One attempt during this period to get the news while it was
still news should not be overlooked. Samuel Farley, the son of
a Quaker printer of Bristol, England, brought out the seventh
paper in New York City on March 20, 1762. He called his paper
The American Chronicle, and being energetic he tried to make it
live up to its name. In his efforts to gather news more quickly
he tried to secure from The Pennsylvania Journal and from The
Pennsylvania Gazette advance sheets of these newspapers, but in
each instance he was unsuccessful, as the two Philadelphia pub-
lishers positively refused to let him have copies of their papers
before the usual time for city' delivery. The refusal showed the
spirit that then prevailed among American newspapers. Not
until the early part of the nineteenth century did newspapers
cooperate in sharing the burden of news-gathering.
Farley did, however, introduce into The American Chronicle a department called "The Lion's Mouth," which attracted much attention for its day. Some idea of this innovation may be obtained from the announcement of the feature in the fourth issue, April 12, 1762:-
In order to convey such Papers to the Publisher of The Chronicle as may be of general entertainment and Instruction, in the most secret Manner; and to prevent all such authors as chuse to remain incog, from being known even to the Printer, he has procured a young Lion, thro' whose Mouth (which stands immoveably expanded) the said Composi- tions may be conveyed with the utmost Secrecy; and such of them as shall be deem'd acceptable to the Public, and are free from all Defama- tion and personal Reflection, and come properly recommended, shall be inserted in The Chronicle. The Lion will be seated in the Day Time near the Window fronting the Dock, and to prevent his annoying any of his Majesty's Liege Subjects (tho' he is extremely tame and good natured) he will be chained securely to the Post of the Window. . . In the Night Time, to prevent his taking cold by the noxious Dew of this Northern climate, he will be placed on a Pedestal in the Entry just behind or so near the Door, that any Materials may be conveyed into his Mouth (which is always open) thro' a Hole in the Upper Door which leads direct to his Jaw. N.B. He will Roar at no honest man whatsoever.
