lining papers are inserted, and the book is put into the standing-press for a few hours, after which it is ready for tooling. But in some descriptions of binding, a good effect is produced by having distinct lettering pieces, of a different color from the general binding. These are cut out separately, thinned at the edges, and attached by means of glue. The blind-tool ornaments of the book are put on by means of pieces of brass, cut into the desired pattern and shape, and mounted in handles as below. If a long

line, plain or figured, is to run up the sides of the book, it is cut upon the periphery of a disc of brass, moving upon a central axis, and furnished with a long handle, which the man rests against his right

shoulder, holding the tool near the axis; in this way, he can roll the tool the whole length of each side of the cover. All these tools are heated at a gas-stove, a great improvement on the unwholesome charcoal brazier formerly in use. The small tools are pressed down with an equable force in those parts of the cover where they are wanted. Gilt tooling is produced by covering the parts to be gilt first with glaire and then with goldleaf, and then pressing the hot tool upon the part thus covered. On wiping off the gold with a rag, that part of the gold only is attached which came in contact with the hot tool. Lettering is performed commonly by a set of lettering tools, each letter of the alphabet being cut out in brass, and mounted in a wooden handle. Letters, numerals, &c., are kept of different sizes; but for words in common use, such as Holy Bible," " Atlas," &c., tools are kept, with the whole word or words cut in them. When the orna

46

ments, lettering, &c., are complete, the book is finished off with polishing-irons, of various shapes and sizes, one of which is shown. These are heated, and passed over the leather, and also over the marble lining-paper, &c.

ill

We have thus gone over the principal processes concerned in binding a book. A few years ago, a method of binding by means of caoutchouc cement was patented, by which the operations of sawing-in, sewing, rounding, and the use of glue are dispensed with, and, instead of leaves attached by thread stitches at two or three points, they are agglutinated securely along their whole length. This plan is admirably adapted for binding engravings, maps, manuscripts, and collections of letters, which have little or no margin left at the back for the stitching. The plan has been thus described: "After folding the sheets in double leaves, the workman places them vertically, with the edges forming the back of the book downwards, in a concave mould, of such rounded or semi-cylindrical shape as the back of the book is intended to have. The mould for this purpose consists of two parallel upright boards, set apart upon a cradle frame, each having a portion or portions cut out vertically, somewhat deeper than the breadth of the book, but of a width nearly equal to its thickness before it is pressed. One of these upright boards may be slidden nearer to or further from its fellow, by means of a guide-bar, attached to the sole of the cradle. Thus the distance between the concave bed of the two vertical slots in which the book rests may be varied according to the length of the leaves. In all cases, about onefourth of the length of the book at each end projects beyond the board, so that one-half rests between the two boards. Two or three packthreads are now bound round the leaves thus arranged, from top to bottom of the page, in different lines, in order to preserve the form given to the back of the mould in which it lay. The book is next subjected to the action of the press. The back, which is left projecting very slightly in front, is then smeared carefully by the fingers with a solution of caoutchouc, whereby each paper-edge receives a small portion of the cement. In a few hours, it is sufficiently dry to take another coat of a somewhat stronger caoutchouc solution. In forty-eight hours, four applications of the caoutchouc may be made and dried. The back and the adjoining part of the sides are next covered with the usual band or fillet of cloth, glued on with caoutchouc; after which the book is ready to have the boards attached, and to be covered with leather or parchment, as may be desired."

Blank-book binding is a distinct branch of the trade, and is applied to the binding of every description of account-book. The paper is first folded and counted into sections, which in foolscap generally consist of six sheets, and, above that size, of four sheets. These are sewed upon strips of vellum, three strips being usually applied to foolscap folio, and a greater number for larger sizes. In sewing account books, waxed thread is used, as being stronger. After sewing, the first ruled leaf at each end is pasted to the waste paper, and the marble lining paper inserted. The back is then glued, and when dry, the fore edge is

cut and the back rounded, a rounder back and consequently a deeper hollow being given than in printed books. The two ends are then cut, and the edges greened. The headbands are worked on a slip of parchment, as before described. Strong pieces of leather are then glued at the top and bottom of the back and between each of the vellum slips, A hollow back is produced by soaking in water a strip of mill-board about a quarter of an inch wider than the back of the book, and gluing it on both sides; it is then placed on a sheet of paper, and a roller corresponding to the curvature of the back of the book is placed upon it, and the strip is worked backwards and forwards on the roller, which gives it the semicircular shape. It is then dried hard before the fire. Another method is to paste a number of pieces of paper in succession upon a roller, and when thoroughly dry it is cut down lengthwise, thus forming two semicircular backs. Thin sheetiron is sometimes used for the purpose. The milled boards are then cut out for the side covers. In large books, it is usual to glue together two thin boards for each cover, and to insert beween them the projecting ends of the vellum bands on which the book is sewn. The first and last fly-leaves are pasted to the boards, and after they are squared, the curved back above described is placed on, and a piece of canvas sufficient to extend over half the width of the book on one side to the same distance on the other side, is glued on the boards and over the back this holds the hollow back firmly in place. The book is then ready for covering, for which purpose the leather is carefully pared all round and neatly put on. The covers are usually sheep skin and Russia, white and covered; smooth and rough calf. If the cover be rough calf or sheep, it is dressed with pumice-stone and a clothes-brush. calf are glaired and polished as in printed bookbinding. Rough calf or sheep books are usually ornamented by passing a very hot roller round the edges and sides of the cover. Large books are always furnished with bands of Russia leather worked on sometimes with thongs of vellum, which add to the strength of the binding, and have a neat appear

ance.

Smooth

The finer qualities of binding, embracing Turkey morocco, calf, and Levant, in the various styles of richly gilt, massive panels, and velvet, embossed with rich ornaments, have many processes which are very attractive and curious to the uninitiated. The operation of embossing and illuminating the edges, which is carried to great perfection in this establishment, gives the book an ornamental and attractive appearance, of which it is impossible to give our readers any idea. In this process the books are fastened firmly in iron presses, the edges are then scraped smooth as polished ivory, they then receive a coat of size upon which the goldleaf is laid. When the leaf is dry, it is polished with agate and blood-stone burnishers. Should the book be designed

for the panelled or more costly style of binding, the edges are then ready for embossing or illuminating, the process of which we have before described. Finishing, as its name denotes, is the last process of this interesting art. The finisher must possess a high order of taste and skill. The mechanical execution of his branch is much the same as in embossing, with the difference that he must work out his designs with the aid of the small tools we have before mentioned, upon leather. The difficulty he has to overcome, and the nicety with which his work must be done, can be understood, when we inform our readers that one pattern which we saw in this establishment had five thousand impressions of different tools upon its surface.

To enumerate all the various styles of decoration as practised in book-finishing, would be a very difficult, if not an endless task, as some styles are purely local, while others again do not stand the test of progressive and improving taste, and consequently are but of short-lived duration. There is scarcely any style of ornament which book-finishers do not more or less practise. The improved artistical knowledge of the workmen of the present day, and the proficiency attained by them in the execution of designs, are far ahead of anything in the art of bookbinding which has preceded them.

The earliest specimens of bookbinding extant were executed in the monasteries by the monks, anterior to the invention of printing, which procured for such the name of the monastic style, the monks being then the principal composers, copyers, and bookbinders. The monastic style is distinct and peculiar in itself, the sides of the book being closely filled up with what is technically called blind tooling, that is, the impressions made by the tools are not put in gold; this style is much sought after in the present day, especially in the binding of old books. But this is not the only description of finishing to which the monks of that period applied themselves, books being then, as regards price, of great value compared to what they are in the present day, and it was consequently considered that nothing could be too costly in decorating the exterior. Hence arose those beautiful specimens of needlework of various colored silks-gold and silver ornaments-stones, and jewels of great value, with which the books of that period were frequently richly ornamented.

The next in rotation is the Aldine style, which derives its name from Aldus, a famous printer and bookbinder who flourished in Italy in the fifteenth century. This style (like the monastic) is principally in blind tooling, but of a lighter and more open description of tools, and more fancifully arranged.

After that period, books becoming more plentiful, book ornamentation consequently took a more extensive range, as we find, before the expiration of the sixteenth century, great improvements had taken place in book-finishing. A style of intersected

patterns were much in practice, which, for beauty of design, are rarely surpassed, added to which, the Elizabethan style of ornament was much in use; since then, down to the present day, various styles one after the other have been adopted, all tending to the perfection of the art, and the advancement of the profession in general.

We have given as near as we could an idea of the process of Bookbinding, as conducted at this establishment; but there has been much that we could not insert without going more into detail than our readers would wish. They can form some estimate of the labor required, from what we have recorded above, and we here offer our thanks to all concerned, for their attention to us in our progress through this establishment.

The publishing house of Lippincott, Grambo, & Co. was established over thirty years ago, by John Grigg, Esq., who, with his partner, Hugh Elliot, Esq., and others who now continue in the firm, conducted the business under the firm of Grigg, Elliot, & Co., until a few years back, when J. B. Lippincott, Esq., who had been in the same business for a number of years, purchased the interest of Messrs. Grigg & Elliot, and, in connection with the junior partners of the old firm, established the present one. The reward which enterprise and industry always bring has favored this house from the commencement. Increasing yearly in its business, it has gradually extended its sphere until it is at present one of the largest, if not the largest, publishing house in the United States, employing in its operations over half a million of dollars. In their store can be found not only their own publications, but those of every publisher in the country; as they receive all new books of other houses as soon as published. It is this fact, together with the vast number of books issued by themselves, which renders their business one of such immensity, and makes their establishment the great jobbing bookhouse of the country.

To enumerate their various publications would require a volume; they embrace all subjects, scientific, historical, scholastic, &c. &c. Over one hundred books have been issued by them since the commencement of the year, many of which are among the most costly ever issued in the country, comprising, amongst others, the "Waverley Novels," in twelve volumes; "Schoolcraft's Work on the American Indians," elaborately illustrated with steel engravings by the best engravers in the country; "A Series of Histories of the States in the Union;" "Ancient Christianity," by Dr. Coleman; "Shakspeare," two editions, one in four volumes, and the other in one volume; and a numerous variety of school books, &c. &c. They have the stereotype plates of over two hundred volumes of standard works, from which they are constantly working off editions to supply the current demand. These plates cost, originally, over $250,000. Of

Bibles and prayer-books alone, they sell upwards of fifty thousand copies yearly, and most of them bound in a superior style. In this class of books, their sales are next to those of the American Bible Society, Mr. J. B. Lippincott having, for years before he purchased an interest in this firm, enjoyed the reputation of being the "Bible publisher of the country." Of one book which they are now publishing, they issue daily one thousand copies bound in cloth, and this independent of the other works they have in press. After the above facts, our readers can well imagine why we were struck with astonishment at what we saw, and will, with us, give this house a just meed of praise for the enterprise they exhibit.

In the store, a view of which we give on the top of the first page, and which will doubtless be recognized by hundreds of booksellers through the country, are employed twenty-seven clerks, who have each their separate departments to attend to. This room is also used for packing; the books, after being sent down from the second and third story rooms, are here boxed up and sent to their various destinations. The second and third story rooms of the main building, and one room in the adjoining one, are occupied as salesrooms, each one of which is about twenty feet wide and one hundred feet long. In these rooms, a view of one of which we give on the first page, there are thousands of volumes on the shelves on both sides of each, requiring the services of a number of salesmen to attend to the duty of selling and recording orders. In looking at the vast number of books in these salesrooms, and the constant operations of sending off and replacing, which pass before you, the wonder is what becomes of them all, and what an amount of capital is required to keep up such a stock. Few persons, without seeing, would believe the thousands of books which are daily sent from these rooms to every section of the New World, and to portions of the Old.

The fourth and fifth stories of their own and the adjoining buildings on each side are occupied as their bindery, and comprise eleven rooms. In them are employed over two hundred hands, men and women, in the various branches of bookbinding which we have previously described. Some of the finest specimens of binding ever executed in this country have been done in the establishment of Lippincott, Grambo, & Co., among the more prominent of which is a Bible which was presented to.Queen Victoria.

In the semi-annual "trade sales," or sale of books by auction to booksellers only, which takes place in New York, Philadelphia, and Boston, Messrs. Lippincott, Grambo, & Co. are one of the largest depositors and purchasers; and their enterprise and capital furnish employment to over five hundred workmen in their own, and other establishments employed by them.

CHAPTER I.

A RICHER evening twilight never visited us mortals than that which flooded Lake Massabesic, and the woods and rocks, and sands of its borders, as townward there came in sight a carriage "covered with the dust of travel." Here, the waters gleamed and flickered "like molten gold;" a little farther, they lay tranquil and blue as heaven; while away there, across those tracts of silver, dark as ruin they went, stealing back amongst the woods and hills, into the deep-reaching coves. Sail-boats and rowboats were near and far; just where they ought to be, to make the ensemble perfect, our travellers thought. Close beside the road were lambs, large enough, and old enough, to be sure, to stand there quietly and observe the travellers, and chew their cuds and look contented, as they saw their mothers and the cows do; but they did no such things. They too seemed to have delight in all the beauty and quietude there was in the place; and went running up and down the high rocks, trying which could run the fastest, leap the highest, and the most gracefully. Often there were heard grumblings among the old dams, over all this indecorum and danger of breaking their necks; but the lambs only danced up to them, gave them a roguish look, jumped over their backs, and then went dancing back to their sports.

"Look there, sister," exclaimed the gentleman, involuntarily stopping his horse. He pointed, as he spoke, to a little cottage amongst the shrubbery and trellises, and you could not know what else, it was so closed about by primeval oaks and vines, and trees of minor growth.

"There must be comfort there," sighed the lady. "Yes, and genius, if it does work with hard hands," replied the gentleman, still looking at the house.

"The Malones-you remember hearing Mrs. Lane speak of their near neighbors, the Malones. That must be their house. Just look across the lake, among those hills, brother. Heavens! how dark and strange! Let us get out of the carriage."

They alighted, "both stood, both turned," and looked long, here and there, and all around, upon a scene of contrasted sublimity and loveliness, before which proud man might well bend his spirit in humble adoration, as that gentleman did; before which woman might grow faint with a thousand conflicting emotions, veil her face, and at last weep, as that lady wept. Farmer Brown passed them on VOL. XLV.-36

his way home from the field, with his boys and his long team. He, too, looked away to the lake and up to the sky. Wonder if he gave thanks that his lot had been cast in such pleasant places? No; he said something about wind east, storm to-morrow; and, when he was beyond the hearing of our travellers, "More grand company going to 'Squire Lane's, of course," said he; and, "Yes, I'll warrant it," answered his sons.

And going to Esquire Lane's they were; for, still walking before the horse, they turned down the broad, straight avenue, which terminated in a carriage sweep, before a large farm-house. No one was without the house; but within our travellers heard sounds of laughter and running.

"Mrs. Lane's laugh; how like a child's!" said the lady. "See, as she said, no bell. She told you to 'pound three times with the head of your stoutest cane;' didn't she?"

"She told me so many strange things, I have forgotten. But-" rap, rap, rap, very softly went his cane on the door. No one came; but they heard a voice within say, "Was it you I caught, hus? or was it you, Frank? or what was it? Ah! I must have you in blinders yet, Mr. Lane."

"Heavens! then, if I don't have some revenge!" "Ah, that was not fair, Mr. Lane. I caught you then, fairly. I will tell you. When we get you into blinders, you will take such long, straggling steps, so queer, we shall almost die laughing at you; and when you stoop to catch your little wife, she will go bounding over your head."

Rap, rap, rap, rap; and just at that moment Mr. Lane was caught, it seemed, for fresh laughter came, and now a manly voice chimed in loudly. The travellers entered; but then a difficulty in crossing the hall presented itself; for rugs, chairs, and footcushions had been brought out from the parlor in preparations for the game. The lady gave a spring, and landed fairly within the parlor, in full view of the little party.

"Who? what? Heavens, Miss Bartlett! let me shake you to pieces! let me kiss you forty times! Where did you come from?" Thus spake the mistress of that house, the prettiest, rosiest, happiest creature you ever saw.

"From Concord at sunrise," answered Miss Bartlett, as soon as she could speak for kissing and being kissed.

"And your brother, Miss Bartlett?" said Mr. Lane.

"Yes, go, Mr. Lane. I am positively wild with 413

delight; and I shall kiss him too. I will, husband mine," she added, running after him to the door. "I will, if it does make you provoked, and jealous, and-"

She did kiss him; and then turning, she again flung her arms around Miss Bartlett's neck and kissed her. As Mrs. Lane said, her husband and her friend Fanny had only chances of slipping their words in edgewise, for all her vociferous rejoicings and questionings. The gentlemen went out together to adjust baggage, etc.

"That is right, Fanny, you dear. Do be putting things in order. You see, Miss Bartlett, it is just as I told you it would be when you came to my house. I told you, you know, that, when you would promenade our rooms, you would be obliged to make yourwinding way' among mops-wisely kept for show,' only-and every kind of rubbish. Yes, Fanny; do fix my hair a little: my curls are in my eyes, ears, and mouth. I wonder that Mr. Lane-old bachelor as he was, and so very particular-I wonder that he never scolds me; I think the good soul does try sometimes; but he soon finds himself laughing, and that is the end of it."

As Fanny arranged Mrs. Lane's hair, she said something in her ear about "fatigue, refreshment." "Refreshment? Ah, yes; excuse my forgetfulness. You must be almost starved."

Miss Bartlett denied this; they had refreshed themselves at Hooksett, only a few miles back.

"Oh, but you must have some tea immediately," said Mrs. Lane in a pleading tone, and with her hand already on the door latch, "if it be only to taste our strawberries and cream, and-what, Fanny? my dress torn out at the gathering? 'Tis Fide's work: he is always sure to tear me, if he tears anybody. He jumped to my head once while we were at play, and caught his mouth full of curls. But tea, Miss Bartlett; you will have some tea with us?"

"Yes, for I am hungry; and this I havn't been before for weeks. This air from the lake is so cool on one's head, and so clear and exhilarating for one's breath, it makes one feel strong and-" "And hungry; that is good!" interposed Mrs. Lane.

"Stay, Jeanette, and let me go," said Fanny, lifting her finger in laughing defiance to Mrs. Lane, as she passed her. Mrs. Lane kissed her hand after her, said, "You good one!" and then sat down in her cushioned arm-chair and began rocking herself vigorously as she talked.

"You are pale, Miss Bartlett," Fanny said, "and thin too. Say, Mr. Bartlett, has she been falling in love with uncle Gates? Has she?"

Miss Bartlett parted with some of her pallor; her brother said, "Well, I don't know."

"What does Mrs. Jones say? She always sees right through all such matters, so that people have come to regard her as a sort of oracle."

this case determined to be 'reputed wise for saying nothing.'"

Fanny appeared at the door, beckoning Mrs. Lane.

"Yes, you dear," said she, leaving her chair. "Well, if this lasts, people at Franklin must certainly wear blank faces awhile, and go round saying, 'Another star has gone out.""

The lively woman had talked herself out of the room; and together she and Fanny went singing across the dining-room. She returned in the next minute.

"Fanny is having things her own way to-night. This gives us both pleasure. I am so indolent! and she-young, unused to labor, graceful, and refined as she is is yet so careful and busy! She will make the best wife in the world to the man who is so lucky as to secure her; he 'who gets gold gets trash,' comparatively. She assists me in so many ways!" added Mrs. Lane, with filling eyes. "She makes our home so elegant and tidy; extraordinaries, such as you have seen, excepted. She knows my one greatest failing, and is, I think, determined on helping me to work out a radical cure. Well, we shall see, as Mrs. Jones says. You know Professor Grimes gave me a little order, constructiveness, and caution, and at the same time prodigious destructiveness." "An unlucky combination, certainly," said Miss Bartlett.

"Yes, indeed, for a housekeeper. But I can see that I have gained already; so that, although not of the famed class nascitur non fit, I believe that one day I shall be able to manage with tolerable clearness."

"Then how happy you will be! You have such a noble husband! such a beautiful, beautiful home!" Yes; I assure you I have wept many times, thinking how unworthy I am of them both. I found but little trouble as long as I was at home: for if I did things wrong, the dear patient Emily was always at hand to put them right; and I just made sport for people. Even mother laughed at my accidents. She little knew the trouble it would make me some day, or how it would plague husband. He is so kind! I think he would lose patience with me, if he didn't half pity me. Fanny's bell. I must quicken husband and your brother's movements. They are stopping at every other step as they come." She met them in the yard, took her husband's hand, Mr. Bartlett's arm, and hurried them into the house. "You don't know anything about how glad I am, Mr. Lane!" said she, looking up in his face with intense delight in her eyes. They are the first visitors we have had to stop a good long time with us since we were married, you know, except Fanny. And we shall all have such good times, especially in the rainy days, when you can sit quietly with us in the house. I love those days. But chiefly I shall delight in making Miss Bartlett as healthy and fat as I am myself." Miss Bartlett's eyes filled at