Wisconsin School for the Deaf - Tattler Yearbook (Delavan, WI)

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Five Hundred Years Of Printing By Henry Schmidt w MILE Johann Gutenburg devoted himself to developing, improving and perfecting his ideas, he let others use his invention. From 1441 to 1450 some workmen, whom he had employed, got some of the type to produce a number of editions of a small school Latin grammar used throughout the Middle Ages. Examples of job printing done about ten years later have been found. These were blank forms printed to be used as receipts for money contributed for a missionary purpose. Gutenburg went back to his native city, Mainz, to undertake the publishing of the Bible in 1450, but he was so full of ideas for inventions that he neglected the work and Johann Fust, the man who loaned him the money to print the Bible, hired another man named Peter Schoeffer to take charge of the work in order to get it completed so that he could realize the profits on his investment. Gutenburg continued his experimenting and improved the type casting implements so much that he was able to produce a type that was only a third as large as that previously in use. This type was introduced in a large encyclopaedic dictionary, known as the Catholican. This was the first reference book ever printed and people think Gutenburg had charge of the printing of this himself. By the year 1460 printing was being practiced in Mainz. Cologne. Strassburg. and at least three other cities in the neighborhood. Cologne was a university town where there was a great demand for books. From these cities printing spread rapidly and by 1480 printing was a recognized, well organized, business throughout the country. Jobbing houses which sold paper to different printing shops sprang up. and printing became a flourishing business in a score of German cities. A German printer, John Speier, secured a monopoly of printing in Venice in 1465. Two years later, the trade was thrown open to all comers and a Frenchman, Nicolas Jenson was the first one to take advantage of the chance. He began work with a type, which he designed. This type has given him a fame that makes his name as well known among printers as that of Gutenburg. The Jenson type is the most nearly perfected type for reading that has yet been produced. Very many books were printed in Venice and sent all over the world but most of them were very poorly and cheaply made. In the 1480’s Aldus Manutius wanted to become the greatest editor and publisher of Greek books. Andres Torresanus, his father-in-law had the best printing shop in Venice. He introduced a new style letter that we now call Italics.” This type was more compact and so the same material could be printed in smaller books. These books were called Adline Octavoes. 17

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Welcome Delivered at Commencement Exercises by Silas Hlrte, Interpreted by Burton Schmidt RI ENDS, the class of 1941 sincerely welcomes you here to-night. This is, to each of us, a great occasion; one to which we have been looking forward a long time; one which will remain fresh in our memories for many years to come. We are glad that you have come to share the joy of this hour with us. The following are the words of the immortal Shakespeare: Tonight the curtain opens for us upon a new scene in the Great Drama in which we must take special parts. We realize now that we are to take our exit from a scene that we have loved. “Blessings brighten as they take their flight,” and the thought of leaving has made it difficult to keep the tears back. However, it has aroused in us a deeper sense of gratitude to those who have been in charge, our superintendent, who has ably served as stage manager, our principals, teachers, supervisors, and parents, who have patiently directed and prompted us through many trying rehearsals. The stage furnishings also play an important part in the success of the actors; so for the equipment that has been provided by the State of Wisconsin for our use and development, we’d like to extend sincere thanks. As we glance back a few years, we recall some comedy; we have laughed together; there have been mistakes over which we have spent sleepless nights; and we have taken parts that have forced us to put forth great effort, the best that was in us. All this we feel has worked together to help us go forward to take harder parts that are bound to be in store for us. While counting our blessings and expressing our appreciation for them, we want to add our gratitude for peace and democracy in this chaotic world. In Europe are many students with a desire to live prosperous, peaceful lives, but they must creep into bomb shelters, carry guns, and make innumerable other sacrifices that always accompany war. As the curtain opens on our future, we ask the divine Great Stage Manager to give us our cues, and may we be alert enough to catch them; may we in our allotted parts prove to be truly democratic, and do our bit to defend democracy and save civilization. Again in behalf of the class I want to tell you how happy we are to see you here, for by your presence we feel that you are wishing us Godspeed, and we appreciate your coming. With all our hearts we welcome you. “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts.” 16

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Small books became very stylish all over Europe and many printing offices made imitations of the Adline books. 1 he Elzevirs of Amsterdam in the seventeenth century published a set ot books w hi( h was so small that it could be packed in a traveling case. However, very few people could read the small type which they used. In those early years, England had no especial need of printing. There was a general interest in books among the better class, but these people got their books when they went to Europe on business, diplomacy. and pleasure. English church books were printed at Rouen. In 1470 an English merchant, William Caxton retired from business and went to visit Cologne where he spent a few months watching the workmen at a new printing shop. Returning to England he sent a friend to buy a printing outfit and learn how to use it. They produced the first English book at Bruges in Belgium in 1474. Two years later he returned to London where he and another printer. Wynkyn de Worde, published the first book printed in England. For the next three hundred years, the art of printing went steadily downward, because many people could not read and most of them were too poor to buy books or newspapers. They worked hard and all the money went to their kings and queens. After the revolution in France, the people won their freedom and later they were able to buy reading matter. Many hundreds of orders for books were made so the people could educate themselves and also their children. One of the greatest inventions in the field of printing was the Linotype, a machine invented in 1885 by Ottmar Mergenthaler. Before it was introduced, printers had to set all the type they used by hand, that is, they had to stand before large trays and pick out each letter as they needed it. Today, the Linotype machine can set type ten times more rapidly than it was formerly set by hand. Although printing went steadily downward for three hundred years, it is an important industry which has been active for five hundred years and has on the whole, showed improvement in that time. period of from four hundred fifty to five hundred years. Athough the facilities we have today are quicker and more accurate, the craftmanship of the earlier days was considerably better in the finished product. Modern Methods Of Printing By Robert L. Pagel 18