The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1838-01-16
RHA$CENEANESeEySs.
From De,0eys .Address before The Mechanics In
Stit,tte, We,D York.
ABoR. Indnstry is lhn crcul schnnl oEhum,

mischief 1t is not enough TO saw that the indus
trions are always the most virtuous classes.-
nut II is to he observed that human industry
Is paced in peculiar circumstances, especially
htied and designed to elicit and try the
virtues of human beings. The animal fol
lowing Ills instincts, finds certain facility in his
path. Human industry, on the contrary, is al
ways conflict with difficulties. The animal or
gans are precisely fitted to their respective tasks
ana are already sufficient for all the purposes OF
animal industry. But man has to adjust his pow
ers to an infinite variety of eXerIions; ten thou
sand delicate manipulations and feats of dexterilv
are required Of him; his eye is TO he trained to
precision, and his mind TO taste; new instruments,
| 100, are constantly to be invented to overcome
the difficulties in his way. This, then, is the
theatre OF energy and patience yes, and add,
! OF moral wisdom an self-restraint. The animal
may gorge HIMSELF and can then lie down and
sleep of his surfeit; and he takes no harm from
the midnight dew, or the open aud chill CANOPY
that is spread over him. But man cannot en-
dure such indulgence exposure. If he gives
himself up 10 sensual excess, his powers at once
begin to fail him. His eye loses it's ccarucss
his hand its dex'erity, his finger its nicely Of
touch; aud he becomes lame, deficient aud dis
honored workman.
Nor is this all. How many natural ties are
there between even the humbiest scene OF labor
and the nobest affections of humanity In this
view the employment of mere muscular strength
is ennobled. There is central point in every
llidn around WIllcn ali MS tOllS ana
vovc. tits that spot which is consecrated by
the names of wife, ami children, and home. A
secret. an almost imperceptiDle influence from
tibet spot, which is like no other upon earth steals
into the breast of the viruous laborng man, and
strengthens every weary step of his toll Every
blow hat is struck in the workshop and the
fields, finds echo in that holy shrine of his af-
fections. If he who fights TO protect his home
rises TO the point of heroic virtue; no less mny
he who labors, his life long, to provide for that
home. Peace I've within these domestic walls
and prosperity beneath those humble roofs! But
should it ever be otherwise; should the time ever
come when the invaders step approaches to touch
those sacred thresholds, l see in the labors that
are taken for them, that wounds will he taken for
me, Il hero.
So material do deem this point-the' true
nobility OF labour, mean-that would dwell
upon it n moment longer, and in larger view.
Why, then, in the great scales of things is labor
ordained for tbs? Easily, had it so pleased the
great Orianer, might it have been dispensed
with. The world Itself might have been mighty
machinery for the production OF all that man
wants. The motion of the globe upon its axis
might have been the power, TO move that world
of machinery. Ten thousand wheels within
wheels might have been ut work; ten thousand
processes, more curious and complicated than
man can devise, might have been going forward
without mans aid; houses might have risen like
an cXlautlon,
with the sound
OF ducet symphonies and voices sweet
Built like a temple;
gorgeous furniture might have been placed III
them, and soft touches and luxurious banquets
spread. bv hands unseen; and man, clothed with
fabrics Of natures weaving, richer Than imperial
purple might have been to dlsport himself i'll
these Ely sian palaces. "Fair scene! imagine
YOU are spying; "iortunate for us, had II been the
scene ordained for humnn life - But where
then, tell me, has been human energy, persever-
ancc, patience, virtue, herosm? Cut off with
one blow from the world; and mankind had sunk
to a crowd, nay, far beneath Il crowd of Asiutic
vouptuaries. No, it had not been tortunate.-
Better that the earth he given to man as n dark
mass Whcreon TO labour. Better that rude and
unsigh,ly aterinls be provided in the bed
and The forest, for him to fashion into spendor
and beauty. Better, say, not because OF that
spleudor and beauty but because the act creating
them is better than the things themselves; be-
cause excrlion is nober than enjoyment; because
the laborer is greater and more worthy OF honor
than the idlcr. | call upon those whom | adj
dress, to stand up for the nobility of labor 1t is
heavens great ordinance for human improve
ment. Let not that great ordinance be broken
down. What do | say? It's broken down: and
it has been broken down Tor ages. Let it then
be built up again; here ifuny where, on these
shores of new world, of u new civilization. But
how, may I've asked, is it broken DOWN do
not men toll, it may be said. They do indeed
toll, but they too generally do it because they
must. MANY submit 10 IL us, III SoHle SORT Il ue-
grading necessity; and they desire nothing so
much earth as escape from it. They fulfil
the great law of labor in the letter, but break it
in the spirit; fulfil it with the muscle, but break
it in the mind. TO some field of labor, mental or
manual, every idler should fasien, as chosen
coveted theatre of improvement, But so is he
not impelleI to do, under the teachings of our
imperfect civilization. On the contrary he sits
down, folds his hands, and besses himself III his
idleness. This way of thinl<ingls the heritage
of the absurd and unjust ieuda system; under
which seris labored, and gentlemen spent their
lives ia fighting and Teasing. 1t is time that this
opproblum Of toll were done away, Ashamed
to TOLL art thou' Ashamed ofthy dingy work
shop and dusty labor-field; of thy soilcd and
weather-staned garments, OH which nother ma
ture has embroidered, midst sun and rain, midst
fire and steam, her OWN hcraliic honors? a
shamet oflhese tokens and titles, and envio0s OF
the ffannIing robes of imhece likeness and van
ity? 1t is treason TO nature; it simplicity to heav-
en-: it is breaking heavens great ordinance y
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