DeSoto times. (Hernando, Miss.) 1879-1898, 1890-11-06
SEEN In PRINT
Curiously Arranged Advertisements
That Attract Attention.
Many of These Quaint Bits Found in En-.
gland-Some OF the Earliest Adver.
tisements of Which There Is
Any Record Kept.

The first English advertisement of
which we have any knowledge appeared
in the Mercurius Civicus, of London, in
the year 1643, it being that of a book on
the Power of Parliament; but one of a
somewhat more 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 New England is be-
Ieved to have been that of one John
Campbell, printed in the Boston News
Letter in 1904; and, curiously enough,
this was an advertisement for adver-
tisements 'at prices as low as twelve
pence" Itappears, however, that even
at this rate very few were to be OBJ
tsined.
In 1861 a weekly paper entitled the
Public Advertiser was issued in Lon
don, which consisted almost wholly of
advertisements, principally concerning
the arrivals and departures of vessels
and the names of books recently issued
from tho press Other papers soon be-
gan to insert various kinds of advertise
ments some of which were exceedingly
curious. Many of the notices at this
period related to runaway apprentices,
fairs and cock-Gghts burglaries and
highway robberies, stolen horses, and
lost dogs, swords and scent bottles. At
this time England swarmed with negro
Or mulatto boys, who were frequently
offered for sale by means Of advertise
ments In 1852 one John Houghton, F.
K. S., who combined the business of
apothecary with that of dealer in tea,
coffee and chocolate, commenced a
paper which at first failed, but revived
In 1892; and by his untiring persever-
ance and incessant thought and study
he is credited with having educated his
poraries into true knowledge
Of the use and art of successful adver-
Using. His example, in some respects,
might we'll be followed at the present
time, for when quack dvertisements
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, l take all causes. l may fairly.
Who likes not may stop here"
At this period advertising was fast
becoming 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
atalented newspaper man and former
editor, whose salary for this work alone
would astonish advertisers of even a
generation ago.
Most of the advertisements of 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 fide examples might be
given, such as the one which appeared
some time ago in Pennsylvania paper,
evidently written by a clergyman anx-
ious to earn an honest penny outside Of
his probable slender salary:
Cupid and Hymen. The little brown cottage
atCambridge 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
ever, goes the minister one better, by
the closing sentencei 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. He has re-
eeived his commission and is ready to perform
marriage ceremonies at o very low rate.
In some respects the English press
may be said to surpass the American in
peculiarities of advertising. Here is an
ingenious specimen extracted from a
recent number of a religious journal,
upon which comment is perhaps unnec-
essary:
"A pious young man desires to be received
iato q respectable family, where the excellence
Vi MS example and superior morality might be
considered as an equivalent for board and lodg
ings."
The following advertisement ap-
peared in a recent number of the Lon
don Tablet:
TO Parents: Unruly boys and girls Of any
age visited and punished at their homes by a
thorough disciplinarian accustomed to admin
lsVer corporal punishment. All bad habits
Vared by one or two attendances. Fee five
Snillings for two visits. Address Birch.'"
The Cleveland (Eng.) Mercury says:
Wantcd-A really plain but experienced and
eiclent governess for three girls, oldest |
sixteen; music, French and German required; |
ofilhahcy OF conversation, fascination Of |
manner ~ and symmetry Of form objected to, as |
'ue rather Is much at home and there are |
sroWn'up sons. Address Mater, post-oflce, |
Cleveland"
The most whimsical advertisement, |
however, which we have recently seen
is this, in which relief of conscience is
sought by the penance of publication.
~ Appeared in a Bristol paper:
Lady travelled with gentleman. Birmingham
Bristol February is, 1889 FRIDAY after
uooh). Lady told an untruth. She regrets 1t
most deeply. She lives in Bristol.
while referring to foreign advertise
ments the following odd announce
@ent' which appeared in the Cologne
oszette during the Franco-Prussian
war, is worth preserving:
, Herr Charles Gerling and Frau Louise
ubrlng, nee Hartmann, have the honor to an
,hvuhce that during the firing of salvos OF artl-
,sory IN honor Of the victory (Gravelotte) they
~ asVe mad the happiness Of witnessing the birth
y ahotaer defender Of the country"
very characteristics French adver- !