Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 March 1898 — An Editor That Wanted War. [ARTICLE]

An Editor That Wanted War.

We have in present possession a copy, or rather a portion of a copy of a paper that clamored for war. It was not for a war with Spain, nor yet for a civil war, noy even with Mexico, but for war with old England; and what is more it got the war sure enough. The date of the paper is Dec. 24th 1811. It is the Orange Couuty Gazette and it was published in Goshen, N. Y. The publishers were Elliott Hopkins & Co. Mr. Hopkins having been the grandfather of the late W. P. Hopkins, of this place, who loaned us the paper. So far as can be judged from the fragment, the paper was a four page sheet with 5 short columns to each page. The terms of the paper were $2 per year, payable half yearly. Advertisments of a square or under published three weeks for one dollar, and 18 arid three quarter cents for each insertion longer than three weeks. Papers were not stopped nor advertisements discontinued until paid for. *' “Rags will be taken in payment for advertisements and the papers, the same as cash,” is a standing announcement. All paper was made from rags in those days and was expensive. The paper on which this old sheet is printed is of very rough finish, but very tough and strong, being vastly different in that respect from the fragile wood pulp paper in general use by newspapers now. The ink was good, for the printing is as clear as it was the day it was printed. There is very little in the paper except advertising, mostly legal notices/' What little store advertising there is, is not displayed, as is the custom now. One notice is given by 13 insolvent debtors confined in Sussex, New Jersey common jail. They give notice of a hearing in court, “to hear what can be alleged for or against our liberation from confinement.” Another queer ml is where 6 cents reward is offered for an indentured boy named Ebenezer Drake. He had on a dark brown suit of homespun fulled cloth, had black eyes, dark hair and a “down look.” No wonder he looked “down” if he was valued at only six cents. Another party advertises for a “Negro Wench named Jude” about 5 foet. 9 inches high, took a 2 year old child with crooked feet, had on a checkered long gown and straw hat. Whoever returns her to Christian Ludlum will be rewarded. We don’t think she is in these j diggings, however. Another noteworthy notice is one given under the title “Elopement” by Robert Thompson jun. His wife Susan has left his bed and board etc. The forsaken Robert also advertises a public sale of a whole lot of stuff apd has two farms to rout. Maybe Susan might better have stayed with Robert. Ho appeared to have the wealth. There is practically no news at all in the paper, and what little there is, is from two weeks to two months old, except a string of weddings. There is some little news from congress, though, and for one thing wo see that the territory of Mississippi wants to be admitted as a From the Ohio Patriot is quoted the news, which came in a very round-about way, that up in Canada “Indians from the Illinois, had brought in a more or less choice assortment of scalps, presumably of Americans, and the English paid •‘five .dollars” each for them. We suspect that the ancestor of the modern telegraph liar must Ifave got in his work on that item.