The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-10
SCRIBES OF FORMER DAYS
News Reporters in Existence Be-
fore the Christian Era.
Publications of the Roman Senate
Proceedings in the Days of Julius
Caesar Advent of RepOrtOriai
Work in EngIand-EarIy Writers.

The ubiquitous reporter was known
among the ancient Romans, the tribe be-
ing then designated actuarri. A newspa-
per styled the "Acta Diurna" was pub
lished in Rome long before the Christian
era. the items resembling the contents OF
our modern journals, and embracing the
proceedings of the courts of law and pub
lie assemblies; descriptions of public
works and buildings in progress; lists of
deaths. births, and marriages; and trials
for divorces which were OF frequent oe-
currence among the Romans. were very
fully reported. julius Caesar. on entering
| upon his consulate, b. C. So. authorized
the publication of the proceedings of the
Senate. upon which there had been pre-
viously an Injunction Of secrecy. The fol-
lowing items extracted from enc OF these
early Journals furnish a specimen of their
contents:
"On the 18th Of July, thirty boys and
forty girls were born at Trimalchfs es-
tate at Cumae.
AT the same time slave was put 10
death for uttering disrespectful words
against his lord.
The same day fire broke out in Pom
pey's gardens, which began in the night IN
the stewards apartment"
Coming down to more modern times the
reporter is found in England in the six
teenth century, and even earlier, but he
was then known as a newsletter writer.
and his services were in demand only by
a limited number of persons who had the
leisure and money to avail themselves OF
his services. These were principally
country gentlemen who. DESTROYS OF learn
ing the news of London, had sent to them
~ Iat+ for xVh
manuscript and consisted of such local
gossip as could be obtained by the writer
at coffee houses or by interviewing promi-
nent persons. Such parliamentary inteili-
sence as was conveyed by the newsletter
writer was gained by him without the aid
of notes taken on the spot. manuscript
called the Votes OF Parliament" was cir
culated daily in 1881. but was very
meagre account. Remarkable debates or
the history OF special sittings of Parlia-
ment were published occasionally as per-
sonal "reminiscences. but often years after
the occurrences described. More authen-
tic reports were issued in the Historical
Register during the reign OF George /,
but the first effort to produce debates
currently was made by Cave, in the Gen
tleman's Magazine" in 1876. Cave had
been interested previously In providing
the manuscript reports for country circu-
lation. and determined to Introduce the
speeches of Parliament as feature of his
magazine. hoping to avoid any legal PEN
atty by publishing only the conclusion
of the session. and with the initial and
final letter OF the members name. In
order to accomplish this. Cave and one or
two friends obtained admission into the
gallery, taking notes when possible. and
holding a consultation together afterward,
10, bet. ~ 2
ceedlngs.
Cave was brought before the House of
Commons, in 1913, for this offence against
the privileges OF the Parliament, but
continued his publication. emitting names,
under the title of The Debates of Great
Liliput" During the turbulent period of
iT45, Cave engaged DR.. Johnson to pre-
pare. or rather rewrite the debates, the
substance of which WAS furnished by Cave
himself and few others-JOhnson never
entering the gallery himself. Hencefor
ward the public were at once surprised
and delighted by the oratorical brilliance
displayed in print in the paper. and which
they had but in rare instances been ae-
customed to hear from the lips of the hon.
orable members themselves. Cave was
again summoned for infringing the par
llamentary rules in 1747, and his publica-
ton met with such Obstacles that when
William Perry assumed the editorship of
the Gazetteer" in 1888, he found the par
llamentary debates several months be-
hindhand. Being a journalist of progress
sive ideas he introduced a system OF re-
lays of reporters. and in a short time was
enabled to present, in his morning edition,
the debates of the preceding night
Perry is fairly entitled to rank as the
founder of the modern newspaper. His
nams Is indissolubly connected with the
Morning Chronicle" OF London, although
there was connected also with that journal
In an editorial capacity William Woodfall.
called popularity Memory Woodfall. from
the fact that when a parliamentary re-
porter, before the privilege OF taking notes
was allowed in the gallery, he had been
able to sit through sixteen hour session
and write Immediately afterward report
sixteen columns long, without particle
OF assistance.
Mark Supple. an Irishman OF brilliant
talents and Hercuiean physique was also
a reporter on the staff OF the Morning
Chronicle" Under the treatment OF his