The National tribune., 1893-01-26
C. C. COLUMBIAN CIRCLE.


Great Inventions and Inventors of the 18th
Century.
Prizes OF books offered for papers on the
following subjects all papers 10 be mailed direct TO
Kate b. Sherwood Canton o., two weeks before
the date given for publication
FIFTH PAPER, FEB 2.
]. Who were the great painters and sculptors
of the 18th century?
.. What were their great works, and where pre-
servede
g. Did Columbus ever have his portrait painted
while living? If so. by whom?
4. Where is St Peters. aud who were its deco
rators?
SIXTH PAPER, FEB. 9.
l. How did America get its name?
o Where was the first Spanish Colony planted in
America?
g. Where the first Dutch Colony? Where the
first English?
SEVENTH PAPER, FEB 10.
l. Which American Colony contributed most to
the growth and development of the country?
2. Which led in literature and science? In edu
cation and human progress?
8. When was slavery introduced into America.
and by whom:
EIGHTH PAPER, FEB. %.
!. Where were the first Fairs held. and what was
their character?
.. Where was The first Worlds Fair held, and
which have been the greatest?
3. Tell something about the extent of the Co.
lumbar Exposition.
INVENTORS AND INVENTIONS.
Again there is competition for the Columbian
paper for Jan. 26, upon the following topics:
/. What were the great inventions of the 18th
century?
2. Vino were the inventors and which invention
had the greatest effect upon the world?
Though competitive papers have not been SUBJ
mited. the Editor has abundant assurance tina. the
course Is followed with great interest by the c. c.,
and so takes up the theme it presents ITSELF
though much preferring to have the G. c. claim the
prizes OF books offered for the best papers each
week.
The great Invention of the 18Th century was the
art of printing. Prior to that time books were few
and costly, and in possession of the monks excu-
sivey They were gotten up in the highest style
of illuminated manuscript art, but wholly inacces-
sible 10 the common people.
In 1920 books were made from wood blocks
These were chiefly texts of Scripture illustrated.
Michael Wolgon.uth printed from these an Illus
trated edition Of Scripture texts About the same
time Albert Durcr, the arts, of Nuremburg got out
his Apocalypse of ST. John" illustrated. Expert
ments were many. and eventually led TO the in
vention proper. OF printing. now claimed by Har-
lem, Holland, for Laurentius Coster, 1928. But
this claim not made for Cosier until 200 years
after his death, and remained a dead secret with
him, the honor has rightfuliy been given to John
Geinsfeisch GuttenburK. sr., who issued a book
printed wooden types in 1442.
This kind of work was very rude, and the inven-
ton was not fully consummaied until l45s, when
Peter Shoefer completed the invention by casting
types in a matrix mould.
These inventions were held sacred secrets.
chiefly owing 10 the blind superstition of the age
and the inventors were charged with practiong
the black arts and as leagued with the devil.
In Is62 DIR. Faust collected lot of Bibles which
ne and DIR. Shelter had printed, took them 10
Paris and sold some of them at 500 or GOO
crowns, the sums heretofore obtained by scribes
for manuscript copies. These Bible. were sold for
60 crowns then for 30, and the supply increased
ali Paris became ayitsted that they hunted
down poor DR.. Fanst. and took all his Bibles and
burned them at a public bonfire. As red ink
used In embellshing the margins, just the
scrbes had done with the stylus the mob held that
il was human blood. wrung from the Doctors vic
Tins by command of Satan. The Doctor himself
would have shared the same fate of his Bibles had
| he not given up his secret.
Among the great forces leading up to the reform
I. alton and the redemption of the world from bar
barism, DIR. Faust and his Bibles must not be for
| gotten. Though the art of printing had tempo
| rary backset, yet the knowledge was out and
| invention and experiment were al work. 1t WAS
| not until 1924, however. 80 years after Columbus
| discovered America that the first newspaper WAS
printed. II appeared at Augsburg. semi occasion
ally In 1874. IL nearly 100 years later. 1914,
before the first newspaper appeared in "a barbarous
British town called London.
Printing. paper-makinR. and the perfection of
the compass were the greatest inventions of the
18th century. and through their agencies tho world
| has been made fit abode for man, and man a
TT denizen OF the world.
/ ORIGIN or PIS-MosEY
| OF the minor inventions, but marking In
the Improvement of the domestic condition of the
| world, the invention of pins first made in
| France in l443, and used as New Years souvenirs.
| Husbands gave their wives money to buy these
Injuries at this season. hence the Term pin-m oney
| Prior 10 1883 brass pins were unknown in England
the pins ia use being made of bone ivory, box
II took 50 years for the invention cross to the
| English Channel.
But what use had the debased and ignorant Eng.
| lish for such Iuxuries pins? According 10
Aeneas Sylyiur. aferward Pope Plus IL, who
gives graphic account Of his visit TO the British,
Isles in 1870, they had much more need of curry
combs. He describes the peasantry rs living in
houses OF rough stone, put together without NOR.
tar, with mud floors, aud a stiffened bulls hide for
a door, or in cabins of reed plastered with mud OF
huts of waited stakes dens of PHI ysical and M ora
pollution. where men, women, and children
promiscuously he-ded. living in fifth and dying
like brutes.
Not much better of were the mobiles, according
10 William OF Malmesbury, who says of Anglo.
Saxon manners: - Their MOBILES devoted to rlut.
lony aud voiuptuousness. The common
poole "a prey 10 the most powerful; their
property seized. their bodies dragged away
distant countries; their maidens either thrown
lnIo brotlIels sold Tor slaves Drinking day and
Night the general pursuit; vices the com.
pa'iions Of inebrieiy. followed, terminating the
manly Inin6'