The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-02
The Press in Japan.

A correspondent of the Boston Traveller
writing from Hong Kong, gives an interesting
account of visit to a native printing estab-
lishment in the city of Nagasaki, Japan. He
says:
Crossing the little stone arched bridge
which unites Desma and Nagasaki, 1 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 spa
cious court before the printing establishment.
How much in contrast the tast 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 build
ing rose tall pines and other 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 floors OF two
rooms in the office proper were covered with
neat mats and surrounded by sliding paper
walls while the ceiling is of wood, hand
somely painted. The establishment belongs to
the government, and is managed by the gov
ernment, 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
public offices are closed and all public busi-
ness suspended. Indeed, it was quite uncer-
tain whether, in these circumstances, / could
gain admittance. With the usual japanese
courtesy however, the doors were opened
and was freely and politely shown all the
apartments and materials of the establish
ment.
On one side of the office was hand press of
respectable size and in good condition, while
on the other side was q ''power press" moved
by wheel of large diameter, in perfect order,
and of sufficient size to print the largest sheets
usually struck off in The United States. The
mr. N N IN hot IN pra
given, and the rollers were suspended over the
wall, and reams OF paperWere piled up near the
press, and the workmen hanging about idle,
as if they We're impatiently waiting for the
expiration of the days of mourning, to resume
their labors. Besides these, there was another
press, of the smallest dimensions, on which,
when l made second visit some time after
two men We're striking off tiro oetaro pages of
a new Japanese work in natural history, the
edition consisting of thirty copies! 1t was the
enterprise of q young Japanese doctor, who
had been instructed by Dutch physician re-
siding in the city. Stands and cases were ar
ranged as with us, one side of the Office hav-
lug the Roman type used in printing books and
pamphlets in Dutch, and the other the Japan
ese; for types in the Japanese character are
now cast in Holland, and have displaced the
wooden blocks formerly used. The boxes for
the Japanese letters were arranged on the
same principle as with us, but in different
order. tried my hand in picking up some of
these strange characters, but probably a good
al
positors The types, both Roman and Japan
ese, were almost new, and everything indica-
ted the Japanese were far ahead of the Dutch
in the typographical art as well as in every
thing else.
Some of the paper used in printing is thick,
white and close, and receives fine impression.
1t is made neither of rags nor cotton, but of a
bark OF tree, called the paper mulberry -
and is as cheap as well as good. The printed
sheets were hung up over head to dry, just as
with us. A dozen or twenty hands are en-
ployed at the case and the press, who appeared
TO be expert workmen, and Were quite cour-
teous. The Stabl shment is managed entirely
by the Japanese, not single Dutchman being
either as superin tendeEt or work.
man. The Japanese are almost universally
readers having their schools established by
law, and books for the use of the scholars and
the people Most of these books are small and
full of the most ludicrous illustrations, from
which Punch mus. have borrowed many of
his ideas, though inferior. Most of the books
are, of course, of little value in morals or sci
ence, while not few are licentious and OBJ
scene. The japanese have now got the idea
that the English is universal language, and
the Dutch OF little value, from which impress
sion, and very Just one, the young people
who are destined to business, or are ambitious
Of political distinction and honor are seized
with passion to learn our language
Little as the Dutch have done for christian.
zing and ciyiiizing Japan-and rather they
have been the saddest curse ever inflicted on
my nation since the earth was inhabited
hey were willing, for the sake of money. to
procure the printing materials from Holland
which the japanese now use. The Japanese
will not need to send abroad for them again,
ince their own wonderful ingenuity is able to
provide them hereafter as they shall be needed.
ought to have stated that found book.
,indery close to the press.
DEATH OF THE "FIRE KING."-The NY.
'apers notice the death of DIR. Julien Xavier
,hapert, the "Fire King aged 81 years, Of
"a, a N u ~ eon am y,fiay Ir ~ was a native