Newspapers : From Birmingham Post 150 years ago

[mikejee]

13.11.1862
Discussion of Balsall Heath board of Health on lighting. An interesting idea that the area only neede them for 9 months of the year (presumably excluding the summer)
Health & Safety at Camp hill station
Cute man required. Apparently this then meant clever. Hate to think of response to it if posted today.
Disinclination to work sounds like laziness to me. Presumably if used for this purpose the patient had them forced down his/her throat, as they are scarcely likely to take them voluntarily
Note the luggage on the roof. I would have thought there was a good chance of loss through it falling off more than it catching fire

 

[A Sparks]

Interesting about the use of the work 'cute', I have heard it used to mean someone who is sharp, canny etc.
I suspect it might be an abrieviation of a longer word?

 

[DavidGrain]

"Cute" meaning clever is a shortened form of "acute". I have now spotted the apostrophe before the c in the advert.

 

[mikejee]

I thought it might be that, but can't see much point in shotening by removing one letter but putting in an apostrophe

 

[DavidGrain]

If they hadn't shortened it would have to be "an acute" instead of "a 'cute".

 

[mikejee]

14.11.1862
Poor things can't find tolerably competant servants - I really feel for them

 

[paul stacey]

Yes!! the decline in the servant class in England, started the slow demise of the country, bring back servants now I say, and half the unemployment.
paul

 

[barrie]

What a bloody shame, you really do have to feel for them. Fancy having to do your own cleaning and cooking, it must have been dreadful for them.

 

[Astoness]

another great snippet mike...actually even if i could i would not have servants waiting on me hand foot and finger..much prefer to do my own cooking and cleaning and they would only get under me feet lol

lyn

 

[mikejee]

15.11.1862
Recruiting a schoolmistress at the workhoiuse. I wonder if it is a choice whether you have candles or gas, or it is imposed
A 1862 traffic accident
Either unexceptional had different meaning then, or he was not trying to impress a future employer
Glad chinese restaurants don't use it now !!

 

[Vivienne14]

How times have changed. The first clipping would be classed as discriminatory today.

The use of 'unexceptional' in the third clipping must have meant 'usual', I think. Viv.

 

[paul stacey]

The problem is Viv that the world we knew and loved has changed so dramatically, that if any one was resurrected from any time before the 1960's, they would be at a loss to understand anything.
paul

 

[mikejee]

17.11.1862
A middle aged alcoholic Oliver Twist
I would have thought even the most dubious solicitor would have not tried to prosecute someone who bought a product which infringed a patent

 

[Astoness]

The problem is Viv that the world we knew and loved has changed so dramatically, that if any one was resurrected from any time before the 1960's, they would be at a loss to understand anything.
paul

thats true enough paul...how times change and this is a great thread thats gives us a good knoweledge of days gone by ...thank you mike i am always on the lookout for a mention to my family in case they got up to no good lol..

lyn

 

[mikejee]

18.11.1862
From these letters it looks like the letter writer of 12th was right and there was something a bit dodgy going on in the council, concerning the mayor's chain - things never change
Some weeks ago the temperance movement was condemning the dens of iniquity that were music halls. they have decided to set up their own. Bet they were a bit boring
So shoeblacking is illegal on the sabbath - I suppose it is legal to breath
I presume from the tone the original meaning of "maidens " is meant. I wonder if they have to be inspected for virginity by a doctor
Would be very dubious today, but shows how young working children could be then
Amusing to think of Russians then being asked to mediate in the American Civil War.

 

[mikejee]

19.11.1862
Threequarters of an hour before the fire station was informed of the fire. Unwanted calls are irritatingm but phones do have their advantages
Bond slaves in Edgbaston

 

[willmott]

I like this too.

 

[mikejee]

20.11.1862
Strange story of the removal of a roof
So up till shortly before this time you did not need a licence to sell beer if you did not charge much for it
The engine lost the train
Lucky escape at pit
Wonder if public school had the same meaning then as now
Profitable children's labour
Warning - wonder what he did !

 

[DavidGrain]

I would like to assure passengers that all trains now have continous brakes which are failsafe so that if a train splits in two both parts automatically come to a stop.

 

[G G Jean]

Thanks goodness for that David.

 

[barrie]

I do wonder what the "newly invented machine" was?


Barrie.

 

[Vivienne14]

Clippings #1,2,3,5 & 6 would each make good subjects for a novel!! Is it me or do they all seem to be a bit odd? Viv.

 

[oldMohawk]

I suppose the Severn Valley incident could be described as 'breaking news' - never a dull read in the Old Birmingham Post !
oldmohawk

 

[mikejee]

Viv
Remember i do pick out the ones that seem a bit different , or give interesting information. The three-quarter page reports of some council meetings (in a 4 page paper) get left out usually !

 

[Vivienne14]

That's a relief Mike -.expect council minutes would have been popular reading at the time. Especially enjoying the quirky clippings! So of their time. Viv.

 

[mikejee]

21.11.1862
If only our own politicians pecidilloes could be displayed freely like this
Wringing a policeman's nose
I know there were probably piles of boxes of celery, but i have an image of a few roots on the road obstructing traffic

 

[DavidGrain]

After reading the article about the New York elections, I looked up Fernando Woods https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fernando_Wood

I had heard about Tammany Hall, the completely corrupt branch of the Democratic Party who controlled New York City for many years, but otherwise know very little about them.

 

[paul stacey]

"Communion with the Pewter Mug",?, I take it he was a habitual imbiber!!!. I knew a few Constables who needed their nose's wringing.
Paul

 

[mikejee]

22.11.1862
First proposal for Woodcock St Baths
Perhaps this cutting is appropriate after the farce at Church House yesterday. 150 years makes little difference

 

[Astoness]

19.11.1862
Threequarters of an hour before the fire station was informed of the fire. Unwanted calls are irritatingm but phones do have their advantages
Bond slaves in Edgbaston

hi mike found the snippit about the fire at nos 12/13 newtown row very interesting..such a good report on the fire..hope you dont mind me posting this old pic as it shows no 27 newtown row so very close to where the fire was...oops the pic is at the top of the page mike not the bottom as intended....