Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1881-05-18
The Beginning OF journalism.

Over two thousand years ago III,
first Roman newspaper appeared--be
ing published once a year only. 1t ap
pears to have taken its title, Annale;
Maximi, from its editor, the "Pontifex
Maximus.' Important events were
written on white wooden tablets, and
attached to residences.-genuine bulle.
tin boards. Titled old grandees step,
ped outside for the news, as the citizen
Of Boston goes to consult his thermom,
etcr when zero is rioting in the neigh.
borhood. Through small beginning
like these the people imbibed taste
for current literature and after awhile
the government, which alone possessed
the power for so momentous an enter
prise, felt called upon to issue a daily.
The name of the first was Acta Populi
Romani Diurui, equivalent to Daily
News. Some of the journals of that
period are still in existence, al the age
of about 1850 years.
1t may impress young ladies especial
ly to know that the name of Album"
originated with those tablet, of the
household, written over with some in
teresting items. Sometimes the chron-
icle Of daily events was in red chalk
on the walls Of the dwellings; in the
light of which one sees new benefit
in the boast Of the Emperor that che
found Rome brick, and left it marble"
The following verbal translation
from the oldest journal extant, dated
one hundred and sixty years before
Christ, proves that, whatever else has
changed, human nature remains essen
italy the same as III those days---our
officials being less attentive to the butch
ers and the goddesses:
Consul Sicinius was the acting Judge (.
to-day. There was a heavy thun- .
der storm, and the lightning split
an oak at the foot of the hills Of Veil. 7.
In Il hostelry at the foot Of the hill
IF James there was a fight, in which
he landlord was badly wounded.-
ritiniUs punished some butchers OH ac-
count Of their selling meat which had
lot been inspected; the money thus
)aid was used to erect chapel TO the
ioddess Laverea. The broker Aust
Ius fled from town to-day, taking money
With him belonging to other people.
Ie was caught aud had to refund the
money. The brigand Demiphon, who
vas captured by the officer Nerva, has
'een cruciied to-day. The Aotlla
rom Asia arrived to-day"
Julius Caesar, the greatest of all
Romans, gave special attention to jour.
alism, perceiving the importance Of
lstructing the people in matters of
tate, and it is recorded Of him that as
Don as he entered on his public office,
c caused to be written and circulated d
he proceedings of the Senate. Thus ,
'e have the origin Of political journals.
However incredible it may seem, there
ere stenographers, called "Notarii,"
ho took down public speeches; they
lade blunders, too, the same es now.a-
ays, receiving, perhaps, more blame ,
ian at present, when statesmen and
.hers have learned by dire experience
lat what can't be cured must be en-
lred." Suctonius informs us that
wss angry because the stcno.
'apher8 reported the speech Of Cesar 3
r Metallus so very imperfectly. A
tier Of Cicero to Calius speaks of G
porters. Also there were travelling
porters, who gathered news through
1t the provinces, and transmitted the
me to headquarters by "curcus pub
,us," an arrangement answering to
If mail "