Paul and the Printing Press

afternoon his father called to hi

on," he cried. "I've s

r seated before a desk on which was spread an old manuscri

bring it home and show it to you. It is almost priceless and of course I demurred; but he insisted. He had just bought it at an auction in New York and was, I fancy, glad to find some one who was interested and would apprec

spotted by age, was marvelously penned, being writt

written in Latin?" he

meron

honor him, once complained because some of his odes had strayed into the hands of the common people 'for whom they were not intended.' Books, in the olden time, were held to be for only the fortunate few. The educated class considered a little learning a dangerous thing. If the people got to know too much they were liable to become unruly and less easy to handle. There

ch a thing!" exclaim

ountry of freedom. But the world has not always been so

m daintily with his finger, betraying by the

en then was liable to crack. It was far too perishable for bookmaking. Hence the old scribes turned to vellum, or sheepskin. But later, when the printing press came along, vellum became very unpopular indeed, because the grease in the skin spread the ink or else would not absorb it, and the harsh s

istled, regarding his

p be in a little while? All slaughtered and made into books. Fortunately the public of that day did not, as I h

heir books on paper?" in

ves. Nor, in fact, was there any extended means of spreading such things except through the primitive methods of conquest or travel. Wars enough there were, it is true; but travel was very infrequent. Moreover, I seriously doubt if scribes would have used paper at just that

ridic

ach of everybody it was no longer desirable in their eyes. Your snob always treasures a thing less for its intrinsic value than because other people cannot have it. So it was among the snobs that lived hundreds of years ago; the species has not materially changed. No sooner did learning become general

thing so absurd!" Pau

ilosophy of life," replied Mr. Cameron. "With all our en

iling whimsica

e richly colored

ked, "how they ever bou

of these covers went a metal band, usually of iron, to keep the boards from warping; and in addition this band was frequently fastened across the front with a mammoth clasp. Sometimes there were even two of these band

ave weighed a ton

your lap," smiled Mr. Cameron. "In fact, it was impossible to hold one of them;

with such a book?" asked Paul. "Two

lying about because the nails in their sides scratched the tables. Nor could they be arranged side by side on a shelf, as we arrange books now, because of the p

t in Paul wickedly. "Thank goodness that although I have to s

in his eye. "Such books were, to say the least, awkward to handle. Most of them were

ain

recious and rare to risk their being stolen, as they

d have wanted to carry a book b

to learn to read and never had th

would be d

For at that period of history, you must recall, the Church was the custodian of learning. Priests wrote the books, copied them, had charge of such meager l

ghtful for a

y are dreadfully inconvenient, to be sure, when you want to go and play footb

ng without any," replied Mr. Cameron. "By the way, how is your

y one-so good that everybody who hasn't subscribed will want to, double-quick. The girls are working up a fine department on Red Cross, canning, and all that sort of thing. I've allowed them three pages for articles and items.

s. Clement to write you an article

uppose sh

over, she is quite as much interested in the boys and

who has something to say, it would help us tremendously. Of course, it would have to be on something t

mischievously. "You would not be obliged to bind yourself to publish them if they were not satisfactory. Editors are always at liberty to sen

g back an article that

to learn to discriminate between the articles that are timely, well written, inter

ter has to do that?" as

ut que

ejaculated the boy. "It must make him almighty severe just to keep readin

to take pity on every poor soul who sent him an article his publication would soon be filled with every sort of trash. He has to train

ht of that side of it,

watched him

e so many unsolicited manuscripts that you will be troubled with returning a great number of them

brigh

dy's opinion, could

ou could consult

I did," chuckled Paul. "But you would, Dad, and so would

meron kindly. "Bring your problem home, my boy, if you

ried Paul. "I guess between us all

it!" responde