Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1854-10-26
Origin Of Newsuapers

Dtsfaeii, In the first volume of /" Curiosities
Vi Literature, gives q very interesting and
minute account Of the origin of nevsnen.,s
with historical facts concerning their intro,
duction in the various European nations n.
states that We are indebted to the Italian. g..
the idea OF newspapers. The first paper Was a
venetian one, and only monthly; but il was
merely the newspaper of the government. The
title Of the Gazedas was, perhaps. derived
from gazzera, magpie, or chatter, or more
probably from farthing coin peculiar to tho
city OF Venice called gazetta, which was the
common price OF the newspapers These early
newspapers were not allowed by Jealous gov
ernment to be circulated in printed form. but
the Venetian Gazette continued long after the
invention of printing, to be distri buted in man.
uscript, In library at Florence are thirty
volumes OF the Venetian gazettas, all in man.
uscript. Mr.. George Chalmer states that man.
kind are indebted 10 the wisdom of Queen
Elizabeth, and the prudence of Burleigh, for
the hrst genuine newspaper. In the British
Museum are several newspapers which were in
the English Channel, during the year 1883.
Popular zeal against the Spanish Armada Was
infamed in these early newspapers Burleigh,
in order to rouse the national feeling. publish.
ed extracts Of a letter from Madrid, which
speaks of putting the English Queen to death,
aud the instrument of torture on the Spanish
In Roman, not black letter. They are entitled
English Mercurie." Periodical papers were
first generally used in England during the
civil wars at the period of the Common wealth.
DE Saint Folk, in his curious historical ESSAYS.
gives the origin of newspapers in France
henaudot, a physician of Paris, to amuse his
patients, was great collector of news; and he
found by these means that he was more sought
after than his more learned brethren. But as
collecting news, he obtained privilege from
the government in 1882 to publish summary
OF the news Of the various countries to dis.
tribute among his patients. It is almost need
less to add thai his patrons were soon found
In all ranks, and his written sheets were in
greater demand than his written prescription.
Precious TALIsxAN. Dumas "a.
Gently received from an admirer in Russia the
most precious talisman known in Europe, q
fragment of a hanged mans rope. This ad.
mirer was formerly, according to bis own story,
the most unlucky being alive; but no sooner
was he in possession of the rope than his uncle
died, and left him a large fortune, by which
he was enabled to marry a lady with whom he
was in love, and who has just given him an
heiress, the image of herself Learning that
Dumas was still poor, despite of his fourteen
hours OF labor day, he determined to cut
him of piece Of his rope and endeavor to re-
instate him in the good graces of the blind
goddess. The way the Russian himself came
into possession of the rope was singular. The
father of the lady with whom he was in love
was governor of city, and upon lis daughter
imploring him to obtain for her q suicides
rope, he summoned the warden of the politi-
cal prisons, and acquainted him with the young
lady's desire. The warden said that there
was certainly great deal of hanging and
suicide going on, but it was usually done with
an old cravat or a pocket handkerchief, not in
. state to be presented to lady. Besides, the
superstition is explicit-the instrument of sus.
pension must be rope. The Governor told
him to pretend to drop a rope in the way of
the prisoners, some one of whom would, doubt.
less put the occasion to profit. This direction
was followed, and the young lady was soon in
possession of an elegant new rope, from which
had dangled an enemy of the State. She sent
it to her lover, who was soen enabled by il to
marrysher. The piece sent to Dumas is three
inches long. He says he hopes it will have an
effect upon the quarters subscription to the
Mousqutatre, for if it does not he shall throw
it into the fre.-PGris Correspondent of tito
Neac York Times.