Amalgamated Press

Among the articles of interest, news reports, jokes and stories in June 26th 1920 edition of this weekly journal:

Are the police played out?

"The Daffodil Murder" by Edgar Wallace (serialised)

Cost saving and inventive solutions for gardening in 'Cost-nothing Notions'

An amusing article about a journalist's ongoing attempts to get his article on 'the pets of famous Greek generals' to be taken Seriously, in "Chuffleton Chumpleigh - Journalist"

And, a poignant story by T. H. Garside "Beaten! Down and out with a MONS star. No work and a dying wife, An ex-hero talks of war".
(That is till you realise the author is Answers pensions expert, and the article is nothing more than an advert for their Pensions Bureau.)

In fact the entire magazine is funded by an insurance company.

There is an alarming article on British snakes claiming 'The bite of an adder is frequently fatal, but not always. Much depends upon the health and constitution, and the shock, if any, sustained by the person bitten. And whether an antidote is applied at once.'
(In actual fact, I checked, and there have only been 14 recorded cases of death by British adder since this article was written almost 100 years ago.)

There is an article on a Doll Theatre in Osaka 'perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. The enteance to this theatre is through a magnificent archway, guarded by great stone lions'.
(This rare theatre now only exists in these few lines of text, as the entire city was raised to the ground during the second world war.)

Interesting reference is made to Ilam Carve in Arnold Bennett's "The Great Adventure" on page 104 in the article 'Screen Character'
I also found an amusing advert for "SARGOL" a supplement for women that 'makes you nice and plump'. Apparently 'If you want to increase your weight... And have better health, a clear complexion, and sparkling eyes - try Sargol.' It also helps 'build up solid, healthy flesh and rounds out the figure.' (How times have changed.)… (mer)