The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1877-03-29
THE LONG AGO.
IN 1773-MUsTY RECORDS OF
THE PAST WHAT WAS DONE AND
HOW THEY DID IT LONG AGO."


THE PAsT-"wHAT WAS DONE AMI
HOW THEY DID IT LONG AGO"
We have before us the first number of the
maryland Journal and Baltimore advertiser,
dated August Goth, 1773 Even now, with
the dust OF over century resting upon it,
the little sheet is clear and distinct, and in
typographical appearance will favorably com
pare with many of the newspapers published
in the year of our Lord eighteen hundred
and seventy-seven. 10 be sure, the type are
OF different style. and the paper is q four
page, twelve by eighteen inches, but it is
printed neatly, and bears evidence of decided
taste in its makeup.
twas no easy matter in those days to start
a newspaper, and the difficulties OF the I'M
dertaking are fully set forth in tie saluta-
tory of the publisher, ". Goddard. He says:
"Fhc great difficulty and experience of
speedily obtaining 2 proper assortment of
printing material, an inadequate number OF
subscribers to defray the charges of printing
weekly newspaper, added to several i'm
portant events which have happened 10 me,
have been the reasons why the Maryland
Journal and Baltimore 4doeytiser so long
expected, hath not before made its appear
ance This, f1atter myself, will be con-
sltlered an ample apology in the minds Of the
candid, for the long delay in publishing it.
Many gentlemen, however, encouraging me
to hope for Il considerable addition to my list
OF subscribers, | now venture to send the first
number abroad; and while solicit the fur
ther encouragement of. the public, I humbly
bespeak !; candid reception for this begin
ming, which am sensible, must appear I'M
der many disadvantages, as L have not been
able to establish a special Post from this
place to Philadelphia, for the purpose of
bringing down in due season the latest
papers,"
The principles that are to govern the jour-
nal are laid down as follows:
First-That the paper shall he published
every Thursday nnless another day shall
prove more agreeable to the customers,) and
shall contain not only the foreign news,
which / shall collect and compile with the
greatest care, but on failure of anecdotes of
that sort, will supply the room with such
moral pieces, from the best writer's, as will
conduce most to incucate good principles
and humane behavior. and now and then
with pieces of wit and humor that tend both 1
to amuse and instruct.
Second-That shall always publish with
pleasure whatever is sent Inc in favor of lib I
erty and the rights of mankind. provided the /
language is decent and compatible with good
government; but am resolved that my paper
be FREE AND OF NO PARITY
Following the salutatory is a long and ex-
cellent letter from the Bishop OF C. to the
Earl Of Bellanont, on duel which the last
gentleman had but recently fought with
Lord Townshend. Little did the Reverend |
gentleman imagine that the light of 4 hun
dred years would be powerless to pale from
the social statutes custom, the barbarity Of
which was acknowledged even at that day.
and which, it was confidently predicted
could never survive among enlightened men,
In denouncing it, he says: s. In whatever
light you look upon duelling, my Lord, am
persuaded you will concur with me in think |
ing that it is founded no less in folly than in |
barbarty. When we are even victors, what |
is cur triumph? A triumph over humanity. |
a triumph over justice, q triumph over our |
families, our country and our God. If our
reason, therefore, is not alarmed at the very |
dangers attending this horrible custom, our
pride should he reused at the charge of !
weakness to which it exposes our characters. /
Few who go into the field have any wish to
destroy the life OF an adversary, yet all must (
ilnayotably expose their OWL. Our univer- y
sal study is to set just value upon this bless
ing, yet our universal practice is to treat it as1
an object of the slightest consideration. A
sour look, q baaghty accent, or an abrupt re-
ply, are with us motives enough to take a
lie at any time.''
To show what long martyrdom fashion
able women have been subject to- we give
the following from "A Lover of Nature''
"On the Simplicity OF Dress" 'srhat a plain
dress is the best ornament OF a beautiful wo-
man, had lately a most convincing proof.
The neatness of q daughter of that religious
wv |
walks, caught my eye. Never Was inno-
cence and elegance more sweetly portrayed
But when had an opportunity of beholding
her face, my astonishm ent and delight were
Her complexion was lovely,
her eyes sparkling, her teeth and lips such
as Reynolds only can imagine, and her
smile an emanation of divinity. centem-
plated her person with a pleasure till then
unknown, and should have pronounced her
the most finished work of Heaven, but that it
occurred to me- that many Of my fair coun-
5rywcmen appeared inferior to her, from
only not being satisfied with what Heaven
had made them--tortured hair, a superfluity
Of ri5ands, idle gems, &C., &C., were, though
meant for so many additions. only so many
to them, by preventing the
eye from Judging rightly Of their charms, or
indeed beholding them through the happles
If ali mediums-the medium OF simplicity.
In short, am convinced that some deity, in
lis wrath. suffered them to be betrayed into
his dressing folly, from which most heartily
wish some sensible mortal would endeavor
to reclaim Them"
Among the news items is the following
ave learn from Accomack. in Virginia, that
there lately died there one Mrs. Eleanor
5pice5, aged III years, who retained her
seAses and memory to the last, and worked
1t her spinning-wheei with great dexterity
until withinsx months OF her death. She
never drank any kind OF spirituops liquor
She has left a grandson, upwards OF so, who
lath been equally abstemious as his grand
MOTHER
The following complication of relation
ships would have set Rhode Island Legis- ,
AZURE wild s. Married-Mr. Englehart YET
YER to Miss Catharine Keener, both of this
,laee- By recent marriage at st. Mary's, :
he lady is become sister-in-law to her own
mother, and the gentleman son-in-law to his
,wn sister-in-law." t
The advertisements are curious. A teacher. t
hus publishes card: "Mr. Rathel, for t
nerlY of Annapolis, teacher of the English !
al, Wrsty,lr ma n nd | g