The Portland daily press., 1869-08-25

To the Editor Of the PresG
In May 1896, a newspaper came into life in
this city, that was to exercise a wide infu-
ence throughout the State, and to reach a
high point of success. l allude 10 the Port
land Transcript" Charles p. Ilsey has the
honor of ushering this sheet into existence
1t was edited and published by Mr.. Ilsley for
a while in quarto form. Samuel II. Coles
worthy afterwards published it in folio form,
and then sold it to Erastus E. Gould, a grad
uate of the Argus Office in 1S4S. Gould re-
turned the paper to its original shape of.
quarto, carried 1t on about six months, when
Edward "a. Elwell made his bow to the pub
lie, as one of its editors and proprietors. FL
well and Edwin Plumer had been publishing
the Northern Pioneer" weekly literary
paper, started by them in July, 1S48. Six
teen numbers were issued when Plumer sold
to Elwell, who united the "Pioneer" with the
Transcript" The paper was then published
by them under the firm of Elwell & Co.
Mr.. Gould remained with the paper till his
death ten or twelve years since. Suisse
quently the ECLECTIC" was united with the
transcript" which brought in Messrs. Pick
ard and Weston. 1t was then published by
Elwell, Pickard & Co. MI. Weston in 1860
sold to Charles Pickard. The firm remained
the same-embracing Messrs. Elwell and the
brothers Pickard The Transcript" has
reached a well-deserved rank among the lit
erary papers of the country, by the patient
assduity and well-trained ability of its pro-
prietors. Faithful to good principles and
the best interests of the State it is
received and appreciated by thousands
of families, to whom it is a most valu-
able auxiliary in the education of the rising
generation and giving tone and vigor to the
essential elements which are the bulwarks of
the country. Its subscription list has reach
ed point surprising any other in the State
by thousands. Its edition last week was
1900!
About 1885, the "Workingman's Advocate"
took the fed. It was edited by DIR. c. II. P
Mcclellan and published by Day and Sumner.
A party had arisen composed of workingmen,
and advocating their interests. This paper
was its organ. 1t was political in its charac-
ter, and supported Judge Mclean for the Pres
idency. 1t was great annoyance to the two
political parties-a plague to both their houses
as it sought to buildup third party from the
laboring men of each, and thus obtain politi-
cal power and share Of the offices; it had its
nominees for representatives and other Offices,
and for time it looked as though something
would come of it, But like many scheme
to form third party, it passed away leaving
not shadow of good it ever did to be record
ed. The paper ceased 10 appear one pleasant
morning about year after its birth, and the
subscribers were transferred to the daily
Courier"
1t was not very far from this time that
Charles P. Illsley concluded to try his hand
at daily. 1t was issued from the Office of
Day and Sumner, and was, I think, an eve
ming paper. 1t was called the s'Times." But
the times were not up TO two daily papers-the
"Courier' having the ground-so after short
period of struggle hope beforehand poor
support-one genial evening the "Times" did
not come to time, and the voice of the news
boy has not since been heard crying it in tine
public streets.
ought not to forget that nondescript of
political papers, the political Nostrum," that
showed its ugly phiz above the muddy waters
which enclosed it, somewhere between 1885
and 40. 1.-The fire of '66 very much disturbed
my dates, &c. so necessary to this history.)
The "Nostrum" was child of many fathers
not one of whom dared to affix his name to
the bantling. 1t eminated from the faction
OF the Democratic party, known then as the
"Mormons," and afterwards as the "Wild
Cats" Its disorder was an incessant craving
for Office, a common complaint from that
day TO the present. Its moan was, "office all
around, and not one for u.s." 1t was personal
to the extreme, and nobody in the majority,
of any prominence was spared. That was a
game however, that two could play at. The
example cited in the case of the" Nutshell"w
Dracticed with this bolus. A number was issued
on the heel of No. 8, which assumed that the
first No. 8 was counterieit-and the coats
of the other side were pretty well dusted.-
Woodfall was not more faithful to the author
of "Junius", than were these midnight print
ers to those who issued this anonymous num-
Der. No money could tempt them to disclose
the authors of the counterfeit-and they
were never discovered.
Another trick successfully played upon the
"Nostrum," was very reprehensible. After
the form was made up and the workmen were
at dinner, some typo stole in, who made sad
changes IN the reading of some of the arti-
Giles. The authors were made to abuse them
selves. The edition was struck off and circu-
lated before it was discovered. Then the in
genious father of the concern for that week,
refused to pay the innocent printers-snd a
lawsuit was threatened to procure it. It was
by these ingenious sports that the leaders of
the great Democratic party amused them
selves. These pleasant courtesies went much
into the intercourse of this band of brothers.
The caucusses were managed after this mod
Ell, and the endearing epithets of "you in
fernal Mormon" or 'you cursed old Hunker,"
made the thoughtless laugh, but the judicious
grieve." The "Nostrum," however, died of its
own poison, and few pills by way of offices
to some of those whose political costiveness
was so apparent as to draw pity from the
dominant party.
The Yankee Farmer by s. w. Cole, was
brought from Cornish to Portland about
1885, and after publishing it here for seve, al
years, he removed it to Boston, and united it
with the New England Farmer"
The eastern Farmer" an agricultural
paper issued in 1S41, was also published for
some time. Ira Berry printed it, and F. o. J.
Smith was its editor.
A few years ago, cynical paper appeared
in the city, styled the Pleasure Boat" Jere.
Hacker,.(a Friend,) was its owner and man.
ager. 1t was continued through several vol
umes. 1t dealt with great severity with what
it claimed to be abuses in the religious, poit-
ical and moral customs Of society. Hacker
had no civil words to spare for any man or
cause that did not put their oars through the
rowlocks of his Boat. 1t sailed on turbulent
sea. Many were the cursings this Broad
brim received from those he had offended.
Being very deaf he used an ear trumpet.
When he had punished some victim through
its columns, the sufferer would rush to the
Office to find this nOn-combatant. Hacker
would carefully adjust his trumpet, and the
enraged man would call him all the bad names
he could think Of. Stopping to rest, Hacker
WnnlH fr11v nafts I,