Evening star., 1936-08-23
Collection of Rare Impri1,ts
added to Georgetown Library
Old Volumes Tell Evolution of Spelling
To,Un's Name and Describe Woes
: of Early Government.
BY JESSIE FAINT EVANS.


"HERE has just been placed on
exhibition in the Peabody room
of the Georgetown Branch Of
u the Public Library, q collection
hf early Georgetown imprints, unusual
not only for the glimpse it gives
of the current reading matter OF
early Georgetonians, but Of how the
printers of their day wrote the towns
name and referred to the District
Of Columbia.
These fascinating volumes were
once treasured in the homes Of
Georgetown families, for their names
are in many instances inscribed upon
their fly leaves, or inner cover boards,
either In faint, fine pencilings or in
sturdy, firmly penned signatures which
times passage has scarcely dulled.
Except in one instance, all are in
their original bindings, either Of fooled
leather with the titles often gold
lettered. or of stif1 marble paper backs
with leather edges and less orna-
mentation as to the title.
That the present fashion of writing
Georgetown as if it were one word,
did not obtain in the days Of the
towns early history is evidenced in
q little book called "The Modern
Griselda," tale by Miss Edgworth,
author of Parents Assistant" Tales
of Fashionable Life" Letters for
Literary Ladies'" Moral Tales &
c." The fore-page also tells us it is
q First American Edition, George
Town." and Published by Joseph
Milligan. w. Cooper. Printer 1870"
Followed Own Tastes.
Perhaps each printer followed his
own individual choice as to how he
would print the historic towns desig-
nation, for one year later a different
one appears in two-volume edition
entitled, THE Agricultural Museum
According to its editor, it was DE
signed to Be q Repository of Valuable
Information to the Farmer and Manu-
facturer and the Man of Free Com
munication of Sentiment and General
Exchange of Ideas on the Important
Subjects of Their Occupations. u
printed for the Editor by w. A. Rind
1911" Georgetown" is written in one
word as it is today, followed by Ca.
which Miss Eva Gilbert, curator Of the
Peabody room and an authority on
all that pertains to Georgetown. in
formed me meant Columbia and re-
ferred, Of course, to the District OF
Columbia
John Otis copy Of ''The Ordinances
Of the Corporation of Georgetown to
which are Prehxed Law for Laying
Out Of the Town. the Original and
Supplementary Charters and Such
other Laws of the United States as re-
late to the Town" is one of the gems
of the collection and a volume OF
intriguing human interest in its own
right, quite apart from the BOOK
lovers point of view. 1t was Printed
by w. A. Rind 1911" Georgetown
Ca"
Page So has to do with an ordinance
concerning "the unloading of ships
ballast and other vessels" In proof that
the town was busy port for. ship
ping. Due notice Is required" to the
harbormaster of the time when water
craft" are ready to engage in this pur-
suit 80 that "they may be directed tt
q convenient and proper place where
ballast may be discharged that they
may not injure the harbor In any
manner whatsoever"
The ordinance further provides that
captains and shippers" not complying
with this stipulation shall forfeit the
sum Of twenty dollars"
The month of August. too, figures
In the ordinances. Evidently some
thing just had to be done about clear
ing the streets of the busy port OF
Georgetown. not of humans or Of We
hicular traffic. nor even Of fast-step-
ping trotting horses, but "of the swine
that are running at large"
Swine Ordered Killed.
"On and after the fifteenth Of Au-
gust" declares the regulation, white
persons finding swine at large tres
passing" are privileged "to kill or de-
stroy, seize and take such swine to
his or her own use" There was no
sex discrimination enjoined, it would
appear. in connection with this priv
alege accorded the townsfolk.
The constables were doubtless like
wise stirred to drastic action by fur
ther regulation evidently meant to
lessen the exercise of the quality of
mercy by an appeal to their weli-be-
ing should they do their full duty in
complying with a further clause. This
empowered constables "to kill the
swine and carry the same to the Mar
ket House" Here they may sell the
same to the best advantage" and re-
tain to themselves "one-half of the
money arising from such a sale after
paying the other unto the Clerk of the
Corporation"
August days were dog days with Q
vengeance in old GEORGETOWN, with
doubtless as much excitement among
their owners as to whether or not it
were necessary to comply with Cruel"
regulations requiring them to be listed
and tagged, as arises in our midst
125 years later.
Page 1T declares that the owner Of
ANY animal Of dog kind" not entered
with the Clerk of the Corporation for
the payment Of tax and the obtain
ing Of a license shall forfeit and pay
the sum of ten dollars to be recovered
by warrant before the Mayor Of the
Corporation" It was also further or
dered that such person be required Ito
place a collar around the neck of such
animal with hic voa v,,o ,,vo,, - ,,~I.-