The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1845-04-03

|
Piles are Involved, not only in the machine
itself, but in every instrument employed
in its construction. The axe and adze,
the saw and auger, and even the nail are
all dependen, on them for their utility.
The connexion Of natural philosophy
with the varied pursuits Of life, is not more
intimate ana inseparable than that of chem
istry. II enters into some part of the pros
cess Of the manufacturing every article of
apparel designed either for ornamen, or
use. 1t enters not on y into the manufac>
lure of the snowy garments of the fop, bu.
into that of the garments of the sturdy la
borer-not only into the manufacture of
The silks that is TO colhe the lady, but in>
10 that of the coarse apparel of the servant,
who performs her drudgery-nol only in>
20 the purple that is TO make the mantle OF
the king, bat into tha. of the vile garments
of the halfclad begsar, who has been res
duced to want by the exactions and rapac-
ity of royalty. Its principles are involved
not only in compounding the colors which
are 10 give beauty and variety 10 our gar
ments, and finish and elegance 10 the fur
niture that is 10 ornament the drawing
rooms OF The rich, but into all the arts of
the kilchen--not only into the composition
of the vile drug intended to check the raw
ages of disease, but of the bread that is 10
satisfy The cravings Of hunger. LIS prin-
ciples are pracIiccd not only in the labora-
tory Of the Chemist, bu, throughout the
eutire process of preparing our fields for
the harvest that IS to give food to the hun.
CRY and clothing 10 the naked.
Geology also claims is share OF atten-
ton. It's connexion with agricultural i'm
provemenls is moi less intimate, than thai
of chemistry. The draining of every
piece OF land, and the digging of every
well, in order 10 be done the most success,
fully and economically, must be done 10
strict accordance with the principles OF ge>
ology. The farmer if he wish 10 make
improvements successfully, must make
them understandingly; and this cannot
be done without knowledge oflhe struc-
ture and composition o! the soil !; and he
may learn by lille scientific research,
and a, small cost, what it would take wears
of experiment and large expenditure Of
money to understand.
If science is so closely connected with
all the arts necessary 10 happiness, and
we may almost say to existence, who can
deny its importance mere 10 an econom.
ical point Of view! With thorough
knowledge of all the principles Involved
i'll the work he performs, who does not
See that the mechanic is prepared to labor
more successfully? With knowledge
Of the chemical composition of the soil and
its geological construction, who does not
understand that the agricuIturalist is BET
ter prepared 10 combat successfully, and
vanqush the obstacles to perfection in his
calling?
But the influence of scientific knowl>
edge on the intellectual character OF the
laborer is not less important than its infu.
encc on his pecunary circumstances. IL
has been truly said that it invests the cre-
atoms of his genius with new aud superior
attributes. Ii gives interest 10 the process
Of production, and learns him 10 look up
on labor, not as degrading and humiliating,
but as ennobing anG honorable. He learns
that his employment is not wholly mechau'
ical, but in part inlelectual-lhat instead
Of being mere machine, he is a rational
being, and may possess as thorough an
acquaintance with the laws Of nature as
the most favored child of fortune.
The second reason we shall offer in ia,
vor of the study OF the natural sciences Is
their interest. What branch Of our edu>
Gallon possesses attractions superior to ma.
ture! The man Of science has always
pleasing employment. Every object with
which he is familiar is Invested with new
and superior charms Phenomena, which
are hardly noticed BY those unocquainted
with their mysteries, are invested with
new attractions as he becomes familiar
with them and learns 10 trace them back
h.; i