The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1940-06-05

WAR BLACKS OUT
lS4O-5OOth Anniversary
FETES OF PRINTING

In every part of the civilized
world not torn by the horror of
war and the screaming requiem
Of shells, there is being celebrat-
ed this year the 500th Ami
versary of the invention of print
ing by Johann Gutenberg.
At Strasbourg and at Mainz,
Germany, the two cities sharing
the honor of being the birthplace
of the invention of printing with
movable types, which, makes pos
sible your reading of what is on
this page, the least of the world
wide celebration is taking place
Strasbourg now lies in French
territory near the Maginot Line,
and Mainz, where the inventor
was born, is now in German ter
ritory. just behind the Siegfried
Line. BlackoutS as a precaution-
airy measure against afraid at
tacks are the order of the night
in these shrine cities of the print
ed word.
Workshop Dismantled
Cabled attempts to get new
photographs of the reconstruc-
ton of the Gutenberg workshop
in Mainz. according to Douglas
c. McMurtrie, chairman in
charge of the 5O0th anniversary
celebration for the International
Association of Printing House
Craftsmen, have been met with
a reply that the workshop has
been dismantird and stored in
bomb-proof cellars.
The inventor was born of ar
aristocratic family in Mainz, the
present-day scene of war hys-
terra, about the year 1400. Strife
is nothing new to the city Of
Mainz. Because of an uprising
of tradesmen and craftsmen
against the aristocrats, Guten.
berg, during his early manhood
was driven into exile at Stras.
bourg, about a hundred mile:
away.
According to authentic docu,
mentary evidence, Gutenberg
was engaged in experiments with
movable types at Strasbourg a.
early as 1896. It was not unit
about the year 1440, however
that Gutenberg produced NOV.
able types that could practically
be used.
Latin Grammar
The inventor returned to his
native city of Mainz shortly aft
er his printing process was per-
fected. His earliest work, con-
trary to popular belief, was not
the Gutenberg Bible. but il
included seventeen successive
editions OF a little Latin. grammar
used by every school boy during
the mlQuie ages.
When Gutenberg, after return
ing to Mainz, started work or
the first celebrated Gutenberg
Bible. which appeared about
lass, he was forced to borrow
large sums of money from Johann
FuSt, a Mainz capitalist, to fl
nance the production of the book
The inventor was unable to re-
pay the loans and FuSt forecloS-
ed, forcing Gutenberg out of the
business.
Began Over
Following the suit, Gutenberg
set up another smaller shop
where his work is believed to
have included the printing of an
other Bible which was complet.
ed about 1850. AS a business
man, however. Gutenberg was
never an outstanding success.
In his declining years, the in.
ventor of printing was granted 9
pension by the Archbishop OF
Mainz which enabled him to live
in modest comfort. At. Guten,
berg's death early In 1863. his
press and equipment were claim.
ed by friend who had bought
them for him.
500 Years Since
The 500 years from 1440 tc
1910 have brought many revolu.
tionary inventions-photograph
the turbine. the electric light, the
radio, the automobile and the
airplane-but perhaps none o.
them have been responsible fol-
such tremendous cultural and So
Continued on Page Two)