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Clip of the Week: March 8, 2023
On March 8, 2023 by ElyseThe most understudied presidential assassination attempt in U.S. history: that time President Grover Cleveland and Frances Cleveland were battered with a weapon of mass confection. During the visit of President Cleveland and Mrs Cleveland to the fair grounds at St Louis the other day, Mrs Cleveland, who was seated along with her husband in a
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Romeo Gone Wrong
On February 8, 2023 by ElyseIt’s that time of year again: cliché greeting cards, overpriced supermarket chocolate and for Second Glance History readers, cringeworthy tales of all the ways love can turn sour. History teaches us that all it takes is a misplaced coffin, one small yawn at your wedding or a passing resemblance to your mother, and you might
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Clip of the Week: December 14, 2022
On December 14, 2022 by ElyseA peculiarity about holiday shopping is that a good part of it is always put off until the day or two before Christmas or even till Christmas eve, when there is a grand rush on the stores, and everything is sold and bought in confusion. – The Morning News, December 15, 1895 If you, like
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Clip of the Week: October 19, 2022
On October 19, 2022 by ElyseA duel for the ages: Armed with only a bicycle and an umbrella, two arrogant politicians face off. Who will win? It seems that cycling has become very popular with some of our younger legislators, and certain of them have got into the habit of coming down to the House [of Commons] on their machines
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Brussels Bonanza
On April 27, 2022 by ElyseDear readers, I have good news or bad news, depending on whether you read this blog for entertainment or out of obligation: Second Glance History is going on a semi-hiatus. Life has taken a surprising turn, and I was unexpectedly offered a position abroad. Can you guess where? Jumping through bureaucratic hoops and moving across
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Eggnog Eggcess
On April 13, 2022 by ElyseAh, the sweet signs of spring: birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and eggnog consumption is soaring. As we learned last year, with this boozy beverage in hand, your Easter celebrations can be just as merry as your Christmas festivities. Sadly, no matter what time of year you indulge, there’s always somebody out there trying
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A Boring Page of the Gilded Age
On March 2, 2022 by ElyseOne who reads this book through will have as rough a mental journey as his physical nature would undergo in riding over a corduroy road in an old stage-coach. It makes no pretension to either scholarship or elegant diction. – Ward McAllister, Society as I Have Found It, 1890 No, dear readers, that is not
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5 Times Love Didn’t Conquer All
On February 16, 2022 by ElyseHere at Second Glance History, it’s tradition at this time of year to share stories of love overcoming insurmountable obstacles, again and again. But in the immortal words of Patty Smyth and Don Henley, sometimes, love just ain’t enough. I’m not alone in having learned that the hard way. Patty and Don may not have
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How to Break a World Record
On January 19, 2022 by ElyseWith a little help from Second Glance History, anyone can travel, pickpocket, write, eat healthfully, break a lease, pull off a practical joke, be a Good Samaritan and even become a juvenile delinquent. But do you know what takes real talent? Breaking a world record. Happily, I’m here to help you with that as well.