Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-20
Daily kennebec Journal.
AUGUSTA LOCALS.
A CURIOUS OLD VOLUME.
What an OId-Timc Collection OF Newspaper
Clippings Shows.


the Journal is one owned by Mr.. l.. u.
Pillsbury of this city, entitled: The
Spirit of the Public Journals; or Beau
ties of the American Newspapers for
1908" This quaint old book was printed
in Baltimore in the year 1906, by
George Dobbin * Murphy. 1t is made
up of extracts from the newspapers of
that day and in its preface shows that
it may be considered an original work:
since 'the essays and poetry of which
it is composed can be known to very
few only, and those few may have for
gotten them since they appeared in the
diurnal prints; hence it appeared de-
Sirablc object to preserve the quin-
tcSSence Of the newspaper in Il durable
form" 1t is evident that the pub
fishers did their work with conscien-
tious thoroughness, for they declare
that mo paper Of any celebrity in the
Union has been omitted in the scrutiny
necessary to make an impartial selec-
tom" and that the list includes near
ly one hundred vehicles of Informal
ton" Then follows a list of the one
hundred papers of celebrity published
in this country at that time-feWer in
number than are published today in
the State of Maine. The clippings
which make up this work show the de-
cidcd limitations of the press of that
day, compelled as it was to secure its
intelligence by Stage-coach and post
rider. Some of the jokes published in
this old book arouses the suspicion
that it may have been the source Of
later inspiration. THE death Of q
miscr." it declares, was lately an
nounccd thus-On Friday last, died
Josiah Braintree. Of Bennington. at the
age of 9S. He retained his money to
the last" 1t is evident that Josiah's
descendants are not all dead. \ few of
them are to be found in most any COM
munity; still there is Il satisfaction
that even if they do not waste their
substance in building monuments dur
ing their lifetime. they cannot take it
with them on the journey across the
great divide.
1t would also seem that there were
beats even in those good old days, for
we are Informed that "a merchant ad-
vcrtiscd a commodity for sale, and
gave notice that he would take in pay
mcnt all kinds Of country produce, OK
cept promises
1t is pleasing to know that sound
was not always mistaken for sense in
these primitive times. We are told
that "a certain gentleman by the name
Of Barryl, in one of the Northern
states, made a speech. in which he
spoke very loud and long. One of the
company not being pleased with the
harangue. observed that an empty
BARREL always made the greatest
sound
Among these samples Of entertaining
humor we also find the apparent origin
Of a joke which in various forms has
since done duty at the expense Of the
legal profession. In its original form
it ran as follows: "A lawyer in cross
examining witness. asked him among
other questions. where he was on a
particular day, to which he replied. in
company with two friends. 'Fricnds?'
exclaimed the lawyer. two thieves.
suppose you mean They may he so
replied the witness. for they are both
lawyers
\ sample Of Old-timc negro wit is
also given in this collection Of humor
which reads as follows: AN old negro
by the name Of Harry. who lived in
New Jersey some years ago. commonly
made it Il practice on holidays to 90
round the country begging. One
Christmas. meeting Mr.. Nicholas G..
he thus accosted him-'Good morning
Massa c., wish you nelly Clismus;
please glib ole ncGUr sis1ence dis morn
ing?' Mr.. q. who well knew the negro,
but determining to have Il little fun. re
piled with some degree of stcrnness,
who are YOU
"'Massa 40 know me- answered the
old negro. my name Harry; dcy call
me ole Harry
"'Old Harry says Mr.. G. They
call the devil old Harry
Yes. massa.' replied the negro.
Sometime ole Harry, sometime ole
Nick
"Thc wit pleased, and Harry was
solaccd with a dollar"
a long ana learned article upon beef
steak ana oysters follows, in which it
is clearly shown that the oyster easily
surpasscs all bovine competition mas
much as they possess more nutritive
animal jelly" 1t is evident that one,
c. Walton. had been shortsiGhted
enough to question the truth of this
assertion. as the writer Of the article
declares. with fine irony, that though
G. WaltOnS reading is not 50 extern
sive as that Of those who have read
more than he has. yet he must ac-
knowledge that neither in Galcn, nor
in Hippocratcs. in Cullen or BOoer-
have. has he ever found half
syllable against the WhOlcsomcncsS of
this sovereign Of bivalved crustaceous
auuatics." 1t is safe to assume that
q. Walton did not soon forget this
severe trouncing.
The following tender and touching lit
tie poem is as worth repeating today as
it was then, and all may unite iii sub
scribing to its beautiful sentiments:
MY MOTHER.
Who fed me from her gentle breast,
And hush'd me in her arms to rest.
And on my check sweet kisses prest?
My Mother.
When sleep forsook my open eye
who was il sung sweet lullaby.
Ana rocked me that | should no. CITY?
My Mother.
Who sat and watched my infant head
When sleeping on my cradle bed.
And tears Of sweet affection shed?
INV My Mother.
mo cry