Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1886-12-31
TWO OLD REGISTERS.

TWO OLD REGISTERS,
Two old copies of the REGISTER have
lately been shown us that are worthy
brief mention. The older bears date
March %, 1857. Justus Cobb and W. j.
Fuller were the proprietors, and the for
mer edited the sheet. But this particular
week he was out of town and gave the
editorial management into the hands of
young lawyer of the place, who laid him
self out. 1t was just after Buchanan's
and the city papers were
beginning to illustrate great events, so
the pro-tempore editor thought he would
see what he could do in that line. He
therefore got together all the ancient cuts
in the office, wrote a story of the naugu-
ration that would fit them and put them
in. The effect was startling, especially
to habitual readers of the paper. A cut
of tree that had been used in advertise
ments of woodlands from time immemo-
rial, house and sheep were made to
stand for Wheatland, the Presidents
home. A tailOr's cut is labeled "An
affecting scene between Mr.. Buchanan
and his tailor" a pair of gigantic
spectacles that figured for years in the
advertisements of Elisha Brewster does
duty for "Mr. Buchanan's spectacles, by
early candle-light". A collection OF
pots, pans and kettles that Anon Wilcox
long used to embellish his announce.
ments in the papers stands for "Culinary
f1xins' at the White House. The cut
used in advertisements of runaway ap
prentices, representing a youth with {
bundle on cane over his shoulder max
ing rapid progress somewhere, is thu:
explained: "When Judge fancy appear
ed to administer the oath slight distur
bance was caused by the rapid stamped,
of a colored individual who seemed un
easy in the presence of that distinguished
functionary. He had previously beef
hid in the fence. The picture of tn,
"bad boy" of the time, with his thumb
to his nose and his fingers extended in
rather disrespectful fashion, stands 70
"New British minister as he appeared a
the close of the ceremonies. An oil,
patent medicine cut, evidently INTENDED
to illustrate the virtues of a cure TO
rheumatism. as it shows on one side al
old man all doubled up with pain and OF
the other a benevolent-looking individual
offering him bottle, is called 9Th
first meeting of the fogy cabinet: Gen
Cass and the President coming to an un
Outstanding on squatter sovereignty" !
rat eXterminator cut. showing numbe
of rats in the agonies of death. is ''Inte
rior view of the principal water tank" O
the National Hotel. Our older reader
will remember that dead rats in the tank
at this hotel poisoned the water an
nearly killed number of statesmen VIII
were guests there. The series of ''views
ends with cut of grave over which
weeping willow bends, that had don
good service in adjoining the column c
death notices. 1t is called "Allegorica
representation of the late ADMINISTERS
ton. As take-off on the alleged pic
lures which appear in the papers nova
days this series would be excellent.
The second copy of the REGISTER
dated March 10, 1862. 1t is full of wa
articles, like the leading magazines of tn
present time, but of different character
Among the advertisements is one signe
by "Abram Williamson, private, Co. b
9TH Reg. VT. Vols, Recruiting Officer
He appears to have shared the opinio
then prevalent, that the war would 500
be at an end. He says, in the course {
his call for recruits ''The only opportl
nifty for citizens of Vermont to enlist
this patriotic war for the preservation {
the Union, and to engage in the gres
final battle of the world for freedom,
to enlist for these regiments now in TIL
field or to Join the regular army
Awaking from the apparent lethargi
sleep Of preparation, the grand arm
moves with the opening spring to gl'
rious and permanent conquest