Looking at the past can be as much fun as looking toward the future at this time of the year. But this reporter had a chance to do both when researching old files for the last paper of the year 1891, and the first paper of 1892 published by the original Medina Sentinel.
The Sentinel was in its eighth year of publication in the county and consisted mainly of correspondents' news from around the area, editorial comments and outside columnists - all done in the flowery language of the day.
It appears the winter of '91-92 was similar to this winter in that on Jan. 7, a columnist from Windfall says, "Yes and Amen is our response for the appearance of the snow and cold weather for we believe it will have a tendency to make the earthly atmosphere more fine." It's apparent from reports that mud, not snow, covered the ground, and that "the grippe," had a life-threatening hold on much of the county.
New Year resolutions are no modern phenomenon, it seems. In the Dec. 31 issue was found a reprint from Ladies Home Journal of "Patent New Year Resolves." On first inspection it appears that it explained why the women's suffrage movement was so popular. But after finishing it, the reader feels it must certainly be written tongue-in-cheek. One would hope so, at any rate. Here are the resolves:
I will get up and dress when the breakfast bell rings.
I will treat my wife as politely as if she were a perfect stranger.
I will strive to be more thoughtful for my own comfort, that others, seeing me happy, may also endeavor to be contented.
I will not spend so much money this year on the useless frivolities of life.
I will remember the poor if I have to make a memorandum to that effect every morning.
I will endeavor to impress upon my family the duty of greeting, with cheerful voices and laughing faces, the father of a family when he returns home, wearied with the depressing cares and labors of a long business day.
I will go out by myself oftener, in order that my family may enjoy the tranquil and improving pleasure of a long uninterrupted evening in the quiet sanctity of a happy home.
I must be more unselfish, and take better care of myself that I may long be spared to be the joy and light of the home which it has pleased an appreaciative Providence to bestow upon me.
I will pay my pew rent this year, if I have to deny myself a new overcoat and my children have to go without shoes. I feel that we have not heretofore denied ourselves in the little luxuries for the sake of maintaining a good appearance at church.
And finally...
I will be, in all things, an affectionate husband, a loving father, a good provider; and I will rear up a family that will love and respect me, and render to me cheerful and prompt obedience, with perfect deference to my wishes and thoughtful regard for my comfort, or I will break their backs in the attempt.
Big bargains following the holidays were no exception in 1892. As can be seen, there are closeout sales and pre-inventory sales offering great bargains in all manner of things. The ads are, of course, some of the best reading in these old publications. The truth in advertising act was not in existence, nor was the FDA, so offers to "Purify Your Blood," and to "Cure" any number of diseases with the same product were the rage.
The correspondents were so well known in the community, it seems, that just a "code name" such as Mrs. T. Rusticus, Veritas, Bar-Nar-Dor, etc., was used by each. Or - they were writing in secret so no one would know who was gossiping - because gossip was certainly in order. A good example came from Vesuvi Us, who said, "William Warden of Akron, visited a 'friend' here over Sunday. Willie no doubt thinks that music hath charms."
