The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01

The collection Of old newspapers in the
northwest gallery of the Congressional Ii
hrary. which was organized by Mr. Aims
worth Spofford something over year ago,
will in course of time. it is said. be one Of
the most interesting and valuable acQuisi-
tions Of the Library. Its purpose is to il
lustrate the history of the newspaper. an
object inserarable from the illustration Of
history. or at least a considerable part OF il,
by the newspaper. The collection already
contains some ancient English journals OF
sixteenth and seventeenth century dates. as
well as the earliest copies of several Amer
lean papers Among these latter may be no
ticed the first newspaper report OF the De-
claration of Independence. which was the
first Washington paper. The history OF the
newspaper dates from the invention Of
printing Even before printing was known
the prototype Of the modern newspaper ex-
listed in the news letter, and the up-to-date
journalist recognizes his likeness in the
news letter writer.
Instead, however, Of the news writer
working in the interests Of the public at
large he devoted his energies to the col
lection Of news for the benefit Of those who
could afford to pay the high price asked
for his sheet This class was further linz
tied in the centuries preceding the inven-
ton of printing TO those who could read,
but in many instances benevolent country
gentleman would call his tenants before his
house at a certain time and. standing on
his front steps. would read to them the
news. perhaps a week. or maybe many
weeks old. which he had received in his
letter from the metropolis.
The term gazette which is now syn
onomous with a budget Of news, had
rather singular origin, and is thus de-
scribed
During the war between the Nenetians
and the Turks in 1868. the Venetian Gov
eminent being DESTROYS OF communicating
news on public affairs TO the people. caused
sheets of military and commercial intelli-
gence to be written. These sheets were
read out publicly at certain places. and the
fee paid for hearing was a small coin called
a gazzetta. By degrees the name Of the
coin was transferred 10 the written sheet
and an official or government newspaper
became known as . Gazette.
For some time afterward. the Venetian
Government continued the practice, send
ing several written copies to several towns
where they were read to those VINO chose
to listen TO them.
Hence. from that time the term Ca
zette" has been used in connection with
the newspaper. Many European newspa-
pers claim to be two hundred years old or
more. and in many cases. their pretcn-
tions are well founded Some Of the most
.ncient Of these journals are in Holland.
the HARLEM COurant' having completed
It's two-hundredth year OF publication in
1856. and il continues 10 be hourishinS
paper Lord MacaulIy is said, when in
h.r 4. rr=.. Of
the earlier numbers Of this newspaper for
the purposes Of his history The first
number contained simply two small folio
pages The Gazette of ROstock' has
been very nearly two hundred years in ex-
istence. and the Gazette of Leipsic" has
nourished for an even longer period. The
pr0pretors OF the latter paper celebrated
the two-hundredth anniversary Of its
founding by issuing to their subscribers
fac-similes of two Old numbers, Of January
l. 1860 and January /. 1860 representing
the old typographical appearance as hearty
as they could.
Ii is said that some Russian newspapers
date from the year 1893. one OF these
claims the honor Of having been estab-
lished by Peter the Great. who was Us first
editor. Some Of the proof sheets with the
imperial Peters own corrections in the
margins are still eXtant. Old newspapers
have been found printed At Numberg in
1871. at DHliuger in 1863. at Ratisbon in |
1928. and at Vienna as early as 1924.
The value Of complete or even partially |
files Of the old newspapers to the |
student OF history cannot be Overestimated. !
Thsy represent more clearly than the page |
of the philosopher or even the historian |
the age and body of the time. its form |
and pressure" aud their aid has been in !
voked by the most prominent modern es-
sayists and commentators.