The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-02
THE CRUSADE OF KNOWLEDGE.


As the Crusades effected a general change of
character in Europe. they in fact laid the founda.
tion for the dawn of that grand epoch, the Revival
of Letters. Toward the close OF the 18Th century
the crusades had ceased, and all the Christian &C.
QUESTIONS in Asia had fallen into the hands of the
Turks.
The wheels Of commerce had just begun to move
and numberiess Improvements and enterprises
were yet in the state Of embryo, when n discovery
was made of the highest Importance TO the COM
mercal and literary world.
The danger and difficulty of voyages at sea, had
from the earliest ages operated as powerful i'm
pediment 10 navigation, but this overcome in
compass.
In the year 1900 The magnetic power TO give po-
lariiy To iron was discovered TO be Of importance
In navigation, and compass WAS constructed
which at all times would instantly refer the pilot
TO any point or course lac wished to know. This
truly great and wonderful discovery was made by
Goya mt Venice.
Columbus in his adventurous voyage of discov-
cry first perceived the variation of the com pass
causes Is found. however, To lie reducible to such
fixed laws as not much to lessen the usefulness of
the instrument
The discovery of the mariners compass was
attended with vast consequences To mankind. 1t
opened inBumerable sources of communication
intelligence and Improvement and was a grand
epoch all commercial nations. In short, il gave
a new aspect TO the Old World, and aided in bring
ing new world To light.
II the mariners compass formed a new era in
navigation All invention took place in the follow
ing century of still greater importance, the of
printing.
The invention of movable type. each represent
ing letter, was the great event that led to the diff
fusion of literature. IL is varously ascribed to one
Dutch aud two German mechanics near the mid
die of the 18Th century. but the merit may be pretty
accurately divided between them.
Laurence Roster. Of HARLEM, invented wooden
type, and printed from them the Spectrum
Humane Savatons," A. ID. I43S. John Gut
euberg, of MenZ, cut type from metal, and began
10 print the first edition of the Bible in I44i Peter
Schoeffer of Gernsheim, metallic type in 1852
john Fust made some i'm prOvements in Roster 8
| invention. and aided both Gutenbe and Schoeffer
| by his wealth.
| Before this wonderful invention books were
| scarce, and commanded an exorbitant price But
| printing multiplied books beyond calculation and
reduced their price ia equal proportion. BY these
means useful learning began to be generally diff
| fused throughout Europe.
The manufacture Of paper from linen rags a
humble but essential antecedent to the of print
Ing, for the costiiuess of parchment. veum was
as eHectual barrier to the multiplication of books
1 as the labor of transcribing.
The invention OF printing is entitled TO an honor
second To none but al phabeiic writing. With the
universal! diffusion OF knowledge comes the ighes
| development of civilization, our high degree OF
civilization at the present day may be ascribed in q
great degree to the in venton of the art of printing
/ This vast world moves along the line Of Thought
and sentiment and principle. and the press give.
| these wings TO fly aud tongues TO Marie
| ii. Oliver, Fairfield, Iowa.