Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1837-07-19

The following description of Printing
Office on publication day is from Scotch
magazine. 1t is admirably sketched, and
some of the scenes drawn to life. Our CON-
positors are not as fond of "close dig" as
their Scotch brother typos. They are
too well versed in the mysteries of fat and
lean.-EaStern Paper.
"To see printing Office in its glory,
the animated ought TO visit newspaper of.
flee on the day of publication, although
they may safely assure themselves of a
frosty reception at such time. There is
GREATNESS excitement in such a scene.
Not sound is heard, save at times the
slpshod step Of compassion creeping a.
cross the floor to the foreman's desk for
more copy, or the continual click clicking
Of the type, as they fall into their places in
the composing stick. The compositors are
stationed at their cases, noiseless and busy
as Wordsworth's cattle in the meadow
there are forty setting like ONE Mark the
diversity of figure and expression, and be-
lieve me, there is as great a diversity of tai
ent among them. That thin STOPPING fig.
ure, with sharp face, high nose, and dark
motionless eyes has genius for setting adj
vertisements. He is the uncontrolled mas
ter of that department. That fine looking
fellow with an oval border of black whis-
kers round his face, and corresponding
curve Of his leg, the wit, orator, and gay
Lothario of the establishment, has a taste
which the foreman himself does not disdain
occasionally to call to counsel. That grea-
sy looking individual with bald head, If
you keep whiskey from him and him from
whiskey, (no easy matter by the by will
set you whole column of close dig with
out one typographical error. Marry, sir I!
Of Monday morning, his types take
strange vagaries. That demure gentleman
with his nose stuck in the composing stick,
has genius for scheme work, which tech
meal phrase designates what the vulgar
call tables, &c.
The paper is up--one by one the CON-
positors have dessted for want of copy.
They are now busy under the superintend-
ence of the foreman, who has arranged and
measured out the columns, in tying them
up. Now they slip them from the galleys
to the stone, and arrange them in close par
alells. The chace is placed around them,
and the quoins inserted. A dozen anxious
heads are bending over the solid mass Of
types, touching, examining. scrutinizing and
whispering eagerly. They who stand a.
loot are the apprentices-they are not al
lowed to interfere in this part of the cere.
mony. That slender handsome slip Of q
lad at the corner has commenced Journey
man this very day. His whole frame thrills
as he handles the chace. He feels himself
| man. Now all draw back but two, who
raise their mallets to drive the quoins home
and plain the surface of the form. AS the
clatter begins, the brawny pressmen issue
from their den, and swing the ponderous
mass from the stone, and disappear in the
press-room, whence the dull sound of theil
process may be heard to issue. One by
one the compositors have assumed theil
jackets and dropped of.-The days worl
is over with them all, with the exception OF
the unlucky apprentice detained to fold the
papers. who stands brooding bitter thoughts
while an eager and curious public il
crowding the place of publication, to snatch
the first damp sheet, the silence of loneli
ness settles down on the deserted compost
tors room.