The banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1844-1847, 1846-04-01

BEEcHER.
From the Greensboro Nv. CO. Patriot.
ADDRESS TO MECHANICS.
Our MECHANICS -Brethren-you
lack knowledge-knowledgc which
you all have the means to purchase and
the capacity to comprehend. Why
don't you read some good periodical
which sheds scientific light upon the
trades by which you make you make
your bread and sustain your standing
IN socie,y2 The Scientific AmericanH'
continues its weekly visits to our table,
sustaining its orig;na! usefulness and
spirit; its abundant and valuable prac-
ticable suggestions enable us to perceive
what you loose by not keeping up with
| the mechanical Improvements of the
age. There is more useful information
Tor the arlizan IN one number of this lit
| tie shre' ;i';;i. can be found IN a whole
cart-load Of the Dragging mammoth
"literari,s" Of the North The latter,
we admit, suosurvc the purpose of their
publication-that is, to Kill tin,c; the
former, to Improve it.
Our mechanics must cultivate their
minds, particularly in those branches of
science connected with their calIings,
or they never can obtain that stand aud
influence in society which they ought
always 10 command. They are hardy,
honest, and industrious, Us a class-the
"the bone and sinew" and the very
foundation Of society in our towns but
they have not that degree of intelligence
to which they might readily attain, and
consequently lack that dignity and
power in the community to which their
numbers and the intrinsic responsibility
Of their trades otherwise enti,le them.
1t is with themselves to elevate them
selves. They must employ their heads as
well as their etbo,cs. There is wide field
for the useful and beautiful display of
ind-taste-genius- the mecha-
mic arts, as we'll as in the fine arts and
learned professions. The plolding
hand, who does piece of work merely
as he had been made TO do it at the ap-
prenticc's bench, without the applica-
ton Of a single. original idea in process,
need not expect to succeed equally
| with the energetic, inquiring artizan,
who stuaies his sukye:t, and takes advan-
tage Of the suggestions he can command
in this progressive age. Superior mind
and superior cultivation are exhibited as
palpably-as honorabIy and proftabIy
and always quite as innocen,ly, in
the mechanic arts, as in any other field
of human effort or human ambition.
Mechanics-do not depend upon your
trades TO elevate you. "Keep your
shops, aid your shops will keep YOU"
The lawyer, tho physician, the divine,
are not honored by their profession if
they have not capacity and acquire
ment to enable them TO act up 10 the
standard of their professionally, and
not their profession are disgraced. Epa-
minondas. the gieatest patriot and law
giver of Ihebes was once appointed by
his envious enemies, who happened to
be in power, to clean the streets of the
city, with the design to bring disgrace
and ridicule upon him by this mean oc-
cupa!ion. The wise Theban remarked,
that it was not the office which confer
red honor or fixed disgrace upon the
man; but the man had it in his power
to honor the Office, however low, or to
disgrace it however exalted. He forth
with sat about the exercise of his new
functions with such judgment and ener-
gy, that, in short time, the streets of
no city we're to be compared with those
Of Thebes for cleanliness and beauty.
And for long period thereafter, the Of
fee of street scavenger was one Of the
most honorable Of the city.
Avoid an angry man for a while.
for his passion will cool; but avoid
a malicious man forever, for ma
lice never dies.