The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1872-08-17
j chm Gutenberg.

Ssf eF THE FIRST PRINTER. Il
So @7szszz- s-st i s------- ss.. --
The golden sunshine of the Autumn
morning stTGamed III through the small
latticed panes of a cottage window in
Mainz., ,H1t had often ishene as brightly
on the great Oaken settle beside the
hearth: on the quaint old chest and
carved high chair, but never until this
morning had it lighted the baby fingers
that were stretched up to meet it, from
the great striped pillow TINT made q
nest for ii new atom of humanity, come
to claim a name ana place among men;
what name and place, the happy Ger
man father never guessed, nor that the
tiny fist held i'll it's eTumpled rose leaves
the world of print for, the baby was
John Gutenberg, to whom We owe
lnaveable types and their perfection,
which, until this time (14O01, were quite
unknown.
God kept it safe through all the hap
and chance of childhood, and q busy
yOutIl, and John Gutenberg was first
known as d skilled workman in polished
stones, iii SfrasDurg, in the year 1887. Tt
was here that the romance of lislife met
him, and, through the details which
have come to us are few and meagre, we
know at least that he inspired an attach
ment which he could not Fequite, that
there was d broken troth plight, and
finally union with q woman whom lie
loved. Perhaps it was the initial of her
name. that love taught John to cut from
the bark of tree as he walked to and
fro, full of lovers fancies and young
gaailhoOd's dreams. From the shapely
letter, to its imprint made by colOred
pigments was but one easy step more. :
Soon after this we find him associated
with John Riff. printing from characters
carved in solid tables AT the great fair
Of AK La Chapelle, there was no lack
of earnest and curious inquiries for
specimens of his wonderful work,
In f445, after quarrel with his part
ner he returned to Mainz, and there
printed the celebrated vocabulary,
known as Catliolicon, in 1850. No book,
however, with his imprint upon it, is
now known to exist, and should one be
discovered, itwould be almost priceless.
All the while great and terrible sor-
row was lurking behind the years tow
ard which the first printer drew near.
There were days when the long lines OF
types would dance and dazzle like IJn-
ruly troops, or laWless children there
were nights when hot haIT0Ws of pain
darted through the burning eYeballs to
the weary. brain; and then--tWiligllt,
and dimness, and misty vision, until the
old man knew mt last that he should
never again see the blessed sunshine, OF
the faces SO well beloved for be was
blind.
The Archbishop of Mainz, who had
over been d staunch and faithful friend.
NOW appointed him one of his courtiers
apesifion 10 which was attached q con-
siderable pension; while enjoying this
he divulged his meth0d, anu whatever
ofmgstery remained, to others, SO that
the4aTt might not be lost. In 1467, the
laid to rest In d church In Mninz
hut not forgotten for, each year there
is q meeting of the Gutenberg Society tC
10 him honor. In 1887, a monument in
bronze was erected to his memory in llif
native city, and to-day the classic
scholar and curious stranger alike lingel
to read it's illscEspti ion, and dream OF the
long line of incidents and chances thai
link the guide book Ia their clasp with
the rude shaped letter carved by y low
eT's land SO long ago.
Polk ANTHUs.
THE VALUE or a NENsPAPgR.- The
following is the experience of q maeha.
mic eoneerning the benefits of d news
hentyears ago u lived in a town i'm In,
diana. On returning home one night
for am carpenter by trade, / saw :
little girl leave my door, and asked nly
wife who she was. She said Mrs. Harris
alaa sent her after their newspaper
witieilN1y wife Ind borrowed. AS we sai
down to ten my wife said to me by
name III
wish you would subscribe for TIN
newspaper; II Is SO much comfort to mi
when yOIa are away from home.
Iw0uld like Desc said /, "buty0t
know owe a payment on the house anf
l0hs Tt viii be all / can do Ia meet it.'
She Tenliefls If You will take tllii
paper. will sew for the tailor to par
for 81.
subscribed for tie PAPER it came ii
dne tinae.ta the shop. M lille resting Ons
noon and laaklng over II, | saw an ad,
YaE1faeH9est of the county commission,
egs to let q bridge taaat was to iJa hItilt
I put iA b bid for the bridge, and the ,jof
Was award ed to nae. on which cleared
$500 which enabled me to pay for ln5
house alld l0f easily, and for taie news.
paper. f had not subscribed for tIss
newspaper would not hare iSn0Yy1s any.
thing about the e0ntrlets aud could mo-
have met 1ilY pm ynasnt on my a0Issa alaC
l0f mechanic never loses any hing III
talEing d neSgapa Iler. Newspaper Re
nQrler
AS RUE ABS sREA CHIN The SlAreye
port iIsles lltters the following, whieI
tlloale tl'sle sas gospel, will be- news to /
gfe slsERzly new snap pen patrons. Tht
There III cli featssra iii .tlle newsnapel
business tllat the general public neyel
seem f0 e0llpreh bend, namely That bIls
slsasA 0f the paper is the nnhlisllersi
stock iii trade Just as grOcer's nOul
and bacon are his. Hence, people VERY
often wish this oil That little notice iii,
serted gaafnitousiy when they would B,
taisgn ted IL NJ customer would ask them
ta throw III Il efsis 0f bacon upon thi
strength Of his laisYaag purchased b bos
9f candies, Uf Ii horse because he haa
bought d sad le- blan ket.
Blush lle cream owe mod esty.
insgpTp0p innastik water.
Friends looks, paintings and stuff
birds
Bashfnlness glaoranee !tfraid.
ansersa fislal bag Witlla hole tO 1T
Kadieal ism A hole with d bag te it.
T,Ioah Billings.