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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 28, 2022
On December 28, 2022 by ElyseFirst, they banned dancing (multiple times). Then, they banned alcohol and hat ticklers. Now, not even kissing is allowed?!? It is an annual custom to hold a “social” on Boxing Night. This year the new minister, the Rev. Moffatt Gautrey, decided that the kissing game which had formerly been allowed at the social should not
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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: November 16, 2022
On November 16, 2022 by ElyseIf you live in a country that celebrated Veterans/Armistice/Remembrance Day last week, it’s time for a pop quiz: What is the most appropriate way to commemorate the end of one of the deadliest conflicts in human history? I can see you looking at your neighbor’s paper—no cheating! When you’ve circled your answer, read on to
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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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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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Clip of the Week: December 29, 2021
On December 29, 2021 by ElyseIf you’re still looking for a New Year’s resolution, history has some suggestions for you: Some New Year Don’ts . . . Don’t try to get the better of a man who hasn’t any. Don’t snore in church. It’s mean to keep others awake. . . Don’t get married with the sole idea that misery
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Home Alone
On December 22, 2021 by Elyse‘Tis the season for not only reindeer, grinches and magical snowmen but also fearless children, negligent parents and dumb thieves. “Home Alone” may not be the first Christmas movie that comes to mind, but it turns out there’s a long and storied tradition of children left alone around the holidays matching wits against would-be robbers.
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Count Your Blessings
On November 24, 2021 by ElyseAfter a whirlwind year, we’re fast approaching yet another holiday season that’s not quite normal. But one thing that hasn’t changed? Documents from the 19th and 20th centuries continue to be a cornucopia of 21st-century Thanksgiving blog post fodder. (Most especially those from Chicago’s renowned Newberry Library, to which I’m exceedingly grateful for digitizing, transcribing