19th century Ti — Appreciative reader

This is the latest in an occasional series of posts about news reported in 19th century weekly issues of the Ticonderoga Sentinel.

A day in the life of a newspaper man can seem endless.

“Pencil in hand at the racing course, taking the time of a trotting horse, jotting down each stroke and catch, made in a famous base-ball match. … These are a few of many things at which the tireless pencil swings,” reads an excerpt of the poem “The Newspaper Man,” published May 16, 1874 on the front page of the Ticonderoga Sentinel.

A tireless swinger of the pencil received a boost in spirit when he returned to the office at the end of day’s reporting.

“Tuesday evening we found an elegant bouquet of wild flowers attached to our office door. Whoever sent them has our most hearty thanks,” the Sentinel reported on an inside page. “We always liked May flowers, and these are doubly welcome, coming as they do, so soon after the snow banks, and from an unknown hand.”

In other May 16, 1874 Ticonderoga Sentinel news:

The last coat of paint was put on the new Congregational Church, and construction was set to begin on a new Episcopalian parsonage.

Weed & Fleming began operating its new soda fountain.

Billboards around Ticonderoga announced that the Great Continental Circus was coming to town May 19 for afternoon and evening performances.

Mrs. L. R. Barker opened a millinery store in the Wiley’s block.

“Everything is new and fresh, and the cosey little shop has just blossomed out with gay ribbons and bright flowers. Her stock has been selected with great care.”

The Mount Defiance Dramatic Club performed its debut variety show on May 9.

The Sentinel offered a lukewarm review of the performance but urged the group to keep at it.

“The object is a worthy one and the young people are quite successful in bringing out a play.”

An editorial offered a unique take on an Old Testament figure:

“If you are gaining little by little every day, be content. … Solomon did not become the wisest man in the world in a minute. Little by little — never omitting to learn something, even for a single day.”

The agricultural columnist advised:

“A farmer should be as much a business man as a merchant or a lawyer. Like them he requires brain as well as capital, and more brain than is generally considered necessary.”

Click here to read the most recent previous post in the series.