The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1848-03-04
The Printer.

Ihe Printer.
How lew men there are, says the
Steubenville Herald, Of those who gaze
admirably upon the Printer as he MIN
bly, filings the slender letter round, that
know ofhis p1ivations and tolls. From
the nature Of his occupation he is COM
paratively unknown to the community
at large. lmmured in a closely confn-
ed place of business from an early to n
late hour-and those who work on a
daily paper frequently throughout the
night; have no regular hours o repose;
inhaling the noxous vapors incidentto a
close room with smoke and gases and
steam, i. is no wonder that he should
appear cadaverous and emaciatsd.-
The %compositor is most Of all exposed
to those baleful influences, the materials
Of which the type are composed exert
a pernicious influence upon his system,
especially when he, for the purpose of
expedition, is obliged to dry his types
by the fire, after distribution. His be-
ing obliged to stand in one position, and
his STOPPING posture while correcting
and shaking up" tend sooner or later
to destroy the harmony Of his internal
organs: and the sedentary nature ofhis
business, together with the variety Of
temperatures he is obliged to undergo,
and to which his physical state is ex-
tremely sensitive, often produce chronic
disorders which hasten him to a prema-
ture grave. .a,a s.'
But printing is a noble work! and
though the printer be confined to a mar
row circle and amidst the hum Of the
busy world without and the ceaseless
din of the politician and news monger
within-though compelled to inhale the
noxous air Of the printing Office, and by
the dim lamp at midnight
.r.. "Work! work! work!
re With fingers weary and worn,
Eyelids heavy and red!"
yet doth his bosom thrill and his eyes
glisten, as he sets up the news of some
great victory, and he gloats with eager
delight, while at the same time he reads
and puts in type the speech ofhis great
orator. He enters into the spirit ofall
his work; he cannot be a mere machine
very nature OF his work sets his
thoughts in motion; and while the types
go click, click, in his stick, he may in
Imagination be %scrutinizing the inmost
recesses ofsome distant country-wan-
amidst "pleasure and palaces"
or riding on the deep sea. He smiles
at the ~ludicrous; looks grave at the dis
astrous; the thrilling romance gives him
pleasant excitement, and poetry raises
his thoughts to the sublime, and it may
be truly said of him, that whilst he is
outwardly striving for his lowest wants
he is inwardly striving for the highest.
Then he approaches the artist; for he
is the true artist who works with both
MS head and hands.
The printer enjoys few of the luxu-
ries OF life, the publication must appear
regularly, and consequently all his time
IS employed. He hears the "tinkling
Of the merry bells,'' as sleighs fly over
nil and valley, but he, cannot be there;
fine he has but little time for social
even upon the Sabbath he can.
not always rest, for if perchance some
special message arrives or some dread
'ul calamity occurs, it must be forthwith
published, for the public hover anxious
md ready to devour the news. Many
! sweet flower does he Gull by the mid
hight lamp FOR the readers to toy with
n the cushioned arm chair at their ease.
And yet TOO often is his remuneration
ofbut secondary Importance
md many persons seem to think it is OIL
'dt little Importance whether the print
r is paid or not. IA -.
Such is the life Of a printer-such is
he life ola man whose days, and FREE
bis nights are employed in min
ll M bas ssisiE hstnU pai