The Bossier banner., 1891-08-06
TdE AGE oE PAPER.
WOnderf al Progress in the Manufacture
'of That Useful Article.


ShaF 3espeare has described the seven
ages man. The concensus of public
Lpinif IN is to the effect that the de-
scripf ion is fairly accurate. Is the
: Vorl d to parallel the seven ages on a
|; trg er scale? 1t looks So According
to- 1sceologists, antiquarians and various
ki NJ Is and conditions of scientists, this
OLD globe and the human race which
sv arms on its surface have passed
tt n'ough various stages and epochs
W hich closely approximate the Shakes
p, saE6hn programme There for instance
al " the seven geological ages traceable
in the worlds crust, from the arch@an
to the quaternary or present period.
I bsen there are the various ages as de-
ii ned in the sociological progress of the
r. lSe-5he stone age, the bronze age, the
IL ON age, and so on. But of all the ages,
g e0aogic or social, the present age, like
he glorious Yankee nation of the
I ratrlOt poets song, is ''the biggest and
he best" 1t would be difficult task to
2 accurately define it by any one specific
erna, for the development along every
lime of human invention and endeavor
haas been so wonderful that no one
Feature can claim distinct predominance.
Perhaps, however, it would be as
proper to call it the paper age as any
thing else. Has the average reader ever
given thought to the wonderful diver
sity OF uses to which paper has been
put in this period when modern con-
veniences'' are being multiplied at an un-
nrece6ented rate? If he has not, and
will look up the subject, he will proba-
blythe amazed at finding how large a
part paper plays in the life of to-day.
SoEong ago as 1878 there was a paper
/ exposition at Berlin, where, besides the
writing and printing papers and other
i ordinary forms of this useful material,
there were exhibited material for
1 house building, furniture, car-wheels,
4 boats, utensils of various kinds and or
! Enaments of curious and artistic design.
"A house of paper, completely equipped
with furniture also of paper, and a
paper sailing vessel, with all its be-
longings of the same material, were
among the curious features. Since then
great progress has been made in adapt
ing paper to domestic and other uses
and the list of articles made from it has
| heightened proportionately Not only
do we have paper houses, car-wheels,
boats. furniture, ornaments, napkins,
handkerchiefs and the thousand and one
kniclz-knacks known thirteen years
ago, but paper flour barrels, floors, cell
! ings, oil-cans, ink-stands and other
things too numerous to mention" II
i Ind hn SNf nIc
the multiplicity of purposes for which
TIaper is employed becomes bewildering.
May it NOT be justly called the paper agei
And now comes, if not ''the last scene
of ala,' to again quote the immortal
bard, at least brand-new development
1 of paper possibilities. The indubitable
evidence lies before us in the form of q
circular from an enterprising company
which announces that it manufactures
paper garments and bedding"
further scrutiny of the neatly-printeC
and handsomely-llustr catalogue
shows that it furnishes attire for men
women and children in assorted size:
and prices varied accordingly. These
garments are warranted to be warm
healthful and economical. Here indeed
is the crowning triumph, so to speak, o
the paper age. 1t serves only to ac
centuate and emphasize the many anC
diverse uses of paper, prodnct once
unknown to western civilization. Blu
verify it dotn not yet appear what may
be done with paper. Who knows? Mar
as the world progresses to still NOR,
} general use of paper, may see the TIM
: when paper will mark the beginning
, and ending of earthly existence. Rocked
in paper cradle in babyhood, bestrid
ing his paper hobby-horse and bicycl'
in youth, rowing in a paper shell for ex
ercise or sailing in a paper yacht fo
pleasure in young manhood, and dwell
ling in a paper house with its paper fur
niture and ornaments, he will, perhaps
spend his years surrounded by paper il
: ever varying and endless forms, finall..
riding to his last home in a paper casket
: to be entombed in vault of paper
with paper monument above him t
celebrate his virtues and perpetuate hi
his name.
Great is paper!-Troy Times.