Page:History of the Press in Western New York (1847).djvu/30

Rh of their craft, and the value of that good-fellowship which these Anniversary Feasts never fail to engender.

Please accept from me the following sentiment:

Journeymen Printers: Intellectual columns in the Temple of Freedom.

Yours, very respectfully,

.

To Messrs. Canfield, Shepard and others.

From, Foreman in the office of the Geulph and Galt Advertiser

, C. W., Dec. 14, 1846.

Gentlemen:—I should ere this have acknowledged the receipt of your kind invitation to join the brethren of the craft of your city, in celebrating the anniversary of the Birthday of the immortal, but that I thought it would be in my power to be present on the occasion; in which case no answer would be necessary; but having since ascertained that I cannot possibly be with you at that celebration, I feel bound to reply, trusting you will excuse the delay.

Myself an American, I feel doubly gratified in seeing you tender your hospitality to your brother "typos" across the lake, and I can assure you they are deeply sensible of your kindness, and will heartily co-operate with you.

Trusting you will receive my sincere thanks for your kind invitation, and that nothing may prevent you from celebrating the day with the spirit you anticipate,

I remain, Gentlemen,

Your most obedient serv't,

.

To the Corresponding Committee of the Franklin Festival, Rochester, N. Y.

From, Esq., of the Journal, Jamestown.

, Dec. 2, 1846.

Gentleman:—Your circular of the 9th ult., asking the attendance of the proprietor of this paper at a celebration of the anniversary of the birth-day of, to be held at Rochester on the 18th of January, was duly received at this office on the 26th of Nov. In said circular there was a solicitation of the sentiments of your fellow-craftsmen in this establishment.—For one, sirs, I feel bound to respond to the invitation. If there is one man of the past, above another, to whose memory I would unite in doing honor, it is the venerated. Possessed, in his youth, of far less advantages than hundreds of the craft now, who, if they desire knowledge, despair, calling their lot a rigid one, and their advantages for education circumscribed, he struggled against difficulties, and surmounted barriers, which would have made less resolute minds quail with fear. Although far from condemning schools and colleges, he overleaped them, and without the aid which they bestow, climbed to the very apex of the temple of Science. With his own hands he wrought out his own destiny. The unaided and self-created genius which glimmered in the Printer's boy at Boston, shone with brilliant splendor in the Philosopher and faithful Representative at Philadelphia, and in the patriotic Ambassador at the Court of St. James. is to the Printer what is to the Soldier, to us all. And cold must be the bosom of that disciple of Faust, which beats not with emotion at the mere mention of the name of him to whom the nation will ever owe a debt of gratitude—and who added such undimmed lustre to the pursuit which we, as Printers, are engaged in.

May your celebration of the anniversary of the birth-day of the Father of Printers, be all that such an occasion should be.

Yours, respectfully,

F. W..

To P. Canfield and others, Committee.

From, Esq., or Lockport, N. Y.

, Dec. 8, 1846.

Brothers of the craft:—With profound sincerity, I congratulate you for your Heaven-approved design to pay a distinguished tribute of respect to our fellow-craftsman, the immortal. The covers of the precious "old book" are laid aside, and the sacred pages are scattered over the wide world, as emblems of him who found no equal, and shall never cease to exist. His virtues should be recorded in letters of gold upon our national tablets, and indelibly stamped upon the mind of every craftsman, that they may be transmitted to posterity through succeeding generations.

Although I cannot be with you, my heart is with you, and will continue to be, so long as such celebrations are put in operation; for they will show to the world that you appreciate the talents of that renowned Sage, Patriot, Statesman, and Philosopher. Nothing is better calculated to emulate you, to raise your sleeping energies and show yourselves participants in the blessings of a free country, in the procuring of which our reverend ancestor acted a glorious part. But if I rightly understand, you do not assemble to contemplate his numberless virtues, but to them; and in doing so, you have the best wishes of your fellow-craftsman,

.

Philemon Canfield and others, Committee.

From D., Esq., of the firm of Bennett, Backus & Hawley.

, Jan. 6, 1847.

Gentlemen:—We should be most happy to set down our sticks, and leave our cases, and unloose our hold of the bar, were we not so closely locked up and pressed for quoin, it would afford us untold pleasure to enjoy with you the proposed celebration. Accept our thanks for your kind invitation, and be assured that we shall ever strive to justify the columns of the "Art preservative of all arts."

"Our hands" send you a few sentiments.

1. Franklin's industry, perseverance, integrity, temperance and benevolence in the age in which he lived, present him as a model worthy of our imitation.

2. Our Craft—May every Apprentice follow copy of Franklin's virtues, every Compositor produce a clean proof thereof, and every Pressman