Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-09-10
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 tomos of
Babylon, covered with Assyrian, and the
we'll known MarmOr Radium.
The first Roman journal, over 1000
years ago, appeared only once year.
This paper, intended especially to be
read by the public, was known by the
title Of Inmates 1Hdrinauj. The editor of
this paper was Pontifex MaXius, 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 a very curious sight to see the
old Romans crOwding around these tab
lets to get a look at the latest news. But
the thirst after knowledge and the curios-
ity of the people grew rapidly, and in
such a measure that the Government
the only issuer of the journal-fOund
itself obliged to issue a daily. 1t is very
interesting to know that one of these
journals, having reached 2,O44 years, is
still in existence. The name of this jour
nal was Adta P0pulj Romano D5u171G, and
appeared daily either as album" Il. e.,
while the tablets hung out in public, or
the contents were written with red chalk
on the walls of the houses. The contents
of this journal comprised what would be
classed as daily news in our modern pa
pers; from the want OF the necessary
material, political articles were not to be
had. Nevertheless, according to the views
81 n ttI1a
journal, and intended as reading mat
for the public, which might also be in
ferred from the fact that the archives of
State were carved in bronze and accessi-
BILE to the public. Perhaps it would be
of interest to some of our readers to pc
ruse a COPY of verbal translation from
the oldest journal known, issued 16S
wears before the birth Of Christ: Con
sui Sicinius was the acting Judge to-day.
There was a heavy thunderstorm, and
the lightning split an oak at the foot of
the hills of Veil. In a hosiery, at the
foot of the hills of James, there was a
fight, in which the landlord was badly
wounded Titinius punished some
butchers on account of their selling meat
which had not been inspected; the
money thus paid was used to erect a
chapel to the Goddess Laverea. The
broker Ausidius fed from town to-day,
taking money with him belonging to
other people he was caught and had to
refund the money The brgand Deml-
phon, who was captured by Ohcer
Nerva, has been crucitied to day. Inc
fotilla from Astia arrived to-day
You can see from this that II was ID
olden times pretty much the same as IN
our days; we only wish that our ofhclals
would attend to the butchers as well as
Titinius did. 1t must be OF interest 10
journalists to know that Julius Caesar,
| the greatest of all Romans, PAID special
attention to journalism. He saw the ne
cessity Of inStructing his people IN every,
| thing occurring in the State, ana we Hnd
this quotation in SuetOnius:
Julius Caesar, as soon as he had en-
tered his public office, caused not only 10
! be written, but also spread among Tue
| people, the proceedings of the Senate.
This was the first political paper, and,
as it contained news about buildings,
births, deaths, executions and anecdotes,
it can be Hkened very much to our
| modern papers. 1t seems incredible, but
! it can be proved, that already IN the
/ olden times there were stenographers
who took down the speeches made IN the
Senate or in public. They were called
| " Notarri," and we find a place IN Sue
! tonius where Augustus is angry because
| the stenographers reported the speech OF
Caesar for Metellus in very imperfect
manner. There must have been report