The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-07-03
BOOK MADE WITH A PEN.
A WAR VETERANS MEMOIRS DONE
LITERALLY BY HIMSELF.
It is About $4,000 Words of Pen Work
Which Looks Like Copperplate En-
graving-Illuminated After the Fashion
of the Old MissaIs-F;neIy Bound.

Observation-Disclosures After the Fashion
of the Cid Missals-F;nely Bound.
A remarkable book is now in the
possession Of II. E. Hayes, Of D.
Appleton & Co., says the New York
Sun. No printer has ever touched It.
With the exception Of some photo
graphs and one or two Autographs
which have been inserted, and of the
binding, the entire book is the work
Of the authors pen. In the dark ages,
before the art Of printing had begun
it's work OF broadening the field Of
literature from the few to the many,
work of this sort was done by the in
mates Of monasteries, who devoted
lifetime to it. Such books are now
worth their weight in gold many times
over, and if this book ever comes to be
sold it will undoubtedly bring q
fabulous price as curio. From the
bool1makers of the past this book
maker has borrowed the Illuminated
letters at beginnings Of chapters, al.
though his style Of illuminating is far
from traditional. In all other respects
he has followed his own ideas.
Lieutenant Colonel Noble D. Pres
ton, Of Philadelphia, is the author and
maker of the volume, which is COL
lection Of his memoirs of the war, with
certain other material appended. Jas
an author he has had some experience,
having written the "History of the
Tenth New York Cavalry" As book
maker, this is his first attempt, but it
could not be more beautiful and per-
feet in workmanship had he spent 4
lifetime studying and practising this
kind Of work. The book contains about
$4,000 words, and it took Colonel
Preston most Of the leisure time OF
eight years to complete it. It was sent
on here to be bound and the work has
just been finished. The binding is OF
crushed Levant, with fooled edges, and
is the personal work of Alfred Mat
thews, manager Of Appleton's biadery,
and bears his signature
The title on the back of the book is
'Preston's Pen Pictures, Medals,
Songs and Sketches, Medal of Honor,
Loyal Legion, Biographies, Bugle
Blasts, Family Genealogies, ETC.
Noble D. Preston" On opening the
book ones first idea is that the pages
are fine examples of copper-plate en-
craving, but a closer inspection shows
that it is all pen work done with very
ine-pointed pen. Not from any IT.
regularity in the work can this be told,
however, as every letter is as perfect
and every line as even as the best ex-
ample of the engraver's art Each let
ter is separate. As page after page is
found to be of equal workmanship, one
is impressed with the tremendous in
suoJIy, cure auu ucr10@oy- a.-r~.-r-~<--zs1
such task Only a man Of unbound-
ed patience and absolute control of his
nerves could have done it. AT the
heads of the chapters are bits of scroll
work done in ink Of various colors,
sand the initial letter of each chapter is
a remarkably beautiful piece of illum-
nation. Besides this there is scroll
and margin work on some of the pages.
Under the heading of "Preface, "
which is itself an exquisite bit Of pen.
manship, the author says:
II made this novel volume with pen
| and ink for nv children sbv special
request It possesses no literary
merit and little of any other. The
edition is limited to one volume and is
not copyrighted"
The main body Of the volume is
taken up by "reminiscences of incidents
of the authors career as member OF
the Tenth New York Cavalry, begin
ming with enlistment and ending with
the return Of the regiment after the
war. There are photographs Of vari.
GUS officers Of the regiment, and some
of the best-known Generals Of both
armies in the Civil War. Perhaps the
most remarkable evidence of the ar.
lists skill is reproduction in colorf
of his medal of honor, which hesfe
ceived for gallantry in action OF the
battle Of Trevillian's Station. The
entire medal, ribbon and pin is repro
duced with such skill that it is diff
cult to believe that it is not piece Of
color TYPOGRAPHY. Tbs work is the
more remarkable in that Colonel Pres
ton has never in his life had any art
training. The Loyal Legion medals
and other medals are also reproduced.
At the end of this, the main part Of
the book, are some autograph letters
from General Rodenbough and copies
of various documents relating to the
author. Then come copies of various
war songs, and after these the bugle
calls, written in musical notation ono
| illustrated with delightful bits o.
fancy. 'Taps," in particular, is
charming piece Of work, the music be-
ing set in night scene in camp, will
the horses picketed, the sentrie'
on guard, and, beyond the white row
Of tents, the last reflection Of da!
| u