Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-29

ladies in those far-away days
was called "Meeu Feu, the cele-
brated Chinese skin powder. For
identifying the complexion.
Price 81. The sole proprietor,
Fabian and Co., "a Mark Lane,
London. Patronized by tn e
Queen"
Jackson's Miracle Balsom was
another salVe which enjoyed
wide popularity and promised to
cure without fail "the worst
coughs and colds in 48 hours,
Group in five minutes, headaches
in 10 minutes, neuralgia in 20
minutes, catarrah in 10 days,
burns and scaldS in 20 minutes.
For all internal diseases. 1t has
no equal in the world. The great
master of all pain. Sold at all
druggists"
The great cure-all for all horse
diseases, was Jobe'S celebrated
Mexican horse powder.
The variety of merchandise
sold at the Olney store was truly
amazing. Here local fiddlers
could find the best violin string
made of Russian cat-gut for their
Instruments
The shelves were piled with
ladies' kid gloves, pearl studs,
china buttons, straw bonnets,
Balmoral skirts, hoop skirts,
brocades, stays, calicos, linens
and lace. As the years rolled
by bustles were added to the
stock, linen busters and carriage
robes.
A gentleman could purchase a
good suit for $3.50. There were
toys for the children-wax dolls,
china dolls and books.
The store was crowded with
walnut furniture, oil lamps,
china. glass, sheet mica and
stoves. notions and groceries.
Mr.. BarnSley also carried bug
gies, harness, sleigh bells, OK
yokes, farm implements. bags of
grain, gunpowder, etc. Even
coffins were made to order in
his shop.
The proprietor of the Olney
store traded with most of the
local merchants, as we'll as
larger companies in Washington,
Baltimore, Georgetown, Fred
erick and Ellicott's Mills.
From Caleb Stabler's general
store in Ashton Barnsley pur-
chased in 1862 a wicker sleigh
basket for only 81. 1t is inter-
esting to note that in the same
year he bought one ton Of Guano
for $45. Fifteen years later he
had to pay $8,145 for this valu-
able fertilizer, sold at the Ash
ton store.
William S. Bond operated a
"bone dust factory" on the Coles
vile Road, almst 10 miles below
Ashton. He sold to the proprietor
of the Olney store $500 pounds
of bone dust for $40.
Many of the local boys and
girls gathered old bones and
sold them to Mr.. Bond for 10
cents a bushel. The old factory
has long since vanished.
Other stores where Mr.. Barns
ley dealt were Gilpin and Bent
ley's General Store in Sandy
Spring, and j. A. Benefits
Variety Store in Brookeville,
which was a busy mill town in
those days and sported several
shops and two shoemakers.
Their helpers were kept busy all
year around.
One of the quaintest letters
addressed to ]. D. Barnsley, Esq,
was from Pattie. Riggs, signed
your Friend" requesting the
storekeeper to please pick us
out 10 yards of real pretty calico
to make me dress, one yard of
the best linen you have to make
two shirt bosoms. Let Ella have
five yards of good dark calico.
Send me one-half yard of pretty
calico of two different bolts -
small figures - two baby doll
heads, one for Ben and one for
SAM"
A brief note from E. w. Owen
reads, "Mr. B. -- Please send me
five pounds of coffee sugar. P.S.
- Gus is very low"
Another order requests light
gray corduroy - please give
Dick two and half yards, unless
you think a little more is neces.
sary, of the dark corduroy for
pants, and send lining and
thread and a pack of smoking
tobacco for Mr.. Bowie. Respect
fully, Nellie Bowie"
Alice Mackall writes from her
farm, "Sunnyside," - please
fill the bottle l send with whis-
key. l will settle with you when
l get to Olney again. We had
a pleasant. time at the Grange,
with plenty to eat. My regards
to Miss Kate. Suppose l shall