1. "Doherty makes the Force."
Posted by harry on Jan-5th-04 at 8:59 AM
In the inside cover of Victorian Vistas, vol. II, 1886-1900, there is a reproduction of the front page of the Fall River Weekly News issue dated January 7, 1886.
One of the items covered is "Police Matters". Apparently the Board of Alderman had to vote on each new applicant. They voted December 30, 1895. It reads as follows:
"The following nominations for patrolman were confirmed by the Board: C. C. Murphy 6 yeas, 3 nays; Martin Feeney, 5 to 4; Frederick T. Barker, 5 to 4; Patrick H. Doherty, 6 to 3."
I thought it interesting that there were no unanimous votes and the Board was divided on all candidates. And these were the ones that made it.
The interesting thing is how membership was a political decision. Is it still in FR or other towns? AR Brown says this meant each member on the force OWED something to his patron. Another point for Brown!
That is cool you are even reading the front inside cover of the Victorian Vistas voulumes.
I remember seeing that and also how they start the next year? Like Jan. 1st or something like that?
The reproduced pages of The Evening Standard (New Bedford) which include articles on the Borden murders and proceedings (August 4, 1892-June 21, 1893) offer a wealth of local color. There are all kinds of news stories, announcements, and advertising right along side the Borden-related pieces. One of my favorites is an advertisement for a product guaranteed "to cure all nervous diseases, such as Weak Memory, Loss of Brain Power, Headache, Wakefulness, Lost Manhood, Nightly Emissions, Quickness, Evil Dreams, Lack of Confidence, Nervousness, Lassitude, all drains and loss of power of the Generative Organs in either sex caused by over exertion, youthful errors, or excessive use of tobacco, opium, or stimulants which soon lead to Infirmity, Consumption and Insanity. Put up convenient to carry in vest pocket." This product was distributed by a local New Bedford drug company. Wow!
So they did have those problems in those days?
You do know what "over exertion, youthful errors" refers to?
"lascivious"
That's cool, Doug.
My poor eyes were no good at reading such fine print, but now I have new glasses, I shall try the edition again!
I have a pretty good idea what those "disorders" are! I guess such problems are as old as humankind, Ray.
now we have prozac and viagra. To me these things seem like "cheating", like getting a face lift or breast implant. Just
be yourself! My neice dropped out of college because she was
"depressed" so her rich parents put her on prozac. Oye, now she is
Miss happy go lucky, hope she finds a husband before the prozac wears
off!
BEWARE of Prozac!!! It has the side effect of making some users suicidical!!! This came out in June 1994 regarding OJ Simpson, and others. There is another that does this as well, but don't remember.
There is documented human suffering which can be allayed by modern medicine and that to me is a miracle.
Back in the 1950s-1960 there was Miltown, which may have had no such side effects. Or some generic. By creating a new, patentable drug the Drug Corporations may have included side effects.
Does "depression" result from a physical maladjustment that can be cured by vitamins or some natural drug? I remember people eating cream or baby food in the 1950s for stomach ulcers. In Europe (socialized medicine) they used sauerkraut juice to treat ulcers. The acid kept the stomach in natural shape, and the vitamin C helped to cure sores. Won't we all agree that the simplest cure is the best?