Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-10


volumes. ''Codex." likewise meaning book,
originally signifed tree stump and then sawn
boards-from the practice Of writing by scratch
ing or cutting wooden boards.
Prof. Falconer MADAM in his work on Books
IN Manuscript describes the method Of manu-
featuring the ancient papyrus rs having been
very SIMPLE 1t was made from sort OF reed
very common in Egypt, the inner rind OF which
was cut lengthwise into thin strips called
'.bibloi-" These strips were laid parallel WITH
each other and close together, and upon them
were glued another set of slips laid transversely
or across the first Thus formed sheet
Of the material. which, after being pressed,
hammered and dried, presented fair surface
for ink. This was papyrus. from which comes
the word "paper."
Pspvrus was not made up in the form of
hooks, but in rolls, which were sometimes as
much as $50 feet long. From the strips called
''bibloi'' is derived another word for book,
which has come to be applied to the book
that is TO say, the Bible 1t would seem that
the reed paper prepared in the manner
described was poor stuff to write on. 1t could
be touched but lightly with the pen, because a
heavy stroke was apt to pierce it. But Its worst
feature was lack OF durability. In the course
Of wears it became dry and almost as brittle as
dead leaves. On this account the greatest care
must be taken of every newly discovered roll OF
this kind OF manuscript 1t is commonly put
between two sheets Of glass for the sake OF
preservation.
PARCHMENT TIE MOST SATISFACTORY MATERIAL
The most satisfactory material ever discov-
cred for writing on Is parchment 1t will last
in perfect CONDITION for ages, and its surface,
while hard enough to bear thick strokes of pen
or brush, is vet fine enough for the most deli
cate ornamentation. For the latter reason 1T
was excellently adapted for the illuminated
texts of the middle ages The substance IS the
prepared skin of animals, especially of the
Er-~a ra from
calf and is called ''vellum." Finest of all
parchments is that made from the skin of the
calfs intestines. IL Is very white and thin anu
was formerly. utilized chiefly for elaborate min
iatures.
By far the greater part of the earliest extant
writings in Greek and Latin are papyrus.
The material was exported in large quantities
from Egypt to Greece and Rome. After the
first century Of the Christian era lt gave way
before parchment. but it was invariably used
for papal bulls up to the year 1922 The en-
ployment OF parchment lasted until the inven-
ton of printing. since which time IL has been
reserved for sumptuous editions and for legal
records.
The Chinese first discovered the art of max
ing paper by reducing rags TO pulp. pouring
the latter out on a frame in a thin watery sheet
and permitting it to dry slowly, consistence
being given by heat For a long time paper
was imported into Europe from Asia In the
tenth century the manufacture obtained foot
ing in Spain and from that timeis spread rap
idly Water marks are European invention,
intro.,rced toward the end of the thirteenth
century They are never found in oriental
paper
Tablets of wood hinged like book and COW
cred With way ON which letters were scratched
by a small pointed metal rod were common at
Rome in classical and later times. They are
believed to have suggesed the form OF modern
books. FOR private accounts anu notes sucn
F 90. ~ ,h - ~ nri1tino,
yar;ons metals especiaIly lead. have been made
pss ~ 10 bear writing also homes in prehistoric
times and in ancient Assyria clay. Inscribed
whom soFt ara tber baLed In the middle ages
rarchra,t 49, ,v.s ordiparilv made nv tax
Inc sonr niacas of the material each about
~ ;,ches nv M inches folding them once
.c-oss 40 that each niece formed four pages.
80 ,;t,;,,,, a.. ,Diocs. o,a i,ai6a another Tins
a Volume Of EIGHT leaves or sixteen pages was
nrodnced
Pens until r,oder, times have ALWAYS been of
two ki,ds-tb. reed men made ont of reed. and
The anil non from, a birds feather The word
comes from the Latin .'penna." meaning a
Quill. The Quill pen il a much later invention
than the reed pen. The ink of the ancients
was commonly made by mixing SCOT with gum
and water. 1t was black and lustrous but
disadvantage of it was that it could be readily
washed off However. il il certain tina: the peo-
nile OF antiouitv a. far back as the beginning of
the Christian era understood the modern art of
producing ink bv mixing acid from gals with
sulphate of iron and gum Such ink il found
on manuscripts obtained from Herculaneum
and $ bottle of IL was dug out of the ruins of
Pompeii not long ago. II was still LIQUID after
seyenteen cent1ries During the middle ages
red pnrnle green and yellow inks were used.
"A we'll as gold and silver solutions.
,npoeR,pHs THE ORIGINALS.
BEFORE tne use vi an alPnaOe' was uAueiStooo
people IN writing utilized ldeographs- Is 70
say, pictures to express ideas Such picture