Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1842-12-30

light and glossy textures of fashion, 1t is mechani-
cal art which takes the skins OF all the brute creation,
and converts them into a countless variety of uses,
from the hide which protects the feet of the
ploughman, to the ermine which decoraes the robes
Of kings 1t is mechanical art which transforms the
sand and nitro into the transparent glass and digs
the ore from the bowels of the mountain, TO change
into the invaluable of iron and steel and
mes the glittering brass and Iin and the costly sill
yer and gold and cuts and poshes the sparkling
pomp of iewelry. 1t is mechanical art which ploughs
our fields, and reaps the yellow harvest and mows
the fragrant hay and wheels it home and erinds the
grain to form the staff Of life, and prepares it for our
table. 1t is mechanical science which forms the del
cate movements of the watch, and sets in motion the
ponderous steam engine-that marvellous power
which supersedes SO many kinds of labor, and sur
passes them all. 1t is mechanical science which
builds the variety of our shipping which sPreeas
the canvass to the breeze and makes familiar path
ways through the stormy deep. 1t is mechanical
skill which constructs the telescope for the astrono-
mer, the compass and quadrant for the mariner, the
microscope for the naturalist, the blow.ppe for the
chemist, the sword for the warrior. 1t is mechanical
art which provides the feast Of instrumental harmo
ny, rousng the spirit of slaughter with the trumpet
in the field fbattle, or calming the feelings with the
solemn organ in the house of God. 1t is mechanical
science which prepares the spoess sheet for the pen
of the ready writer, sends abroad the ends of the
earth the printed page, gives wings TO the progeny Of
genius, and multples The lessons OF truth Nay the
art ofmechanism has something to do with every act
| and period of humanity. 1t forms the cradle for the
infant, the paything for the child the book for the
school-boy, the implement for the man, the staff for
the aged, the bed for the SICK the coffin for the dead
1t begins its Offices with the first hour of our earthly
being and leaves US till our mortal cares lie bu
ried in the tomb.
Now Of all the immense range Of operations be-
longing to the mechanic arts there is not one which
does not sasd connected with mechanical science,
for the plain reason that there can be practice
without its correspondent theory. Science in theory
art in practice, and they are linked together
in the very nature of things, like the body and the
mind True, indeed, it is, that may overlook this
connexon. Wemay despise theoryin the attempt to
exalt practical skill, and represent them as if
hostile 10 each other. But this is a sad abuse the
evil consequences of the artificial and absurd dstnc-
tons which were made in the structure of society.
W&en n9n BEGAN 10 rest their lanced dignity upon
| the head without the hands, and imagined that it
raised their relative rank TO look down on manual
| labor The result of this miserable to
separate what God had joined together. Education
became partial and narrow discipline, performing
its task by training mankind for few exclusive walks
i'll life, where the brain and the tongue alone were
occupied, but counting no manual art honorable ex-
cept, indeed, the ait of human butchery in war;
The natural consequence was that operative me-
chancs depressed below their true level by the want
of educat ton, fevenged themselves by despsng books
and making every thing consist in practice And
although considerable period has elapsed since the
introduction of a better system, since philosophy
itself has 'ecome practical, and instructive treases
have been published upon almost every branch OF
the useful arts, yet still the old distinctions are not
quite done away. 1t is still too much the ambition of
men to live by some sort Of mental toll, rather than
use their hands in mechanical occupation. Educa.
ton is still 100 much confined an arbitrary training
for VIVA, are called the learned professions. Theory
is still too apt to stand aooffrom practice and practice
is still too fond of casting rdicule on theory
The remedy for this defect, however, least in this
privileged country is in the power of the parties
concerned All that is necessary is to believe what
thank God, is an undeniabe truth that every mar
may improve his mindn the knowledge OF theory as
much his hands in the skill of practice, if he choo
ses 10 apply his vacant time TO reading, and spends
his social hours in none blu, profitable and improving
company. BY thus becoming familiar with the sci
entic principles of his trade or manufacture, ht
gives its true place in the circle Of knowledge. Fol
it should always be remembered that every practlca
art must have its theory whether men regard il o
not. In other words. every effect in the mechanic
arts mus, have It's correspondent cause or reason
And theory is only "a convenient name for the who'll
of those causes or reasons, that the difference be
tween practical mechanic who understands theory
and one who despses it, is merely this that the frs
chooses to know much Of the reasons belonging Il
his work as possible, and the other desi es know
as little. 1t is easy to tell which of the two in tn
course of few years, will be the most successful, tn
most useful, and the most respectable member of tn
community.
Perhaps, however it may be well to enlarge some
what upon the habit mind which the true princpl
Of improvement requires.
In the first place, then, every man employed in an
of the mechanic arts should accus,om himself to hav
just idea of the importance and necessity of his ow
occupation, as to cultivate respect for his calling
fondness for it, and disposition TO consider
worthy, in ITSELF of his assduous and attention
He should diligently guard his mind from disconten
and replnne, If the hand of Providence had no
, done the best for his particular place in society An
f if he should see as he often will that fools an
blockheads occupy circle in the community whc
is thought higher than his own let him be thankfl
that he belongs not to their class, and let him pas
5 onward with zeal in his own appointed track wit
the firm conviction that few years will fix the AZ
proprlae spot in public esteem both for himself an
y for those who now seem TO be above him, and III;
under the favor of the Almighty, course of indus
try, economy, temperance, integrity punctuality an
: intelligence, will raise him more and more, while Ii
proud and worthless fool Of wealth or fashion sink
: into poverty and contempt
G 1t is very obvious result of this process, at lea
as general rule, that no man should be tempted
l. abandon his trade in the hope of getting ntoa bus
ness which he may think more respectable. Ninet,
T. nine times in the hundred, he will find such chang
II most unhappy one and therefore, if he wishes
: rise let him remember tina, his safest and best
is to do it by a successful prosecution of the VOL
e which he has learned 10 understand instead
d showing his ickleness and imprudence by embar
W ing in some other, for which he cannot be suppose
j. to have equal qualifications. II.
y As a useful argument to help the mind to be col
l. tent and thankful in the lot of the mechanic arr
there not only the general truth of the Gospel III
/ the wisdom of I'D c,s, l.