Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-02-25


of a fair calculation. The census Of Boston, in
1926, IS an example. Besides being very care
lessIy conducted, it was undertaken at an I'M
suitable season. when, BY adventurous causes, the
transient population of the city was swelled to
an unnatural amount, and afterwards as rapidly
diminished. If an enumeration had been made
six months afterwards, there probably would have
been dimisution of thousands.
So it is, Mr.. Editor, with every thing. we
are forever Boosting Of what we shall be &do II we
are building ship, or steamboat, or church,
or theatre, or hotel it is to be more spiendld
than any thing else in the universe. 1t FAVOR
lie orator is to address us, he will rival Demos
themes and Cicero Ii there is to be Celeora-
ton, or Convention, or Caucus, or concert
or Cattle Show, it is to exceed any thing or the
kind ever seen before, and as it commonly tails
somewhat short Of the mark, so our Inflated an
ticipations must, sooner or later, burst ike the
| fros in the fable. The wonder is, that oeihS
cheated SO often. our credulity remains.
This national foible is of prejudice tous in the
eyes OF discriminating foreigners. They VIII
cease to give credit TO our vain glorious Preteh-
sions. They will not believe any thing we say
of ourselves, unless it be the result OF actual de-
mopstration. 1t is bad habit-let us amend 1t!
ANTl-BOMBASTES.
-sze9e9as-
| The IHeehaRic IntereSf.-We noticed with
pleasure, the continued efforts, in our eastern CT
ties, to give thus interest, its due Importance IN
| society. The results which have proceeded from
the establishment of those unassumIng institutions
| Apprentices Librarles," already begin to be
! witnessed. To obtain respectable standlngas a
mechanic, it is now necessary that he possess
something more than merely knowledge OF his
professionals greater than superficial
acquaintance Of certain Branches ofuscful know
ledge; and we hazard nothing in saying, that the
mechanics of Opr eastern cities will soon attain
an influence in community which they have new
ef before possessed.
We have heard it said that ''mechanics are
! ground to the dust" If this has been the fact.
| there is too much reason for acknowledging, that
it has been owing, in great measure. to mechan-
les themselves. They have not generally speak
Ing. qualified themselves for the discharge OF the
duties of those stations to which many OF them as
pire. Commencing their profession at an early
age, too many have neglected those studies which
are absolutely necessary to render them extern
sively useful in more advanced life. The leisure
hours of those early years, on the proper use OF
which SO much depends, are thrown away III friv-
olous, if not perniciOus amusements; and when
the Young man is called to act for himself, Tar
as regards the Improvement of his mind, he has
hardly advanced single step since the first mo-
ment of his apprenticeship. On this subject 1T is
too often the case that there is great fault with
masters. The duties they have assumed are OF
SURPRISING Importance, and they owe it to them
selves, to their apprentices, and to society, to dis
charge those duties with fidelity.
We have always believed that the charge Of
oppression. so often repeated, was not founded
in Justice. Instances are rare, indeed, where
mechanic of solid attainments and OF moral char.
acter, does not receive the Difference due to
his worth. The oppression "a wrong term) Of
which complaint is often made, is Occasioned by
causes we are too proud to acknowledge. How
can man expect to be introduced into society
to which he can impart no interest: Character
naturally finds its own level; and as man is the
architect in a great measure OF his own character,
let him make himself worthy of the object he
seeks and he will have no cause to complain.
To those who are now preparing to act for
1 themselves, this subject addresses itself with
great force 4 thorough English education is ne
cessary to attain excellence IN almost every me-
chancal profession it is certainly necessary to
enable man to store his mind with those trea-
sures which will render him interesting as an as
sociate and useful asa citizen.
! But we are, perhaps, tresspassng upon the
patience of our readers. We designed. at first
only to introduce tho-following paragraphs from
an address delivered by ]. L. BUCKINGHAM,
tprinter,) before an association of mechanics in
Boston,& to suggest to the mechanics of ouc city,
the propriety IF establishing an institution in st.
Louis Of Kin with some one of those to which
| he refers. Such an institution would be useful;
and we have no doubt would receive an adequate
support from our public spirited mechanics.
Missouri Republican.
| s.Give me whereon to stand exclaimed Archi-
medes. and with my lever will raise the world.
The MECHANICS of these free and independent
States, can do as much; they can make as proud
boast as the Grecian Philosopher. and they are
not like him. without safe position on which to
place themselves. while they put the power into
operation. The influence they possess as body
is daily increasing. An awakening spirit is a.
broad among them, and stirring them up to the
establishment Of Schools. LYcEUMs, and lNsTI-
TurIoNs for purposes of EDUcATIoN, and for
uniting and directing their energies to the al
Ua,ccmen Of literature, and the arts and scier-'I
ces. The highest honor Of MECHANIC. or any
II Al l..