We fonnd several conies of the inscription on the Nestorian tablet which we bought, but as they were quite inadequate to fill our orders, a boy provided with the proper utensils was despatched to the abler itself to take other lithographs and we accompanied him. The process is simple. The paper en which the impression is to be taken comes in sheets about 18} inches square. This is folded quite small, thoroughly wet and pressed, then opened out and deftly: applied to the surface of the stone, which is first moistened) to make the paper adhere. The paper being now smoothly spread over the stone is again dampened to make sure of its sticking, and gently rubbed with a soft brush of hair. If the paper is torn, or if holes are accidentally made, a fresh bit of} paper is clapped on and the whole adheres perfectly. The sheet then rubbed with a compact wad, thick and even, which is dipped in the liquid ink. This blackens everything except the paper on the en-; graved characters which are too much below the surface to be cajigraphy, and its excellent liter-reached by the ink. It is mteresting to watch the. quick skilful to the nature of the subject (the pressure of the expert which brings out the impressions of the well formed characters as clearly cut as when they were engraved more than a thousand years ago. For the best effect the sheets should be inked two or three times, but a single impression is quite legible. The ink dries rapidly. When the paper is also dry the whole rubbing, composed of no matter how many sheets or patches, comes off as a whole. Twenty or 30 impressions, all equally good, can be token in a single day, and if carefully done the process in no way injures the stone. While not of course equal to photography for distinctness it is much less troublesome incidentally. It gives employment to_a large number of workmen. The rubbings are sold at rates varvine with the size of the stone, and the finish of the work. Some of the finer ons are done in several different colours on the same sheet. Of these hues the loss red is the finest and most lustrous, but it has the disadvantage of heine much esteemed by a tiny insect which burrows through the sheets with as much facility and apparent satisfaction as mites through a cheese.
Tre Foresr or Tapters, In the extreme southern part of Usian is ave celebrated collection of ancient inscriptions, called the Peilin, or Forest of Tablets. At. this place lithography is practised as a fine art, and fac-similes of any inscription can be obtained. The entrance to this interesting repository of historic scholarship is not readily found, rieing appreached—through—small back alleys. The number of shans in which lithographs are sold very great. Passing °. under numerous old ornamental portals we come to several long sheds protecting the tablets, the product of scholars of different dynasties, some of the stones like the Nestorian Tablet being over 1,000 years old. Some of them are built into the walls, others themselves form a partition wall. This is one of the Public Libraries of China, all the volarness well yot up in durable bindings! (Some have inscriptions on each face.) The most prized" rehoe are the stones containing a complete set of the Chinese Classics. Some of these through lapse of time and removal have been much defaced, but smaller" supplementary "footnotes" in stone have been added at the side with amended readings where the obliterated characters are filled in.
The row of these classical stones is of great length. Complete lithographs of them all were offered for the modest sum of about $55.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.