The Port Gibson reveille. (Port Gibson, Miss.) 185?-1857, 1853-07-06


The world has grown considerably wiser
since the honest folk Of Boston we're notified
that they might have their "houscs. lands
&c. 10 be sold or let, or servants runaway. or
goods stole or lost. inserted in the Boston
AcirS Letter, at a reasonabl rate. from twelve
pence to five shilings, and not to exceed. -
In those days-we are speaking Of a century
and half since-the philosophy Of trade was
50 i'll understood, that tho rich alone burst
embark in commerce; to the poor man il was
almost inevitable ruin. lie who had Golfers
well filed with gold and precious stones
might lend, on usurous interest and safe
mortgage. to spendthriits Of good family anil
the owner Of half dozen portly arcosies
might double his funds by fortunate ven.
turc IN the produce Of the Mediterranean or
the Indian countries. A Shylock might en-.
hance the wealth Of his house BY receiving
crown jewels in pawn and high-born An
tonic might reap golden treasure from his mo.
nopoly Of the trade with Barbary or Mexico.
But petty traliccrs," who curtsed rever.
cnce" 10 the leyiathans on Change, were de-
youtly to be pitied Crushed by yexatious
cxactions, which the wealth Of bis rivals en-
ablel them to escape hamperei b. restric.
tions which were absurdly supposed to protect
trade; aud overpowercd BY the superior
facilities enjoyed By more powerful compet-
tors, the young merchant Of the seventeenth
century had many reasons for envying the
condition Of the mechanic or the husbandman.
Ills talents might be far greater than those Of
his next door neighbor, Crgsus; his enter.
prise might enable him 10 undersell all his RI
yals his tea might be the most fragrant Pc
koe his broadcloth Of the finest texture, and
his ruiiles OF richest Nalencienncs-all these
claims to preference were yalueless from being
unknown. lie had no means OF apprIsing the
world Of their existence Thrifty housekeep-
ers lived and died in ignorance Of the cheap
ness of his sugar, or the merits Of his calico.
The crowd passed him in silence to flock to
the emporium where they had been accus-
toned 10 deal. Loud talking in tayerns,
jealous exertions Of friends, AMI even bell.
men, could not reach every car. To the ma.
jority Of those who might have been his Gus
toners, il was the work Of years TO convey an
intimation Of his claims to patronage.
Hence grew the advertisements. Not
without many struggles. much contempt, and
oft-repcated sneers did its infancy ripen into
adolescence. a sad tale IS told in the appeal
To all Persons who Love a Public Good. "
which honest John Campbell Postmaster,
and Proprietor Of the Boston Nelcs Letter.
was wont to issue at the change Of seasons.
But il had common sense on its side, and OF
course prevailed in the end. Storckcepcrs
found their sales increased By periodical no.
tice in the paper Men Of property were be-
seiged By applicants for lots and houses as
soon as tue little paragraph, For Sale or to
kei," had been scattered through the fity.
Enterprising traders willing to forego great
profit for the sake Of a large business, made
terrible nroads on their rivals customer, by
the help Of brief announcement Of their de-
sign in minion All focked to the nswspa-
per, as the real dispenser Of success and
fortune
Ofall the members Of the community, the
Young merchant is perhaps the one who owes
the most to the advertising system. ltplaces
him at once before the public on a level with
old established houses; if he have aught to
say in favor Of himself, he can speak ont un-
hcsitatingly, and all the world hears him.
Complaints of unmeritcd neglect are aosnrd
where the advertisement is known. But
though perhaps the greatest he is by no
means the only gamer BY the advertising
system. All who buy or sell, or rent or
hire, employ labor, or work themselves, re-
card It as their safest resource in time Of need.
Professional men seek nOtoriety through Its
influence: politicians use it as substitute
for the gathering-cry Of old publishers au-
thors. theatres, hotels, steamers, railroads,
would think their doom sealed if its benefits
were denied them. And when We rcmem-
ber that ono half the world expends its life in
vain endeayors to find the other half, It will
not appear strange that people should even
resort to the newspapers for the qualification
Of necessities Of less tangible and business
character.