Clip of the Week: August 24, 2022

I’m a pro at overthinking, but this person takes the cake: The Americans have a polite habit on being presented to a new acquaintance of uttering the words, “Pleased to meet you,” although upon what the pleasure can rest, or how they know that it is a pleasure, or why an ordinary incident which is Read More

Clip of the Week: August 10, 2022

This is exactly why I don’t sing outside of my shower. Mr. Andrew Carnegie is amusing his friends with the story of an old Scottish woman who had no great liking for modern church music. One day she was expressing her dislike of the singing of an anthem in her own church when a friend Read More

Clip of the Week: July 13, 2022

There are entire industries I’d like to try this trick on. The scene of one of these was the pretty village of Grosmont, where a reputed wizard called “Old Jenkyns” punished the landlady of the Cock and Feathers. Jenkyns had some bread and cheese and beer, and on leaving asked how much it was. “Oh,” Read More

Clip of the Week: June 1, 2022

Product placement doesn’t get any better than this: The following incident took place recently in the Parish Church of a well-known Lancashire town, where a mother had taken her baby to be christened. “What name do you select [for] your child,” asked the Vicar. “Venos,” was the answer. “Venus! But this is not a suitable Read More

Clip of the Week: April 20, 2022

A court-house in a certain provincial town stands near a common. During one of the cases that were being tried there counsel was in the middle of his speech for the defence, when a donkey outside began to bray. The judge, who was notorious for his wit, put up his hand at this juncture, and Read More

5 Times Love Didn’t Conquer All

Here 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 Read More

The Good Samaritan

Here at Second Glance History, I’m starting the year off with a celebration of strangers who help those in need—most especially an angelic lady named Ali, who was in the right place at the right time to rescue a certain silly blogger who got in over her head in the Pacific Ocean last month. As Read More

Clip of the Week: November 17, 2021

James Morgan (70) was charged (before Alderman R. Corry and Mr J. H. Jotham, C.C.) at the Cardiff Police Court to-day with being drunk on the Hayes on Wednesday evening. Prisoner, who is a grizzled old veteran, expressed his remorse at his little misadventure and instinctively produced an ancient looking parchment bearing a record of Read More

Corney Grain’s Refrains

When you’re born with the name “Richard Corney Grain,” you’re destined for either greatness or ridicule. In the case of the 19th-century British entertainer, he found a bit of both. My unfortunate name is likewise the subject of much controversy. My parents played a very bad practical joke on me when they gave me the Read More

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