Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-01
ALMANAC VAGARIES.
AN INTERESTING COLLECTION IN
THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.

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 wastebasket, have n
striking and venerable history.
1t is still contended by many author
tiles that the almanac of 1857 was the
first specimen of printing, and 1t has
been variously credited to Gutenberg,
Schaeffer and Pfster of Bamberg. DR..
Faustus, celebrated In legend, whose
strange story has been immortalized
by Marlowe and Goethe, was the ac-
credited author of almanacS containing
astrological signs (retained 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 eor
his talents.
Reyiomontanus, famous German
mathematician, under the patronage of
Matthias Corvinus, king of Hungary,
published series Of almanacs from
1475 to 1906, and yearly almanacs be-
came an established custom in the six
teenth century. Henry III. of France
In 1919 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 1913. 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-
nopollze its subsequent sales. The
almanac Royal of Paris, 1857, con-
tained notices of pastimes, court recep-
tion days, fairs and markets, to which
were added soon afterward the gen
ealogy of the reigning house, etc.
In England james l. 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 "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
q model, at least In title, for Franklin's
"Poor Richard"
Popular superstitltions 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 contradlcted
them In another.
The famous "NIoore's Almanac" pur-
ported to be edited by Francis Moore,
physician. The original Francis Moore
died in 1924, 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 11T9, but Lord Erskine, the great
barrster, 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 1923, 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 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 1706 it rose to Is. 4d. and in 1916 to
Is. Sd.
An almanac was established by
Isaiah Thomas In Worcester, Mass,
which gained and established an eX-
traordinary repute in 1880 from the
happy accident that as 1t was being set
up, one of the boys asked what should
be placed against the 18th of July.
Mr.. Thomas, in careless haste, an
swered: Anything! Anything" The
lad, literally obedient, set up "Rain.
hail and snow" The diligent readers
were surprised, but when the day came
the predictiOn was fulfilled-it really