THE PUBLISHING WORK by William Clarence White

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Aug 12, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 31.

THE PUBLISHING WORK.

By William Clarence White

The mission publishing house at Basel is at present a very busy place. Several important works are in progress of publication, and others greatly needed are being translated. Many of the workmen have had but a short experience in this work; but there is a great earnestness to learn, and an ambition to reach perfection in the work; and every month the capacity of the office to turn out books is increased. There are several young men waiting for these new books, and we hope soon to have such an assortment that there may be many colporters engaged in their sale.

In some respects this office at Basel is different from others. The managers of the work are English-speaking Americans, and most of the workers are either German or French. If any one thinks that the confusion of languages at Basel was a matter of small consequence, a visit to Switzerland would show him his error, and our brethren have found that the managing of an office in which periodicals and books are to be printed in four different languages, is a matter of no little care and perplexity. To many of the apprentices, the office is as much a school as a place of business. Those who understand only the German, study French, and those who understand only the French, study German. Besides this, almost all of the French and German workers study English. As a rule, the youngest learn to speak most readily, while the older ones make more progress in writing. The rapidity with which these young people learn the English is an astonishment to us Americans, who take hold of the French and German more slowly.

The effect of this general effort to learn the languages will be very beneficial to our future work. Each apprentice in the type-setting department will be taught both French and German composition, and to those who master the English, there is opened up the study of all our English publications on present truth.

Just now there is a grand fête in progress on the commons in front of our publishing house. It is the National Tournament of Athletes, and prodigious preparations have been made for the occasion. An immense building has been erected, and over three thousand athletes are expected to be present. These come from all parts of Switzerland, and some come from other countries. As we have watched the great preparations being made for this fête, which will last but three or four days, we have wondered if it was not our privilege to place in the hands of these people who are so much interested in physical improvement, some reading matter that will call their attention to the necessity of spiritual improvement. With this in view, a special edition has been prepared of Les Signes des Temps, and Herald der Wahrheit, and several thousand will be distributed during the fête. Our prayer is that God will make these papers a blessing to some readers, and that from these small sparks there may be kindled fires that will give light to the various communities where they may be carried.

W. C. WHITE. Copenhagen, Denmark, July 15, 1886.