The Nevada Democrat. [volume] (Nevada, Calif.) 1854-1863, 1857-02-18
Peeps frOsa a Printing Office.
BY TYPO.
"Little drops Of water,
Little grains Of sand,
Make the mighty ocean

And the beauteous landep i.
"UghP' exclaims some would-be delicate
hdy-"the very sound reminds one most forci-
bly, of the smell of oil, and we shall hear nothing
now but the clanking Of machinery and the
clicking Of typeW lT
Well, what Of that, fair lady2 True, the oil
we use Is not so highly perfumed as that with
which you smooth your ringlets; but for all that
it has the same basis--and Is applied to far
aobler purpose. The "clanking' Of our machine
ry may not be pleasant to your over-refned
taste; but to the true poeti has sound sweeter
even than Ntinkling Of cymbals." The "click-
ing" Of type may be even disagreeable to you !;
but we had rather hear it and cause It, than be
possessed of the gift of Jenny Lind, were we
to have our choice Of the two.
Ours is glorious mission, fellow craftsmen.
Princes and potentates own our sway and there
is no earthly power mightier than ours. AS we
stand up to the 'case," worn and weary though
we may be, we have at least the comfort of the
thought that though we cannot find an acre of
Gods earth that we may call our own-though
we are poorly paid and heavily tasked-though
there may not be one to whom we may say &C.,"
or to another "Come''--though we may know
that we shall leave no "mghty name" behind
as, with our fame emblaz0ned on history's page
and seulptured In marble-yet we are assured
that our works "shall not perish" Long after
we shall have been laid beneath the sod, the
''still, small voices" with which we have spoken
will go on with their mighty work, accomplish
ing the good which we have sought while living.
With our 'mallets' we are driving home ''wedg-
esq that shall IN time overturn municipalities
and powers" With shooting irons' of more eff
feet than "Sharps rifles" or "Colt's revolvers"
we march to the battle against Wrong. far more
sure of victory than they who WELD the sword.
Oftentimes as we have stood at our ''case"
merrily "sticking' the magical strips of metal,
which seemed as things of life under our fingers,
have we "laughed in our sleeve" as we thought
how many would be anxiously watching for the
result of our labors--how many hopes and fears
hung on the mere ipss diuit of the types-how
much the pleading men" and first writer's" of
our day are indebted to the humble but none the
less valuable labors of the Typo. And again
our heart would grow sad as we thought of those
to whom we should be the bearers of evil tidings
How many of those who read the dolorous head
ings-"Dreadful Dsasterl" "Fearful Railroad
Accident and Great Loss of Lilen &C., are I'M
touched by the sad newsY To many and many
home do we thus convey the sad Intelligence,
and as we do 80, there wells up in our heart u
prayer for the slowed ones left behind" and q
hymn of thanksgiving thct zoe were not one of
those who were 80 suddenly and fearfully launch
ed into eternity. npfA
But we have higher and nobler mission than
that of mere messengers. Printers are emphati-
cally the r9ormers Of the age In which we live.
In these dirty rooms where few but mechanical
sounds are heard, q busy work of mind is going
on. Those rough looking men at their cases are
even now, perhaps, giving to the world their
own great and noble thoughts-speaking with
metallic tongues words that will cheer some fell
low worker, or spur up some dreamer, to works
he never thought himself capable of-sowing
seed by the wayside that In time will spriug up
and bear "good fruit. even an hundred foldn-
planting vine that shall at some future day
shelter the weary Pilgrim on Life's journey
striking rock from whence shall gush forth a
fountain of pure water, refreshing to many a
faint and disheartened denizen of this cold world
of ours No "new measure" is proposed--no
new principle In Science, Art Politics or Me-
chanics Is promulgated these busy Print
ers-these ready Thinkers-seize upon it and
proceed to "enlighten the public upon Its bear
ings and Its applications for wonderfully prac-
tical set are they. Educated, as they generally
are, In the sternest of all systems, that of hard
won experience, they look at life as q Reality,
Invested of false adornings and outward shows
BY the time they arrive at manhoods years
for their printer life must needs commence early
they have won the right TO stand among men
many years their seniors, and call them equals
1.-THE poor boys college" has fitted them for
such life struggle as few outsiders know of
With brave heart but slim purse--often with
naught but his rule In his pocket-many typo
leaves the scene of his earlier experience to go
forth ITO seek his fortune" in some distant sec
ton. If everything else fails him, you may be
sure that his stock of brass never will. With this
and an indOmitable perseverance, and without
a particle of "greeness," you may trust the
"Jour Printer" to make his way wherever he
may place himself.