Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1902 — ALMANAC VAGARIES. [ARTICLE]

ALMANAC VAGARIES.

AN ' INTERESTING COLLECTION IN THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. . -^_ 7 .'. —.l ' Noted Men Wlio Are Credited With Being the First Alaiaae Makers. Yearly Almanacs the Race Since the Sixteenth -Caatary. One of the most curiouacollections at the library of congress is that of almanacs. These publications, which as advertising mediums are left at the door, often to be at once thrown carelessly into the wastebasket have a striking and venerable history. It is still contended by many authorities that the almanac of 1457 was the first specimen of printing, and it has been variously credited to Gutenberg, Schaeffer and Pfister of Bamberg. Dr. Faustus, celebrated in legend, whose strange story has been immortalized by Marlowe and Goethe, was the accredited author of almanacs containing astrological signs (retained at the present day) and necromautic secrets. “Poor Richard’s Almanac,” the production of Benjamin Franklin, is well known as a treasury of homely wit and wisdom. One of the greatest of modern German authors, Auerbach, first won his way to popdlar esteem by using the almanac as a vehicle for his talents.

Reyiomontanus, a famous German mathematician, -under the patronage of Matthias Corvinus, king Of Hungary, published a series of almanacs from 1475 to 1506, and yearly almanacs became an established custom In the sixteenth century. Henry 111. of France In 1579 enacted that the almanac should not be made the instrument of partisan politics by the introduction of prophecies against parties and individuals, ln„ the state. The first almanac In the modern shape appeared in England iu,1673. It was compiled by Maurice Wheeler, canon of Christchurch, Oxford, and was printed in that city. The sale was so great that the booksellers of London bought the copyright in order to monopolize its subsequent sales. The “Almanac Royal" of'Paris, 1697, contained notices of pastimes, court reception days, fairs and markets, to which were added soon afterward the genealogy of the reigning bouse, etc. In England James I. granted a monopoly of the trade to the universities and the Stationers’ company, subject to the censorship of the archbishop of Canterbury and the bishop of London. The universities accepted an annuity from their colleagues, and resigned the active exercise of their privilege into the hands of the Stationers. Under their supervision were conducted the popular almanacs known as “Moore’s” and “Partridge’?,’* the latter of which was humorously attacked by Swift. “Poor Robin's Almanac,” published from 1652 to 1828, may have furnished a model, at least in title, for Franklin’s “Poor Richard.” Popular superstltitions and the extravagances of astrology found room ' in these almanacs, the Stationers, like | a genuine corporation or “trust” of i the time, having no personality of 1 their own. and exhibiting no special bias except for what would sell, as was particularly proved in 1624, when they issued a set of predictions in one almanac and bitterly contradicted them in another.

■’The famous “Moore's Almanac” purported to be edited by Francis Moore, physician. The original Francis Moore died in 1724. but the publication was still isued as if under his supervision, and in 1775 a vigorous rival arose in another almanac claiming to be the genuine Francis Moore. A great lawsuit followed, which was decided against the monopoly of the Stationers’ company. A bill to renew and legalise the privilege was brought in the house of commons by Lord North in 1779, but Lord Erskine, the great barrister, most brilliantly exposed the absurdity and even indecency of the publication, and the bill was defeated. Although the privilege was thus destroyed. t!ie Stationers purchased their rival and continued to hold the field with a but slightly improved style of publication until 1828, when the Society For the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge published the "British Almanac” and demolished their predecessors, with the aide assistance of the daily press, which so vigorously assailed the Stationers’ publication that that company was constrained to follow the new example iu the "Englishman's Almanac.” ", j The uniform price for an English ab manac for many years was a penny, but the monopoly increased the price, and the imposition of the stamp taxes after Queen Anne's time raised it still more. In 1781 “Moore's Almanac” was ninepence, two being for the stamp. In 1796 it rose to la. 4d. and in 1816 to 2a. 3d. An almanac was established by Isaiah Thomas in Worcester, Mass., which gained and established an extraordinary repute in 1789 from the happy accident that, as it was being set up. one of the boys asked what should be placed against the 16th of July. Mr. Thomas, in careless haste, answered: “Anything! Anything!” The Aid. literally obedient, set up “Rain, hail and snow.” The diligent readers were surprised, but when the day came the prediction was fulfilled—it really did rain, bail and snow on the 13th of that July, and the fortune of the almanac was made. The "Almanac de Gotha” is the best known of the German publications. Whittaker's Is the standard English publication of the kind, while In thia country several of the large newspapers issue annual almanacs. The stray production, however, with its old astrological and magical symbols of Faust, must ever possess an interest for the curious who are versed In ths history of atmanacs Washington