Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1846-03-25
III i s C e . I IL % e O % S.
From fhr Greensboro (M G.. Patriot.
ADDRESS To MECHANICS.

ADDRESS TO MECHANICS.
OUn MECHANICS. -Brelhren-ypu
lack knowledge knowledge which YOU
all hava The means 10 purchase and the
capacity TO compr eIiend. Why don't
you read some good periodical which
sheds scientific light up.n The trades by
which you make your bread and sustain
Your standing in society : Tile 'Scien
iGc American continues is weekly
visits TO our table, sustaining its oIlgi.
ual usefulness and spirit; its abundant
and valuable practicable suggestions cn
able US TO perceive what You loose by
not keeping up with the mechanical in>
prvrmenIs of the age. There is more
useful information for the arlizan in
one number of This little sheet than can
Dragging mammoth 'literaties' OF the
North. The latter, we admit, Subserve
the pa: pose uf th.ir publicalion-ha'
IS, 10 kill time the former, 10 imprcuc
il.
Our mechanics must cultivate their
minds, particularly Il those branches Of
science connected with their callings,
or they never can obtain that stand and
nlu nee in socirty which they ough'
always 10 command. Trey are hardy.
honest, and industrious, rs cla>s-rlc
'bune and sinew' md the very founda.
lion Of society in ou- towns but they
have NOS that degree of intelligence to
which they might readily attain, and
consrq rqucntly lack that dignity and pow
er in the community 10 which lhsir
numbers and the intrinsic respecr ability
If their trades Otherwise enlille them.
Ii is with themselves TO elevate tkrm-
selves. The, musI empl,y thri, keaos
as well as their clbows. There is IA
wide field for the useful and beautiful
display of Observation-Disclosures, the
mechanic arts, as well as in the iine
arts and learned professions. TIE
prodIing la%d, w"o does pi:ce Of
work merely as he had been made to do
1t at the apprentices bench. without ito
application Of Il single original idea in
process need not expect tu succeed
equally with the energetic, inqniring ar.
uzan, who studies his subject, and ;akes
advantage Of all the sussrs' ms he can
command in this progressive age. Su.
perior mind and superior cultivation
are exhibited as palpaDly-as honora.
bly, and proltably-a"d always qlitr as
innocenlly, in the mechanic ans, as in
ANY other field of human effort or hu-
man ambition.
Mechanics-do not depend upon
your trades 10 elevate you. keep
your shops, and your shops will keep
you" The lawy er, the physician, the
divine, ale mol honored by their pros
fession; if they have not capacity and
requirement 10 enable them to act up
10 the standard OF their profession
thsy, and not their profession, are dis
graccd. Epaminondas, the greatest
patriot aud Iawgiver of Thebes was
once appointed by his envious enemies,
who ha rpencd 10 be in power, to clean
the sreels of the city, with the design
10 bring disgrace and ridicule upon linn
by this mean occupation. The wise
Theban remarked, that it was not the
Office which conferred honor or fixed
disgrac9 upon the man; but the man hat
it in his power 10 honor the office
how ever low, or to disgrace it, howeveI
exalted. He forthwith set about tht
exercise of MS new functions with sucl
judgment and energy, that, in a shor
time, the streets of no city were 10 b.
compared with those Of Thebrs 70
cleanliness and beauty. And for lon
period thereafter, tho office Of stree
f scavenger was one Of the most honola
bic Of the city.