Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1848-11-16

walton. If some have risen 10 unnatural
heights, their knowledge and wealth have
principally contributed 10 their false posi-.
ton. Ii other classes have been depressed
and degraded below what belonged to them
as iiieni their Ignorance or poverty has
done il.
Working men fail Of their proper posi-
ton an society," for want Of kno,oledge and in.
dastryto compete with other classes. IL.
norance and poverty lead to vice. These,
united, aid and exasperate each other and
complete the degradation
But is il necessarily sol The working
man is not excluded from letters So far
from this occupations often require the
use and practice of some of the highest
principles in some of the most abstruse sci
ences. Geometry, in many of its princi.
pies, is necessary TO the carpehter; chemis.
try TO every man who works in the metals,
and in many of its principles, to the agri.
cuturalisls-aad the grand doctrines of
natural or mechanical philosophy, to.every
mechanic whose trade occupies him with
machinery.
Yet because the time and terms of ordi.
nary apprenticeship in the mechanic arts
DO not allow him to study at college and ac-
quire the theory seperate from the practice
of his profession, popular prejudice and
popular practice sometimes consgn the la.
boring man to ignorance. This is wrong.
The best advantages for studying princi,
pies are had in the practice of them. The
theory is best acquired in the practice. 1t
is the true induciive method--na,ural, con-
vIncing, above all rendering the ins,ruc.
tons permanent in the mind.
Such are the advantages enjoyed by the
mechanic for acquiring knowledge
least IN some of the trades. In all, the
mind is left free to think. 1t is even aided
by the animation and vigor impaired by
exercise and free perspira,ion.
Study habit of thinking, although
on separate subject from the labor in hand
is in no way calcuated-unless it degener.
ale into form of absolute abstraction
TO divert the mind from proper attention
10 business. Indeed, TO limited extent. il
certainly inspires the body TO energy in la.
Dor.
That the hardest thinkers have been the
hardest workers, is fact which fully sus.
talns this position. Let things take their
proper course, and study be welded, as is
fit, TO the mechanical trades, and parents
who wish to educate their sons will bind
them as apprentices rather than consigr
them 10 Incidence and vice in fashionable
course.
Is this mere theory? Then it is only be.
cause men are false TO themselves. Every
mechanic and every working man has time
to be literary man; and if he possess but
an ordinary capacity, with suitable appli-
cation and mental discipline, he will be.
come intelligent if not learned. A very
few details will easily show this.
Let any farmers boy, who can read and
spell, and who has arrived at years of dis
cretion, take in hand the small volume OF
Blake on the Physiology of Botany, and he
will in single year become acquainted
with the whole subject: with the nature
analysis and habits of plants; their man.
ner of growth; their disease with the
means of prevention and cure; the compo.
sition, improvement and adaptation of soils
temperature and light; rotation of crops
the best manner of cultivation and i'm.
provement of plants; with the whole sys
tenn of classification, nomenclature and
analysis. Let him next spring take Mrs
Lincoln's Manual Of Botany, and enter on
the analysis of flowers, and he becomes a
/ Botanist.
Let the apprentice to any trade that i:
employed in working metals, take small
volume called Jones' Conversations or
Chemistry, and read successfully twenty
pages day; and the whole volume, con
tanning pretty complete system of Chem
istry, will be read in fifteen days. Their
lei him take the list of simple substances
with their sub divisions, and while at hi
: regular work, he will require but two OF
three days 10 commit them Familiarity I,
memory. Let him then turn his attention
to the imponderable agents, light heat anc
electricity, with which he is PRACTICAL,
conversant every day, and in few week
| A 4. Il.