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Show OLD MANUSCRIPT INK. f ItMlpe Iron. Which ao Kirellenl UulKy ' Cu IK lUda. "While examining a large number of old manuscripts of an old scribe, some twenty-flvo yeara ago," said a well-known well-known New York librarian recently to a Waahlngton Star man, "I was struck with tbe clearness and legibility ot the writing, owing, In great measure, to the permanent quality ot the Ink, - which had not faded In the leaat, al though many ot the manuscript! were nearly 200 years old. It was remarked, too, that tho writer must havo been celebrated In his day for his calligraphy, cal-ligraphy, for I met with a letter or two from his correspondents In which there waa a requcat for a reclpo of tho Ink he used. I found hla recipes, which I copied, and from one ot them, dated ln 1CS8, I have during the laat eighteen years made all the Ink I have used. Tho recipe reads as follows: Rainwater, 1 gallon; galla, brulaed, 1 pound; green copperas, i pound, gum arable, 10 ounces, 5 drams, 1 scruple. Not requiring so large a Quantity at a I tip. I- t ii , in h ,', ,-' p eighth, and the recipe atands thua: Rainwater, 1 pint; galls, bruised, IH ounces; greon copperas, 6 drama; gum arable, 10 drama. The galla mutt be coariely powdered and put Into a bottle bot-tle with the other Ingredlenta and water added. Tho bottlo, when securely se-curely stoppered, should bo placed ln the light (sun If possible) and Its con tents occasionally stirred until tbe gum and copperas are dissolved, after which It Is enough to shake the bottlo dally, and ln the courso ot a month or six weeks tho Ink will be fit to use. I have ventured to add ten drops ot carbolic car-bolic acid to the contents of the bottle, aa It effectually proventa the formation forma-tion and growth of mold without any detriment to the quality of the Ink so far as I know." |