own name: also when he imposes, he inserts his name in the column appropriated for that purpose. By following strictly this mode, every sort of dispute will be prevented: and though a private account may be necessary for individual satisfaction, yet it will not avail in settling a general misunderstanding, as the various private accounts may differ, and the charge of inaccuracy may be alleged with as much reason against one as the other; but in this general scale a mistake can be immediately detected. It also operates as a check on those who may be inclined to write out of their proper signature, or to charge more pages than they have imposed.
In making up his matter, a compositor should be particularly careful; as, if the work he is on be very open, with whites, &c., he must see that the depth of the page corresponds with the regular body of the type which the work is done in; for, unless care is taken in this particular, the register of the work must be incomplete. The pressman cannot make the lines back, if accuracy is not observed in making up the matter; and it would often prevent many quarrels and inconveniences, if the compositor was more attentive to this important branch of his duty.
As the letter is laid up it should be divided in equal proportions; and, if it can be so managed, each person had better distribute the matter originally composed by him; for, by this means, the sorts which made his case uneven will again return to him.
It may happen, from one of the companionship absenting himself, that his former share of letter remains undistributed at a time a second division is taking place; under these circumstances, he must not be included in this division. In the event of a scarcity of letter, if any man absent himself beyond a reasonable time, his undistributed matter should be divided equally among his companions, and when he returns, he may then have his share of the next division.
