The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1874-08-18

we are making III the poiltlcal anu moral
ideas and principles bcqueathed to us by
the "Fathers."
JOURNALS Two THOUSAND YEARS AGO,
The first Roman Journal, over 2000
years ago appeared only once year
This paper, intended especially tc be read
by the public, was known by the title
Annalcs Maximi. The editor Of this pa.
per was the pontrifex Maximus, whose
duty it was to chronicle all the important
events of the year The news was writ.
ten 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 round 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 a
measure that the government, the only
issuer of the journal, found itself obliged
to issue daily. Some of these journals
20i2 years after, are still in existence
The name OF the journal was Acta Popu-
Ii Romanl Diurna, and appeared daily
either on tablets hung out in public, or
the contents written with red chalk on
the walls Of the houses. The contents
were simply news; from tho want Of the
necessary material, political articles were
not to be had Nevertheless, according
to the view of the Rcman government, it
was a true journal and intended as read
ing matter for the public, which might
also be inferred from the fact that the
archives Of the state were carved in bronze
and inaccessible to the public. Here is
verbal translation from the oldest jour.
nal known, issued lGS years before the
birth of Christ Consul Sicinius was the
acting Judge, to-day. There was heavy
thunderstorm and the lightning split an
oak at the foot Of the hills Of Veil. 10
an hostelry, at the foot Of the hills OF Ja'
nus, there was fight in which the land.
lord was badly wounded. Titinius pun
ished some butchers on account OF their
selling meat which had not been inspect.
ed the money thus paid was used to
erect chapel to the Goddess Layernl.
The broker Ausi'lius fled from town To-.
day, taking money with him belonging 10
other people he was caught and had to
refund the money The brigand Demi-
Ghe Ghs saH Sho %as Ge39,aEs4d dhy 0s9 SsTSa
from Osta arrived, to-day" You eau
see from this that it WIS in oden tine
pretty much the same as in our day.
julius Caesar paid special attention TO
journalism. lie saw the necessity OF in.
structing his people in everything occur
ring in the state and Suetoniuss say 5
that Julius Cesar, as soon as he had en-.
tered his public Office, caused not only 10
be written. but also spread among the
people, the proceedings Of the Senate. -
This was the first political paper and,
as it contained news about building births,
deaths, executions and anecdotes, it can
be likened very much to our modern pa
pers. 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 potarii and
we find in Suetonus where Augustus l.,
angry because the stenograpners reported
the speech Of Cesar for Mctellus in very
imperfect manner There must have been
reporters judging from letter Of Cicero
to CTlus also, private reporters, who
gathered the news and sent them by the
cursus publicus an institution similar 10
our mail, throughout the province