Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-25
NAMES Of FAMOUS
MEN FILL VOLUME
New York Directory Of 1886 Is
Owned by James BoWIeS
of Hollywood
REAL BULLS IN WALL STREET
List of Lawyers Contains Refer
ences TO Alexander Hamilton
and Aaron Burr
REAL BULLS IN WALL STREET

N~''Na FA~@s 80
James Bowles, retired capitalist Of
Los Angeles living on the Bowles tract
in East Hollywood, is the owner Of
one of q very few copies in existence
of the first city directory Of New York.
Tt was printed in 1885 by Noah Webster
Of directory fame and contains the
names and addresses, together with the
occupations, OF 5000 New Workers. The
population of the city by the Hudson
is said at that time to have been 24,000
The directory is rich in information as
to the boundary and character of the
city at that time; in clippins from
various newspapers published then,
and in advertisements of firms, some of
them in existence and doing business
near the old stands today.
FAMOUS FAMILIES LISTED
Among the names in the directory
are some which are famous today as
synonymous of great wealth. Others are
known to history. The founders of
some Of the families in the multi-mil-
lionaire class who have married title
abroad or lounged at Newpart are
shown by this little book, with it's we'll
worn pages, to have been men of hard
labor Here is shown a cobbler living
on New Queen street; there a harness.
maker living near the Battery. Further
along comes to view q name represen-
tatiVe of the modern rich who on the
pages of this book was town house
keeper.
Side by side under the list of at
torneys, are the names of Aaron Burr;
and of Alexander Hamilton, who died
in a duel with Burr. Little advertise
ments show that Burr today might
have been the president of a chamber
of commerce or the head of large
real estate firm.
CURIOUS OLD ADVERTISEMENTS
On January 5, 1886, Benjamin Jacobs
inserted an advertisement in a New
York paper advising the public that his
wife had seen fit to leave his home and
warning them that he would not be
responsible for bills incurred by her.
Elizabeth Jacobs, the wife, evidently
read the advertisement, and on Jan
uary she retorted thus:
Elizabeth Jacobs, who was adver-
tised by her husband on the 5th inst,
informs the public that she was COM
PEELED by his cruel treatment to leave
him: that no person that knows him
would trust him with a shilling, and
is happy that the law protects her from
paying his debts"
Perusal of the newspaper clippings
in the directory show the same pas
sions, the same joys and sorrows
swayed the knee-breeched public then
as now. The papers appear to have
exercised a parental influence on the
public they would not attempt now,
and great chances are taken with libel.
Whether at that time the editor or
owner of newspaper possessed enough
money to make him the fitting object
for q libel suit cannot be learned
from the pages, but the newspaper
man reading the clippings today must
credit the early editors with much
courage.
NOTES ON EMPTY TREASURY
FREQUENT mention is made in the clip
pings of the hard up" condition of the
public and private treasury. An edi-
torial liner eXclaims: "Oh, cash, where
hast thou flown?"
The advertisements of hairdressers,
in those days, men, give fair idea oil
the splendor of the colonial DANES
wardrobe and the description of me
lady's" hcaddress with its hair pad
hints strongly TO an existence of the
far-famed puff in those days as well
as these In fact the Vanities of the
fair sex are yividly outlined and the
woman comes in for strict editorial
Censure.
An editor has accepted the advertise
ment of a race track meet in which
the best racing blood Of the state IS to
compete. He accepts the ad, but writes
the copy according to his own notion
of its prOpriety. The ad reads
90 yea, o yea-This is to give notice
to all lovers of cruelty and lovers OF
misery, that yesterday was begun on
the Maiden Head racing ground, IN the
Bowery, which win continue for sey-
eral days to come, the high blood sport
OF horse racing.
This cannot but give delight to ev-
cry breast thoroughly divested Of hu-
manity. Music, curses and impreca-
tions will resOund from every tent,
by both male and female.
SEVERE PENALTIES IN COURTS
An idea of the severity Of penalties
inflicted at that time for Ottenses and
crimes committed against the law may
be given from the following news ar
ticle:
"At the supreme court held on Sat
urday, Jan. 28 the following judgments
were given, viz: William Wright for
highway robbery, to be executed on
the 80 of March next; William Broke,
alias William Smith, convicted Of
grand larceny, prayed for benefit Of
clergy, and was branded Henry Viii
liam Delius, John Ransom, Nathaniel
Sutton and John Lambert, severany
convicted Of petit larceny and SEN
tenced to be publicly whipped; vii
liam VandeIlOcht was convicted OF
a misdemeanor, N placing his own
note with n forged Endorsement, and
was sentenced TO six months imprson-
lnent in the common jail
The name of Smith appears to he so
common in even New York Of that
day that Col. William Smith, late OF
Red Mill, notifies the public through
the press that he has added the initial
NJ. TO his name in order to distinguish
himself from the hest.
In the directory the family names Of
Vanderbilt. Aston and Roosevelt ap-
pear.
Aaron Burr lived on Well street a
few doors from the famous pit
Wall street even then was bothered
with bulls but Of the bovine variety
Burr complains to the city watch that
bulls are daily in Wall street and
the watch fearlessly goes about his
duty by warning the public through
the press to keep the bulls out Of Wall
street or suffer their conhscatiOn
Jacob Astor, No. IS queen street,
two doors from Friends meeting
house, sold musical instruments.
Frequent mention is made in the
newspapers Of runaway negroes and
indemnity servo ants serving their pass
age from the old country under mas
ters in the old world. Tired of theit
drudgery ald longing to share like
their masters in the spoils Of the new
country thew have run aWaV. OulV to