Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1854-04-20
What are Printers Made of?

What are Printers Made of?
| More than once we have been occasioned to re-
gard printers as strange and more than ordinary
men. An experience of some fifteen years with
the craft, has offered Vulnerable opportunities to
find them out, and study in a 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 side 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 freedom suit, or his head crammed
withlthe knowledge Of the craft, his ambition
tends to go out into the wide world and see the
works OF art and nature he has read, and enabled
others to read about. Few seem bent on sitting
down to make fortune, and the expense of pro-
fessional outfit being mere song, or rather a
Peice of brass rule, which serves as sort Of ca
balistic sign to the brotherhood scattered over
creation, clean dIcky' light heart, and equally
hefted pocketbook, the printer goes on his way
of exploration and adventure. Posted up in
|'price currents" he can talk business with the
merchant or the planter, versed in general sta
tistics ofnations he can hold his own W ith your
country politician, and for whom, if he takes
notion, he can set down in fourishing settle
ment start paper, replenish his purse and war
drobe write. and set up patriotic leaders and ir-
resistable puffs, which send his patrons to Con-
gress or the Legislature He has long been ac-
customed to ''tattle," ''squibs, "'poetic gems"
''the ladies department" &c, and proves quite
at home in conversational circles, where he can
illuminate old ladies, the girls and children, e.
quail to pedagogue, Hoods Works. Baron Nun
ceausen or Robinson Crusoe.
He can talk horse or horned cattle, all over the
fields of fagriculture. He has had many cases,
in his time to attend to, such as the law reports,
and wonderful cures, and hence, if something
yerscd IN law and physic. Having set up and
proved astronomical tables, he knows something,
also, about the starry heavens, waters and
winds. And indeed, not to be too prolix, the
printer, if thorough one, is a man of science as
and backed by his collegiate education, his views
BY travel, himself made practical by
the vicissitudes Of miscellaneous and peregrin-
ating life, he is often living wonder, and almost
always whole history of human nature-under
a hat
In this Office are some twenty printers enga-
twenty to forty in size and complexion, from the
ordinary stout 1--WE never knew q fat printer,) to
some that might crawl through a gree sed flute;
some as white as Circassions, and others brown
OF rosy-as your Georgia bracIler,'' or Pennsyl-
vania publican. Some bearded like the Pard,
others smooth-faced as the Greek Slave. One
has travelled all over the North Anne rican con-
tinent, hunted bears sin Arkansas, and wild
horses in the pampas of South Americr another
been put on the broad ocean and seen life be-
fore the mast - another graduated at West
Point, served in the army, and accompanied
Col. Doniphan in his Xenophonic grand ca m
paign all over New Mexico. What a book he
can write Another has kept tavern sold goods
at auction, travelled the United States sever
al times, been well off and been broken-often.
Two haze been on the stage, profession printers
are much addicted to for about half the actors
on the American boards were printers.-One we
believe, has preached sermons, another has Ice
tured to crowded houses. Another has served
in Mexico with General Scott. A sixth has been
stump orator, member Of the Legislator ''out
west, and fought duel we believe. Three
have practised medicine, kept store, dealt in hor
ses, cotton and negroes. Two have held muni-
cipal offices. Four or five were officers and pri-
Yates in various military companies. One SER
we'd with Gen. Houston in the Texas Revolution,
one in the Canadian rebellion. Six or eight h ave
edited and published newspapers in various parts
- the United States. One has been first officers
of packet on the "raging canawl." One was
of-at the storrning of Monterey.
One has clerked on Mississippi steamer, was
blown up and slightly killed. Some are or have
been married some are bachelors. All have
seen more or less of life, and its changeable
scenes. They are live men, good practical prin-
tiers, speak various languages, and form news
paper corps hard to surpass or equal
Cincinnati UnioniSt.