Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-07-14
StauntOn's Business Men in the Past hu-
morously ''puffed' in rhyme.

morOusly ''pufed' in rhyme.
g3 While one of the editors of the
STAUNToN SPECTATOR, Lyttleton Waddell,
Jr., wrote and published in the issue OF
that paper Of October II, 1854, the follow
ing humorous piece. We republish it main
ly because it contains the names of nearly
all the business men of Staunton at that
time:- -Fl
A WHOLESALE PUFF.-Just now while
imploring the whole world to find topic
prolific, the thought crossed our mind that,
in this weeks edition, 'twould be well
enough to give generous patrons generous
"puff. = As they advertise liberally, paw
pretty well, and are all far too bashful their
merits to tell, we will print bit for them,
'free gratis" this time, and, by way of
amusement. will print it in rhyme.
And first on the racket, as every one
knows, are our good friends, the dealers in
Ready made clothes, who can sat you with
garments that cannot be beat, from the
crown of your head to the soles of your feet.
Report says that Pollitz, land rumor don't
lie,) has stock that will almost compel you
to buy. and that in the whole State you
will not meet a finer apartment than that
kept by friend Steiner. Folks differ, how
ever, and some people say that WELLER &
Leopold carry the day; and some who know
equally well how to choose, that Gaodman
& Rosenwald beat all the Jews; while 9TH
ers who lately have taken the round, declare
that such clothing can nowhere be found as
that sold by Hirsh, whose sign now appears
on the house Mrs. Coalter has lived in for
years. We make no distinctions-go look
at their shelves-examine their goods and
decide for yourselves. They are always at
home and can fit you with ease, at prices SO
low that they can't fail to please.
While dealing with Dutchmen, twill be
worth the cost to call for a moment on II,
& ]. Faust, who are striving to earn both
their butter and roles, by laboring hard for
the good of mems soles. Well, Faust can
supply you with boots and with shoes, and
very neat hat for your head if you choose.
But Simpson has also stock in this line,
pronounced in all quarters to be superfine,
and all who have worn them will cheerfully
tell, that the boots made at Simpsons are
bound to wear well; while the Ladies will
find that the slippers now brought ON and
made at the shop of our neighbor, E. Law
be beat, just the things to enyelop their
neat little feet. Twill be to your interest
to give them call ]; you'l find A. NJ Simp-
sonis near the Town Hall, and that Lawton
now lives in the snug little store, where
Co,cdu Improved understandings of yore.
When you come out from Simpsons per-
haps it would be just as well to see Harper
and lay in your tea, or to walk across lei
surely over the street, and ask Mr.. Binby
for something to eat. But by all means,
this section before you part with, call (not
upon John, but) on George W. Smith, whose
goods and politeness are both so well known,
that we leave them to stand on their merits
alone. AS you come from Smiths store
twill be folly to pass E. Hickson, who sells
pretty things made of glass, without buy
ing teapot just ready, you know, for the
tea bought.at Harper's a moment ago.
But tits time that we travel still further
down street. and discourse of some other
things that we may meet. But before we
progress on ouriway.very far, we'll step into
Evans's and get cigar. He's good, hon
est fellow, and has upon hands, segars of
all favors aud prices and brands. Next to
Evans we find Mason Hirsh at the door of
his large and extensive Variety Store."-
1t is jam full of notions the cheapest and
best, though its beauty departed when Gabe
went out West.
Next, the store of friend Deakins attracts
passers by, whose Merritt we calculate none
will deny. Their goods are all handsome,
selected with care, and the ladies will tell
you are not at all "dear."
We approach "a grave subject, and lay
aside wit to muse upon beautiful tomb
stones bit. Has loved one departed?-
Then call in just here, and pay the last trib-
ute to one you held dear; buy tombstone
from Marquis swho earns all his bread by
working alike for the living and dead; and
is likely by constant, impetuous knocks, to
fill both his eyes and his pocket with rocks
And while in this region be sure and call in
to see Mr.. Points, who for silver gives tin.
Having laid in your tin ware, and such 9th
er stuff. just call in at Slanker's and pur-
ing's you'll go, I'll be bound, for his 'gun-
gers" and good things are known the world
round. But beware how you eat, or you
may have to go to the Drug Store and swal-
low ''bolus" or so, which, IN such an
event, you will probably find, both Esk
ridge and Trimble can make to your mind.
Should you need any trinkets or jewelry
rare, for your sweethearts and wives, why
just call upon Bear or J. W. Meredith, two
doors below, whose cases now make mag
nificent show; or should you want hard
ware, Ned Richards and Price can furnish
you Just what you need in trice. In dry
goods so many demand our attention, that
we capnot do more than give each a brief
promising that all bought their
goods at the North, and are willing to sell
them for what they worth. There is Nelson
& Baylor, who open in style in the beauti-
full store-room they bought of John Kyle,
and Crawford (Hugh john still at his old
stand, whose handsome apartment has Just
come to hand. Further up we have Kayser
& Stribling, and quite in another direction
are Patton & White, while Burwell and Pi-
per are in statu quo-all selling their goods
most remarkably low. On the ''wharf," f" as
perhaps you may already know, Mr.. Hope
and his partner have opened store,
where'll you'll meet with bright faces and
goods that look aceU, the latter of which
they are anxious to sell. Their card in this
paper please read without fail, and you'll
find that "Hope tells most flattering tale"
Before we conclude it may be well enough
to give our friend Cochran moderate puff,
whose stock of "the weed" can't be beat
North or South, if we judge from the speci-
men now in our mouth. His "Havanas"
are glorious, we've pulled them before, and
if spared a while longer will puff few
more. All sorts of confections at Pittman's
you'll find, and Scherer keeps articles of
the same kind. They sell ale and cider, of
which, we must say, some people drink too
many pints in day. If you wish to sell
flour you've only tog 90 ON the hill, to the
warehouse of Butler & Co.. while Mosby
and Brandeburg, cash in his line, can sup
ply you with goods that arc really fine. By
the by, in your rambles be certain to call at
Rankin's ''Unrivalled Daguerrean Hall, :"
when, if you ''stop in" Gas friend Rankin
would say,) you can get a good picture for
moderate 'pay."
We scarcely have patience to mention this
week, number of whom we desired to
speak. There's Cowan and Coleman and
Gresham and Wood, and Ridgsway and
Gilbert and-good- -gracious-Bob johnson
we must not forget, and Dooley, the Tailor,
indeed we must not. Mccoy, too, wishes
to call your attentions to things which in
his advertisement he mentions. Our doc
tors and lawyers we leave by the way; for
the least you know of them the better
''they say"
If we have neglected to name any friend,