Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-04-26
TIE CONFEDERATE PRESS.
HON SOUTHERN PAPERS WE'RE
PRINTED IN WAR TIMES.

Scarcity OF Paper and Paper Mnnng Ma
terinls-straits Of Publishers OF Books
and Sheet ATuslo-sOng DoOlss, Tr-cts
and Pamplets-New Novels.
Side by side with the reports Of battles
and the records Of peace commissions,
congresses and legislatures. the blurred
columns Of the Confederate press were
won't 70 toom with domestic recipes for
cheap dishes. directions for raising and
utilizing various vegetable products. in
structions for making much Of little in
matters pertaining to every phase OF
household life. Hard by list OF dead
and wounded would stand a recipe for
tanning dog skins for gloves; while the
paragraphs just succeeding the closing
column of the description Of a naval en-
gagcnent OF Hampton roads were dircc-
tions for the uso of boncset as q substi-
tute for quinine.
Tho journals of that, day we're printed
usually upon the poorest paper, mado of
straw and cotton rags. and so brittie thai
the slightest touch nutilated 1t. In0
ink like the paper, was of the cheapest
and commonest. md left It's impression,
not only on the face of the sheet but on
tho hands no less than on tho mind of the
their way into the Colfedcracy during
the war. and at tho end of four years the
facilities for printing had come to low
pbb. 1t was no uncommon thing for
publishers to Issue half sheets In lieu Of
complete paper. with scarcely an apology
20 subscribers for tho curtailment of their
literary and news rations. II was zen
orally understood that this happened only
through stern necessity. and not from
ny disposition on the part Of tho nows-
paper men to give less than an equivalent
| for tho subscription price.
Sometimes the journal which on yeste-
day appeared in all the glory Of a siS
column pago was today cut down TO q
four column half sheet, or publication
was suspended with the announcement
that tho stock Of materials had been cx-
| 3austed. and that rs soon as the Office
:ould be rcplenishcd publication would be
resumed Eagerly as tho rough sheets
wero Looked for and closely as they were
read, q di:ainution of matter in them, or
1 failure 10 appear, caused only passing
comment or dissatisfaction. Mems minds
were so filed with the thousand things
tl:at each day brought forth about them,
! t,c-c were 50 many rumors in the air. rid
r,''s 'ioy 80 rapidly even without novs-
ncr-- i.ll, -.s 20 cause them not too greatly
- -1i51 nat which today has como to be
/ po nj tiic ". ies+ ,cccssities Of American
/ if"--s -aiiv ,.trE2l full Of all the Gomgs
u all sic world
s-metiraes even tho coarse straw pc per
lied the publishing fraternity when an
| edition was absolutely imperative, vet in
uch emergency the Inventive talent never
deserted them. 1t was considered won
'crful io;;-ralistie feat on.the part of its
.1blishcrs for Tic Niekburg Citizen. dur
ing tic siege Of that city. 70 make its cp-
aearancc, when al other resources had
ttilcd. upon wall paper
Publishers of books and sheet music oc.
tIpicd scarcely less helpless condition
than tho newspaper people. Their sole
grounds Of superiority consisted in the
I tGct nat tho demands upon them were
moi SO urccrt. The girl who SAM TO her
soldier lover tho Popular songs Of that
ti2lo. Lorena. When This Cruel War
is Over, The Stamford Bearer or
"'7'.--7 of tie South. which were al duly
advertised 'ot tho retail prico Of 81 per
ihcct; the trade supplied. however. at bclf
IF with IN additional discount whero 1O0
If one piecearc ordered. did not experience
chat Immediate and insistent need of the
song and its music which men and wo-
| r.cn nllEo tclt Ter the newspaper that
would tell them where tho last battlo had
been fought. which army had been vic
torious who had been promoted and who
had fallen. The fatciul column might
contain evil or GOOD report Of somo dear
one. and its coming was full Of interest
! AMI apprehension. Yet the sheet music,
printed like tho newspapers. In tho rough
est style, upon the commonost paper,
| lyrrif nd afrara ho-
graphic likeness of some Confederate gen
cral on the title page. continued TO bc
sold and sung. even though it's price raI
from 81 to $2 per sheet.
War songs and war music wore the or
Ter Of the day. and the soldiers in tho
camps and the small boys in ragged jack
OTIS shouted with an equal zest
The despots heel iS on thy shore!
or