Moses Folsom and William Henry Maple Jr. were joint proprietors of The Chariton Patriot during 1873, but Mr. Maple --- the more acute observer of the two --- probably was responsible for a recurring feature on the local news page: A column of miscellany headlined "This, That and the Other."
These items were not fully fledged news and occasionally gossip --- mixed with the author's opinion about this and that. Topics of the column published on June 11, 1873, ranged from the suicide of a former resident to cases of colic brought on, it was thought, by the profusion of fresh berries and cucumbers. Mixed in were complaints about the status and abuse of planked crossings designed to move pedestrians from the boardwalks in front of business buildings around the square to the courthouse grounds in the center --- and more.
While there's nothing profound in them, the columns do offer snapshot views of life in Lucas County 150 years ago:
+++
An old lady named Hannah, formerly of Chariton and known to our older residents, recently hung herself in Illinois. She was crazy on religious matters.
The regular meeting of Gayoso Encampment, I.O.O.F., next Friday evening, at which time officers for the ensuing term will be nominated.
This year's gooseberries and currants are already reminding our people that this world is full of sorrow, trouble, and colic.
John E. Edmonds, formerly of Warren township, died recently near Fort Dodge, this state, leaving his family in destitute circumstances. The Odd Fellows of this place raised and forwarded to the widow a handsome sum of money.
Four wandering Italian minstrels were in town last week. They played for a dance Friday evening.
Why not complete the (boardwalk) crossing to the courtyard on the north side?
A freight car from Charlestown, Mass., fitted with a huge tank and several casks containing 30,000 live fish of fourteen varieties passed through Chariton last week for San Francisco.
Summer commences June 21st and ends Sept. 22.
The beat of the night watchman along the track of the B.&M. is five miles over which each man has to travel four times.
Green cucumbers, warranted twenty aches to the slice, are for sale in the city. Now will the cucumber colic commence its ravages, and the family lamp gleam suddenly through the midnight darkness.
Strychnine or a few buckshot would prove, if tried, a very efficient antidote to the frequent dog fighting on the square as well as much unearthly yelping at unseasonable hours.
We understand that there are several cases of measles in town; also that the whooping-cough prevails.
An exchange says: "the lady lovers of croquet are getting the necessary implements ready for a prosecution of the fashionable and exhilarating game." This means striped stockings.
While some farmers were selling their corn at 12 and 15 cents a bushel, others made some 40 cents a bushel out of their crop by feeding it to livestock.
That's right. Stop your wagon on the street crossing, and make the pedestrians go around. The street crossing is made to stop wagons on.
Dr. Wilson was thrown from his horse last Saturday and narrowly escaped serious injuries.
We commend to our lady readers the new fashioned three-decker hats for concert and church wear. They are constructed with a window in front and rear to enable persons sitting behind to see what is going on. The is certainly the best style for the last decade.
Look out for a big time on the 4th of July. Arrangements are being made to have a jolly celebration.
The emigrants going through this place to the west, who have been very numerous of late, are taking with them large numbers of cattle and horses. This is an indication of a thrifty class of pioneers who understand the secret of extracting wealth from the western prairies.
No comments:
Post a Comment