The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-09-09
ROMAN BooK-MAKiNe.

stenographic Contractions Used by the
Expert Book-Writers of Ancient Rome.
It is stated that, Notwithstanding
the Romans had not print ing-presses,
books were at that time produced much
more quickly and in larger numbers
than most modern works. Paper was
used which was almost woven out OF
the fiber of the Egyptian papyrus, which
grows to a height of ten feet. and which
has given its name to paper. A Roman
residing in Egypt assures US that the
yield of his paper mandatory would
be sufficient to support any army, and
whole ship-loads of paper were sent
from Egypt to Rome. Before books Of
any description were reproduced in
large numbers, they were read mostly
in private circles, or publicly, so that
the author could adopt suggestions for
the improvement of his work. Wealthy
Romans used to own a large number
of slaves for all kinds of service, which
rendered laboreheap, asthey'eostnoth-'
ing in many cases, and had onlysto be
supported. They were mostly prison.
ers of war, the pick of nations, and
often more cultivated Especially the
Greeks) than their masters. They were
consequently also employed in the edu-
cation of Roman boys. The works of
authors were dictated to number OF
slaves. women also being employed for
that purpose. Even among freemen and
liberated slaves the desire to obtain en-
ployment became SO great that hundreds
of willing hands could be had for writing
books at very low rate of wages. The
instruction impaired in the workshops
of Roman publishers necessitated q
regular course of training, which wai
to teach the apprentices an easy and
elegant handwriting. If publisher
had at his disposal say a hundred
writer's, and reckoning the working
day at ten hours, q document which
took an hour to write would be multi
piled in the course of day to
thousand copies. The writer's became
in time expert to such degree chat
theycombined quickness with elegance.
1t must also be- added that in cases
where speed was the first consideration,
the use of stenographic contractions be-
came general, and we possess illustra-
tons of their employment in the old
manuscripts still in existence. We are
also informed that both readers and
cOpyists were instructed and trained,
the former in the solution, the latter in
the application, of contractions. Their
object was to copy work as quickly al
possible, the use Of full words being
only resorted to for the best works.
The above brief account demonstrates
to us the fact that the Romans made
the nearest approach to the invention
OF printing, although they never at
tanned to it. The movable stamps Of
iron or other metals used by the Ro-
mans for marking earthenware vessels
and other utensils also prove this. But
the art of rapid writing, which, was
perfected by them to an unusual de-
gree. counteracted further develop
ment, while the number of slaves and
other willing hands at disposal, by
which means the most astonishing re-
suits were obtained, operated in the
same direction. -Stenographic Journal
IF Switzerland. .f
An honest rancher was in Phoebe
the other day. He offered to swap his
eighteen-year-old boy, who smoked
cigarettes, to any person for dog,
and finding no takers at that, even up,
he offered five dollars to boot, but
even then couldn't make . trade, CA
eaqo Herald,