The National tribune., 1902-01-09
Az Es0UlMAU NEWSPAPER.
It is Published Every Two Weeks and It's
Circulation is Growing


About 20 years ago G little newspaper
began to be printed at Godthaab, on the
southwest coast of Greenland Ii appeared
in the Esquimau language. and was one
Of the most unique productions OF the
printing press. 1t was called the Atnag-
Init Uhe READER, and at first was issued
only once in Il while, as the editor did not
print n new issue until he had sold all the
copies of the preceding one.
Lars MOeller is the name of the editor
and publisher OF this little Greenland
newspaper He has made his paper very
useful, because il has stimulated n desire
among the natives to learn to read. For
some years past the paper has been print
cd as monthly publication, but it is now
appearing once in every two weeks.
Years ago, when NOrdenskjOld made his
trip inland on the great iCc-cap of South
ern Greenland, he was accompanied by
this ESquimau. Lars Moeller. who confid-
ed to the explorer his ambition TO become
4 journalist. The young man was clever
with his pencil and he showed pictures
which he had drawn and that he thought
would interest his compatriotS and make
them anxious to learn to read. NOrdens-
kjold was very much impressed with the
intelligence, industry and ambition of the
young Esquimau, and on his return to
Sweden ne sent him a printing press and
a supply of ink and PAPER.
In the course of time. Lars, who had
become proficient in reading and writing,
acquired the art of setting type and run
ming the printing press. Then he added
another accomplishment, which was per-
haps the basis of his success as 4 publish
er He studied the methods of engraving
on stone, and after n while he was able
TO transfer to stone, roughly, to be sure,
but with some degree of accuracy, the
drawing he made.
The first copies of his paper contained
only pictures, such as scenes of hunting in
Greenland, and also simple pictures based
upon those made in Europe. showing some
interesting phases of life among foreign
peoples He found that the pictures ex-
cited much interest among the ESquimaux.
Then he began to print some descriptive
matter in the Esquimau language under
the pictures. 4 considerable number of the
natives had learned 10 read. and they
would tell their friends what was written
in the descriptions; thus many of the na-
tivcs gradually became desirouS of read
| ing themselves so that uuaided they might
find what the pictures were about Lars
! MOellers little paper probably did more
than any other one agency to stimulate
desire to learn reading and writing. Sew
eral thousands of the natives of South
Greenland can now read the Bible and
other books published in Esquimau.
Finally the editor began to include in
his paper items of news with regard to
Greenland affairs and prices of eidcrdOwn,
skins. and such other commercial infOrma-
tiOn as was of practical value TO the ma
tives. They began to look for the coming
of their newspaper as an event promising
both pleasure and profit. So the little
newspaper of Godthaab now wields con-
siderable influence in Greenland and is
interesting to many foreigners because its
letter-press and mechanical features, in
Guiding its rather remarkable engravings,
are entirely the product of Lars and his
assistants. In addition to his newspaper,
he has published number of little books
in Esquimau, which are devoted to the
preservation of the Esquimau fables and
Traditions