Recently
Made Remarks in Regard to Same—
Should Be Stopped.”
Semi-Weekly Register
and Messenger (the predecessor of the Gainesville
Daily Register). Having just erected a
brand new courthouse, which
remains standing today, several local citizens
apparently were concerned
about its upkeep and the lack of respect being
accorded it by some
residents.
officials of the city who frequent the new
courthouse have recently made
comment on the fact that spitting on the floors
of the new building is not
prohibited as strictly as it could and should
be.” Visitors seemed to be
avoiding the cuspidors and spittoons which the
building was well-supplied
with. The author related “that it was
thought that all should have the
decency and manners to refrain from spitting on
the floors.” The article
continued that “the new courthouse is the
pride of Cooke County and it
should be kept clean and sanitary. If this is not
done it will soon cease to
be an attraction to the city, and, on the other
hand, a place avoided whenever
possible.” Ladies could escape from the
spitting by going into the newly
established ladies’ parlor in the
courthouse. Furnished with solid oak
mirror capable of “reflecting the form of
the tallest lady, even with the
broad-brim or high crown styles of hats”
that were popular then. Every
lady in Cooke County was encouraged to make use
of this parlor which
seems to have been unique to courthouses at the
time and considering
the spitting going on, the ladies’ parlor
undoubtedly proved a popular
refuge.