Thur, Aug 12 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1745 This week, we are reading the truly unique writing of John Ames Mitchell, who, back in the 1880s, founded the original Life Magazine (the humor periodical) and was the editor for many years. Today we pay a visit to the City of Brotherly Love in the 1893 tale 'The Drowsy Village.' Time: approx eight and a half minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with M...
Aug 12, 2010•9 min
Wed, Aug 11 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1744 This week, we are enjoying the writing of John Ames Mitchell, who, back in the 1880s, founded the original Life Magazine (the humor periodical) and was the editor for many years. Today's 'Fairy Tale' from 1893 concerns 'The Adventures of Two Criminals.' Time: approx twelve minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine...
Aug 11, 2010•12 min
Tue, Aug 10 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1743 This week, we will be exploring the writing of John Ames Mitchell, who, back in the 1880s, founded the original Life Magazine (the humor periodical) and was the editor for many years. Various collections of his work were published over the years. Today, we begin with a 'Fairy Tale' about species justice from 1893 entitled 'The Average Dog and the Usual Man.' Time: approx six minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.co...
Aug 10, 2010•6 min
Mon, Aug 9 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1742 We continue with our Monday Book Serialization, with Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' In Chapter Three, 'A Genius,' we learn how little Johnny came up with the idea of inventing the Steam Man. -- A fascinating chapter! Time: approx eleven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magaz...
Aug 09, 2010•11 min
Fri, Aug 6 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1741 We have been reading fun poems from Ellis Parker Butler this week. Back in 1895, one of the most popular, and controversial artists of the day, was Aubrey Beardsley. Today's poem from 1895, is about Beardsley, but is called 'The Ballad of the Mermaid and the Sea Serpent.' Time: approx three minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Ellis Parker Butler Index of stories can be found a...
Aug 06, 2010•3 min
Thur, Aug 5 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1740 We are reading fun poems from Ellis Parker Butler this week. Our 1902 poem concerns the world's greatest violinist! It is called 'A Study in Feeling.' Time: approx five minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Ellis Parker Butler Index of stories can be found at: http://ronevry.com/EllisParkerButler.htmll *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (no...
Aug 05, 2010•5 min
Wed, Aug 4 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1739 We are reading fun poems from Ellis Parker Butler this week. For many people, the act of kissing is a dangerous encounter with germs! A unique solution to this problem is found in the 1896 poem, 'An Ounce of Prevention.' Time: approx four minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Ellis Parker Butler Index of stories can be found at: http://ronevry.com/EllisParkerButler.htmll *There ...
Aug 04, 2010•4 min
Tue, Aug 3 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1738 We are reading fun poems from Ellis Parker Butler this week. Today we begin with an 1897 tale of a man who needs to make a difficult decision. It is called 'The Ballad of a Bachelor.' Time: approx four and a half minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Ellis Parker Butler Index of stories can be found at: http://ronevry.com/EllisParkerButler.htmll *There is a nifty interview with ...
Aug 03, 2010•4 min
Mon, Aug 2 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1737 We continue with our Monday Book Serialization, with Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' We learn a bit about how the Steam Man works, and go for a ride in Chapter Two, 'Handle Me Gently.' Time: approx eleven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (now known as Beat...
Aug 02, 2010•11 min
Fri, July 30 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1736 We have uncovered an assortment of mostly unknown Charles Battell Loomis pieces from assorted 19th Century magazines. Today we offer a fun, but tiny little ditty from 1896 called 'The Perils of Versatility.' Time: approx two and a half minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Charles Battell Loomis Index of stories can be found at: http://ronevry.com/charlesbattellloomis.html *Th...
Jul 30, 2010•2 min
Thur, July 29 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1735 We have uncovered an assortment of mostly unknown Charles Battell Loomis pieces from assorted 19th Century magazines. Today's oddity was published back in 1889, and needs no explanation. It is called 'Jack and Jill as Walt Whitman Might Have Written It.' Time: approx five and a half minutes. The Mister Ron's Basement Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Charles Battell Loomis Index of stories can be found at:...
Jul 29, 2010•6 min
Wed, July 28 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1734 We have found an odd assortment of Charles Battell Loomis stories from a variety of 19th Century Magazines. Today's 1898 story, though not really a humorous one, is nevertheless one of the best tales Loomis ever wrote. He included it as the title piece in a collection of stories the following year. Filled with excitement and authentically graphic description, we present 'The Four-Masted Cat-Boat.' You ought to enjoy this tale. Time: approx five and a...
Jul 28, 2010•6 min
Tue, July 27 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1733 We have found an assortment of odd Charles Battell Loomis stories that apparently were not published in any of his book collections. We begin with a delightful tale of a tea party from 1897. It's called 'Littleton's First Pink Tea.' Time: approx five and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Charles Battell Loomis Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/charles...
Jul 27, 2010•6 min
Mon, July 26 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1732 This week we begin a new Monday Book Serialization, with Edward S. Ellis's 1868 Dime Novel, 'The Steam Man of the Prairies.' Today we start with Chapter One, 'The Terror of the Prairies.' Thanks goes out to Jesse Willis of SFFAudio.com for this recommendation. Time: approx eleven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in is...
Jul 26, 2010•11 min
Fri, July 23 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1731 This week, we have been reading from the 1880 collection, 'Very Funny, Not Too Funny, Just Funny Enough,' featuring stories clipped from assorted newspapers. Today's story comes from The Detroit Free Press, obviously by C. B. Lewis, also known as M. Quad, concerning some country folks getting hitched - - 'How She Got Noah?' Time: approx six minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.htm...
Jul 23, 2010•6 min
Thur, July 22 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1730 This week, we are reading from the 1880 collection, 'Very Funny, Not Too Funny, Just Funny Enough,' featuring stories clipped from assorted newspapers. Today's story comes from The Fulton Times, about a wife that does all the shopping and sewing. It's entitled 'Not Quite Harmonious.' Time: approx four and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html * There is a nifty intervi...
Jul 22, 2010•4 min
Wed, July 21 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1729 This week, we are reading from the 1880 collection, 'Very Funny, Not Too Funny, Just Funny Enough,' featuring stories clipped from assorted newspapers. Today's story comes from The Little Rock Gazette, about an inquisitive little boy on a train. It's called 'Food for She Bears.' Time: approx five minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html * There is a nifty interview with Mister Ro...
Jul 21, 2010•5 min
Tue, July 20 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1728 This week, we are reading from the 1880 collection, 'Very Funny, Not Too Funny, Just Funny Enough,' featuring stories clipped from assorted newspapers. Today's piece is probably by Robert J. Burdette, the Burlington Hawk-Eye Man, concerning Ladies who journey by themselves on railroad trains. It's called 'Rules for Ladies Travelling Alone.' Time: approx seven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Ro...
Jul 20, 2010•7 min
Mon, July 19 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1727 Our Monday book serialization concludes Metta Victoria Victor's 1859 novel 'Miss Slimmens's Window.' Chapter Thirteen ends the novel with Alvira Slimmens and the entire town awaiting her fiancee's arrival for the wedding in 'The Way It All Turned Out.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx eighteen minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *Th...
Jul 19, 2010•18 min
Fri, July 16 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1726 We are wrapping up a week of Stephen Leacock stories with a piece from his 1910 collection, 'Literary Lapses.' Today we discover an exciting new invention in human nutrition in 'The New Food.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx five minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Stephen Leacock Catalog of Stories is at: http://ronevry.com/Le...
Jul 16, 2010•5 min
Thur, July 15 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1725 This week, we are reading from Stephen Leacock's 1913 collection 'Behind the Beyond.' Today we get to meet one of the most intriguing characters of all time, a man who has to get everything so perfect that nothing ever gets done, in 'The Retroactive Existence of Mr. Juggins.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mi...
Jul 15, 2010•11 min
Wed, July 14 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1724 This week, we are reading from Stephen Leacock's 1913 collection 'Behind the Beyond.' In today's tale, we hear of valuable Real Estate that once could have been gotten for a song . It's called 'My Lost Opportunities.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx six and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html The Stephen Leacock Catalog of S...
Jul 14, 2010•6 min
Tue, July 13 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1723 This week, we will be reading from Stephen Leacock's 1913 collection 'Behind the Beyond.' Have you ever run into someone who seems to know you well, but you just can't place the person, and are too embarrassed to let on? That's the situation in today's story, 'My Unknown Friend.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx ten and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com...
Jul 13, 2010•11 min
Mon, July 12 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1722 Our Monday book serialization continues with Metta Victoria Victor's 1859 novel 'Miss Slimmens's Window.' Chapter Twelve brings wonderful news for Alvira Slimmens in 'The Night Before the Wedding.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx fourteen minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 o...
Jul 12, 2010•14 min
Fri, July 9 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1721 We are wrapping up readings of odd stories from Gelett Burgess's 1901 collection 'The Burgess Nonsense Book.' Today we will meet a musician who is also a madman, in the hysterically funny tale, 'A Fable for Musicians - - Read it, And if you See the Moral, Heed It!' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx eleven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_...
Jul 09, 2010•11 min
Thur, July 8 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1720 We are continuing to read odd stories from Gelett Burgess's 1901 collection 'The Burgess Nonsense Book.' Our tale today is a sad piece concerning a starving three year old girl trying to commit a felony. It is called 'Little Totsy's Tragedy - - a Grim, Pessimistic, Morbid Sort of Whim.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx eleven and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://r...
Jul 08, 2010•11 min
Wed, July 7 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1719 We are continuing to read odd stories from Gelett Burgess's 1901 collection 'The Burgess Nonsense Book.' Today we reflect on some of the principles of logical thought (and repeat the point a few times just for emphasis) in 'A Permutative System - - Oh, How Strange Philosophy's Kaleidoscopic Range!' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx four and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at:...
Jul 07, 2010•4 min
Tue, July 6 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1718 We are continuing to read odd stories from Gelett Burgess's 1901 collection 'The Burgess Nonsense Book.' Today we offer a strange poem concerning what some kids did with about a million pieces of chewed gum -- it's called 'The Chewing Gum Man - Though it is Mine, Some Say 'twas Cribbed from Frankenstein.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx seven minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: ht...
Jul 06, 2010•7 min
Mon, July 5 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1717 After a technical delay we are back. Our Monday book serialization continues with Metta Victoria Victor's 1859 novel 'Miss Slimmens's Window.' In Chapter Eleven, Alvira Slimmens reflects on a sermon in which she thinks the Pastor pointed out the evil of everyone in town, except her. It is called 'She Is Edified by the Thanksgiving Sermon.' As always, your comments are welcome! Mail to: revry@panix.com Time: approx fifteen and a half minutes The Mister...
Jul 05, 2010•15 min
Wed, June 30 2010 Mister Ron's Basement #1716 We are reading odd stories from Gelett Burgess's 1901 collection 'The Burgess Nonsense Book.' Today's piece takes a philosophical point of view --'What Smith Tried to Believe - A Study That Ought to Appeal to Anybuddy.' Time: approx three and a half minutes The Mister Ron's Basement Full Catalog can be found at: http://ronevry.com/Mister_Rons_Full_Catalog.html *There is a nifty interview with Mister Ron in issue #59 iProng Magazine (now known as Beat...
Jul 01, 2010•4 min
