Today in Johnson City History, Saturday, November 16, 2024
Fashion news, wise sayings, Crandall news, and more
Thursday, November 16, 1899: One hundred and twenty-five years ago today, The Comet reported the latest news in fashions. For example, “Rain coats for fall and winter have discarded the cape.”
“Very handsome umbrellas have long slender pearl handles covered with filigree silver work.”
“The latest novelties in stocks have no stiffening whatever, being cut with two points at the back.”
“Pretty shirt waists of scarlet flannel make gay bits of color on the street.”
“The very choicest things in fans is made of pheasants’ plumage with sticks of green mother-of-pearl.”
“A chicken’s claw of silver is a unique ornament with which to secure a quill on walking hats.”
“A fashionable hatter is handling a smart line of gray cloth walking hats having machine-stitched brims and crowns.”
“Old-fashioned velvet reticules embroidered with steel beads, in which to hold the handerkerchief (sic), have come back into favor again.”
“A charming little bonnet for a baby is of pale blue silk with a row of furry little animal’s heads peeping out from underneath the ruffle which encircles the face.”
On another page of The Comet, readers were entertained by “Backlog Philosophy”. Here’s what followed: “It is always easier to preach than to practice, and often lots cheaper.”
“A woman is never happier than when she has a dry goods clerk pulling down bundles.”
“Old age and honor are not synonimous (sic) terms.”
“The brightest boy is the one who spends the most time at home.”
“Advice would be more appreciated if it was not so cheap.”
“A liar is the devil’s right bower.”
“It is much easier to find faults than to remedy them.”
“The married couple who love most in publc (sic) are ‘otherwise engaged’ when at home.”
“Long hair doesn’t make a poet, nor pious looks a preacher.”
“It is better to know how to cook than to paint.”
“The man who imagines the earth will cease to revolve as soon as he passes away ought to try it.”
“A narrow mine is necessarily a small one.”
“The way of the transgressor is hard, which accounts for it not being a waterway.”
The newspaper also reported information about the Crandall family; a lengthy item appeared in yesterday’s column. Some of the details that follow today differ slightly. “Mrs. J. E. Crandall and sister, Miss Nettie Shortridge, left Tuesday on the vestibule for Shelldon (sic), Illinois, their old home. Mrs. Crandall will join Mr. Crandall at Kansas City and they will go to California and locate permanently. Mrs. Crandall and Miss Shortridge had been residents of Johnson City for about twelve years and have been prominent members of society. They have numerous friends who regret their departure.”
Other news that appeared in the newspaper includes the following: “Dr. J. W. Cox met with a painful accident last Saturday. His horse became unmanageable and in jumping from his buggy was thrown heavily to the ground upon his head. It was thought for a while yesterday that he would die, but he is better today and there are now strong hopes for his ultimate recovery.”
“S. C. Williams spent Sunday in Bristol.”
“Mrs. DeLong Rice and Miss Evelyn Carr were visitors in Chattanooga last week.”
“J. C. Boy, but we don’t know which one, was registered at the St. Lawrence in Bristol Sunday.”
“Mrs. J. R. Box is now considered to be out of danger, although she is yet far from being well.”
“A. N. Molesworth has returned from Philadelphia, where he has been to consult officials of the O. R. & C. road (sic).”
“Miss Bessie Lou Burgess left Wednesday morning for Knoxville, where she will attend school at Holbrook College.”
“Dr. C. S. Kinzer, of Hillsboro, Va., spent a few hours in the city Wednesday en route to Knoxville to enter the Tennessee Medical College.”
“M. H. Gammon returned yesterday from San Antonio, Texas. He states that Governor Taylor’s family are very comfortably situated and pleased with their surroundings.”
“Capt. Henry Tittsworth and bride, nee Miss Matlock, of Riceville, Tenn., have returned to Chattanooga from an extended bridal tour in the west. They are now occupying apartments at the Reed house (sic), where they are at home to friends.”
Riceville is located in Hamblen County.
“Bear in mind the 28th is the Bazaar on Main street (sic), where will be dolls all sizes ready dressed for sale. A cushion booth with cushions all sizes for a xmax (sic) present and innumerable presents at reasonable prices at other booths for every one (sic). Remember also we will have ready a good dinner to serve for 25 cents, and oysters in the evening.”
“Boring Bros. have sold out, or rather agreed to stop making handles for a period of years for a handsome consideration. The factory has been closed. The purchasers were Atlanta capitalists.”
Two house fires were in the news. “A dwelling known as the Palmer house in Carnegie, and owned by Mr. Skelding, superintendent of the furnace, was burned Monday night about 2 o’clock. The house was occupied by Mr. McMonigle and family, but the family was in Virginia. The building and contents were fairly covered by insurance.”
Carnegie was, and still is, a neighborhood in Johnson City.
“The residence of Miss Malinda Kyker, six miles south of Jonesboro, was burned one night last week. Very little of the household effects were saved. This house was the house of old Mr. Kyker, the originator of the celebrated ‘Kyker Pipe,’ and wipes out one of the oldest residences in the county.”
Truly, it takes several people to put together something like you’ve just read. I express profound appreciation to Heidi Dulebohn and Stephanie McClellan Houk for their thoughts and encouragement.
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