The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-06-05
THE AGE or PAPER.
Wonderful Progress in the Manufacture
of That Useful Article.

Shakespeare has described the seven
ages of man. The concensus of public
opinion is to the effect that the de
scription- is fairly accurate. Is the
world to parallel the seven ages on a
larger scale? 1t looks SO. According
to biologists, antiquarians and various
kinds and conditions of scientists, this
old globe and the human race which
swarmS on it's surface have passed
| through various stages and epochs
which closely approximate the Shakes
pearean programme. There for instance
are the seven geological ages traceable
in the worlds crust, from the archaan
to the quaternary or present period.
Then there are the various ages as de-
fined in the sociological progress of the
race-the stone age, the bronze age, the
iron age. and so on. But of all the ages,
geologic or social, the present age, like
the glorious Yankee nation of the
patriot poets song, is 1.-The biggest and
the best" 1t would be difficult task to
accurately define it by any one specific
term, for the development along every
line of human invention and -endeavor
has 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 afy-
thing else. Has the average reader ever
given thought to the wonderful div@-
sity of uses to which paper has besa
put in this period when modern con-
veniences" are being multiplied at an I'M
preccdcnted rate? If he has not, and
| will look up the subject, he will proba-
bly, be amazed at finding how large a
part paper plays in the life of to-day.
So long ago as 1873 there was a paper
exposition at Berlin, where, besides the
writing and printing papers and other
ordinary forms Of this useful material,
there were exhibited material for
building, furniture, car-wheels,
boats, utensils of various kinds and or
namcnts of curious and artistic design.
A house of paper, completely equipped
with furniture also of paper, and a
paper sailing vessel, with all it's 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
knickknachs known thirteen years
| ago, but paper flour barrels, floors, cell
hgs, oil-cans, WRISTBANDS and other
things too numerous to mention" II
we include the uses of paper mache
the multiplicity of purposes for which
paper is employed becomes bewildering.
May it not be justly called the paper age:
I'D now comes if not the last scene
of an, to again quote the immortal
bard, at least a brand-new development
of paper possibilities. The indubitablc
evidence lies before us in the form of a
circular from an enterprising company
which announces that it manufactures
paper garments and bedding" A
further scrutiny of the neatly printed
and Observation-Disclosures catalogue
shows that it furnishes attire for men,
women and children in assorted sizes
and prices varied accordingly. These
| garments are warranted 10 De warm,
| healthful and economical. Here indeed
is the crowning triumph, so TO speak, OF
the paper age. Ii serves only to ac-
centuate and emphasize the many and
diverse uses of paper, d product once
unknown to western civilization. But
verify it doth not yet appear what may
be done with paper. Who knows? Man
as the world progresses to still more
general use Of paper, may sec the time
when paper will mark the beginning
and ending of earthly existence. Rocked
in paper cradle in babyhood, bcstrid,
ing his paper hobby horse and bicycle
in youth, rowing i'll a paper shell for eX-
ercise or sailing in a paper yacht fol-
4 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 in
ever varying and endless forms, finally
riding to his last home in a paper casket
to be entombed in vault of paper
with paper monument above him tt
celebrate his virtues and perpetuate his
his name.
Great is paper!-Troy Times.