Mechanics', operatives', and laborers' advocate., 1837-01-16

l or these means. We anticipate results from this advancement of the operative classes which will gladden. the whole face of society. We care not how much power knowledge shall give them, for power derived from so noble source will be weld- cd aright
 We have remarked in former number. that one tendency of improvements and inventions is to afford men more leisure by diminishing the time which it
 IS necessary for them to labor to gain comfortable subsistence. Now how shall this leisure time be hlled up? Can 1t be better employed than in the acquisition of knowledge? We regard 1t as one of the bright signs of the times that so many good channels are provided into which the thoughts and feelings of nfen may be directed after the tolls of tie day are over. This will be the more clear and strlkl g to you, you contrast the numerous induce ments winch young man now has to devote his evenings to sef-lmprovement, with the almost utter absence ot such inducements some 20 or 30 years ago. The Lyceum our public libraries, the greater number ot useful books, the interesting movements ot society," the benevolent eXertlOns of the age, all consplre to engage his mind and his heart, to ava ken and quicken his mental and moral energies And the more freely scientific and general knowl- edge IS dltfused, the more ready will all clas es of society be to yield to these inducements to selt-n- provement.
 The elevated rank to which scientific education would raise mechanics, would increase the number of eminent men which shall in future arise from this class of the community. For those who have risen to eminence heretofore, have done so by laborng against great obstaces and if these obstacles could be removed, and the means of becomin eminent be placed within the reach of the whole body of me chanics, (and such would be the effect of giving them scientific educaton) then certainly great CT number of them would be likely to De ranked among our great and eminent men, Perhaps 1t IS not generally known how many of the great men who have astonished the word have arisen f:om the working classes. l swil mention few among the multitude Of instances The father ol Ilaya.l, tic great musical composer, was wheelr. rht. The father of John Opie famous English portrait pam ter was carpenter, and he himself was raised from the bottom of a saw pit where he was employed in cutting wood, to the prOfessorshp of painting in the Royal Academy. LinnRus, the greut botanst, was for some time an apprentice to a shoemaker. The
 father of lngo Jones, great architect, was cloth worker. Benedict Bandon, learned man in the 10th century. worked some time with his father as shoemaker, and he published in the course of his
 life very learned wolk "on the shoelnaking of the anclents." The learned Prof. Heyne, of Gottingen, was the son of poor weaver In this country, we have many striking examples. Samuel Huntington, Ot Connecticut, one of the sgners of the Decara- tion of Independence, President of Congress, Gov ernor and Chef Justice of Connecticut was, am informed, a cooper in early life. George Walton, another ot the slgners, was once a carpenter. Wm. Whlpple, another slener, was once a mere cabin boy. Nathaniel Smith, of W oodbury, Conn. a Judge of the Supreme Court, was wagoner. Roger Sherman, was, in early life, shoemaker. Jcier- rol oPl | Il ,,,l thing in his life." Benjamin Franklin was tEe son of talow chandler and soap boiler, in Boston, lie engaged in this business for tlne, and then was bound to his brother, who vas q printer
 These are onya few of that long list of men vi o are appropriately called the architects ot their own fortunes" Such instances show low much energy and perseverance can accomplish! in opposition to what appear almost iusupcr9DIe difficulties. These men rose to enin2ncc not by mere chance, or as 1t IS often expressed, by happy coEcurrcncc of cir cunsrances; no, they rose against circumstances. They had to pass through constant series of strug glcs: and ther success was the success of strong, ardent and perseyering mental eXert!on. And now let ask, if so many have become great and dis tinnl,shed men, with such limited opportunities, have cultivated their mental energies to this hi?i ,!c~rce Wlti. 50 comparatively ie" inGlcc.nent5 Nou.d not vastly greater nUmDct lse to tLe same e!eyatjon> if A2 opportunities and inducements to meai enc"t were multiplied and more freely ditill- scj through the l!rSs ol con@un}ty: Would not !noge ;llGs have hrjr energies called forth to hg' cXcrtinn: WoH.G n}t 9rea5er r;,mbcr ot FraEil- llsls aG s.e ..r.4: i;sc 10 hlt>& the world: II II spite ol o,H: :1 t..cu3r,tuccS many TlSe to o;nin- Gnce tnJ .!. r.'. n, ,Iu,t' uset&!noSs, would A3 the rcMo}%j .; .'.s' opposing cI:cuH"1t>.coa ;AH :n#ay G:o 'G 1'.n I2n, Of g"",t &nd u:~:&i lncn
 ", t. "2 j1rr :! i, .:'" 10 every "h'orycr ct t?f :41* ,. t'.:": 'nt tIlc nc"n7 ot o.stlhc."r ".l~ ;.@>:ic ,.'.o o',:y ,.@y ira,c and CGc 'I... ciS- tr:,. .:.. -. ,,,. a:: y,te t.on t:e plo.tr"E5 c i jjIa lHi,.< 7. |. .:r .~ur" constant Increase o the n1,i 70. >:o.e ".,o:> n"ncs vii be enrolled pn thl lia- T.. .:e>t wno iL?c 'etter gCry than thai oi' the ,inor "uqacror, CT inc willy statesmen; the glory ot Iav!r.@ 12l t,,o permanent beneiactors O. mankind.