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Show I OLD MANUSCRIPT INK. H rteclpe from Which an Kieellent Quality . -- H Can lie Nad. H "While examining a large number ot H old manuscripts of an old scribe, some H twenty-five years ago," said a well- H known New York librarian recently to H a Washington Star n.an, "I was struck H with the clearness and legibility ot B the writing, owing, In great measure, BjHH to tho permanent quality ot the Ink, HBVJ which bad not faded In the least, al- HBVJ though many of tho manuscripts were HBVJ nearly 200 years old. It was remarked, HH too, that tho writer must have been HjVB celebrated In his day for his cal- BBV llgraphy, for I met with a letter or flBVJ two from his correspondents In which BjVH thero was a request for n. recipe ot tha BBV Ink ho used. I found his recipes, HBV which I copied, and from ono of them, dated In 1658, I have during the last H eighteen years mado all tho ink I have used. Tho recipe reads as follows: Rainwater. 1 callon: trails, bruised. 1 bbiH pound; green copperas, pound, gum H arable, 10 ounces, 5 drams, 1 scruple. H Not requiring so large a quantity at a time, I reduced tho proportions to one- H eighth, nnd tho rcclpo stands thus: H Rainwater, 1 pint; nlls, bruised, 1H " H ounces; green copperas, G drams; gum H arable, 10 drams. The galls must bo H coarsely powdered and put into a hot- H tlo with tho other Ingredients and H water ndded. Tho bottle, when so- H curely stoppered, should bo placed In -H tho light (sun if posslblo) and Its con- H tents occasionally stirred until tho gum H and copperas are dissolved, after H which it Is enough to shake the bottle H dally, and in tha course ot a month or H six weeks tho ink will be fit to uso. I H havo ventured to add ten drops ot car- H bollc acid to tho contents ot tbe bottle, M as It effectually prevents the forma- fl tlon and growth of mold without any M detriment to the quality ot tho Ink so M far as I know." jH |