The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-06-24
THE INVENTION OF THE ART OF
PRINTING.

This day being the four hundredth anniversa-
ry of the invention of the Art Of Printing, we
present to readers the following article, cut
from the Philadelphia Ledger of yesterday. 1t
possesses great interest.
The INVENTION OF THE ART OF PRINTING.
The celebration of the fourth centenary since
the discovery of the art of printing, will take
place tomorrow, with appropriate exercises We
have translated and condensed from German
work the following description of the ceremonies
which were observed on the raising of monu-
ment to the memory Of Gutenberg, to whose ge-
MUS indebted for the noble invention
The ceremony took place at Mentz, in the year
1887.
The intention of raising monument to the so
justly celebrated inventor, did not originate late
ly. We hear of it early the year A. d. 1904,
at which time meeting of forty men took place
at Mentz, Germany with view to aid and
further the arts and sciences of the department of
esDonnersberg." The very worthy and well re-
raernbered Jeanboa st. Andre ofIiciated as presi-
dent on this occasion. Their first session april
9Th, 1904, } was opened by the president with
speech, which was printed, and is yet considered
one OF the most superior specimens of oratory;
after which, the following resolutions were una
nimously passed.
LIST. That gold medal, of the value of $40
francs, which the likeness of Gutenberg, be
stamped, be offered as prize for the best pane
| gyric in his favor
3D. That monument be erected to his memo
ry at Mentz.
| 3d. That an appeal be made to the whole of
Europe, inviting the population to aid the pro-
ject by sending contributions.
| These resolutions were sent to the Minister
OF the Interior, and met with his entire approba-
ton.
Napoleon also appeared to have imbibed great
respect and esteem for the inventor of the art of
printing On arriving at Mentz, in September,
| 1904, after having been an Emperor but a short
period, he appropriated two millions of francs for
the improvement of the city. In the decree which
accompanied the appropriation, he ordered, par
ticularly, "that number of houses Gin central
section of the city of Mentz) be torn down, with
| view to form pablo place, and that this place
shall bear the name OF tGuttenberg Place. in
honor of the inventor Of Typography
/ The numerous connections and the many bloody
wars which agitated Germany afterwards, were,
however, serious obstacles in the way of the de-
sign to erect the monument, as set forth in the
resolutions above referred to; and it was not, in
fact, until 1924, that the subject was again re-
newed, and then it progressed rather slowly ow-
ing to pecuniary difficulties and apparent re
taxation of the energy OF the people on the mat
ter Some of the originators of the project were,
however, still alive to a sense of honorable duty
on their part to carry the design into completion,
and to them the people of Germany are indebted
for its final success
In the year 1892, the celebrated Danish sculp-
tor and modeller, Thorwaldsen, volunteered his
services to form colossal statue Of Gutenberg,
requiring only funds to purchase the necessary
materials. His voluntary and generous PROPOSE
ton, we need hardly add, was gratefully accept
ed by the persons who had the erection of the
monument in contemplation. With view to
accomplishing task in mastery manner, Thor
waldsen requested
First. sketch of the best portrait of Gutten-
berg extant.
Second. A very particular design and descrip-
ton of his costume.
Third. A plan of the place which the mo-
nument was to be erected.
Fourth. Il statement of the most remarkable
events which occurred during the life of the ce-
LIBERATED inventor, which might, perhaps. be used
on the bnsse refiero of the monument
i Fifth. A design and description of the tools
fit Use in the art Of printing.
j These demands were Of course gratiied. and