Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-03-12

preaching, and with such state of mind, am
neither satisfied to take books myself nor to put
hem into the hands of others. A better defined
object is necessary. And here apprehend is
The true cause of failure with us. We read with
out a purpose--hunt without knowing what we
seek, and think strange we don't find it, Now
were we to GO to work to collect history, or to
explain tie principles of our respective trades
or even to describe any of their simplest opera
tons, would not the faculties of the mind be cal
led into healthful exercise, and for the time be-
ing. should we not have an object for thought
reading, and observation Require of the APP
prentice about to read history a verbal or written
Statement of the condition of laborers-,f IN en-
who worked at his trade-n other times and
countries-their privilege ghts-means Of
i Improvement, and will he not read with an inter-
est, and remember with a tenacity, very unlike
what we often witness in those who are urged
TO the task by such arguments as 'lIistory is the
storehouse of Wisdom ~
1t is, therefore, with no disrespect to gentlemen
who have consented to lecture before us, that
say anticipate much less permanent advantage
from their kind efforts than do many members of
the Institute. The decree, that in the sweat of
thy face shalt thou eat bread. extends as well to
the mind as body. And cannot but regard the
idea of getting wisdom by listening to lectures,
as sort of evasion of the primeval curse-an at
tempt to avoid the labor of study, which after all
is the lowest cash price at which knowledge can
be bought. The state of the mere listener is too
which facts, and a course of reasoning, must
make to be remembered.
What mechanic would take boy into his
shop, seat him in an easy chair, and expect to
make good workman of him by ever so many
lectures and ever so much illustration? You
would call the man fool. We all know better
We give him tools and set him at work. He
has an object, too,-he is going to make some
thing himself. And apply the same reasoning
to mental apprentices. We have, in our library,
the stock, in our heads, the tools. Never mind,
though at first the joints be rot perfect, or we
fail. once or twice of welding heat, let us, in
dividnally, attempt to make something of our
own.
This is my thcory--my hobay--and have so
often recommended It to you, That wien your
committee asked me to practice as we'll as theo-
lizc, did not like to refuse.
do not wish to be understood TO dsarprove
of public lectures, only as they are regarded as
substitute for study-a sort of royal road to
knowledge believe they may, and do, stir up
the mind, rouse curiosity, and excite inquiry,
and are therefore valuable, especially where, as
in some of the sciences, illustrations and expert
ments can be introduced. | am for lectures, but
would have hearers understand they have some
thing to do beside listen, or what they hear will
run through their heads like water through Il
sieve.
But facts that one hunts up strings together,
and takes considerable pains to put in readable
shape, will be retained by the memory. On this
principle, and mainly for my own qualification,
| commenced reading and collecting facts rcla-
tive to the history Of printing--an art of brief
existence compared with most others The
question soon arose in my mind, What did peo-
pie do, how did they get along before books were
printed! This question thought, at first to
answer in brief Introduction. went to work,
became interested in the subject, and my intro.
duction, instead of two or three pages. is now
long enough, were to read it ALL to tire the pa
thence of two or three audiences
And lam confident that whoever shall trace
the history Of his own trade from the earliest
times, will find more curious facts and interest
ing speculations in relation to it, than he antc-
pated at the commencement and that the result
of his labors will be the conviction that he be-
longs to no mean profession, but that, after all,
his calling is really quite ancient and honorable
and that he will feel better sat- SIZED both with
himself and his business, from such effort.
For the convenience of short name, | have
chrisiened my subject Substitutes for printed
books.
As such substitutes, Memory or Tradition, Pic
ture writing or Herog'yphics, and Written
Books, will be severally and very briefly discuss
ed.
l. Memory or Pradtion-Among savages, in
diyiduals are set apart for the purpose, and spe-
cially instructed in the history of the tribe, whose
business it is to remember and repeat tn their
successors, such facts are deemed worthy OF
perpetuity. Deprived of the unspeakable advan-
tages ofletters, and depending mainly upon ira
dtion, the cultivation ofthe IN emory becomes an
object ofthe first importance. Among our Amer
lean Indians the cultivation of this faculty was
carried to its greatest perfection. Among us
probably no faculty, as you were told few eve-
ningS since, is so greatly neglected. Col Stone
in his biography of Red Jacket, says the provi-
slons OF their treaties were preserved with great
accuracy, and for generations, by means of belts.
with strings of wampum--each string being
different, was in fact the record of some partic,-
lar article or provision of treaty. These belts
were deposited in their council lodges with great
care, and the Specification of each string was
carefully repeated from father TO son or from
Chief to Chief in the succession, until thorough
~ fixed in the memory These belts and strings
were used in all their councils, treaties and
speeches. To illustrate their use. make an ex.
tract of a speech ofcondolence by Seneca George
in l76l.
"Brothors--We are sorry from the bottom of
our hearts for the death of your men, women and
children, and by this belt we collect all their
bones, together, bury them in one grave and coy
err them up. Qlerc he delivered black belt, of
eight rows strcakcd with white)
Drmhers--Wc suppose that in the late troub-
les YOU NAV have lost many of vOur ppoplc eith