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Palmer Cox Brownies
3 ¼”
Nip442
The Albrecht Bros. Started their saloon business in Seattle sometime in 1899 at that time they were located at 1424 First Avenue,
they remained at this location into the year 1906. Then after buying David Winchills saloon located at 122 Second street, they
remained here into the year 1910. Thus dating these 122 Second Street address nippers 1906-1910. In later years the business
was moved around to several locations under Albrecht & Thorpe through the year 1913. They were no longer listed after 1913.
Palmer Cox
Nip644
Palmer Cox, the writer and illustrator of the Brownie stories, was born in Granby, Quebec on April 28, 1840. The area was populated
by many Scottish people whose folklore would later influence his stories. As a child he showed an interest in drawing and poetry.
Graduating from the Granby Academy in 1858, he moved south finding work finishing the woodwork used in the interior of railroad
cars. Later he and his brother Edwin worked as barn framers in Ontario. It is said that Cox drew pictures on barn timbers during
rest periods.
Heading west, he walked across the Isthmus of Panama en route arriving in Oakland, California in January 1863. He stayed in
California for about 13 years, becoming a United States citizen. After a period building steamboats and railroad cars he moved to
San Francisco, a literary center even then. He entered into the city’s literary life contributing to several periodicals and in 1874
published his first book Squibs of California, or Everyday Life. The book, based on his diary, contained stories, sketches and poems.
It was almost 500 pages and contained 183 illustrations.
In 1875 he relocated to New York in search of a literary career. After initial difficulties he became the chief artist for Uncle Sam: The
American Journal of Wit and Humor. Between 1875 and 1878 he published three books, all written in verse and illustrated, and by
the early 1880’s was writing for Wide Awake, a children’s magazine. His work began to appear regularly in Harper’s Young People
and St. Nickolas, an important children’s periodical. Children’s literature seemed to be Cox’s calling.
The first Brownie story to appear in St. Nicholas was The Brownie’s Ride in February 1883. Twenty four Brownie stories appeared
between 1883 and 1887. In 1887 they were collected and published as The Brownies, Their Book. Palmer Cox was 47 years old
when this first Brownie book was published. In 1890 a second series of twelve stories from St. Nicholas were combined with
twelve others and published as Another Brownie Book. Cox began writing for the Ladies Home Journal and produced a series
called The Brownies Through the Year. In 1893 these were collected into a third book, The Brownies at Home. The Brownie stories
were light-hearted and fun for their readers. The Brownies engaged in activities children could relate to and the stories often
included current events. In all, twelve* Brownie books were written.
By 1905 Cox had returned to Granby, Quebec living in a turreted house he had planned. The house was called Brownie Castle and
was said to be based on a castle he saw while traveling in the British Isles. He died at Brownie Castle on July 24, 1924. His
tombstone reads:
IN CREATING THE BROWNIES
HE BESTOWED A PRICELESS
HERITAGE ON CHILDHOOD.
Cox wrote an article, The Origin of the Brownies, for the November 1892 issue of the Ladies Home Journal. That article is
reproduced
* Brownie books by Palmer Cox:
The Brownies, Their Book, 1887
Another Brownie Book, 1890
The Brownies at Home, 1893
The Brownies Around the World, 1894
The Brownies Through the Union, 1895
Brownie Year Book, 1895
The Brownies Abroad, 1899
The Brownies in the Philippines, 1904
Brownie Clown of Brownie Town, 1908
The Brownies’ Latest Adventures, 1910
The Brownies Many More Nights, 1913
The Brownies and Prince Florimel or Brownieland, Fairyland and Demonland, 1918
References:
Roger W. Cummings, Humorous but Wholesome: A History of Palmer Cox and the Brownies, Century House, Americana Publishing,
Watkins Glen, NY, 1973
Charlotte Spivak, Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 42, pp. 133-138, Gale Research Company, 1985
During the publication of the series of the "Brownies" just closed in The Ladies Home Journal, the question has often come to me
"What is the origin of the Brownies?" And perhaps there is no better time to answer this question than now, before the next series
of "Brownie" adventures shall begin on this page.
The "Brownie," as the cyclopeaedia informs us, springs from an old Scotch tradition, but it leaves us to follow up the tradition
ourselves and learn how far back into the past it may be traced. Now a tradition, or legend, is about as difficult game to hunt to
cover as your literary fowler can flush, but enough can be found to prove that the "Brownies" were good-natured little spirits or
goblins of the fairy order. They were all little men, and appeared only at night to perform good and helpful deeds or enjoy harmless
pranks while weary households slept, never allowing themselves to be seen by mortals. No person, except those gifted with
second sight, could see the "Brownies;" but from the privileged few, principally old women, who were thus enabled to now and then
catch a glimpse of their goblin guests, correct information regarding their size and color is said to have been gained.
THEY were called "Brownies" on account of their color, which was said to be brown owing to their constant exposure to all kinds of
weather, and also because they had brown hair, something which was not common in the country where the "Brownie" was
located, as the people generally had red or black hair. There are different stories about the origin of the name. One is that during
the time the Covenanters in Scotland were persecuted because they were said to teach a false and pernicious doctrine, many of
them were forced to conceal themselves in caves and secret places, and food was carried to them by friends. One band of
Covenanters was led by a little hunchback named Brown, who being small and active could slip out at night with some of the lads
and bring in the provisions left by friends in secret places. They dressed themselves in a fantastic manner, and if seen in the dusk
of the evening they would be taken for fairies. Those who knew the truth named Brown and his band the "Brownies." This is very
plausible, but we have too high an opinion of the "Brownies" to believe that they took their name from a mortal. We are inclined to
believe that the well-deserving hunchback took his name from the "Brownies," instead of the "Brownies" deriving their name from
him. Besides the story does not reach back far enough.
THE "Brownies" were an ancient and well-organized band long before there was a Covenanter to flee to caves and caverns. Indeed,
from what can be gathered from the writings of ancient authors, one is led to believe the "Brownie" idea is a very old one. It is fair
to presume that the "Brownies" enjoyed their nightly pranks, or skipped over the dewy heather to aid deserving peasants even
before the red-haired Dane crossed the border to be Caledonia's unwelcome guest. Every family seems to have been haunted by a
spirit they called "Brownie" which did different sorts of work, and they in return gave him offerings of the various products of the
place. The "Brownie" idea was woven into the affairs of everyday life. In fact it seemed to be part of their religion, and a large part at
that. When they churned their milk, or brewed, they poured some milk or wort through a hole in a flat, thin stone called "Brownie's
stone." In other cases they poured the offerings in the corner of the room, believing that good would surely come to their homes if
"the Brownies" were remembered. On out of the way islands, where the people could neither read nor write, and were wholly
ignorant of what was going on in other parts of the country, so much so that they looked upon a person that could understand black
marks on paper as a supernatural being, the "Brownie" was regarded as their helper.
The poet Milton had doubtless one of these "Brownies" in his mind when he penned the lines in "L'Allegro" to the "lubber fiend,"
who drudged and sweat
"To earn his cream-bowl duly set."
But, strange to say, he was not as complimentary as the untarnished reputation of the "Brownies" might lead one to expect. In
some villages, near their chapel, they had a large flat stone called "Brownie’s stone," upon which the ancient inhabitants offered a
cow’s milk every Sunday to secure the good-will of the "Brownies." That the "Brownies were good eaters, and could out-do the cat
in their love for cream, is well proven in many places.
IT may be gratifying to some to know that even kings have not thought it beneath their dignity to dip the royal pen in the "Brownies"
behalf. King James in his "Demonology" says:" The spirit called 'Brownie' appeared like a man and haunted divers houses without
doing any evil, but doing as it were necessary turns up and down the house, yet some were so blinded as to believe that their house
was all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirits resorted there." Other writers say that the "Brownie" was a sturdy fairy, who,
if he was fed well and treated kindly would do, as the people said, a great deal of work. He is said to have been obliging, and used to
come into houses by night, and for a dish of cream perform lustily any piece of work that might remain to be done.
The superstitious inhabitants had absolute faith in the "Brownies" wisdom or judgment. The "Brownie" spirit was said to reach
over the table and make a mark where his favorite was to sit at a game if he wished to win, and this "tip" from the "Brownie" was
never disregarded by the player.
THE seeker after facts concerning the origin of the "Brownies" will find it difficult to gather them in. He may visit the largest
libraries in the land and turn the leaves of old volumes that have been neglected for centuries, and fail to find more than that at one
time in the long long ago, the "Brownie" was a power in the land that no well-regulated family could fail to do without. One thing is
certain, however, the more we learn about the "Brownies" the more we like them. Theirs is a genealogy that one can trace back
through the dusty centuries of the past without finding one blot on their scutcheon, or discovering that they descended from a race
of robbers or evil doers. It is indeed refreshing to learn that at a time when the age was so dark that even Christianity could
scarcely send a ray of light through it, and when every man's hand seemed to be against his brother, when poachers, moss-
troopers and plundering men of might were denuding the land, the "Brownies" through rain and shine were found at their post
every night, aiding the distressed, picking up the work that weary hands let fall, and in many ways winning the love and respect of
the people.
3 ¼”
Nip442
The Albrecht Bros. Started their saloon business in Seattle sometime in 1899 at that time they were located at 1424 First Avenue,
they remained at this location into the year 1906. Then after buying David Winchills saloon located at 122 Second street, they
remained here into the year 1910. Thus dating these 122 Second Street address nippers 1906-1910. In later years the business
was moved around to several locations under Albrecht & Thorpe through the year 1913. They were no longer listed after 1913.
Palmer Cox
Nip644
Palmer Cox, the writer and illustrator of the Brownie stories, was born in Granby, Quebec on April 28, 1840. The area was populated
by many Scottish people whose folklore would later influence his stories. As a child he showed an interest in drawing and poetry.
Graduating from the Granby Academy in 1858, he moved south finding work finishing the woodwork used in the interior of railroad
cars. Later he and his brother Edwin worked as barn framers in Ontario. It is said that Cox drew pictures on barn timbers during
rest periods.
Heading west, he walked across the Isthmus of Panama en route arriving in Oakland, California in January 1863. He stayed in
California for about 13 years, becoming a United States citizen. After a period building steamboats and railroad cars he moved to
San Francisco, a literary center even then. He entered into the city’s literary life contributing to several periodicals and in 1874
published his first book Squibs of California, or Everyday Life. The book, based on his diary, contained stories, sketches and poems.
It was almost 500 pages and contained 183 illustrations.
In 1875 he relocated to New York in search of a literary career. After initial difficulties he became the chief artist for Uncle Sam: The
American Journal of Wit and Humor. Between 1875 and 1878 he published three books, all written in verse and illustrated, and by
the early 1880’s was writing for Wide Awake, a children’s magazine. His work began to appear regularly in Harper’s Young People
and St. Nickolas, an important children’s periodical. Children’s literature seemed to be Cox’s calling.
The first Brownie story to appear in St. Nicholas was The Brownie’s Ride in February 1883. Twenty four Brownie stories appeared
between 1883 and 1887. In 1887 they were collected and published as The Brownies, Their Book. Palmer Cox was 47 years old
when this first Brownie book was published. In 1890 a second series of twelve stories from St. Nicholas were combined with
twelve others and published as Another Brownie Book. Cox began writing for the Ladies Home Journal and produced a series
called The Brownies Through the Year. In 1893 these were collected into a third book, The Brownies at Home. The Brownie stories
were light-hearted and fun for their readers. The Brownies engaged in activities children could relate to and the stories often
included current events. In all, twelve* Brownie books were written.
By 1905 Cox had returned to Granby, Quebec living in a turreted house he had planned. The house was called Brownie Castle and
was said to be based on a castle he saw while traveling in the British Isles. He died at Brownie Castle on July 24, 1924. His
tombstone reads:
IN CREATING THE BROWNIES
HE BESTOWED A PRICELESS
HERITAGE ON CHILDHOOD.
Cox wrote an article, The Origin of the Brownies, for the November 1892 issue of the Ladies Home Journal. That article is
reproduced
* Brownie books by Palmer Cox:
The Brownies, Their Book, 1887
Another Brownie Book, 1890
The Brownies at Home, 1893
The Brownies Around the World, 1894
The Brownies Through the Union, 1895
Brownie Year Book, 1895
The Brownies Abroad, 1899
The Brownies in the Philippines, 1904
Brownie Clown of Brownie Town, 1908
The Brownies’ Latest Adventures, 1910
The Brownies Many More Nights, 1913
The Brownies and Prince Florimel or Brownieland, Fairyland and Demonland, 1918
References:
Roger W. Cummings, Humorous but Wholesome: A History of Palmer Cox and the Brownies, Century House, Americana Publishing,
Watkins Glen, NY, 1973
Charlotte Spivak, Dictionary of Literary Biography, Volume 42, pp. 133-138, Gale Research Company, 1985
During the publication of the series of the "Brownies" just closed in The Ladies Home Journal, the question has often come to me
"What is the origin of the Brownies?" And perhaps there is no better time to answer this question than now, before the next series
of "Brownie" adventures shall begin on this page.
The "Brownie," as the cyclopeaedia informs us, springs from an old Scotch tradition, but it leaves us to follow up the tradition
ourselves and learn how far back into the past it may be traced. Now a tradition, or legend, is about as difficult game to hunt to
cover as your literary fowler can flush, but enough can be found to prove that the "Brownies" were good-natured little spirits or
goblins of the fairy order. They were all little men, and appeared only at night to perform good and helpful deeds or enjoy harmless
pranks while weary households slept, never allowing themselves to be seen by mortals. No person, except those gifted with
second sight, could see the "Brownies;" but from the privileged few, principally old women, who were thus enabled to now and then
catch a glimpse of their goblin guests, correct information regarding their size and color is said to have been gained.
THEY were called "Brownies" on account of their color, which was said to be brown owing to their constant exposure to all kinds of
weather, and also because they had brown hair, something which was not common in the country where the "Brownie" was
located, as the people generally had red or black hair. There are different stories about the origin of the name. One is that during
the time the Covenanters in Scotland were persecuted because they were said to teach a false and pernicious doctrine, many of
them were forced to conceal themselves in caves and secret places, and food was carried to them by friends. One band of
Covenanters was led by a little hunchback named Brown, who being small and active could slip out at night with some of the lads
and bring in the provisions left by friends in secret places. They dressed themselves in a fantastic manner, and if seen in the dusk
of the evening they would be taken for fairies. Those who knew the truth named Brown and his band the "Brownies." This is very
plausible, but we have too high an opinion of the "Brownies" to believe that they took their name from a mortal. We are inclined to
believe that the well-deserving hunchback took his name from the "Brownies," instead of the "Brownies" deriving their name from
him. Besides the story does not reach back far enough.
THE "Brownies" were an ancient and well-organized band long before there was a Covenanter to flee to caves and caverns. Indeed,
from what can be gathered from the writings of ancient authors, one is led to believe the "Brownie" idea is a very old one. It is fair
to presume that the "Brownies" enjoyed their nightly pranks, or skipped over the dewy heather to aid deserving peasants even
before the red-haired Dane crossed the border to be Caledonia's unwelcome guest. Every family seems to have been haunted by a
spirit they called "Brownie" which did different sorts of work, and they in return gave him offerings of the various products of the
place. The "Brownie" idea was woven into the affairs of everyday life. In fact it seemed to be part of their religion, and a large part at
that. When they churned their milk, or brewed, they poured some milk or wort through a hole in a flat, thin stone called "Brownie's
stone." In other cases they poured the offerings in the corner of the room, believing that good would surely come to their homes if
"the Brownies" were remembered. On out of the way islands, where the people could neither read nor write, and were wholly
ignorant of what was going on in other parts of the country, so much so that they looked upon a person that could understand black
marks on paper as a supernatural being, the "Brownie" was regarded as their helper.
The poet Milton had doubtless one of these "Brownies" in his mind when he penned the lines in "L'Allegro" to the "lubber fiend,"
who drudged and sweat
"To earn his cream-bowl duly set."
But, strange to say, he was not as complimentary as the untarnished reputation of the "Brownies" might lead one to expect. In
some villages, near their chapel, they had a large flat stone called "Brownie’s stone," upon which the ancient inhabitants offered a
cow’s milk every Sunday to secure the good-will of the "Brownies." That the "Brownies were good eaters, and could out-do the cat
in their love for cream, is well proven in many places.
IT may be gratifying to some to know that even kings have not thought it beneath their dignity to dip the royal pen in the "Brownies"
behalf. King James in his "Demonology" says:" The spirit called 'Brownie' appeared like a man and haunted divers houses without
doing any evil, but doing as it were necessary turns up and down the house, yet some were so blinded as to believe that their house
was all the sonsier, as they called it, that such spirits resorted there." Other writers say that the "Brownie" was a sturdy fairy, who,
if he was fed well and treated kindly would do, as the people said, a great deal of work. He is said to have been obliging, and used to
come into houses by night, and for a dish of cream perform lustily any piece of work that might remain to be done.
The superstitious inhabitants had absolute faith in the "Brownies" wisdom or judgment. The "Brownie" spirit was said to reach
over the table and make a mark where his favorite was to sit at a game if he wished to win, and this "tip" from the "Brownie" was
never disregarded by the player.
THE seeker after facts concerning the origin of the "Brownies" will find it difficult to gather them in. He may visit the largest
libraries in the land and turn the leaves of old volumes that have been neglected for centuries, and fail to find more than that at one
time in the long long ago, the "Brownie" was a power in the land that no well-regulated family could fail to do without. One thing is
certain, however, the more we learn about the "Brownies" the more we like them. Theirs is a genealogy that one can trace back
through the dusty centuries of the past without finding one blot on their scutcheon, or discovering that they descended from a race
of robbers or evil doers. It is indeed refreshing to learn that at a time when the age was so dark that even Christianity could
scarcely send a ray of light through it, and when every man's hand seemed to be against his brother, when poachers, moss-
troopers and plundering men of might were denuding the land, the "Brownies" through rain and shine were found at their post
every night, aiding the distressed, picking up the work that weary hands let fall, and in many ways winning the love and respect of
the people.
Brownie 1
Brownie 2
Brownie 3
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Brownie 4
Brownie 5
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Brownie 6 Nip442-V2
