“Your brother has given me some account of your efforts in the arts;
and I am desirous of learning more respecting them.”
The heart of Gutenberg was touched by the genuine interest in himself
and his endeavors, manifested by the rich goldsmith; and the two new
friends were soon walking the streets absorbed in conversation.
“I have devised a most important invention,” said Gutenberg, “and it
remains hidden like a buried seed till the rain and sunshine bring it
up to light and fruitage. Would that I had my hoarded patrimony, that
I might render my discovery available! But such is the necessity of
keeping the details of my processes, that I have not ventured to apply
for money to prosecute the art.”
“If I had a full understanding of what it is, I might perhaps assist
thee,” returned the banker.
“It concerns book-making,” explained Gutenberg, for Faust was fast
winning his confidence. “You are aware that the great work of the
monasteries in Germany, as elsewhere, is copying books, and that
they receive vast sums for their works. My new process doth entirely
supercede their toil, and fashioneth books without the labor of
copying.”
“Impossible!” ejaculated Faust.
“But I can demonstrate it!”
“Good, if thou canst prove it beyond all question. But what money is
needed to carry out thy wonderful discovery?”
“Some two or three thousand florins,” answered Gutenberg.
“If I were convinced,” returned the other, “that it would pay better
than goldsmithing,--but I must see specimens of thy work, before
committing myself to the enterprise.”
“And I will with pleasure show them you, provided you will pledge
yourself that, if convinced, you will invest in the undertaking.
Meanwhile rest assured that it will yet pay richly. Why, consider what
moneys the monks receive; and my books will be more in demand, since
they are better executed.”
“As to books,” remarked the goldsmith, “according to my thinking there
are enough in the world already. They serve little purpose save to turn
active men into mopers. Nevertheless, as people will have them, there
can be no harm that we should make a profit by furnishing them. They
may as well have books as jewelry and mirrors, which gratify their
vanity.”
“I think so,” replied the inventor, smiling; “and when you come to know
my art, you cannot fail to admire it.”
“Art!” exclaimed Faust jocosely, “hath it aught to do with the black
art? I could not abide that. Much as I value money, I would not league
myself with the Evil One.”
“By no means,” said Gutenberg, a mirthful expression breaking over his
care-worn face, “and you have no greater abhorrence of such wickedness
than myself.” Then seriously, “I believe in using the wisdom that God
giveth. As saith St. James, ‘If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of
God, who giveth unto all men liberally, and upbraideth not.’”
“But what if thou art deceived in thy business calculations? What then
will become of my money?” asked Faust.
“There can be no mistake,” was the answer. “I have put the discovery to
practical use; I have made books by it, and there can be no illusion.
This I will demonstrate before we sign a contract. If it were not a
great discovery, and most beneficent and far-reaching in its results, I
would not be thus earnest to bring it out. But to delay is risking too
much; in case of my death, it would perish with me.”
“If I can be convinced that it is a certainty,” returned Faust, “I
will furnish capital; but I cannot abide a doubt. As I said, if I am
satisfied, we will draw up and sign an agreement; you, on your part, to
teach me the secrets of the art; I, on my part, to provide money; and
the profits to be shared equally.”
He then agreed to come and spend the ensuing day at Gutenberg’s house,
examining specimens of his work and investigating the practicability
of his invention.
It was noon the next day when Gutenberg took Faust home with him, to
the dismay of Anna, who, since her preoccupied husband had forgotten
the marketing, had only the prospect of a dinner of herbs for her
guest. At length, in her anxiety, she heard the sound of a fisherman’s
horn; and, sallying out into the street, she purchased a great
treasure,--a fish. In due time the simple repast was ready; and when
they were seated at the table, Faust, reverting to the subject of their
previous conference, said,--
“Your invention has something to do with engraving on wood. How can
that be less laborious than copying?”
“It is precisely to draw your attention to that point that I spoke of
it,” replied Gutenberg. “With that alone we could not even imprint a
large work in a life-time. But if, instead of engraving a whole page on
a solid block, we use a small movable block for engraving each letter,
you see that we can then use the same letters any number of times, and
so lessen our labors beyond all calculation. This is the first great
step of my invention. Does it not seem simple? Why did no one think of
it before?”
He then described the process by which he reached his various
improvements, dwelling especially on his invention of the press.
“You must have a world of perseverance!” observed Faust, admiringly.
“When one gets on the track of a great idea,” said Gutenberg, a
handsome glow tinging his cheeks, “it is hard to give it up.”
“But you are an artist in gems,” interrupted Faust. “Who executed the
work in wood for you?”
“Conrad Sachspach, at Strasbourg, made the frame, following my
directions. But I must show you some of my books;” and, rising, he
produced a number, and among them the “Speculum,” which was made partly
from blocks and partly from movable type.
“Are these really specimens of books, Master Gutenberg?” asked Faust
with surprise. “Wonderful! wonderful! thou hast wisely devised a most
useful art, that will shortly bring thee both riches and renown!”
“And thou hast the faculty to quickly comprehend my art,” replied
Gutenberg with a beaming face.
“That is true,” added Anna, “and it is so blessed to be appreciated.
But while you warm over your theme, dinner gets cold!” and a laugh went
round the table.
“This is a worthy deed of thine, madam,” replied Faust, “preparing a
good dinner, and making us laugh. Physicians would commend thee.”
“What would they say to my husband? wouldn’t they counsel him to
descend from the clouds and eat like other people?”
“No doubt of it, madam, since ideas, however original, have not the
nourishing elements of food. You have been tried by your husband’s
application to his one idea?”
“At times,” replied Anna, “I have failed to see the service of it.”
Faust laughed heartily, adding,--
“Time enough for the utility, madam. The invention must go through a
process to become available; it must creep before it can walk. Have
patience, madam!”
“I try to have a great store,” she playfully said, “but he is so taken
up with his projects that I can scarcely ever get a word from him.
When he leaves his work-shop for the day, and draws his chair to the
fire, one would think he might have the grace to be sociable; but there
he sits and pokes the fire, reads the fire, studies the fire, half
the night, and I would like to know what is the necessity of so much
meditation?”
“Ah, madam,” returned Faust, “it is the common experience of inventors
to meet many adversities in the outset. You have reason to be proud of
your husband. As I understand it, he has made a great discovery,--the
beginning of something of vast importance.”
Then, turning to Gutenberg, he added, “I am ready to advance thy
invention. But how shall we move? Secrecy is indispensable. We must
live in the same house in which we work,--we must consult much
together. Where is there a suitable building?”
“I had thought of the Zum Jungen,” said Gutenberg.
“The very place. It is almost a palace in size, and will afford ample
room; is in the city, and yet retired from its bustle. It is now
vacant, and I will go and engage it at once. This evening let us draw
up a written contract, or articles of agreement, and I will advance the
needed funds. When can you remove?”
“To-morrow, can we not, Anna?”
“Why,” exclaimed she, “can we get ready so soon? We are scarcely
settled yet.”
“The easier to remove,” replied Gutenberg; adding, “moreover, the Zum
Jungen is a very beautiful place, and reminds me of the old castle
Thür, where I first met my Anna!”
“Let us go at once,” immediately returned the wife; “it must be
delightful. Why cannot De Becktoff de Hanau come and help us remove?”
alluding to an old servant and valet of the Gutenberg family, who, like
others of their servants, had been allowed to hire himself out, since
he could not be maintained.
“A good thought, wife; he shall take charge of our goods, and we
shall avoid some of the fatigue of a second removal. I will bring him
hither;” and Faust having taken leave, Gutenberg hastened to find the
old valet.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]