The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-28
HISTORY OF NEWSPAPERS
Had Their Beginning in Rome Be-
fore the Christian Era---Elizabeth
the First Publisher in England.

dad Ihelr Beginning in Rome Be-
fore the Christian Era--Elizabeth
the First Publisher in England.
From the London Standard.
The germ of newspapers is found in
ancient Rome. That government, some
two centuries previous to the Christian
era, is known to have promulgated its
edicts by means of written papers af-
fixed to pillars. Nor was there much
difference between the style of these
acta diurnia, as they were termed, and
that which now prevails, further than
that the former was more brief and
simple, and deficient in Introductory
phrases and the editorial I'VE" They
generally gave the news or occurrence
in simply indicative sentences without
introduction or comment OF any kind.
Most Of these acta, which have been
preserved, are found to mention but
one or two events. They are headed
with the date in Roman fashion, and
the name Of the then consul, and para
graphs such as the following formed
the staple: "It thundered, and an oak
was struck with lightning on that part
Of Mount Palatine called Summa Vevia,
early in the afternoon" "Murena, the
consul, sacrificed early in the morning
In the Temple of Castor and PolluX,
and afterward assembled the senate in
Pompey's senate house" &C Caesar
set out for his government in farther
Spain, having long been detained by
his creditors" 1t will be observed, too,
that as these announcements were
made at a central part of the city, only
those persons who had leisure to go
thither were able to avail themselves
of the intelligence in it's authentic
form; SO that the utility Of such papers
must have been very narrow and con-
fined.
LACK OF INFORMATION
1t is hardly possible for US now, with
all the lights of science around, and
the shoals of newspapers with which
we are supplied. to form a proper no
tiOn of the darkness which for want Of
these involved the masses of the people
for many centuries after the fall of the
Roman empire. We are told that the
crusaders were so ignorant of geOg-
raphy that at every town they APP
preached in central Europe they in
quired if it were Jerusalem. When
they at length reached their destina-
ton their exploits would have remained
unknown for years to their relatives
and friends at home had not at times
some few struggling pilgrims found
their way back to the west. Even bad
news in those days could not, contrary
to the proVerb, travel fast. Every little
community must then have lived
much within itself. Their own town,
on at most county, would be the limit of
their little world.
ORIGIN OF THE GAZETTA.
1t was not until the sixteenth century
that anything at all approaching even
to the Scanty Roman acta diurnia can
be found to have revived in the modern
world. The war which the Venetian
republic Waged against the Turks gave
rise in 1868 to the custom of communi-
eating the military ana commercial in
formation in Venice by written sheets.
notizic scritee, TO be read in a par
ticular place to those desirous of hear
ing the news, who paid for this privi-
lege with coin no longer in use, called
gazzetta, a name which came in time
to be applied to the news-sheet itself
quently in England, when this mode of
imparting news came into use. The
Venetian government eventually gave
these announcements in a regular man
ner once month, but they were too
Jealous to allow them to be printed.
only a few written copies We're trans
mitted to such as subscribed and paid
Tor them. Thirty volumes IF these
valuable manuscript newspapers exist
in the Magla Bechian library at Flor
ence. About the same time advertis-
ing wants commenced, the father Of
Montaigne, the celebrated essayist be-
ing credited with the suggestion for
making the wants of individuals
known to the public in France. These
were received at offices established for
the purpose, and were firstly posted on
the walls Of public places, receiving the
names of affiches. In time this led to "a
systematic and periodic publication in
sheets. These We're termed affiches, in
consequence of their contents being
originally fixed up as placards. though
the word itself is French for advertise
ment.
ELIZABETH AS A PUBLISHER.
II Is 10 England as represented by
Queen Elizabeth, that the honor of
commencing printed sheets OF public
intelligence is to be ascribed. When
the Spanish armada threatened an in
vasion of this country that sage queen,
remarking the disadvantage of the
vague and alarming rumors which cir
culated everywhere, resolved to inform
her people truly of the impending dan
gers. She egan to publish from time
to time a sheet bearing the following
title: THE English Mercuire, pub
lshed by authorize. for the contradic-
tion of false reports" OF this publica-
ton three copies are preserved I'm the
British Museum, the earliest No. 20,
bearing date the 23d Of July, 1858. The
first article. dated from Whiteall, con-
tains advices from Sir Francis Wal
singham that the armada was seen in