The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1859-09-01
PRICE ONE CENT.
A Japanese Printing-Omce.

A Hong Kong correspondent OF the Boston
Trarc'ter gives the following description of
japanese printing goNice:
/ at once pushed ahead, and crossing the
little stone-arched bridge, which unites De-
sima with Nagosak, / was soon in one of the
principal streets, and opening large closed
gate in the high and massive wall on the
street, stood in the spacious court before the
printing establishment. How much in con-
trast the taste of the Pagan japanese with
that of the Dutch Christians. Elegant
shrubs and flowers adorned this court in
front, while in the rear Of the building rose
tall pines and evergreen trees which stretched
their long, verdant arms over the building,
as if to adorn, protect, and bless it. The
structure itself is spacious, neat, and even
handsome, the roof being in the Chinese style
of architecture in their temples, and covered
with tiles, interlacing, and bidding defiance
to water, while the loors of two rooms in the
office proper were covered with neat mats,
and surrounded by sliding paper walls, while
The ceiling is of wood, handsomely painted.
The establishment belongs to the Govern
mcnt, and Is managed by the Government,
whose officials were seated, as usual, on the
floor, and doing little or nothing, since thirty
days were to be spent, according to usage in
silently mourning for the Emperor, who had
Just deceased, during which time all pubic
offices are closed and all public business sus-
pended. Indeed, 1t was quite uncertain
whether, in these circumstances, could gain
admittance. With ths usual japanese cour-
tesy, however, the doors Were opened, and
was freely and politely shown all the apart
ments and materials of the establishment.
On one side of the Office was hand-press,
ol respectable size and good condition, while
on the other side was "power-press, y
moved by wheel of large diameter, in per-
feet order, and of sufficient size TO print the
largest sheets usually struck off in the
United States. The press was not in motion,
for the reason before given, and the rollers
were suspended over the wall, and reams OF
paper piled up near the press, and the work.
men hanging about idle, as if they were
patiently waiting for the expiration of the
days OF mourning, to resume their labors.
Beside these there was another press, of the
smallest dimensions, on which, when made
"a second visit, some time after, two men
were striking off two octave pages of new
Japanese work in natural history, the edition
consisting Of thirty copies. IL was the en-
| terprise OF young japanese doctor, who
had been instructed by Il Dutch physician
residing in the city. Stands and cases were
arranged as with us, one side Of the office
having the Roman type used in printing
books and pamphlets in Dutch, and the other
the Japanese; for types in the japanese char
actor are now cast in Holland, and have dis
placed the wooden blocks formerly used
The boxes of the japanese letters were ar,
ranged on the same principle as with us, but
in different order. tried my hand in pick
ing up some of these strange characters, but
probably good deal to the advertisement o
the Japanese compOstors. The types, botl
Roman and Japanese, were almost new, and
everything indicated that the Japanese wer,
far ahead of the Dutch in the typographica
art, as well as in everything else.
Some of the paper used in printing is thick
white, and close, aud receives fine impression
1t is made neither Of rags nor cotton, but Of thu
bark OF u tree, called Che "paper mulberry,
and is cheap Gs well as good. Tho printeC
sheets were hung up over head to dry, just al
with us. A dozen or tweety hands are en-
ployed at the case and the press, who appeared
TO be expert workmen, and were quite courte
GUS. The establishment is managed entirel,