Sharpening with Newspaper

While shaping my knives, my chef pulled out the day's newspaper and laid it flat on the table. Sharpen with it, he said. Come again? The newspaper's ink, he explained, serves as a gentle, ultra-fine grit abrasive to give a knife's edge a final finish. I stroked my knife on the newspaper back and forth a few times. Sharp became even sharper. Works beautifully. Thanks, chef.