Page:History of American Journalism.djvu/27

Rh while leaving all former laws about the news-letters in full force, declared that writers of lettere d' avvisi should be sent "to the galleys, either for life or for a term, without hope of pardon."

The written newspaper spread, chiefly by way of Venice, to other countries. Many fanciful tales are told about the contribution of Venice to journalism. The assertion has been made that that city also had its Daily Acts, for the privilege of seeing which a subscription price of a gazetta was asked, and that from this custom came the name so often applied to newspapers, The Gazette. But these rumors are doubtless highly colored, for this term did not come into general use until a much later date. Venice did have, however, the first press bureau, an organization which gathered and retailed news in a wholesale way. Its newsletters were far more timely in contents than those which had previously gone out from Rome.

By 1600, what might be called epistolary newspapers were appearing in Italy, in France, in Germany, and in England. It was in Germany that such sheets reached their highest development. France, however, led in the spoken newspaper. In Paris there were men who stood at street corners and told the gossip of the city. When they had finished, they passed around the hat. At night they met at a tavern where they swapped news-items gathered during the day.

In the Swiss village of Champery the spoken newspaper still survives. Curiously enough, it is a Sunday edition. On that day, immediately after church, the villagers hear The Town Crier. Its editor, literally the publishing bailiff, appears on a balcony overhanging the street and announces the news to those on the village green. First of all, he gives the information about the decisions of the courts and announces the decrees both federal and cantonal. He speaks of the fines and penalties incurred by the citizens of the community and brings to public attention all the official decisions of the civil authorities. All citizens