Not long ago, on May 4, marked exactly 207 years since the publication of the first issue of the newspaper *Kharkiv Weekly*. Although the publication did not last very long and ceased publication after the July 20, 1812, it ceased publication, it was precisely the “Kharkiv Weekly” that went down in history as the first periodical not only in our city but also in all of present-day central, eastern, and southern Ukraine. That is why today’s article—albeit a bit belatedly—will focus specifically on it.
The publisher of the *Kharkiv Weekly* was Joseph Matveyevich Langer, a German university bookseller. The editor was Professor Karl Karlovich Neldekhen, a native of Saxony. In the editorial of the newspaper’s first issue, the publishers wrote the following:
Obstacles beyond my control brought this weekly publication—which had been announced last year—to a halt. From now on, in accordance with the plan outlined, half an issue—or, depending on the news, a full issue—will be published every Saturday. The subject matter of these issues consists of knowledge of economics and technology beneficial to all, based on the experiences of distinguished men, as well as important commercial news—and, finally, topics serving as pleasant conversation, such as: short poems, anecdotes, and the like. The publisher of this periodical is the university bookseller Langner. The publisher asks anyone engaged in any of these subjects not to leave him without assistance. Submitted works, provided they meet the desired criteria and academic standards, will be published, and the authors can rest assured that their works will not need to be published separately at a later date. Announcements and news of particular interest to everyone belong to the second section of this weekly, where further details will be provided. The subscription price for these weekly issues, including the second section containing various news items, is ten rubles here in Kharkiv, and twelve rubles for delivery to other cities within this province. Residents of other provinces should contact their local post offices to receive these issues. These issues are published at the residence of Professor Belen de Bally, on the left bank of the Kharkiv River, across from the Church of St. Michael the Archangel.
Since the publication was, in essence, not so much a news outlet as a commercial venture, the articles featured in the newspaper were primarily of an economic nature. The pages of *Kharkiv Weekly* also included agricultural advice. Poems and epigrams by Vasily Maslovich were also published in Kharkiv’s very first newspaper. A few years later, he founded the first and only satirical publication in the Russian Empire—*Kharkiv Democritus*. It featured humorous poems, literary parodies, satirical sketches, epigrams, and a number of works on local themes written by Vasyl Maslovych in colloquial Ukrainian. Thus, this marked the first instance of the use of the Ukrainian language in periodicals.
Frustrated by the children’s boisterousness,
the Master once said:
“I could rule entire cities;
but I don’t have the strength to handle you.”
The collection also included lyric poetry by authors who, apparently because of their subtle and elegant style, wished to remain anonymous.
Poems Dedicated to I-m.
As beautiful as a rose,
as pure as a lily—
who is she? I’ll tell you: a soul—
gentle, tender, lovely;
in short, the very embodiment of Venus.
But what of her mind? — She has no equal.
But when she sings:
She enchants everyone’s soul,
She pours joy into the heart;
She is known to all as an angel.
And, of course, what newspaper would be complete without jokes? Even if it was published back in 1812! By the way, judging by how they begin—“Once upon a time, a Frenchman and an Englishman were…”—not much has changed in terms of subject matter since then.
Once, a Frenchman and an Englishman were sentenced to death for a certain crime. Some time before the execution, a monk who had been assigned to hear their confessions came and asked the Englishman first: “What is your faith?
” The Englishman replied, “None!
” The monk (to the Frenchman): “And you?
” The Frenchman (bowing deeply): “Whatever you wish, gracious sir.”
The “Classified Ads” section can reveal quite a bit about life in our beloved city in 1812. These days, medical advertisements of various kinds hardly surprise anyone. However, the content of the very first such ad, published in Issue No. 4 on May 25, was as follows:
Gustav Renberg, a dentist certified by the St. Petersburg and Moscow Medical-Surgical Academies, has the honor of presenting the following to the esteemed public:
1. He sells a tincture called “de Gustave,” which cures tooth decay and eliminates bad breath.
2. It strengthens teeth that are on the verge of falling out and fortifies weak gums.
3. The tincture he has newly invented for this purpose varies in color depending on the specific oral condition as follows: it is dark green for scurvy, light green for tooth decay, and yellow for black tartar. It should be taken in the morning on an empty stomach, rinsing the mouth with half a tablespoon of it. The price of a small bottle is one silver ruble, and a large one is two silver rubles.
4. He is particularly skilled at fitting artificial teeth that look exactly like natural ones; he makes entire rows of teeth for both the upper and lower jaws; he fills in gaps in them with gold, silver, or lead; he repairs damaged teeth in 15 minutes using a newly invented and durable compound; he whitens black teeth, and if they have a black sheen, he has a remedy for that as well.
5. He skillfully removes corns without any pain or harm.
6. He makes all kinds of medical bandages with English springs and straps for various hernias; these include those for umbilical hernias, for both infants and adults of both sexes.
7. He has a machine of his own invention for those with clubfoot and hunchbacks! Furthermore, he does not refuse to treat the very poor who are unable to pay for dental care.
He hopes to earn the trust of the most respectable members of the public. Those wishing to consult with him may find him at the home of Secretary Tishchinsky, located on Bolshaya Moskovskaya Street.
There were also quite a few job postings and recruitment ads. Among them, for example:
A certain Swedish woman, a native of Sweden who lives in Kharkiv, is seeking employment as a librarian; inquiries may be directed to the university bookseller, Langer.
We are looking for a kind and hardworking cook who can come work for the university bookbinder, Vedde.
207 years ago, residents of our city were selling various items and real estate. Obviously, placing ads on these topics could have contributed to this.
Lovers of the fine arts are hereby informed that, starting this May, I will be offering a drawing class for young ladies at my home, twice a week from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.: the fee for the entire year is one hundred and fifty rubles. For further details, interested parties may contact me directly or the office of this newspaper.
A four-horse Berlin-style carriage, complete with all accessories, is for sale.
On the left bank of the Kharkiv River, Professor Balen de Balu’s house, along with its garden and outbuildings, is for sale; for the price, please inquire with Mr. Langer, the bookseller who lives in that house, or with Mr. Mates, a university instructor.
On the right bank of the Lopan River, a house is for sale in the 3rd district of Kharkiv, within the parish and directly across from the Church of the Nativity of Christ. Facing the street is a single-story stone building, and in the courtyard stands a two-story wooden structure. In addition, there are all the outbuildings belonging to the main house, built in the courtyard. For the price, please inquire with the owner himself, Collegiate Counselor and Professor Shad, who lives in that house.
Issue No. 10 featured the very first “lost and found” notice in history—not only in the Kharkiv press but also throughout what is now eastern and southern Ukraine. Although, given the amount mentioned in the notice, I doubt anyone ever returned it to the owner. And whether it was actually a loss rather than a theft is also a big question.
Lost and Found.
A notebook was lost on the road between Kharkiv and Kursk, between the 2nd and 3rd stations. It contained 475 rubles in large and small bills, along with numerous letters, an unwritten promissory note, and a replacement document. Anyone who finds it is respectfully requested to deliver it to the publisher of these pages, the university bookseller Langer, for which he will receive a reward of 75 rubles in banknotes.
The print run for each of the 12 issues of the newspaper was 600 copies. However, since conditions for the favorable development of periodicals were lacking at that time, and there were very few people in our region interested in the material published in the newspaper, the *Kharkiv Weekly* was shut down following direct intervention by the capital’s censors. It was not until four years later that new local publications appeared in our city: the magazine *Ukrainian Herald* and the satirical magazine *Kharkiv Democritus*, which we are already familiar with. However, it is the *Kharkiv Weekly* that is still considered the pioneer of Ukrainian journalism to this day.
