Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1852-02-04
Printers Festival, Franklin's Birthday.
HARRISBURG, Jan. IS, 1852.

i HARRISBURG, Jan. IL, 1852.
: The Printers Festival given on Satul
day evening, in commemorstion of IL
: Birthday of the printer philosopher, Franl
lin, was brilliant, social, and enthusia.
tic affair from hrst to last. The suppe
took place at Wyeth's New Hall, and tb
!; table literally groaned under the weight 0
the necessities and niceties spread out ii
luxurious profusion. A host of distin
guished and mentionable people were pre-
sent, who did credit to themselves and tn,
Festival by well timed neat and appro
PIRATE speeches." as Col. Wallace would
say. The out going and in coming Gov
ernors, Johnston and Bigler, were both
present, seated side by side at the centre
Of the principal table. Toasts and senti-
ments were literally proposed and unani-
mously adopted. Gov. Johnst toms address
was conceived and delivered in his usual
brilliant way, and brought down storm
Of applause. The address of the Governor
elect, VIM. Bigler, was no less successful.
But the best speech of the night came
from the Hon. Benz. Matthias, the Senator
from your city, every sentence Of which
was received with cheers and deafening
braves. The toast to which Mr.. NJ. re-
sponded at the call of the meeting was
complimentary to the members Of the
craft in the Legislature. He spoke nearly
as follows:
"Mr. President-I thank you humbly
and kindly for the compliment you and
your associates have been pleased to pay
me CndeserTed as it may be, it is CRATE
fully received, for the simple reason that
feel proud in being recognised, in this nu-
merous and respectable assemblage of
printers, as member of the croft If
all the social, political, scientific, and
literary associations in the world, were
open to my admission, would no. feel
half the pleasure in attending either or
any Of them, that l DO now, tonight, in
associating with brother printers--in
with the members Of .'the art
preservative of all arts"
L beg permission to say that am a
printer con amore. In my school boy
days, was in the labit of passing print
ing Once, near home, and occasionally of
stopping to look in, upon the then to me
mysterious operations If compositors and
pressmen. l remember distinctly, that
the " Printers Devil" with his paper cap
and dirty apron, excited my wonder and
admiration. The sancy smirk on his
hlackencd face, seemed to me to indicate
that he felt himself superior to all the
boys in the neighborhood. I pondered
upon this long and thoughtfully, and finally
that he was superior, for be was
in the line Of promotion.
Then l thought that what any other
boy couid dc l could do, and my envy of
.he spirited department of that Printers
Devil induced Inc to become one. From
hat distinguished position rose in due .
course of time to the high rank of an ap-
1rentice-thence to n journcynlan-thence
o foreman-thence to an editor. And
lere l say, unhesi:atingly, that humble
IS the position may be that l occupy in
0clety, and in our State Councils-all
hat there is about me of good or useful
ness TO my constituents, 1 owe to the print
ne office. /
Mr.. President-where We printers fail,
t is rot having a just appreciation of the
,ower of the Press. Look at this power
n any light you please. 1t is mightier
han the sword, and will conquer the sword.
Where Tie sword prevails, there is 10
Press, except an hireling. Where the
'ress prevails, there is no sword. The
Press will finally .ubdue the sword, exc
yherc as it has herc-and 50 it should
nd God grant that that may be speedily.
Printers, therefore, should, in my opin-
on, feel their dignity, and realize the i'm
'ortanee of their position in regulating
10Th the social and political world. A
veil conducted Press regulates, in great
Iegree, the opinions OF the neighborhood
n which it is published. Editors and
,rintcIs should therefore be enlightened
men. They should be sound in morals,
conservative in judgment, and patriotic
n principle. With these elements of
.irtue, which are so properly the property
# the printer, the power Of the Press must
,e omnipotent."
Mr.. Matthias concluded By Offering the
ollowlng sentiment:
"The Printing Offce-An academy in
shich men are fitted for eminent distinc-
ion in learning-for the broadest expansc
f liberal and patriotic principles, and for
he highest positions in our State and Ma
ional Councils"
The Hon. Wm. F. Packer, Senator from
Lycoming, was the President Of the even
ng, and he entertained the company BY .
,ne Of his earnest, forcible addresses.
The meeting adjourned about II o'clock. |
fhere are six printer Senators out Of the !
members of our present State
5enate-there are examples for you, gen.
tlemen typos !-Phila. Bulletin.
The keeping Of paupers has been re-
luced to q science in the citg of New
York. We learn from paper published
there that there are more than six thou