Show NEWS YEARS AGO in connection with the anniversary of the maryland gazette some early copies of that newspaper were exhibited the news and advertisements of early days were naturally quite different from what is found in current newspapers as they reflected the customs and behers of their time one of the stones from vienna told of the burning of several persons convicted of witchcraft among them a midwife who had baptized 2000 children in the name of the devil A local item related the experience of a negro slave who struck a white man in an argument over a dog fight the negro was sentenced to have one of his ears cut off pursuant to the law in such cases among the advertisements was one announcing the arrival of a cargo of about choice slaves which will be exposed for sale on thursday the of this instant in its issue of october 21 1762 the maryland gazette published the news of the birth of a son to the british king and queen which had occurred on august 12 the story bore the headlines great joy to the nation A pance of wales is born god save the king this was the dissolute and notorious character who afterwards became george IV the maryland gazette was frequently suspended for periods but is credited by the librarian of congress with being the dean of present day american newspapers |