ORIGIN OF THE TERM “PRINTER'S DEVIL.”
When Aldus Msnutius set up in business as s printer in Venice, be came into possession of a little negro boy. The bay was soon known all over the city as “the little black devil,” for, afc that time, negroes wore not often seen in Venice, and soma of tbe most ignorant people believed him to bo either an embodiment or an emissary of Satan, who aided Aldus in the work of bis profession.
One day Manntius, desiring to dispel this strange and spreading opinion, displayed this young imp publicly to the poorer classes, making this abort characteristic speech :—“ Ba It known to you, and to ail Venice, that I, Aldus Manutius, printer to the Holy Church and the Doge, have this day made exposure to all of the printer’s devil. And if any think that ho is not like us, flesh and blood, they may come and pinch him, and they will find that though he is black, he is human.”
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Bibliographic details
Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 186, 17 June 1874, Page 3
Word Count
168ORIGIN OF THE TERM “PRINTER'S DEVIL.” Bay of Plenty Times, Volume II, Issue 186, 17 June 1874, Page 3
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