The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-02-11
OLD-TIME NEWSPAPER
How the Public Was Enlightened
When Indiana Was Young.
The Indianapolis Gazette of Seventy
Years Ago Equal to Its 0ppOrtu-
nitieS-Queer Features.

zette of date May %, 1S22. which, in the
light Of events and improvements of severn
ty-two years, contains some interesting
and curious reading. Nathaniel Bolton,
husband of the late Sarah T. Bolton, was
one OF the editors and proprietors Of the
paper, and George Smith the other partner
in the venture. Mr.. Bolton IN later years
had editorial connection with the Journal,
the Gazette having by that time been trans
formed into the Sentinel. In the year 1874
the telegraph was unknown and mails were
irregular and slow. This being the case,
it might be thought that the little four-page
sheet would be given up entirely to local
matters. but on the contrary nearly three
pages are devoted TO general news and ma
tional affairs. Three columns of political
matter are kindly contributed by Congress-
man William Hendricks, in a letter dated
April 16. In this he outlines the work OF
the session and the condition of the coun-
try, with both of which he is greatly
pleased. mo period Of our history since
the close of the revolution" he says, lis
better calculated to crafty the mind of the
philanthropist, or to p~ourtray the destinies
of this great Republic" Other communities
tons and excerpts from Boston and other
papers, but little over a month old, cover
the news in what must have been a
very satisfactory way, since it gave the
readers a fairly comprehensive idea of the
worlds doings in little space.
Among miscellaneous matters is a COM
plant from a Louisville paper of the dis
tress caused by the depreciation OF the
paper of the Commonwealth Bank. Every
article Of merchandise. II says, is doubled
in price if aymen is 10 be made in paper
instead Of specie. There is a letter from Rev.
Levi Parsons, dated one year earlier than
the paper in which it appears, describing
the condition OF Christian missions in Pal
estine. There is also a poets corner, which
contains some verses whose heart-broken
pathos. the editor thinks, will call forth
the tribute of sensibility from every feel
ing mind" The lines are the wall OF a for
saken one, beginning:
II comes not-I have watched the moon
go down,
But yet he comes not-once II was not So"
These may suggest Tennyson's He
Cometh Not" but the date-and other rea-
sons-preclude the thought of Plagiarism.
The first page is given up TO advertising
and local nevis. which is naturally OF most
interest to Indianapolis readers of this day.
An election is, of course, in sight, and is
discussed, else the Gazette's g-enuineness as
an Indiana paper might be doubted. Vari-
~
among them the filming of two men $40 each
for gambling, and the giving of a verdict
of $500 in the case of Susan Summers
against Ezekiel Blizzard for breach of mar
rage contract This sum, with costs, at.
5000, which the editor considers "a SUBJ
stantial covering for character" Indian
apolis was not then the capital of the State,
matter of little concern, compared with
county, affairs. Official announcements are
Hervey Bates. sheriff. and James NJ. Ray.
County Commissioners clerk-all these
names, through family descendants. being
familiar at the present time TO residents of
the city. Calvin Fletcher, father of DR. w.
B. Fletcher, of this city; Ingram Fletcher,
of orlando, Fla, and now living here; CAL
that he proposes practicing law in this ju-
dicial district. Noah Noble, subsequently,
ants reside here, offers for sale a tract OF
land on Eagle creek. A number of very
are also advertised for sale with consider
able flourish, Martinsville then taking lead
Thomas Carter, landlord of the Rose Bush
acknowledgements name-informs the
public that he has a commodious frame
building on Washington street. near the
center of Indianapolis, and is prepared to
Givan was apparently the only merchant OF
to advertise his wares. He has a general
store and presents a list of goods which
CilL eNtAN NhiAS NAAC III N1bilAl AtDil
cassimeres and "cambricks' TO razors, cow
bells, c%rosscut saws, powder and shot, aud
flour, whisky and salt" Collins x Ogie
announce themselves as owners of the ferry
over White river, and declare their readi-
ness to serve the public. AS an induoement
Gazette make the enticing statement that
rags will be received in payment for print
ing"
There is no society column in the paper,
and but one personal item, but that one
of such a startling and unique Character
that IN HpcprVpS rQnrOnnCfiOn &C a Cpacipanu
of what the editor of the good old times
could do when he set about it. In order 10
call special attention 10 this article. which
occupies a full column. IL Is given a head Of
very black letters, stop the Swindler." and
is turned upside down. 1t reads:
"a superfine scoundrel, who calls himself
Matthew Patrick, printer. absconded from
New Albany, Ind, on or about the Sd inst,
indebted to US and several Others TO a con-
siderable amount The said Patrick is very
talkative, and, from his own statement, is
by birth and education, a Vermonter-pre-
about five feet four or five inches high, an
acknowledged liar, a proven villain. a sam
dy-haired, red-faced, blue-eyed, iong-nosed.
stooped-shouldered, gallows-looking, pre-
tendingly-learned, stultified, wOman-hated,
blue-coated, black-vested, gray-pantalooned,
dandy-dressed deceiver-cne of those pes
tiferous insects that often make their flight
into the Western country, destroying as
they go the heritage Of honesty, and pois-
oning the foliage OF the innocent and I'M
suspecting; and then take their flight. One
peculiar Characteristic in Patrick is TO use
great exertions to impress upon the minds
of strangers that he possesses more than
ordinary talents, ineXhauStible funds and
uncommon good standing in s~ociety-has
an excellent art of getting in debt and pay
ing off by running away. lie Will, un-
doubtedly, make a great change in his
dress and appearance, as his natural proni-
gacy and means were ample. Several jour-
newman printers, who have spent the last
four or five months in his service, were
left, by him, without any kind of ompen-
sation. 10 execrate the days wherein they
had toiIed and the sleepless nights they
spent. We will give ten dollars for the APP
prahension and commitment OF said Pat
rick to the Louisville Ky.) jail.
SMITH &
Indianapolis, May "a, 1872.
'Printers In the several states In the
United States will give the above two or
three Insertions in their respective papers,.
and the favor shall be returned. s. & b"
Evidently the publishers in those days
stood in no fear OF libel suits. but We're as
ready 10 call a liar a liar as a spade a
spade.
on the whole, this old indianapolis paper
Is a worthy predecessor OF the local press
Of to-day. According to its limited Oppor-
%tunities il showed enterprise and good jour
nalistic judgment. and set a pace which
undoubtedly had it's influence in fixing the
high standard aimed at 10y leading Indian
aDOlis papers of to-day.
He Fitted the Description.