Birmingham state herald., 1896-05-31
oLDEsFNEwSPAPERlN lNsTHE WORLD.

An emperor who rules over 100000 ,OOO subjects is the editor-in-chief of the old est newspaper in the world, says the New York Journal Not only is it the oldest, but 1t has the smallest actual circulation of any, publication on the face of the globe, each daily issue consisting of a single copy. sA
 The name of this unique journal is the Pekin Gazette, and 1t has been getting out its one copy a day with few interrup- tions, for. about 800 years.
 The Pelxin Gazette is the organ of the Chinese imperial court and each day the single copy is tackled up on big board outside of the Purple City, where the emperor lives. It averages sixteen pages. The sheets are about inches long and 3 wide, and the reader begins at the low CT right hand corner and runs his eye up and down the vertical columns, from right to left, which is the Chinese way. The paper contains nothing but strictly exclusive news, but not line is there of gossip about the Son of Heaven or sensa- tional details about his corrupt court. There is no advertising, and there never has been an advertisement in it's pages.
 Most of the articles are dictated by the emperor himself and they generally con- sist of official acts and reports. The em- peror's assistant in his editorial duties is his mother. All news relating to the con- dtion of the kingdom, or anything else that the emperor wishes to keep from his subjects, is of course vigorously excluded, and no Chinese Journalist dares to draw any deductions or make any comments on what appears in the royal publica- tion. After the paper is printed the em- peror sometimes makes marginal notes on it with a red pencil.
 Here is translation of an article which appeared not long ago. and which will serve as a fair sample of the 'fea- lures" of this unique publication. Sui eide, it would seem from this, is virtue to be extolled:
 "Ying Ham, lieutenant governor of Anhwei, lauds the conduct of a young lady who committed suicide on hearing of the death of her betrothed, and asks permission to erect a memorial arch to her memory. She was the second daugh- ter of I.iu-ChingTai, assistant magis- trate at Hsuncheng. Anhwel She was betrothed while child to an undergrad uate called Yien Wenssao belonging to literary and official family at Huchow. This young man and all the members of his family committed suicide when their city was disturbed by rebels. This lat ter fact was in due course reported to the throne by Ii Hung Chang, and permis- sion was given to erect a temple to their memory. But the young lady, being away from home, knew nothing of the suicide of her betrothed until the early part of the new year, and upon hearing the news she straightway poisoned her self She was just IF at the time of her death. Such asviftuous act on the part of one so young deserves to be commem- orated. The memorialist finds that the throne was pleased to allow the custonl-. ary honors Ca memorial arch) to young" lady belonging to Yungchow, who poison- ed herself on hearing of the death of her betrothed, and is, therefore, led to hope that they will be granted in the present case. Besides the arch the memorialist would ask that the lady's tablet should be placed in the ancestral temple of the. Yien family, along with that of her be- trothed, that she may enjoy with him the honor of sacrifice and worship. The board of rites is directed to report"
 Plaster and bair-Mavberry & Watson.