The Republican journal., 1915-08-19
DWIGHT P. PALMER


of servants! Would she not look with
holy horror on the electric bells, speak.
ing tubes, telephones, and Victrola! We
doubt whether she could be coerced or
persuaded to enter one of those automo-
blles standing at its door.
had forgotten to speak of the board.
ing house which was on the present site
OF Mr.. McCluskey's home. The man.
ayers name had Shakespe arian sound
Mr.. Richard Jaques. A truly singular
couple were he and his wife; like Jack
Spratt and his charming spouse, thew
were exact opposites. The one was
crusty and taciturn; the other Welding
and laxative, in fact, garrulous; and to-
gether they formed an exquisite whole.
Mrs. Jacques, once feeling slightly ill,
told her minister that when she died.
she wanted to go to heaven by way of
Boston, But do not laugh at the poor
old soul, for there are others who regard
Boston as on the road to heaven.
What memories these old names bring
up of what Castine must have been in
its younger days! The name of each
tavern is suggestive of SOM thing con-
nected with it, either historically or as
an insight into the character of its in
mates. Does not the coffee house bring
to the nostrils the aroma of fragrant
Java struggled from the Indies, and a
better brand than we can get nowadays?
The first town in the eastern section
and the fourth in the State to have
weekly newspaper was Castine. Daniel
, S. Waters issued the first, under the
name of Castine Gazette, in 1898. Isaac
Story, promising young lawyer of the
town, was valuable contributor. In
1899 this same gentleman published here
the Castine Journal and Eastern Adver-
User. Isaac Story also held a promi-
nent position on the editorial staff. The
Journal was filled with foreign news
and general news of the country. but all
local news was entirely ignored.
In looking over file of The Castine
Journal & Eastern Advertiser, loaned
me by Miss Amy Witherle, have found
it very good sample of the newspapers
of that period. 1t was printed with the
! old English letter IS" but in good large
type and on fine quality of paper. The
column devoted to poetry has the elegant
title of Parnassian Loom, where was
woven verse of Greek extraction. The
editorials are on rather stilted subj
but the language is good. l notice these
headings: The Torments of Avarice,
Various duties connected with Social
Life, Moral Reflections, The Necessity
for an Early and Close Application to
Wisdom. Tragedies and accidents are
always written up as melancholy Oc-
currences." The baptismal names oc-
curing are old-fashioned and biblical,
such as Hezekiah, Pelatiah, Ezekiel,
Zenas, Hate-evil and Peter Porcupine.
l have picked out few trades which
were followed in 1900 but are not includ-
ed in the list of trades at this date, such
as stone cutter, brick maker, gun maker
and repairer, manufacturer of boots and
shoes, hat manufacturer, block and pump
maker, cabinet maker, manufacturer of
bamboo chairs. Richard Halves was a
public auctioneer and probate court was
held here.
The advertisements were especially
numerous, and these facts easily CLEANED.
Cape Roster was spelled Rosua. The
Castine Mechanics Association approved
of William Hale's new patented augers.
Cash was paid for rags and old junk.
BateauX and canoes were "lost," slaves
and indentured girls ran away" and all
those early days. AS early as 1900 a
divorce notice was printed. Vaccine
matter and incubation for small poX
were advertised.
A cure Tor chilblains was as follows:
"Those who are troubled with sore heels
are informed that "chaulking" the in
side of the stocking which comes over
the heel or sore spot will cure the affect
ed part in short time.
One firm advertises military hats of
the newest fashion, gentlemen's beaver
hats and ladies' beaver bonnets. Nearly
all the stores displayed large headings in
, their advertisements of rum and mo-
lasses. A certain cordial, or Martinique
noyeau, was a prime favorite.
| Under the caption Severe Cold the
, Journal states: On Thursday eve. Jan.
Is, 1900, it rained and the thermometer
stood at 81 at midnight; 3 a. m. at be-
, low zero, and Saturday morning at 10 be-
low, change of As degrees in hours.
Jan. 3lst of the same year this melan-
choly accident is chronicled: A woman
sitting near the freside having her
playing near her, it fell into large ket-
tie of boiling water. The mother, in
haste to preserve her child, threw the
youngest on the bed, and on lifting the
; other one out of the kettle found it life
less. She then sent the eldest, boy of
nine years, to call the father, who was
at work in the barn. The boy on his
way thence ran among a number of
horses, who kicked out his brains. The
mother in the mean time went to the
bedside to take up the infant, and to her
inexpressible grief found it deprived of
life, having in her hurry thrown its neck
across the headboard of the bedstead.
We have not been able to learn the name
of this unfortunate family, but the truth
of the above is unquestionable.
In 18O9-10 a paper called The Eagle
was printed here by Samuel Hall. Its
general character was like that of the
Journal. 1t was, however, not quite so
large. To show the generosity of the
old inhabitants we cite an advertisement
in regard to three fugitive apprentices.
One of these fugitives was mulatto
boy, and his master offers the munifcent
reward of one cent for his return or in
formation concerning him.
In 1927 The Eastern American was
published here by Benjamin F. Bond. II