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FORTY CENTURIES OF INK
CHAPTER I。
GENESIS OF INK。
THE ORIGIN OF INKCOMPOSITION OF THE COLORED
INKS OF ANTIQUITYANCIENT NAMES FOR BLACK
INKSMETHODS OF THEIR MANUFACTURETHE INVENTION
OF 〃INDIAN〃 INKTHE ART OF DYEING
HISTORICALLY CONSIDEREDTHE SYMBOLIC ESTIMATION
OF COLORSTHE EMPLOYMENT OF TINCTURES
AS INKSCONSIDERATION OF THE ANTIQUITY
OF ARTIFICIAL INKS AND THE BLACK INKS OF INTERMEDIATE
TIMESORIGIN OF THE COLORED PIGMENTS
OF ANTIQUITY…CITATIONS FROM HERODOTUS；
PLINY AND ARBUTHNOTPRICES CURRENT； OF ANCIENT
INKS AND COLORSWHY THE NATURAL INKS
FORMERLY EMPLOYED ARE NOT STILL EXTANTTHE
KIND OF INK EMPLOYED BY THE PRIESTS IN THE
TIME OF MOSESILLUSTRATIVE HISTORY OF THE
EGYPTIANS IN ITS RELATIONSHIP TO WRITING
IMPLEMENTSTHE USE OF BOTH RED AND BLACK INK
IN JOSEPH'S TIMEITS OTHER HISTORY PRECEDING
THE DEPARTURE OF ISRAEL FROM EGYPTTHE
DISAPPEARANCE OF ALL BUT A FEW KINDS OF
INKINK TRADITIONS AND THEIR VALUESTORY
ABOUT THE ORACLES OF THE SIBYLSHOW THE ANCIENT
HISTORIANS SOUGHT TO BE MISLEADINGILLUSTRATIVE
ANECDOTE BY RICHARDSON：
THE origin of Ink belongs to an era following the
invention of writing。 When the development of that
art had advanced beyond the age of stone inscription
or clay tablet； some material for marking with the
reed and the brush was necessary。 It was not difficult
to obtain black or colored mixtures for this purpose。
With their advent； forty centuries or more ago； begins
the genesis of ink。
The colored inks of antiquity included the use of a
variety of dyes and pigmentary colors； typical of those
employed in the ancient art of dyeing； in which the
Egyptians excelled and still thought by many to be
one of the lost arts。 The Bible and alleged contemporary
and later literature make frequent mention of
black and many colors of brilliant hues。
In tracing the arts of handwriting and dyeing；
some definite facts are to be predicated as to the most
remote history of ink。
The Hebrew word for ink is deyo； so called from its
blackness。 As primitively prepared for ritualistic purposes
and for a continuing period of more than two
thousand years； it was a simple mixture of powdered
charcoal or soot with water； to which gum was sometimes
added。
The Arabian methods of making ink （alchiber） were
more complex。 Lampblack was first made by the
burning of oil； tar or rosin； which was then commingled
with gum and honey and pressed into small wafers or
cakes； to which water could be added when wanted for
use。
About 1200 years before the Christian era； the Chinese
perfected this method and invented 〃Indian Ink；〃
ostensibly for blackening the surface of raised hieroglyphics；
which 〃was obtained from the soot produced
by the smoke of pines and the oil in lamps； mixed
with the isinglass （gelatin） of asses' skin； and musk
to correct the odour of the oil。〃 Du Halde cites the
following； as of the time of the celebrated Emperor
Wu…Wong； who flourished 1120 years before Christ：
〃As the stone Me （a word signifying blackening
in the Chinese language）； which is used to blacken
the engraved characters； can never become white；
so a heart blackened by vices will always retain its
blackness。〃
That the art of dyeing was known； valued and applied
among early nations； is abundantly clear。 The
allusions to 〃purple and fine raiment；〃 to 〃dyed garments；〃
to 〃cloth of many colours；〃 &c。； are numerous
in the Bible。 In a note to the 〃Pictorial Bible； after
an allusion to the antiquity of this art； and to the pre…
eminence attached by the ancients to purple beyond
every other color； it is remarked： 〃It is important
to understand that the word purple； in ancient writings；
does not denote one particular colour。〃
Many of the names of the dyestuffs have come down
to us； some of them still in use at this time and others
obsolete。 They were employed sometimes as ink； and
certain color values given to them； of which the more
important were blue； red； yellow； green； white； black；
purple； gold and silver。 Some colors were estimated
symbolically。 White was everywhere the symbol of
purity and the emblem of innocence； and； just opposite；
black was held up as an emblem of affliction and
calamity。
Green was the emblem of freshness； vigor and prosperity。
Blue was the symbol of revelation； it was pre…eminently
the celestial color blessed among heathen
nations； and among the Hebrews it was the Jehovah
color； the symbol of the revered God。 Hence； it
was the color predominant in Mosaic ceremonies。
Purple was associated as the dress of kings； with
ideas of royalty and majesty。
Crimson and scarlet； from their resemblance to
blood； became symbolical of life； and also an emblem
of that which was indelible or deeply ingrained。
Later； in Christian times； only five colors were recognized
as fitting for theological meaning or expression：
white； red； green； violet and black。
White was esteemed as being the union of all the
rays of light； and is often referred to as the symbol of
truth and spotless purity。 Red was emblematic both
of fire and love； while green from its analogy to the
vegetable world； was indicative of life and hope。 Violet
was considered the color of penitence and sorrow。
Blue was forbidden except as a color peculiarly appropriated
to the Virgin Mary； while black represented
universally sorrow； destruction and death。
The art of dyeing was also well understood and
practiced in Persia in the most ancient periods。 The
modern Persians have chosen Christ as their patron；
and Bischoff says at present call a dyehouse Christ's
workshop； from a tradition they have that He was of
that profession； which is probably founded on the old
legend 〃that Christ being put apprentice to a dyer；
His master desired him to dye some pieces of cloth of
different colors； He put them all into a boiler； and
when the dyer took them out he was terribly frightened
on finding that each had its proper color。〃
This； or a similar legend； occurs in the apocryphal
book entitled； 〃The First Gospel of the Infancy of
Jesus Christ。〃 The following is the passage：
〃On a certain day also； when the Lord Jesus
was playing with the boys； and running about； He
passed by a dyer's shop whose name was Salem；
and there were in his shop many pieces of cloth
belonging to the people of that city； which they
designed to dye of several colors。 Then the Lord；
Jesus； going into the dyer's shop； took all the cloths
and threw them into the furnace。 When Salem
came home and saw the cloth spoiled； he began to
make a great noise and to chide the Lord Jesus；
saying： 'What hast Thou done； unto me； O thou
son of Mary？ Thou hast injured both me and my
neighbors； they all desired their cloths of a proper
color； but Thou hast come and spoiled them all。'
The Lord Jesus replied： 'I will change the color
of every clo