ANCESTRY OF THE PEN.

Thames Star, Volume X, Issue 3379, 21 October 1879, Page 2

ANCESTRY OF THE PEN.

The earliest mode of writing was on bricks, tiles, oyster-shells, atones, ivory, bark and leavea of trees, and front »• latter the term " leavea of a be ok " it peobably derived. Copper and brass plats*, were very early in use, and a bill ot feoffment on copper was tone years sine* discovered in India, bearing date 100 years b.c. Leather was also ussd as well as wooden tablets. Then the papyrus came into vogue; and, about the eighth century, the papyrus waa succeeded by parchment. Paper, however, is of great antiquity, especially among the Chinese, but the first paper mill in England was built in 1536 by a. German, at Dartmouth, in Kent. Nevertheless, it was nearly a century and a half—namely, in 1813—before Thomas Watkina, a atationer, brought paper>making to anything like perfection. The first approach to a pen was the stylus, kind of iron bodkin* but the Romans forbade its use on account of its frequent and even fatal use in quarrels, and than it was made of bone. Subsequently reeds, pointed and- split, like pens of the present day, were used.

A fbiend of mine coning from New York lately, was a fellow-passenger with ! a Yankee who never by any chance* except when he was eating or sleeping^ had a cigar out of his mouth. " I have* seen a good many< smokers/ said, my friend to this individual, '{.bat I never saw such an incurable chimney as you are." "Yes," was the reply; "I ant fond of my Havana. I can't five without my Havana, and 1 have left iastrmetiona that one is to be put' into my coffin when I die," "And/ interjected another Yankee of the pargye " I guess you won't have to go far' for a light, anyhow I" This anecdote, being repeated in the pretence of two specimens of the rising fensale generation* oa» evidently enjoyed it, but the other looked very solemn' indeed. When they got together out of the room, she of the serious turn of mind said to her companion. "That waa a very naughty story thai your uncle told. I know that then art no eigar-ligbts there." A right-minded ' ohild that.—Whitehall Review.

At he was ascending the pulpit stopt one of the Elders buttonholed him to whisper an additional caution. The liquor dealer has just come into ehnreh, and he gives U9 a lift sometimes. I wish you would be particular not to allude to tk* whiskey business or the temperane* question. The young minister,.getting frightened to see tbe moral, ground thus steadily narrowing before him* inquired. Whom or what shall I preach, against then P " The Elder's reply eauw lite an air of triumph. Preach against the Mormons ; they haven't got a friend in town/ —SteuWenrille OautU. Profewor—"Who. will m» Mr 1. before next MondayF" I*dyßtude«t— " I shall see hia Sunday night."