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Christmas Don’ts
On December 25, 2024 by Elyse♪ You better watch out,You better not cry,Better not pout,I’m telling you why:History is coming to town. ♪ These days, it’s not hard to make Santa’s “nice list,” especially with a spy, er, elf always looking over your shoulder. But in centuries past, the holiday season could bring worse fates than coal in your stocking.
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Get the Party Growing
On November 27, 2024 by ElyseAre you entertaining this season? And do you have vegetables to get rid of? Although these questions may seem unrelated, the historical newspapers have the perfect recipe to squash boredom and turnip the fun. Read on for nutritious party games your friends will talk about for years to come. . . even if they stop
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Everything You Never Wanted to Know about Ghosts
On October 30, 2024 by Elyse‘Tis the season for ghost stories, out-of-work spirits and erm, haunted gates. But what do we really know about ghosts, other than they’re friendly, can be trapped in glorified vacuum cleaners and occasionally dance with their still-living partners? Ghosts like their pints as much as the rest of us. All ghosts, according to the [Encyclopedia
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Tabloid Typecasting
On October 16, 2024 by ElyseLongtime Second Glance History readers no doubt remember what happens when Americans go abroad. (Reminder: They get accused of being German spies.) But what does the rest of the world think of Americans back home? While the answer to that question is as varied as the people responding, the results of my unscientific, niche survey of 19th- and
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You Say “Potato,” I Say “Potahto,” Let’s “Pot-duel”
On October 2, 2024 by ElyseThe potato’s many nutritional benefits are common knowledge, but once upon a time, the noble spud did more than simply provide vitamins, minerals and fiber: . . . in a certain district in Kentucky some forty years ago. . . a traveling preacher named Bowman, a strong, muscular man, was conducting a series of religious
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Multipurpose Your Mattresses
On September 4, 2024 by ElyseYou’ve finally done it: After years of squeaky bed springs, back pain and dust mites, you’ve bought yourself a new mattress and potentially years of life. Congratulations! A good night’s sleep is yours. But what should you do with your old mattress? Reenacting Hans Christian Andersen’s The Princess and the Pea is always an option,
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How to Host a National Convention
On August 7, 2024 by ElyseSome politicos among you may be looking forward to the upcoming Democratic National Convention in Chicago the way normal people look forward to the Super Bowl (without the entertaining commercials) or a Taylor Swift concert (without the dance moves or costume changes). Preparations have been underway for more than a year, and the festivities (mayhem?)
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How Old Is Too Old?
On July 24, 2024 by ElyseThe United States appears to have settled the question of “how old is too old to run for president,” but what about “how old is too old to vote?” Mrs. Lydia A. Sharpless of Whittier, Cal., 104 years old, is the oldest woman voter in the United States. She was the first woman to register
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Jail Bail Fail
On May 29, 2024 by ElyseWarrior Run, Pennsylvania was piloting an open prison concept before it was cool: Breaking out of jail at Warrior Run to engage a lawyer to defend them at their trial, Joseph Widemsky and John Prolesky made a new record in escapes. After getting out by prying open the bars on their cell door and squeezing