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Schoeffer) between them discovered the art of printing from movable type, and of casting such type. It is needful you should know what is meant by "movable type." The first step towards the printing of this page was for the compositor to take a piece of metal, having raised on the end of it the letter S, not as you see it here, but 5 reversed, as you would see it if you held the

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page before a looking-glass. Then he took pieces of metal having the letters c, h, o, e, similarly reversed, and went on thus to the end. When the book was finished, the type was "distributed," to be used again and again in the printing of other things.

Printing was brought into England by William Caxton. He was born in the Weald of Kent about

1422, received a good education, and was then apprenticed to a London mercer. Soon after his master's death in 1441 the youth went abroad, and continued for the most part "in the countries of Brabant, Flanders, Holland, and Zealand" till he was considerably over fifty. He was probably engaged at first in improving himself as a man of business; then he was entrusted with the important duty of looking after the interests of the English merchants. In 1468, Charles, Duke of Burgundy, married Margaret, sister of Edward IV., and some time afterwards we find Caxton in her household. He lived mostly at 7 Bruges, and there he learned the new art of printing. He soon began printing on his own account. The first English book which he issued was a translation he had made from a French history of the siege of Troy. At the end he says: "For as much as in the writing of the same my pen is worn, mine hand weary and not steadfast, mine eyes dimmed with overmuch looking on the white paper, and my courage not so prone and ready to labour as it hath been, and that age creepeth on me daily and feebleth all my body; and also because I have promised to divers gentlemen and to my friends to address to them as hastily as I might this said book; therefore I have practised and learned at my great charge and dispense to ordain this said book in print after the manner and form as you may here see, and is not written with pen and ink as other books are."

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Early in 1476 Caxton appears to have taken leave of 10 the city where he had resided for five and thirty years, and to have returned to his native land laden with a more precious 11 freight than the most 12 opulent merchant-adventurer ever dreamt of, and to 13 endow his country with a blessing greater than any other

which had ever been bestowed, save only the introduction of Christianity." *

He set up a printing-press in the neighbourhood of Westminster Abbey, and, at an age when most men are thinking of resting from their labours, he began the work for which he will ever be remembered. Believing that it is better to wear out than to rust out, and saying like Chaucer that idleness is the mother of all vices, he toiled untiringly. In fifteen years he issued over sixty works, many of them translated by himself. In one of his last books, "The Art and Craft to Know Well to Die," Caxton says: "When it is so that what man maketh or doeth, it is made to come to some end, and if the thing be good and well made, it must needs come to good end; then by better and greater reason every man ought to intend in such wise to live in this world in keeping the commandments of God, that he may come to a good end. And then out of this world full of wretchedness and 14 tribulations, he may go to heaven unto God and His saints unto joy 15 perdurable."

Probably towards the end of 1491 the first English printer passed away, having been at work up to the last day of his life.

1 Introduction, bringing in. 2 five hundred years, from the time when, with the taking of Alexandria by the Turks, the importing of papyrus into Europe ceased, till the time when the art of making paper from rags was invented. Paper received its name from the fact that it was originally made of papyrus. 3 Louis XI. was king of France at the time of Edward IV. 4 compositor, the printer who puts the letters together. reversed, backward. 6 mercer, a dealer in silks and woollen cloth. 7 Bruges, in Flanders, about fifty-five miles north-west of Brussels. 8 prone, disposed. dispense, expense. 10 the city, etc., Bruges. "freight, burden, cargo. 12 opulent, rich. 13 endow, to enrich. 14 tribulation, great trouble. 15 perdurable, enduring, lasting, everlasting.

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Blades.

ONE OF CAXTON'S BOOKS.

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ONE of the works printed by Caxton was "Book of Good Manners." We know nothing of the author except that he calls Lydgate, the monk of Bury, his "master." His counsels are written in verse and addressed to a gentleman's son. Customs have greatly changed during the last four hundred years, therefore much of the advice given does not apply to the present, although the spirit underlying it is fresh as ever, for good manners are at all times the outcome of a thoughtful regard for the tastes and feelings of others. These, in few words, are some of the chief directions which the author gives :

"When you get up in the morning, say your prayers, wash yourself thoroughly, comb your hair, and look that your nails 'be not jet black' nor 'over long growing.' Dress yourself carefully, seeing that 'your hood, your gown, your hose, and 3eke your shoes' are properly put on.

"When in the street, be pleasant to those you meet, behaving humbly to your superiors, frankly and kindly to your equals. Throw not stone or stick at bird or beast, and quarrel not with dogs."

It was the custom in those days for well-born lads to be taken as pages into the houses of great men. There they were educated, not only in the ordinary branches of learning, but in every accomplishment that was considered necessary for a gentleman. One of their duties was to wait at table, and the writer therefore gives a number of directions on that subject. He says:

"Be attentive and handy; look at your master's face o know whether he is pleased. Don't chatter of any

thing that may be said or done: hear, see, and hold your tongue. If, perchance, it should be needful for you to speak, consider seven things before you say anything: what you are going to say, why you are going to say it, where you are going to say it, when you are going to say it, to whom you are going to say it, of whom you are going to say it, and how you are going to say it.

"When you are at meals yourself, be sociable, and above all do not slander the absent. Be not greedy, eating 'for necessity and not for delight.' Do not blow your soup, and lift not your knife towards your mouth, for therein is peril and 5 mickle dread.' Scratch not your head or face, and 'loose not your girdle sitting at your table.' Do not dip your meat in the salt-cellar or pick bones with your teeth."

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There were no forks in those days, hence the bowl of water which was carried around after meals was essential. The author tells the reader to wash his hands so clean that they will not soil the towel whereon they are wiped.

"Let the games you amuse yourself with be proper. It becomes you well to play on the harp or lute, to sing and to dance. Read good books; especially read the works of Chaucer, 'father and founder of 7 eternate 8 eloquence that illumined all this our Britain.' His writings are full of delight, clear in meaning, 'in language excellent.'

"Be particularly careful in your behaviour to women. Attend always to their wishes, obey their commands, speak politely to them, be diligent 'to do them pleasure, honour, and reverence.'

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1 Lydgate, a monk of Bury St. Edmund's, was born about 1373, and died about 1460; he wrote a great deal of poetry. 2 hose

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