The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-03-10
PUNCTUATION.

requisite, that printers should be acquain-
ted with what are termed the learned Ian
guages. But though, in this age Of a
more general and superficial Literature, a
profound knowledge Of, Hebrew points,
Greek accents, and Latin quantities is no
longer required, it is necessary that com
posters be acquainted With the principles
Of their native tongue. and with functions
aof the peculiar marks used for setting off
sentences, clauses, and phrases. Were
every author to write bis work in fair,
legible character, and 50 punctuate his
language as to convey the sense clearly
and correctly, then might compositors act
as mere machines, and ''follow" their
copy But, until writors for the press
condescend to use the stops systematical-
ly and accurately, the humble workmen
| who put together the world enlighteuing
types must be more than unconscious ma
chimes: they must, to some degree, enter
into the conceptions of those on whose
works they are employed, and develope
the senss Of their manuscripts, with the
greatest possible discrimination, by the
help and service of the poor, despised,
but useful hand msids, the commas, the
semicolons,9 and other little points. We
know well the feeling which very natural
ly and properly exists in the minds of
compositors, that the "copy'I uSinto their
hands should be prepared with an accu-
racy which would preclude the necessity,
on their part, of losing time by bordering
over the manuscript in order to render it
Ineligible to the reading public. But
this we know also, that, in the actual state
Of things, the time thus apparently lost is,
when employed Alright, q compa atlve
gain, by reason ofthe far greater consump
ton Improbable labor in the insertion
and extraction of points, after the proof
sheet has been returned by the eorreetor
Of the press. If the manuscript lie detec-
| tive or. enormous in its sentimental marks,
| the CO npositer must eitht take trouble III
| pointing it himself, or have it done for
him afterward by the proofreader % the
serious diminution OF his professional
character, bis good temper and his week
ly wages. But, further, we would ask,
Is not the operative who comprehends
the principles of his calling, who really
knows what he is about,-a happier and
a nobler being than he who works at mere
random, and stumbles at every petty OBJ
struction in bis way? Does not his daily
toll become a pleasure, when it brings in
to play the exercise Of a fine taste and a
cultivated understanding? Do not his
very difficulties become q source Of salts
faction, when. he himself can solve them,
without being forced for ever to ask the
aid of his fe.low-workmen, or to submitto
the painful process Of undoing what he
has already done, of altering and impro-
wing what he has ignorapdy and bluntler-
ingly executed? Do not, indeed, these
difficulties become less and less, the more
frequently he is successful in removing
them7 Does he not, BY his enndeayors to
perform his work in skilful manner,
acquire habits of discrimination, that will
enable him, in cases at which others would
fret and foam or idly stand, to see, as it
were intuitively, the very thing required,
AMI the mode in which it should be done
These questions may be asked in relation
to manual labor of any Kind. They may
be asked, too, in respect to all the branch
es of work in which q compassion may be
engaged. But they are put here chiefly
in reference to his knowledge and appli-
ance of the art of Punctuation and we
feel assured, that, if DESTROYS Of being able
to insert points with skill and propriety,
he will also aim to perform well all the
duties pertaining to his sphere of toll. If,
therefore, the compositor would lose as
Little as possible of that time which is SC
valuable to him; if he would have Mt his
command greater pecunary resources
~ VI - - Z.
than he can have by ignorance Of his art,
or habits of carelessness; if, by the exer-
else of his intellectual powers, be would
deprive physical toll of no small share q
/ its pain or lassitude,- him, ifnow ig-
norant Of the subject, never rest contcnted
till be is. able both to understand the prin
eiples on which Punctuation is based, anc
to bring theminto full practice.
g The remarks just made have the strong
est claim On the attention Of youths learn
lug the art oftype-setting; many of whom
stimulated by a love Of change or by falls
views of independence, soon break loos
from those steady and regular habit
which are necessary for mastering the dit
fculties of any occupation; moving sbou
from one employer to another, withou
having disposition or sufficient time t.