Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1854-02-18
From the Cincinnati Unonist
What Printers are Made Of.

from the Cincinnati Unionist.
What Printers are Made of.
More than once we have had occasion to re-
gard printers as strange and more than ordinary
men. An experience of some fifteen years with
the craft, has offered innumerable opportunities
to find them out, and study in q measure their
"natural history" Printers are to greater
extent than any other class of Professional men,
migratory. The printing Office, of itself, being
literary Institute, few can abide or labor long
in it without getting somewhat enlightened upon
the historical, scientific and general intelligence
of the day, and about as soon as the apprentice
gets into his suit, or his head crammed with
knowledge of the craft, his ambition tends to 60
out into the wide, wide world and see the works
Of art and nature he has read, and enabled
others to read about. Few seemingly bent on
setting down to make fortune, and the expense
of professional fit out being mere song, or
rather piece of brass rule, which serves as
sort of cabalistic sign to the brotherhood scat
tered over creation, a clean dickey, light heart,
and equally hefted pocket book, the printer goes
on his way Of exploration and adventure. Posted
up in "price currents he can talk business
with the merchant or planter; versed in general
statistics of the nation he can hold his own with
your country politician, and for whom, if he
takes a notion, he can set down in fourishing
settlement, start paper, replenish his purse
and wardrobe, write and set up patriotic leaders
and irresistible pufs, which sends his patron to
Congress or the Legislature. He has long been
accustomed to "tattle," "sauibs,' "poetic
gems, the ladies department" &c., and proves
quite at home in conversational circles, where
he can illuminate old ladies, the girls and chill
dren, equal to pedagogue, Hoods works,
Baron Munchausen or Robinson Crusoe.
He can talk horse or horned cattle, and all
over the fields of agriculture. He has had
many cases in his time to attend to-, such as law
reports, and wonderful cures and hence, is some
thing versed in law and physic. Having set up
and proved astronomical tables, he knows some
thing also, about the starry heavens, waters
and winds. And. indeed, not to be too prolx,
the printer, if thorough one, is man of
science, as well as art, and backed by his col
legiate education, his views expanded by travel,
and himself made practical by the vicissitudes
of miscellaneous and peregrinating life, he is
often living wonder, and most always whole
history of human nature-under hat.
In this Office, are some twenty printers en-
gagged: only look at them! in ages ranging from
twenty to forty in size and complexion, from
the ordinary stout 1--WE never knew a fat printer,)
to some that might crawl through a creased
flute some as white as Circassians, and others
brown or rosy-your Georgia cracker" or
Pennsylvania publican. Some bearded like the
Pard, others smoothfaced as the Greek Slave.
One has travelled all over the North American
continent hunted bears in Arkansas, and the
wild horse in the pampas of South America;
another has been out on the broad ocean, and
seen "life before the mast;" another graduated
at West Point, served in the army and accom-
panied Col. Doniphan in his Xenophenic grand
campaign all over New Mexico. What book
he can write! Another has kept tavern. sold
goods at auction, travelled over the United States
several times, been well off and been broken
often. Two have been son the stage" as pro-
fessional printers are much addicted to; for
about half the actors on the American boards
were printers. One we believe has preached
sermons, and another has lectured to crowded
houses. Another has served in Mexico with
General Scott. A sixth has been stump orator,
member of the Legislature, 'tout West" and
fought duel, we believe. Three have practiced
medicine kept store, dealt in horses, cotton and
negroes Two have held municipal offices.
Four or five have been officers and privates in
various military companies One served with
General Houston in the Texan Revolution, and
one in the Canadian rebellion. Six or eight
have edited and published newspapersin various
parts of the United States. One has been first
officer of a packet on the "ragin' canawl."
One was wounded-leg of-at the storming of
Monterey. Another has clerked on Mississippi
steamer, was blown up and slightly killed. Some
are or have been married. some are old bach
elors. All have seen more or less of life, and
its changable scenes. They are all live men,
good practical printers, speak various languages,
and form newspaper corps hard to surpass
or equal. .a t.a=p. -,.,1