The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1878-08-22
ryrocnApnrcaL uluNprRs.

In the early days Of printing, the proof
readers were eminent scholars, and Il
was no unusual thing for a proof to pass
through the hands OF the most learned
men Of the times aud neighborhood be-
fore the sheets were printed. Il is re-
lated OF Rapheingus, distinguished
scholar who was engaged in reading
proof In Antwerp about 1858, that be de-
clned the proiessorship of Greek at Cam.
bridge, prefering to correct the text of
the oriental language. Plantin of Ant
werp and Stevens, Of Paris, used TO ex-
pose publicly the sheet OF their books of.
ering.a reward TO any who would discoy-
er errors in them. But very seldom, il
ever, that work is issued from the press
geographically perfect, In this respect
the Oxford edition of the Bible Is said TO
be the most successful work published,
Many are the ludicrous and mortifying
mistakes made in printing. Erasmus,
rather unfortunate for himself, corrected
bis own proofs, with such result that he
declared that either the devil presided
over Typography or that there was da-
bolical malice on the part of the printers.
Perhaps the most astonishing example Of
bad proof reading was the edition of the
vulgate by Pope Sixtus V, His Holiness
carefully supervised every sheet OF this
wonderful edition before il was sent 10
press, aud stamped it with his authority
Illuminated a bull that any printer who,
in reprinting the work, should make any
alteration in The text would be excommu-
inflated. This was printed as preface to
the first volume of tho work Isaac Dia-
raeli, in his Curiosities of Literature, in
referring to this circumstance, that TO
the amazement of the world the work re-
manned without rival-it literally
swarmed with errata. A multitude of
scraps were printed TO paste over the er-
roneous passages in order TO give the
true text. The book makes whimsical
appearance with these patches; and the
heretics exulted in this demonstration OF
papal inlallibilityl The copies were
called in, and a violent attempt made to
suppress IL; few still remain for the
raptures Of the Bible collectors. Not long
ago the Bible of Sixtus v. fetched above
fifty guineas--not too much for mere
book Of blunders.
Another historical erratum was an in
territorial one made by printers widow
in Germany, at whose house new edi-
tion Of The Bible was being printed. At
night she stole into the Office and altered
the passage Genesis ill.,, lG-whicb
makes Eve subject to Adam, by taking
out the FIRST two letters of the wore Herr,
used in German, and substituting Na
The passage thus improved read and be
shall be thy fool, instead Of, and he shall
be thy lord, as Il should have been. 1t is
said that this woman was punished by
decapitation. Perhaps the most striking
error Of all in any edition Of the Bible
was The omission OF the negation in the
seventh commandment In one instance.
This edition was very effectively sup
pressed
In reporting Parliment some ten years
ago, one of our morning papers contained
statement to The effect that the Hon.
Mr.. Holton said he had no doubt that Mr..
Morris was tight (righO, single letter
proving very derogatory both 70 the
speaker and to the very highly respecta-
bic gentleman 10 whom ho referred