The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1872-07-03
JOHN GUTENBERG.
BY POLLY ANTHUS.

The golden sunshine of the Autumn
morning strcamed in through th,
$ small lattieed panes of a cottage win
, dow in Mainz 1t has often shon,
rs brightly on the great oaken setiI,
beside the hearth on the quaint olt
. chest and carved high chair, but new
er until this morning had it lighted
the baby fingers that were stretched
up to meet it, from the great striped
pillow that made nest for Il new
atom Of humanity, come TO claim a
name and place among men; what
name and place, the happy German
father never Guessed, nor that the tiny
fist held in its crumpled rose. leaves
the world of print; for, the baby was
John Gutenberg, to whom we owe
movable types and their perfections,
which, until this time O4OO), were
quite unknown.
God kept it safe through all the hap
and chance of childhood and a busy
youth, and John Gutenberg was first
known as skilled workman in pol
ished stones. in Strasburg, in the
year 1887. 1t was here that the rO-
nance of his lifemet him. and though
that be inspired an attachment which
he could not requitc, that there was
broken troth plight, and finally, union
with woman whom he loved. Per-
haps 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
manhood's dreams. From the shape
" letter, to its imprint made by col
ored pigments was but one easy step
more. @ rH ..-
Soon after this we find him associ-
atcd with John Riff, printing from
characters carved in solid tables. AT
the great fair of Aix-La-Chappelle,
there was no lack of earnest and cur
ious inquirers for specimens of his
wonderful work.
In 1445, after quarrel with his
partner he returned to Mainz, and
there printed the celebrated vOeabu-
iary, known as Catholicon, in 1850.
No book however, with his imprint
upon it, is now known to exist, and
should one be discovered, it would be
almost priceless All the while a
great and terrible sorrow was lurk-
ing behind the years toward which
the first printer drew near. There
were DAYS when the long lines oftypes
would dance and dazzle like unruly
troops, or lawless children there
were nights when hot arrows of pain
darted through the burning eyeballs
to the weary brain; and then-twi-
light, and dimness, and misty vision,
until the old man knew at last that he
should never again see the blessed
sunshine, or the faces so well beloved,
for he was blind.
The Archbishop of Mainz, who
had ever been staunch and faithful
friend, now appointed him one of his
courtiers. a position to which was at
tachcd considerable-pension while
enjoying this. he divulged his method,
and whatever of mystery remained,
to Others. so that the art might not be
lost. In l467, the skillful hand and
slightless eyes were laid to rest in a
church in Mainz, but not forgotten !;
for, each year there is a meeting OF
the Gutenberg Society to do him hon
or. In 1887, a monument in bronze
was erected to his memory in his ma
tive city, and to-day, the classic scholar
and curious stranger alike linger to
read its inscription, and dream of the
long line of incidents and chances
that link the guide book in their clasp
with the rude shaped letter carved by
lovers hand so long ago. l5a