Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1883-08-31
SEVENTY-TWO YEARS AGO.

SEVENTY-TWO YEARS AGO.
A friend has sent us copy Of the Re
publican Farmer" published in Staunton
In 1S11-12. 1t is queer, but doubtless
correct specimen of the newspapers of
that day. There is hardly ten lines of
local news. no editorial matter, and the
general line OF advertising is legal no.
tices-a strong contrast with the present
Stanton papers, teeming with columns
of ''lncal' and editorial, and such mis-
cellany of advertising as would almost en-
able a stranger to know correctly the
habits of living of the people. The lack
of editorial matter in the "Repuollcan
Farmer was made up by extracts from
letters written to the editor, by retired
gentlemen of culture, who living In the
calm of elegant seclusion,' so the editor
expressed it, we're able to give his readers
all the advantages of DalphIc Oracle.
The Farmer" was published by Isaac
Collett. next door to Mr.. Mayo, the book
binder, opposite the west enu of the Court
House, The editor took ''all kinds of
produce at market rates" There was an
other paper called the spirit Of the
Press" published at the time, which was
probably as Democratic as the Farmer"
was Federallst. 1t is easy to judge, even
at that distance, of the hatred between
the Federalists and Democrats and the op
position of the former to the war, from
the columns of the Federal paper. Even
in announcing the great victory of the
Constitution over the Guerrero, the editor
prefaces it with tue qualifying remark that
while opposing the cause which led to the
action yet the bravery of the Americans
cannot BE- passed without compliment.
THE POINTS OF GATHERING
In the town seem to have been mainly the
taverns. Nearly all the public sales were
ADVERTISED to take place from before the
door of Mrs Ann Chambers Tavern"
Though that was not the only tavern.
there being the Rising Sum- the
Wayne" and the Washington" The
Postoffice was another point of assembling
and the postmaster, L. Tremper
varied his occupation by selling patent
medicines, of which he was an extensive
advertiser. John Fitzpatrick, Esq.,. was
that year appointed postmaster at Mt.
Horeb.
THE BUSINE HOUSES
advertised but little and we find among the
oords fbot Of Wp, Voppr oiCoL md oh
maker, whose business must have extend
ed later in the year, AS we see him adver-
Using for two apprentices to learn the
jewelry business, George Alfred, printed
and sold the american Universal Spell
ing Book' and other useful books. John
Glenn was the painter and glazi.r. Baylis
Anderson kept groceries opposite Mr..
CAREERS tavern. Henkel & Sewers had
two drygoods stores. one in Stanton aud
one nine miles below, on the Winchester
pike. They impressed on the public
mind in their advertisements. that they
s'bought their goods in Philadelphia y
which then was popular market with the
Valley. One of the tailors of the town
was VIM. Atwell and the other was Geo.
Swords. ssthree doors from the Rising Sun
Tavern" The county was also well sup
piled with stores: In Greenville, Samuel
Finley kept one, and John B Christian
another. The fulling business was then
carried on extensively and in advertising
their fulling mill Geo. Hudson and Nor
ris LLOYD announce, that one of the firm
would sattend at David Steele's tavern
five miles above Greenville, on the frs
SATURDAY., and Waynesboro on the las
Saturday. and at Morris and Graves, il
Stanton. on the other Saturdays in thu
month. to receive cloth for their mill
which would be returned to the same
stations
ADJUSTMENTS.
The town was not without the drama
now and then. In the two years embrac
ed by the file of the Farmer we see two
announcements. In one the flowers OF
the DRAMA are informed that party Of
"young gentlemen in Stanton" will pre-
sent the much admired tragedy of the
"Revenge" with the farce of 1.-THE Lying
Valet,'' and between the pieces would be
given monsieur Tonson." comic reel
tation. And again at another day, to-
wit, the following September, the young
gentlemen of Stanton, vho had then
taken the name of the Thespian Society
advertised to perform "Sbe stoops to Con
ouern and farce called 1.-The Prize, al
the "Wayne Tavern" the admission being
fifty cents.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES.
In that year books were opened for sub
scriptions to turnpike from Rockfsh Gal
to SCOTS landing on James River.
The following commissioners also opened
books of subscription to a branch a
Stanton of the Farmers Bank of Rich
mopd; Alex St. Clair, Archibald Stuart
Robt. Porter2eld. john Brown, JOIN
Wayt, John Mcdowell, Samuel Clark
and Chapman johnson.
The large paper mill of JAS Miller wa
In operation at Messy Greek
THE FIRST AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.
1.-The Augusta Society for the promo.
tion OF Agriculture" was organized il
this year. The members we're to consis
of persons who resided in the county n
'within twenty-five miles of btaurton
The meetings were to take place in DC
tober, January, April and June and tn