Subscriber Help (Town Talk)

The publishers of Town Talk tried to make a little deal with the children of Fitchburg and Leominster in 1890.
In exchange for new subscribers the newspaper would reward the children with a gold watch or safety bicycle.

Fig. 1: Ad posted in Town Talk aimed specifically at children in Fitchburg and Leominster

The ad reads:
"TO THE BOYS AND GIRLS OF WEST FITCHBURG, SOUTH FITCHBURG, EAST FITCHBURG AND LEOMINSTER.
We want to increase the number of subscribers in these places and will give any boy or girl a $35 SAFETY BICYCLE OR A GOLD WATCH to get us 100 subscribers for six months. The price of the paper for six months is one dollar. Every yearly subscriber will count as two. Any boy or girl can do this in a week or two. Commission will be paid for all over 10 subscribers sent in. Subscription blanks may be obtained at this office."

Secret Society, Eh? (Town Talk)

Fig. 1: Call for information about Secret Societies in Town Talk

Caption: [This part of our paper will be devoted to matters of general interest to secret society members. Secretaries and others are requested to send us anything connected with the society that will interest absent members or others. To insure publication the same week, it must reach this office not later than Thursday noon.]

A Tragedian Comes Calling (Town Talk)

From the December 13th, 1890 issue of Town Talk:

The first frame's caption reads:

"ALLEGED TRAGEDIAN: I have come again; I thought perchance, there might be an opening."

The second frame:

"MANAGER: (touching button) There is!"

Something To Eat. (Town Talk)

Fig. 1: "Something To Eat." from 11/22/1890 issue of Town Talk

Here are two recipes for cake found in the November 22nd issue of Town Talk submitted by "Friend."

"SOMETHING TO EAT.

Feather Cake. Two cups of sugar, one cup of milk, two eggs, two-thirds of a cup of butter, four teaspoons of baking powder, and one-half cups of flour.

French Cake. One cup of sugar, one and one-half cups of flour, one cup of currants, one-fourth cup butter, one-half cup of milk, a few slices of citron, cloves and nutmeg, and one teaspoonful of baking powder. Bake in sheets, ice and cut in squares. These two are very nice recipes."

William A. Emerson (short biography from Town Talk)

Fig. 1: William A. Emerson, picture from Town Talk (11/08/1890)

William A. Emerson was a skilled engraver, responsible for Fitchburg Past and Present as well as Fireside Legends, both books about early Fitchburg history.

Town Talk featured a short biography about this skilled artisan, the beginning of the biography is as follows:

"William A. Emerson is a native of Douglas, Mass., and was born July 31, 1851. He learnt the engravers' art in Providence, R.I., and afterwards went into business for himself there. On account of poor health he went back to his native place and carried on a small business at East Douglas. For two or three years he did such work as came his way and then opened an office and carried on a good business. He came to Fitchburg about six years ago, after living some time in Leominster and Worcester. Mr. Emerson has done some good work in publishing histories of different places, and is now at work on a history of Athol. His first publication was a little work on engraving, which was afterwards enlarged and re-published by Lee, Shepard & Co. of Boston. His Fitchburg Past and Present and Fireside Legends are well known here. His Leominster Historical and Picturesque is a very fine book..."

On the 1890 Congressional Election (Town Talk)

In the November 1st, 1890 issue of Town Talk, there was an interesting short comment about the (then) upcoming congressional elections.

Fig. 1: Comment on the congressional election of 1890 from Town Talk

The write-up says, 
"Before another issue of TOWN TALK appears the voters will have expressed their preference at the polls. The question of representatives and congressmen will have been settled, and those whom the voters do not want to represent them will have been gently or forcibly reminded of the fact. The situation in this district is quote interesting, and will probably be more so after election. Both the great political parties have received additions in new voters by naturalization and by young men coming of voting age, and, while the leaders of the parties may know very neatly how the new comers stand, they may change the complexion of things somewhat after all. Prophesying the results is not exactly in our line, but we do not entertain much doubt that the Republicans will again prove victorious. But if the Democrats should win we believe business will be carried on as usual, and therefore no tears need be shed."

In this election, the Democrats gained a total of 86 seats in the House and the Republicans lost a total of 93 seats.

Did You Hear Some of That Town Talk?

I recently downloaded two large PDF files containing Town Talk issues from 1890 - 1891.

They have been very amusing to read so far, it's like an informal newspaper with similarities to Coffee News.

In between posts about H.M. Francis, I'm going to start posting some of the various stories and cartoons.

I will cite author/artist names when applicable.

Let's start with my favorite so far:

Fig. 1: After The Play

The text that accompanies this piece is:

"SHE: Shakespeare is simply marvelous.

YOUNG TALKLEY: He is indeed! Even the names he gives his minor characters have a deep significance. Look at Pistol, for instance. He was always loaded."