Past Pages 7/31

130 YEARS AGO

Jokes: An individual of a statistical turn of mind has discovered that of newspaper jokes, five percent relate to mothers-in-law; four percent to big feet; three percent to doctors killing their patients; two percent to illustrating the maxim that it is a poor rule that won't work both ways; and one percent to the servant girl who kindled the fire with naptha, and nothing has benzine of her since. He has also found that not only are the majority of jokes built on a few dummy ideas, but that these dummy ideas are in themselves only conventionally funny.

Velocipede: The latest infliction which is growing to be a nuisance is the sidewalk velocipede, propelled by youths all the way from 10 to 16 years ... they are no respecters of pedestrians' feet, legs or corns. There are plenty of places outside of the Carson Street sidewalks where the boys can exercise their velocipedes and where they will be in no one's way.

100 YEARS AGO

Lake Tahoe's charms forbidden in Nevada: With the completion of the repair of the old Incline road to Lake Tahoe, residents again are forcibly reminded that were it not for the unprogressive policy adopted by the representatives of the Hobart estate, that a great part of the lake's beauty might be enjoyed in Washoe county. A corner of the beautiful shore line is in Washoe county, but the tourists and sightseers generally stay on the California side, because the lands in Washoe county are for the most part held by the trustees of the Hobart estate.

70 YEARS AGO

Judge Clark Guild gets Nevada's Diamond Jubilee celebration off to a start with preliminary work with many committees - to honor Nevada's 75 years of statehood.

50 YEARS AGO

Births: Mr. and Mrs. Earl Laird are parents of a boy, born at Carson-Tahoe hospital.

20 YEARS AGO

Thousands took part in the Capital City Fair. Chairwoman Pam Case estimated more than 3,000 people enjoyed the games, animals, music and events at Fuji Park.

10 YEARS AGO

Study results show that the West is one of the worst places to raise children - these are boom times for Arizona and other western states. Unemployment is low, and the economy is flying high, but children of the West are being left behind.

• Sue Ballew is the daughter of Bill Dolan, who wrote this column for the Nevada Appeal from 1947 until his death in 2006.