The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-13
ABOUT MATHEMATICS
STRANGE STORIES of THE SYMBOLS
ON MANUFACTURED PAPER.
Ireland.s Clever Use of Old Paper In
Sha<spearean FOrgeries-Ancient
Papyrus Substitutes.

DloliCS dlid lClutll dDit a
wound up in the art of paper making.
And its mechanical processes have af-
forded to the ingenious story teller
many a chance for a thrilling tale. This
is especially true of the system of plac-
ing water marks. SO called. in various
brands or makes of paper. Perhaps
the most interesting true story which
has to do with this branch of the in
dustry is that of the famous "Ireland's
Confessions"
Ireland had fabricated some Shak-
speare manuscripts. which for a long
time were accepted as actual. They
made such an impression. indeed. that
a number of men. famous at that time
for their erudition and for their liter
airy standing, voluntarily prepared a
testimonial attesting their absolute be-
lief in the authenticity of the manu-
scripts. To this document these men
affixed their signatures and sent the
paper broadcast.
The whole of the original edition of
the fakes was disposed of in a few
hours. and so great was the eagerness
for the edition that single copies were
disposed of in auction rooms at enor-
nous prices.
Some time after that Ireland himself
threw these gentlemen into much sor-
row by explaining just how he had had
fun with them.
Ireland's story was that the sheet Of
paper which he used was the outside of
several others on which some accounts
had been kept during the reign of
Charles the First. At that time Ire
land was wholly -unacquainted with the
subject of water marks.
"I carefully selected says he, 1.-TWO
half sheets not having any mark what
ever. on which I penned my first effu-
sion." A few pages further OF he
wrote: Being thus urged forward to
the production of more manuscripts, it
became necessary that / should possess
a sufficient quantity of old paper to
enable me to proceed, in consequence
of which | applied to a bookseller, who
for the sum of five shillings suffered
me to take from all the folio and quarto
volumes in his shop the fly leaves which
| they contained.
by this means / was amply stored
with that commodity; nor did I fear
any mention of the circumstances by
the bookseller. AS I was fully aware
from the variety of water marks which
are in existence at the present day that
they must have constantly been altered
since the period of Elizabeth, and being
for some time wholly -unacquainted with
the water marks of that age, 1 very
carefully produced my first specimens
OF the writings on such sheets of old
paper as had no mark whatever.
JUG" WATERMARK.
Having heard it frequently stated
that the appearance of such marks on
the PAPER would have greatly tended
to establish their validity, L listened to
every remark that was made on the
l Cr1hioof ND r "a 1o--xL - -.
telligence that a jug was the prevalent
water mark of the reign of Elizabeth,
in consequence of which I inspected all
the sheets of old paper then in my pos
session, and having selected such as
had the jug on them, I produced the
succeeding manuscripts upon these. be-
ing careful, however, to mingle with
them a certain number of blank leaves
that the production on a Id of so
many water marks might not excite
suspicion in the breasts of those per-
sons who were most conversant with
the manuscripts"
A traveller in Messina was once
SHOWN a letter written by the Virgin
Mary with her own hand. He remarked
that it must indeed be a miracle. since
the paper showed by it's water mark
that 1t was not made till some centuries
after the age of Mary.
1t is the greatest mystery to most
CA u l1duc.
AND yet the matter is the simplest
tnlng In the world. In the manufact-
ure OF paper the pulp before it has
begun to be dried and after it has been
spread on the moving platform passes
under a roller called the dandy" on
this dandy" is affixed the device which
works the water mark.
1t Is OF bent wire. and as the roller
presses the paper 1T presses into it the
mark.
In the same manner most elaborate
designs. and even pictures and intricate
representations of whole battle scenes
have been done from an engraved plate
similar to an electrotype used in the
same manner on the dandy roller.
VI course check paper and bank pa
per is the most important variety dis
unguished by water marks. In a pair
or hve-pound note molds prepared nv
the old process there were eight curved
borders, sixteen figures. 16S large waves
and 24O letters. which had all to be
separately secured by the finest wire
to the curved surface.
There were LOSS wires and 81 1854
twists. and the same repetition where
the stout wires were introduced to sup
port the under surface.
In ancient times the water marks
were used Tor the same purposes as the
old inn signs The old inns had dolls
ana beehives. horses and various other
forms as signs. For the same reason
the paper makers had some Distinguish
ing mark which made their product dis
tinct from that of other makers.
SIXTEENTH CENTURY MARK.
A very famous mark OF the sixteenth
century was the hand mark-a hand
topped with a star. The jug or pot
mark gave the name to the pot pa
per. while the foolscap mark used on
paper OF a certain size gave that size
its name. which 1t retains to this day.
The post paper was so called because
1t bore a mark of a shield with a post
horn on ii.
The coloring OF paper has always
been an interesting matter. and 1t has
caused some interesting Incidents In
itself.
The delicate blue tinge. which is sc
much admired as a fashionable color,
was discovered by a very ridiculous ac-
cident. In 1746 Mrs. Buttenshaws the
wife of a paper maker. was superin-
tending the washing OF some very fine
linen. when accidentally she dropped
her bag of powdered blue into the pull
reservoir.