The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1847-07-14
NUMBER 20.


WRITING PArER.-I have been asked the
derivation and application of the term cap
paper.
Cap, as applied to paper, is of modern use
entirely, at least in certain parts of the u.
States. Not more than thirty years since
l was familiar with the phrase Foolscap,
and | distictly recollcct how "cap," its ab-
brcviation, grated on my ear, upon the first
hearing it, as much so as "pikc," for turn
pike, does yet.
The question is thus shifted to what is the
origin Of the phrase foolscap as applied to
writing paper, which has borne this name
so long, that its origin is lost to most persons.
The Kings of gland, from Edward I,
if not earlier, granted various monopolies,
either for the support of the government, or
TO enrich favorites One of these was the
exclusive right TO manufacture paper, grant
ed by the first Charles. On the finer kinds,
as species of notice of the monopoly, the
royal arms of England formed the water
mark. Vast sums were of course made
upon this exclusive privilege to make and
vend an article in such general use
All these monopolies were swept away
by the Parliament which brought Charles
to the scaffoId, and in this particular case,
by way of showing their contempt for the
monarch: they directed the royal arms TO be
taken from the paper, as they had already
been from sign posts, public halls, &C., SUBJ
st'tutlng fool, with his cap and bells, as
the effigy. This was done in l649.
Most Of the manuscripts written between
that period and 1850 bear, accordingly, as
water mark, a fool wearing the dress, de-
scribed as his costume in the court of the
British monarchs. Cromwell, when made
Lord Protector, changed the water mark by
substituting dragon, grssping in his claws
arrows of fire, and afterwards putting his
coat of arms in its place. This still occa-
sionally appears.
Charles Ii, at the restoration, replaced the
royal arms, and enlarged the size of the
sheet which was much smaller than we
sec in modern days.
In England, paper of the size which the
rump parliament ordered for their Journals,
bearing the fools-cap efigy, is still in exis-
tence and the title, as in many other things,
is still retained for ordinary writing paper;
centuries after the reason for it has ceased,
and now serves, as it will serve for ages, to-
designate all writing paper in ordinary use,
as distinguished from paper designed to be-
folded in the form of letters.
This last class of writing paper has been
reduced greatly in length and widcned
somewhat to adapt it for a convenient shape
in folding, and still bears its original name
Of post paper, applied to it from the mail or
post by which letters were conveyed to their
address.
So recently has the United States made
Its own paper, that most of our early letters
written in the west even as late as 1900,
bear the impress of the royal arms. St.
CLAIR: Harmar, Williamson, and wayne's
letters are all ofthis description.
C5sL'S Advertiser
The ALMOND BLOSSOM Dear man,
ma" said lovely little girl to her mother,
as they were walking alone in the garden,
''why do you have SO few of those beautiful
double almonds in the garden? You have
hardly bed where there is not a tuft Of
violets, and they are so much palmer what
can can be the reason ?"
'My dear child" said tire mother, s'gatFr-
cr me bunch of each. Then 1 will tell
you why prefer the humble violet"
The little girl ran off: and soon returned
with fine bunch of the beautiful almond
and few violents.'
" Smell them my love-" said her mother
"and see which is the sweetest"
The child smelled again and again, and
could scarcely believe herself that the love-
ly almond had no scent; while the plain
violet had delightful odor.
"Well my child, which is tho sweet
est?
BUNKER HILL MoNUMEvT.-It appears
by report at the annual meeting Of the
Bunker Hill Monument Association held .
on the 18th, that over 100000 persons as.
cended the monument during the past year,
Isss ssss ssss sssIssls;I 8