The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-08-08
Journalism Two Thousand Years Ago.

There seems to have been necessity
since time immemorial among at least
half-civilized nations to bring events OF
importance to the knowledge of the peO-
pie by the medium of writing. To this
purpose answered the hieroglyphic in
scriptions of the Egyptians. the tombs OF
BABYLON, covered with Assyrian characters,
the Phenician tablets. and the well known
Marmor Radium.
The first Roman journal, over 1900
years ago, appeared only once year.
This paper, intended especially to be read
by the public, was known by the title of
Annates Ma1inaa. The editor OF this pa
per was the 6 Pontifex Maximus," whose
duty it was to chronicle all the important
events of the year. The news was written
on white wooden tablets and attached to
the residences of the citizens. 1t must
have been very curious sight to see the
old Romans erOwding around these tablets
to get look at the latest news. But the
| thirst after knowledge and the curiosity OF
the people grew rapidly, and in such
measure that the government-the only
issuer of the iournal-fOund itself obliged
| to issue daily. 1t is very interesting to
| know that some of the journals, having
reached 2.O41 years, are still in existence.
| the name of this journal was ActG Pop1ts
Romani DisamG, and appeared daily either
as 8 Album g. e., while the tablets hung
out in public), or the contents were writ
1 ten with red chalk on the walls OF the
houses. The contents of this journal COM
prised what would be classed as daily
news in our modern papers; from the
i want of the necessary material, political
articles were not to be had. Nevertheless,
| according TO the views of the Roman Gov
ernment. it was true journal, and intend,
ed as reading matter for the public, which
might also be inferred from the fact that
the archives of State were carved IN
bronze and inaccessible to the pub
lie. Perhaps it would be of inter
I est to some of our readers to perust
a COPY of a verbal translation from tht
. Oldest journal known, issued 1853 year
before the birth of Christ. "Consul 81
cinius was the acting judge to-day. Ther'
was heavy thunderstorm, and the lghC
ming split an oak at the foot of the hills
!. Veil. In hostelry, at the foot OF the hill
of James, there was fight, in which TN
landlord was badly wounded. Tltlnlu
punished some butchers on account Q
their selling meat which had not been ID
, spected; the money thus paid was USED z
The broker Ansidius fed from town to
! dav. taking money with him belonging Z
! other people he was caught, and had 9
refund the money. The brigand DEM
: phon. who was captured by Officer Nervs
: has been crucified to-day. The fionli
: from Asia arrived to-day"
G You can see from this that it was in Ole
: en- times pretty much the same as in ou
. days: we only wish that our official
+ would attend to the bdsBhers as well
q Titinius did. 1t must be of interest
f journalists to know that Julius Caesar, tn
o greatest of all Romans, paid special after
f fion to Journalism. He saw the necessIt
q of instructing his people in everything o.
currinp in the State, and we find this Out
e tation In Suetonius
4 g Julius Caesar, as soon as he had ente
Il ed his public office. caused not only TO
), written. but also spread amongth peopi
" the proceedings of the Senate"
v This was the first political paper, and
+ II contained news about buildings, Dlrtn
Il deaths. executions, and anecdotes, IL cS
) he likened very much to our modern
o ners. tt seems incredible but it can
- proyed that already in the olden times the
> were stenographers who took down q
o. sneeehes made in the Senate or In publ
,e They were called 6 'Notari," and we Ill
" nlace in Suetonius where Augustus
e angry because the stenographers report
d the speech of Caesar for Metellus IN a We
to imperfect manner. There must nave pc
to reporters, judging from letter OF Clce
it to Cplius; also, private reporters
le gathered the news and sent tnehl py
N 3 cursus publicus," an institute similar
,o onr mail, throughout the provinces.
Of You can see from this that Ateiba's s.
in ing s'There is nothing new under
npaa moro.