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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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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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Clip of the Week: August 21, 2024
On August 21, 2024 by ElyseIf the head-scratching stories featured on this blog are any judge, American newspapers from centuries past took full advantage of their right to free expression—especially their freedom to be snarky and petty. But does the First Amendment protect the right to typos? In a Missouri newspaper office, recently, the boy who “makes up” the forms
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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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Clip of the Week: March 20, 2024
On March 20, 2024 by ElyseAnd you thought losing the ring was the worst way the best man could ruin the wedding: An Essex clergyman has adopted a novel form of punishment for kissing. While a wedding was in progress the two principals rose from the chancel steps, where they had been kneeling, to advance to the rails of the
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Say Ahhh
On March 6, 2024 by ElyseAn estimated 3% of the population suffers from dentophobia, a crippling fear of going to the dentist. Given some of the instruments pictured below, it’s not hard to see why. However, if you want a sparking smile, regular visits to the dentist are a necessary evil. Since the always accurate internet declares that today is
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This Little Piggy
On January 24, 2024 by ElyseThis little piggy went to market,This little piggy stayed home,This little piggy had roast beef,This little piggy had none,This little piggy cried “Wee! Wee! Wee!” all the way home. I surely was not the only child whose toes transformed into little pigs going mundane places and doing mundane things. Fortunately, the pigs that featured in