Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-03-19

| hour extras and high pressure perfect
| ing presses to examine the first at
tempts at Journalism in America. VIM
| G. Edwards of Rochester,, N. Y, has
| bound volume of newspapers pub
| lished in New England from 1861 to
| IT'S, q period fraught with great mo-
ment for this Country and of great
| fascination to the student OF early
American history. There are in all
about $50 sheets, but not enough of
one journal to make complete file
! for longer time than one month. Fortu
nately, however, some of the papers are
| perfect in their sequence during the
4 days which preceded the famous Bos-
| ton tea party, and one in particular
gives most quaint and delightful ac-
| count of that event. Other things
which occurred about that time and are
indissolubly connected with the his
| tory of this country are reported with
a directness and picturesque straight
| forwardness which reflect great credit
on those predecessors of the newspa-
/ per men of today.
The newspapers in the collection are
the Boston Evening Post the Boston
Gazette the Connecticut Journal, the
New Haven Post Boy and the Boston
/ Independent Ledger. They are for
the most part about "a inches by IL.
| Sometimes. however, they are consid-
/ erably smaller, quite likely on account
OF matter, for in those days it was
often hard for the weary editor to fill
up, even with extracts" The paper on
which they were printed, brown now
o. uyaS mo do
as tough and well preserved today as
when it was made. The type was large
and clearly impressed and the proof
reading well nigh perfect. The makeup
is not strongly dissimilar to that of the
modern daily, with the exception of the
head. which is comparatively recent
addition to newspaper making.
There are no editorials but in nearly
every number, some "Old Subscriber
"Veritas," or Constant Reader" gave
his views on the questions of the day
The number of pages was sometimes
two. sometimes four. When printed in
the latter size, much space was given
to advertisements of an amusing prim
itiveness and brevity. and sometimes
couched in such laborious English that
it is with difficulty that they are read
at ALL Occasionally some lofty flight
of rhyme appeared on one of the in
, side pages. and later on, when the rev
olution was approaching its most crit
cal period the vicious lampoon dashed
!, right and left at the hated redcoats un
til one wonders how ever they dared
stay to face the fire of the furious far
! mers.
In 40 Sf
1872, we find not hint as to the bitter
ness or belligerency. Instead. appear!
the minute and detailed description o
a lottery Whereby a certain sum o
Money shall be raised for the Compile
ton of certain Highways and the Re
pairing of the same in and abou
Charlestown. Tickets for which worth,
Purpose are Two Dollars EACH
But not many numbers further o.
! we begin to get the first rumors Q
!. serious trouble There are hints G
, secret meeting and dark deeds of night
! and the local, begins to brighten III
: In the Boston Gazette of July 4, 1774
! we are told that "a meeting OF Free
. holders of the City of Boston is Gale,
3 in Faneuil hall; Samuel Adams. Model
/ ator." The meeting was called to pic
E test against the port bill, which wa
{ than pending. In the same issue az
: pears the following portentious war;
r ing:
4 BY the Governor, these; In Obsery
t ance of my duty. and in tenderness +
C the inhabitants of this city ana colcn
e and to the end that none who may here
4 after Engage in dangerous Combine
/ lions may plead in Excuse of their cor
C duct that they were ignorant of tn
!. Crimes i'll which they We're involvin
v themselves, l have thought fit to il
l. sue this Proclamation here cautionin
n all persons in this Province agains
g signing any Disloyal Covenant or sin
e liar Document or in any manner ente
ing into or being concerned in such III
S lawful, hostile and traitorous Combil
h alton, as they would Avoid the Pal
e and Penalties due to aggravated an
t dangerous Offences.
s Thomas Gage, Governo
c By His EXcellency's Command.
/ Thomas Fluker, Secretary"
s. But matters were rapidly slippin
!. beyond the control OF this tender go
u ernor. In the Connecticut Journal
} the spring OF 1873, we are informed |
II the college correspondent, eyidentl
! that at meeting of the senior class {
Harvard. called the University
= Cambridge" it was unanimously d
y cided that the class should take the
, degrees dressed altogether in the ma
: ufactures of this country. The san
= paper under the date of September /
v tells of meeting of Freeholders of IL
y City OF Boston in Fanueil hall for tt
!. purpose of consulting, advising and d
T. termining upon the proper and effect
,r al Method to prevent the Unloading
Al the Tea. Also this paragraph is fount
l. advice to Ladies.-Ladies, howev,
:. cody Some of you may esteem yo1
q husbands, it may be worth your Viii
q to consider whether by abandonir
$ that accursed Tea you will preser,
II your Country and Posterity in Pea
$. and Good Order or Expose $4,000
f. them to spill their own Blood in d
10 fence OF their undoubted Birthright."
V. Then comes the great tea party. II
% Boston Evening Post of the next da
December II, 1873, describes the, SIT
ring event in the form of an intervie
with an eyewitness. who was oui