Unhappily, after the third lecture of the course, Comte had a severe attack of cerebral derangement, brought on by intense and prolonged meditation, acting on a system that was already irritated by the chagrin of domestic failure.–John Morley, “Auguste Comte” in Critical Miscellanies, Volume III, 1904.
Auguste Comte
April 16th, 2008 | Excerpts
1904, DP, Nonfiction
An Epoch in History
April 8th, 2007 | Project Gutenberg
1904, Nonfiction
An Epoch in History, by P. H. Eley. Published ©1904.
This is Bill’s first book as a PM. It’s an interesting little self-published memoir of a man who went as part of the American teaching corps when the US took control of the Philippines. There are a few descriptions of Philippine society, including a visit to a leper colony. It’s a quick read, but don’t read too fast or you’ll miss the brief mention of Hawaiian “surf-shooting.”
Variety Sauce
November 22nd, 2005 | Excerpts
1904, Whole
Four quarts chopped cabbage, two quarts green tomatoes chopped, one quart onions, one pint of peppers, four tablespoons of mustard, two tablespoons ginger ground, two tablespoons cloves, one tablespoon tumeric, one tablespoon celery seed, two pounds of sugar, handful salt, four quarts vinegar and boil one hour.–Mrs. J. Turrill.
This is the problem with old cookbooks — even ones that aren’t all that old, such as this one — there is vital information missing. What does one do with “Variety Sauce”?
This little cookbook (on the pile to be scanned for DP) was compiled by The Ladies of the Sparta W. T. A. (Sparta, Ontario, Canada). It’s filled with recipes just like this one — a list of ingredients with only the title suggesting what one should do with them. At least it uses standardized sizes — I’ve seen older recipe books that call for “large size” cans of things, which makes me wonder what a “small size” can was.
One of the most amusing things about this cookbook (put out by the Women’s Temperance Association) is that there’s a handwritten recipe for fruitcake in it that calls for a “wineglass of whisky or brandy.” I suppose the original owner wasn’t really a follower of the temperance movement.
The Fat of the Land
August 14th, 2005 | Project Gutenberg
1904, Fiction
The Fat of the Land, The Story of an American Farm, by John Williams Streeter. Copyright 1904. John Williams Streeter (1841-1905) isn’t well-represented on the web. He wrote at least 2 other books. This is his first in Project Gutenberg.
It is a semi-autobiographical story of a physician who leaves medicine and starts a farm.
“While you are at home I will give you daily instruction in this most wholesome and independent business, which will be of incalculable benefit to you, and which, I am frank to say, you cannot get in any agricultural college. College, indeed! I have spent thousands of hours in dreaming and planning what a farm should be like! Do you suppose I am going to let these visions become contaminated by practical knowledge?”
Thanks to Janet Blenkinship for Post-Processing this book!
The Stowmarket Mystery, or A Legacy of Hate
February 1st, 2005 | Project Gutenberg
1904, Fiction
The Stowmarket Mystery, or A Legacy of Hate, by Louis Tracy. A mystery featuring Reginald Brett, Barrister-Detective. A hugely improbable plot, an overall racist tone, but a pretty entertaining read despite all its faults.