Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-04-12
OLD ALMANAcs.
Interesting Collection In Library of
Congress at Washington.

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Interesting Collection In Library Of
Congress at Washington.
There is not in the Library OF Congress
q more interesting collection OF publica-
tons than that OF almanacs, and the fact
that Il is held that the almanac OF 1887
was the first effort in this line gives
additional interest to the collection.
Notwithstanding that nearly four and
one half centuries have passed since the
first almanac was issued, almost the iden-
tical astrological signs are used as were
introduced by DR.. Faustus, whose career
was immoratalized by Goethe and Mar
lowe. The first almanac, whose author
ship is variously credited to Gutenberg,
Schaeffer and Pfster, did not have these
signs and necromantic secrets. Benjamin
Franklin's Poor Richards Almanac IL .
treasure OF homely wit and wisdom, and
even to this day . large number OF the
cheaper aimanacs endeavoz to initiate
Franklin.
Auerbach had the unpleasant experience
OF having his manuscripts returned "with
thanks" by the publishers to whor, they
were submitted. Finally he determined
to use an almanac rs the vehicle for plac-
ing his writings before the public. His
plan proved successful, and after year or
two the great author was finding no
trouble in getting his matter printed and
receiving liberal pay.
II was another German author and
mathematician, Reylomontenus, who,
under the patronage OF Corvinus, King OF
Hungary, issued the first annual almanac.
There was . disposition on the part OF
almanac makers OF the sixteenth century
to predict i'll luck for rulers and poll
ticians, and SO general this prophesying
became that edicts were issued prohibit
ing such predictions, ~ it 'had . ten
dency to keep the weak and superstitious
in nervous state.
Maurice Wheeler, canon OF Christ
church, Oxford, complied the nrst al
mansc in the style in which most OF them
are now issued. This was in 1879, and tho
sale OF the almanac ~as 30 large that the
booksellers OF England found 1t impos-
sible to supply the demand. II was copy
righted by . London newsdeaier and he
made fortune from its subsequent sales.
The upper class OF society made an effort
to monopotixe the "reading matter" pages
Of an almanac issued In Paris in 1897,
which was called the "Almsns Royal"
giving notices OF days OF reception BY the
elite, court reception days, fancy balls,
shutdown teas and the geneology OF the
reigning house. The almanac WAS almost
. society blue book.
Among the nrst ''tfusts" was that OF tho
universities Of England, which, under An
order of James l., received . monopoly Of
the publication and sale Of almanacs. The
universities turned the business over to
the stationers and accepted . royalty or
annuity. "Moors's" and "Partridgs's" al
manacs became popular, though the
weather predictions were Tar from reliable.
Moore's almanac purported to b issued
under the direction Of Francis Moore, .
physician, who died In TIA, but for many
ysars after his death the almsnac APP
peared Just - II under his supervision.
Another almanac appeared claiming TO
b issued BY . Francis Moore, and law
suit resulted, which hnally terminated In
the ststionsn winning the suit. The
trust In almanacs continued until la2B,
when the Society for the Diffusion Of Use
fni knowledge brought out the ..Britiah
Almanac"
Among the nrst OF American almanacs
was the one issusd BY Isaiah Thomas ct
Worcester. Mass, in ITO. This sprung
Into popular fs7or By . happy accident.
In the print shop from which the almanac
vas issusd worked . printers devil, who
was always thorn In the side OF the pro-
pristor, Isaiah Thomas, the maker Of al
manscs. One day while the boy was ssst.
ting up" . page OF the slmansc he found
that Mr.. Thomas had neglected TO lot
down tho kind Of weather which could Be
expected on certain day In June.
"Just put anything, everything, any
thinG-don't care what II it," pstulantiy
answered the almanac maker.
'Then III FL it." replied the lad, and b
did. He put In type, "RAin, hail, slest
and snow" and 1t went to press that wy.
Thomas was angry, but the book could
not b printed over without going to
heavy expense. When the day Of train,
hail, slset and snow" came around. the
prediction was fulfilled and the almanac
makers fortune was made.