516 CALLOTECHNICS. 



formed by it: yet each has an influence upon the other. The gene- 

 ral fact that the most enlightened nations have made the greatest 

 progress in the arts of this class, forms, we think, a substantial argu- 

 ment in favor of their liberal but judicious cultivation. 



We proceed to give some further illustrations of Callotechnics, 

 under the branches of Printing ; Painting ; Sculpture ; Music ; and 

 Argics ; the latter comprehending various games and active amuse- 

 ments. 



CHAPTER I. 



PRINTING. 



WE use the term Printing, in a generic sense, for the want of 

 another more appropriate, to include the arts of communicating ideas 

 by means of letters and other symbols. The name is derived from 

 the Latin, imprimo, I imprint or engrave ; and this from premo, I 

 press; probably alluding originally to the impression of seals or 

 signets. We here comprehend, besides printing, properly so called, 

 the arts of writing and engraving, bookbinding, and telegraphic com- 

 munication : all of which have close relations with printing, and are 

 subservient to the same general object. The arts of this group have 

 also a reference to Glossology, or the study of Languages ; and the 

 art of Writing might be introduced under that department, as subser- 

 vient to the study of it, were it not more closely related here. These 

 arts are, collectively, of the highest importance, as means for the 

 diffusion of knowledge; by which the thoughts, inventions, or dis- 

 coveries of any individual, may speedily be communicated to the 

 whole civilized world. 



The most ancient writings now remaining, are those engraved on 

 stone; as the Egyptian hieroglyphics; and the arrow-head charac- 

 ters of Persepolis and Babylon, which have but recently been decy- 

 phered. The Egyptians also wrote on papyrus, a kind of paper 

 made from a reed growing along the river Nile ; and recent mention 

 is made of a manuscript at Turin, of this material, written as early 

 as 1700 B. C. ; though we are not informed of its contents.* It is 

 highly probable that the books of Moses were written on papyrus ; 

 though possibly on prepared linen. The poem of Hesiod, entitled 

 Works and Days, is said to have been written on leaden tablets, 

 and kept in the Temple of the Muses. Tablets of brass, ivory, or 

 wood, were also used by the Greeks and Romans ; being either 

 covered with wax, and written upon transiently, with the stylus, or 

 iron point ; or else being written upon permanently, with ink, and a 

 calamus, or reed, for a pen. Parchment, made from the skins of 

 animals, was invented at Pergamus, 200 B. C. ; when papyrus 

 could not be procured from Egypt. Paper, was made of cotton, by 

 the Arabians, as early as A. D. 704 : and they introduced its manu- 



* Dr. Jenks's Comprehensive Commentary; I; 213; where reference is also 

 made to other ancient Egyptian manuscripts on papyrus. 



