Digital Extra: The Journal's 175th Anniversary

07.21.2004

The passing news

OUR FRIEND and companion in arms, the Quarter-master General, was probably surprised at the liberty taken with his name yesterday. It should have been Samuel Ames instead of Larned Ames, as by an exceedingly careless blunder it was printed.

An early Journal correction published in January 1840

Dr. M'MUNN'S CELEBRATED ELIXIR OF OPIUM.

A new Chemical preparation of Opium embracing all the valuable medicinal properties . . . Its superiority to every other form of opiate is fully acknowledged by the most eminent physicians, surgeons and chemists, and a single trial will convince the most incredulous of its own intrinsic worth.

From a front-page advertisement for opium, Jan. 10, 1840

THEY SEND to Boston for muskets, and call upon the General Assembly to conciliate; they invite men from abroad to come here and oppose the government by force, and then call upon that same government for measures of conciliation. They denounce the members of the General Assembly, in so many words, as "a set of jackasses" . . . and still they call for conciliation!

From an editorial blasting the Dorr movement, April 25, 1842

THE PERSON who almost daily steals the Journal from the door of No. 23 Westminster street will find that it costs more to get the news in that way than it does to subscribe for it.

News item, May 9, 1844

IF PEOPLE ARE bent upon the enjoyment of their "free and independent" right to blow off their own limbs and to make their wives widows and their children orphans, the law should restrict them of so dangerous a liberty.

After a string of Fourth of July accidents, a Journal editorial in 1845 recommended that only experienced artillerymen be allowed to fire cannons

AN IRISHMAN struck James Child over the eye with some dull instrument last evening, on Canal street, which collected quite a crowd.

News item, July 17, 1845

A FEW YEARS AGO, the ladies wore a very handy sort of hood, which was called "Kiss-me-if-you-dare" hood. The present style of bonnet has a "Kiss-me-if you-want-to" look.

Aug. 8, 1857

THE FIRE WORKS intended for the evening of the Fourth, and postponed to Commencement evening, were again postponed and for the same reason, the weather. The postponement extends to the next fair evening; this evening if fair, if not, the first evening that is suitable for the display. The committee expressly disavow all responsibility for the weather, but public opinion is setting very strongly against Dr. Caswell, and if we do not have a fair evening in the course of the week, we think he will be called to account for it.

July 11, 1851

THE POTATO ROT. -- We regret to learn that this disease has suddenly appeared in this quarter. A few days ago the potato looked finely. But now we hear of their decay in all directions, and many fields which promised a large yield will not be worth digging.

Sept. 9, 1850