Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1874-05-28
EDUCATIONAL COLUMN.
Edited and Conducted 6y
j. f. rANGENBA UGH.
The FIRST Printed Book.

1t is a remarkable and most interesting
fact, that the very first use to which the
discovery of printing was applied, was the
production of the Bible. This was ac-
complished at Mentz, between the years
14j0 and 1455. Gutenberg was the in
venter of the art. Faust, goldsmith,
furnished the necessary funds. Had it
been single page, or an entire sheet,
which was then produced, there might
have been less occasion TO have noticed
it; but there was something in the whole
character of the affair, which, if not un-
precedented, rendered it singular in the
usual current of human events. The
Bible was in two folio volumes, which
have been justly praised for the strength
and beauty of the paper, the exactness of
the register, and the Iustre of the ink.
The work contained 1882 pages, and being
the first ever printed. of course involved a
long period of time, and an immense
amount of mental and mechanical labor
and yet, for a long time after it had been
finished an offered for sale, not human
being, save the artists themselves, knew
how it haG been accomplished. OF the
first printed Bible, eighteen copies are
known to be in existence, four of which
are printed on vellum. Two of these are
in England, one being in the Grenvil!e
collection, one in the Royal Library of
Berlin, and one in the Royal Library of
Paris. OF the fourteen remaining copies,
ten are in England-there being copy
in the Libraries of Oxford, Edinburgh,
and London, and several in the collec.
ton of different noblemen. The yellum
copy has been sold as high as e1,3OO.
\ STATE GOVERNED AND DEPENDED BY
WOMEN.
Among the colonial possessions, or
more correctly, dependencies of Holland,
there is a remarkable little state, which
in its constitution and the original Gus
toms, of its inhabitants, surpasses the
boldest dreams of the advocates of two
mems rights In the island of Java,
between the cities of Batavia and sam
arang, is the kingdom of Bantam, which,
although tributary TO Holland, is an indie.
pendent state, politically without impor.
tance, yet happy, rich, and since time I'M
memorial, governed and defended by
women. The sovereign is indeed a. man
but all the rest of the government belongs
to the fair sex. The king is entirely de-
p :ndent uron his state council, composed
OF three women. The highest authorities
all state officers, court functionares, mill
tary commanders, and soldiers are, with.
out exception. of the female sex. The
men are asriculturists and merchants
The body-guard of the king is formed ol
the female elite. These amazoDs ride in
the masculine style, wearing sharp steel
points instead of spurs They carry q
pointed lance, which they swing very
gracefully, and also muskct, which is
discharged at full gallop. The throne is
Unbeatable by tie eldest son, and, in case
the king dies without issue, Il hundred
amazons assemble, in order to choose q
| successor from among their own sons
The chosen one is then proclaimed In,
lawful king The capital city of thi.
little state lies in one of the most pictu
rescue parts of the island, in fruitful
plain, and is defended by two wellkep
| tortresses.