“(T)he struggle of man against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting” - Milan Kundera, The Book of Laughter and Forgetting

No other name is more revered in the hearts of Filipinos as Jose Rizal (1861-1896). He was not only a physician and ophthalmologist but also a poet, novelist, linguist, essayist, anthropologist, philologist, painter, sculptor, teacher, and educator, translator, farmer, traveler, and great historian. Dissatisfied with a limiting education at UST, Rizal went to Europe, specifically spending time in Spain and Germany, for his studies.

“Of the social realities through which, and against which, the Filipino novel had to shape itself, colonialism is the most important” -Resil B. Mojares, Origins and Rise of the Filipino Novel

His novels, essays, and letters brought a revolutionary political philosophy to Southeast Asia. Rizal’s two novels Noli Me Tangere (1887) and El Filibusterismo (1891), which Coates puts it as “single-handedly awakened the Philippine people to national and political consciousness,” were instrumental steps towards liberation from Spanish rule and colonial mentality.

Although these are two fiction novels, they are the cornerstone of Filipino nationalism because they laid the foundations for Rizal’s rise as the Father of the revolution and Filipino people.

His brilliance proved to the world that the Philippines are not full of barbarians and savages; Filipinos are capable of having a civilized future  and are entitled to their respect.

The tensions that gripped the Philippines during Rizal’s era and themes in his writing:
Conservatism vs. Liberalism
The reign of the Spanish clerics vs. the emancipation of the Filipinos
Repression vs. reform

But he was a reluctant hero. Ironically, Rizal never wanted a revolution. He wanted to continue the Philippines colonial relationship with Spain in the hopes that Spain will ensure security, freedom, dignity, and education for Filipinos. It’s no wonder why the Americans supported his path to political sainthood over the more radical Bonifacio. Regardless of Rizal’s doubts, he was sentenced to death before a Spanish firing squad.

The execution of the martyr José Rizal, a greater-than-life-sized sculpted diorama at the former Luneta Park, now named in his honor.

After his execution in 1896, Andres Bonifacio led the efforts of the Philippine Revolution. Rizal lived on in the minds and hearts of his fellow countrymen, as he inspired them with the spirit of unity and dignity in their struggle for freedom.

So how does Rizal affect Fil-Ams like us?
“Our people should aim higher… Take the lead in forming your own individuality, try to lay the foundations of a Filipino nation.”
Even today, Filipinos still ponder over their national identity and navigate the overlapping layers of Spanish, American, Southeast Asian, and other imports to find the core of their own individuality.

KU

Image from www.danleysart.com

Hark! hark! ’tis SOZODONT I cry
Haste youths, and maidens, come and buy.
Come and a secret I’ll unfold,
At small expense to young and old.
A charm that will on both bestow
A ruby lip, and teeth like snow.

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Jun 25, 1884

*****

Hie, lads and lassies hie away
Nor brook a single hour’s delay,
If you would carry in your mouth
White teeth, and odors of the south.
Haste, haste, and buy a single font
Of the unrivalled SOZODONT.

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Aug 13, 1882

This is the poem, which is hard to read on the above image:

Yes, barber, what you say is true,
I need a number one shampoo,
And came in, as I always do,
Because I can rely on you
To choose pure Ivory Soap, in lieu
Of soaps ol divers form and hue
From use of which such ills ensue.

Well, sir, we barbers suffer too,
From humbug articles, and rue
That we have tried before we knew
Poor toilet frauds to which are due
More scalp-diseases than a few.
I know we are the safer who
Use Ivory Soap for a shampoo.

Carroll Sentinel (Carroll, Iowa) Oct 3, 1893

The Daily Northwestern (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) Jun 11, 1890

Image from www.westdeertownship.com

The Georgia Buggy Co. 39 S. Broad St., 34-36 S. Forsyth St.

In the dead hour of night,
While sleeping with all your might,
The Genii made a sweeping flight,
And took the street cars out of sight.

In this hour of dire distress
The public their indignation express;
You to the courts go for redress
And get a forty-eight hour request.

To our friends we kindly advise,
Let the street cars go in demise,
Buy a vehicle, which is wise,
And show the boss your despise;

If not street cars by the door,
You have carpets on your floor;
To and from work you can go
In a fine vehicle bought low
At the only Georgia Buggy Co.

LAST WEEK the buyers kept us busy from start to finish. Mighty bad weather though for imitators to be left out in the cold. The Georgia Buggy Co.

The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) Mar 8,  1896

Image from www.mainememory.net

MEA CULPA!

How sweet to love,
But Oh! how bitter,
To love a gal,
And then not git her!
And know the only
Reason why
Is because you didn’t
The furniture buy
Of Stowers.

203 West Commerce street.

San Antonio Light (San Antonio, Texas) Jul 25, 1897

Image from http://tompoland.net

This one is my favorite:

Machine Poetry.

Dear friends, we are modest, decidedly so,
But sometimes our pen at random will go;
And we now feel inclined to let the thing run,
And write a short notice abounding with fun.

Our neighbors, good fellows, who are all on the track,
Cry “Hurrah for the West!” and never look back;
And not wishing to linger or fall in the rear,
We crave for a moment your poetic ear.

Our scribbling we think resembles the kind
Once written by Homer, the man that was blind;
But only like his in regard to the eyes;
Not at all Homer-like viewed otherwise.

He wrote with gravity, candor and sense;
We write for the purpose of getting the pence;
And if we succeed, and obtain our desire,
We’ll throw down our pen, make our bow, and retire.

The facts of the case we are willing to tell;
We have a few things we are anxious to sell;
And we take this queer way of letting you know
That you don’t save the coppers if by us you go.

Of Superfine Flour we have “piles” upon “piles,”
To supply all our friends for a circuit of miles;
We sell on commission for a profit quite small,
Believe what we say, and give us a call.

Of Sugar we have not a very small “heap,”
Which we are selling quite fast, for we’re selling it cheap.
One dollar will buy eight pounds of the sweet;
And now the dear children may have cookies to eat.

Of Coffee and Spices we have a supply,
That are fine for the palate and nice to the eye;
Ground or unground, roasted or not,
Cinnamon fragrant, and Black Pepper hot.

If Fremont’s elected, and for it we hope,
For the disappointed ones we’ve plenty of Soap
To cleanse their long faces and banish their tears,
And keep them contented for at least eight years.

Saleratus and Soda, and Teas you may find;
Cream Tartar in packages just to your mind;
Caps,Percussion, by the box, the thousand or more,
You can have whenever you visit our Store.

In the Furniture line we make no pretensions,
But we have some chairs of ample dimensions,
Which are faithfully made and painted nice,
And are offered for sale at a very low price.

Nails, Sash, and Glass we have always on hand,
For those who are building in this glorious land.
Six cents for the Sash, for the Glass four and a half,
And Nails at a price that will make you all laugh.

Do you want Gunpowder, and a little cold Lead,
To finish old Bruin with a ball in his head?
Come along with your shot gun, revolver, and rifle,
And we’ll fill up your horns and ask but a trifle.

We have Salt by the barrel, and Syrup so nice
That if you trade with us once we know you will twice.
Dried Apples we sell to those who like pies,
And Cheese that would dazzle an epicure’s eyes.

Of Nicknacks and Notions, such as Baskets and Matches,
Warm Coats and thick Pants for those who hate patches,
With Mittens and Gloves, and Cotton and Thread,
We have a few left, and a Comb for the head.

And now, kind friend, we propose to retreat
From the stomach and back and come down to the feet;
Just after our measure, our metre, and time,
And give you some sense along with the rhyme.

When Mother Eve in Paradise was staying,
And ‘midst those shady walks and sparkling fountains playing,
‘Tis said that she revolted, (what a shame!)
Then took fig leaves, made aprons of the same,
Ingeniously attempting thus to cover
Herself and guilty man half over.

Banished from Eden’s calm and blest retreat,
She wandered forth with unprotected feet;
To scorching sand her pedals were exposed,
And, grov’ling in the dust, spread out her ten fair toes.
A flaming sword hung o’er those scenes of sacred mirth;
Barefoot and sad she trod the sin-cursed earth.

How long her children wailed and wanted Shoes,
Is no recorded by our homely muse.
One fact is clear: No longer need they weep,
For Boots and Shoes, nice, strong, and cheap,
To suit the foot and please the eye,
We have to sell just when they please to buy.

We keep on a corner where two roads meet,
And when your faces there we greet,
With treatment kind and prudent pay,
We’ll send you smiling on your way.

JAMES & NUDD.
Richland Center, November 3, 1856.

Richland County Observer (Richland, Wisconsin) Nov 18, 1856

*****

CUBA AND CALIFORNIA

Let Stutchfield, Hoyt, and all the rest,
Boast of  their wares the very best,
But if you wish to make a trade,
Call at my shop, where ready made,
And made ‘pon honor, you’ll be sure
To find all kinds of Furniture
Bedsteads — the plan best e’er invented –
On which a man may rest contented.
On which bugs, white, black or yellow,
Fleas, dogs or snakes, ne’er bite a fellow
Its match you ne’er saw in your life,
It opens and shuts just like a knife.
My neighbor says, “If I had tools,
I’d make a few to gull the fools,”
But mine, when tried, you’ll surely find
Will suit a very different mind
Come, get a little wife, young man,
And a bedstead made on my new plan,
You’ll want some Chairs, a Table and Settee,
A Boston for the wife, a Crib for the baby.
My prices, too, so very low,
You’ll wonder why you waited so.
Bring your Lumber, or Cash in hand,
Opposite the Old Whyler Stand.

E.W. JACOBS

Norwalk, Oct. 10, 1849

Acrostic Advertising

Acrostic Advertising #2

The Globe (Atchison, Kansas) Jan 18, 1878

Image from www.bellehome.co.uk

Gresham’s Answer to Queen Lil
When I received your cablegram
I thought I sure would faint
For though I often used Parks’ Teas
‘Tis not for your complaint.
I feared that Mrs. G. would think
Wrong about our connection
Till on her dresser there I saw
Parks’ Tea for her complexion.

Sandusky Register (Sandusky, Ohio) Sep 13, 1894

I’m not much of a Sunday morning person. As a matter of fact, I tend to view Sunday morning as a theoretical concept that exists largely to prevent the clocks from getting messed up and to give churchgoers a time when they can worship without disturbing awful heathens such as myself. So waking at six today was, as you might imagine, something of a wrench.

Hyde Park, this morning

Making things worse was the fact that I’d only got in at about 4. I’d been at a Halloween party hosted by Becky B, who is an excellent host and also – if you follow the link on the right – a fine purveyor of bloggery in her own right. As it was a literary-themed party, I went as Fantomas. Partly because, you know, any excuse for a top hat and tailcoat.

On the way back I made the mistake of falling asleep on the bus, and when I woke up my bag had been stolen. Fortunately I am incredibly paranoid about having my bag stolen, so there was nothing of great monetary value in there. However, the bag itself was a leaving present from my old job and it contained my sketchpad, my trusty A-Z and my favourite cravat, so they only got things of sentimental value. They could have taken my coat, hat or cane, any of which would have been worth a lot more in monetary terms. In conclusion, should I ever find the fucker who stole my bag, I will eat them and telephone their mother to let them know what is happening. I’m really quite upset.

That aside, today was the day of the annual London to Brighton Veteran Car Run. This is an event held on the first Sunday of every November, first run in 1896 to celebrate the end of the Locomotive Act. This had limited self-propelled vehicles to a walking pace (down to 2mph in built-up areas) and – prior to an 1878 amendment – demanded that all such vehicles be preceded by a man with a red flag. This was the origin of the Act’s popular nickname, the Red Flag Act. The London to Brighton Run was originally known as the Emancipation Run, and opened with the symbolic destruction of a red flag.

The event is now run by the Veteran Car Club (of which Yr. Humble Chronicler used to be a member) and sponsored by Tindle Newspapers. It starts from Hyde Park and ends on Madeira Drive in Brighton. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not a race. For a start, I believe racing on public highways is illegal in this country, and doing so in vehicles this old would be downright suicidal. The rules also stipulate that no vehicle built after 1905 may partake, although it’s not unknown for petrolhead spectators to show up in later classics.

These days, the event serves as a sort of eccentric commemoration of the pioneering days of motoring. It’s commonly attended by celebrities of the motoring world – I think just about every Top Gear presenter ever has taken part, and racing drivers are common participants. Various organisations, such as King’s College, the VCC, the Royal Automobile Club and motoring manufacturers also tend to put their own vehicles in, although the bulk are privately owned vehicles that have either been passed down the generations or rescued and restored. Period dress is not obligatory, but it’s certainly popular.

I’d say that it’s a typically British event, except it’s not. Vehicles and drivers come from literally all over the world. They encompass a wide range of backgrounds and age groups. Generally, it’s a splendidly cosmopolitan affair where people from right across the planet can get together and celebrate their mildly odd passion. I mean that in a good way, I’d love to take part myself.

Genevieve. It was too quick for me.

The event even has its own film, the 1953 comedy Genevieve, starring John Gregson and the ever-marvellous Kenneth More. I mention this largely because Genevieve, the title vehicle, still does the run, as you can see to the left.

One thing you realise from watching this event is how much things have changed since those early days. Cars, when you get down to it, are usually built to a fairly standard format. Four wheels, engine at the front, either two or four seats in the middle. No such standardisation back before 1905. Some of the cars look like little more than farm carts or gigs with engines strapped on. Some have passengers seated in front of the driver. Some have passengers sitting facing the driver, with the steering wheel mounted amidships (the “sociable” layout, as it was known). There was the dos-a-dos, with the passengers facing backwards. There were the buckboards, flimsy-looking two-seaters that look only a step up from a skateboard. Tiny little things for one and great stagecoach-looking things. Manufacturers you’ve never heard of, home-built one-offs, kit cars and early examples from the great companies of today.

They weren’t even sure how these should be powered. Petrol won out (although in those days it had to be bought at the chemist), but steam and electricity were also popular modes of propulsion. Indeed, compared to the smoking, chuffing, rattling petrol vehicles of the day, the smooth and surprisingly clean-running steam car looks light years ahead.

My favourite vehicle in the show would have to be the unique Salveson seen on the right. My comments about steam being clean and smooth don’t quite apply to this steam car, which is coal-fired and requires a fireman and a separate coal tender. It’s a magnificently steampunk-looking contraption that puts me in mind of the Arkansas Chuggabug from Wacky Races. 

Although I think I have special admiration for the young chap who was riding alongside the vehicles in Victorian costume, pedalling a Penny Farthing. Now that, friends, is dedication.

Joe Corbett vs Bobby Wallace 10/8/1896, @League Park I

ORIOLES WIN PITCHERS DUAL AND DMB WORLD SERIES

The Baltimore Orioles won their 3rd straight DMB World Series in a classic pitcher’s dual by a score of 1-0. Neither team scored in the 1st 8 innings as Joe Corbett and Bobby Wallace traded zeros.

In the 9th, Wilbert Robinson led off with a single to center for the Orioles. Uncle Robbie surprisingly stole 2nd and scored on Joe Corbett’s line drive single.

In the Spider’s 9th, Corbett retired the 1st 2 batters before giving up a groundball single to Chippy McGarr. Feeling a little chippy, McGarr took off for 2nd on the 1st pitch to Cupid Childs. Wilbert Robinson gunned him down on a strong throw to 2nd to end the game. A World Series ending play reminiscent of Babe Ruth in 1926 against the Cardinals.

10/8/1896, BAL96-CLE96, League Park I
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1896 Orioles           0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  1     1  8  1    11  1
1896 Spiders           0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0     0  6  1    10  0

Orioles              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Spiders              AB  R  H BI   AVG
Donnelly,J        3b  4  0  0  0  .357    McGarr,C          3b  5  0  1  0  .160
Reitz,H           2b  2  0  0  0  .350    Childs,C          2b  2  0  2  0  .316
Doyle,J           1b  5  0  2  0  .143    Tebeau,P          1b  4  0  0  0  .273
Jennings,H        ss  4  0  1  0  .238    McKean,E          ss  4  0  1  0  .313
Kelley,J          lf  4  0  0  0  .391    Burkett,J         lf  3  0  1  0  .286
Brodie,S          cf  4  0  1  0  .190    McAleer,J         cf  3  0  1  0  .313
Keeler,W          rf  4  0  2  0  .412    Blake,H           rf  3  0  0  0  .250
Robinson,W        c   4  1  1  0  .364    Zimmer,C          c   3  0  0  0  .188
Corbett,J         p   4  0  1  1  .375    Wallace,B         p   3  0  0  0  .083
                     35  1  8  1           O’Connor,J       ph  1  0  0  0  .000
                                                               31  0  6  0
Orioles                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Corbett,J        W 1-0           9.0  6  0  0  6  6 135  77  1.06
                                 9.0  6  0  0  6  6 135  77
Spiders                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wallace,B        L 0-2           9.0  8  1  1  2  5 118  79  3.50
                                 9.0  8  1  1  2  5 118  79

CLE: O’Connor,J batted for Wallace,B in the 9th
E-Keeler,W, Zimmer,C. SB-Robinson,W(1). CS-McGarr,C, Wallace,B. K-Reitz,H 2,
Doyle,J, Kelley,J, Corbett,J, McGarr,C 2, Blake,H, Zimmer,C 2, O’Connor,J.
BB-Reitz,H 2, Childs,C 2, Burkett,J, McAleer,J, Blake,H, Zimmer,C.
SH-Reitz,H. HBP-Donnelly,J. HB-Wallace,B.
GWRBI: Corbett,J
Temperature: 55, Sky: clear, Wind: in from right at 12 MPH.

SUMMARY: The Orioles had too much offense, and with the loss of Cy Young after game , the Spiders were undermanned and didn’t have a chance.

MVP: Wilbert Robinson hit a grand slam to win game 2, and led all hitters with 7 rbis. His stolen base in game 5, put him in scoring position for the winning run in game 5. He also ended the game by throwing out Chippy McGarr trying to steal.

MVP: Wilbert Robinson .364-1-7 GW Grand Slam

DMB team batting — 1896 Baltimore Orioles                            
                               League championship — as of 10/8/1896                              

S Name               P    AVG   OBP   SPC    G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS
  Keeler,W*          rf  .412  .444  .412    4   17    7   0   0   0    1    1    1    0   0   1   0   1
  Clarke,B           c   .400  .400  .800    1    5    2   0   1   0    0    0    0    1   0   0   0   0
  Kelley,J           lf  .391  .391  .696    5   23    9   5   1   0    6    4    0    1   0   0   0   0
  Corbett,J          mr  .375  .375  .750    2    8    3   1   1   0    1    2    0    2   0   0   0   0
  Robinson,W         c   .364  .364  .545    5   22    8   1   0   1    5    7    0    0   0   0   1   0
  Donnelly,J         3b  .357  .400  .357    3   14    5   0   0   0    4    2    0    1   1   0   0   0
  Reitz,H*           2b  .350  .435  .550    5   20    7   0   2   0    7    4    3    3   0   0   0   0
  Jennings,H         ss  .238  .292  .238    5   21    5   0   0   0    1    1    2    3   0   0   1   0
  McGraw,J*          3b  .200  .200  .200    2   10    2   0   0   0    1    0    0    2   0   0   0   0
  Brodie,S*          cf  .190  .227  .238    5   21    4   1   0   0    4    4    1    0   0   1   0   1
  Doyle,J            1b  .143  .316  .143    4   14    2   0   0   0    2    2    3    1   1   0   0   1
  Hemming,G          sp  .000  .000  .000    1    1    0   0   0   0    0    0    0    0   0   0   0   0
  Quinn,J            ut  .000  .000  .000    1    4    0   0   0   0    0    0    0    0   0   0   0   0
  Pitchers               .100  .091  .100    5   10    1   0   0   0    0    1    0    0   0   0   0   0
  Total                  .289  .327  .400    5  190   55   8   5   1   32   28   10   14   2   2   2   3

                             DMB team batting — 1896 Cleveland Spiders                            
                               League championship — as of 10/8/1896                              

S Name               P    AVG   OBP   SPC    G   AB    H  2B  3B  HR    R  RBI   BB    K HBP  IW  SB  CS
f Young,C            sp  .667  .750 1.667    1    3    2   0   0   1    1    3    1    0   0   0   0   0
  Childs,C*          2b  .316  .480  .526    5   19    6   0   2   0    3    1    6    0   0   1   0   0
  McAleer,J          cf  .313  .389  .313    4   16    5   0   0   0    3    1    2    0   0   0   0   0
  McKean,E           ss  .313  .421  .375    5   16    5   1   0   0    2    0    3    1   0   1   0   0
  Burkett,J*         lf  .286  .375  .429    5   21    6   0   0   1    2    4    3    0   0   2   1   0
  Tebeau,P           1b  .273  .292  .318    5   22    6   1   0   0    3    4    1    0   0   0   1   0
  Blake,H            rf  .250  .286  .300    5   20    5   1   0   0    1    2    1    4   0   0   0   0
  Zimmer,C           c   .188  .381  .250    5   16    3   1   0   0    4    1    2    3   3   0   0   0
  McGarr,C           3b  .160  .160  .200    5   25    4   1   0   0    2    2    0    6   0   0   0   1
  Wallace,B          sp  .083  .083  .083    4   12    1   0   0   0    0    0    0    1   0   0   0   1
  Cuppy,N            sp  .000  .000  .000    1    3    0   0   0   0    0    0    0    0   0   0   0   0
  O’Connor,J         c   .000  .143  .000    2    6    0   0   0   0    0    0    1    1   0   1   0   0
  Pitchers               .333  .333  .333    5    3    1   0   0   0    1    0    0    0   0   0   0   0
  Total                  .242  .325  .324    5  182   44   5   2   2   22   18   20   16   3   5   2   2

DMB team pitching — 1896 Baltimore Orioles                            
                               League championship — as of 10/8/1896                              

S Name               P     ERA   W   L   S   G  GS  CG SHO     INN    H    R   ER   BB    K  HR GDP    BF
  Esper,D*           sp   0.00   0   1   0   1   0   0   0     3.1    3    1    0    2    0   0   1    15
  Corbett,J          mr   1.06   1   0   0   2   2   1   1    17.0   14    7    2   11    9   0   2    76
  Hoffer,B           sp   4.00   2   0   0   2   2   2   0    18.0   19   10    8    6    5   2   1    84
  Pond,A             sp   4.00   1   0   0   2   1   0   0     9.0    8    4    4    1    2   0   0    37
  Total                   2.66   4   1   0   5   5   3   1    47.1   44   22   14   20   16   2   4   212

                            DMB team pitching — 1896 Cleveland Spiders                            
                               League championship — as of 10/8/1896                              

S Name               P     ERA   W   L   S   G  GS  CG SHO     INN    H    R   ER   BB    K  HR GDP    BF
  Cuppy,N            sp   1.00   0   0   0   1   1   0   0     9.0    6    4    1    1    3   0   0    37
  Wilson,Z           sp   3.27   1   1   0   2   1   0   0    11.0   18    8    4    2    1   0   4    49
  Wallace,B          sp   3.50   0   2   0   3   2   2   0    18.0   20   12    7    5    9   1   1    86
f Young,C            sp   5.63   0   1   0   1   1   1   0     8.0   11    8    5    2    1   0   0    38
  Total                   3.33   1   4   0   5   5   3   0    46.0   55   32   17   10   14   1   5   210

Bill Hoffer vs Zeke Wilson 10/7/1896, @ League Park I

ORIOLES DOUBLE UP SPIDERS FOR EASY GAME 4 WIN

The Orioles banged out 16 hits, 5 by lead off hitter Jim Donnelly and 3 by Heinie Reitz which included 2 triples. Bill Hoffer won his 2nd game of the series despite giving up 10 hits and 3 walks. The Spiders defense turned a DMB World Series record 5 double plays.

             Jim Donnelly hit .328 in 1896. He would finish his career with a .229 average.

10/7/1896, BAL96-CLE96, League Park I
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1896 Orioles           2  0  2  0  1  1  0  0  2     8 16  3     6  0
1896 Spiders           1  0  1  2  0  0  0  0  0     4 10  3    12  5

Orioles              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Spiders              AB  R  H BI   AVG
Donnelly,J        3b  5  4  5  1  .500    McGarr,C          3b  5  0  1  2  .150
Reitz,H           2b  5  3  3  2  .389    Childs,C          2b  4  1  2  0  .235
Doyle,J           1b  4  0  0  1  .000    Tebeau,P          1b  4  1  2  1  .333
Jennings,H        ss  3  0  0  1  .235    McKean,E          ss  4  0  1  0  .333
Kelley,J          lf  5  0  2  1  .474    Burkett,J         lf  5  0  2  1  .278
Brodie,S          cf  4  0  1  1  .176    McAleer,J         cf  5  1  1  0  .308
Keeler,W          rf  4  0  3  0  .385    Blake,H           rf  5  0  1  0  .294
Robinson,W        c   4  1  2  0  .389    Zimmer,C          c   1  1  0  0  .231
Hoffer,B          p   4  0  0  0  .000    Wilson,Z          p   2  0  0  0  .333
                     38  8 16  7           Wallace,B        p   0  0  0  0  .111
                                                               35  4 10  4
Orioles                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Hoffer,B         W 2-0           9.0 10  4  4  3  4 179 114  4.00
                                 9.0 10  4  4  3  4 179 114
Spiders                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wilson,Z         L 1-1           8.0 16  8  4  2  1 104  68  3.27
Wallace,B                        1.0  0  0  0  0  0  16  10  6.00
                                 9.0 16  8  4  2  1 120  78

E-Reitz,H, Brodie,S, Keeler,W, Childs,C 2, McKean,E. 3B-Reitz,H 2, Childs,C.
SB-Tebeau,P(1), Burkett,J(1). CS-Brodie,S. K-Jennings,H, McKean,E, Blake,H 3.
BB-Doyle,J, Jennings,H, Childs,C, McKean,E, Zimmer,C. SH-Wilson,Z 2.
SF-Jennings,H, Tebeau,P. HBP-Zimmer,C 2. HB-Hoffer,B 2.
GWRBI: Kelley,J
Temperature: 61, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: out to left at 17 MPH.

Arlie Pond vs Nig Cuppy 10/6/1896, @ League Park I

KELLEY’S MUFF GIVES SPIDERS THE EXTRA INNING VICTORY

Joe Kelley was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1971

After relief pitcher Zeke Wilson led off the bottom of the 12th with a single, a Chief Zimmer sac bunt, and a walk to Jack O’Connor put runners on 1st and 2nd for the Spiders. A long fly ball off the bat of Cupid Childs was hit to left fielder Joe Kelley. After tracking the ball down, he inexplicably dropped the ball allowing Zeke Wilson to score the winning run.

The Orioles had taken a 4-0 lead in the 1st when John McGraw led off with a single and was doubled in by Kelley. 2 fielding errors by player-manager Patsy Tebeau at shortstop allowed the Orioles to score 3 more runs in the inning.

The Spiders came right back to make the score 4-2 after 1 inning on a Cupid Child’s triple and a Tebeau double.

The Spiders would tie the score at 4 in the 5th on a Patsy Tebeau single. The Orioles were held scoreless over the final 11 innings by starter Nig Cuppy and reliever Zeke Wilson.

10/6/1896, BAL96-CLE96, League Park I
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9 10 11 12     R  H  E   LOB DP
1896 Orioles           4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0     4  8  3     8  1
1896 Spiders           2  0  1  0  1  0  0  0  0  0  0  1     5 11  3     9  0

Orioles              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Spiders              AB  R  H BI   AVG
McGraw,J          3b  5  1  2  0  .200    Zimmer,C          c   4  3  2  0  .250
Quinn,J           rf  4  0  0  0  .000    O’Connor,J        1b  5  0  0  0  .000
Jennings,H        ss  5  1  1  0  .286    Childs,C          2b  6  1  1  1  .154
Kelley,J          lf  5  1  2  1  .500    Tebeau,P          ss  5  0  3  2  .286
Brodie,S          cf  5  1  0  1  .154    Burkett,J         lf  5  0  1  1  .231
Reitz,H           2b  5  0  0  1  .308    McGarr,C          3b  5  0  0  0  .133
Robinson,W        c   5  0  0  0  .357    Blake,H           cf  5  0  2  0  .333
Clarke,B          1b  5  0  2  0  .400    Wallace,B         rf  5  0  1  0  .111
Pond,A            p   3  0  1  0  .333    Cuppy,N           p   3  0  0  0  .000
Hemming,G        ph  1  0  0  0  .000     McKean,E         ph  0  0  0  0  .375
Esper,D          p   1  0  0  0  .000     Wilson,Z         p   1  1  1  0 1.000
                     44  4  8  3                               44  5 11  4

Orioles                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Pond,A                           8.0  8  4  4  0  2  98  65  4.00
Esper,D          L 0-1           3.1  3  1  0  2  0  39  24  0.00
                                11.1 11  5  4  2  2 137  89
Spiders                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Cuppy,N                          9.0  6  4  1  1  3 137  86  1.00
Wilson,Z         W 1-0           3.0  2  0  0  0  0  40  25  0.00
                                12.0  8  4  1  1  3 177 111
BAL: Hemming,G batted for Pond,A in the 9th
CLE: McKean,E batted for Cuppy,N in the 9th

E-Kelley,J, Reitz,H, Pond,A, Tebeau,P 2, McGarr,C. 2B-Kelley,J 2, Tebeau,P,
Blake,H. 3B-Clarke,B, Childs,C. SB-Jennings,H(1). K-McGraw,J, Reitz,H,
Clarke,B, McGarr,C 2. BB-Jennings,H, O’Connor,J, McKean,E. SH-McGraw,J,
Quinn,J 2, Zimmer,C. HBP-Zimmer,C. HB-Pond,A.
Temperature: 48, Sky: partly cloudy, Wind: in from right at 10 MPH.

Bobby Wallace vs Joe Corbett 10/4/1896, @Oriole Park III

UNCLE ROBBIE’S SLAM WINS IT IN THE 9TH

Wilbert Robinson has 7 rbis in the 1st 2 games of this series.

Wilbert Robinson hit a walk-off Grand Slam in the 9th to give the Orioles an 11-7 victory, and a 2-0 lead in the best of 7 series.

The Spiders once again jumped out to an early lead, scoring 3 in the 1st and 4 in the 5th, but that would be all they would get against surprise starter Joe Corbett, the younger brother of the Heavyweight Champion Jim Corbett, who combined with Arlie Pond to shut down the Spiders over the last 4 innings. Arlie Pond snuffed ou a bases loaded rally in the 9th to get the win in relief.

10/4/1896, CLE96-BAL96, Oriole Park III
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1896 Spiders           3  0  0  0  4  0  0  0  0     7  8  5     9  0
1896 Orioles           0  0  2  1  3  0  1  0  4    11 12  4     9  1

Spiders              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Orioles              AB  R  H BI   AVG
McGarr,C          3b  5  1  1  0  .200    Donnelly,J        3b  5  0  0  1  .000
Childs,C          2b  3  1  1  0  .143    Reitz,H           2b  5  1  2  0  .500
Tebeau,P          1b  4  2  1  1  .111    Doyle,J           1b  3  2  0  0  .000
McKean,E          ss  4  2  2  0  .375    Jennings,H        ss  5  0  1  0  .333
Burkett,J         lf  3  1  1  1  .250    Kelley,J          lf  5  3  3  2  .556
McAleer,J         cf  4  0  1  1  .375    Brodie,S          cf  4  1  1  1  .250
Blake,H           rf  4  0  1  2  .286    Keeler,W          rf  4  1  1  1  .222
Zimmer,C          c   4  0  0  0  .125    Robinson,W        c   5  2  2  4  .556
Wallace,B         p   4  0  0  0  .000    Corbett,J         p   4  1  2  1  .500
                     35  7  8  5           Pond,A           p   0  0  0  0  .000
                                                               40 11 12 10
Spiders                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Wallace,B        L 0-1           8.0 12 11  6  3  4 135  88  6.75
                                 8.0 12 11  6  3  4 135  88
Orioles                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Corbett,J                        8.0  8  7  2  5  3 146  80  2.25
Pond,A           W 1-0           1.0  0  0  0  1  0  13   5  0.00
                                 9.0  8  7  2  6  3 159  85

-McGarr,C, Tebeau,P 3, McKean,E, Jennings,H 2, Keeler,W, Robinson,W.
2B-McGarr,C, McKean,E, Kelley,J 2, Corbett,J. 3B-Kelley,J, Corbett,J.
HR-Robinson,W(1). CS-Doyle,J. K-McGarr,C 2, Wallace,B, Donnelly,J,
Jennings,H 2, Corbett,J. BB-Childs,C 2, Tebeau,P, Burkett,J 2, McAleer,J,
Doyle,J, Brodie,S, Keeler,W. SH-McKean,E. HBP-Doyle,J. CI-Blake,H.
HB-Wallace,B. WP-Wallace,B.
GWRBI: Robinson,W
Temperature: 68, Sky: clear, Wind: out to right at 10 MPH.

Cy Young vs Bill Hoffer 10/3/1896, @ Oriole Park III

ORIOLES SCORE 4 IN 8TH FOR COMEBACK VICTORY

Wilbert Robinson “Uncle Robbie” managed the Brooklyn Robins(named after him) from 1914-1931. They won 2 pennants but lost to the Red Sox and Indians in the 1916 and 1920 World Series.

The Cleveland Spiders and Cy Young looked to put the Orioles away in the 1st game after building a 5-1 lead heading into the Oriole 6th. Jesse Burkett hit a solo home run in the 2nd to give the Spiders an early 1-0 lead. Cy Young blasted a 2 run home run in the 5th and grounded an rbi single in the 6th to stake the Spiders to a 5-1 lead.

The Orioles answered back with 3 runs in the 6th. After the 1st 2 Orioles were retired by Young, the Oriole bats suddenly came alive. Joe Kelley and Steve Brodie hit back to back doubles, Heinie Reitz singled in Brodie, and Wilbert Robinson smacked a 2 out double for the final score of the inning.

Trailing 6-4 in the 8th, Joe Kelley started another rally by singling to center. Steve Brodie reached on an Ed McKean error at short, and Heinie Reitz singled to load the bases. Wilbert Robinson lined the 1st pitch he saw from Cy Young into center field to tie the score at 6. Pitcher Bill Hoffer hit a sac fly to drive in the go ahead run, and Ed McKean booted another groundball to allow the 8th run to score.

Since Cy Young was injured in the 1896 Temple Cup Series opener by a line drive off the bat of John McGraw he will not be available for the remainder of this series. The Spiders needed to win this opening game fore them to have a chance. Things do not look good for the Spiders.

10/3/1896, CLE96-BAL96, Oriole Park III
                       1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9     R  H  E   LOB DP
1896 Spiders           0  1  0  0  3  1  0  1  0     6  9  2     8  0
1896 Orioles           0  0  0  0  1  3  0  4  x     8 11  4     6  1

Spiders              AB  R  H BI   AVG    Orioles              AB  R  H BI   AVG
McGarr,C          3b  5  1  1  0  .200    Keeler,W          rf  5  0  1  0  .200
Childs,C          2b  4  0  0  0  .000    McGraw,J          3b  5  0  0  0  .000
Tebeau,P          1b  5  0  0  0  .000    Jennings,H        ss  4  0  2  0  .500
McKean,E          ss  4  0  1  0  .250    Kelley,J          lf  4  2  2  0  .500
Burkett,J         lf  5  1  1  1  .200    Brodie,S          cf  4  2  1  1  .250
McAleer,J         cf  4  2  2  0  .500    Reitz,H           2b  3  3  2  1  .667
Blake,H           rf  3  1  1  0  .333    Robinson,W        c   4  1  3  3  .750
Zimmer,C          c   4  0  1  1  .250    Doyle,J           1b  2  0  0  1  .000
Young,C           p   3  1  2  3  .667    Hoffer,B          p   2  0  0  1  .000
                     37  6  9  5                               33  8 11  7
Spiders                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Young,C          L 0-1           8.0 11  8  5  2  1 130  90  5.63
                                 8.0 11  8  5  2  1 130  90
Orioles                          INN  H  R ER BB  K PCH STR   ERA
Hoffer,B         W 1-0           9.0  9  6  4  3  1 140  86  4.00
                                 9.0  9  6  4  3  1 140  86

E-McKean,E 2, Keeler,W, Jennings,H 2, Robinson,W. 2B-Zimmer,C, Kelley,J,
Brodie,S, Robinson,W. HR-Burkett,J(1), Young,C(1). CS-Keeler,W. K-Zimmer,C,
McGraw,J. BB-Childs,C, McKean,E, Young,C, Reitz,H, Doyle,J. SH-Blake,H,
Hoffer,B. SF-Doyle,J, Hoffer,B.
GWRBI: Hoffer,B
Temperature: 72, Sky: clear, Wind: out to left at 1 MPH.

Jesse Burkett-LF, Ed McKean-SS, Patsy Tebeau-1B, Cupid Childs-2B, Jimmy McAleer-CF

Chippy McGarr-3B, Harry Blake-RF, Chief Zimmer-C, Jack O’Connor-SUB

Cy Young-P, Bobby Wallace-P, Nig Cuppy-P, Zeke Wilson-P

The Spiders would finish in 2nd place behind the Orioles for the 2nd consecutive season, and would meet them in the Temple Cup Series, losing in 4 straight games. It was a different Orioles team that they were facing this time around. They were the same players, just a different attitude. The Orioles wanted to make sure there was no mistake on who was the better team.

The Spiders were led on offense by the league’s leading hitter Jesse Burkett(.410) He also led the league with 240 hits and 160 runs scored, all phenomenal numbers. Ed McKean led the team with 7 home runs and 112 rbis. Cupid Childs hit .355 and both scored and drove in 106 runs.

On the mound the Spiders had a guy by the name of Cy Young. He went 28-15 with a league leading 5 shutouts and surprisingly a league leading 3 saves. Nig Cuppy had another fine season winning 25 and leading the team with a 3.14 ERA. Zeke Wilson and Bobby Wallace added 17 and 10 wins for the Spiders. These 4 pitchers accounted for all the Spiders’ wins.

The Spiders drew just 157,000 fans to the ballpark, and average of just 2,450 per game, good for 11th in the league.

PREDICTION: Cy Young was injured by a line drive of the bat of John McGraw in the opening game of the 1896 Temple Cup series, so he will only be available for 1 game in theis DMB World Series. That hurts the Spiders chances, but that’s not their only problem. The Orioles are a better offensive team from the the top to the bottom of their line up. They stole 441 bases to the Spiders 175, and should run wild in this series. The Oriole should capture their 2nd straight DMB title, and should finish off the Spiders in 5 games.

Top Row: Joe Quinn-2b, Sadie McMahon-P, Duke Esper-P, George Hemming-P, Mike Bowerman-Sub, Boileryard Clark-C, Jim Donnelly-3b

Middle Row: Steve Brodie-CF, Bill Hoffer-P, Joe Kelley-LF, Ned Hanlon-MGR, Wilbert Robinson-C, Hughie Jennings-SS, Heinie Reitz-2B

Bottom Row: Jack Doyle-1B, John McGraw-3B, Willie Keeler-RF, Arlie Pond-P

I’ve included 2 team photos, that are slightly different. They were obviously taken in the same sitting, but some of the players have changed their posture  from one picture to the other. The 2nd photo also includes a big giant nameless head displayed prominently on the left side of the photo. The little white dog has not moved one speck of fur. It’s obviously stuffed, and a very strange addition to the team photo of one of the rowdiest teams to ever take the field.

The 1896 Baltimore Orioles finished 9.5 games up on the 2nd place Spiders winning 90 games. They started out slow with just a 2-8 record in the the 1st month of the season, but as per usual they made some adjustments and finished up strong.  John McGraw contracted typhoid fever and was limited to 23 games, but Jim Donnelly filled in admirably at 3rd hitting .328. The poor hitting Scoops Carey was released and 1st base was taken over by Dirty Jack Doyle. His .339 average was 78 points higher than the light hitting Scoops. Hughie Jennings hit .401, Willie Keeler hit .386 while striking out just 9 times in 581 abs. Joe Kelley hit .364 with a team leading 8 home runs. 4 players drove in over 100 runs(Jennings, Kelley, Doyle, and Heinie Reitz) while 4 players scored more than 100 runs(Jennings, Keeler, Kelley, and Doyle). The Orioles led the league in hitting(.328), runs scored(995) stolen bases(441), and OBP(.393)

On the mound the Orioles were led by sophomore hurler Bill Hoffer and his 25-7 record. When Sadie McMahon developed elbow problems and slipped to just 11 wins, the Orioles filled the slot with rookie Arlie Pond. His 16 wins were 2nd on the team, followed by George Hemming(15) and Duke Esper(14).

As previously noted this year’s Orioles had grown tired of the negative press they received for dogging the last 2 Temple Cup Series, so they played with something to prove, and easily swept the Spiders in 4, by scores of 7-1, 7-2, 6-2, and 5-0. For their efforts each player received the winners share of $200.

James Robert McAleer

That looks suspiciously like a ball dangling from a string….Hmmmm?

Born: 7/10/1864-Youngstown, Ohio

Died: 4/29/1931-Youngstown, Ohio

The centerfielder for this DMB World Series Cleveland Spiders, McAleer was a fast, graceful centerfielder during the 1890s. Bill James considers him the best outfielder of the 1890s. Offensively he hit just .253 over 10 full seasons, a very low average for the high octane 90s. His .284 average in 1894 was his career high. He is credited with being the 1st outfielder to take his eye off the ball, run to the point where the ball was coming down and making the catch. Playing for Patsy Tebeau’s Cleveland Spiders, McAleer was a major contributor to the well earned reputation of rowdy behavior by the Spiders.

McAleer played primarily in Cleveland his whole career. Joining the Spiders in 1889, moving to the Cleveland Infants of the Players League in 1890, and rejoining the Spiders a year later after the Players League folded. It was reported that during a game against the Beaneaters, McAleer drove a ball into centerfield, that got lodged inside an empty tomato can. Hugh Duffy was unable to dislodge the ball so he threw the can and all to home. The can beat McAleer to the plate but the umpire ruled him safe, giving him an unusual inside the park home run.

McAleer retired after the 1898 season, taking a year off before taking over as the manager of the American League Cleveland Lake Shores at the urging of his friend Ban Johnson. The American League was considered a minor league that season, but would achieve Major League status in 1901 where McAleer would become the manager of the Cleveland Blues. He would be instrumental in recruiting a lot of key players for the inaugural American League season. The Blues would play the White Sox on 4/24/1901, and due to a couple of rain outs it would be the 1st ever American League game played. The Blues would lose 8-2.

At the urging of Ban Johnson, McAleer would assume managing duties of the fledgling St. Louis Browns in 1902 directing them to a surprising 2nd place finish. He would manage St. Louis for another 7 seasons, never finishing better than 4th.

He would manage the Washington Senators in 1911 and 1911. While in Washington he would ask then President William Howard Taft to throw out the 1st pitch in the Senators season opener. A tradition that has survived to the present day.

In 1912 he would become part owner and President of the Boston Red Sox. They would go on to win the World Series against the NY Giants. Constant bickering with manager Jake Stahl led to some animosity with long time friend Ban Johnson. After firing Stahl the rift with Johnson would widen. McAleer sold his interest in the Red Sox after the 1913 season.

In April of 1931 McAleer was listening to a baseball game on the radio with a couple of friends. Suffering from cancer and the ravages that it can bring, McAleer excused himself and went into the bathroom, where he shot himself in the face. He would die 10 hours later, another in a long line of 19th century ballplayers that took their own lives. Some reports have McAleer dying of natural causes brought on by his cancer.

Rk   Year                  Tm                  Lg    G   W   L W-L%                Finish
1    1901     Cleveland Blues                  AL  138  54  82 .397      7 Player/Manager

2    1902    St. Louis Browns                  AL  140  78  58 .574      2 Player/Manager
3    1903    St. Louis Browns                  AL  139  65  74 .468                     6
4    1904    St. Louis Browns                  AL  156  65  87 .428                     6
5    1905    St. Louis Browns                  AL  156  54  99 .353                     8
6    1906    St. Louis Browns                  AL  154  76  73 .510                     5
7    1907    St. Louis Browns                  AL  155  69  83 .454      6 Player/Manager
8    1908    St. Louis Browns                  AL  155  83  69 .546                     4
9    1909    St. Louis Browns                  AL  154  61  89 .407                     7

10   1910 Washington Senators                  AL  157  66  85 .437                     7
11   1911 Washington Senators                  AL  154  64  90 .416                     7
                         Cleveland Blues   1 year  138  54  82 .397                   7.0
                        St. Louis Browns  8 years 1209 551 632 .466                   5.5
                     Washington Senators  2 years  311 130 175 .426                   7.0
                                   Total 11 years 1658 735 889 .453                   5.9

The House of the Devil and other tricksters

To determine the origin of the horror film, it may be useful to first have a look at what a horror film is. Wikipedia gives us this description, “Horror films are movies that strive to elicit the emotions of fear, horror and terror from viewers. Their plots frequently involve themes of death, the supernatural or mental illness . Many horror movies also include a central villain”.

This is of course quite a broad discription and one could, if one were so inclined, discuss the differences between suspension dramas, psychological thrillers, fantasy films, science fiction films and horror films. Can the classic Dracula still be considered a horror film, although it really doesn’t frighten anyone these days? How do we know what was and what wasn’t frightening in the 1890’s?

Well, all this is of course up to judgement, speculation and opinion. Some of the films I include here, such as a few Lon Chaney-flicks or melodramatic costume shows, might not be considered horror movies in certain circles, whereas someone else might have included Méliès’ A Voyage to the Moon or the sci-fi classic Metropolis. I have made my choices after studying numerous lists of horror movies and then using my own judgement and taste. Comments are welcome!
Nonetheless, there is one thing that most observers do agree on. That is that the first ever horror movie is the short film Le Manoir du Diable (The House of the Devil) by frenchman Georges Méliès. Still, others mean that the film cannot be considered a horror film, since it was intended to amuse rather than frighten. Others again would say that the first horror film was Une nuit terrible, by the same director/actor/magician.

Below:  Méliès’ Le Manoir du Diable

Regradless of whether Méliès’ films should be considered pure horror films or horror comedy or just plain trick films, no one can deny the impact that his production had on early cinema in general and horror movies in particular.

Méliès was a stage magician who got intrigued with the possibilities of film after he saw a demonstration of the Lumiere Brothers’ camera. Between 1896 and 1914 he produced over 500 films, ranging in length from just one to forty minutes. In 1913 his company went bankrupt. Most of his films were lost forever when the French army melted them for boot heels during WWI. But some of them have survived, including The House of the Devil, A Night of Terror and his epic and hilarious A Voyage to the Moon (famed for the scene where a spacecraft crashes into the eye of the Man in the Moon).

Méliès pictures were usually devoid of any deeper plot, and mostly depicted short scetches in which things seemed to disappear and reappear, change size, multiply or transform. This he did by clever stop trick technique, multiple exposures and dissolves. In his films though, the tricks were always contributed to a devil, Mephistopheles, spirits or witches. In his 1896 film Le Manoir du Diable, Satan conjures up demons and witches from a cauldron before being banished by a cavalier. Compared to many of his later masterpieces, the film is quite crude and clumsy, but nevertheless has been hailed as the first horror movie.

For mor movies by Méliès, see the first 6 films in the Playlist of the corresponding YouTube link:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=02F56F1283F63A31&search_query=a+history+of+horror+movies

1896

All 12 teams returned from 1895. The owners still stuck with the one division 12 team set up. The Orioles and Spiders once again finished one-two in the standings, and would meet in their 2nd straight Temple Cup Series played before lackluster crowds. The status quo was alive and well in the National League.

Some rule changes of note: Home teams had to have a minimum of 12 new game balls available at the start of a game. (That might last for 3 batters in today’s game). The umpire had the final decision on whether a game would resume after a rain delay. And only players in uniform and managers were allowed in the dugout during a game.

The league hit at a .290 pace, down a couple of points, as the pitchers slowly adjusted to the 60 ft distance. The Orioles would lead the league with a team average of .328.The Spiders 3.46 team ERA would pace the league. The Reds would lead the league with a fielding % of .951, the 1st team to average less than 2 errors per game.

At the end of July the Reds would actually lead the league by 2 games, but they started talking about how much money they would get by appearing in the Temple Cup Series, which seemed to motivate the other teams to put forth their best effort when playing the Reds. The over disdain for Manager Buck Ewing was also a motivating factor. The slow decline of the Reds, and the usual late season rush by the Orioles saw the Orioles overtake them and finish a comfortable 9.5 games ahead of the Spiders.

Some noteworthy events: on 7/31 the Phillies Ed Delahanty hit 4 home runs in a losing effort against the Colts. He was the 2nd person to accomplish this feat. It would not happen again until Lou Gehrig did it in 1932. Delahanty is the only 4 HR guy to include an inside-the-park home run.

At the age of 45 Cap Anson was the starting catcher in 10 games. He is still the oldest player to catch that many games in a season.

Frank Killen would win 30 games. He is the only lefty to ever win 30 games in the National League.

Professor Charles E. Hinton of Princeton University would develop the 1st automatic pitching machine.

The 1st Frank Merriwell story was published in TIP TOP WEEKLY on 4/18. In all 896 stories would appear in 245 books. Gilbert Patton(pseudonym-Burt L. Standish) would write most of the stories, but many were penned by other writers under the supervision of Patton.

1896 Final Standings

NL

Team Name                        G    W    L    T   PCT    GB    RS   RA
Baltimore Orioles              132   90   39    3  .698     -   995  669
Cleveland Spiders              135   80   48    7  .625   9.5   840  650
Cincinnati Reds                128   77   50    1  .606  12.0   784  620
Boston Beaneaters              132   74   57    1  .565  17.0   865  767
Chicago Colts                  132   71   57    4  .555  18.5   815  805
Pittsburgh Pirates             131   66   63    2  .512  24.0   787  741
New York Giants                133   64   67    2  .489  27.0   829  815
Philadelphia Phillies          130   62   68    0  .477  28.5   890  889
Brooklyn Bridegrooms           133   58   73    2  .443  33.0   697  764
Washington Nationals           133   58   73    2  .443  33.0   818  924
St. Louis Browns               131   40   90    1  .308  50.5   591  929
Louisville Colonels            134   38   93    3  .290  53.0   659  997

LEAGUE LEADERS

AVG: JESSE BURKETT(CLEV)- .410

HOME RUN: ED DELAHANTY(PHIL)- 13                              BILL JOYCE(NY)- 13

RBI: ED DELAHANTY(PHIL)- 126

WINS: FRANK KILLEN(PIT)- 30            KID NICHOLS(BOS)- 30

ERA: BILLY RHINES(CINC)- 2.45

KS: CY YOUNG(CLE)- 140

WORLD EVENTS:

     George Burns               Otto Lilienthal in flight        1896 Olympic Poster

BORN:

1/20- George Burns (Lived to be 100)

2/26- Rip Collins

4/27- Rogers Hornsby

7/19- Bob Meusal

9/21- Walter Breuning (Currently the world’s oldest living man)

10/14- Oscar Charleston

11/8- Bucky Harris

11/10- Jimmy Dykes

11/14- Mamie Eisenhower (Former 1st lady)

12/14- Jimmy Doolitle

DIED:

7/1- Harriet Beecher Stowe

8/10- Otto Lilienthal

8/28- Curt Welch

9/20- Ed Crane

12/10- Alfred Nobel

EVENTS:

1/4- Utah becomes the 45th State

1/12- H.L. Smith takes the 1st x-ray photograph

4/6- Opening ceremonies of the 1st Modern Olympics is held in Athens, Greece

11/3- William McKinley beats William Jennings Bryant in the Presidential Elections

12/25- John Philip Sousa composes Stars and Stripes Forever

.

Vídeo de la réplica y su constructor.

sobrado.esmiweb.com

José Sobrado García

1895 – Wilhem Roentgen discovered X-rays, exposing a whole new universe of realities beyond the naked eye. 1896 – Antonie Becquered discovered radioactivity.

© eleatherberry

   #mce_temp_url#

…Home earth’s only paradise…

     – William Jennings Bryan, In His Image (NY: Fleming Revell Co., 1922), 16.

 It is more important that you trust the Rock of Ages

            than that you know the age of the rocks.

      – William Jennings Bryan, In His Image (NY: Fleming Revell Co., 1922), 39.

No mental processes can stop the mad race for money.  Man must be born again. 

     – William Jennings Bryan, In His Image (NY: Fleming Revell Co., 1922), 43.

I challenge the doctrine now being taught that we must enter into a mad rivalry with the Old World in the building of battleships, the doctrine that the only way to preserve peace is to get ready for wars that ought never to come!  It is a barbarous brutual, un-Christian doctrine – the doctrine of darkness, not the doctrine of the dawn.

     – William Jennings Bryan, In His Image (NY: Fleming Revell Co., 1922), 192.

Love of money is probably more responsible for modern wars than any other one cause…the blood of many being shed to enrich a few.  

      – William Jennings Bryan, In His Image (NY: Fleming Revell Co., 1922), 233.

William Jennings Bryan on this date 7/8/1896 at the Democratic National Convention, gave his famous speech 1896, supporting “the little man” of America, “You shall not crucify mankind upon a cross of gold.” 

What a shame and pity that neither Democrats nor Republicans can find a man of like caliber today.  God be merciful to America.

This guy was 83...when the creators of Shavetown.com were born

That’s right.  This spring chicken(Henry Allingham of Britain, shown above, rockin’ the horns to Mozart) became the worlds oldest man today when some Japanese guy shit the bed.  Ol’ Henry burst onto the scene in the summer of 1896…THE SUMMER OF 1896!  You know what else happend in 1896?  Utah became a goddamn state.  The 45th state.  This guy is the same age as Utah!

I used to get the Birthday Times from my aunt and uncle when I was younger.  It would say like Happy 12th Birthday cakeboobs,  here is how much milk cost when you were born in 1978 compared to now.  Did you know you share a birthday with Laverne from Laverne and Shirley?  Here is who won the Superbowl, World Series, movie of the year, etc.   Here is this guys Birthday Times.

Are you shitting me he’s 113?  I mean he doesn’t look a day over 112 to me….Rumor has it, he used to babysit Moses.

-CB

posted by caroline picard

excerpt from

“What is Art?” by Leo Tolstoy

Chapter Eight

originally published in 1896

But if art is a human activity having for its purpose the transmission to others of the highest and best feelings to which men have risen, how could it be that humanity for a certain rather considerable period of its existence (from the time people ceased to believe in Church doctrine down to the present day) should exist without this important activity, and, instead of it, should put up with an insignificant artistic activity only affording pleasure?

In order to answer this question it is necessary, first of all, to correct the current error people make in attributing to our art the significance of true, universal art. We are so accustomed, not only naively to consider the Circassian family the best stock of people, but also the Anglo-Saxon race the best race if we are Englishmen or Americans, or the Teutonic if we are Germans, or the Gallo-Latin if we are French, or the Slavonic if we are Russians, that, when speaking of our own art, we feel fully convinced, not only that our art is true art, but even that it is the best and only true art. But in reality our art is not only art (as the Bible once was held to be the only book), but it is not even the art of the whole of Christendom–only of a small section of that part of humanity. It was correct to speak of now-existing Chinese, Japanese, or Indian art shared in by a whole people. Such art, common to a whole nation, existed in Russia till Peter the First’s time, and existed in the rest of European society, having lost faith in the Church teaching, did not accept real Christianity but remained without any faith, one can no longer speak of an art of the Christian nations in the sense of the whole of art. Since the upper classes of the Christian nations lost faith in Church Christianity, the art of those upper classes has separated itself from the art of the res of the people and genteel art. And therefore the answer to the question, How could it occur that humanity, nor even any considerable portion of it, lived without real art, but only the highest classes of European Christian society, and even they only for a comparatively short time–from the beginning of the Renaissance to our own day.

And the consequence of this absence of true art showed itself, inevitably, in the corruption of that class which nourished itself on the false art. All the confused, unintelligible theories of art, all the false and contradictory judgements on art, and particularly the self-confident stagnation of our art in its false path, all arise from the assertion which has come into common use and is accepted as an unquestioned truth, but is yet amazingly and palpably false–the assertion (which is precisely similar to the assertion made by religious people of various Churches who consider that theirs is the only true religion) is quite arbitrary and obviously unjust, yet it is calmly repeated by all the people of our circle with full faith in its infallibility.

…

To the remark that if our art is the true art everyone should have the benefit of it, the usual reply is that if not everybody at present makes use of existing art the fault lies not in the art but in the false organization of society; that one can imagine oneself, in the future, a state of things in which physical labor will be partly superseded by machinery, partly lightened by its just distribution, and that the labor for the production of art will be taken in turns; that there is no need for some people always to sit below the stage moving the decorations, winding up the machinery, working at the piano or French horn, and setting type and printing books, but that people who do all this work might be engaged only a few hours per day, and in their leisure time might enjoy all the blessings of art.

That is what the defenders of our exclusive art say. But I think they do not themselves believe it. They cannot help think that fine art can arise only on the slavery of the masses of the people, and can continue only as long as that slavery lasts, and they cannot help knowing that only under conditions of intense labor for the workers can specialists–writers, musicians, dancers, and actors–arrive at that fine degree of perfection to which they do attain or produce their refined works of art; and only under the same conditions can there be a fine public to esteem such productions. Free slaves of capital, and it will be impossible to produce such refined art.

But even were we to admit the inadmissible and say that means may be found ny which art (that art which among us is considered to be art) may be accessible to the whole people, another consideration presents itself showing that fashionable art cannot be the whole of art, viz., the fact that it is completely unintelligible to the people. Formerly men wrote poems in Latin, but now their artistic productions are as unintelligible to the common folk as if they were written in Sanskrit. The usual reply to this is that if the people do not now understand this art of ours it only proves that they are undeveloped, and that this has been so at each fresh step forward made by art. First it was not understood, but afterward people got accustomed to it.

“It will be the same with our present art; it will be understood when everybody is as well educated as we are–the people of the upper classes–who produce this art,” say the defenders of our art. But this assertion is evidently even more unjust than the former, for we know that the majority of the productions of the art of the upper classes, such as various odes, poems, dramas, cantatas, pastorals, pictures, etc., which delighted the people of the upper classes when they were produced, never were afterward either understood or valued by the great masses of mankind, but have remained what they were at first–a mere pastime for rich people of their time, for whom alone thy ever were of any importance. It is also often urged, in proof of the assertion that the people will some day understand our art, that some productions of so-called “classical” poetry, music or painting, which formerly did not please the masses, do–now that they have been offered to them from all sides–begin to please these same masses; but this only shows that the crowd, especially the half-spoiled town crowd, can easily (its taste having been perverted) be accustomed to any sort of art. Moreover, this art is not produced by these masses, nor even chosen by them, but is energetically thrust upon them in those public places in which art is accessible to the people. For the great majority of working-people, our art, besides being inaccessible on account of its costliness, is strange in its very nature, transmitting as it does the feelings of people far removed from those conditions of laborious life which are natural to the great body of humanity. That which is enjoyment to a man of the rich classes is incomprehensible as a pleasure to a workingman, and evokes in him either no feeling at all or only a feeling quite contrary to that which it evokes in an idle and satiated man. Such feelings as form the chief subjects of present-day art–say, for instance honor, patriotism, and amorousness–evoke in a workingman only bewilderment and contempt, or indignation. So that even if a possibility were given to the laboring classes in their free time to see, to read, and to hear all that forms the flower of contemporary art (as is done to some extent in towns by means of picture galleries, popular concerts, and libraries), the workingman (to the extent to which he is a laborer and has not begun to pass into the ranks of those perverted by idleness) would be able to make nothing of our fine art, and if he did understand it, that which he understood would not elevate his soul but would certainly, in most cases, pervert it. To thoughtful and sincere people there can, therefore, be no doubt that the art of the upper class never can be the art of th whole people. But if art is an important matter, a spiritual blessing, essential for all men (“like religion,” as the devotees of art are fond of saying), then it should be accessible to everyone. And if, as in our day, it is not accessible to all men, then one of two things: either art is not the vital matter it is represented to be or that art which we call art is not the real thing.

The dilemma is inevitable and therefore clever and immoral people avoid it by denying one side of it, viz., denying that the common people have a right to art. These people simply and boldly speak out (what lies at the heart of the matter), and say that the participators in and utilizers of what, in their esteem, is highly beautiful art, i.e. art furnishing the greatest enjoyment, can only be “shone Geister*,” “the elect,”as the romanticists called them, the “Ubermenschen,” as they are called by the followers of Nietzsche; the remaining vulgar herd, incapable of experiencing these pleasures, must serve the exalted pleasures of this superior breed of people. The people who express these views at least do not pretend and do not try to combine the incombinable, but frankly admit what is the case–that our art is an art of the upper classes only. So essentially art has been, and is, understood by everyone engaged in it in our society.

*i.e. “men who are able to percieve the beautiful”

Frank L. Hughes built the structure, which now houses the historic Glynn House in 1896. The Hughes family moved into their new home the same year.  The building exterior has changed little over the years. Sweeping porches offer a comfortable place to relax during the warmer months. The stately turret provides a reminder of another era. The interior retains many original features, which take guests back to the late 19th century. White oak was used for floors, window frames, staircases, pocket doors and fireplace surrounds. The antique radiators are over 110 years old, beautiful to look at and provide an excellent source of heat during the winter months. The curved windows were very unusual and exceedingly expensive in 1896 and remain the most unique feature of the property today.