The Indianapolis journal., 1885-05-03
THE OLD AND PRESENT JoURNAL.

1t is sometimes interesting to listen to the
"reminiscences of youthful days, in which old
men are so fond Of indulging and to compare
The manners and customs Of that early time
uith our own. In no way, however, is by
gone generation brought so near to the pres
ent and TO ourselves as through the perusal of
their newspapers, provided, Of course, as
In the instance under consideration, they
are not too remote to have had newspapers.
The year 1889 is not a very distant period,
and newspapers were then far from being in
their most primitive stage Of development,
having long before that date passed the point
of being mere disseminators of facts, and
reached the dignity of public advisers in-gen
eral and nolders of political and social opin
ion. A glance over the files Of the Indanap-
oils Journal between the years 1889 and lSa5
reveals, however, in spite of this evident
Importance as factor in public affairs, many
curious differences between the paper then
and the Journal of to-day.
The most striking contrast is in the size,
ihe Journal Of SO being four-page sheet with
four columns TO the page. 1t was not daily
It that time, but was published three times
week during the session of the Legislature
and twice week the remainder Of the year.
II is, Of course familiar fact to the reader
that William Henry Harrison was a candidate
for the presidency at that time but the an
nouncement Of his nomination as matter of
news gives the event more vital interest
than was ever conveyed by manuals of his
tory The nomination is indorsed in fervid
editorial the most burning words and phrases
of which are carefully italicised lest their en-
phasis be missed. The editorial colunn-to
be more exact there was only half column
displayed, it may be remarked considerable
ability, and was not an unworthy forerunner
of that excellent department as it appears in
later years.
As indicated by the extra edition of the
paper during its session, the Legislature was
of some importance then and all its doings
are faithfully reported, at least four of the
sixteen columns being filled with the proceed
ings. At the opening of the session in 1889
it was resolved that the Door-keeper of the
Senate be authorized to agree with and employ
two assistants, at a compensation not to exceed
81 per day each. 1t was further agreed that
the Treasurer of State be directed to employ
stan able-bodied hand by the day or month to
prepare fuel for the fire." rate of compensation
not stated. Arrangements were also made
with the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher to open
the sessions with prayer, and the House was
summoned instanter to attend devotional
exercises Notwithstanding the attention
given to the Legislature the Journal then, as
now, kept watchful eye upon its doings and
administered ieproof and rebuke as occasion
called for. AT one time it was moved to
remark, with crushing and capitalized empha-
sis, that the majority of the law makers were
7 deeply darkly and dangerously imbued with
the principles that are to be found at the pro-
foundest depths Of Van Burenism." The
liquor question was a troublesome one even
then, as shown by petition praying relief
against fines for retailing sprituous liquors
The matter was speedily disposed of and
dropped by the committee, which reported it
to be 'inexpedent to legislate further on the
subject
Il 1o,,{ 1,oI |, L..
ton called" was carding the public in 80.
Washington's body-servant and the old woman
who kissed the Father Of his Country when
she was young do not appear but the man
who voted for him and 'Tknew him like a
book is there. The Journal at that time
contained no telegrapilic dispatches, for the
excellent and sufficient reason that there was
no telegraph. Consequently, the readers were
not thrilled with the account of New York
tenement-house murder, or Boston prize
fight, or championship game of base ball, or
whatever the popular amusement may have
been, until weeks after the occurrence, if
ever. There was not line of foreign news,
and the nations of Europe might have de-
stroyed each other before the Indianapolis peo-
pie found it out. There was no local
news. the Office of reporter being at
that time unknown "out this way
'fWhat did the paper contains" Profound ed
itorials as before mentioned, legislative re,
ports and the summarized proceedings Of Con
gress, the latter accompanied by a running
commentary of criticism, usually of the scath-
ing sort A bit of extra space was occasionally
filed by few choice moral selections" or
a sedate joke of what must have been even
then Of ancient flavor; but little room was left