Illustrated Papers.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 996, 3 April 1891, Page 10

Illustrated Papers.

The coming of age of the Graphic, which attained its majority on Friday, 12th December, is an event of no little importance in the history of journalism. In honour of the ocasion a banquet was given in the Hotel Metropole, London, to Mr W. L. Thomas, the originator and* artistic managei* of the paper. There was a distinguished company present, Professor Heikomer occupying the chair. Mr Thomas, in replying to the toast of his health, gave a brief but interesting sketch of his own early history till he started life as an engraver. The Graphic was launched in 1869, and since there had been spent on its production nearly two millions of money. Mr Thomas reminded his hearers of the great names, literary and artistic, that from time to time had been associated with the Graphic. Beferring in conclusion to the Daily Graphic, he said: ‘Just a word about the Baby. The other day Mr John Morley defined a fool as one who never made an experiment. Well, the Daily Graphic is an experiment, and so far a successful one. The difficulties are enormous, caused, firstly by the failure of the link of the chain—the folding machinery—and, secondly, by the great public demand. On one occasion we had to deliver 208,000 copies between midnight and sin the morning Consider for a moment all that has to be done out-’ side an ordinax-y daily. There is the sketch or photograph, then the drawing. None of your Whistlerian effects or Impressionist haze. No ! good firm lines in honest pen and ink. The drawing is then photographed by electric light on a zmo plate tue plate bitten out with acid again and again, then mounted on metal type high, and a papier-mach6 mould taken and molten metal poured in, and this done ten times for the different printing machines. A score of nimble hands are now cutting out overlays to bring up the pictures brightly. At length all is ready, and off starts one machine; then another, and another—all going merrily. In a second all is confusion, the paper has caught in the folding machine in front; but on rushes the paper from behind at the rate of 10,000 an hour, jamming and clogging up everything. The men rush to the rescue, tearing and picking out every little bit from the endless cog-wheels. At last! Again the signal is given 4 all clear.’ The men breathe freely—only for a moment. Another stoppage —a rush of men tearing savagely at the spoilt sheets; and so goes the night. At length the battle is over. Now to count the slain:—one, two, three hundred, up to three thousand spoiled sheets and damaged copies and you wonder at your breakfast table at the slight obliquity of vision in, your own or your friend’s portrait. But, gentlemen; slowly but surely, these and other difficulties are. being conquered. (Cheers.)