Iowa news. [volume] (Dubuque, Upper Mississippi Lead Mines, Wisconsin Territory) 1837-1841, 1838-03-24
IorHrEyxEN pn1NrER..

/ JOURNEY MEN PRINTERS.
A New Orleans paper pronoances a
high eulogium upon this most indefat-
Iigablc class Of well-informed citizens,
and, in allusion to their restless dispo-
sition says, that he "knows one of them
who has at different times acted in the
capacity Of fiddler in New York, .
boatman on the canal, sheriff in Ohio,
and legislator in our councils" tits
a fact that they are nothing at times,
yet every thing when occasion requires
it. Brought up to profession which
schools the intellect and confers an ex-
tensive knowledge Of the world, they
become qualified for almost any situa-
ton where mind is called into action.
The authority just quoted does not ex-
aggerate either their capacity or versa
tility.
We know one of the craft who was,
we believe, brought up in the Office Of
orr continental friend Poulson Of Phil
adelphia. The narrow field in which
he found himself on gaining his liberty
proved altogether too insignificant for
the exercise of his genius. He turn
ed stage-driver, and afterwards pedler.
We next knew him as school-teacher
at Salem, N. ]. and subsequently as
captain Of duck-river sloop. This
latter occupation soon lost the charm
of novelty, and he resumed his place
at the press. Here we lost sight Of
him for time, but our acquaintance
was renewed in the summer Of 1924
lat LewisDurg, Va. where we found his
Type-ship officiating as Methodist
minister. After this he gave lessons
in penmanship and Poonah painting
at Pittsburgh-practised. the Thomp-
sonian system Of medicine at Cuern-
sey, Ohio-.edited paper in Kentucky
-superintended female seminary at
Louisville-and finally settled DOM
az western farmer in the Salt River
DISTRICT The last we heard of Type,
was in the Legislature of Tennessee,
where he was employed in dissecting
political matters. Our informant says
''the way he was knocking one Of their
Senator's folks into pi, was sin to
Crockett"
The history Of this disciple of Gil
Bias is characteristic Of the trade in
general. They are for the most part
an honest, noble minded, sdevil-me-
care set Of fellows, who require but
enough Of this worlds goods " supply
their wants, and are generous to fault.
Like sailors, it is principal with them
to assist each other-and no regular
bred workman Of good character, who
has by misfortune been deprived Of the
the means Of subsistence, is ever suf-
fered to want. As an evidence Of their
capacity 10 rise, it is only necessary to
mention that some of the most honor
able posts in our government are filed
by those who commenced their career
as 'J0urneynaea, P1inters!''
The above is copied from the New
Yorker, and is but what may be con-
sidered doing the fair thing in most
points; but we do not exactly approve
Of the reference in the closing SEN
tence. From an intimate acquaintance
with large number of the followers
Of that profession, we can find no great
or reason why this profession shall be
alluded to in speaking Of the character
Of men who have rose TO distinction,
than that Of any other. In noticing
the election Of printers to Office, the ed
itorial corps, in general, attribute the
success to the extraordinary industry
and perseverance Of the man in useful
study, and consider his elevation from
the case 10 Office as being very remark
able. We take different view of the
matter, and believe the only rema:ka-
BILE thing about the matter is, that they
should have mingled sufficiently with
the public to have their merits proper
ly appreciated. The nature of their
business prevents them from much in
tercourse with the people so much that
their habits become peculiar only to
themselves, and consequently they be-
come but little acquainted--never med
ping with any thing to be performed
out Of the Office. In places where
they are numerous, they seldom asso-
ciate with members Of any other pro-
fessior, not because they are excluded
from what is termed the higher cir
cles,' nor because they are too aristo-
cratic for the lower, but because they
lind their own brethren the most pleas
ant companions-thcir minds shaped
in the same mould. They look upon
distinctions based upon wealth as I'M
just and destructive to good society