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Christophe Plantin
Sixteenth Century Printer
Christope Plantin was a Frenchman who was determined to become a master-printer, but censorship in his country caused him to look elsewhere for a place to set up business. He headed for Antwerp which was the leading city of Europe. At first he established himself as a bookbinder, just outside the city. In 1555 he moved into Antwerp where he became a full-fledged printer and publisher.
Soon he demonstrated his right to be recognized as the leading printer of his time. During the years 1568 to 1577 he turned out the Biblia Polyglotta the great typographic achievement of the sixteenth century. His books are admired for their accuracy and topography. Types designed by Garamond and Granjon were part of his equipment.
The business established by Plantin continued to operate until 1867. More than 300 years.
Choose Your Own Horoscope
by Frances Stockman
There is at this time in our era a decided renewal of the arts of predicting the future, which has given many the urge to inspect their horoscopes and pause to wonder at the signs in the heavens.
Ah, to be born at the right time and the right place, there is the rub. Our destiny foreordained by the aspects of Sun signs and Planets. By divine order so they say. What an unpredictable and dangerous situation for us poor mortals. No choice to select our habitat, kin or skin?
Yet, I must admit there is a small satisfaction with the inexorable fact, that few are born with a silver spoon in their mouth, if I may use the colloquial expression. For, far more of us are born on the other side of the track. As the Bible relates, the poor are always with us – God bless its generosity. For to salve my conscience, I cry, “He made more of us because He loved us more.”
That alone should intrigue us. He expected more from us too. We are endowed with the same aspirations, hopes and dreams of fulfillment, as anyone else. The idea is to keep the fire burning under our ideals; our horizons unlimited. Basically this is a divine spark from within, where in the silence, we touch the hem of His garment. When we become inwardly alive, responses to live move through us dramatically and stimulates our soul.
As God’s divine love fills our hearts with what is good and true. Nothing, not even the stars or a silver spoon can keep us from our good.
The quintessence of life is what we contribute to it, it constitutes a heavenly prediction of what we are… and not a horoscope.
* Give a man enough rope and he’ll finally tangle it up.
* Some like traveling by rail or bus but birds usually travel by air.
* You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him think.
* Huge oaks from small potatoes grow.
– Effilcdar Drawoh
Essence of the Ivy
by Josephine H. Voracek
Broad and green uniformly the ivy clings tightly to something: A small plant, a rotted and gnarled tree trunk, a deserted and dilapidated hut, some artistic and lovely old ruin, a church steeple towering tall towards heaven, surfaces of rocky cliffs. Even spreading itself and holding onto tiny blades of grass.
The ivy’s tendrils question not what it grasps and gives no thought as to whether or not what it has chosen to grip can bear its weight or support it. In silent dignity, the ivy preaches the Lord’s gospel to all mankind as it supports the weaker things it clings to, and beautifies those which are eyesore spots.
Hush!!
by Frances Stockman
Hush! Don’t say anything
For silence is the best, to say
The words, the heart can only feel,
And your eyes betray.
What tenderness and guile
They reveal to me
Mirrored to reflect
Your dearest love for me.
One look that symbolizes
All my dreams come true.
So fortunate am I
That I am loved by you.
The Proved Path
by Josephine H. Voracek
Bathed in artificial fog
And exposed to man-made sunshine,
Life’s storms all pass away
And we find ourselves remembering
Only the undefeated dawns.
The Pet Lover
by H. G. R.
There never was a man who loved pets more than my next door neighbor Elmer Twiddle. He kept a canary, cat, goldfish, tame mouse, and a mongrel hound. When he went walking he always carried a loaf of bread under each arm to feed the birds; his pockets full of meat scraps for any unfortunate creature he encountered along the way. He adored every kind of bird and animal known to man.
The other day Elmer called me over to his house. I went in and looked around for the pets. The only thing I found was a dead goldfish in the birdcage. I asked about the others. He told me that he gave the mouse to the cat and the cat to the dog, then carried the dog to the dog-catcher. When I asked about the canary, he pointed at the oven. I didn’t look inside as I had no reason to think he would lie.
He picked up a shotgun and had me load it; then out the door he went mumbling he was going to shoot some birds. So I went on back home. The next I heard, the game warden had locked him up for hunting without a license. Seems to me Elmer is slipping a little – everybody knows that you have to carry a license when you go hunting.
Moderns Take Notice
An edict against the wearing of long hair was issued by Gov. John Endicot of Massachusetts on March 10, 1649. He and his chief magistrates joined in “manifesting their dislike and detestation against the wearing of long hair, as against a thing uncivil and unmanly whereby men doe deform themselves, and offend sober and modest men, and doe corrupt good manners.”
Set & printed by Howard G. Radcliffe
Petersburg, Va. 23803