Evening star., 1952-12-25
AImdnacs Survive
Competition Of N
And Newspapers
By the Associofed PreI1


NEW YORK, Dec. 25.-Now Is
the time when next years al
manacS come bursting out like
spring flowers.
In this age of newspapers, radio.
television and movies the little
paper-backed books are still the
daily guides Of millions. They
hang by the cookstove in many
farmhouse kitchens and lie on
many Park avenue desks.
Industry uses them. too. Cen
eral Motors distributes one al
manac to its employees. The Bell
Telephone System prints and dis
tributes another for its companies
to give away.
Many Almanacs.
Nobody knows how many al
manacs roll off the country's
presses every year, but there are
far more than most people think.
The Old Farmers Almanac, the
Farmers Almanac. the National
Almanac, the New England Al
manac and Farmers Friend. the
World Almanac and Information
Please Almanac are among them.
Some kept the style and layout
that date from their . founding
days, more than $50 years ago
Others have a modern streamlined
makeup. Their content varies just
as much. Many interlard weather
predictions with puzzles, philoso-
ply, jokes, recipes and beauty
hints. The World Almanac con-
centrates on historical and factual
data.
Most devotees value their alma
macs for help in their daily lives.
Many consult them for the time
of sunrise, sunset, weather hints
and tides before they plan a days
work, a weekend jaunt or a fish
ing trip. Farmers check for infor-
nation on killing frosts and when
to put new roof on the barn.
Their wives confer with the alma
nae before they plant flowers or
pick the cucumbers for picking.
Some sports promoters check the
almanac before fixing the date OF a
big outdoor sports event. Hostesses
consult them before a garden party
or wedding.
% par Cent Cnrrect
Most people don't keep close
check on the almanac'S accuracy
in weather predictions, but the
city clerk in Providence, R. l.,
made a year-long observation of
one famous almanac's predictions
some years ago. He reported them
33 per cent correct. During the
some IL months the Weather Bu-
reau's day-to-day forecast was
verified in 35 per cent of its
prophecies.
Almanacs have played a dra-
matte part in some lives. Abraham
Lincoln is said to have won a
murder case by quoting the al
manac to prove that the moon
was low at a certain hour on a
certain night. A court witness
had claimed that it was high and
that he had recognized man in
its full bright light.
Since the first almanacs were
printed centuries ago on coarse
rag paper with woodcut illustra-
tions, many countries have pro-
duced many versions. For years
the Chinese moon almanac con-
stituted a guide to millions of
Chinese peasants in marrying off
their children. burying their dead,
paying their debts and shearing
their hair. England and Germany
also produced famous almanacs.
Poor Richard.
The paper backed weather
prophets began to appear in this
country nearly 100 years before
the colonies became the United
States. The most famous was
Benjamin's Poor Richards AL
manac.
Old settlers tell an entertaining
tale about one of these early al
manacs. While the new edition
was being set up a printers helper
asked the editor what weather he
should note for July 13. The busy
editor impatiently replied: ANY
thing. anything" The boy set up
the July 13 weather prediction as
rain. snow and hail"
The payoff came July 13, when
1t did rain, snow and hail.