WORLD'S OLDEST NEWSPAPER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 562, 26 April 1913, Page 2

WORLD'S OLDEST NEWSPAPER.

. In the chronicles of the Tang sdynasty,which flourished in China from 618 to 907 A.D., reference is found, writes Franklin Ohlinger, in "World's Work," to a daring innovation introduced by certain han-gers-on of the Imperial Court. Taking advantage of their opportunity, for securing first-hand information, these mountebanks had made a practice of parading the streets of the capital bearing placards whereon they had inscribed the August doings of the son of Heaven, and the latest news of his Court. Incidentally they did not fail to gather an ample revenue from the crowds that were allowed to read the placards, and whose curiosity was thus satisfied.

Though severely condemning the practice as wholly lacking in propriety, the Imperial Government never suppressed it, and these pioneers of the "fourth estate" were permitted to ply their nefarious trade unmolested. Finally it occurred to some journalistic genius that instead of exhibiting placards indiscriminately to the crowds and depending upon their uncertain gratuities the same result could be better attained by printing the news and sel'ing copies. 1 his scheme had at lecist the advantage of confining the scrutiny- of Imperial doings to the educated, and the Government had no objection to granting a franchise for the purpose.

Such is the origin of the "'lt Chau," or as it is better known, the "Pekin Gazette." It is undoubtedly the oldest newspaper in existence, antedating by several centuries the first journals published in Venice. Its twenty-odd octavo pages still make their regular appearance, filled with Imperial decrees, notices of appointments, and memorials from such high dignitaries as have been accorded the privilege of addressing the Throne. These leaves are loosely stitched together in a cover of Imperial yellow, which distinguishes the publication as the official organ of the Government.