Weekly Trinity journal., 1877-06-23
PRINTING ANNIVERSARY,

hAN'isS IVA WV NNANNAUNANh Va eiAN ANNi i7ANh~
dredth anniversary Of the introduction of
the art of printing into that country, 1t
is decided to hold the celebration in June,
in the Jerusalem Chamber at WeStmin-
ster Abbey, and it is proposed to have
present specimens Of printing extending
over the whole period since its introduc-
ton by Caxton in l474, with the acces-
sories of the art,
The art Of printing is the light that
lighted up the intellectual world Be
fore 1t was evolved from the brain Of
genius, ignorance, like thick pail Of
night, over shadowed the great mass of
the people. The old civilizations had
passed away. Their feeble and uncer-
tain light had given place to the medi@v-
al gloom, The art came at first like the
morning tints upon the eastern sky, but
increased until the full brightness Of the
noon day sun was ushered in.
The Egyptians wrote on leather, or
skins Of animals prepared expressly for
the purpose, something like our patch
ment. And we do not read OF any books
among the Hebrews until after the return
from Egypt it is supposed they learned
to make them during their captivity.
They used linen and afterwards kind of
paper made from the inner bark of the
papyrus reed. Josephus tells US that the
copies OF the sacred books were written
upon skins. Parchment was invented
about two hundred and fifty years before
the birth Of Christ, and soon came into
general use among the lsraelites for their
sacred writings. Tables of wood were
used by those who were unable to pur-
chase the more expensive materials. They
were covered or glazed with compost
tion capable of receiving and retaining
ink, and afterwards, among the Romans,
: with wax, and the writing was done with
an iron pencil, called n "stylus," hence
our word, "style." The Egyptians used
these tablets, only II few years ago, in
their schools, and possibly do at the pres
ent day, though during the past decade
they have adopted some of the education
ideas of the Western nations. The Greeks
and Romans, and other nations who
wrote, or who claim to any literature,
were compelled to resort to this slow and
tedious method Of producing books.
But new era was to be ushered IN
an era with which the names of Gutten-
burg, Faust, Schaelier and Caxton will
ever be associated. There has been con
siderable controversy as to who may
claim the honor Of the actual invention
OF the art ofprinting, and we suppose it
will never be fully settled Some award
the honor to Costar Of IIarlaem, who, Ia
1888, printed book of images, with let
tors and blocks-the leaves of which were
printed on one side and pasted together.
John Faust had a printing office in Mentz
in l442 but he used blocks and plates,
and consequently had to have new ones
for every book. Guttenburg improved
upon this by the invention Of fmetal types,
with which he commenced an edition Of
the Bible in 1850, and completed it in
J 1855. Only thiuk Of it-fve years in
which to print Bible A daily paper
would have been scarcely possible in
those days Peter Schaefler advanced
upon these methods and invented the
making Of metal type in matrix in 1852,
and this way Of making them has con
tinued, with improvements, to the pres
ent day. So we will divide the honors
between all the inventors and improvers
of the art.
William Caxton, the hero Of the ocea-
sion which it is proposed to celebrate in
June, was the first English printer. His
first book was issued in l477. 1t was n
translation from the French, by order Of
Lady Margaret, Of York, sister Of Ed
ward the Fourth. The English language
was somewhat different from what it is
now This is what Mr.. Caxton saws Of
his first book
Thus ende / this booke, and for as
moche in wrytynge the same my penno is
worne, myne handle very, and myne eyes
dymned with over much IoolSnge on the
whyte paper, and that age croepe!h on
me paylye and feebeth the body" etc.
Compare this with our language of the
present, and it will be seen what improve
ments have been made since the introduc-
tion Of printing, and mainly through its
influence. The press which Caxton used
looked much like those we see now in
book binderies, with the addition Of an
apparatus to roll the type under the
screw. In this humble way was the
great art introduced to the English Ian
Ruage and the English people. The first
valuable improvement made upon the
printing press was by Lord Stanhope.
He substituted iron for wood, and made
several other valuable alterations. This
press came into use, and continued in
nearly its original form until 1914.
On the pages Of the worlds history,
Gutenburg, Faust, Schaeffer and Caxton,
and their achievements, occupy but an
insignificant space. Alexander, Casar,
and Bonaparte are given volumes to tell
of their deeds Of desolation and death,
while their glory was but burning in
cense upon the altar of human woe. But
the glory of the former widens and deep
ems with increasing years. What they
gave to the world continues to enlighten,
elevate, ennoble, and each wave Of time
but adds another tribute to their immor-
tal Qenius - The .Syond0gd
A POOR man in Jefferson county IN.