Horse Timers

For those of you who race horses this is probably nothing new but for me...well it caused me to pause and think...hmm, the perfect gift for the character who needs nothing. Or perhaps, it is a helpful gift for someone raising race horses. In either case it is an unusual tidbit. This comes from an ad in "The Rider & Driver" magazine ©1883.

Boston Symphony Orchestra

As many of you know I was born and raised in Massachusetts, in fact, my family heritage on my father's side always lived in Massachusetts until recent years. So, the Boston Symphony and the Boston Pops were a part of our lives. I've never had the pleasure of attending a Boston Symphony or Pops concert in person but I'd love to one day.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra is the topic of today's tidbit. Their first season was 1881-1882. A series of 20 concerts were played on Saturday evenings and you could purchase season tickets or individual ones. My writer's imagination kicked into high gear picturing my characters attending a concert, meeting at a concert, stumbling into trouble at a concert and on and on my imagination goes. You can read about this historical season At the BSO's website. On their site they also include programs from the season. It's a great resource. I can imagine many cities having similar orchestras.

Let your writer imagination run wild. Post some of your suggestions in the comments section.

Point of Reference: The Boston Symphony was not the first to give concert series in Boston. An example is the Harvard Symphony that started giving concerts in Boston in 1865.

Children's Games

I stumbled on this paragraph while reading "The Home: a Fireside Monthly"©1858. The paragraph includes various games played by the adults in the conversation. If you know of any source that explains these games I'd love for you to share them with us.

"Why not? What is your objection?" asked my brother from Iowa, who had come for a few days' visit. "I am sure I should like myself, to see a children's party, such as we used to have at home. Don't you remember the famous plays in Mr. Reed's dining-room, and at Squire Dickinson's ? — Button, and Hunt the Slipper, and Blind Man's Buff, and Here we go around the Barberry Bush! I should be very sorry to be without such recollections, or to have my children grow up without them."

Note: Blind man's buff not bluff at this time. And I'm wondering if Button is the same as Button, Button, Who's Got the Button? Hunt the Slipper could have been played this way. Also, Here we go around the Barberry Bush or Mulberry Bush as we tend to know it today.

Louisville Slugger

We've all heard about the bat but were you aware that it was created in the 19th century? John A. "Bud" Hillerich was 17 when legend has it, that he watched a game in Louisville. Pete Browning was in a hitting slump and broke his bat. "Bud" invited Browning to his father's woodworking shop where he crafted a new bat per Browning's instructions. Browning got three hits the next day with this new bat. The year was 1884. Baseball was 8 years old as a professional sport.

Today you can visit the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory in downtown Louisville.

Winners of the League Base-Ball Championship

From Houghtaling's Handbook ©1887

Winners of the League Base-Ball Championship
The following were the winners of the championship of the National Base-Ball League for the years named below:
1886 - Chicago Club. . . Won 90 games, and lost 34 games
1885 - Chicago Club . . . Won 87 games and lost 25 games
1884 - Providence Club . . . Won 84 games and lost 28 games
1883 - Boston Club . . . Won 63 games and lost 35 games
1882 - Chicago Club . . . Won 55 games and lost 29 games
1881 - Chicago Club . . . Won 56 games and lost 28 games
1880 - Chicago Club . . . Won 67 games and lost 17 games
1879 - Providence Club . . . Won 59 games and lost 25 games
1878 - Boston Club . . . Won 41 games and lost 19 games
1877 - Boston Club . . . Won 31 games and lost 17 games
1876 - Chicago Club . . . Won 52 games and lost 14 games
(end quote)

1876 was the first year of the National League of Professional Baseball. It organized with 8 teams. The Boston Red Stockings (also called the Boston Red Caps), Chicago White Stockings, Cincinnati Red Legs (also called the Cincinnati Red Stockings), Hartford Dark Blues, Louisville Grays, Philadelphia Athletics, Brooklyn Mutuals (also called the New York Mutuals) & St. Louis Browns (also called the St. Louis Brown Stockings). There were 70 games for the season starting April 22nd and ending Oct. 21st.

For more information about this first year of professional baseball check out The Baseball Almanac

Rules for Fly Fishing

The New Family Receipts ©1810 has this to say about fly fishing.


Rules for Fly Fishing.
A fishing fly is a bait used in angling for various kinds of fish. Thefly iseither natural or artificial. The chief of the natural flies are the *' stone fly," found under hollow stones at the sides of rivers, between April and July; it is brown, with yellow streaks, and has large wings. The " green-drake,'' found among stones by river sides i it has a yellow body ribbed with green; it is long and slender, with wings like a butterfly, and is common in the spring. The "' oak fly," found on the body of an oak or ash, is of a brown colour, and common during the summer months. Hie "palmer fly or worm," found on the leaves of plants, when it assumes the fly state from that of the caterpillar; it is much used in trout fishing. The " ant fly," found on ant hills from June to September. The •* May fly," is to be found playing at the river side, especially before rain. And the " black fly," which is to be found upon every hawthorn after the buds are off. There are two ways to fish with natural flies, either on the surface of the water, or a little underneath it. In angling for roach, dace, &c. the fly should be allowed to glide down the stream to the fish, but in very still water the bait may be drawn by the fish, which will make him eagerly pursue it.
There are many sorts of artificial flies to be had at the shops ; they are made in imitation of natural flies, and the rules for using them are as follow: Keep as far from the water's edge as may be, and fish down the stream with the sun at your back) the line must not touch the water. In clear river* the angler must use small flies with slender wings, but in muddy waters a larger fly may be used. After rain, when the waters are muddy, an orangecoloured fly may be used with advantage; in a clear day the fly must be light coloured, and in dark water the fly must be dark. The line should in general be twice as long as the rod ; but, after all, much will depend upon a quick eye and active hand. Flies made for catching salmon must have their wings standing one behind the other. Thii fish is said to be attracted by the gaudiest colours that can be obtained ; the wings and tail should be long and spreading.

The Greatest Billiard Match

The greatest billiard march ever played in America was 2,000 points up, four caroms, for $10,000, between Phelan and Sweereiter, at Detroit, Mich., on April 12, 1859. Phelan was the winner, scoring 2,001 points to his opponent's 1,994.

Micahael Phelan is written up today as: The Father of American Billiards. An expert player, author, manufacturer, inventor, and tireless promoter of the game. Worked endlessly to improve the game's image, and spread its popularity to all levels of society. Authored the first American books devoted exclusively to billiards. Founded The Billiard Cue, billiards' first periodical. His Arcadia Billiard Parlor, in New York City, set the trend for the lavish rooms to follow. Holds numerous patents for table design and cushions. Was the first to put ivory "diamonds" on the rails. His "angular" pockets—perhaps his greatest invention—led to incredible shotmaking streaks. Won the first major stakes match in American history, winning $15,000, in 1859.
Source: The above information comes from Recroomonline.com online. They are a great source for overall tidbits on the personalities in the sport of Pool.

Hot Air Balloons

The 19th century saw many hot air balloons. They were invented in the last quarter of the 19th century in France but they were becoming more common and ventured into America during the 19th century. HOwever, the first manned flight in America actually took place in 1793 and George Washington was in attendance.

In 1838 John Wise invented a ripping panel which solved the problem of the balloon being dragged along the ground once landed. This panel is still in use today.

Thaddeus Lowe a professor from New Jersey built his second balloon, Enterprise in 1858. It was in this balloon that the first telegraph message was sent in 1861.

Around the World in 80 days was written by Jules Verne in 1873 then into English in 1875.

Wikipedia 19th century Aviation has a great list of events in aviation during the 19th century.

Basketball

While NBA (Nathional Basketball Association) finals are in process I thought I'd point out that Basketball was invented in 1891 in Springfield, Mass. by a physical education instructor, James Naismith. He developed the indoor game while he was an instructor in Springfield College, at that time the college was also the training school for the Y.M.C.A.

Women's basketball started in 1892 at Smith College.

They used a soccer ball and a peach basket nailed to a ten foot pole and the first official game was played on Jan. 20, 1892. As you can well imagine the sport took off quickly. By the end of the century the YMCA started to discourage the game saying it distracted from their mission but other colleges, sports club, etc. picked up the sport.

Below in an excerpt from The cyclopedia for education Vol. 1 page 330 ©1919 by Paul Monroe

BASKETBALL. — The history of the origin and development of basketball is radically different from that of other games. Most of our popular games, like basketball, football, and cricket, were developed gradually over periods of scores or hundreds of years. Not so with basketball, which was invented in 1891 and in less than three years had become the national indoor game of America. The circumstances attending the invention of this game explain to some extent its remarkable success. Dr. Luther Halsey Gulick told his class in philosophy of physical training at the Springfield Y.M.C.A. Training School that a real need existed for an indoor game having the following characteristics: (1) Vigorous enough to develop general organic vigor. (2) Suitable for gymnasiums of different size and proportions. (3) One that should not necessitate elaborate and expensive equipment for the game or players. (4) Simple enough to be played by individuals not endowed with unusual size, strength, and skill. (5) It should be interesting. Dr. Gulick requested his students to submit games embodying these characteristics. Mr. (now Dr.) James Naismith submitted the game of basketball. The game was tried by the students in the Training School with very satisfactory results.

The main features of basketball as first worked out by Mr. Naismith have been retained, although many changes and additions in minor details have been introduced from time to time. In the beginning the game was played with 9 on a side; a little later the number was reduced to 7, and later to 5. The growth of interest in basketball has been phenomenal. For two or three years, the game was played almost exclusively in the gymnasiums of the Young Men's Christian Association; it was then taken up by the colleges, schools, and athletic clubs, and before 1900 was played in nearly every gymnasium in the country.
There are many good Indoor games in use in connection with the physical activities of our schools and colleges, but basketball is played more than all other indoor games together, and is by far the most popular. This great popularity is justified because basketball combines many important educational advantages. As an exercise it is one of the most valuable for developing organic vigor of heart and lungs, agility, bodily control, and endurance; as a game it affords admirable training in self-control, judgment, cooperation, obedience, and loyalty; as a means of recreation it is fascinating. Besides all these positive advantages of the game itself, basketball is a most valuable game because it is adapted to boys and girls of all ages; it is so simple that players enjoy it from the beginning; it may be played in a gymnasium of any size or shape, and is also a good outdoor game; and it requires less paraphernalia for the game and the players than any other game.

There are dangers in basketball when the game is not properly regulated. The game is so fascinating that players are tempted to play until overfatigued; students whose hearts are weak or who are untrained should be cautioned and supervised most carefully if allowed to play at all. Many cases of heart strain and impaired health have resulted from unregulated basketball. The game is so exciting that it easily degenerates into a rough and tumble fight for the ball, if not carefully regulated. Students should never be permitted to play basketball without an umpire to direct the game and enforce the rules.

College men play basketball with 5 players on a side, and the players are allowed to run all over the court. Many of the leading directors of physical education consider this game too violent for girls and women. In order to meet this objection, Dr. Dudley Allen Sargent modified the game by dividing the court into three equal parts and limiting the activity of each player to one third of the court. The modified game is usually played with 9 on a side though it may be played with 7 or even 5 on a side. The rules are the same as in the men's game, except that the players are required to remain in one section of the court, and the rules governing rough playing are more severe. The result of these modifications is a less strenuous game, much better adapted to girls and women than the regular game as played by men.

End of excerpt.

On a side note can you imagine living in 1919 and being told that because you were a woman you weren't able to play such a strenuous game?

Fish Ponds

My husband and I have a fish pond in our front yard, this got me to thinking about fish ponds in the 19th century. There are 13th century fish ponds in Hawaii but those are far older than what our 19th century ancestors would have used. Below is a description about putting in a fish pond taken from The Complete Angler:©1875

Doctor Lebault, the learned Frenchman, in his large discourse of Maison Rustique, gives this direction for
Of Fish-ponds. making of fish-ponds. I shall refer you to him, to read it at large : but I think I shall contract it, and yet make it
as useful.

He adviseth, that when you have drained the ground, and made the earth firm where the head of the pond must be, that you must then, in that place, drive in two or three rows of oak or elm piles, which should be scorched in the fire, or half burnt, before they be driven into the earth ; for being thus used, it preserves them much longer from rotting. And having done so, lay fagots or bavins of smaller wood betwixt them : and then earth betwixt and above them : and then, having first very well rammed them and the earth, use another pile in like manner as the first were : and note, that the second pile is to be of or about the height that you intend to make your sluice or floodgate, or the vent that you intend shall convey the overflowings of your pond in any flood that shall endanger the breaking of your pond-dam.

Then he advises, that you plant willows or owlers, about it, or both : and then cast in bavins, in some places not far from the side, and in the most sandy places, for fish both to spawn upon, and to defend them and the young fry from the many fish, and also from vermin, that lie at watch to destroy them, especially the spawn of the Carp and Tench, when 'tis left to the mercy of ducks or vermin.

He, and Dubravius, and all others advise that you make choice of such a place for your pond, that it may be refreshed with a little rill, or with rain water, running or falling into it; by which fish are more inclined both to breed, and are also refreshed and fed the better, and do prove to be of a much sweeter and more pleasant taste.

To which end it is observed, that such pools as be large and have most gravel, and shallows where fish may sport themselves, do afford fish of the purest taste. And note, that in all pools it is best for fish to have some retiring-place; as, namely, hollow banks, or shelves, or roots of trees, to keep them from danger, and, when they think fit, from the extreme heat of summer; as also from the extremity of cold in winter. And note, that if many trees be growing about your pond, the leaves thereof falling into the water, make it nauseous to the fish, and the fish to be so to the eater of it.

'Tis noted, that the Tench and Eel love mud : and the Carp loves gravelly ground, and in the hot months to feed on grass. You are to cleanse your pond, if you intend either profit or pleasure, once every three or four years, especially some ponds, and then let it lie dry six or twelve months, both to kill the waterweeds, as water-lilies, candocks, reate, and bulrushes, that breed there; and also that, as these die for want of water, so grass may grow in the pond's bottom, which Carps will eat greedily in all the hot months, if the pond be clean. The letting your pond dry, and sowing oats in the bottom is also good, for the fish feed the faster; and being sometimes let dry, you may observe what kind of fish either increases or thrives best in that water; for they differ much, both in their breeding and feeding.

Lebault also advises, that if your ponds be not very large and roomy, that you often feed your fish by throwing into them chippings of bread, curds, grains, or the entrails of chickens or of any fowl or beast that you kill to feed yourselves; for these afford fish a great relief. He says that frogs and ducks do much harm, and devour both the spawn and the young fry of all fish, especially of the Carp ; and I have, besides experience, many testimonies of it. But Lebault allows water-frogs to be good meat, especially in some months, if they be fat : but you are to note that he is a Frenchman ; and we English will hardly believe him, though we know frogs are usually eaten in his country : however he advises to destroy them and kingfishers out of your ponds. And he advises not to suffer much shooting at wildfowl; for that, he says, affrightens, and harms, and destroys the fish.
Note, that Carps and Tench thrive and breed best when no other fish is put with them into the same pond ; for all other fish devour their spawn, or at least the greatest part of it. And note, that clods of grass thrown into any pond feed any Carps in summer ; and that garden-earth and parsley thrown into a pond recovers and refreshes the sick fish. And note, that when you store your pond, you are to put into it two or three melters for one spawner, if you put them into a breeding-pond ; but if into a nurse-pond, or feeding-pond, in which they will not breed, then no care is to be taken whether there be most male or female Carps.

It is observed that the best ponds to breed Carps are those that be stony or sandy, and are warm, and free from wind; and that are not deep, but have willow-trees and grass on their sides, over which the water does sometimes flow : and note, that Carps do more usually breed in marl-pits, or pits that have clean clay bottoms ; or in new ponds, or ponds that lie dry a winter season, than in old ponds that be full of mud and weeds.*

Catfish

Hi all,

I stumbled on this interesting tidbit and thought I'd share it with all of you. June 23, 1859 a hundred and sixty pound catfish was caught in the Kansas River in Topeka.

This tiny bit of information is recored in the Collections of Kansas State Historical Society, Vol. 12. ©1912 I'm thinking this record may have gotten lost over the years. Current largest catfish records are much lower in weight.

Another citation is from The Topeka Tribune, June 23, 1859.

BIG FISH.-Two large catfish were captured in the Kaw this morning. The largest one weighing, net, 160 pounds. The smaller one 110 pounds. The mouth of the larger one measured, on the inside, eight by twelve inches. That fellow could carry a pretty good lunch in his head.

FYI Kansas and Kaw River are the same.

Olympics 1896

The Olympics are currently playing in Vancouver, Canada. So, in light of this games I thought I'd point out that the current Olympics had their roots in the 19th Century. Truth is the real roots go back to the old Greek culture 776 BC. Our modern day Olympics date back to the Summer Olympics of 1896 from April 6th -15th.

14 nations participated.
122 total medals were given.
USA earned the most gold at a count of 11.
Greece earned the most medals with a total of 46.
Sports represented: Athletic basically our Track & Field today, Cycling, Fencing, Gymnastics, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis, Weightlifting, and Wrestling.

Links with additional information.
Wikipedia
1896 Summer Olympics This site also has some pictures of from the event.

Ice Skating

During the 19th century Ice Skating developed not only as a past time but also as a sport. Speed skating competitions were held as early as 1863 in Norwegian clubs. Figure skating as we're accustomed to it was introduced by Jackson Haines in the mid 1860's he's said to be the "father of modern figure skating."

The actual skates were blades that were strapped on to a person's boot or shoe.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica Juvenile Non fiction ©1890 copied below will help you get a better picture of how the 19th century viewed skating.

SKATING, as at present practised, may be defined as a mode of progression (usually rapid) upon smooth ice, by the aid of steel blades attached to the soles of the feet It probably originated in the far north of Europe, in Scandinavia and Germany, where it is still in common use. In Russia it has never been a national pastime, as no smooth ice is formed in the rapidly running rivers. Even in St Petersburg it is mainly engaged in by English and Germans. The earliest skates appear to have been certain bones of large animals, but wood was also used from an early period.

In modern skating there are two totally distinct styles, which require different skates differently attached to tbe feet, and different extents and qualities of ice. The first, the "running " or "fen" style, simply consists in going straight ahead at the highest possible speed. Its home is on the fiords of Scandinavia, the fens of Lincolnshire, and the large rivers and lakes of North America. In Holland, Denmark, and North America it is the medium tor carrying a large winter market traffic. It first became common in England in 1662 after the return of the Stuarts. The wooden part or stock of a running skate s from 8 to 12 inches long, according to the length of the foot The blade is made of the best steel, with an average width of y6T inch. The heel is at right angles ;o the surface of the ice. The prow begins to rise off the ice at the fore end of the stock, at a gradually increasing angle, and projects 4 inches. The entire skate s attached to the foot by an iron screw in the heel of -he stock which enters the skater's boot heel and two ong straps which pass through slots in the stock and asten round the ankle and toes of the skater. The length of the heel strap varies from 22 to 32 inches, and that of he toe strap from 15 to 23 inches. Formerly the bottoms of the blades were fluted. A concavity is now effected by grinding; and, when in motion, the blade is rarely flat on the ice. The curve should be slight, and the depth no greater than will ensure a curve being made without touching the ice. The feet are placed at right angles to each other with the toes turned out1 and the body bent slightly forward. Each foot is then raised alternately and set down slightly on the inside edge. It immediately acquires a forward motion, which is increased by pushing with the other foot, that being at right angles and having no sliding motion. The feet must be kept perfectly level when raised and set down, and the skate carried in the Bame manner an inch above the ice when going forward. The forward stroke is made on the outer edge, and the pressure applied to the inner edge of the other foot. The arms are swung across the chest from side to side, and opposite to the direction of the striking leg in order to balance the weight The quickest method of stopping is to place the feet parallel, dig the heels into the ice, and arch the back. A longer but more graceful method is to turn the toes inwards, thus spreading the outside edges athwart the line of going. The feet should never be looked at, as the balance of the body is thereby disturbed. The eye should always be on a line with the horizon.
The fastest skating times recorded, from a standing start, and with no rear wind, have all been made in the United States, at Sew York, as follows:—
(This section is too blurred to copy correctly so I omitted it.)

The second style, termed "figure skating," is quite modern and purely English in its origin. This may be practised on any small pond, provided the ice is clear of snow and perfectly smooth. The more numerous opportunities thus afforded make it the more popular style in Great Britain, where the large streams seldom freeze. Figure skating consists in cutting arcs, circles, figures, letters, serpentines, and spirals,—either forwards or backwards, slowly or rapidly, on one or both feet, singly or in combination. The style can ultimatoly be analysed into four kinds of strokes, all made on the edges of the blade— the inside forward, the outside forward, the inside backward, and the outside backward. The variety of evolutions which can be developed from these four movements ii endless. The figure skate is made entirely of metal, is
strapless and fixed to the boots by clamps or like devices. Unlike the running skate, it can be instantly put on or taken off. Many kinds have been invented, but the " Acme," firs* produced in Canada, is generally acknowledged the best. The blade projects the merest trifle beyond the length of the foot and is rounded off in-an upward direction from the ice at both toe and heel. The bottom i.s J inch wide, and the best curve for grinding it is to that of a sovcnfoot radius, equal throughout and not increased fit cither end. In stopping, the end of one skate is placed at right angles to the other.
Summer skating has been occasionally provided in " glaciariums " by means of artificially produced ice.
The London Skating Club, founded in 1830, ii tho lending skating society of Great Britain. Comprising bnt 170 members, including 20 ladies, and practising on exclusively private water in Hegeut's Park, it countenances figure akating only and gives no oncourngoment whatever to the spread or teaching of a national pastime. The National Skating Association was formed in the year 1879, and, on December 8, held tho first raco for the running championship at Thorney, Cambridgeshire. The objecta of the association are as follows:—

To promote, ascertain, and reward speed In skutlnj*,—by the establishment and management of amatear and open akating championships of England; by stimulating and aupplemenling local action In holding of skating matches; by establishing an order of merit for speed skatcn. and awarding badges for tho Bftme; by assisting In providing facilities for skating by the shallow flooding of land In each locality where local branches exist; and by collecting through corresponding members Information of tho existence of loo on which skating Is practicable, and tho supplying of such Information to Its members; and to promote anil encourage figure skating, by tho establishment of standards at which figure skitters may aim, by bestowing bndges of merit on those who attain tlieso standards, and by promoting and aatUtlng In the formation of skating clubs. To provide rules and regulations for tho gamo of hockey on tho Ico, Also to promote the establishment of International skating contests In various countries. under the direction of an International council.

In the United States and Canada large and shallow artificial ponds under cover, termed "rinks," are in winter frozen by filling them with water. Each uight the surface is covered with a layer of water, which gives a fresh sheet of ice by morning. The coven protect the rinks from snow, another great advantage.

As regards a substitute for ico and ice akating on wooden or asphalt floors, the only invention that has ever been found even partially successful is that of James !.. Plimpton of New York in 1869. The implements may bo described as skatea with two parallel wheels at tho toe and heel, so hung that tho whool axloa are moved out of parallel by the transverse rocking of tho skater's foot, the wheela setting squarely on tho surface whether the skater be upright or cantod. Tho fatigue caused by these "roller skates" is quadruple that of ordinary ice skating.