Rambles about Portsmouth. Sketches of persons, localities, and incidents of two centuries: principally from tradition and unpublished documents. By Charles W. Brewster.

FIFTY YEARS IN A PRINTING OFFICE. 363
RAMBLE CXLIX.
Fiifty Years in a Printiuig Offioe —Our Ownl aiid the
Wor1lc~s }Progress.
THIS day* closes a halfcentury since the senior proprietor
entered this office as an apprentice to the art and mystery of
Printing. That memorable day was the 16th Feb. 1818.
The paper was then called the "PORTSMOUTH ORACLE' and
was published by Charles Turell. In 1821, it was purchased by Nathaniel A. Haven, jr. who changed the name to
"I THI PORTSMOUTH JOURNAL OF LITERATURE AND POLITICS.
The plain style of heading adopted by him has never been
changed. The paper then had four columns to the page, and
contained about half as much reading as now. After Mr. H.
had conducted the paper four years in a manner which gave
it a high standing in the eommuunity, in July, 1825, the Journal establishment was purchased by the present senior
proprietor in connection with T. H. Miller. It was then
removed into the room now occupied as the office, and for
four years Col. C. W. Cutter was assistant editor. In 1833,
the present senior proprietor purchased the establishment
and took the sole management of the paper. There has
been no change since, except the admission of his son to
joint-partnership in 1853.
The Oracle was published in a chamber in Mlarket street
on the site of C. H. Mendum & Co.'s store. As it was
removed to Ladd street in 1825, the senior, who removed
with it, has really been in the same office fifty years-never
having worked a week in any other office.
NOTE.-In his publication of the number of the Portsmouth Journal dated Feb. 15,
1868, the Rambler gives this repord of a busy lifetime. It is copied just as written, and,
while more particularly prepared for his newspaper, is such a chronicle of individual and
general changes and characteristics, that it forms one of the most interesting features of
this book.-ED.