Liberty advocate., 1845-06-28

, history; but 'here Is never any attempt
TO parade what they know, aud wo see
they have been readers only, as we dis
cover the same thing 10 the best educated
persons. not 10 display Of their read
ing, but in general tone, which shows
! thai cultivation has made them wiser and
hctorn
All this is high praise to which we add
few words from the pen Of Mr.. Dick
EMS. lie says: z" brought away from
Lowell four hundre good solid pages,
i (the first volume Of the 'Odering,) which
have reud from begnniug TO end OI
the merits OF the Lowell uff1ring' as O
literary production, | will only observe
putting entirely OUT Of sigh, the fact of
The articles having been written by those
girls after the ariHouS idbors Of the dan,
that II will compare adUanlageousiy with a
great many English annuals."
The publication before US consists Of
thirty-seven articles, the production Of
twenly-nine individual contributors. Mr..
KNIGHT adds, in his introduction to this
selection, the following kind expression
of his feelings towards the writer's of the
Lowell Offering:
May the love Of letters which they
enjoy, and the power Of composition
which they have attained, shed their
charms over their domestic lives, when
their days of mill service are ended.
The efforts which the have made to ac.
Iqui:e the practice Of writing have had
their own reward. In dwelling upon the
thoughts Of others, in fixing their own
thoughts upon some definite object, they
have lifted themselves up into higher.
region than is attained by those, whatev-
er be their rank, whose minds are not fl
led by images Of what is natural, and
beautiful, and true"
To The people of the United States this
publication is an absolute demonstration
that the employment of human beings in
manufacturing establishments does not
necessarily impair their understandings,
degrade their moral feelings, diminish
their possession, or deprive them Of the
ssKafcisfa silapc cisfa2le 2le ddRab hig4 oneYfEs o8
pressions nor the wrongs, none Of the
systems Of long days work and short
wages, none of the abuses which we are
told are par, and parcel OF the manu- fac
turing system of other countries. Wei
advocate the encouragement aud the
protection Of american manufactures, and
we are warm friends to a system which,
whilst it is productive Of great national |
and social advantages need not be and is |
not (as established in the United SIates) u
associated with the debasing and cruel
effects which Its opponents have charged |
upon 1.-THE" Lowell Offering" is a tri-
umphant reply to this allegation There
is very interesting letter from Miss MAR
TINEAU TO Mr.. KNIGHT in the volume be.
fore US, dated May Goth 1914, in which
she describes her visit to Lowell. She
says whilst sitting in the lyceum there,
during lecture delivered by Mr.. EMER-
SON to the factory girls, and seeing them
" listening to their lecturer, all wakelul
and interested, all well-dressed and lady
like, could not out feel my heart swell
at the thought Of what such sight would
be with u.s." and adds
"The difference is not in rank, for
these young people we're all daughters of
parents who earn their bread with
their own hands. 1t is not the amount Of
wages, ], is nc, in the amount OF toll, Tor
they worked Sc ,e'Gty clear hours per week.
The d Inference ,cas in taeir superior cUl
ture.-rheir minds are kept fresh and
strong, end free, by knowledge and power
Of thought; and this is the reason why 4
they are not worn and depressed under
their labors."
"At Waltham, where saw the mills
and conversed with The people. had an
of observing the invisora;ing
effects OF mind ir life of labor. Thrice
he wages and half the toll would nol
have made the girls saw happy SCithout i
hIt cultivation of mind, which afforded
hem perpetual support, entertainment.
aud motive for activity"
Surely. we have adduced strong and
sufficient proof Of the correctness Of the
MY conclusion which we wish to draw |
IN this occasion, which is, sound and cor.
ect rudimental education during the ear
y years Of life, the cultivation oil habits
t thought and reflection, of useful indus :
ry anl well directed exertion, and con
iction of the value, the importance, and h
he dignity of labGr, and form character h,
which will not be endangered or degra- re
ed by engaging in factory or manuac h,
lring employments. Bot that, on the con 'hi
rsry, such character will be strength
ned and lnvigorated by association with
Their characters formed by the same P'
means, but differently developed through -
Constitutional temperament or indIVidua cl
circumstances. That the friendly con ar
Tic, oc mind with mind will add TO the DC
!