The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1902-10-09
ALMANAC VAGARIES.

ALMANAC VAGARIES.
An INTERESTING COLLECTION IN
THE. LIBRARY OF. CONGRESS-.
Noted Men Who Are Credited With
Being the First Almanac Makers.
Yearly Almanacs the Rage Since
= the Sixteenth Century
One of the most curious collections
ct the library of congress is that of
almanacs These publications, which
as advertising mediums are left at the
door, often to be at once thrown care
lessly into the wastebasket, have a
striking and venerable history.
1t is still contended by many author
tiles that the almanac of 1857 was the
first specimen of printing, and it has
been variously credited to Gutenberg,
Schaeffer and Pfster of Bamberg. sDr.
Faustus, celebrated in legend, whose
strange story has been immortalized
by Mar1owe and Goethe, was the ac-
credited author of almanacs containing
astrological signs Getained at the pres
ent day. and necromantic secrets.
Poor Richards Almanac" the pro-
duction of Benjamin Franklin, is well
known as a treasury of homely wit
and wisdom. One of the greatest of
modern German authors, Auerbach,
first won his way to popular esteem
by using the almanac as a vehicle for
his talents.
mathematician, under the patronage Of
Matthias Corvinus, king Of Hungary,
published series Of almanacs from
14775 to 1906 and yearly almanacs be-
came an established custom in the six
teenth century. Henry III. of France
in 1879 enacted that the almanac
should not be made the instrument Of
partisan politics by the introduction Of
prophecies against parties and indi-
viduals in the state.
The first almanac in the modern
shape appeared in England in 1878. 1t
was compiled by Maurice Wheeler,
canon of Christchurch, Oxford, and
was printed in that city. The sale was
so great that the booksellers of London
bought the copyright in order to mo-
nopolize it's subsequent sales. The
"Almanac Royals of Paris, 1897, con-
tanned notices Of pastimes, court recep-
ton days, fairs and markets, to which
were added soon afterward the gen.
ealogy Of the reigning house, etc.
In England James I. granted mo-
nopoly of the trade to the universities
and the Stationers' company, subject
to the censorship Of the archbishop of
Canterbury and the bishop Of London.
The universities accepted an annuity
from their colleagues, and resigned the
active exercise Of their privilege into
the hands of the Stationers. Under
their supervision were conducted the
popular almanacs known as ''Moores"
and "Partridge's," the latter Of which
was humorously attacked by Swift
'Poor Robins Almanac" published
from 1862 to 1923, may have furnished
model, at least in title, for Franklins
poor Richard"
Popular superstititions and the ex-
travagances of astrology found room
in these almanacs, the Stationers, like
a genuine corporation or trust Of
the time, having no personality of
their own, and exhibiting no special
bias except for what would sell, as
was particularly proved in 1924, when
they issued set of predictions in one
almanac and bitterly contradicted
them in another.
| Tho ia mons A ,,,,
ported to be edited by Francis Moore.
physician. The original Francis Moore
died in 1724, but the publication was
still Issued as If under his supervision,
and in IT'S vigorous rival arose in
another almanac claiming to be the
genuine Francis Moore. A great law
| suit followed, which was decided
| against the monopoly Of the Station
ers' company. A bill to renew and
legalize the privilege was brought in
the house Of commons by Lord North
in 1779. but Lord Erskine. the great
| barrister. most brilliantly exposed the
| absurdity and even indecency of the
publication, and the bill was defeated.
| Although the privilege was thus de-
stroyed, the Stationers purchased their
| rival and continued to hold the field
| with but. slightly improved style of
publication until 1928. when the Soci-
ETY. For the Diffusion of Useful Knowl-
edge published the British Almanac"
and demolished their predecessors,
with the able assistance of the daily
press, which so vigorously asSailed the
StatlOners' publication that that CON-
pany was constrained to follow the
new example in the "Englshman's Al
manac''
The uniform price for an English al
manac for many years was a penny,
but the monopoly increased the price,
and the imposition of the stamp taxes
after Queen Anne's time raised it still
more. In 1871 'Moore's Almanac" was
ninepence, two being for the stamp.
In 1916 it rose to Is. I'D. and in 1876 to
Is. Sd.
An almanac 70 b1.