The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-07-03

nanQ, even the most intelligent ana falth-
full, could do it. Thus prepared, the paper
is ready for the nineteen powerful steam
presses, which are quietly clicking away
in the next room. This apartment is 100
feet long, and so feet wide, very high, q
mass Of windows on each side, as well
lighted as Crystal Palace, and perfectly
ventilated. The presses include varieties
for every kind of work-the Adams, the
Hoe, the Campbell, and French patterns -
One sturdy little press is pointed out
which does nothing but print Webster'f
Spoilers Year in and year out it Iabors
increasingly to meet the demand for that
standard school-book, the first intellectual
food given to Young America tender
and appropriate nutriment, which the ex-
perience of two generations has now con-
firmed as the best, and which is not likely
soon to be superseded The ron-hearted
little press will wear itself out, and be cast
aside, and many others like it, long before
Webster will go out of fashion. In NOV
ing about among this ingenious but insen-
safe machinery, one cannot help noticing
the bright looking girls who stand beside
each Of the presses, like 3 keeper beside an
elephant, and fill its ravenous NAV contin-
rally. The plumpness and resiness of these
nimble servitors proclaim the business to
be healthful, at least as conducted in such
well lighted and airy rooms. Mr.. Dunno,
who has had charge Of the Appletons' press
work for long time, presides over the
whole OF this department, and sees that ev-
cry sheet is perfect, before it is trundled
over the little bridge which connects the
| Printing House with the Bindery.
| Only one branch-the Drying Rooml---re-
mains to be examined, in the dominion of
Dunno. This is loft at the end of the
Press Room. To this retreat the printed
sheets are borne, damp and fragrant as
new -mown hay, and dried on the same prin-
cipfe as family washing, bat rather more
scientifically. The outside air is freely ad-
mitted on all but the coolest days, and a
temperature of about 20 degrees maintain
ed by steam-pipes.
Passing over the little draworfdge be-
fore mentioned, following great load of
Muhlbach ahead, and closely pursued by
the DIX Gems Cheap edition., the seeker for
knowledge enters the Bindery, and the
kingdom of Matthews, whose fortunes may
be said to be bound up with the Appletons'
A polite pilot being placed at the visitors
disposal, he first descends to the basement
and looks at large piles of board and sheet
stock and other material, for covers. In a
room adjoining this are odd lots of books,
ten, or twenty, or hundred, as the case
may be, called the "over stock" represent
ing the temporary excess of the supply of
certain works over the demand. 1t is a
wonder that the publishers hit the popular
taste so closely. Great names are inscribed
on some of the parcels; but great names do
not always sell. The final destiny of the
overstock is the paper-mill; much nobler,
if one must choose, than going to the trunk
makers.
Upstairs, by the steam elevator, to the
the first floor again. Here is room full
of prints, some of them from the latest de-
signs Of the best artists of the Old and New
World, to be used in the illustrated works
of the House; thence the explorer issues
into an apartment so long that he can hard
ly see to the end of it, Soft thFobs of ma
chiHery greet his ear, and, on inquiry, he
learns that score of steam "folders" are
performing their work with a speed and
accuracy unattainable by human hands,
This great room, too, is as light as day, and
its atmosphere as pure as a gardens; and
the IT'S girls who feed the folders, or stitch
the sheets when folded, or render other SER
vices On this floor, exhibit the bloom of
health and the smile of contentment.
The elevator again and one is landed un-
fatigued upon the second floor. A monot-
onous rattle, of a steam chopping- machine
in full blast, proves to emanate from a
board-cutter, which being fed at one end
with unlimited pasteboard, turns out 5000
pairs of covers an hour, of any size wanted.
This machine has room all to itself Next
to it is the storage-place for the calf, sheep,
morocco, and other feathers, and also the
cloth for binding; the whole smelling like
bran new library. The rest Of this floor
is duplicate, in point of size of the one
below it. About hundred men are en-
ployed here, stamping, cutting, case-mak-
ing, and forwarding, which are various
stages toward the contamination of the
perfect work. Here are seen stacks of the
Appleton standards, the freshest Muhlbach,
the newest Dickens reprint, and other
books announced" and for which the Or
ders are already pouring in. Looking, for
moment, at the quick motions of all
these experts, 1t occasions no surprise to
learn that 5000 encyclopedias" 5000 Marie
Antionettes,' 10000 ''Copperfelds," and
$4,000 or 10000 small school-books, can be
delivered from this department daily
Great as is the capacity of production it
seems to be fully tasked.
In just such another long, high, and adj
mirably-lighted room, on the third floor,
are conducted the finer processes of gild-
ing, marbling and finishing. Here are men
of ideas, of excellent taste, of delicate
touch worthy to be called artists Some
of them originate beautiful designs, in
binding and ornamentation, as clever in
their way as pictures of poems, good ones
we mean. The lovely work, for which
Matthews has long been celebrated, and
which finds its highest expression in the
famous gift-books of the House, is all done
ON this floor. Not less than $4,000 worth
of gold-leaf is consumed here annually
1t is curious sight to sec the skillful ar
fist apply that most tenuous of substances
to the lettering and establishment of COW
ers. Working in cobwebs, or the down of
butterfly wings, could hardly be more diff
cult. Marbling, too, is a very interesting
process Drops of different-colored oils
are swirled from brushes by quick rotary
movement between the workman's palms
upon the surface of water in trough. A
rake with fine teeth is then drawn over the
notified surface back and forth, and the oil
spots are broken up and commingled into
the most gorgeous symmetrical FORMS
Different combinations ofcolors, and differ
emit movements of the rake, produce totally