Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-10-18
ALMANAC VAGARIES
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION IN
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
Noted Men Who Are Credited with
Being the First Almanac Makers
Yearly AImnnacs the Rage Since
the sixteenth Century.
One of the most curious collections
at 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 wastenasket, have u
striking and venerable history.
1t is still c0ntended by many author,
tiles that the almanac Of 1857 was tho
first specimen Of printing, and 1t has
been variously credited to Gutenberg,
Schaeffer and Pfster OF Bamberg. pr.
Faustus, celebrated in legend, whose
strange story has been immortalized
by Marlowe and Goethe, was the Saf.-
credited author of almalacs containing
astrological signs (retaihed ut the pres-
ent day. and necrOlnantic secrets.
rPoor Richards Almanac" the pro.
duction of Benjamin Franklin, is vel!
known rs 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 HIS a vehicle fos
his talents.
Reyiomontanus, famous German
mathematician, under the patronage Of
Matthias COryinus, king of Hungary,
published a series Of almanacs from
1475 to 1906, and yearly almanacs be.
came an established custom In the six.
tenth 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 indl-
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 Royal Of Paris, 1897, con-
tained notices Of pastimes, court receI'-
ton days, fairs and markets, to which
were added soon afterward the gen.
ealogy of the reigning house, etc.
In England James l. granted a 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 au annuity
from their colleagues, ard resigned the
active exercise of their privilege into
the hands of the Statloners. Under
their supervision were conducted the
popular almanacs known as "MOore's'
and "Partridge's," the latter Of which
was humorously attacked by Swift.
"Poor Robins Almanac" published
from 1862 to 1928, may have furnished
a model, at least in title. for Franklin's
Poor Richard"
Popular superstititions aud the ex-
travagances Of astrology found room
in these almanacs, the StatiOners, like
Il 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 n set of predictions In one
almanac and bitterly contradicted
them in another.
The famous "Moore's Almanac" pur-
ported to be- edited by Francis Moore,
physician. The original Francis Moore
died in 1921. but the publication was
still supd us If under his supervision,
and in 1T15 Il Vigorous rival arose in
another almanac claiming to be the
genuine l'rAlcis Moore. y great law
suit followed. which was decided
against the monopoly OF the Station
crs' company \ bill to renew and
lrgalizp the privilege was brought in
the house Of comElonH by Lord North
I'm 1779 but Lord Ersline. the great
barristcr. most brilliantly exposed the
nbsurtllty and even indeoency 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 1898. 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
Stationers' publication that that com.
pany was constrained to follow the
new example in the "Englishmans AL.
manac"
The uniform price for an English al
manac for many years was n penny,
but the monopoly increased the price,
and the imposition Of the stamp taxes
after Queen Anne's time raised 1t still
more. In 1881 "Moore's Almanac" was
ninepence, two being for the stamp.
In 1906 it rose to Is. 4d. and in 1916 to
rs. Sd.
An almanac was established by
Isaiah Thomas In Worcester, Mass,