Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1848-02-10
From the Scientific American.
EDUCATION-WHAT is 1T:

The value of all knowledge should be es-
uma,ed by its relation to the common af-
fairs of life. No one we trust will DISPUTE
tins sentiment. For this reason then every
young person should be educated in those
banches of knowledge which relate distinct
y TO the profession he intends TO pursue.
The youth destined to be a clergyman.
should make himself familiar with lie an
cleit languages, but the ycung man who is
destined IN BIO -snnrrhant shonld ra,hn.
cake himself familiar with the languages
# the living, than seek to become acqnaint-
ID with the thoughts of the dead by the Ian
suage in which those Thoughts were uttered.
The education of the mechanic and agricul-
urls. should be practical, derived from &C
umulated experience and certainly the ele-
nentary branches of our common educa
Iiional system is the basis on which the su
,erstructure is to be raised. The first
branches to be learned and learned tho
.oughly then, should be reading, writing and
arithmetic. Without these, no further adj
Ivances should be made in any other branch
these first, then as many afterwards as
POSSIBLE After this should come Natuaral
Philosophy, and here let US say, this truly
lis real acknowledgement education. We do
not mean to be understood as setting aside
moral ethics, for we consider that virtuous
and religious sentiments should be supplied
10 every person from the very moment the
child begins to recognize the mother that
presses it TO her bosom from the stranger
that may enter her door. But what we
+riean by Natural Philosophy is, that it en-
braces all the varied kinds Of knowledge
whereby man can become truly great as a
scientific man and practical man too. The
mechanic who understands his own branch
of business thoroughly, is a natural phloso-
pher, SO far as that branch of business is
and if he is millwright and
can make and calculate the power and effect
Of water wheel, and explain the natural
principles of its operations, he certainly is a
better educated man, aud possesses more
knowledge than the linguist who can mere
~ name the wheel in five or more languages.
We do not undervalue knowledge Of lam
-epages, but we say, again, first master the
elementary branches thoroughly, then natu-
formation as possible.
We have been led to make these remarks
from percelving great absence among our
mechanics Of the certain kind of knowledge
which every man ought to possess in the
business which lie is following, and we
sincerely exhort them to reflect calmly on
the famouse adage, acknowledge is power"
We think that we have pointed gu, clearly
what true knowledge is, and every man
IL, k,o = e h.
to apply himself and the means. Many
have not the time or means, especially our
mechanics who have families, but for our
young men, there is no excuse. Through
out all the Mechanics Associations in our
land, we should like 10 see system of con-
versatlonal instruction adopted, a familiar
questioning and answering. Education by
no means consists in merely reading, writ
ing, arithmetic, or an acquaintance minute
though it may be, with the natural sciences.
After having acquired all these, we can ex
claim with Newton, that we have only gath
cred up few pebbles on the shore of the
ocean Of knowledge, but certainly if we ga
Tier not up single pebble at all, we must be
improbable 10 ourselves and recreant to the
duties we owe to our God, our country and
our fellow men.
Science is but all arrangement Of facts
perments-and certainly our working
men have the best opportunities to acquire
the most correct knowledge-to be most
scienlifc-each in his own branch of bust
mess. This is education, and it is such an
education that lifetime is not too long 10
acquire Thoroughly. LIE, every working man
be guided by these sentiments and in short
time we shall behold every mechanic walk
ing with front more erect and mind more
elevated. Poverty is no excuse in America
for a man not being gentleman; and riches
no badge for man to be proud and lordly.
Any man of an honest heart and a noble
and cultivated mind is fit company for SEN
alors or princes. cts worth that max es
man."
A Methodist and Quaker were travelling
in company, when the Quaker reproved the
Methodist for their bosterous manner oil
worship.
"Why," said he, 1--WE can take more plea
sure in our private rooms of meditation,
where we think of nothing worldly during
our stay" s.
''Sir," said the Methodist, ''if you will
take private room stay one hour, and when
you return say you have though. of nothing
worldly | will give you my horse''-wiIictl
proposal was cepted.-Afler the time had
expired his friend asked him if he claim ed
the horse. .-. ...-- r-"
"Why," said he, 81 could no, help think
ing what should do for saddle TO ride
him home with.''
You may bride SOLDIER to slay man
with his sword, or a witness to take life by
false accusation, bu. you cannot make a dog
tear his henefactor.