Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1837-01-04


Manual Labor.
XII. 'HreEld ineFsMe ths aQealt4 Of The
.e0Natry. , ... ... e
Such q system would enable the sons oil
our farmers and mechanics to acquire q
thorough knowledge of those branches oil
science whose practical application to ag-
ricultural and the mechanic arts would
greatly increase both in quantity and quail
ity the productions ofthe soil, and enhance
the value of mechanical products. The
benefits resulting to the forming interest
especially, from thorough acquaintance
with the science Of chimistry and geology
are iittie appreciated in comparison with
their practical importance
IAe system would increase tie wsaItk
ofIhe eoaaIry IN another respect. In our
academies, high schools colleges, and
professional seminaries, there are not Gar
from thirty thousand youth. Let each of
these fill up three hours day with pro-
ductiVe labor, and he makes no inconsid-
cradle contribution to the resources Of his
country. He multi pliesth means Of sub
sistence,- and augments the common stock
OF conveniences and comforts. These
thirty thousand, by laboring three hours
per day, would furnish an addition to the
productive labor, and OF course to the
wealth Of the country. equal to the labor
n Of at least FIVE thousand working men, who
should labor ten hours per day. Besides
this, the manual labor system would in
crease the wealth Of the country, by con-
tributinq to its health and mHscls, and no
less to its RiRd.
XII. IL mould tend to do dOay those alb
surd distinctions in society Whieh make
tie occupation of an individual tie
standard Of AIS ioOrth.
Let the contents Of our sixty colleges
and fifty professional seminaries, with a
thousand academies and high schools,
pour themselves into our fields and work.
shops, and there, for three hours each day,
NV the implements Of agriculture and the
mechanic arts, would it not have pow
erful tendency to render labor honorable
and the laboring man more respected ?
Would Il not create sympathies between
the learned and the laboring classes, per
manent community Of feeling, and identity
OF interests
The thousand repulsions arising from
d'ssimilatity OF habits which have so Ions
operated to estrange them from each 9th
en- cease with the causes which produced
them. Instead Of being driven asunde
b,yJealousies, and smo,hered animosities
they approach each other with looks o
kindness, and form compact, based upol
republican equality, and the interchang
OF mutual Offices Of courtesy and kind
ness. He who does not perceive in sue
system tendency to these results, ha
mingled little with men; and howeve
profound in other things, is a novice ii
human nature.
XIII. II tcouL kare a tcndencv TO re,
hons
ms would be the result of such stat
OIL society as has Just been noticed. TIL
elementary principles Of republicanis,
are equality and reciprocity; its basis j,
dustry, economy, practical habits, pener,
intelligence, and morality. We hay
seen that the connection Of manual labr
with study is calculated to produce the,
effects and consequently to perpetuate OF
republican institutions. -
In the conclusion Of this part of a
subject the comparative advantages of a,
Honural and mechanical labor demand
O Os.eI HO'ce. Agriculture and gardenin
o much greater uGristy Of muse,
a' exercise than mechanical labor. TIL.
nave the advantage Of purer air = N,
naolfnate the student to atmosnher;c cha
ges, enable him TO endure hardsh;ns :,
can be engaged in without 4 nrsv;p,,. !. !.
premiership. Mechanical labor i mo