Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-04-09
GAZETTE
A PRINTING OFFICE.

we nave been much amused win the interest
ing aud correct explanations of a " Journey;
man" in the New York Gazette, respecting the
origin and meaning Of the technical terms Of
Printers. We have extracted what may be CON
sidered, most edifying to the craft and recon-
mend. the latter paragraphs particularly, as uor-
tn, their perusal and instruction. -Dai. Chron.
In London. during the reign of Queen Anne,
| all printing Offices were called Chapels, at which
time old Doctor Fanstus, the inventor of types
and their use, was believed to be in league with
the Devil.
The Chapels, or printing Offices, were filled
with iOurneymen, wearing wigs. cooked hats, and
small swords, 10 which they were entitled by an
act of Parliament.
But the ingenuity of DR.. Faustus, or the Devil
in fixing upon appropriate aDo.dS or tel ms to con-
yey meanings applicable then, now and forever,
is astonishing.
In the present DAYS, we find the same techni.
Gals; and they are used with wonderful effect.
1t appears that the first and most important
pernnage in the chapel or printing office, is the
Devil. This devil is no other than the youngest
apprentice, whose duty it is TO do all the drudge
nv Of the Office, and IS subject to the orders of
W " lbutH E yuCut W. - WV w uhp
sw ords look as if they ought to command, at
least the UeuL.
Well, then, l shall begin with the Devil, who
in all political concerns, takes a prominent stand
and is often most happily introduced in the toasts
Of Printers.
Among the other technica!s of the Craft. for
in old times the printer, were looked upon in u
worse light Than the Masons are now "a. days, l
will enumerate some Of them, aud then attempt
SO to explain them, as that, in future, when they
are used, every reader will understand their hap
ply applicability.
In the chapel, now printing Office, the terms in
hourly use among the journeymen are:
Monks, Frlars, Hell Hole, Daggers,. Cannon,
Fair and Foul Sheets, Battered Types, Pi, Ca
ses, Rules, Ju>'ihers, Damp and Dry Sheets.
Planers. Lines, Figures, Points, Justification, I'm.
POSITIONS, Banks, Devils Tails, Plattins, LIN.
presions, Admirations, Foul Cases, Full Cases,
Clean Cunposltnrs. Foul ones, Good aud bad
proofs, and a thousand other terms that may be
made to apply to every subject, whether religious,
political, moral. ~trasical, or farclcal.
IL you ask a printer what a Monk means, he
will tell you that wherever you find too much INK
on a printed sheet, looking black, and Obscuring
that part of the print intended to convey light,
that that was a Monk.
A Friaris the reverse, b, s,use invisible, for
it is the want of ink that makes a Friar.
The Hell Hole is a place OF deposit tor all
broken or WORKOUT types. When any are thrown
into this dark region. they never come to light
again until they are cast over, and again be-
come renewed, and fit for the chapel.
.Daggers are used as notes OF reference, some
times to murders, or other subjects.
Cannon IS a bold conspicuous type IN a print
ing office, and formerly was The most formidable
a, TO size, in the time Of DR.. Faustus and the
Devil. Now we have characters more Consplc'
uOus. ~.
Fair Sheds are those without Monks or Fri
F5uI Sheets exhibit both of those back char.
acfers. -,
! Battered Types. no longer useful, are picked
nm nv the Devil and sent into hell. This hell ls
sometimes an old shoe. nailed to the composItors
France; at others N old box;-but the devil some
times makes no discrimination, and throws IN
the GOOD and bad, to save the trouble OF dlstri'
but,ng Pi. or a mixture Of good types.
RI. as Dr. Faustus spells IT.. in an ONCE, Is
an awful sight, for the devil himself Is 'r'gten.
ed at it. especially if whole form fall out OF
chase, In such a dilemma. all hands 90 to Work
to re- form and 70 case the miTed SORTS.
CRdses are constructed OF iron, enclose "e
the TYNE. in which the pages are locked up dy
small wooden wedges, called quoins.
Rules. whether good or bad. always snow
themselves in print, and if disposed OF by correct
work,uen. exhibit straight lines.
Jusfifers or Justification leaves no crooks OF
souabbfng. to offend the reader.
Dnrnn Sheets yield a fair impression, but II
dru. every thing is wanting to produce what Is
Figures aud Points, properly disposed o'' can
mot fsii to produce their important effect.
Jasiideation IS seldom effected BY %bunglers in
the ,ar, of printing. He must be a good work
man to complete the w, work no Of js ,maa,,.". man ai he g
are such. and he is the most important "a" .,d
printing Office; because all columns lines: ana
pages. are left by him ready for press, and Mt for
the most scrutiniZIng eye. 49,
The Palmer is a wooden block three inches
thick which is used before the form IS ioeSea Up
in the chase, stricken with a mallet, to drive
down to a ieva, all the types whose heads sfa'aS
| TOO high.