Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1874-02-05
The Typ ma the Typos.
ny Lutte A. TAYLOR

The two most fascinating soundF,
not human, to which ] have ever
listened, are tie click of the tele-
graph and the click of the types.
There is tie of consa quantity between
these sounds--a family relationship
of birth and similarity of service in
he things themselves. Each serves
the highest master-Mind; each is
engaged in the noblest occupation
the Diffusion of ideas and intelii
gence.
As the masie OF the violin is incen-
tive to dar ciag, 20 is the music of
types rapidly falling in ''stick' an
aid to though. Macy very brilliant
newspaper a., ticles have been "set
up" at the Cease without having
been previously written, and in cur
| experience we have often found that
whom we had an extra amount of
writing TO do, we could do it more
easily and more rapidly, to leave the
carpeted sanctum and the cushioned
chair and 81 at bare table in he
composing room" whore we could
catch the Infection OF the industry
around us.
Of the types themselves we never
weary. They are civilizcrs-a die
tionary reduced to it's Lowest denom-
nation. They look dull enough, but
all the glorious possibilities that the
human heart can hope for are il their
possession-you have but to learn the
secret they SO closely keep. If one
but knew how to properly pick out
and properly arrange these little
pieces of metal, princely forum. and
immortal fame would be his reward.
1t took but handful to make the
"Heathen Cbinee," yet that handful
made the name of Bret Harte a
household word, and placed ducats at
his disposal. There are plenty of
possibilities left in them yet. There
are finer strains there than poet has
ever sang there is keener wit, more
truthful pathos, more persuasive pra-
yer than tongue has uttered or ear
has heard. Get it out if you can.
They are patient of delay.
1t is interesting to trace the ana
logy between these types and the
mind, which is their master A lock
ed form )" gives no more indication
to the unpracticed eye Of satire that
may be sobbing through it, than an
impassive face gives Of the thought
which may be moving through the
brain. And again, as the life Of a
man is often quickened, his soul
strengthened and his energy increas
ed by stress Of adverse circumstan-
ces, so it is only tight squeeze"
which reveals the life within the
types. The baptism of ink must de-
scend upon them, and the strong arms
of the press must embrace them be-
fore The life shat is in them is made
manifest.
The typos" are as interesting as
the types. The printer has been
well called "the adjunct of thought. !"
He is more than a mechanic although
much of his labor is mechanical The
faithful, conscientious, pains taking
prlrtsr is deserving OF an honor that
he rarely receives Quite often he
is the superior in intelligence TO the
writer whose copy" comes into his
hands, and it IL owing to his judy
ment aud care that the writer max es
50 presentabIe an appearance in print.
Standing silently at his case, busy
with hand and brain, the "copy" that
| comes TO him is a miniature panor~
anna of the mutt tudinou4 Iife OF the
world. A jest, murder, q speech, a
"a song, funeral Or a dance, each ia
chronicled and forgotten by the busy
world outs de.
/ Among typos there is "a fello wship
closer than any other artisans. To
belong to the craft is passport TO
the sympathy OF all. The mccoy
printer can always fled cease"
which his more favored brother typo
will relInquish to him for time, or
he will receive donation by askirg
for it. No printer, whether deserv,
ing or not, goes empty handed from
the office where his needs are made
known. These needy typos are fire.
quently the veriest dead beats 10
existence. As the faithful, careful
printer is one of the most honorable
Of the great army which swelIs the
ranks of Labor, 50 the tramp is
one Of tho most useless and degrad-
ed OF loafers. In being this he but
obeys a general law-tbat law which
makes a vile woman viler than man
can be, because she stoops from s.
higher elevation, But we have no
time to- pursue the subject. To all
the toilers at the case we reach out q
friendly hand. and hope that when
their life "proof," are revised by the
Masters eye, there will be no "outs"
of virtue or "doublets" Of vice.