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  • Hershey’s Toilet Soap (1945)

    In 1936, you could purchase 6 bars of Hershey’s Cocoa Butter Soap for only .26 cents. [1] Not too bad considering that at the same time a 1 1/2 oz chocolate bar cost .5 cents. [2] Why did the famous chocolate mogul decide to go into the soap business? The answer is Cocoa butter.

    The wrapper for toilet soap by Hershey.
    Historic Trademarks – Hershey’s Toilet Soap. Credit: Missouri State Archives, public domain

    Every year, the plants that produced the famous Hershey’s chocolate bar would have a million pounds of excess cocoa butter waste. [1] It only made sense to turn the byproduct into something useful, aka soap.

    In the early 1900s, if you lived anywhere between New York City and Washington, DC, you could purchase one of Hershey’s 7 soap varieties from your local pharmacist. They included: Cocoa butter, Toilet Soap, Rose Garden Toilet Soap, Mechanics Economy Soap, Keystone Soap (with pumice), Soap Granules, Tar Soap, and Shaving Soap. [3]

    If you were going to swear and get soap in the mouth for it, this would be your best bet.

    [1] Hershey Community Archives – “Waste Not, Want Not…“

    [2] Food Timeline – Historic Food Prices

    [3] Hershey Community Archives – “Hershey’s Cocoa Butter Soap“

  • The Royal Boat of Oude (1858)

    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.

    A fish shaped boat wrecked on a river bank.
    “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.

    Sources

    [1] The Chatter Manzil Palace and the Royal Boat of Oude – Sarmaya

    [2] Nawab – Britannica

    [3] Felice Beato – Wikipedia

  • The Night Wanderer (1900)

    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”.

    A bat child under the text "They never saw their child again."
    “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!

    A dirty boy with long hair and nails.
    “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]

    Sources

    [1] Heinrich Hoffman – Britannica

    [2] “Not only Struwwelpeter: Heinrich Hoffmann (1809–1894) and his thoughtful observations on epilepsy” – Science Direct. By Francesco Brigo.

    [3] Dr. Heinrich Hoffmann – Lambiek Comicclopedia

  • Mercy Dogs – Red Cross Heroes

    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]

    War Poster that shows a dog and says "Even a dog enlists why not you?".
    “Even a dog enlists…” (1916) by Mildred T. Moody. Credit: Harry Ransom Center, public domain.
    A dog with their paw on a sign that reads "American Red Cross Everyone Welcome Here".
    “Sandy, Red Cross Dog” (1920) by Unknown. Credit: Library of Congress, public domain.
    A postcard featuring a nurse, a child, and a dog - all in red cross uniforms.
    “Red Cross Dog” (1918) by Randolph. Credit: National Archives and Records Administration, public domain.

    If you would like to read more, I recommend this short article by HistoryNet, “Mercy Dogs: Meet The Heroes…“.

    Did you know?…

    Sergeant Stubby, a Boston terrier, is the most decorated war dog in history. [2]

    Stubby posing with his army vest, which is covered in medals.
    “Sergeant Stubby” (1921) by Unknown. Credit: Terrierman’s Daily Dose, public domain.
    Stubby posing with his military vest, which is covered in medals.
    “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.
    • Survived gas exposure and a grenade!
    • Fought in 17 battles.
    • Caught a German soldier.
    Sources

    [1] “Mercy Dogs…” by HistoryNet

    [2] “Can Animals Receive Service Medals?” by Medals of America.

    [3] “Stubby” by Smithsonian

  • A Sperm Whale Skull

    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.

    A man next to a sperm whale skull.
    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]

    “Vive Mocha Dick” (1849) – The Knickerbocker

    Sources

    [1] “On ‘Mocha Dick,’ the White Whale of the Pacific that influenced Herman Melville.” by Literary Hub

  • Mud Therapy & Forced Relaxation

    Woman laying on the ground in mud.
    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.

    Sources

    [1] Holidays in Soviet Sanatoriums: the weird and wonderful wellness palaces of the USSR, New East Digital Archive.

    [2] On Vacation In Soviet-Era Sanatoriums, Atlas Obscura.

  • The Barnacle Goose Tree

    Until 1598, it was believed that barnacle geese came from a literal barnacle – and that the said barnacle could grow on trees.

    A diagram featuring barnacles on a tree branch along with a goose next to it.
    “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]

    Sources

    [1] Popular Science Monthly Volume 4 (1874). Found on the Internet Archive, and digitized by The University of Toronto.

    [2] Illuminating Our World: An Essay on the Unraveling of the Species Problem, with Assistance from a Barnacle and a Goose (2012) by John Buckeridge and Rob Watts. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute, Earth & Ocean Systems Group.

    [3] Goose Barnacle and Barnacle Goose (2017), Leiden Arts In Society Blog, Universiteit Leiden.

    [4] Gerrit de Veer – Wikipedia

  • Circus Frans Mikkenie

    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.

    The exterior of a glowing circus tent.
    “Exterior Tent in the evening” (1948) by Joop Van Bilsen
    A man balancing on a rope, spinning round items on his arms.
    “Juggler on a slack rope” (1948) by Joop Van Bilsen
    A man holding a chain in his mouth, another man dangling from the chain.
    Acrobats (1948) by Joop Van Bilsen
    Four acrobats midair in a performance.
    The ‘4 Airways’ and acrobat team (1948) by Daan Noske
    A crowd of children watching a show while eating a snack.
    Kids enjoying the show (1948) by Daan Noske
    A man balancing upside down on a stack of various items.
    Performer (1951) by Daan Noske

    All of these images are from the Nationaal Archief (the Dutch National Archives) and are under a Creative Commons Public Domain dedication license.

  • Monument To Departed Spirits

    Glass bottles shaped into a giant bottle.
    Monument to Departed Spirits, Digital Commonwealth Massachusetts Collections Online, public domain.

    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!

    [1] Ridge Hill Farms: The Beautiful and Bizarre World of William Emerson Baker by Natick Report.

  • Camel-Men, They Love the Taste of Humans

    Poster featuring monsters with the bottom of a man and the top of a camel. The monsters are fighting men, trying to escape capture.

    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.