Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/482

Rh "Capt. Withers leaves for the United States on the next steamer. May his journey through life's devious ways be as enjoyable as was this parting compliment to him."

The printers had a good bit to do with the tone of the notice a young couple got in early days on the occasion of their marriage. Notice the second paragraph of this item, preceeded by a hand-sign (Oregonian Sept. 4, 1852):

"On Wednesday, 1st inst., at the residence of Col. W. W. Chapman in the city of Portland, O. T., by Rev. J. H. Wilbur, Mr. Simon B. Marye, and Miss Sarah Eveline, daughter of Col. W. W. Chapman.

The lateness of the hour at which the above was received, will prevent us from making "only a few brief remarks" at this time. It is but justice to say, however, that in this their hour of joy, they forgot not the printer. Our best wishes go with the happy couple through all the varied scenes of life — may peace and plenty attend their steps and pledges of undying affection rise up around their hearthstone, who shall call them "blessed."

But should the unbidden sigh ever involuntarily rise, "would it were done before," we beg them to remember. .."

Notwithstanding the emotional ecstasy of the printer—or could it be because of this?— the item ended there, leaving the happy couple and the bewildered reader to wonder just what it was that was so well worth remembering.

It was the custom of the times to send to the printers bits of the wedding cake or a generous sample of the refreshments, solid or liquid, which contributed to the joy of the occasion. When this little detail was overlooked, the length and the tone of the wedding notice were not unaffected by the oversight.

St. Patrick's day stuff used to call forth all the latent enthusiasm of the society writers in early Oregon. After an account of the St. Patrick's Day celebration in Portland with. . . . "a stirring address by S. J. McCormick, Esq." the Oregonian writer went on to say (March 19, 1861):

"In the evening there was a grand ball at the Willamette Theatre, which had been floored over and decorated for the purpose of dancing. An unusually good time was experienced and all who partook of the experiences must look to it with emotions of pleasure, and hope for a return of the day."

Another of those fulsome wedding notices in which it is made perfectly obvious that the contracting parties did not forget the "typos" appeared in the Oregonian March 19, 1861, soon after the daily edition was started: