THE INVENTOR OF PAPER.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 10269, 11 February 1899, Page 2

THE INVENTOR OF PAPER.

-» Fireside. It is to a Chinaman that we are indebted for the invention of paper! The Chinese have been in possession of the knowledge of tlie art of making it ever since the time of our Lord; which is at least 600 years earlier than any other nation. At the very time the gospel of redeeming lore was being preached in Judea. with a view to its promulgation ' among all the nations of the earth, the material which was to play so important a part in its dissemination was then being prepared in far distant China; which, though possibly unknown even by name to the kingdoms of that age, was even then an enlightened and civilised nation. The genius to whom belongs the honour of the invention was a man named Ts'ai Lun. who, it appears, was a secretary at court during the reign of Kwang Wu. the first ruler of the Eastern Han dynasty. This prince reigned between a.d. 25-28. and was thus contemporary with our Lprd. "Necessity." wo are told, "is the mother of invention:" and doubtless this was the case in regard to paper-making. Time was, the Chinese tell us, when having no written language they had no special need of paper. Sales of landed. property were certified by means of a piece of cord .tied in a certain number of knots according to the amount of nroperty sold, or the price paid for it^wjiich 1 *Being "given to the purchaser in the*p?e«ehce of witnesses was considered by him a sufficient receipt for his money, and an indubitable proof of liis title to the estate. This was similar to the custom- of "giving a shoe" among the Jews, of which we read in Ruth iv. 7. But as time rolled on, and the population increased, the transfer of property became more frequent; and something more definite than a piece of cord was found to be desirable. On this account, probably, the art of writing was originated; and henceforth the deed of purchase consisted of a few letters inscribed upon a piece of wood. Whether the wood at first used was a portion of the bamboo cane—of which the Chinese make very great use, for all sorts of purposes, too numerous to mention—it is impossible for us now to say_ But when writing became niore general, and was used for literary purposes as well as for such legal ones as We have already alluded to, portions of the bamboo were generally employed; the cane being sawn at the joints, and then cut into narrow strips: these were then joined together side by side (according to the number required) by means of string, and the writing was inscribed upon the smooth, or inner portion of the cane. Here was an advance in civilisation conesponding both in time and principle with the Egyptian custom of writing upon the pith of the^apyrus. But as knowledge increased, literature began to be cultivated to a considerable extent, and legal and historical records became numerous. It was then found that these bamboo slips, though very durable, were very cumbrous ; and a lighter, more portable, and less bulky material was desired. Perhaps Ts'ai Lun, as a court secretary, was more deeply impressed with the desirability of procuring such a material, especially as he found the Libraries, or Public Record Offices under his care, being rapidly "filled with ponderous volumes; and being of a practical turn of mind he resolved to apply himself to supply, if possible, the existing want. We can have little doubt whence he derived the idea which suggested the invention. The interior of the bamboo is coated with a smooth, silkly-lookin'g film, which can be removed in small pieces from the harder portion of the cane. It was upon this film that the writing to be preserved was written. "Ah!" thought this Chinese genius—quick to perceive that if tliis film could be procured in sufficiently large pieces, the wood which it covered might be dispensed with—"if only I could get this off, and join it together in sheets, how convenient it would be!" Probably he made several experiments on some large pieces of bamboo; but the film would tear, and no amount of carefulness would enable him to secure that beautiful substance in pieces large enough to be serviceable. "Well then," said Ts'ai Lun, when he despaired of success by this means—"if I can't manage to procure sufficient of this stuff, I'll try my best to make something like it; and make it in sizes suited to my purpose." How long he was occupied in experimenting before he conceived the idea which he ultimately carried out. or what reverses he met with before success crowned his efforts, is unknewn. It is remarkable, however, that the materials with which he experimented, and of which paper was first formed, should b? that which, with all the experience which has been since gained, is found to be the best for the purpose —or at all events, of a similar nature—viz. old hempen cloth, and old fishing-nets. Though the Chinese liave long: since substituted other materials for the formation of the pulp from which their paper is' economical grounds—Ts'ai Lun set out upon the right track; and in due time had the satisfaction of accomplishing that which be had undertaken. His invention proved a complete success, and the new fabric was soon adopted for all literary purposes. The mode of manufacturing it soon became generally known; and in due time—there being no patent rights to be infringed in those day_—paper" factories existed in all parts of the empire. With the spread of learning, which received an impetus in consequence of the facilities which this invention afforded, the'demand for paper soon exceeded the supply! Old rags were not plentiful enough—and probably not cheap enough —to permit of paper made from them being sold at as cheap a rate as* was desirable. Accordingly experiments were made with other substances, and proved successful.