The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-09-27
TIE CONFEDERATE PRESS.
FCW SOUTHERN PAPERS WERE
PRINTED IN WAR TIMES.

colui.uS OF tho confederate press were
wont to TEEN with domestic recipes for
cheap dishes. directions for raising and
utilizing various vegetable products, in
siructions for making much Of little in
matters pertaining TO every phase Of
household life Hard by list of dead
and wounded would stand n recipe for
tanning dog skins for gloves; while the
paragraphs just succeeding the closing
column of the description of naval en-
gagement off Hampton roads were di-ec-
( tiOns for the use of boneset as a substi
/ tute for quinine.
The journals of that day were printed
usually upon the poorest paper. made of
straw and cotton rags. and so brittle that
the slightest touch mutilated IL. The
ink, like the paper, was of the cheapest
and commonest, and left its impression,
not only on the face of the sheet, but on
the hands no less than on the mind Of the
reader. Few fonts of new type found
their way into the Confederacy during
the war. and at the end of four years the
facilities for printing had como TO low
ebb. IL was no uncommon thing for
publishers to issue half sheets in lieu Of
complete paper, with scarcely an apology
10 subscribers for the curtailment of their
literary and news rations. II was gen.
orally understood that this happened only
through stern necessity. and not from
any disposition on the part Of the news
paper men TO give less than an equivalent
for the subscription price
Sometimes the journal which on yester-
day appeared in all the glory Of a six
column page was today cut down 20
four column half sheet, or publication
was suspended with the announcement
that the stock Of materials had been ex-
hausted, and that as soon as the office
could be replenished publication would be
resumed. Eagerly As the rough sheets
were looked for and closely as they were
read. q diminution of matter in them. or
a failure TO appear. caused only passing
comment or dissatisfaction Mems minds
were SO filed with the thousand thinc3
that each day brought forth about them.
there were so many rumors IN the air, and
news flew so rapidly even without news
paper aid. as 20 causeth not too greatly
TO miss that which today has como 90 De
one # the yeriest necessities of American
life-a daily journal full Of all the doing
Of all the world.
Sometimes even the coarse straw raror /
failed the publishing fraternity whoa an /
edition was absolutely imperative. set lu .
such emergency the inventive ta.eatusver !
deserted them 10 was considered q w0n-
dortgl journalistic feat 0n the part Of ifs .
publishers for The Nie.,blrg Citizen. dcr-
ing the siege Of that cry. Co make It's ape
pelrauce, when all other resources lad
failed upon wall paper
Publishers Of books aud sheet music 0c-
cupied "a scarcely less helpless condition
than the newspaper people Their sole
grounds Of superiority consisted in the
fact that the demands upon them were
not So urgent. The gin who sang 90 her
soldier lover the popular songs of that
time. "L0rena, "Nhen This Cruel War
is Over. "Ibc Standard Bearer" or
Harp Of the South, which We're an duly
advertised AT the retail price Of 81 per
sheet the trade supplied. however 40 half
of with an additional discount where 100
Of one piece are ordered. did not experience
that immediate and nsisient need Of tho
song and its music which mon and w0-
men alike felt for the newspaper that
would tell them whore the last battle lad
been fought. which army had been vic
iorious, who had been promoted and who
lad fallen The fateful column might
contain evil or good report OF some dear
me. and its coming was full Of interest
nd apprehension Yet the sheet music.
printed like tho newspapers in the rough
so style, upon the cOmm0nest paper,
win now and then a caricatured litho-
graphic likeness OF some Confederate gen
raj on the tito page, continued to 10
old and sung, even though It's price ran
rom 81 to 81 per sheet.
War songs and war music were the or
Ter Of the day. and the soldiers in the
amps and the small boys in ragged jack
rs shouted with On equal zest.
The despots hcei Is GA thy shore
Farewell forever 90 the star rQans,el harre- s
rom diminutiye paper covered books Of 7
martial ballads The little song books ;
Ost anywhere from two and half 20 !
sc Confederate dollars, and their con- q
ents with few notable exceptions. G
rerc as mediocre as the paper on which /
hey were printed. The sentiment was G
here nevertheless and this was cared J
OF by the singers more than the music or
he lyrical or literary excellence Of the
0ngs
the missionary and religious publish Z
lg houses never ceased their praise d
'orthy labor Of printing tracts and i
Gmphlets for distribution among the SOLE C
iers, but publications Of more ambi- y
.Ous or secular standard were very few C
low and then some adventurous firm in :
or Charleston on New Orleans
'ould issue badly printed edition Of @
cw novel, reproduced from O copy SNUG.
led in through the lines or brought by =
he blockade runners from Nassau Still, i
ven John Halifax. Gentleman. and LES Z
liserables. which first appeared in the 4
)uth ia this way and this dress, lost :
luch OK their attractivencss in their Con. !,
,derate garb of inferior ink. bad type =
% worse paper.-A. q. Gordon il The
Cntury.
Fishing for Husbands.
Rocertlv thera was n 0qtharfnr of z