New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-21
JEW-YORK DAILY TRIBUNE, JUNE 81.

form some idea Of the satisfaction and prohs OF
,peh reading by taking a book and tearing ont the
leaves and dividing them at random into twenty
different parts, and then taking up one of those
takes" for Your edifcstiOn. IL Is somewhat
doubtful whether either your kn0Tledge or pa
thence would be promoted by such medley but
il is possible you might have caught enough OF
the subject TO procure the work complete, ana
very probably you would be well repaid Tor your
first annoy snce by q connected reading OF the vol
ume.
So it is with the Printer-though MS calling does
not algays furnish bin with Connected l1iormf
ton. vet an interest IS awakened which I'm elis
him to CRAFTY lis passion for inquiry and inves'igs-
ton, | speak Of those who properly eiamatS
their calling. True there are many ~ our pr''t''
sion ho have bat little appreciation OF the beau
ties aud benefits Of art, ard pay no more re
spect 10 Gunter, johnson, or Webster than thsy
are forced to by the black irown OF their Proofs
which too often proves that although some thi iss
can be done as well as others, yet some ioiAs eaA I
see low 10 do them.
A Printers Library and Readias Room may do
much to elevate the character OF The typogrspnica
profession, and not Il alone we WISH NOT 70 P'a'e
v.s as a necl anical class above any Others
IN their detrineLt or disadvantage Bat may Se
not. ought we not fellow oraftsmen u take the
lead. 10 lead the way in the work Of improving the
condition of those who live by the sweat oil tHel;
BROWN demonstrating the dignity ah1 di'lhity
of laborl Who bat Gu enemy OF coward would
bid US stand still aud be silent when the way Tor
advancement was open! and who SHAH nave
strength to bring us back il we but gain the road
that lead. 10 our emancipation lguofsaca, igno
rance Of our rights, but particularly ignorance
Of our Capacities and ignorance OF our duties s the
incubus which hes impeded our progress, tad pre-
vented Us from developing our strength We
must throw of this yoke II We would escape seri
dom not that we need fear political RESTRICTION o11
that worse evil, social degradation, which SO ST.
le1tlv vet surely faeens upon all who through L.
LoraIce or ncrtness forget that they, too, are men
"Knowledge is power" | have seen printed
UPON picture which represented q goddess by the
aide OF youth pointing 70 temple IN the distance
md such picture inspires me with better, brlghter
hopes, for The eventual happiness OF human kind,
than any other plan or schene have ever seem
for feel that you cannot degrade, that you cannot
dive as beasts Of burden those whom knowledge
Las made MES
The influence, and position which any class may
WELD and occupy depends upon the kno Wedge, the
intellectual and moral power, which the members
possess; andG we, as Printers. would take higher
and MOI e controlling stand, We have only 10 cult
yate our moral and intellectual natures. This ever
has been, and must ever be the STANDARD OF lniu-
ence-of honor Of bappiness-Of proht-of pre-
feimebt. But it has rarely, II ever BEEN that
me cbanical class, as class, has ever reached the
Perhaps this 10 never 10 be expected and yet It Is
Lot extravagant to say that mechanical class may
hold ~ exalted position as any other. In fact
we may say that our own class was at one time,
as highly honored as any other, for we read that
Frederic the Third OF Germany granted an ar
mortal bearing to the TypoIhet9, and It was the
r1eht OF the members, by virtue of a clause added
to the sumptuary laws OF those days, to wear gold
and silver Jewels, and the furred robe and the
sword. No man was taught the art and mystery
"a BIO " as not ell versed in his vernecular tongue,
and most Printers were distinguished for their
scholastic attainmens that the fraternity occupied
prominent place in the Republic Of Letters
This " as in the infancy of our Art-eefore it,
powers were fully known and developed But
how have the mighty fallen! Yet this shows US,
fellow craftsmeD, some thing Of what we may &C
compsh. Though we may not seek after the
baublt a a king, should strive to emulate the
Accomplishments and virtues OF the ancient Typo
theta"
What noble, cheering and thrilling thought to
indulge in Could we revive the spirit Of tue old
Typothetse among the Printers Of the present day.
still call ourselves mechanics, what mighty
transformation there would be upon the face of 50.
cieiy How it would dignity labor, and show out
| lis true beauty Who, then, would not be me
! chanic How marble palaces would multiply
type pass for gold eagles, Printing Oibces be more
| fashionable than Colleges, and better than gold
| mines
What do our Union" friends think Of that
"The old 'Typothetr of Germany regulated
wages, maintained the dignity of the craft, and.
above ALL it prevented persons from obtaining
ploy A. Printers who had not served complete ap-
prelticeship." Bat
There IL q good time coming boys
Wtjl hItie longer"
Sadly as we have degenerated since these good
old times do hot let us despair. We may yet, fel.
low cralismeD, rival our more fortunate pr1deces
~ fba biOhaer clovafiOn Nv ma
yet make our profession what its influences emit
tie it to- if we will only labor for that end-if We
will strive TO improve and cultivate the faculties
Gcd has given US.
sm sometimes pleased to think that It may be
that Printers will one day be able to assume sta
ton and exert power which will place all things
night as regards labor and its reward that they
viii eventually raise themselves TO the highest
point OF int lligence, and thus WELD power which
all will feel and respect; and by their example,
their training, discipline and virtue, every other
class be gradually elevated, until all things shall
be called complete.
Many before me, have described some such para
disc as being within the power Of the Press to per
feet, ard therefore may not be thought too extra.
vsgsnt in thus stating my views Of the Printers
mission. The rearing Of Library which we meet
TO night TO dedicate, may be the frs. right step to-
ward the accomplishment Of our mssOn-toward
that high moral and intellectual standard which
will again give US for daily companions the equals
Of the Aldnes the Stevenses, the Caxtons and the
Frsnklins Of former days. Then Labor shall be
dignihed and stamped with the seal OF superiority
The Printer shall be hailed as the harbinger Of
Lew faith based upon the divinity Of Labor, and
aiming 10 develop the riches and beauties of the
mind and heart Of the Great Mechanics own
image!
a Printers Library should not be viewed with
envy or Jealousy, bul should be considered as pc.
cuharly his due. THE Painter, the Sculptor, and
oil the votaries Of Science and Art delight in con-
tcmplatiDg and derive the most exquisite bliss in
with the creations OF genius The Prin.
ter, then, may be psrdoned for displaying kin
bred passion for the works ofhB art-!0r what art
nobler than hls-t is truly The Art Of Arts''-the
eIand CONSERVATION OF the achiey OF the Intel
iect-the Art Preseryaive" which perpetuates
through al time the wisdom and the virtues Of the