March 2nd, 1857

 STORM-March truly came in like a lion. Yesterday we had one of those tremendous northers that passes by with a vengeance sweeping everything before it and which made old Lake Huron rear with an unearthly voice.

A.  Oldfield lost part of his dock and some 30 or 40M feet of lumber which was blown into the lake and broken into atoms. At a moderate estimate it must be a loss of some $300. But we are satisfied of one thing-that a good log dock is the best we can have and will stand the most wear & tear. We may yet have a dock. Oldfield has good pluck and we have learned today that he is still going ahead and complete the dock. And now is the time for everyone to put in their mite and help make a dock. Not only Oldfield but everyone in the village and vicinity is deeply interested in the dock. Now it is dock or no dock. We can’t expect Oldfield to do it all especially after losing so much by this blow.

We presume that people are not aware of the advantage a good dock would be to our place. The state road will help us but the dock for two or three years decidedly more.

March 3rd, 1857

It has happened in the course of events that our lot is cast or that our time to flourish on this mortal earth happened about the middle of the nineteenth century, in the year of our Lord, and about the six thousandth year of this earth’s existence according to orthodoxy and moreover that we are living under a democratic form of government, but of which we have had nothing to do about forming but a great deal to do about perpetuating-and of which we as Americans are justly proud.

 Yet ours is not strictly a democracy but formed on the representative system for all the people do not meet to make the laws but in their primary meetings delegate their powers to their representatives, men whom they chose to make laws for them. It is these primary meetings of which we intend to say a few words. Now it is important that we elect good men to office.

 The supervisor should be a man of good judgment & one who knows the value of property, that cannot be imposed upon easily, that can rely on himself and make correct estimates, that is good at figures and writes a good hand. And one who has good moral qualities and an influence in the community.

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Markets-Pork-Flour supply short selling at $8 to $9. Butter good supply at 27 to 31 cents lb-Lard-Buckwheat selling at 4 ½ to 5 cents lb-sugar market is firm 14 to 18 cents lb-molasses and syrup at 6/ to 8/ per gal, -candy supply good at 2/ per lb-soap sells for 8 & 9 cents lb-Candles rather scarce 20 to 38 cts lb-coffee not much call for 14 to 15 cents lb-rice 10 cents lb-whiskey 5/ to 6/ per gal-vinegar from 1/6 to 2/ per gal-cider 2/ per gal-potatoes 8/ per bushel-tobacco in good demand, sells for 3/ to 4/ per pound. Boots and shoes are in good demand & holders firm, the supply not large prices range from $3 to $5 according to quality.

Nuts, a good supply at 20 to 38 cents per lb.

Shingles are very flat and sold at a great shave-yet holders are firm.

Dock stock & security at par & cribs are firm-Splies rather leaning and quoted at from 60 to 75 and few buyers at that price.

Money-We hear of but few transactions & but very little paper offered in the street-The supply is good and the exchange made on easy terms-Canada at 20 cents and old Bungtown coppers at 50 per cent.

March 4th, 1857

“This education forms the common mind.” 

The glorious sun is shining out beauteously this morning-with an invigorating and bracing atmosphere plainly showing forth the goodness and power of the great creator.

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 We hope not true-We were told yesterday that Mr. James Yakes, he that bought out A.E. Chadwick has purchased and is making arrangements to bring up here to our village a large stock of liquers to peddle out to our citizens & community but we hope we were misinformed for we have enough here now for all necessary purposes. But there is no monopoly, all can engage in the traffic that can bring their conscience to the desired temperature.

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 WELCOME-Our old friend and pioneer Wm Austin has rented a place here & is coming back amongst us. When he first took up his residence here our village was a wilderness. The large & lofty pines were waving their elevated tops where our houses now stand and as some say a thriving village is springing up.

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 We have learned that the late storm broke the dock at Cherry Creek and carried away about 60 ft, also at Lexington J.L. Woods dock was broke and some 60 ft carried away and R.B. Hubbard damaged considerable. Blessed be nothing.

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Today the honorable James Buchanan, President elect takes his seat in the presidential chair. We hope it may be an easy one for the old fellow. Is it a rocking chair? We shall be looking for his inaugural address.

March 6th, 1857

Polly-ticks-In the next annual township meeting there is to be elected one supervisor, one township clerk, one treasurer for the term of one year. Also two justices of the peace, one full term and one vacancy-two commissioners of the highways, one full term and one vacancy and three school inspectors, one for one year, one for two years and one for three years, “according to the latest law”. And four constables for the term of one year, one overseer of the highways in each district which is a very essential office and should be filled by a good man that will see that the work is all faithfully and judiciously laid out.

 And we ought to elect for commissioners the best men we have for good roads are essential to the prosperity and settling of our town and county.

We want one justice of the peace in our village and it would please us much if we could elect the clerk here.

March 9th, 1857

Things are greatly mixed up this morning, snow is flying all ways and politics are mixed in to liven things up. Some want their own way and go to the whole hog, while others are willing to give as well as take. All we have to say is go it while you are young for when you get old you cant.

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We have some awful purty, handsome, smart young ladies in our town. How refreshing to see a healthy blooming better half of man. Don’t be discouraged, young man, there is hope yet.

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Who is the ugliest man in our village? We think the man that looks like one of those animals that frequent our streets and when he speaks he goes ‘umph’. He goes on two legs, to be sure, but in other respects he resembles the ass.

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Confess your sins and roast your shins.

Get up right end first and go on a burst.

Bark Shanty Times exposes all crimes.

Likewise her poor rhymes, witness these poor lines.

Always pay your debts, never mind though conscience frets.

Settle all bills for sugar and tea but not a red cent for whiskee.

Confess your love unto your lover and mind and not get above her.

Marry the girl you like the best and be sure she can grind your grist.

Will says he can’t come it, faint heart never won it.

So fire away, every man and do your duty all that can.

March 10th, 1857

Modern definitions-

     Hard times-Sitting on a cold grindstone and reading the president’s message.

     Love-A little world within itself, intimately connected with shovel & tong.

     Progress of time-A peddler going through the land with wooden clocks.

     Politician-A fellow that culls all his knowledge from borrowed newspapers.

     Rigid justice-Juror on a murder case fast asleep.

     Friend-One who takes your money and turns you out of doors.

     Honesty-Obsolete, a term formerly used in case of a man who paid his bills.

     Independence-Owing fifty thousand which you never intend to pay.

     Lovely woman-An article manufactured by milliners, hoops and all.

“Who wants but little here below and wants that little for a show.”

March 11th, 1857

We are glad to see the dock replaced and built up and hope it will stay till the day of judgement-not of one man but of all men.

March 12th, 1857

 We have learned that there is a law suit to come off today before Jas. Erskine, Esq. Wm Peters, plaintiff and Martin Dugan, defendant. Also see that our friend the Hon John Kelly is in town today.

Things appear brighter and hopeful once more and we are in hopes our place will exhibit more of life as soon as navigation opens up-for these long cold winters are dubious and almost freeze life and vivacity out of us.

The above noticed suit is the first in our town all winter. Wonder what is to happen, truly something must turn up.

March 13th, 1857

It is amusing to see with what venom and bile the editors of the Leader and Signal attack each other. Anyone that would believe all that either says of the other would come to the conclusion that both parties interested were liars, knaves, thieves, slanderers and almost anything else but gentlemen.

What motive is it that prompts such a course? Or what objects do they seek to accomplish by such miserable slang and abusive language? Perhaps it is to let the people know that they can abuse the King’s English.

Dog eat dog and skunk stink skunk,

The Leader can boast and the Signal toast,

We would only suggest were the editors blessed

With a good share of common sense,

They would both hide behind a brush fence.

March 17th, 1857

Awful calamity-We learned today that a train of passenger cars on the Great Western Railway, C.W. (note C.W. means Canada West or as it is now called Ontario) were thrown down some thirty feet into the canal by one of the bridges giving away. The train is said to have had aboard some hundred and twenty passengers and that 80 were killed and almost all the survivors were badly injured. The above we heard today but hope the report is not all true for such a picture is horrible to contemplate.

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ADVICE GRATIS-Our friends about town that are making such a bluster about town offices that are to be, we think would do well to take it cool and more we will hint to them that there is no office in the town that is worth m-u-c-h. Yet it is important that we elect men that will attend to their business. But the days and nights will be no longer and no shorter for all we say about it, so we can take it easy and dont despair for there is pork in town yet. Pork and politicks-We are privileged people in a free country-it is a wonder we don’t grow faster and bigger.

But the main question now is, who is to be Treasurer? How important, what a serious thing is to happen-where are our city fathers-come to the rescue all.

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COMMON WORDS-How do ye do? How are you? “This is a pleasant day” and like as not it is raining and is the muddiest kind of time.

The top of the morning to ya says Pat with a broad brogue and his slouch hat hanging over one side of his coarse head, while his hair looks as if the chipmunks had wintered in it. And his mouth hanging on one side of his face but always ready for a drap of the crature-while his whole phisog tells all beholders that water has not troubled his face for weeks.

How do you do? and passes on with a smile and the fair one says nothing but keeps right along-May their memory be blessed.

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UP FOR OFFICE-We have learned today that the right honorable Michael Maskell, our esteemed friend and fellow citizen is about to set himself up for Treasurer at our next annual Township election, an office that will realize from 100 to 150 cents per year. We hope our friend Mike will do well.

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 We have been informed that one of our young merchants, and enterprising, industrious, intelligent, vigorous and highly esteemed fellow citizen and patriot-viz-the Hon. Mr. Thos Thomson, Esq. is up as a candidate for the office of Treasurer for the town of Bark Shanty. He has our best wishes. Hoping we may have the pleasure of receiving some of the defunked funds.

PASSING EVENTS

Its but lately that I have been told

That those who have our town controlled

For years back have bought and sold

The votes of men

Have now a very slippery hold

Of one in ten

I’ll tell you how this comes to pass

Some one will call a town Cauckass

And then they’ll fill your head with gas

I swear, its so

But now their game is up, alas

It is no go

But someone officeless, I hear

Who wanted justice too last year

Yet never treats his friends to beer

Wont get the job

He cant work upon the peoples fears

So help my Bob

The office that he tried to get

He vows and swears he will have yet

I wonder how much he’d like to bet

That he will run

To watch him haw and swell and sweat

Will be rare fun

He will open his venerable head with pleasure

To say he’d like the city treasure

It is only filled a bushel measure

And in his possession

He’d go about and take his leisure

Above suspicion

But now look out, observe the fun

For up steps the maker of a gun

And says that he is bound to run

At our election

Without exception

Stop, says our worthy friend Maskell

A man of powerful mind and will

Its no use to run until

I do withdraw

But if you do you’ll get your fill

You don’t know law.

But worthy friends you’re rather fast

And make poor W------l stand aghast

Give him but one chance at least

For to be seen

And you’ll say in spite of all that’s past

He aint so green.

Or rather let him have his will

Just cast your votes for Mr. H--ll

He can the Treasurers office fill

Beyond a doubt

When its mentioned to our Bill

He says “Get out”

But there’s another, our worthy Tom-ass

Reputed brother to a John-ass

But never mind we’ll let that pass

With any pup

He says you all may go to grass

And stick your nose up

But I will now quit my rambling rhymes

And grow consistent like the Times

If all men were punished for their crimes

And doomed to die

We soon should be with Old Grimes

Yea Heaven Hi.

 

Tuesday, March 17th, 1857

 All a humbug-I am happy to have the pleasure of correcting the article on the opposite page, entitled Up for Office, as it is all a humbug. Mike Maskell is not going to run for office, it is the Hon. Harvey G. Wheeler that is going to run and he says he will have it. We hope our friend who wrote the opposite article will not find fault with us for correcting his mistake.

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 We think H.G. Wheeler had better stay at home and mind his rifles instead of running for office. It would look a good deal better of him.

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This is St. Patrick’s Day-Peace to his ashes.

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Tom Thomson is up for treasurer

I hope he will not prove a usurer

He is too smart and handsome

Is Tom Tomson

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Young people all assemble here

To talk of politics and beer

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If a man who turnips cries

Cries not when his father dies

Tis a sign that he had rather

Have a turnip than a father

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Now let us all retire to bed

And think of all that has been said

And come again tomorrow night.

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March 18th, 1857

Selling out-We have been informed that the Hon. Michael Maskell has offered to sell out his chance for Treasurers office or he will buy off all others up for sale.

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Now in our course to “Justice” we have come

For which office not many want to run

Erskine, Hunter, Meade and Kelly

But we thought a justice should have a big belly.

 

To judge the cause between man and man

And deal justice with an even hand

When lawyers, attorneys and pettifogers

Cover the land as thick as grasshoppers

It wants a man of backbone and decision

Who is not afraid to put a criminal in prison.

 

March 21st, 1857

STOVES-at 45 Lake St-cheap for cash or ready pay.

The highest price paid for shingles. A few very nice blankets yet left-will be sold cheap.

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A homely girls face is her chaperon-Willie.

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For the Bark Shanty Times-Mr. Editor, we had the opportunity the other day to be present at a lawsuit in our town. And Mr. Editor, it was about as good as a winters schooling down in the land of steady habits, to develop human nature and whiskey. The suit was brot for petty larceny. It seems that a sort of a bull headed fellow from Canada, sometimes had or was accused of stealing a sort of thing worth 2/6 perhaps, made I thought to shoot flies with or something like it.

     When we entered the first witness had just begun.

     What do you know about this?

     Well he took it last January.

     You’re sure?

     Yes, last January.   

     What year was this?

     He hesitated-Forty eight-don’t know-forty nine-don’t know.

     What year is this?

Don’t know-and excused himself saying he was a man of no education and it seemed he knew nothing as well as whiskey.

The next on the stand came with a lurch and whiskey preponderated and next in turn looked as if he had been trying to drink all the whiskey up for about two weeks previous. And all this time the counsel for the prisoner was snapping and snarling like a jackal. And we will not accuse the Justice of neglecting Mr. Whiskey for we think he gave him a few calls the same day.

Sequel-The fellow that stole the squirt gun went to jail and the men that destroyed the whiskey are at large. Synomomy.

March 24th, 1857

This morning looks rather dull and indicates less excitement. Political stock we are of the opinion is about at its zenith.

Some make about as much fuss about a town office as some others would if they were going to be hung.

March 25th, 1857

We again hear the puff of steams from Oldfield’s mill, for the first time since last fall.

The weather this morning is raw and cold the wind blowing from the Nwest.

 We are looking for good times to cum.

 We saw the delightful countenance of Mr. Whitefish and Mr. Herring this morning & expect to know something more of them before night.

Corn is scarce and ditto honesty

Look up, don’t be dejected

For you are not suspected

Neither is Thomas elected.

March 26th, 1857

Great bargains at No 45 Lake St

Dry good & groceries-Boots & shoes-Hardware & crockery

Clocks & medicines-Stoves & provisions

And various other articles too numerous to mention.

Shingles at wholesale.

I have a lot of cooking stoves But no one wants to buy them,

I am certain they would have no more burned loaves

If they would only try them

These stoves are made both neat and strong

With furniture completed (pots and teakettles always furnished)

Two sticks of wood, would do the whole day long

They are so easy heated.

The earth in her orbit still moves on

Day succeeds day and night follows night

Another year has almost gone

Which brings us to another electioneering strife

Now first on the list is supervisor

And here we will introduce our friend James

And yet some say that John has better claims

Yet both are better men than you can buy sir

Altho some find fault and call hard names

Yet both are above suspicion and have plenty of brains.

And second we come to the clerk of the town

Whose business it is to write all things down

And here we will introduce our friend Henry

Who is a young man and worth more than a penny

And thirdly we come to the town Treasurer

Which office we all would hold with pleasure

First on the list is old uncle Dickinson

Who crosses his Tees, dots his I’s and is sure to fix um

And so northward we go to Mr. Hill

Who has filled the office and would like to still

Still our course pursue till Uncle Mike we see

Who is vigorous in purpose and stout as a tree.

Yet still they come, Tom, Dick and Harry

Who all are sanguine their points to carry

And one “U.R.” who says he will run

But don’t believe it, for its all in fun

For it’s the funds they all want to get

And not leave the people a single bit.

March 28th, 1857

And it came to pass in those days that one Thomas, the son of William was ambitious for office.

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The young men of Sanilac are getting now so bold

That even bars of iron no longer can them hold,

With presumptious boldness, the early days of their life,

They have devoted to the task of looking for a wife.

Oer hill and dale, through wet and dry, these jolly jokers stray

They hold inspection on the girls, both near and far away

I know some nice young girls, these lads in silence passes

For none will answer their designs but some halfwitted lasses.