Dark History, True Facts, and Mother Goose

     I am seeing an uptick in the number of articles the Interwebs has to offer on the True Story Behind various works of literature, and it is obviously time to take advantage of the trend.  I shall therefore indulge in a pastime which has obsessed people since the early nineteenth century, and enlighten youContinue reading “Dark History, True Facts, and Mother Goose”

Summers Behind Us

     Labor Day no longer means an end to the vacation season, of course.  Like wearing white or buying watermelon, vacations are available at any time of year.  In fact, we are moving right into the season when the snowbirds will start their annual migration away from snowy parts of the world to those withContinue reading “Summers Behind Us”

FICTION FRIDAY: Holiday Good

     “Ah, Heinrich!  I’m glad you’ve arrived.”      “It sounded urgent, Vincent.  You have located your creature?”      “The reports must be about him: eight feet tall, wearing a lab coat too small for him, and still dragging one of the electrodes that was attached when he broke out of my lab.”      “So weContinue reading “FICTION FRIDAY: Holiday Good”

Dogs Resting

     One of the things which has aroused distaste among some observers and amused jealousy among others is the things dogs can get away with doing right out there in public.  Yes, other domesticated animals do the same things, but few people walk through the streets with their cows or ferrets or reindeer.      TheContinue reading “Dogs Resting”

Dogs and Their Pets

     As mentioned in our last thrilling episode, I have been checking through the new arrivals to the inventory, looking over the adventures of dogs.  Here it was that I discovered the existence of the Bystander Beast, animals whose conduct in a postcard is minor.  But there are plenty of postcards where the dog isContinue reading “Dogs and Their Pets”

Bystander Beasts

      I was checking through the new inventory, searching for bloggable data and found, as usual, that there are plenty of outhouse cards, fishing cards, and dog cards.  What this says about the priorities of our ancestors I am hesitant to declare.  In any case, the dogs are busy with all the usual dog activities:Continue reading “Bystander Beasts”

Do Not Adjust Your Set

     Our ancestors, to judge by postcard cartoon art, certainly were a gaudier lot than they seem in those black and white photos in the family album.  We have discussed hereintofore the frequent appearance of checkered coats and trousers for men (the larger, the more likely).  And as far as stripes and polka dots areContinue reading “Do Not Adjust Your Set”

Postcard Jukebox

     We have discussed this hereintofore, but more cards come into the inventory and I need to venture anew into the fact that the cartoonists who produced pictures had the whole of pop culture to draw upon.  One of the easiest ways to get a grin or a nod from a prospective buyer was toContinue reading “Postcard Jukebox”