The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-01-17
But Queer Only Because
They are Old.
A Speech by Kossuth. A Great Fire
in Raleigh. The California Gold
Fever Burns. tests on FoIIies
OF Fashion.

possession l found much that was vast
ly interesting and amusing Many of the
events transcribed, have become an I'M
portant part in the nations affairs, and
have been duly "set down. as such in
the histories, but the description has not
that charm and peculiar fascination that
these old newspaper reports have, written
at time when the events were actually
occurring
The papers of 1852 have much to say
about Kossuth, the great Hungarian, who
was then on a visit to our shores. One
paper in particular, published in Balti-
more, devotes many columns to the ma
tons distinguished guest, his ancestry
and sketch of his early history. AS
much space is given in a description of
a banquet given Kossuth as did our papers.
to the function" given Prince Henry Of
Prussia. on his recent visit.
AT this magnificent banquet given Kos
suth, that great man, William Cullent
Bryant. whose ''Thanatopss'' has render
ed him immortal. presided He was as
sisted by Hon. Horace Greedy. George B.
Butler and julius Froebel as vice-presi-
dents.
Among the many good things said by
the distinguished patriot Kossuth that
night, is this high tribute to the press,
which was widely copied:
81 address you with joy. because con-
scious of the immensely of the power
which you WELD, it is natural to feel an
awe in addressing those in whose hands
the success or the failure of our hopes is
placed; still I equally know that in your
hands, gentlemen, the independent repub
lican press is weapon, but weapon to
defend truth and justice. and not to
offend; it is no screen to hide. no snuffer
to extinguish the light, but a torch lit
at the fire of Immortality, a Spark of
which is glistening in every mans soul
to prove its divine origin; a torch which
you WELD loftily and high to spread light
with it to the most lovely regions of hui
manity.'
In glaring headlines in this same paper
are the words: Great fire at Raleigh,
N. c." The extra is dated at two o'clock
on the morning of Monday. ''While we
write, the most terrible conflagration is
in progress that has ever visited this city.
Commencing at a small wooden building
south of the postoffice, the whole square
is in flames with the exception of the
large brick buildings owned by H. D.
Turner, j. McKmmon, Palmer and Ram
say, W. Thompson and C. B. Root. The
city authorities are now blowing up build
ings, hoping thus to stop the progress of
the conflagration."
In a paper of 1S49 there are thrilling
accounts of the gold fever in California,
and paper of 1850, describes entertain
ingly, through a correspondent from Cali
fornia, "those mad days in the heat and
race for gold. All distinctions in class
are forgotten For a cart driver, this
writer to his home paper has man,
well known to the public, as an artist of
marked ability. His barber was a poll
tician before he drifted to California.
The cook of the camp to which he be-
longed. was a member of an old and arts
tocratic Virginia family Then he tells
also; of his slow, fearfully slow journey
across the plains. What vast changes in
the mode of travel have taken place
since these days, when the snake like
caravan of white canopied wagons crowd
ed slowly across the continent. And he
told simply, but how impressive are those
simple phrases now of those who became
faint hearted and turned back, while
Others. worn by the journey. sickened and
died. and were laid to sleep on the vast
and then lonely prairie.
Even in those stirring days, the
editors wrote of fashion, as copy about
this time of 1.-THE Live Giraffe. testifes
in this pointed paragraph. If bustles and
hoops go out of fashion, the church pews
will hold more than three ladies'
A Northern paper, Brother Jonathan"
think in is. announces that life seems
somewhat checkered just now" alluding
to the large plaids then in vogue, and
adds: ''Draughts can be easily played
upon the backs of the gentlemen of the
day, so extremely big are the plaids used
for their suits
One writer in the column for feminine
readers tells how brilliant complexion
will be the result.
This same paper advertises at reduced
rates, Ladies Guide to Gentility." A
book for little girls, whose title at least
is widely exciting is advertised at small
price to enable all little girls to have one:
"a Little Girl in the Lunatic Asylum"
''Ben Bolt had been sung until one
weary editor thus parades the sweet Old
song which has recently had a revival.
|'Oh, don't you remember lame Sally John
Jones,
Lame Sally with nose so brown,
Who looked like a clam if you gave her
a smile.
And went into fits at your frown
In the old goose pond, in the orchard,
John Jones
Where the goslings were learning to swim,
Lame Sally went fishing, one wet windy
day. and by mistake fell in"
But the papers which, by far are the
most interesting. are those just preceding
and during the Civil War. There are calls
for volunteers, lists of those who have
volunteered, and later, calls of help for
those wounded and-brave instances of
valor that cannot hardly find counter
part.
In a Charlotte paper, the Daily Bulletin,
is found a notice to the effect that IF
the destitute families of volunteers for
the war from Mecklenburg county on
bringing a certificate from the town mar
shall. that they are such, will be furnished
with clothing at my expense, as far as
am able. Call on DR.. f. Nye Hutchinson
IL my absence Signed, ]. A. Fox.
There is minute and most thrilling ac-
count of the battle of Manassas, in a Rich
ieond paper OF this great fight. Jefferson
Davis says in his message to the Senate