L. Agassiz

The human experience, summed up.

San Francisco, CA - 1906 - HistoryPin

Plenty more like this, inside.

Childhood is really such a recent invention.

Morgantown, West Virginia - 1908 - @ The Library of Congress

deeper water than they cared to encounter

A LARGE SHARK CAPTURED A large shark has been prowling about the lower harbour for some time past, and up to Tuesday night evaded all efforts of the fishermen to take it. However at nightfall on Tuesday, Mr John Noble, a well known lower harbour fisherman was returning home, he was informed that the monster, some 18 ft long, was in the vicinity of Mr W. Innes's fishery. Mr Noble who has previously taken several sharks in the Port Chalmers waters, at once manned his boat and sent in persuit, succeeding, after a hard contest, in harpooning the creature off the George street wharf. The fish was then towed around to Tunnage's fishery to be hauled up. Here what might have been a very serious accident occurred, for a number of young and old of both sexes desirous of seeing the shark made their way round to Mr Tunnage's fishery and took up a position on the landing-stage designed for the reception of the fish. In all, the unexpected visitors must have been between 30 and 40. The landing stage (only intended to support the weight of the fish) proved unable to support the weight and it sank, taking its occupants into deeper water than they cared to encounter. One young lady, seeing the stage was sinking, very pluckily held on to a wire rope stretched above her head, and succeeded in sustaining herself and two friends. Some few bruises were sustained by some of the young people on the stage, but eventually everyone was landed.

Port Chalmers, Otago, NZ - 1901 - Natural Library NZ on the Commons

The Plunge

I want to try out the long slide.

Santa Cruz - 1908 - @ American Memory

Private Slaughterhouse

I feel like this is the single most straightforward business card I have ever seen. Need a butcher? Here. Butchers.

Montreal, Canada - 1906 - @ Andre Vandal

Running a Race

In their stocking feet and determined to win. And that guy on the left looks a little chuckly for someone who gets to run in shorts.

Toronto Island, Ontario, Canada - 1907 - @ City of Toronto Archives

a man doing a flip

Come on back to the alley, I've got something to show you. 

Illinois - 1900 - Charles Irish - @ Rock Island County Historical Society

Handicrafts

I believe these young fellows have just come from hooligan class.

Reykjavíkur, Iceland

1909, photographer Magnús Ólafsson
@ The Reykjavík Museum of Photography 

Fakir on a Bed of Spikes

He just looks so damn comfortable. Both in his skin and on his spikes.

India

1907

from Library of Congress

Hubert Latham

Sometimes, when you attempt to become the first person to cross the English Channel in a plane, you instead become the first person to land a plane on a body of water. Both of these can be successes.

 Over the English Channel 
 1909 
from MetroPostcard

The Spiral

Yeah, but how long did it take to learn to ride the bike back up it?

Waterford

1900

from the National Library of Ireland

Cats and Dogs

I find myself skeptical.

Ottowa, Canada

1904, photographer William James

from Library and Archives Canada 

That's Just Mean

I'd love to know what prompted that. From their faces, it almost seems like a joke.

Wisconsin

1906, photographer Harry Elsworth Cole

Wisconsin Historical Society

loaded

This is what my house will look like when the war gets this far. Except without the guns, because I only have the typewriters.

Oliver typewriter ad

1908

from Captain Geoffrey Spaulding's flickr stream

Said Chocolate Drop the barber...

This is how I like children's book. Slightly offputting and surreal.

Fun and Nonsense

1904, illustrator Willard Bonte

from Project Gutenburg

connection

They look like the last two creatures in the world.

Pelican Island NWR

Sebastian, Florida

1907, photographer George Nelson

from The US Fish and Wildlife National Digital Library

Joseph Shaw, age 73 y

I am honestly surprised that I have not, as yet, ever lived in a similar structure. I want to see the inside.

Nome Beach, Alaska

1905

from Alaska's Digital Archives

20th Annual Social Session, Free to Stockholders

Oysters, Celery, Olives, Radish, Almonds, Clam Broth, Brook Trout, Potato Parisienne. Apricot Brandy Punch. Larded Tenderloin, Fresh Mushrooms, Potato Croquett, Brussels Sprouts, Romain Salad, Camembert Cheese, French Dressing, Cafe Noir. Mumm's Champagne, Extra Dry. Deinhart and Co.s Famous Rhine Wine. R. B. C. Beer. This is what I am not having for dinner.

Reading Brewing Company Dinner Menu

Reading, PA

1906

from NYPL

sport

Okay, so, what? Someone took a photo of two dudes in their skimpies and cut them out and put them in a field to do a little bowling? Do you suppose this was advertising or a fetish?

1909

from the NYPL Picture Collection

Billy Bounce Saves the King

Wild hair and devil horns: the interplanetary signs of anarchy.

Billy Bounce Comics

1906, illustrator C. W. Kahles

from Barnacles Press