The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1890-10-24

The first English advertisement of
which we have any knowledge appeared
in the Mercurius Civicus, of London, in
the year 1913, it being that of book on
the Power Of Parliament; but one of
somewhat moro modern character is
found in the Impartial Intelligencer, of
the same city, in 1649, inserted by
country gentleman from whom two
horses had been stolen. Tho earliest
advertisement in Now England is be-
loved to have boon that of ono John
Campbell, printed in the Boston News
Letter in 1904; and, curiously enough,
this was an advertisement for adver-
tiScments ''at prices as low as twelve
pence" 1t appears, however, that oven
at this rate very fcw were to DO OBJ
tanned.
In 1851 weekly paper entitled the
Public Advertiser was issued in Lon
don, which consisted almost wholly Of
advertisements, principally concerning
tho arrivals and departures Of vessels
and the names of books recently issued
from the press. Other papers soon be-
gan to insert various kinds of advertise
mentS, some of which wero exceedingly
curious. Many of the notices at this
period related to runaway apprentices,
fairs and cockfghts. burglarics and
highway robberies, stolen horses, and
lost dogs, swords and scent bottles. At
this time England swarmcd with negro
or mula to boys, who were frequently
offered for sale by means of advertise
In TNh,,
K. s., who combined tho business of
apOthccary with that of dealer in tea,
coffee and chocolate, commenced
paper which at first failed, but revived
in 1902; and by his untiring pcrsevac-
ance and inccssant thought and study
nc is credited with having educated his
contemporaries into true knowledge
of tho use and art Of successful adver-
Using. His example, in some respects,
might we'll be followed at the present
time, for when quack advertisements
found their way into his paper he placed
turned rule above them with the fol-
lowing rather broad hint: ''Pray mind
the preface to this half sheet Like
lawyers, 1 take all causes. may fairly.
Who likes not may stop here"
AT this period advertising was fast
becoming a science, and by the end Of
the eighteenth century matters were
very much as we find them now, al
though lacking entirely the genius
shown in such as those of the noted
Philadelphia firm, said to be written by
talented newspaper man and former
editor, whose salary for this work alone
IVnTln oCtnnish oI x-nrticnuc Of
generation ago.
Most Of the advertisements of a Curl
GUS or amusing nature owe their singu-
larity either to the eccentricity of their
composers or to carelessness on the part
of some overworked compositor or proof
reader. Of the first of these classes
many bona tide examples might be
given, such as tho one which appeared
some timo ago in Pennsylvania paper,
evidently written by a clergyman any
ious to earn an honest penny outside of
his probable slender salary:
Cupid and Hymen. The little brown cottage
at Cambridge, Pa. is the place to call to have
the marriage knot promptly and strongly tied.
Inquire of Rev. S. S. Whitcomb.
A Georgia justice of the peace, how
over, goes the minister one better, by
the closing sentence in the following an
nouncement from the Rome (Ga.) Trib-
une.
WANTED-A couple who wish to marry to
call on Justice Walter Harris, in his new Office
over Bass & Hills real estate office. lie has re
ccived his commission and $ ready TO perform
marriage ceremonies at avery low rate.
In some respects the English press
may be said to SurpasS the American in
peculiaritieso of advertising. Here is an
ingenious specimen extracted from
recent number of religious journal,
upon which comment is perhaps unnec-
.essary:
"a pious young man desires to be received
into Il respectable family, where the excellence
of his example and superior morality might be
considered as an equivalent for board and lodg-
inSs."
The following advertisement APP
peaged in a recent number of the Lon
don Tablet:
ITO Parents: Unruly boys and girls Of any
Gge visited and punished at their homes by
thorough disciplinarian accustomed to admin
lister corporal punishment. All bad habi&s
cured by one or two attendanccs Fee. i've
.shillings for two visits. Address Birch"
The Cleveland (Eng.) Mercury says:
Wanted-A really plain but experienced and
efficient governess for three girls, oldest
sixteen; music, French and German required:
brilliancy of conversation, fascination OF
manner and symmetry of form objected to, Us
the father is much at home and there are
grown-up sons Address Mater, post-oflce,
Cleveland"
Tho most whimsical advertisement,
however, which We have recently seen
IS this, in which relief of conscience is
sought by the penance of publication.
1t appeared in Bristol paper:
Lady travelled with gentleman. birmingham
to Bristol February 10, 1889 FRIDAY after
.noon). Lady told an untruth. She regrets 1t
most deeply. She lives in Bristol
While referring to foreign advertise
Inents the following odd announce
ment which appeared in the Cologne