Freeman's champion., 1858-06-17
From the Cincinnati Unionist.l
What are Printers Made Of?


and more than ordinary men. Anex-
perience Of some fifteen years with
the craft, has offered innumerablc
opportunities to find them out, and
study, in a measure, their natural
history" Printers are, to a greater
extent than any other class of profess
siopul men, migratory. The printing
office of itself, being a literary insti-
tute, few can abide or labor long in
it without getting somewhat enlight-
ened 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 with knowledge of the craft,
his ambition tends to go out into the
wide, wide world, and sec the works
of art and nature he has read, and en-
abled Others to read about. Few
seemingly bent on setting down to
make a fortune, and the expense of a
professional it-out being mere song,
or rather piece OF brass rule, which
serves as a sort of cabalistic sign to
the brotherhood scattered over crea-
tion, clean dickey, light heart, and
equally hefted pockst-book, the print
er goes on his way OF exploration
and adventure. Postedup in "prlce
currents" he can talk with the mer-
chant or planter; versed in general
statistics, of the nation, he can hold
his own withyour country politician,
and for whom, if he takes notion,
he can sit down in a Aourishing set
tlemcnt, start a paper, replenish his
purse and wardrobe, write and set up
patriotic leaders and irresistible pulfs,
which sends up his patron to Con-
gress or the Legislature, He has long
been accustomed to 'tattle,' 'squibs, ;
poetic gems tho ladies' depart
ment,' &c, and proves quite at home
in conversational circles. where he
can illuminate old ladies and girls
and children equal to a pedagogue,
Hoods works, Baron Munchauson,
or Robinson Crusoe. ,
He can talk horse or horned cattle,
and all over the fields OF agriculture.
lle has many cases in his mind to at
tend to, such as law reports, and
wonderful cures, and hence is some
thing versed in law and phySic.--
Having setup and proved astronomi-
cal tables, he knows something about
the starry heavens, waters and winds.
And, indeed, not to be too prolix, the
printer, if a thourough one, is a man
Of science, as we'll as art and backed
by his collegiate education, his views
expanded by travel, and himself made
practical by the vicissituaes Of mis-
cellaneous and poregIinating life, he
is often a living wonder, and most
always a whole history of human ma
ture--under hat.
In this office ale some twenty print
ers engaged; only look at them in
ages ranging from twenty to forty,
in size and complexion from the or
dinary stout 1--WE never knew a fat
printer, to some that might crawl
through CREASED flute; some as white
as CircaSsians, and Others brown or
rosy-Your Georgia cracker" or
Pennsylvania publican. Some beard
ed like the Bard, others smooth faced
as the Greek Slave. One has trav-
eled all over the North American
continent, hunted bears in Arkansas,
and the wild horse in the pampas Of
South America; another has been
out upon the broad ocean, and seen
"lifo before the mast !" another grad.
uated at West Point, served in the
army and accompanied Col. Doniphan
in his Kenophcnic grand campaign
all over New Mexico. What book
he can write Another has kept a
tavern, sold goods at auction, trav-
eled over tho United States several
times, been well off and been broke
often. Two have been "on the stage" f"
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 served in Mexico under
Gen. Scott. A sixth has been stump.
orator member Of the Legislature,
"out West" and fought a duel, we
believe. Three have praotieed med.
icine, kept store, dealt in horses, cot.
ton and negroes. Two have held mu-
nicipal offices. -Four or five have
been officers and privates in various
military companies. 0nesorved with
Gen. Houston in the Texan Rovolu.
tion, and one in the Canadian rebel
lion. Six or eight have edited and
published newspapers in various parts
OF the United States. One has beer
first officer Of q packet on tho era.
ging canawl," Ono was wounded
log oa--at the storming Of Monterey
Another has clerked il on a Missis.