Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-06-06
A PRINTERS VENGEANCE.
How the Founder Of the AIdine Press
Published Two YOUNG People.

Paullne hlnS tells IN 81. N1cnOlaS
how the famous Venetian printer
Aldus treated boy and girl who
tried to destroy his property, because
it was running their fathers business
of copying manuscripts.
While the little twins we're throwing
away the types, the door opened, and
middle-aged man in a long gown
stood in the doorway. Expecting to
find the room deserted he started
back in surprise at the sight before
him; for what q little authenticated
girl was doing in his printing-room
after midnight was more than Aldus-
for it was the master himself who had
come upon the scene-could guess.
Laura, transfxed with fear at hav-
ing been discovered, stood grasping n
handful of type, and Aldus's sharp
eyes quickly took in the depredations
that she had committed. What are
you up tor" he said, more in amaze
ment than in anger
At this moment Lanciotto, who had
been hanging out of the window, and
so had not heard the door open and
shut, turned and saw the tall gentle
man talking to Laura. With one
bound the boy tore across the room,
flinging his arms around his sister.
Don't you dare touch herr" he cried
to Aldus. Punish me il you want to.
but let Laura alone. If you will let
me take her home in the boat, I'll
come right back, and you can lock me
up, II you wish. I'll stand anything,
but | won't have my sister hurt"
Visions of being immured in
dungeon for life fitted across
Lanciottos mind. Aldus, still further
puzzled, stood looking at the two
sweet. aristocratic faces. In the four
bright eyes he could read nothing nut
a fixed almost heroic resolution.
That no childish prank had brought
these young people at midnight to
this lonely place he was assured but
how to investigate the matter was
difficult Tell me-" he said gently.
''why you are here, and why you have
destroyed my carefully set-up type"
Lanciotto began to speak, but Laura
interrupted him:
Because we hate the type"
You hate IT."
Yes; and the printing-press. We
came to smash up the press, but we
couldn't"
80 YOU took to dropping the type
into the canal. did you? Well, not
very much harm has been done.
There are plenty more letters, and the
work will be quickly done over again
on the morrow. Yet what put 1t into
your curly heads to try to injure me
Why do you hate the press?" Aldus
asked them.
With the courage of despair, Laura
breathlessly poured out the whole
story of the straits to which they had
been reduced. all on account of his
cruel invention; and as Aldus listened
his expression changed to one of rare
sympathy and kindness. Generous to
a fault. the great distress into which
the coypists had been thrown since
the invention of printing was not un-
known to him. and he had done every
thing that lay in his power to help and
relieve whenever he could. though. of
course. his purse was limited. Now
as Laura's shrill little voice sobbed
out the sorrow of her heart. the good
printer turned away to hide the
moisture in his eyes.
Don't lock Lanciotto up" she
begged when her story was told. ut
would kill our grandfather. I'd fix the
page right again IL you would give
me some more letters. It's Greek
and know Greek: grandfather had
me help him when he copied the very
book that you are doing"
You know Greek-eh?" Then, as
Laura. to prove her proficiency
fiuently translated line or two. he
laughed, Come. come" he said, al
is late hour for SO young a lady to b'
reading the dead languages. No: yor
couldn't set up whnt you've de
stroyed; this is not time for me to give
lessons In type-setting: besides, hoN
could tell that you wouldn't be
putting my letters in your rocket. on
even swallowing them-such a little
fire-eater as YOU arel One O'Clock
bless me! Time you both were ,n
bed. I haven't got dungeons for each
of you, so think shall have to send
you home; but you must be punished
first. I can't have people breaking
into my house with large hammers
and not punish them"
mo" said the children. feebly.
Then, having made them promise
that they would not run away during
his absence, Aldus disappeared n
search OF an instrument for their
punishment. and the twins, their arms
around each others neck. sat huddlei
together in perfect misery. You
you don't think that he has gone to
get a stick TO beat us. do you.
I.aunce?" inquired Laura. And as
Ianciotto strove to comfort her. de-