The Olden Time Series, Vol. 4: Quaint and Curious Advertisements | Page 4

Circumstances of the Inhabitants, I hereby
Certify that there is not an Infectious Distemper of any Sort, known to
be in Town.--AND as the above false Reports have been Propagated to
the great Prejudice of this Town by those who employ themselves in
Engrossing Provisions and Forestalling the Market, (many of whom are
known to the Selectmen:) They are hereby particularly Notified, That
unless they desist from such wicked and abusive Practices, they will be
prosecuted on the Act of the Province, for making and publishing such
Lyes and false Reports.----By Order of the Selectmen,
Ezekiel Goldthwait, Town Clerk.
Many Country-People have imagined by seeing Silks hanging on Poles,
that the Small-Pox is in such Houses; but their Surmises are entirely
groundless, they being hung out at the Silk Dyers for drying.

Boston Gazette.
* * * * *
In 1760 the Committee of Tradesmen advise voters to "put on Sabbath
Day Clothes" and "wash their Hands and Faces" before going to town
meeting the next day. They also speak of the "New and Grand Corcas,"
meaning probably caucus. This is from the "Boston Gazette," May 12.
THE Committee of Tradesmen hereby advise their Constituents and
others to set apart a decent Portion of Time (at least one Hour) previous
to the Opening of the Town-Meeting To-Morrow to shift themselves
and put on their Sabbath Day Clothes, also to wash their Hands and
Faces, that they may appear neat and cleanly; Inasmuch as it hath been
reported to said Committee of Tradesmen that Votes are to be GIVEN
AWAY by the delicate Hands of the New and Grand Corcas; and they
would have no Offence given to Turk or Jew, much less to Gentlemen
who attend upon so charitable a design.--Nothing of the least
Significancy was transacted at a late Meeting of the said new and grand
Corcas to require any further Attention of said Committee.
Boston Gazette, May 12, 1760.
* * * * *
Some one is "desired to refresh his memory" in 1767. Such mistakes
remind us of Willis Gaylord Clark's account of an announcement he
once heard at a revival meeting somewhere in New York State. The
minister said: "I would adnounce to this codingregation [through his
nose] that, prebably by mistake, there was left at this house of prayer
this morning a small cotting umbrella, very much worn and of an
exceedinglie pale blue color; in the place whereof was taken one that
was new and of great beauty. I say, brethren and sisters, that it was
prebably by mistake that of these two articles the one was taken and the
other left; but it was a very improper mistake, and should be
discountenanced if possible. Blunders of this sort are getting to be a
leetle too common."

Taken (as is supposed by Mistake) last Wednesday from the
Representatives Chamber in Boston, a long Camblet Cloak, lin'd with
red Baize: Whoever has taken the same is desired to refresh his
Memory, and return it to Mr. Baker, Keeper of the Court-House. Sept. 5,
1767.
* * * * *
By an advertisement in the "Boston Gazette," Oct. 19, 1767, we learn
that the young ladies of Boston had an opportunity to learn to paint on
"gauze and catgut," which we suppose at that time was considered
"high art."
To the Young Ladies of Boston.
ELIZABETH COURTNEY, as several Ladies has signified of having a
desire to learn that most ingenious art of Painting on Gauze & Catgut,
proposes to open a School, and that her business may be a public good,
designs to teach the making all sorts of French Trimmings, Flowers,
and Feather Muffs and Tippets. And as those arts above mentioned (the
Flowers excepted) are entirely unknown on the Continent, she flatters
herself to meet with all due encouragement; and more so, as every Lady
may have a power of serving herself of what she is now obliged to send
to England for, as the whole process is attended with little or no
expence. The Conditions are Five Dollars at entrance, to be confin'd to
no particular hours or time: And if they apply constant, may be
compleat in six weeks. And when she has fifty subscribers, school will
be open'd, as not being designed to open a school under that number,
her proposals being to each person so easy, but to return to those who
have subscrib'd their money again, and keep the business to herself.
N.B. Feather Muffs and Tippets to be had; and Gauze wash'd to look as
well as new.
Please to inquire at Mr. Courtney's, Taylor, four Doors below the
Mill-Bridge, North-End.
* * * * *

Sept 14, 1761, Samuel Gardner and Joseph Cabot of Salem offer a
"snow" (two-masted vessel) for sale, that "goeth well."
TO BE SOLD, by