PAPER, This well-known fabric is usually composed of vegetable fibers minutely divided and recombined in thin sheets, either by simple drying in contact, or with the addition of size or some other adhesive material. Probably the earliest use of paper was for the purpose of writing upon. and its earliest form was the papyrus (q.v.) of the Egyptians. The sterns of the papyrus plant, which are often 8 or 10 ft. long, are soft and green, externally like the common rush; and the interior consists of a compact cel lular tissue or pith. At the bottom of each stem the portion immersed in the mud and water is whiter and more compact; and under the outer skin a number of thin pellicles he one above time other. These were rentoved, and laid side by side with their edges overlapping each other, and crosswise upon these was placed one or more similar layers, until the sheet was sufficiently thick; pressure was then applied for a time, and after wards the sheet was dried in the sun. The width of such sheets, of course, depended upon the length of the portion of ,papyrus stems taken; but they could he made any length by joining a number of the squares end to end by glue or any other adhesive material. The scopes, or roll, usually consisted of about 20 of them.
Owing to the fact that the various layers of the papyrus decrease in thickness as they are nearer to the center of the stem, the makers were enabled to produce papers of dif: ferent qualities, and in the time of the Romans many varieties were known, which differed as to the onality of the material, and the size of the pieces of which the sheets were composed. The finest quality was made from the innermost layer of membrane, and was called hieratica, or paper of the pnests . This was made for the Egyptian priests, who interdicted its sale until covered with sacred writing. In this state it was, however, an article of trade, and the Romans found a means of removing the writing, and sold the palimpsest sheets in Rome under the name of Augustus paper, used as a Latin equivalent for its former Greek name of hieratica. It was, however. supposed by many that it was named after the emperor /Augustus, and in consequence a second quality was called after his wife, Livinia ; and the original name of the first quality came ame to be applied to the third quality. The next quality was called Amphitheutriea,
supposed, from its having been made- in the vicinity of the Alexandrian amphi theater. This last, when imported to Rome, was partly remauulactured by Q. ROMIllillS Faunius Pal:talon, the schoolmaster and paper-maker, who, by a peculiar process of his own, reduced its thickness, and rendered it equal to the first quality, when it was sold under the name of Fanniana. There were other inferior qualities, of which one called Einporetiea was used as shop paper.
Pliny, from whom we get these very interesting particulars, tells us that all these kinds were manufactured iu Egypt, and required the Nile water for their formation. He says, that "when it is in a muddy state it has the peculiar qualities of glue, and the various kinds of paper are made on a table where they are moistened with this water. The leaves or sheets of membrane are laid upon it lengthwise, as long indeed as the papyrus will admit of, the jagged edges being cut off at either end; after which a cross layer is placed over; the smne way, in fact, that hurdles are made. When this is done, the leaves are pressed together, and dried iu the sun." The idea of the adhesive quality of the Nile water is erroneous, but it is very probable the Egyptian manufacturers encouraged the error. It is obvious the whole Merit consisted in using the membranes fresh, whilst their own natural gum was iu proper condition to make them adhere together.
In India and China, the art of writing with a style or sharp point upon dried palm and other leaves, and also some kinds of bark, is common even at the' present day, espe cially iu Ceylon, where we find it common to employ the leaves of the talipot and other palms as paper. Perhaps it was from the employment of these materials, or it is even possible from watching the operations of the paper-nicking wasps and other insects, that the manufacture of larger pieces, by pulping the materials and spreading them out to a greater extent. was suggested. Whatever was the true origin of the art, it is now lost in the vista of time.