Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-02-14
NO. 12

WHAT ARE PRINTERS MADE OF?-More than
once we have had occasion to regard printers
as strange and more than ordinary men. An
experience OF some fifteen years with the craft,
| has offered innurnerable opportunities to find
them out, and study lii measure their "natu-
RAJ history Frlnters are, to q greater extent
than any other class Of professional men, mi
gratory. The printing office. of itself, being
literary lnstitule,few can abide or labor long in
1t without getting somewhat enlightened upon
the historical, scientific and general intelligence
of the day, and about as soon as the appren-
tice gets into his freedom suit, or his head
Grained with knowledge of the craft, his ambi-
ton tends to go out iafO the "wide. wide world"
and see the works Of art and nature he has
read, and enabled others to read about. Few
seem bent on setting down to make fortune,
and the expense of q professional fit out being
mere song, or rather piece of brass rule,
which serves as a sort of cabalstic siqs to the
brotherhood scattered over creation, a clean
dickey, light heart, and equally hefted pocket
book, the printer goes on his way of explora-
ton and adventure. Posted up in "price cur
rents, he can talk business with the merchans
or planter; verSed in general statistics of the
nation, he can hold bis own with your country
politician, and TOR w4lnm, it he takes notion,
he can set down in u hOurising settlement. start
a paper, repenish his purse and wardrobe. write
and set up patriotic leaders aud irresistible ruffs,
which sends his patron to Congress or the Leg.
islature. he has long been accustomed to stat.
tle,' 'squibs.' "poetc gems" '1be ladies de.
partment," &c, and proves quite at home in
conversational circles, where he can illuminate
old ladies, the girls and children, equal to a
pedagoeue, Hoods works, Baron Munchausen
or Robinson Crusoe.
10 oIt =
the fields Of agriculture. He has had many.
cases in his time to attend to, such as law re-
ports, and wonderful curse, and hence is some
thing versed in law and phy>ic. 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 prolix,
the printer, if thorough one,is man Ct science
rs well as art: aud backed by his collegiate
education, his views expanded by travel, and
himself made practical by the vicissitudes of q
miscellaneous and peregrinatng life, he is often
living wonder, and most always whole his.
tory OF human nature-under hat!
In this office there are some twenty printers
enGaged-look at them! In ages ranging from
twenty to forty; in size and complexion, from
the ordinary stout 1--WE never knew 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, seen "liie before the masi;- another grad
uated at West Point, served in the army, and
accompanied Col. Doniphan in his Zenophenic
s.--d a,.i, I.i-s-. --ItgvcS 11ew -IeX1eo- What
book he 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 "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, and another has lectured to crowded
houses. Another has served in Mexico with
Gen. Scott Il sixth has been stump orator.
member OF the Legislature "Out West" and
fought a duel, we believe. Three have prae-
tlsed medicine, kept store, dealt in horses, cot
ton and negroes. Two have held municipal o
officers. -Four or five have been officers aud
prvates IN various military companies. One
served with Gen. Houston in the Taxan Revo-
luton, and one in the Canadian rebellion Six
or eight have edited and published newspapers
III various parts ofthe United States. One has
been first officer ola pocket on the 'ragin' ca
nawl." One was wounded--leg of-at the
storming of Monterey Another has clcrked
on Mississippi steamer, was blown up and
slightly killed. Some are or have been married;
some are old bachelors. All have seen more or
less of life, and its changeable scenes. They
are all live men, good practical printers, speak
various languages, and form newspaper corps
hard to surpass or equal Cincinnati Union
iSt.