Arkansas intelligencer., 1843-09-30

10 be continued.
For the Arkansas Intelligenccr.
Printing---NO. L.
Is. About the year 1890, Laurence. citizen of
ftI9rem one day walking in grove, in the
vicinity Of the city, and stopping to rest few
moments under the shades of a beech tree, he
amused himself by carving letters in the bark of
tree; and when he had formed several letters
he lifted the bark in which they were carved, and
placing them upon scrap Of paper he had in his
pocket he found that they would leave their i'm
preston. The first idea that seemed 10 enter his
mind, as the result of his experiment was, that
by placing some kind of stain or cooring upon
the letters. he could make something interesting
ior his little daughter to play with, hence he
carved a sufficient number of letters to stamp two
or three lines, and gave them to her for amuse-
ment. After this, while rejecting little upon
the effect produced by such type letters, his
mind was directed to higher object, and he con-
ceived the plan Of writing or printing books, &c.
in this way. AS soon therefore as was in his
power, he formed great many letters, and COM
meuced operation, tying the types together with
cord, and thus keeping them in their proper
places; but finding that his ink spread too much
on the paper, he introduced glutinous substances
which greatly improved it: and finding also that
the bark. in which the letters were carved. was
too unsubstantiaI for his purposes, he introduced
wood in the stead thereof; with this Improvement
in ink and type, he printed the books for which
he was so much respected in HHrlam. The first
book he printed was Horarium, which contain
ed the letters Of the alphabet the Lords prayer,
the Apostles creed, and two or three short pray
ers. Thus casually did the art of printing take
its origin, and in tho hands of Laurence, improv-
ed so as to be entitled to prominent place among
the inventions Of that day. At different periods,
xybi la tbt. pfn q -,h
It's early improvements, did one and another as.
sumo 10 be the author of the invention-but the
mos: authentic history decides that Laurence de-.
serves the honor due for its discovery. He print.
ed many volumes, and sod them in the surround.
ing country and cities for large sums; hence his
press was made quite source of income, and it
is quite likely that his thirst for gain prevented
him FROM ma king more Improvements Oh his press.
An invention, however, fraught with so many pro-
misses of good to the world, could not long be kept
back. A knowledge Of it was soon carried to
other cities, where in tho progress OF time 1t was
greatly improved by the addition Of metal typo,
and other necessary apparatus.
There doubtless never was aninvention of more
importance to the world than that OF printing
To it are we indebted chiefly for our deliyerance
from ignorance and error, tho progress of learn.
ing, the revival Of arts and sciences, and many
improvements in the arts, which without it would
have been lost to man, or confined to a few. To
the art of printing, in a great degree, do we owe
the reformation Of the 18th, 18th. and 10Th cen.
tures 1t is most certain, that if the books Of the
Reformers had been multiplied only by the slow
process Of handwriting, they must have been few,
md would have been suppressed by the hand Of
wealth and power: but poured forth in abundance
from the press, they spread over the land with the
aPdity of an inundation, which only gained ad-
ditlonal forco the more obstacles were thrown in
its way.
| By it the cause of religion has been greatly
promoted, by placing the Bible, and other impor-
taut writings, manuscripts, history, &C., in the
reach of every individual, which were previously
locked up in dead language, and could only be OBJ
taned by the opuIent, who in the general profited
least by them. BY it, the light which is to ilIu-
inmate a dark world, has been put in position to
emi, moro advantageousIy its heavenly radiance.
| When we look back upon the age Of da rk ness,
and ruin, which preceded the Reformation, we
are horror.struck with the ignorance, superstition
and misery of the people of almost every nation
under heaven.
A darker picture OF human wretchedness doubt.
less was never beheld-but when we look abroad
upon the earth at this period of the world, and
behold the numerous institutions of learning OF
every grade-temples of worship of every varie.
ty-aIms- -houses-asyl ylums for tho deaf, dumb
blind, halt and druined-hosptals, Sabbath. schools
, temperance societies. and numerous other institu.
tons, which in their nature are calculated to bet.
ter the condition of man. and when we see the
decrease of war, and vice, and the widening in.
fuence Of peace and virtue; the rapid improve.
ment of arts and sciences; and the facility, COM
fort and ease, with which travelling and most o
the duties of life can be dischar rged-we ready
TO exclaim, surely bright day has dawned upor
the world But question arises, whence is th
great change! We answer, it is attributable t.
many causes uniting; bu. most Of all to the press
! md the efforts of good men, who have spoken
! through it TO listening world.
, The Press-a plant Of but sickIy appearance
stunned growth and wrinklod foliage, grew up il