Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-14
DONE IN PHILADELPHIA

newspapers, ana eSDeCldlly dDOut y
first evening journal, which, by the way, was
the first evening paper to be published IN TINS
country, and, IL 1 am not mistaken the hrst
evening paper to be published in the world.
Some of my Boston friends, VINO have prided
themselves upon what the Hub has done Tor
journalism as we'll for all other branches OF
polite literature, probably will take exception
to this statement, and hasten TO remind me
that there was q Boston Evening Post as far
back as 1885.
In reply, assuming my Boston friends would
make this assault, I must remind them that
the Boston Evening Post can scarcely ba
classed as an evening newspaper
The Boston Evening Post originally was
known as The Rehearsal and under that nam
was published about 1881 It weekly. and
moro or less a literary paper, after the style
of so many of the little sheets in the eighteenth
century. No reader of the Evening Ledger
would think of it as a newspaper in the
modern sense. However, about two years after
it was in existence, it became the property OF
Thomas Fleet who for long time was
believed to be connected with the authorship
of Mother Goose" That question has not been
definitely settled yet but we may let that pass.
Fleet maintained his paper The Rehearsal
for some time, and then, without notice,
changed its name to the Boston Evening Post.
The only other change the time of publi-
cation It now came out on Monday evening,
whereas the paper formerly had come out on
Monday morning.
But we must be entirely fair. There was still
another evening paper published in this
country before the Pennsylvania Evening Post.
Let us take o look at 1t.
This also was weekly, and printed in
New York by Henry de Forrest. This was
begun in 1746. but did not live more than
year. 1t s now known only by name. and
only by students Of American journalism. 1t
made impress upon history.
But the Pennsylvania Evening Post did make
an indelblo impression on American jour-
nalism.
II is rather curious to find that this paper
was connected in its history with Public
Ledger, not the present one, of course, but
earlier and forgotten one.
Benjamin Towne, the publisher Of the Penn
sylvania Evening Post was Englishman.
born in Lincolnshire, according TO Isaiah
Thomas. He seems TO have come first to
Philadelphia. as did almost every enterprsing
English cmiSrant in the eighteenth century,
and engaged by Goddard as journeyman
printer Goddard, who in partnership
with the Tories, Joseph Galloway and Thomas
Wharton, published the Pennsylvania Chronicle
in 1867, and fair in his treatment Of
American topics that he and his partners had
n falling out. 1t is most interesting tale
by itself, and one of these afternoons we may
tell more of it.
III the meantime, however we must speak Of
Townes connection with Goddards paper.
The lattor's partners who leaders OF
what might be called the Tory party here,
were much angered at the publication Of
Dicknsons Farmers Letters, which gave the
American view of the dispute with the mother
that they induced Towne to act
a spy for them in Goddards office. Finally,
whon Goddard left the city. Towne, probably
with the assistance Of his former employers,
started printing house of his own.
James Humphreys, who Philadelphian
born. and who had received his education in !
the College of Philadelphia. had finally, after
several attempts to find himself taken UP the |
trade OF printing. In the autumn of IVA he
that he would soon publish an i'm
partial newspaper. There was suspicion
among the people that the Ledger would be
Tory paper and Towne thought he op- /
to start an opposition sheet. So lie (
FASTENED to publish the Pennsylvania Evening
Post before Humphreys could issue his Ledger I
Both papers made their appearance about the .
same time in l,I5. Towne had the best of ii
from the start, so lie became friendly with the ,
Wings, and his sheet was regarded a Whg
organ Congress let him have their proceedings /
to print, and lie was prospecting. But he was
person to whom self interest was uppermost
lie Whg long as the Americans held .
the city but when the British came to town .
Towne remained and continued to print the Kind !
Of news Lord Howe desired. At that time
who had been obliged to leave the
city because Of his Tory principles. returned
and again issued his Ledger but Towne was So
in carrying water on both shoulders
that he remained master Of the field.
Both men, as we'll Townes former en-
pIoyers. Galloway and Wharton, had been
placed OH the list OF persons charged with being
Loyalists, Galloway ned with the British and
went to England, Wharton and Towne re.
NAMED
By some strange chance Towne was not mo.
ested when the Patriots returned to the CITY,
out permitted to continue his business un-
-hallensed. lie continued to print his Evening
Post until the close Of the wa
Towno was high liver but was a skium!
,rnter, and his work was cNccllently done
I.~ Evening Post was printed three times
3 eeli. on Tuesday Thursday and saturday. and
he price, originally two coppers." was raised
o three coppers." say about cents and -
ents at the present rate.
The Pennsylvania Evening Post was the FIRST
,aper to print the Declaration of Independence.
rhis appeared on its front page for July 8. l,ie
md in one OF its numbers in 1873 appeared the
irst account Of Washington's historic crossing
4 the Delaware, Either of these pieces or new,
would be displayed in very large type by
modern newspaper. but they We're very modest
! ri .t.LIL i H.. Ilr.t