Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-21
Communicated.
For the Banner.
Origin of Printing and Newspapers.

For the Banner.
Origin Of Printing and Newspapers.
Lovers of polite literature. and the pro.
auctions of the fne erts, are ever wont to
look back to the latter part of the fl.
.eenth century as the period when a new
era dawned upon the cherished objects of
their affection. And the circumstapc es
which, of all others. most conduced to
the dissolution of the bonds of barbarism,
by the advancement and universal dis
seminasion of learning al thi, period, was
the remarkable invention of the art of
printing.
This noble art was invented at Stras-
burg, but was subsequently, improved by
John Faust. and yet again more nearly
perfected BY Peter Schoeffer. Schoeffer
was young lad Appended to Faust.
and had carefully observed the result of
his masters labsrs. Beisg ardently de-
sirous of improving the art. and true TO
his instincts. Peter was necessarily cut
ting and trying" and at last. by accident
or providence, conceived the idea of cut
| ting the characters in a matrice, that the
letters might be singly cast. instead Of
cut. He privately cut matrices for the
whole alphabet. and cast it: and when
be showed it to his master the letters
thus procured. Faust was SO highly pleas
ed with the continuance. that ne gave
Peter his only daughter Christians, in
marriage. But there were as many diff
culties at frs, with these letters as with
,roodcn ones, the metal being too soft to
support the impression. But this defect
was soon remedied By mixing metal
with, the substance which sufficiently
hardened it.
Thus have we as imperfectly as hasti.
/! sketched the origin of that art which
has grown from little infant to a IN ighty
Giant, whose laundering voice is heard
atar, and whose majestic tread makes the
earth tremble What ines,imable i'd
vantages hes mankind received from their
glorious art What incalcula Bile evil has
been inflicted upon our world by the pros.
titu.ion Of this most noble child of man 3
inventive genius to tho most unholy puI.
poses!
| Having said thus much respecting the
origin OF printing. word now as to
Newspapers, one of the most effective
channels through which this art operates
upon the world. From various. but ,eli
able SOURCES. the writer has been able 10
gather the following facts:
The first newspaper known to the
world was Published in Italy. nearly $50
years ago. and was published quarterly
The first known to English history. and
which Is now preserved in the British
Museum bears the date Of 1911. and was
printed by N. NewbuTy, ! think it issue d
monthly. The first aoeskly. was publish.
ed in the early psrt of the seventeen n
century. in the reign CT Chailes /, but al
whs. precise period is not known il wac
edited by Nathaniel Bullen. The first
weekly published in London. bears the
date Of 1922. and was called 1.-THE king.
dom's Intelligence
Germany published her first weekly in
1912; Ireland. in 1911 Scotland, 1853;
and the Amarican Colonies. in l7Ol.
The first Daily was published in London
in 1901.
Perhaps. Mr.. Editor. word respecting
the number of newspapers nigh. no. be
unacceptable to you and your readers
and here, for the want of statistics. we
must DO confined to orr own country.
The last census presents lhe follow.
ing exhibit Of the number Of periodical
and newspaper issued in the United
States, jane. 1880.