Notes From The Reading Daily Times, 1858-1859

Authors

Alfred L. Shoemaker

Document Type

Notes

Files

Date

1950

Keywords

turtles, Oley Township, chewing tobacco, ballads, humor, church

Description

A set of handwritten notes copied from The Reading Daily Times, transcribed by Alfred L. Shoemaker circa 1950. The notes cover topics including humorous ballads, an old turtle, and the death of a "Wurst Frau."

Corresponds to:

Packet 74-9

Transcription

General

The Reading Daily Times - July 20, 1858.

”An Old Turtle - The Adler states that during harvest, a man in Oley Township, found on the farm of Daniel Herbein, a land turtle which had engraved on its shell, the initials P. P. and the date 1770.”

Aug 13, 1858 Mrs. Hess, better known as the Wurst Frau, died yesterday morning. She was celebrated for her medicinal recipes and was much sought after for advice and remedies by persons from all parts of the State.

Aug 27, 1858. Carpet sweep. Invented by a Mr. Todd from Phil.

Nov. 1, 1858 Filthy Habit. The most filthy and ungentlemanly habit in which a male biped can indulge, is chewing tobacco in Church. There is one young man who regularly attends one of our Churches, and while the other occupants of the sacred edifice are attending to their devotions, he is reclining in the pew, expectorating here and there, over cushion and carpet, regardless to the damage accruing to either. The youth we refer to, is only a sample of a clan of tobacco chewers, with which all cities, towns and hamlets in the United States are provided, and for the benefit of those addicted to the daily habit, we publish the following lines:

Ye chewers of the noxious weed, which grows on earth’s most cursed sod. Be pleased to clean your filthy mouths outside the sacred “House of God.” Throw out your plug and cavendish, your “tail", your “twist,” your “honey-dew” and not presume to spit upon the pulpit, aisle, or in the pew.

Jan 17, 1859. Fellow came in [illegible] verses he wrote 22 years ago. [Editor note. Said he would quote the lines.]

Come all ye bold wagoners, which have got good wives, It's go home to your farms and there spend your lives. When your corn it is cribbed, and your small grain is sowed. Then you’ll have nothing else to do but to curse the railroad.

Feb 22, 1859 “Humbug” – 100 page pamphlet

June 4, 1859, Fourth of June – In the Olden Time.

June 15, 1859 That graceful refined figure shown at Fair 'hoedown'.

Language

English

Rights Statement

This item is available courtesy of the Ursinus College Library Special Collections Department. It is not to be copied or distributed for commercial use. For permissions which fall outside of educational use, please contact the Special Collections Department.

Recommended Citation

Shoemaker, Alfred L., "Notes From The Reading Daily Times, 1858-1859" (1950). Alfred L. Shoemaker Folk Cultural Documents. 169.
https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/shoemaker_documents/169