Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-09
RARE OLD NEWSPAPERS.
Some of the Curious Files to be Found
I'm the National Library.

1t would take world Of time to look over
and discover the curious and interesting things
in the national library. Among the $4,000
volumes stored away in the cramped quarters
in the capitol building are many things that
are rare. In the narrow room there is for
reading the tables are always surrounded by
busy searchers-from the wild-eyed poet to the
fisure-wise political economist; from the school
girlto the white-haired philosopher. When they
get into their new quarters, the library build
ing that is now assured to them, many musty
old volumes will get out of cramped position
and shake the dust off their bindings, and the
people who read, and those who study, will have
chance to seek out their choice company.
IL VIII be relief for Librarian Spofford when
he has his beloved books in perfect order on
roomy and comfortable shelves. If the want
OF room has given the library piled-together
for the library have been made on the hap
hazard principle. ''There is much less of the
hap-hazard element entering into the founda-
ton Of the collection" Mr.. Spofford says,
.'than is generally supposed from its having
been for nearly twenty years past receptacle
have been kept up and recruited by constant
and timely purchases, mainly at auction sales,
thus constantly filling gaps in the collection.
In fact, 1T may be said that the library has been
lOrHleu lrOm the ufSt Win the view OF the
highest utility and general unity of plan"
RARE AND CURIOUS THINGS.
MIR. Spoford talked with The STAR reporter
yesterday about some of the rare and curious
things in the library. Besides the many valua-
BILE features of the collection is rare class of
newspapers and periodicals. The only set in
America Of the files of the London Gazette,
from the first publication in 1865, to the pres
ent date, is in this library. There are only
three of these sets in the world. The set con-
sists of $40 volumes. 1t is the official journal,
published by the British government semi
weekly. 1t first appeared in London in 1865,
was published there for a short time. when, on
account Of the plague, it was removed to Ok
ford for awhile. Its issue has been uninter-
rupted. The early numbers we're but a single
dingy sheet Of the foolscap size, which now
seems very odd. The latest numbers consist
OF 40 or so pages. This set is full of in
terest. In the papers are published the
queens orders Of council, the announcements
OF all appointments in the army and navy and
the civil service, the advertisements of corpora
lions and all bankruptcy notices. From this
last has been derived the term ''gazetted" to
denote failure. 1t is curious to read in these
papers for the years about 1916 to 1848 during
the period Of the great railroad craze in Great
Britain. Then it was that Hudson, the ''rail-
road king, organized company after company
and the whole nation went insane over specu-
lations. Transportation companies were formed
all over the land, and there were companies for
water transportation.
MANY THOUSAND MILLION POUNDS
were sunk in these bubble companies and kite
flying speculations, even elergymen and women
being involved. The excitement of the times
is shown by appearance of the Gdzete It was
expanded until each number made a large vol
ume, crammed with advertisements Of COM
panies formed and being formed, and notices
~ L. - A.
time OF Cromwell, these papers possess a pecu-
liar interest.
Besides this set the library contains a COM
plete set Of the London Times daily from
1876 up to date.
There is q file of the London Morning ohron-
icse from 1914 to 1856, and the file of the Lon
don Globe from 1888 to date.
There is a full set Of the important literary
and political weeklies from their commence
ment, including the Adtdneum, the Academy.
the Examiner, the Spectator. the Literary Ga
zette, the Public Opinion, the Court Journal, the
Economist &c.
There is also complete file of the Paris
Montte,r from its beginning, in 1885, to the
time Of the last French republic, 1870 when it
was merged into the Journal Obaciel The set
Of the Rerue deur Mondes is complete from
1923 to the present time. This is valued highly,
as the journal is regarded as one of the most
important literary and critical journals ever
published
There are multitude Of reviews and maya
zines, American, English and Continental, and
the recent additions in periodical literature,
continually supplemented, as they will be, by
filling Of gaps in series, readers will soon find
in our national collection sets of nearly every
periodical which has made for itself name in
literature, science or art.
EARLY AMERICAN NEwspApRRs.
In the collection are some rare early Ameri-
can newspapers. The library has o partial set
Of Benjamin Franklin's paper, the Pennsyl-
vania Gazette, from 1734 to 1884; and there is
file Of the Pennsylvania Eoening Post from
IT'S to 1854, in one number Of which may be
found the first publication Of the Declaration
Of Independence, July 4, 1776. A file Of the
Pennsylvania Journal runs from ITS to 1889;
and the Porclpine Gazette, VIM. Cobbf It's
paper, from 1877 to 1888; the Pennsylvania
Ledger, Mercury and Chronicle, from l767 to
1876. There is also the Pennsylvania Packed
States, which has been continued under other
names for more than q century, and is now the
Norh American. These are all Philadelphia
papers.
Among New York's early journals is COM
plete set of the Euening Post from the first
issue in 1901 to the present date, and the
Gazette of the United States, the first paper to
publish the debates Of Congress, which was
started in 1889.
Then there are: The New York Gazette, from
1871 10 loZl; Tue new lOrk JOttfndl, from 1771
to 17SS, and very curious file Of Rivington's
Loyal Gdzette, q British tory paper published
during the hot times of the Revolution, and
running under various aliases from 1773 to 1888.
There is also full set of the earliest Price
Current" shipping and commercial list, from
1915 to 1889.
From Boston there are q multitude oflperi-
odicals Of the Revolutionary period and earlier,
though incomplete, e. 10 usually the case in
files OF these early Journals. Among them are
Ter, the Boston Gdzets, and the Independent
Chronicle.
Baltimore IL well represented in the collec-
ton. There is the Maryland Journal the Balti-
more Gazette, OF earlier days; and later the
baltimore Sun, Clipper, American, Patriot, DC.
SOUTHERN NKwsPAPEna
Nor have the southern states been neglected
in making up this valuable collection. Shortly
after the war full set of the Charleston Daiiy
Courier from 1903, the first issue, and covering
the entire period since under the name of Ne,cs
and Courier, was purchased for the library.
Other southern papers preserved are the
Savannah Republican from 1907 TO its merging
into the Nescs within the last ten ysars: the
Nashville Banner, Dispatch and american from
1888 TO date; the Little Rock ARK Gasefte rom
the admission Of the state In 1919 70 date. and
Q reasonably full 6le Of the various Richmond.
Va. papers from 1908, covering the interesting
period Of the civil war"
The Burgle Song.
Not By Tennyson)
Nights shadow falls on villa waIls.
nm n, ffao tor.af