Diary of John Adams, volume 1

1760. Novr. 15th. Sat.

Wednesday 19 November.

1760. Novr. 19th. JA

1760-11-19

1760. Novr. 19th. Adams, John
1760. Novr. 19th.

Parson Smith says the Art of Printing like most other Arts, and Instruments, was discovered by Accident. Somebody, at an idle Hour, had whitled his Name, cut his Name out in the Bark of a Tree. And when his Name was fairly cut out, he cut it off and put it into his Hankerchief. The Bark was fresh, and full of Sap, and the Sap colored his Hankerchief, i.e. printed his Name upon it. And from observing that he tooke the Hint.