Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1918-08-13
An Interesting Old Paper.

| Mrs. L. 4. Shaw leaves with the
Democrat copy of an old newspaper
which has in it much to attract the at
tention of the reader of to-day, largely
because It IL 90 ut variance with what
the newspapers now presentto us.
| The paper 10 the Portland Gazette,
date of Sept. Q, 1898. The Gazette was
. weekly paper, published at that time
by Adams, Paine & Woodbury., corner
Of Court and Federal Streets, Portland,
Maine. With this issue It had under
gone change In owners, and this issue
appears as New Series, Vol. 1, No. l.;
Whole No. 2239. This number on Q
weekly paper would indicate that 1t had
been 10 existence for about forty-three
years, and would put It's founding back
to the year 17s0, which is five years
earlier than the date Q7S5) given by DR..
Lapham for the starting of the first
paper published IN Maine. This paper,
according to DR.. Lapham, was the "Fal-
mouth Gazette and Weekly Advertiser"
It is likely that the Portland Gazette
was continuation Of the first paper In
the state, or its lineal successor.
We look in vain In the reading matter
of the paper for any reflection OF the life
OF the city of Portland, which We should
expect OF newspaper in these days. A
considerable portion of the space is de-
voted to literary matter. There 10 some
miscellany, . little state news, and
several columns Of foreign news and
comment, which seems to be the matter
considered of most moment. OF strictly
local matter there is almost nothing.
However, when We turn to the ad-
vertising columns We get more light on
the customs and conditions of the times.
The modern art of advertising had not
then been discovered, either in typog-
raphy or style, and the advertisements
are mainly plain announcements, largely
In plain type. Here is sample OF the
commercial advertising:
For Sale at
Jeremiah Gore, Jr's.
Commission Store.
No. 6, South Side Long Wharf.
Chests and Boxes Tyson. Young Hy-
SOD, Hyson Skin, Csper Souchong,
and Barrels St. Croix Sugars; Bbls.
Clear, No. 1, & Prime Pork; Hhds.
Choice st. Croix and W. I. Rum; Or.
Casks Sicily Madeira and Malaga Wines;
Pipes Cognac and Marseilles Brandy;
Pipes Holland and Hhds. & Bbls.
American Gin; Cas- ks Raisins; Casks
Winter and Summer Sperm Oil; Manila
Indigo; Bbls. Tar; Casks Rice; Boxes
Mould and Dipt Candles; Boxes Baker
and Lapham's No. l, Chocolate; Casks
Palm Oil; Boxes of Soap; Pepper-Nut-
megs-Cloves.
Also
10 Hhds. Muscovado Sugar,
10 boxes Canton Sugar,
Is cases Sweet Oil-3O TASKS each,
15 bbls. Brown Sugar, &C., &C.
Dye stuffs, drugs and medicines figure
quite largely in the advertising. At.
tractive bargains are offered In real estate
as in modern times, and dry goods,
clothing, hats and caps, boots and shoes,
occupy considerable space. There are
two or three dealers in "Military Goods"
which In those piping times of peace
seemed to consist of "Gilt and plated
mounted Hangers, Brass Mounted
Cavalry aud ARTILLERY do, Rich gold,
silver, gilt and plated Epaulets, Gold,
kut duu ptot0u boSO ouu oAoius &sVkous
gilt and Plated Star standard Buttons
Ito answer the law, Rich gold and
silver sword knots and hat Tassels, Gilt
and plated sword Chains and belt Plates,
Morocco sword Belts, and Swivels, An
elegant Assortment of Vulture and
Cock Plumes, &C., &C."
But the largest user of space was the
Cumberland & Oxford Canal Lottery,
which was to commence drawing on the
18th of October. Tickets and parts of
tickets are advertised for sale by a
number of dealers. Price was then $500
per ticket, but they would advance to
$3.50 on the Goth OF September. One OF
the largest advertisers Of lottery tickets,
who heads bis announcement with the
statement that $4,000 may now be obtain.
ed for Five Dollars, winds up bis ad.
vertisement with the following footnote:
Likewise
For Sale, very low, one pew in the meet
ing house of the third parish.