150 years ago

APRIL 21, 1876

In these modern times, everything must be sworn to. A man must sustain every statement he makes, it seems, with an oath, else the public will regard his assertion with incredulity. Notary seals are in great demand this day and age. The papers are full of affidavits. Every farmer who raises a mammoth pumpkin or a big squash and desires to acquaint his fellow men with the fact must first solemnly swear that he is not telling a lie as big as the pumpkin.

We maintain that a man who will boldly, knowingly, and willfully tell a falsehood will deliberately swear to it. Little value attaches to the oath of a man who flippantly volunteers to sustain his statement with uplifted hand. Oh, for the time when every man’s word will be as good as his bond.

Hands on your pocketbooks. Lots of lawyers in town.

The only saloon in Peabody burned down last week. Jake Brumbaugh thinks Providence is very kind to that town.

Three young men — Wm. Lehr, Frank Bown, and O. Spaugh with Misses Alice and Nellie Gray — came near furnishing the Record their obituaries last Sunday night. We are glad they furnished us nothing more serious than this item.

They were taking a pleasure ride in a skiff on the Cottonwood River near the bridge at the crossing of 1st St. The boat capsized and sank in about 10 feet of water, but fortunately and strangely all of the party succeeded in reaching the shore — just how, none of them seem to know.