The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-19
SENTINEL ECHOES FROM THE PAST.


long time subscriber to the Indianapo.
lis Sentinel has laid upon the editors desk
several copies of the paper of February,
March and April, 1S5l-more than thirty
four years old. OF course the Sentinel files
are even older, but these copies are the more
interesting from having been preserved by
reader for so long time. The copies before
us are of semi-weekly edition, four pages of
elk columns each. The name of Austin 81.
Brown appears as publisher. and that OF his
father. w. ]. Brown, now deceased, as editor.
The railway time card at that era did not
take up column. We find but one an.
nouncement. that of the Madison and Indi-
annapolis Railroad, by John Brough, Presi.
dent and reading:
"On and after Monday next, the goth inst,
the passenger trains will leave Madison and
Indianapolis, respectively, at fifteen minutes
before 8 o'clock a. M, and arrive at the same
places at o'clock p. m" An Ohio River
Packet Line and the Wabash and North
White River stage lines are advertised.
Then. as now. the temperance question
Was being discussed with q gusto. The Flu
gtive Slave bill was mp in Congress, with
George w. Julian and Jesse ID. Bright con-
spicuous takers upon it. A publication OF
census statistics of Indiana showed the total
number OF newspapers to have been 9S; cir
culation, 81 .924 population, $780, 5S; num-
Der of families, 1858. A new State Con-
stitution was about being submitted for the
ratification OF the people, and provision in
it prohibiting the further immigration of
persons of color to Indiana was exciting
earnest debate.
Some OF the names appearing in the old
prints are quite familiar yet. An advertise
ment announces law partnership between
''Lucian Barbour and Albert G. Porter"
Certain market quotations are corrected
weekly by S A. Fletcher, Exchange Broker"
Mention ia made OF Joseph Z. Mcdonald as
having been "a faithful and popular Repre-
sentative in the last Congress. The
Sentinel, even in that long ago
favored the advancement of wo.
man to the sphere to which she is entitled,
and so was euIogizing Robert Dale Owen for
his eloquent championship of woman in the
Constitutional Convention which had Just
adjourned.
Thirty.four years sgo the Sentinel was
under the necessity, rs it still often lie, of
lecturing its neighbor, the Journal, upon
the evil of squirting" Here is paragraph
copied from the Journal into the Sentinel of
March %, 1851, with the SentineIs reply
how much it reminds of the present anxiety
of the Journal for civil service reform since
the late ascendency OF the Democratic ad-
ministration:
"The Democratic Congress. just adjourned, re.
fused to confer General Scott the title of Lieu.
tenant General for fear that 1t might aid MS cleo
ton to the Presidency Let that be remembered
upon him a title far above any in the power of
Congress to bestow. Indiana Journal.
great change has been going on in the Wing
mind for time to the necessity Tor this
office. When Mr.. Polk thought such an Office nec-
essary, during the Mexican war the Wings in q
q high-sounding title to their Presidential candi.
date when there is nothing to do. they are all in
WIGS h the might Se
fed with his laurels and $1,000 year.-Sentinel.
Here is an advertisement: James Snod-
grass, attorney at law; by profession printer;
by trade telegraph operator, and Postmaster
by appointment. Will be found at all times
on hand for business in either of the above
callings None but office business attended
to-"
The news was received by the Sentinel
thirty four years ago by magnetic tele-
graph" the nearest Office of which was at
Madison. The dispatches were quite brief
compared with the service of to-day. The
difference between the heavy, laborsd style
of writing of that day is in decided contrast
with the effervescent style OF to-day.