Gloucester County Democrat., 1898-02-24
RELIC OF PAST AGE.
a Century Old Newspaper That Is Re
markably Well Preserved.

a Century Old Newspaper That Is Re-
markably Well Preserved.
Mr.. Glenn Brown, the architect has
an interesting relic in the shape of an
old newspaper, probably one of the old
est publications to be found in this
country. It is The Virginia Gazette
and Alexandria Advertiser, published
in Alexandria. The copy is dated Thurs
day, April 20, 1898. The motto of the
paper, which is printed under the title,
is as follows:
o thou by whose almighty nod the scale
OF empires rises or alternate falls,
Send forth the saving virtues round this landl
There is no mention made of the
names of the publishers or editors but
an advertisement, which is inserted,
asks for rags. old seines. fishing nets
and the like to be brought to the Office,
SO that paper can be made from it.
From this it would seem that the firm
manufactured its own paper
In the news columns, which form but
small portion of the paper, the adver-
tisements covering greater part is
dispatch dated London, Feb 20 pre-
yious, giving an account of an insurrec-
tion in Ireland. There are also publish
ed Paine's reasons for preserving the
life of Louis Capet. The plan of the
new French constitution is given and
number of dispatches from Paris ap-
pear.
One of the most interesting advertise
ments in the paper is that of a lottery.
1t states that it will be given by the
commissioner appointed to prepare the
public buildings, etc., within the city
of Washington for the reception of con-
gress and for their permanent residence
after the year 1900. Samuel Blodgett
was the agent for the affair in this city.
The capital prize was hotel, with all
furnishings, valued at $50, 1000. There
were cash prizes of $25, 900, the whole
amounting to $3.50, O0O The lottery,
by the way, was never held, as much
opposition was developed against it.
Samuel Blodgett was the one whose
heirs claimed large portion of the ma
tional capital.
There are several advertisements for
runaway slaves, offering rewards of
from Sc to SIG. There is an offer of a
reward of $40, which would seem large
compared with those offered for the
runaway slaves, for eight bushels of
clover seed, stolen from Mount Vernon
The advertisement goes on to state that
the clover seed was stolen from the
granary and is supposed to have been
taken by negroes. 1t is signed by An
thony Whiting, who was Washington S
oYerseer.
There is an advertisement in the pa
per of the celebrated horse Eclipse, from
which many of the thoroughbred horses
Of the present day have descended.
There is also an advertisement of the
opening of the city tavern at the sign
of the "Bunch of Grapes by John
Wise. The statement is made that
northern and southern mails will arrive
at the office until Nov. on Mondays,
Wednesdays and Fridays at 6 p. m.
On one of the pages is song COM
posed for Lodge No. 10 "of Charles
town, . commonly called Portobacco
The paper consists of four pages of
four columns each. The size of the
sheets is about IL by IS inches. The
paper was published Thursdays of each
week. The SIS were all like f's. The
paper has been remarkably well pre-
served. Washington Star.