The principal thing, however, in paper making is to get it the same thickness. "It will take too[p. 232] long to make a cylinder, which makes the paper even, and distribute the pulp perfectly, and in the absence of that I have ordered an apparatus which will turn out a sheet at a time."
The Professor then exhibited a drawing, and continued: "Notice the box, which is two feet square inside and two feet high. See this cleat all around the inside, six inches from the top. That is to hold the frame of a cloth web, which fits in the box exactly."
"At the bottom of the box is a pipe, right in the middle. This pipe is for the purpose of carrying the water into the box. Below the box is a larger box, and this contains the water which has the pulp mixed with it, just enough of the pulp to make it look cloudy.
"The water in the box is carried into the box by the pump. When the screen, or web, is placed in position, and the pump set to work, the water, carrying the pulp, moves upwardly in the box, and the fine particles of pulp are caught by the screen and held there, the little fibers lying crisscross over each other.
"Every minute or so the screen with the paper mat on its underside must be taken out and another put in, and the matted paper on each screen put under a press, and the water squeezed out, after which it will readily peel off the screen, and when it is dried it makes a good blotting paper. To make a writing paper of it, the sheet must be run through a number of heavily weighted steel rollers, but we don't need that for printing our books."
The paper was made in that manner, and the Professor was delighted when he saw the illustrations. Thus the first serious attempt was made to begin the teaching of the children, and when the books were ready the boys were all happy to undertake the work of teaching. It was here that the Tuolo medicine men were utilized, and it may be said to their credit that they found the new calling agreeable and pleasant.
But there is still so much to be said about the town, the people, the actions of the chiefs, the work that was being prosecuted, the farms and plantations that were started, the manufactured articles turned out, the new houses erected everywhere, and the intense interest exhibited by the people under the new order of things.
The boys knew they had been a great factor in the regeneration of the island, and were proud of it. Lolo, and boys of like ages with our boys, were given special training, due to the suggestion of the Professor. Some were taught the theory of medicine, as the necessity of proper medical treatment was essential. Many received the rudimentary knowledge of carpentry and other occupations from John.
The ship was the principal topic of conversation, and to that the main energies were directed. The finest oak trees were cut and brought in; a new and larger sawmill installed; the machine shop was busy day and night in the making of two new lathes, a planer, and several drilling machines.