Page 53 - Industries_of_San_Antonio

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COMMERCE AND MANUFACTURES.

HEBREW ORGANIZATIONS.
Edgar Lodge, No. 211,
. . ...... Membership, 29
Hebrew Benevolent Association,
12
35
Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Association, . .

Montefiore Charity Association,
25
Total
101
SINGING SOCIETIES.
Mendelssohn Chorus, Membership, 54
Beethoven Maennerchor
Philharmonic Society, 85
San Antonio German Mnnerchor,
35
228
Total
THE PRESS.
No one can gainsay the paramount importance of the press in any
community. It has become one of the most important occupations of
civilization. It is the only true medium for the exchange of national
ideas, the only means by which an entire country may be informed of the
preceding days' happenings, both of a local character and of national im-
portance. Everybody is told, almost at the same minute, of the questions
which may involve a country's strife, creating a unison of opinions and,
if necessary, a unity of action. Everybody reads the daily press, even
those whose business and duties deny all other privileges. It may be a
pleasure, but with the greater part of mankind at this era it is equally a
necessity. Papers are mailed throughout the world to relatives and
friends. They take, in many instances, the place of letters. What greater
joy to the exile, than the accidental acquirement of one of his native
sheets? To him the politics would be naught. It is the soul's craving,
which was never satiated in anyone till the day of a regular medium for
the diffusion of knowledge—of foreign affairs, of home interests.
The art of printing belongs to Germany's progressiveness. The first
paper ever sent before a public was the Gazette, of Nuremberg, in 1457.
What a value would antiquaries set upon a single copy if it was in exis-
tence.
But in ancient days the world was not without a means of learning
the daily happenings, for China, Rome, Venice and other sections gave a
daily record to the people of all the acts of public bodies. But they were
so condensed, from necessity, that each written copy, or copies, in pecu-
liar characters, as in the case of China's editing, must have been read by
hundreds if they possessed the erudition. The average given is that, to-
day, each copy of paper or pamphlet is read by seven people.
As printing became generally known thoughout Europe, its vast im-
portance made itself known and felt. At first little attention was granted
by crowned heads to the good or bad it might create. Soon its power was
felt. Authorities took the liberty of free expression from the publishers,