They continue to be a staple in many rural weekly newspapers.

The headings of these glimpses into a bygone era go by various terms — Peeks of the Past, A Look Back — and reading the Twitter-like snippets of vintage small-town reporting a century or so ago is a treat.

If nothing else, it proves that then, as now, there is nothing so tantalizing as the trivial stuff of life.

And if someone was kicked in the face by a cow, so much the better for gossip.

Here are some apocryphal examples, most based on actual accounts, of the ornate and opinionated language once used to deliver the news of the day:

115 Years Ago

The corn crop in the county is looking bountiful thanks to abundant summer rains and goodly amounts of nurturing sunshine. The silos and bins shall be nigh to bursting and will provide much peace of mind when the howling winds of winter summon forth Nature’s wrath.

99 Years Ago

Fine music filled the air of Main Street as a traveling troupe of musicians entertained. They later discoursed similar melodies in concert at the town hall and citizens said it was the best 25 cents they have parted with since the bearded lady’s appearance in same said hall a fortnight ago.

101 Years Ago

Heinrich Dimmeldorf has the gout and is feeling poorly at his farm a few rods south of Dobbins Creek. He said he does not want people to pity him.

A wag of our acquaintance said his wish should be easy to honor, for he is a foul man of quick temper who has failed to befriend even his own hound.