The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1891-07-03
Newspaper Publishing years AGO.

The following from the pen of F. f.
Patterson, one of the pioneers in state
journalism, we take from the last issue OF
the Camden Sunday Rec,eso:
After an uninterrupted service of fifty
seven years Mr.. Augustus Barber, Sr., an
nounces his withdrawal as editor and pub
Usher of the Woodbury. Constitution, and
the transfer OF the paper 10 his son, Mr..
A. S. Barber, Jr. Mr.. Barber has not
only been the publisher of the paper for
the long period mentioned. but has exer-
cised a personal supervision of nearly
every issue. He served an apprenticeship
in the printing business in an office in
Chambersburg, Pa, and on attaining man
hood worked as a journeyman for a brief
period in Philadelphia, going to Wood
bury in 1884, which was then the county
seat of old Gloucester, comprising within
its limits not only its present territory but
that also of which the now counties of
Camden and Atlantic are composed. The
Consultation was the official paper of the
county and the political organ of the
Wing party from 1S34to 1856, and when
that party was supplanted to give place to
the Republican organization it was among
the first papers in the State to champion
its principles of Free Speech and Free
Meu," in opposition to the arrogant en-
croachments of the pro-slavery Democracy
of that day. Although Mr.. Barber could
at any period OF his long and honorable
career rave been elected to almost any
Office within the gift of the dominant party
in Gloucester county, be had no aspira-
lions in that direction and has never held
a political Office or been a candidate for
one that was either elective or appointive.
MIR. Chew, of the West Jersey Press, and
the writer of this paragraph served
their apprenticeship in the Constitution
Office under Mr.. Barber. In those days
the paper was printed On a Wash
ington hand press, it had a large
circulation, the forms were heavy, and in
the summer season the mercury in the
thermometer was wont to go on the same
rampages it does now. The press work,
with melting rollers and other inconveni-
ences, was a weekly task such as fe " print
ers of the present time can scarcely realize.
1t was mostly done at night. the last side
of the paper invariably SO, and there wasno
gas, kerosene oil or other light than that
afforded by tallow dips. There was no
railroads and but few post offices in South
Jersey at the time Mr.. Chew and myself
were mastering the art preseryative,"
and for the first twenty years of its publi-
cation the Constitution had to be delivered
over lengthy routes requiring two days
hard travel. This performance was not an
essential part of the printing business, but
it fell to the lot of the youngest appren-
tice and was an agreeable diversion from
case and press work and was rather coveted
than avoided. The writer succeeded MIR.
Chew, and it is doubtless if either could
now take a horse and sulky and drive the
-
inquiries. Mr.. Barber has fully earned his
from active business, and though
at an advanced age is as sturdy and active
as many men who have only turned the
half century mark, and he carries with him
the consciousness OF a blameless, honora-
BILE record in all the relations of his long
life.