The process of putting together these ingredients would do credit to that of the successful pastry bake: The lampblack and taurocolla are mixed in exactly the right proportions, brought carefully to a boil during constant stirring and, while cooling, given a " thousand blows" in a pestle or on a smooth surface—-" until no sound is made in grinding." Then the rouge and alkanet are added and the whole is put through a similar pounding and kneading operation, The scent is added just before moulding the ink into sticks. The moulds are collapsible and such that they may be carved with any desired design. After moulding the sticks are put on a smooth surface to harden and until hard they must be turned over and over to prevent fusion. Much skill is required. to produce an article that will not check with heat and disintegrate with time. When the sticks become thoroughly hardened the edges are smoothed and straightened, the lettering is done in gilt, and' they are neatly wrapped and packed ready for market. The whole process requires about two weeks.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.