HOW LITHOGRAPHY WAS DISCOVERED.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1915, 14 February 1885, Page 2

HOW LITHOGRAPHY WAS DISCOVERED.

After tho first triumphant performance of Mozart's opera " Don Juan" at Munich the theatre was deserted by all except one man. Alois Sennefelder had much to do. After seeing around the stage tliat no sparks had ignited, he retired to his room to stamp the theatre tickets for tho following day. As he entered the room ho had three things in his hand—a polished whetstone for razors, a ticket stamp moistened with printers' ink, and a cheque on the theatre treasury for his weekly pay. He placed the cheque on the table when a gust of wind took it, Bwept it high up in his room and tjien deposited it ?i)i a basiivfilled with water. He took the wet paper, dried itas'well as he could, and then, to make sure of it, weighted it down withihe wetstone, on which he had carelessly placed the [printing stamp. Returninp to liis room on the following morning'he was surprised to see the letters of the stamp printed with remarkable accuracy upon the • damp paper. He gazed long at the cheque; a sudden thought flashed through his-brain;, he wondered if by some such/means he could not save himself-the weary trouble he continually had of copying the songs of the chorous. That, very. morning: he went out and purchased a larger stone, and commenced to make experim.ents, arid finally succeeded in r discovering the c art of printing frpm stone... -,■: ..;;■;