e by means of the modern press which has the
capacity for turning out in a short time such an immense number of
papers."

Paul listened, fascinated by the subject.

"Gradually," went on Mr. Wright, "new brains attacked the problems of
the small press, improving and enlarging it until little by little a
press was built up which is so intricate and so wonderful that it almost
ceases to be a machine and becomes nearly human. Boston, you know,
harbors the largest printing press in the world. It is made up of
383,000 parts; it carries eight huge rolls of paper weighing from
thirteen hundred to fifteen hundred pounds, four of them at each end;
and in addition it has two color presses attached on which the colored
supplement is printed."

"How do they ever lift such heavy rolls of paper into place?" inquired
Paul.

"A chain is put around them and they are hoisted up by machinery,"
answered Mr. Wright. "The employees are warned to stand from under, too,
when they are lifted, for should one of those mighty rolls fall, the
person beneath might be seriously injured or perhaps killed."

"How many papers can they turn out on a press of that size?" was Paul's
next question.

"It is possible to turn out 726,000 eight-page papers an hour or the
equivalent of that quantity; the number of papers depends on the size of
them, you see."

"What do you suppose good Benjamin Franklin would say to that?" laughed
Paul.

"I fancy he would remark a number of things," Mr. Wright returned. "In
fact, a modern newspaper plant, with its myriad devices for meeting the
business conditions of our time, would be quite an education to
Franklin, as it is to the rest of us. Did you ever see a big newspaper
printed from start to finish, Paul?"

"No, sir."

"Ah, that's a pity. As a publisher you should be better informed on your
subject," observed the elder man half teasingly. "I am going to Boston
on Saturday. If your father is willing would you like to go along with
me and spend the week-end in town?"

The lad's eyes shone.

"Would I like it!" he managed to stammer.

"I've got to see some of the business houses we supply with paper,"
continued Mr. Wright, "and incidentally I am sure I could arrange a
visit to a big newspaper office Saturday evening when they are getting
out the Sunday papers and have all their presses in operation."

"That would be great!"

"I think you would enjoy the trip," asserted Mr. Wright. "The printing
of a paper