The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-05-16
CANNOT do WITHOUT IT.
AN ALMANAC WITH 4 RECORD OF
MORE THAN CENTURY.
IL Has Passed Through Many VicisSi-
nae Has Had as Long n HistOry-Its
Founder Brought Out Fifty-Five
Numbers

With an address to the Friendly
Reader" from yours and the public's
most obedient humble servant, Robert B.
Thomas" the first number of the Farm
ers' Almanac. calculated on a new and
improved plan for the year of our Lord,
1893" was issued on Sept Is, 1892. So
admirably was it arranged and so we'll
was it adapted to. the use of the public,
that in the more than a century of un-
interrupted existence few radical
changes have been made, and the num-
Der for 1894. now in the hands Of tens Of
thousands Of people, is identical in size
and makeup with the first venture of
its author. In his preface Mr.. Thomas
offers an apology for anything in his
almanac that may appear of small mo-
ment," and the hope is expressed that
1.-The Hterati will excuse it" 'As to my
judgment of the weather" he continues,
in allusion to those predictions which
have been for 100 years made the occa-
sion for so much good-natured banter
Il need say but little, for you will in
one years time, without any assistance
of mine, very easily discover how near
1 have come to the truth.
In vindication of the authors Judg-
ment, after a careful inspection of the
numbers published during his lifetime,
ii can positively be stated that, while
during the winter months there are nu-
merous entries in this department warn
ing the reader, Now look out for snow
or rain, but I think snow" there is no
such caution in either July or August.
sc 1fafr al
in the first number, including recipes for
pimples, cOrns, toothache, freckles and,
very important just now, a method for
taking out spots of the smallpox
But there is no mention Of railroads,
steamboats,, telegraphs, horse cars, cleo
trio lights, electric cars, telephones, pho-
nographS-no, not even lucifer matches
and hundreds of other things that are
of daily mention now. While the farm
er's calendar contains directions for
putting "sleds and .sleighs in order,
and caring for plOws, harrOws, hoes and
rakes, there is nothing said about thresh-
ing machines, horse rakes, reaping and
moving machines, binders, seeding ma
chimes, corn and potato planters, and a
score of other machines now indispensa-
bic on the farm.
But there is one memorandum under
this head which is as timely today as
il was 100 years ago. In the month Of
December, il says, see that your eel
lars are we'll stored with good cider,
that wholesome and cheerful liquor.
which is the product of your own farms.
No man is to be pitied that cannot en-
joy himself or his friend over a pot of
good cider the product of his own cOun-
try, and perhaps his own farm; which
suits both his constitution and his
pocket much better than West Indian
spirit" In this connection the reading
of some useful books is recommended.
f1,~~ al Of -cr-z~
American" are "Ramsey-s History of
the American Revolution" 'Morse's
Geography" and "Belknap's History of
New Hampshire" II required but four
pages of three columns each, to give a
list Of "rOads to the principal towns on
the continent from Boston, with names
of innholders." and three pages We're
sufficient to give all the federal courts
in the country, their times and places
of meeting and the names of the judges,
including the supreme court Of the
United States.
The title page Of the first number has
no pictorial adornment, but there is a
verse reading as follows:
While the bright, radiant sun in center
The earth in annual motion round it goes;
At the same time on its own axis reels,
And gives us change Of seasons as it
wheels.
There is also a verse to introduce each
month, evidently the composition of the
author That for January says:
The new year opens-old is past,
Stern winter comes with all its rough blast:
See the farmer shivering with cold,
Driving his nocks and herds TO fold.
The weather predictions for Jan. l.
10 were probably as accurate as most
of those that come from the government
weather bureau, Notwithstanding its su-
perior facilities for gaining information
from all parts Of the continent Who
can doubt that on the I'd. Sd. 4th and 5th
days of January 1898, there was "coid
and frosty weather and cold Winds" and
that on the It'll, Sth and 9Th it looks
like snow" The almanac was at this
time printed at the Apollo press, in
Boston, by Belknap and Hail." and sold
at their office on State-st An advertise
ment the following year describes them
as printers and booksellers at No 8
Dock square, corner of Wings lane Rob-
ert B. Thomas also advertises himself
as a dealer in books and station
airy in Sterling. Mass An addition
Is made to the title page of this
number in the way Of a rude cut
representing a farmer blowing with a
yoke Of oxen. The author also an
nounces in his preface 'I have been
much complimented on my judgment of
the weather for the year past; but" he
na1Vely adds, whether they were mere
compliments or not, l leave the unpreju-
diced public to Judge" In a postscript
it appears that much rivalry and ieal-
ousy prevailed, even in those early days
among almanac makers, and the public
is told that "a selfish editor =
appears to be much chagrined at our
success and in the most I'M
generous manner has not only privately
endeavOred to injure us, but, in the most
ungTacious manner. publicly attacked
our reputation 1t is worthy of
remark that Notwithstanding the puff
with which the mighty printer intro
almanac will be found to be fraught
with error and irregularity.'
In 1897 the sturdy farmer and his oxen
on the title page have retired and a pen
sive-looking maiden sitting on a rock
sheltered by trees. overlooking the labors
Of a plOwman. has taken their places.
Scythes. rakes, spades and hoes scat
tered around her would indicate that
she Is the goddess of husbandry. The
name of John West appears as the owner
of the copyright and Manning & Lor-
ing are the printers. The number for
the last year Of the century contains an
act of congress approved July IA, 1898.
imposing a direct tax on houses. lands
and slaves" The apportionment for
Massachusetts was $3.50, ABS. Virginia
was the only state that was rated high
err, its apportionment being $345, ASS.
There is also a table Of the rates of
stamp duties.