably provided for. Here they received medical and such other attendance as the necessity of their cases required.

1882 Mark Twain's Visit to Canada

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From The NATION dated January 5th 1882

MARK TWAIN’S VISIT TO CANADA.

ACCORDING to a dispatch from Ottawa, published on Thursday, there has been some” fearful blundering” over the interpretation of the Canadian copyright law within the past few weeks, and no one has blundered more than Mark Twain, who made a trip there in search of a copyright for a new book which he is bringing out. As a humorist Mark Twain must enjoy the account given of his attempts to get protection for his property, though as literary man he may wish that the law of the subject was in a condition which would make the security greater and the fun less uproarious. He had, it seems, in the first instance, obtained an English copyright, which only requires first publication in England, and this copyright might naturally be supposed to to all the British possessions. Such, however, is by no means the case, for though by the laws of Canada the book cannot be in the Dominion, foreign reprints it may be imported into Canada on payment of a royalty or duty. To protect his property against this a Canadian copyright is necessary, but a Canadian copyright cannot be obtained unless the author is domiciled Canada.

Now, the meaning of domicile, though the word is of Latin origin, is extremely simple. It means living in a place; and we all know that Mark Twain does not live in Canada. But, to alter slightly the sentiment once expressed by an eminent judge, if a man may ever be pardoned for quibbling about anything, he may be for quibbling to save his property. The proprietor of a copyright is so surrounded with enemies eager to waylay him and rob him that he may fairly resort to any shift that the most ingenious technicality can devise. So Mark Twain appears to have thought, for on discovering that it was necessary for him to have a Canadian domicile to get a Canadian copyright, he immediately stated that he had what he called an “elective domicile” in Canada. The only kind of elective domicile which is known in this country is the domicile which voters sometimes suddenly choose immediately before election for the purpose of casting their ballots, with the full intention of returning to what the lawyers call their domicile of origin as soon as they have cast them. But in Canada there is said to be a funny kind of domicile, unknown to our law, consisting of “an address or place where it has been agreed that delivery will be accepted.” The Department of Agriculture, however, which for some reason best known to the Canadian Government has charge of matters connected with literary property, decided that Mark Twain’s elective domicile was all moonshine, and that if he wished to get a Canadian copyright he must actually live in Canada. Few authors wish to do this, and so we presume Mark Twain has come home a sadder and wiser man.

He has the satisfaction of knowing, that if he has not succeeded in the object of his trip, lie has at least brought to the attention of the world a new and amusing feature of the copyright problem. Canada is a country which, as regards copyright, is a good deal in the position occupied by the United States fifty years ago—that is, it produces few authors but a good many publishers. What these publishers want is protection, not for authors, but for themselves; and, according to the dispatch already quoted, the Canadian Publishers’ Association “is now moving in the direction of petitioning the Imperial Government for absolute power for the Dominion Parliament over copyright laws.” The British Government has given Mr. West power as-Commissioner to negotiate with our Government at Washington as to the proposed international treaty, and he has been instructed also to confer with the Canadian Government, and obtain such assistance as will ensure the protection of the “interests of Canada” in the event of an international copyright treaty being arranged between Great Britain and the United States. The “interests of Canada” mean the interests of the Canadian publishers; and it is highly important, whatever view we may take of their interests, that, in the consideration of the proposed copyright treaty, the relation of Canada to the contracting parties should be taken into the account.

1834 Washington D.C. Female Slave Advertisement

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From the Daily National Intelligencer dated June 6th 1834, Washington D.C., $50 Reward Slave Advertisement for a 30 year old female.

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1819 Early Umbrella Advertisement New Haven CT

2010-02-12T08:33:00.003-05:00

From the Colombian Sentinel dated May 8th 1819, New Haven CT, a early advertisement for umbrellas.

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1872 Horrible Rock Accident in Johnson RI

2010-02-11T09:41:00.007-05:00

Horrible accident in Johnson RI. From the Salem MA Gazette dated December 10th 1872.

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A terrible accident occurred in Johnson, R.I last Saturday, resulting in the death of two men named respectively, Henry C. Smith and George H. Drew, both of whom belong in New Hampshire. Smith was by trade a jeweler, and at work in Boston up to the time of the great fire, when he was burned out, losing all his money. He with Drew obtained a situation to chop wood for William H. Mathewson in Johnston. On Saturday the two men built a fire under an overhanging rock of immense proportions, and down by it, either to warm themselves or their luncheon. There was a large seam in the rock, and it is supposed the heat of the fire caused it to spread, as one portion of it, estimated weigh about four tons, broke off and crushed the unfortunate men. Smith evidently was instantly killed, but Drew was destined to a more lingering death. There are indications that he was only fastened down by the rock, and that he tried to escape by cutting off his boot, but failing that, he succeeded in reaching an ax, and with it cut his throat. Smith was 28 years old, and Drew 35. The latter leaves a wife and child.

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1835 Siamese Twins Chang and Eng Bunker Advertisement

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This advertisement is from the New York American dated June 5th 1835. Chang Bunker and Eng Bunker were conjoined twin brothers whose circumstance and birthplace became the origin for the term "Siamese Twins".

The 1850 Murder of Harvard Professor Dr. George Parkman

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THE PARKMAN MURDER. TRIAL OF PROF. JOHN W. WEBSTER. FOR THE MURDER OF DR. GEORGE PARKMAN.

This piece below is one of the classic murder cases in the annals of American law. Dr. Parkman disappeared on Friday, Nov. 23, 1849. Nothing became of a city-wide search for the missing doctor until the Harvard Medical School janitor, Ephraim Littlefield, surfaced with his suspicion that Prof. John Webster was connected with Parkman's disappearance. A week earlier Littlefield had witnessed an argument between Parkman and Webster over money owed to Parkman by Webster. In the ensuing few days, Littlefield noticed Webster began to lock his office door; and when officials searched the college premises, Littlefield remembered that Webster had steered the searchers away from his privy, which was also kept locked. The janitor became convinced that Parkman's body was hidden in the privy, and after two days of work removing several layers of bricks, he peeked into the privy and saw part of the remains of the unfortunate Dr. Parkman. A thorough search of the laboratory led to the discovery of Parkman's teeth in the furnace, and his thorax and a thigh in a tea chest. Webster's trial lasted about eleven days and brought out many important figures of the day as witnesses, including Oliver Wendell Holmes and Jared Sparks. Webster was found guilty, and before his execution he admitted to the horrible crime.

1835 Ames’s Shovel Works in Massachusetts

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From THE FRIEND, MARCH 7th 1835, PHILADELPHIA, PA
This authentic early newspaper is available in our eBay Store HERE.

Ames’s Shovel Works in Massachusetts

There's a great deal of Yankee enterprise in old Massachusetts. Perhaps no state goes before her in the extent and variety of manufactures, compared with the amount of population. There are many instances of individuals in that State starting from small beginnings, and rising to wealth and eminence by their enterprise in manufacturing establishments. A striking instance of this kind is found in the shovel works of Oliver Ames. A correspondent informs us that he commenced the manufacture of shovels when young, and carried on the business in quite a humble style. When he had finished a few dozen of shovels he would pack them into a one horse wagon and carry them off to market. Now he has three extensive shovel factories, one at Easton where he resides, one at Braintree, and one at West Bridgewater, and gives employment to three four-horse teams to carry his shovels to market. He has in his factories nine tilt hammers which weigh about four tons a ‘piece, and each cost from $1500 to 2OO0. His works turn out about forty dozen shovels a day, and that is not sufficient to supply all the orders he receives. He employs about sixty work men constantly. Each shovel goes through about twenty different hands. He pays his workmen from twelve to fifty dollars a month. His works cost upwards of $75,000. His profits are probably from to $15,000 to $20,000 a year. So much for individual enterprise.

1936 Potomac Appalachian Trail Club Map with Trails

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This is from THE POTOMAC APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB AND ITS TRAILS - 2nd EDITION - FEBRUARY 1936.

1890's Old Chain Bridge Newburyport MA - Boston & Maine Railroad

2010-01-28T19:18:00.001-05:00

From 1890's PICTURESQUE NEW ENGLAND FROM BOSTON & MAINE RAILROAD Booklet.

Early 1850 Vintage Summer Fashions for Women

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FROM HARPER'S NEW MONTHLY MAGAZINE.No. III.—AUGUST, 1850.—VOL. I.

SUMMER FASHIONS.

Fig. 1. Promenade Dress.—For walking in public gardens, barège dresses, plain or figured, are generally adopted; but glacé, or damask bareges are the most recherchés. Dresses of shot silk form also charming toilets. The skirts are less full than those of last year—but, to compensate for it, they are trimmed with graduated flounces up to the waist—as many as five are worn, and they are pinked and stamped at the
edges. The bodies are tight, and open in front; a cord connects the two sides of the corsage, and buttons, either of silk, colored stones, or steel, are placed on the centre of this cord. The sleeves are wider at the bottom than at the top, and are trimmed with two small flounces; from beneath them a large lace sleeve falls over the hand, leaving the lower part of the arm uncovered. This form of sleeve is very becoming to
the hand.

Mantelets are very slightly altered; they are, however, rather more closely fitted to the figure than last year; they are all made of taffetas glacé, and trimmed with pinked ruches of the same material for young persons, and with wide black lace for married ladies.

Fig. 1.—Promenade Dress.

Fig. 2, is a Pelerine of a pattern quite new; made of embroidered net, trimmed with three rows of point d'Alençon, and ornamented with a large knot of ribbons Bayadère. Another pattern is of Indian muslin Canezcu, embroidered and trimmed with malines, open and buttoned up in the back.

Fig. 2.—Pelerine.

Fig. 3 is a neat costume for a little girl.

Dress of glacé silk, shaded in light green and lilac. The skirt trimmed with four rows of fringe of green and lilac silk intermingled. The corsage low and plain, with a pelerine which passes along the back and shoulders, and is brought down to the front of the waist in a point. This pelerine is edged with two rows of fringe. The sleeves of the dress, which are short, are edged simply with one row of fringe. Attached to these short sleeves are long sleeves of white muslin made so as to set nearly close to the upper part of the arms, but finished between the elbow and the wrist with three drawings separated by bands of needlework insertion. Above these drawings there is a frill which falls back on the arm. The neck is covered by a chemisette of muslin,
finished at the throat with a trimming of needlework, turned over.

Fig. 3.—Little Girl's Costume.

Fig. 4. Home Dress.—Morning cap trimmed with Valenciennes and gauze ribbons, cut out in the shape of leaves, muslin guimpe bouillonné, with embroidered entre-deux; the gown en gros d'Ecosse, with facing and trimmings cut out; pagode sleeves, with a white muslin puffing ornamented with a very large bouillonné.

Fig. 4.—Home Dress.

In the engraving (Fig. 5) is represented a Ball Costume, with a graceful head-dress, composed of a vine garland with grapes; on each side hangs a bunch of grapes (several little hunches are preferred). The novelty of this year is to be observed in the length of the branches, which come down on the shoulders, mixing with long curls. This head-dress is worn also with bandeaux, but then the garland must be thicker in the lower part. The leaves are of different colors, from the various shades of green to the autumnal red tint. This kind of garland is made also of ivy, with small red balls. The gowns are of taffetas d'Italie—white, rose, or blue (their shades are to be glacés de blanc): the body is trimmed with a berthe, made of two rows of blonde; the front ornamented with a puffing of white net laced with satin ribbons the color of the gown.

Fig. 5.—Ball Dress.

1850 Article on the Importance of HAIR

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THE HAIR

INTERNATIONAL WEEKLY MISCELLANY Of Literature, Art, and Science. - NEW YORK, JULY 22, 1850.

CHEMICALLY AND PHYSIOLOGICALLY CONSIDERED.—Each hair is a tube, containing an oil, of a color similar to its own. Hair contains at least ten distinct substances: sulphate of lime and magnesia, chlorides of sodium and potassium, phosphate of lime, peroxide of iron, silica, lactate of ammonia, oxide of manganese and margaim. Of these, sulphur is the most prominent, and it is upon this that certain metallic salts operate in changing the color of hair. Thus when the salts of lead or of mercury are applied, they enter into combination with the sulphur, and a black sulphuret of the metal is formed. A common formula for a paste to dye the hair, is a mixture of litharge, slacked lime, and bicarbonate of potash. Different shades may be given by altering the proportions of these articles. Black hair contains iron and manganese and no magnesia; while fair hair is destitute of the two first substances, but possesses magnesia.

No one ever possessed all the requisites of masculine or feminine beauty without a profusion of hair. This is one of the crowning perfections of the human form, upon which poets of all ages have dwelt with the most untiring satisfaction. However perfect a woman may be in other respects; however beautiful her eyes, her mouth, teeth, lips, nose or cheeks; however brilliant her expression, in conversation or excitement, she is positively disagreeable without this ornament of nature. The question is sometimes asked, "What will cure love?" We answer, scissors. Let the object be shorn of hair, and you may take the word of a physiologist, that the tender passion will lose its distinctiveness; it may subside into respect: it is more likely to change into a less agreeable emotion.

In man, the hair is an excellent index of character. As the beard distinguishes man from woman, so its full and luxuriant growth often indicates strength and nobleness, intellectual and physical; while a meager beard suggests an uncertain character—part masculine, part feminine. Was there ever a truly great man, or one with a generous disposition, with a thin beard and a weazen face? On the other hand, show me a man with "royal locks," and I will trust his natural impulses in almost every vicissitude. When we see a genuine man, upon whom Nature has declined to set this seal of her approval, we cannot help an involuntary emotion of admiration for the virtuous and persevering energy with which he must have overcome his destiny.

Pertinent hereto: we have read with unusual satisfaction the arguments for Beards in Dr. Marcy's Theory and Practice of Medicine and the pleasant essays in the same behalf which John Waters has printed in the Knickerbocker. Our conservatism yields before these reformers, who would bring custom to the proprieties of nature.

1901 Man Arrested for Savage Glances Towards Telephone Worker

2010-01-22T09:56:00.000-05:00

Another odd article dated March 8th, 1901 from the Alexandria Gazette, a man is fined $5.00 for looking at someone the wrong way.

Fined For Savage Glance

Atlanta, Ga., March 9..Because he thought Charles A. Warbritton, of the Standard Telephone Company, "looked mean" at him, E.E. Allen, of the Bell Telephone Company, had Warbritton arrested yesterday morning. "That man would wait for me two or three times a week on the viaduct," said Allen. "He assaulted me with his shoulder one time. I firmly believe be would fight if a fellow was to anger him, and I am afraid of him." Judge Broyles fined Warbritton $5 and costs, for indulging in the "savage glance."

1901 Woman Scared into Trance Lawsuit

2010-01-13T14:37:00.003-05:00

In this article dated March 8th, 1901 from the Alexandria Gazette, a man is sued by a woman for $10,000 for scaring her by shouting "boo!"

New Haven, Conn., March 9 - Miss Ethel Bartholomew, the young woman who went into a trance in the Supreme Court room on Thursday afternoon during the trial of her suit against C.I. Parmelee for shouting "boo" at her a year ago, remains practically unchanged. She has not yet regained consciousness. The physicians say that her condition somewhat resembles hypnosis. She has control of her muscles, but not of her mind, and is subject to the suggestion of others, readily acceding to their demands and requests. The case is attracting considerable attention. Dr. Francis Bacon, the most eminent surgeon in Connecticut, has twice been summoned to see the girl. Pins have been stuck in her arms and legs and she apparently does not feel the sensation at all.