The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-14

were no roads or luxuries of any sort, yet the
pioneer was happy. His simple and honest life
made it enjoyable.
THE NEWSPAPERS OF PIONEER DAYS.
In the early days Of Indiana, periodicals we're
Scarcely obtainable The indianapolis Gazette
lone of the editors of which was at the meetiper
had to mail its matter at Terre Haute there be-
ing no postofice to quarrel over in this city. It
took eight coon skins to pay for the yearly sub
scrlption, and the editor was glad to take his
pay in that sort Of coin, Machinery had not
then come to the relief of labor. Mothers spun
at the wheel. The time was estimated by the
sun and stars and corn was pounded to meal by
the handsome The speaker educated himself
conjugating the Latin verb by the light of the
burning brush-plles, demonstrating problems in
Euclid by the glowing Goals of hickory bark,
and finally, by the dnt of hard labor
so trained his faculties that Wabash
College honored him with degree
Judged by the momentous changes which civ
liZation has wrought under our very ewes"
said the speaker, 1--WE are older than the patri-
archs. We have seen more innovations for the
pubic good IN the Last generation than history
has revealed in thousand years" DR.. Brown
concluded WITH rather amusing story of James
Brown Roy, who, when candidate for Governor,
once said IN a speech made at Rushyille that
railroads we're being introduced in England, and
that he thought the day Eould come when the
people Of this State might take breakfast in
Madison and dinner in Indianapolis on the same
day. The people hooted him. and said that he
had better be in the insane asylum than making
a race for Governor of Indiana. That little in
cident did him much harm, and is said to have
lost him mary votes.
William Sloan, aged seventy eight years,
danced on the high platform the "Fishers Horn
pipe in old time style, to the music OF the band
The people cheered themselves hoarse at this
unique performance.
Two young ladies, Clara johnson and Annie
Schove contested for prize of gold ring, to be
awarded to the one singing the best old fashioned
song of fifty years ago The former sang
Barbara Allen" and the latter, Birdie" Miss
Schove won the prize but another ring
presented to Miss Johnson, who pleased the
hearers.
The prize to the oldest ard ightest settler in
the county was given to Emsley Wright, who
weighed ll5 pounds, and came to the State in
1870. Joseph Nes5it received the prize for being
the Oldest and heaviest settler in the State,
weighing 253 pounds and living in Indiana
htty-hve years. Prizes were also awarded to
Samuel Morrison Patience Silver and James
Hubbard for being the oldest people on the
grounds.
Joshua +. Lemon concluded the day with
"Reminiscences of the days when a silver dollar
looked like a cart-whee! in mans eyes" When
he was paying for his farm the DAY came when
only SIC more was due. To collect this amount,
his debtor came from Iowa to this State. Lemon
endeavored to get the money in the neighbour
hood but 1t could not be found. He then came
to Indianapolis and went to the bank of Slough.
ton Fletcher to get accommodated, offering good
security, but Fletcher replied that he had not
that much money in the bank, and did not know
that he would ever be able to gather in that
large sum in coin After great trouble, Lemon
got the money Of John Carlisle, then miller,
and sent his debtor home rejoicing.