January 4, 1999

NEWS FROM JANUARY, 1899

"PLANTATION NEWS
There are a great many changes taking place, especially among the farmers. Some of the owners of the River plantations
are changing managers, while laborers are also moving, "swapping around" as they call it. - The Shreveport Times, January
6, 1899"

Does this 1899 article read like the present day football news? Coaches being fired, new ones being hired, players going
from one team to another.

"COURTHOUSE
A great many people from the country are attending the criminal session of the district court. The docket is slowly being
ground out, while the grand jury is constantly furnishing it with new material. - The Daily Advocate (Baton Rouge), January
7, 1899"

Just to change a few words. A great many people are watching the TV tube as the grand jury is constantly furnishing it with
new material. In 1999, it is being placed on the Internet.

"IS TOM COLLINS DEAD?
The police have been requested to look out for a man named Tom Collins, who has been missing from his house, and from
letters received by his wife it is supposed that the man has committed suicide by drowning himself. The man's friends,
however, do not think he has met death. He appeared to be in a melancholy mood of late. Last Thursday he ate a light
breakfast and kissed his wife goodbye, telling her he was going to the doctor to get some medicine. Since then, he has
failed to return home, and the aid of the police has been sought to help locate him. - The Daily Picayune (New Orleans),
January 7, 1899"

From letters received by his wife it is supposed that the man has committed suicide by drowning himself. Did she receive the
letters by mail or did someone deliver them to her? It seems that there must have been more than one letter.

It would be interesting should the Manship School of Mass Communication run across what really happened to Tom Collins
or maybe the DRINK Tom Collins was named after him.

"AROUND TOWN
The city had the street roller on Third Street recently, and that thoroughfare was given a good smoothing off, but since the
rains it is again cut up as usual. - The Daily Advocate (Baton Rouge), January 12, 1899"

Back in the 1920's, not all of the roads were graveled and many of the dirt roads that were used quite a bit, developed
something referred to as "Bog Holes." It was a place in the road where rain water would not drain as well as other places. Too
much use when it rained plenty would allow the wagons and buggies to cut RUTS in the road. Today, the same low spots cause
what we term "Pot Holes." In 1899, to smooth and roller the dirt streets worked fine until it rained. Today, DOTD dumps some
black top in a pot hole and rollers it. It also only lasts for a while.

"TOO MUCH RAIN IN MANSFIELD
We are having entirely too much rain. There is a large quantity of cotton still in the fields, but it can't be picked unless we
have more favorable weather. - The Shreveport Times, January 14, 1899"

In The Advocate of December 31, 1998, I read where the sugar mill in New Iberia has lengthened the grinding season two
more weeks because there is still cane to be harvested.

"VARIETIES OF BEER
Has the national taste changed? Do we prefer, instead of strong ales, to drink lighter beer, such as lager, and are we
unpatriotic to select German brews when English may be had? - The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), January 14, 1899"

Do you wonder as to how many varieties of beer there were 100 years ago?

"WHAT VOTERS?
The old war-horses of politics are getting together and dividing up the offices among themselves. The voters are not in on
it yet. - The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), January 19, 1899"

Does that sound familiar? 100 years ago, the old War Horses of politics RAN the show. One hundred years later, they still
run the show.

"HORSE TRADERS AND DEALERS
Our town has been going along in its usual quiet gait this week, the only rush being among horse traders and dealers from
Texas; with one, occasionally, failing to have the qualifications and marks necessary to get into the "swapping
convention." Where horses are brought forward and sold to the highest bidder, and brings the owner the net sum of
$2.50 to $16. - The Shreveport Times, January 24, 1899"

Were horse traders of 1899, something like the car dealers and traders of 1999? There is considerable difference in the
prices in 1999.

"QUEER TRAMP
Yesterday a chilled and shivering tramp, half dead from hunger and exposure, walked along the railroad track on Front
Street. There was the mark of a severe blow on his forehead, and he seemed crazy. An Advocate reporter approached
him and inquired how he got the lick. He said, "I was walking along the railroad, when some unknown party or parties
rushed up from the bushes and struck me a severe blow upon me head and dazed me and it was several minutes before I
regained consciousness. I am all right now and will soon be well again." The fellow said he was going to Florida. - The
Daily Advocate (Baton Rouge), January 27, 1899"

When I read this one, my thoughts went back to TOM COLLINS.

"SHOT HIMSELF
Last evening about 4 o'clock, a young man named Charles Selinas, while loading his revolver at his residence, accidentally
shot himself in the right arm, inflicting a very painful wound, which was dressed by the ambulance surgeons. - The Daily
Picayune (New Orleans), January 28, 1899"

People rarely ever change. 100 years later, we still have people accidentally shooting themselves while cleaning their gun.

"HIT ON THE HEAD
Last Thursday night, two young men, while on a visit to the house of Mrs. Annie Spicket, had a row, during which one was
struck on the head with a flat iron and seriously wounded. The wound was dressed at a neighboring drug store, after
which, the victim returned to Mrs. Spicket's residence and remained there until yesterday morning, when he was taken
home by his father. - The Daily Picayune (New Orleans), January 28, 1899"

Mrs. Annie Spicket is remembered 100 years ago because of this incident which happened at her house. Listen. Two young
men had a row and one was struck on the head with a flat iron and seriously wounded. In 1999, with plastic flat irons, not too much
damage would occur. It is a wonder the young man was not killed upon being struck on the head with a cast iron flat iron of 100
years ago. Apparently, the words "seriously wounded" did not mean the same in 1899 that they mean today. As the wound was
dressed a a neighboring drug store, I wonder if he had a headache from the blow to the noggin? There must have been something
very attractive at Mrs. Annie Spicket's house that the seriously wounded young man would go there and his father would have to go
to Mrs. Annie Spicket's home to bring him home.

O. W. STEVENS