Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 113, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 May 1918 — FIRST NEWSPAPER IN BERLIN [ARTICLE]

FIRST NEWSPAPER IN BERLIN

In ths Year 1661 a Weekly Journal Was Published, Edited by the Elector's Physician. The first Berlin newspaper was printed In 1661 in the reign of the Elector of Brandenburg. The paper was edited by Cornelius Bontekoe, a Hollander, physician to the Elector. Robert Voelker and Elias Locker, booksellers, were privileged to ssWll the paper. It was a weekly and appeared Sunday morning; the clerks of the booksellers would sell the papers. In winter before, and in summer after church, which was held in the open from May to September. Those of the young men who could not get a seat were allowed to climb in the trees 1 to listen to the sermon. With his wife, Louise, and the children and the household, the elector went regularly to church. He would, as a rule, remain standing, while the electress and children would occupy seats under the trees. After the closing prayer the newspaper sale commenced at the entrance gate. Rupert Voelker, the first bookseller of was allowed to give the elector a copy. After church the electress and children would return to the palace, while the elector would enter a palanquin and be carried to the Lustgarden. There he would read the paper, and then give audience to artists and other learned men. ' One Sunday a man was Introduced who entertained the elector (who believed in the appearance of the devil in some form or another) with a story which had happened to a farmer at the Berlin gate. “At the Berlin gate,” he said, “the farmer’s horses stopped suddenly. He left his wagon to coax them to go, but coaxing and cursing would not take them a step farther. The farmer turned his head and saw- an ugly woman on his wagon, blaspheming God and promising the farmer wealth. Then the farmer said: ‘All good spirits.’ The woman did not move. The farmer got angry and said : ‘Will you ride? Then ride in Jesus’ name,’ and the woman, the devil, vanished from the wagon.” The elector was greatly interested In the story and ordered the physicianeditor to have the story published in the next issue of the paper as a lesson to others not to be tempted by riches. Current news was not allowed to be published. Court functions and fables would find more favor with the Berliners. A bookseller from Leipzig came to Berlin to publish another paper, which was promptly forbidden by the elector, who considered one newspaper sufficient for Berlin.