The times., 1899-02-05

sound and far-seeing- Her taste, too,
upon margins, arrangement, the use OF
color. etc, was invariably found TO be
fine and discriminating, and thus came TO
be the deciding voice. In short, by the
mere process of evolution Mrs. Van Vech-
ten became the firm; not only speaking
the final word in all matters involving
business discretion and artistic judgment.
but doing a large part of the manual
labor herself. :,
- single example serves to illustrate
how woman's intuition is frequently
more than match for years OF manly
experience. II seems that deckle-edged
handmade paper-used in expensive edi
tions-is, for some good and sufficient
reason, not cut exactly on the square.
This makes it exceedingly difficult 10 so
arrange that the printing on one side the
page shall be exactly opposite that on the
other; a matter of little import 10 The
ordinary reader, but a defect which the
connoisseur is quick to discover by hold
ing the page up to the light, and is es-
pecially noticeable in the case OF decorat-
ed margins. The new firm were not long
in running up against this very difficulty
Try as they would, each page upon being
held to the light, revealed that on one
side the margin here and there extended
beyond and above that on the other
Upon advising with some Of the best pub
fishing houses in the country the uni
yersal verdict was received that the mat
ter of uneven register was dlihculty
that had never been obyiated: that it
was one of those minor defects due TO
conditions, which simply had to be ac-
cepted. This however, failed to satisfy
Mrs. Van Vachten. She continued TO think,
measure plan, evolve, and finally one day
said to her foreman;
Henry. just remove that peg that holds
the paper in place TO the right, and let me
feed from the left"
why, madam, that can't be done. said
the printer of fifteen years experience
NO professional printer was ever known
to feed from the left"
Well, let US try it" urged Mrs. Van
Veehten.
Impossible" replied the foreman.
What did you say?" asked Mrs. Van
Vechten with strong suggestion of COM
mand in her tone, and the unwilling fore
man transferred the peg.
From the left side went through one
sheet, which when held up to the light re-
vealed perfect and uniform register, not
a hairs breadth difference between the two
sides.
Well, it did happen to strike Just right
| that time, didn't it,
| Another and another went through until
the whole edition was printed without
| blemish variation. and Mrs. Van Nech-
I
practical workman.
! Only limited editions-from 90 to 300
are issued from the Philosophers Press,
and Mrs. Van V-chten puts through each
! page herself, carefully examining ii as it
I comes out to note the perfection of the
; type, the spread OF the ink etc. After
| which, entirely unaided, she puts the book
! together and prepares il for the binder.
/ She also prints entire the monthly issue
, of the philosopher"
Mrs. Van Vechten has taken up this
| work from pure love of good workman
| ship, and occasionally takes advantage of
| her equipment to bestow upon friends gifts
/ of rare value. as when. for example, she
/ got out an exquisite edition of Sponsors 5
| Epithalamium on japanese velum-lim-
tied to five copics-for wedding gifts.
Browning's Andrea Del Sarto, and Keats
| Odes. for private distribution, were also
| superb works of art.
| Notwithstanding her delightful home
| Mrs. Van VCchten is rather given TO re-
| ceiving her intimate friends in her print
! ing office, where, although nothing has
been done to modify its distinctive busi-
ness character it is not without atmos-
! phere-that atmosphere which n collec-
| tion of the best thoughts of the best minds
never fails to impart; and here one has
| but to put out his hand TO let n rest upon
| some rare and treasured volume"
! 1t is indeed worth long journey to find
in the very midst of our pine forests this
| spot consecrated to the noble art of book
making. and TO sit with the philosophers
| until the hours grow small talking of those
| master minds whom to serve In any ca
| pacity is, TO the reverent mind a royal
| privilege.