The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-07

Aho HaAnCoh NtAae
As long as people wrote on tables
covered with wax they we're obliged to
use a style or bodkin, made of bone,
metal, or some other hard substance;
but when they began to write with
colored liquids. they used reed after
which quilts and feathers (plumes as is
sometimes said) came into fashion,
these finally giving way to metals
steel, not only from its adaptability,
but from its cheapness, being the spe-
ciality for this purpose.
The earliest pens, such as were used
for writing on papyrus with fluid, ap-
pear to have been made of reeds. In
our translation of the Old and New Tes-
taments mot the revised edition) the
word pen refers to an iron stylus used
on wax tablets, or reed, quills not
having been introduced earlier than the
fifth century. 1t is not certain what
particular kind of reed was used for
making pens, but it is described as
small, hard, round cane, about the size
Of large swan quill. The supply of
these reeds was obtained from Egypt,
Cairo, Asia Minor and Armenia. Char
drin and Tournefort describe kind of
reed used for pens in Persia. These
reeds are collected near the shores of
the Persian Gulf, whence they are sent
to various parts of the East.
After being cut they are deposited
for some months in stable manure,
when they assume mixed black and
| yellow color, acquire fine polish and
considerable degree of hardness, and
the pith dries up into membrane
which is easily removed. Reed pens
are still in use, as they suit the Arabic
character better than quill or metal
pens. Tho Arab, in writing, places the
paper upon his knee, or upon the palm
of his left hand, or upon dozen or
more pieces of paper attached together
at the corners and resembling thin
book, which he rests on his knee. The
ink used by the Arab is very thick and
gummy.
Although the quills used for pens were
chiefly from the goose, those from the
swan and crow were much esteemed;
and besides these, the ostrich, turkey
and other birds occasionally contributed
to the supply. Most of the manufac-
tured goose quilts we're from the Neither
lands, Germany, Russia and Poland.
Before the general introduction of me-
tallic pens, as many as $4,000, 900 of
quills had been received in Great Brit.
ain from st. Petersburg in a single
year. Some idea of the number Of
geese required to keep up such supply
may be judged from the fact that each
wing produces about five good quills,
and that by careful management goose
may afford ten quilts during year.
While quill pens were in vogue the
occupation of pen cutter or maker was
one of considerable Importance; not one
in five of those who used pens could
make one, and scarcely half century
has elapsed since certain house in
Shoe lane, London, disposed of over
six million quill pens per annum. 1t
was also quite common at that time to
cut the barrels of quills into several
pens. each being affixed to handles
when used, as is now done with me-
tallic pens.
The first notice that we find of steel
pens for writing is in 1903, when Mr..
Wise, of London, constructed "barrel
pens" of that metal, mounted on bone
handles. These pens were expensive
and not very successful; they, however,
served good purpose, as the forerun-
ner of better article.-Paper World.