questionableadvice

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~ Why Men Like Us; Your Passport to Charm, by Louise Paine Benjamin, 1937

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~ Every Woman’s Encyclopaedia, c. 1910-1912

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~ Undark, 1921

“Does Undark really contain radium? Most assuredly."

Undark was produced by the US Radium Corporation and was the product used by the "Radium Girls" to paint the dials of wristwatches. It also caused many of them to die painful deaths with the full knowledge of the Corporation.

More about the Radium Girls and the corrupt US Radium Corporation found here* and of course in Kate Moore's book The Radium Girls.

*warning for one historic picture of the effects of radium and a lot of descriptions of an evil corporation being evil

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1) I have never heard someone make Chiclets sound so beautiful before, those “pearl-like pellets of delight”

2) So…they made their own Chiclet Palmistry Chart becauuuuse…? (Maybe they were trying to hop on the latter part of the Spiritualism and occult movement because…????)

(Source: McClure’s Magazine, July 1907 from own collection)

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Breakfast! Love it or hate it, you have to agree that breakfast is a thing that exists. And because it exists, someone somewhere has helpful advice telling you the proper way to do it.

Pancakes are often eaten for breakfast. Next time you're making pancakes, the Olympic Pancake Flour company advises that you try making them digestible. This may improve your breakfast experience.

Also, please be careful when cooking them to avoid pancake-related accidents.

After you're retrieved any escaped pancakes, you will need a dish to put them on.

And when you finally sit down to eat, please be sure you are correctly dressed.

The Myrtle Reed Cookbook, 1916

Olympic Pancake Flour, 1909

The Pocumtuc Housewife; a guide to domestic cookery, as it is practiced in the Connecticut Valley….especially adapted to the use of young wives who come from outside places and are not conversant with the ways of theValley, and of female orphans who have not had a mother’s training, by Several Ladies, 1805

The Myrtle Reed Cookbook, 1916

A Manual of Etiquette with Hints on Politeness and Good Breeding, by Daisy Eyebright, 1852

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~ House and Home: A Complete Housewife’s Guide, by Marion Harland, 1889

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~ E.Q. Smith, Grocer, 1906

"Most Grocers are Sane. Some Customers are Not."

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~ The Spinster Book, by Myrtle Reed, 1901

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~ The Deseret News, Salt Lake City, Utah; July 2, 1932

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~ “Aunt Babette’s” Cook Book, c. 1889

"Sew the bacon to a strip of flannel..."

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~ Frost’s Laws and By-Laws of American Society: a Condensed but Thorough Treatise on Etiquette and its Usages in America, Containing Plain and Reliable Directions for Deportment in Every Situation in Life, Besides One Hundred Unclassified Laws Applicable to All Occasions by S. A. Frost, 1869.

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Dear Questionable Advice, I am interested in writing letters. Do you have any advice on how to do this thing?

I certainly do! Until recently most people wrote letters and even now you may find yourself called upon to do it, so today we will let history tell us the best way.

First of all, you will need a piece of paper:

Then, of course you will need someone to write to. Keep in mind that postal workers are nosy and refrain from writing too often to members of the opposite sex. Scandal may result and no one wants that.

When you are writing words it's important to know how to spell them. I know it may seem excessive, but keep the following in mind:

Also, it's best to know a bit about common grammar. Many of us have struggled with the difference between a colon and a semi-colon but it's best to familiarize yourself with the basics of punctuation:

And finally, keep in mind that you are continuing a long-standing tradition that is slowly being killed by the modern world:

Sloan’s Cook Book and Advice to Housekeepers, 1905

Success in Letter Writing, by Sherwin Cody, 1913

The Ladies’ Guide to True Politeness and Perfect Manners; or, Miss Leslie’s Behaviour Book, a Guide and Manual for Ladies, by Eliza Leslie, 1864

Success in Letter Writing, by Sherwin Cody, 1913

Everyday Etiquette: A Practical Manual of Social Usages by Marion Harland and Virginia Van De Water, 1905

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~ The Guide to Reading (The Pocket University, Vol. XXIII), 1925

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~ Manners and Conduct In School and Out, by The Deans of Girls in Chicago High Schools, 1921

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~ The Gentleman and Lady’s Book of Politeness and Propriety of Deportment, by Mme. Celnart, 1833

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~ Matchett’s Baltimore Directory for 1851

All your medical needs in one convenient location. Only Sweedish Leeches used (from Sweeden of course)

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Pro tip: when grilling make sure your face is as close as possible to the hot metal and coals

Pepsi-Cola Co, 1963