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Baren Digest              Monday, 26 October 1998      Volume 05 : Number 324

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From: Cucamongie@aol.com
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 09:21:09 EST
Subject: [Baren 1944] congratulations to Graham 

Congratulations to Graham on the upcoming events -- that's fantastic news! --
all the best to you -- 

Sarah Hauser

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From: Bill Ritchie <ritchie@emeralda.com>
Date: Sun, 25 Oct 1998 10:49:17 -0800
Subject: [Baren 1945] Re: One-point lesson ... 

When I first read this lesson I remembered an experience that involved
saliva. I did not send this story, though, because it seems unlikely that
the lesson I learned would really have any bearing on the "trick" that Dave
shared.

I was buying paper one time, and I had been told by someone, "If you want
to know if a paper is sized or unsized, lick it. Yes, lick it with your
tongue. If if feels dry, draws the saliva off your tongue, the paper is
unsized. If not, if the paper feels slick and unabsorbing, it's sized."

So one day I had a sample book (which I purchased) and I was fingering a
piece of van Gelder Zonen etching paper. To test for sizing, I licked it.
Sure enough, the paper was unsized. This sample book, by the way, was not
labeled with the specifications at the time.

I kept the sample book stored away and, one day a long time later, was
surprised to find the edge of that sheet had a brown spot. I asked someone
about it and I included the fact it was unsized, that I knew because I
licked it.

This person said, "Your saliva contains acids--you know, digestive acids
and enzymes and such. It will cause the paper to 'burn' just the same as
cheap papers will turn brown."

So, now, I try not to sneeze on my papers for obvious reasons.

I knew one person who sneezed on his prints. His studio was cold and it was
hard times. The following summer, huge man-eating plants grew out of his
print drawers and ate the man up while he slept.

Inventor Bill H. Ritchie, Jr.

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From: David Bull <davebull@woodblock.com>
Date: Mon, 26 Oct 1998 10:25:06 +0900
Subject: [Baren 1946] Re: saliva problems ... 

Bill Ritchie wrote:
> I was buying paper one time, and I had been told by someone, "If you want
> to know if a paper is sized or unsized, lick it. 

This is the standard technique used by paper dealers to gauge the
strength of the sizing in washi.  Whenever I've been discussing sizing
with any of them, this is the first thing they do - dab one corner of
the sheet onto their tongue.

 
> was surprised to find the edge of that sheet had a brown spot. 

But this brings up a very interesting point.  In each of those cases
where I have used that moistened tissue to 'pull off' the blot of
pigment, am I going to see a brown patch 50 years down the road?

I don't know, but I don't care to take the chance.  From now on, I'll
moisten that tissue with water from my 'mizubake', not from my tongue.

Thanks Bill!

Dave B.

And anyway - I certainly wouldn't want to be eaten alive by one of
Bill's plants!

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End of Baren Digest V5 #324
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