The Minnesotian. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1851-1852, 1852-04-03
lFrom the Richmond (va.l Republican.
THE PRINTERS,

THE PRINTERS.
We wish that all our readers could have
been present with us at the Printers Fes-
tival in celebration of Franklin's birth
day. They would have seen as fine a
specimen, intellectual, moral and physical
of the men of the type, as ever greeted
their eyes. They would have beheld
'TYro" in his glory,-his heart warm,
not with wine, but with cordial hospitali-
ty and genial good-fellowship, doing a
handsome thing in handsome way, and
evidently as sincere in heart as polite in
manner. And yet, OH some accounts we
are glad that the public did not witness
this festival. The public are already
enough in the dark about "Tyro,'' without
being any farther obfu>tigatel. This fes-
tival would have mystitied them still more.
/ They would have imagined that "Typo"
is sort Of Dives, clad in fine linen, and
faring sumpluously every day; that AL
bemarle Mutton and Old Virginia Ham,
form the staple Of his daily dinner, and
picked oysters and plum-cake his regu-
lar lunch, whilst every Sunday is celcbra-
ted with Haunch of Venison, Canvass
Back Ducks, Turkey with Oyster Sauce.
followed by dessert OF Ice Creams Cakes,
Oranges, RaisinS, and the like. We need
not say that for the public to indulge any
such fancy would be great folly, though
not much more irrational and monstrous
than some Of the conceptions Of the Prin-
ters character and condition which they
now entertain. 1t is now supposed, that
the printer is mere machine, possessing
not much more intelligence and sensibili-
ty than the type in the case; that he is the
medium through which the sunlight of
knowledge illuminates every dwelling, but
that he neither sees the light nor feels the
heat which he conveys. There is also
another cherished deusion common among
mankind. 1t is that printers, by pecu-
liar law OF nature, are exempted from the
wants and necessities OF other men; that
they need no clothing for themselves and
their families; that they can breakfast
and dine on air and fog. and sup on moon
shine; that they require no houses to
cover them, no fuel TO warm them that
they and their families enjoy perpetual
health, knowing nothing of doctors bills,
and that they have no souls to be saved,
and are consequently spared the expense
oil pew rent. Their children are presu-
med 10 be their own schoolmasters. When
printers die, they are all to be carried up
wards in a chariot of fire, or some other
chariot, which will! obviate the necessity
Of funeral charges. Such must be the
opinion of the public, for it can only be
supposed that, il they believe Typo 10 be
man Of like appetites and wants with
themselves, SO many thousands would re-
fuse to pay him their just dues and COM
pei him, through the neglect and dishon-
eS'y OF others, SO often to pass life of trou-
blcs, sorrow and privation.
But in all >oberness, few men are called
to endure such continuous and exhausting
labor as the printer. Each letter of the
columns upon which your eyes are rest
ing has passed through his hands. He is
at his post from early morn till midnight
Sun and storm, snow and ice. neither vary
nor interrupt his duties. During the late
bitter weather, the compositors of our
own office, for example, have sometimes
been up till and even o'clock, and
then walked through the night and driv-
ing rain, one and sometimes two miles to
their respective homes, returning at an
early hour in the morning.
Such are the tolls of the printer, and
now let us say one word ss to the moral
character Of the man. A single fact will
speak volumes on that head. In the great
State of New York, whose huge metrop-
| oils is becoming as famous for the laxi,v
Of its morals as for its wealth and pros
perity, not single printer has been sent
for a quarter Of a century to the State
Prison Of Sing Sing.
So much tor their moral character
And, for their intelligence, we refer to
the letter of John c. Rives, of the vete-
ran firm of Blair & R,veS. He says: Il
have seen the manuscript writings o! mos,
of the great men who have lived in this
country during the last twenty ye RS, and
| think | may safely say, that not twenty
Of them could stand the test of the scruti-
ny Of one half OF the journeymen printers
employed in my Office" Your true prin-
ter is not only moral and intelligent man,
but has very considerable tinge of ro-
nance and chiva'ry in his composition.-
His patriotism is of the most honest and
enthusiastic kind, far purer and more in
tense than that Of the public men Of the
country.
The following we find in the Prince
ton, (Ky.,) Republican. 1t is, indeed, a
very extraordinary occurrence:
On the 18th ult.. a negro woman be-
longing to Mr.. J. Harpending, OF this
county, got lost in the woods. Mr.. H.
i fhi MI h. LII L i