The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-11-12
Newspapers a Century Old.

Eighty-two newspapers in the United
States admit having reached the age or
one hundred years. and they are making
no effort 10 conceal their age. In fact,
they have Joined a Century Club. and
the fact Of their longevity is heralded
broadcast by handsome little booklet.
published by the ST. Louis Republic, one
of the members OF the club. and a most
creditabIe representative of the craft old
or young.
A history Of these papers makes inter-
esting reading. The South Is not so
well represented as It was previous 10
the war between the States, for at that
period many went out OF existence. There
are LEFT four in Virginia, three In Mary
land. one in Kentucky. one In South Car
DINA. one in Tennessee, and one in Geor-
gia.
The Virginia members OF the century
family are located at Alexandria, Lex
ington, Lynchburg. and Newmarket. The
Alexandra Gazette was first published
in 1850. while the other three were first
issued IN the early years OF the last cen
fury. The Shenandoah Valley News. at
Newmarket. is probably the most unique
Of the entire list This village has a
population OF only 6Sl. but they are loyal
TO their home paper.
The Valley News contributes interest
ing data regarding the origin Of the word
News usually taken 10 be derived
from the French word ''Nouvelles." When
the paper first appeared in 1907, it bore
on the first page a cut Of a man on horse
back. blowing q horn. out OF which pro-
coded the words. Itch bring das Neu'sl
So gut ich's weiss" Cvernacular Ger
man for 4 bring the news the best ]
know.'D ''Neu's" is the nearest form OF
the present English word known.
Maryland's papers IN the order Of their
founding are: Annapolis. Maryland Ga
zette, 1745; Baltimore, American, 1773;
Easton, star-Democrat, 1883 IN South
Carolina, the Charleston News and Cou-
rier is stu a sprightly centenarian.
Pennsylvania. with thirteen members
heads the list. New York coming second
The District Of Columbia has no publica-
tlon dating back century.
The only paper west Of the Misslssippt
IS the Republic. None Of the periodicals
established by the Spanish missions sur.
vived the vicissitudes OF time and the
changing conditions.
The first paper that saw the light OF
day in the present United States survived
for only one Issue. It was called Public
Obsevances. and appeared in Boston
September ., 1920 Unfortunately It was
a yellow journal and in the first number
threatened to print the names Of all the
liars In Boston in its next issue The
authorities took cognizance OF tho threat
and wisely forbade It's continuance.
The Boston News Letter. which hegar
publication in April, 17a, was the first
Journal to be regularly issued on thi,
continent. The American Weekly Mer.
curry. in Philadelphia, was the second
but both these persisted many years ago
The North American and the Saturday
Evening Post trace, their lineage TO Ben.
jamin Franllin's Gazette. which was
first printed in 172S. The North Anneri.
can is the oldest daily. its title being laid
70 the fact that II runs back In unbroker
line to pre-Revolutionary days
Turning to European papers. we nnt
that the Frankfort Journal, at Frankfort.