Was Ulysses S. Grant a Socialist?

In an earlier post on this blog, I pointed out some similarities in the writings of U.S. Grant and H.G. Wells, specifically in the way Grant attributed the outbreak of war to the spread of populations and the rise of new forms of communication. "In the early days of the country," Grant wrote in the … Continue reading Was Ulysses S. Grant a Socialist? →

Fun With Research: “Eequity” Edition

From a September 6, 1959 story in the New York Times, titled "Georgia Aide Says He Knew Negroes Held Degrees," comes this bit of pleasantry from Terrell County, GA: One of two Terrell County registrars who refused to register five Negroes on literacy grounds said today that he know at the time that some of … Continue reading Fun With Research: “Eequity” Edition →

Adventures in Databasing: NYT Historical, Dec. 31, 1879

The following quotes are taken from a single page of the New York Times--page 5--on a single day in history. They were not "history" then, of course; they were simply "news." Under "AMUSEMENTS/MR. EICHBERG'S VIOLIN CONCERT": As a general rule, the performances of young violinists are of the most unsatisfactory character...Miss Chandler, a prepossessing young … Continue reading Adventures in Databasing: NYT Historical, Dec. 31, 1879 →

Offerings for Emerson at Sleepy Hollow

Emerson's grave is the least appealing of the bunch: a big, honking chunk of quartz, bearing an unreadable plaque, and almost literally overshadowing the smaller stones around it. The effect is not a happy one. I counted only 3 writing instruments, a few stones, and a piece of paper with a somewhat ugly design. It's … Continue reading Offerings for Emerson at Sleepy Hollow →

Offerings for Hawthorne at Sleepy Hollow

I have to admit that I was surprised to find Hawthorne here. He did live at the Old Manse for a time (which was also once home to Emerson), as well as The Wayside (which was also home to Emerson and the Alcotts) but he's more properly associated with Salem, both geographically and thematically. He … Continue reading Offerings for Hawthorne at Sleepy Hollow →