Constantine republican. [volume] (Constantine, Mich.) 1836-1838, 1836-10-05

Oh! were it's sweets allowed to me,
I'd prove as busy as the bee-
When pressing flowers they may hold
Their hues unchanged through winters cold,
My signs, my throbbings, all confess
Thou art the fo,oer that would press;
To light me with thy beauty's blaze,
And cheer the Uinter of my days. w.
Extract from Prize ESSAY, on "The infu-
ence of the study of the Mathematical and Ply
usefulness and application of these Sciences to
the common purposes of Life"
BY HALsEY R. WING, ESQ.
"The scientific mechanic is much more
likely than the mere book philosopher to
meet with hints, which may lead to new and
improved applications of theoretical know.
ledge, because his workshop affords broad
err and more advantageous scale on which to
try experiment. Instances are certainly &C.
curing before him, in whichprevious obser-
vations have been partial or inaccurate, and
which requiring to be noted with an UNDER
standing eye, and corrected by scientific
standard, are admirably suited to excite at
tention and give free scope to the inventive
powers. Hence tits, that many of the most
valuable adaptations of science to the arts,
have been suggested by the remarks of in.
telligent mechanics, who carried into their
business a theoretical mind as well as
skilful hand. And if all artizans could be
so thoroughly impressed with this fact, as to
improve themselves accordingly, there is no
good reason for doubling, that numerous
and extensive additions would be made to
the manufacturing facilities of the present
day, which must otherwise remain unknown
and Incorporated. The many important
hints derivable, by an observant mind, from
the occasional occurrence Of strange and
unexpected combinations, from novel cir
cumstanccs of time and place, from acct
dental analogies, and even from seeming
contradictions to established laws,-hints,
which such mind could always turn to an
interesting and instructive, and frequently
to practical and profitable account, must
be lost and forever wasted on the careless
or the ignorant. How vastly momentous,
then, to the advancement Of the arts, and
consequently, the interests and happiness Of
society, that the operative mechanic should
WV, 49, .,.~ al.--:-~-- &c L. .--I4 .on,e
partial acquaintance, at least, with the scien.
tfic principles pertinent to his calling; re.
Numbering, that in the simple, yet strong
language of an old author, "here is no one
thing az nature, aohereof, the uses to human
life are get thoroughly understood" MOI
should he forget, that the qualifications ne,
cessary to search out such of these "uses'
as yet continue undiscovered, may, per.
haps, enable him to deserve the name of Q
benefactor to his species, and will inevitably
confer upon him personal dignity and res
portability Of character:
"For tits the mind that makes the body rich
And the breaks through the darkest Clouds
So honor 'peareth In the meanest habit"
In this connexion it may not be amiss to no
tice briefly the common remark, that many
of the most valuable applications of scienc'
+ to the arts are chiefly owing to the occur
renee of certain fortunate accidents; ant
the inference thence deduced by Liberal ant
narrow minds, that the resources of tn,
!, educated man are unnecessary to success
full prosecution Of the arts.
Among the instances usually adduced t
support this opinion, are the frogs of Gal
vani,--frst family suggesting the existence
of certain principles, the investigation @
which has produced, for the use of man, al
I agent, before whose resistless power, tn
hardest and most indestructible substance
f in nature are forced to yield and me
j away; also the boys fortuitous acciden
which led to the construction Of safety
: valve for the steam-engine; the load-stont
likewise, casually placed on the extremit
of floating stick, and which, then directe
the freighted end permanently toward
the north, subsequently guided in the dis
covery of our own broad land and fina
", and most supendous of all others, in il
: results, the falling acorn--whose descer
d upon the naked head Of the ilustrious New
y ton, is said, though somewhat apocrypha
;. ly, it must be admitted, to have originate
that profound train of reasoning, which te
y minated in establishing the grand doctrine
y of gravitation, and, by one of the noble
0. efforts Of the human mind, proved incol
9, testably, that one general law, not on
binds together and regulates the particles
= earth, but restrains within its own appr
y pirate place, and harmonizes with all Il
rest, every portion, how minute or immen'
'soever, of universal creation.