This fish-shaped boat, wrecked on the banks of the River Gomti, represented rebellion and political change.
The Royal Boat of Oude belonged to the last Nawab(ruler) of Awadh to reign, Wajid Ali Shah. [1] [2] Thanks to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, his rule and his boat met their end.
In the distance is the Chattar Manzil, a palace built by a previous Nawab, Ghazi-ud-Din Haidar Shah. It too looks worse for wear.
“The Chattar Manzil…” (1858) by Felice Beato. Credit: Getty Center, public domain.
Did you know?…
Felice Beato, the photographer of the symbolic image above, was one of the first ever war photographers. He was also one of the earliest people to take photographs in East Asia! [3]
Here is the Getty Museum’s full collection of Beato’s works. There are over 1,400 images! I plan on featuring more in the future, so stay tuned.
Below is an image of Oswald, also known as the Night Wanderer. He is part of a book called “Slovenly Peter: or, Cheerful Stories and Funny Pictures for good little folks”.
“Simple Hans and…” (1854) by Heinrich Hoffman. Credit: The British Library, public domain.
The tales in this book are anything but cheerful! They are often creepy and accompanied by weird art. Not what I would want my “good little folks” to read.
Back to Oswald. This image is accompanied by a poem, a lesson if you will. The moral being that those who wander in the night will turn into a bat. If I were still a child, the idea of turning into a bat might have seemed like a good thing.
What other tales does this book have?
Well, the book’s namesake, “Slovenly Peter”, is just 10 lines describing a child who doesn’t bathe, brush their hair, or cut their nails. Short and not so sweet. However, the image is fabulous!
“Slovenly Peter” (1900) by Heinrich Hoffmann. Credit: Internet Archive, public domain.
I didn’t read the whole book, but feel free to do so. Maybe with this knowledge, you too can turn into a flying mammal!
Full Book: “Slovenly Peter” (1900) by Heinrich Hoffman, on the Internet Archive.
Did you know?…
The author of this book, Heinrich Hoffman (1809-1894), originally created these tales as cautionary stories for his 4-year-old as a Christmas gift. [1]
Hoffman was a psychiatrist who made efforts to help people who suffered from mental disorders and/or epilepsy. [2] On theme with the oddness of his book, he was also a Freemason. [3]
During World War I (1914 – 1918), over 16 million animals were on the front lines accompanying the soldiers in their duties. Mercy Dogs were there for the injured and dying. They gave them first aid supplies or comforted them in their last moments. [1]
“Even a dog enlists…” (1916) by Mildred T. Moody. Credit: Harry Ransom Center, public domain.“Sandy, Red Cross Dog” (1920) by Unknown. Credit: Library of Congress, public domain.“Red Cross Dog” (1918) by Randolph. Credit: National Archives and Records Administration, public domain.
Sergeant Stubby, a Boston terrier, is the most decorated war dog in history. [2]
“Sergeant Stubby” (1921) by Unknown. Credit: Terrierman’s Daily Dose, public domain.“The American Army dog…” (1923) by Unknown. Credit: Nationaal Archief, public domain.
He has so many achievements! I’m just going to make a list of some of them [3]:
He could salute by putting his right paw on his right eyebrow.
This photo was taken by Daniel Bruun somewhere in Iceland, circa 1900. Daniel Bruun (1856-1931) was a Danish topographer, whom I can imagine was casually surveying the coast only to stumble upon this rarity. Selfie of a lifetime.
Sperm Whale Skull circa 1900 by Daniel Bruun, Nationalmuseet. CC BY-SA 3.0
Did you know?…
The famous Moby Dick was based on a real albino sperm whale named Mocha Dick. As for his name, Mocha was first sighted off Mocha Island, Chile. The Dick part was just a common name at the time. It would be like saying Mocha Bob. Dick just so happens to be less common nowadays – and more comical. [1]
Mud baths at Saki circa 1920 – National Library of Medicine. Public Domain.
Translated: “Saki. Patients in mud baths”.
This photo was taken at the Saki Sanatorium in Evpatoria, Russia. It is dated circa 1920, which makes it one of the Soviet Union’s many workers’ spas. This is a place where hardworking citizens were required encouraged to rest as part of the 1922 Labor Code. [1]
The visitors could expect various spa treatments at no cost, but they were not allowed to drink, dance, or be loud. [2] Bummer.
Until 1598, it was believed that barnacle geese came from a literal barnacle – and that the said barnacle could grow on trees.
“Illustration of Goose Tree…” (1633). Credit John Gerarde, Thomas Johnson, and the Wellcome Collection. Public Domain.
There were even plenty of ‘eye-witnesses’, an example being Hector Boece, a Scottish philosopher, historian, and a big ole liar. [1]
The whole myth is said to originate with Venerable Bede in his 8th-century book “De Natura Rerum” (Of the Nature of Things). He was known as the ‘Father of English History’ and, apparently, the father of goose myths. [2]
Luckily, we had Gerrit de Veer, who in 1598 became the first person to observe the geese and their eggs. [3] Veer was also the first person to see and record the Novarya Zemlya Effect, a type of polar mirage – which is arguably cooler. [4]
Between 1948 and 1954, the Circus Frans Mikkenie was the largest of its kind in the Netherlands. There were tons of animal performers; in fact, they were well known for their horses, but I will refrain from sharing any – for ethical reasons.
This is a large art piece shaped like a giant alcohol bottle, made out of used alcohol bottles. Its official name is “Monument To Departed Spirits”. The departed spirits, being, of course, the liquor departing from their containers. I love puns.
This photo was taken sometime between 1850 and 1920, on Ridge Hill farm in Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Did you know?..
Ridge Hill Farms was an 800-acre farm owned by William Emerson Baker, a businessman. It was described as a blend of a farm and an amusement park. It even included a bear pit!
This 17th-century poster claims that on September 20th, 1690 (a very specific date), these vicious Camel-Men were captured by King William III’s army in Limerick, Ireland. Afterward, the troops transported them across land and sea to London. For what purpose, and at what cost – the world will never know.
The Camel-Men were said to be man-eaters. Does this make them cannibals too? Maybe half cannibals. Were they also athletes? Those calves are ripped.
Both the image and information are from the Rijksmuseum, Monstrous camel-man, public domain.
The Sphygmorgaph is an 1800s device used to measure a person’s pulse. It would record the movements on paper, thus making it a device used in Pulse Writing. Think of it as an old-timey EKG device or the closest thing to it for its time.
Before the 16th century, doctors would measure their patients’ pulse using only ‘tactus eruditu’ – a learned touch. At that point in history, there was no easy way to record or visualize the pulse, outside of the practitioner’s mind. [1]
Pusiolgy was the First Device to Record The Pulse
Santorio Sanctorius (1561 – 1636) invented the pusilogy, the first device to record pulse rate, though it still relied on the physician’s touch. The input for the invention was the doctor’s movement of a pendulum in reference to the pulse he felt with his fingers. [2]
