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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 cloth to what color thou desirest；' and
then He presently began to take the cloths out of
the furnace； and they were all dyed of those same
colors which the dyer desired。 And when the Jews
saw this surprising miracle they praised God。〃
The ancients used also a number of tinctures as
ink； among them a brown color； sepia； in Hebrew
tekeleth。 As a natural ink its origin antedates every
other ink； artificial or otherwise； in the world。 It is a
black…brown liquor； secreted by a small gland into an
oval pouch； and through a connecting duct is ejected
at will by the cuttle fish which inhabits the seas of
Europe； especially the Mediterranean。 These fish
constantly employ the contents of their 〃ink bags〃
to discolor the water； when in the presence of enemies；
in order to facilitate their escape from them。
The black broth of the Spartans was composed of
this product。 The Egyptians sometimes used it for
coloring inscriptions on stone。 It is the most lasting
of all natural ink substances。
So great is the antiquity of artificial ink that the
name of its inventor or date of its invention are alike
unknown。 The poet Whitehead refers to it as follows：
Hard that his name it should not save；
Who first poured forth the sable wave。〃
The common black ink of the ancients was essentially
different in composition and less liable to fade
than those used at the present time。 It was not a
stain like ours； and when Horace wrote
〃And yet as ink the fairest paper stains；
So worthless verse pollutes the fairest deeds；〃
he must have had in mind the vitriolic ink of his own
time。
But little information relative to black inks of the
intermediate times has come down to us； and it is conveyed
through questioned writings of authors who
flourished about the period of the life of Jesus Christ；
the Younger Pliny and Dioscorides are the most prominent
of them。 They present many curious recipes。
One of these； suggested by Pliny； is that the addition
of an infusion of wormwood to ink will prevent the
destruction of MSS。 by mice。
From a memoir by M。 Rousset upon the pigments
and dyes used by the ancients； it would appear that
the variety was very considerable。 Among the white
colors； they were acquainted with white lead； and for
the blacks； various kinds of charcoal and soot were
used。 Animal skins were dyed black with gall apples
and sulphate of iron （copper）。 Brown pigments were
made by mixing different kinds of ochre。 Under the
name of Alexander blue； the ancientsEgyptians as
well as Greeks and Romansused a pigment containing
oxide of copper； and also one containing cobalt。
Fabrics were dyed blue by means of pastel…wood。
Yellow pigments were principally derived from weld；
saffron； and other native plants。
Vermilion； red ochre； and minium （red lead） were
known from a remote antiquity； although the artificial
preparation of vermilion was a secret possessed
only by the Chinese。
The term scarlet as employed in the Old Testament
was used to designate the blood…red color procured
from an insect somewhat resembling cochineal； found
in great quantities in Armenia and other eastern
countries。 The Arabian name of the insect is Kermez
（whence crimson）。 It frequents the boughs of a species
of the ilex tree： on these it lays its eggs in groups；
which become covered with a sort of down； so that
they present the appearance of vegetable galls or
excrescences from the tree itself and are described as
such by Pliny XVI； 12； who also gave it the name of
granum； probably on account of its resemblance to a
grain or berry； which has been adopted by more recent
writers and is the origin of the term 〃ingrain color〃
as now in use。 The dye is procured from the female
grub alone； which； when alive is about the size of the
kernel of a cherry and of a dark red…brown color； but
when dead； shrivels up to the size